Third Sunday of Advent

Transcription

1 Third Sunday of Advent December 16, 2012 John answered them all, saying, I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. - Luke 3:16 The lighting of the rose candle represents Joy St. Veronica Established Alida Way, South San Francisco, CA Fax: Phone:

2 Parish Office Hours Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Lunch Noon - 1:00 p.m. Phone: Fax: Parish Staff Fr. Charles Puthota, Ph.D., Pastor Fr. Linh Nguyen, Parochial Vicar Deacon Roger Beaudry Deacon Joseph LeBlanc Jennifer Baylor, Administrative Assistant Stephanie de Prume, Finance Manager Ext. 306 Patricia Spiteri, Parish Secretary Karen Guglielmoni, Faith Formation & Wedding Coordinator Ext.305 Christopher Lindstrom, Music Director Ext. 308 St. Veronica Parish Mass Intentions WEEK of December 16, 2012 Sun 12/16 6:45 Larry Romani 8:00 Albina Gina Noya 9:30 Giovanni & Maria Chiodo 11:00 Josefa & Sofia Carpio 12:30 People of St. Veronica Mon 12/17 6:30 Ricardo & Persapane Liao 8:30 Robert Lagomarsino Tue 12/18 6:30 Betty Wolfe 8:30 Nymfa Badillo Osorio Wed 12/19 6:30 Deceased of the Legion of Mary 8:30 Aquilino & Rosalina Sanchez Thu 12/20 6:30 Betty Wolfe 8:30 Nello Venturini Fri 12/21 6:30 Larry Romani 8:30 Donald Wha Wong Sat 12/22 8:30 Mike & Kevin Folan 5:00 Patrick Kerrigan Sun 12/23 6:45 Risso Family 8:00 Mary Isonio 9:30 Emanuel Borg 11:00 Engy Del Rosario 12:30 People of St. Veronica Kathryn Lucchesi Principal St. Veronica Catholic School Phone: Pam Cavagnaro Vice Principal SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION Sacrament of Baptism Baptismal Preparation classes are held once a month. Call the Parish Office Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) Call the Parish Office to register Ext.309 Faith Formation: Ext. 305 Catechetical instructions (1st to 8th grades) Confirmation Classes: Understanding the Word Zephaniah s oracle of salvation directs the people to Shout!...Sing!...Be glad and exult! The reason for this rejoicing is their deliverance from enemies. The misfortune they endured may have been punishment for their sins, but God has removed that judgment and now dwells in their midst as King of Israel and as a mighty savior. On that day is an allusion to the day of the Lord, a time in the future when the justice of God will be executed throughout the world. This passage describes the tenderness God has for this restored people and the joy that their restoration evokes in God. The joy that Paul advocates is not merely the happiness that comes from enjoyment of life. It is joy in the Lord, joy that is grounded in faith in Jesus Christ. Paul calls the believers to live lives of kindness, of gentle forbearance, of willingness to forego retaliation. Such genuine Christian behavior should be visible to all. The Lord is near is an endof-time watchword, acclaiming the future coming of the Lord to set all things right. If the people have lived righteously, the Lord will come to them as a compassionate savior rather than as a severe judge. Finally, the fruit of such righteousness is peace. The Gospel reading recounts instructions given by John the Baptist to those who came out to see and hear him and to be baptized. In response to their question What should we do? he challenges them to carry out their daily responsibilities with concern for others, honesty, and integrity. The people were looking for the Christ, the anointed one. Lest they mistake him for this Christ, John contrast himself with the one who is to come, insisting that he is not worthy to undo the sandals of that long-awaited one. John s baptism with water was a ritual of repentance and cleansing. The Christ s baptism of the Spirit will purge and transform our very souls. - From Living The Word Parish Office churchoffice@stveronicassf.com

3 Mass Schedule Saturdays: 8:30AM & 5:00PM Sundays: 6:45, 8:00, 9:30, 11:00AM, and 12:30PM Holy Days: 6:30, 8:30AM, & 6:30PM Monday Friday: 6:30 & 8:30AM Spanish Mass First Sunday of each month at 6:00 PM unless otherwise announced Confessions Saturdays: 4:00 5:00PM Liturgy of the Hours Monday Friday: Morning Prayer at 6:00AM Eucharistic Adoration Monday Friday: 9:00AM 9:00PM Parish Registration Please complete and return form to the parish office, or simply drop it in the collection basket. Kindly print all information Name(s) Name(s) Address City & Zip Phone Updating Current Parish Registration Moving / Please remove from mailing list. This is a new registration Please call me. Important Christmas Eve Mass Time Notice Please take note... The Christmas Eve Masses will be at 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. There will be no 5PM Mass. The 4 p.m. Mass will feature children of the parish in the annual Christmas Pageant. Please remember the sick and the care-givers in our community. Pray that they may find comfort and healing in Christ. Kindly contact the Parish office if Homebound Eucharistic services are needed. Multi-Cultural Link - Simbang Gabi The origin of Simbang Gabi can be traced back in 1660, during the early years of Christianity in the Philippines. During the season of advent, missionary friars held masses for nine consecutive days as preparation for the coming of Jesus Christ. In addition, they decided to celebrate these masses at dawn, when the roosters (or gallo) announce the beginning of the day. Thus, the name Misa del Gallo (literally, Rooster s Mass) was introduced. The masses are celebrated early so that the Filipino ancestors, who are commonly farmers by occupation, can still manage to attend without abandoning their fields. It has been a routine that Filipinos would walk or ride their carretela (carabao sleds) and head to the nearest church at 4:00 AM. After the one hour mass, they would proceed to their fields and work. They follow this routine until the day before Christmas. - adapted from Pray for our Beloved Deceased In your prayers during the week, please remember the repose of the souls of our deceased especially: Margaret Ries- Died December 3, 2012 Alice Burns - Died December 4, 2012 "Eternal Rest Grant Unto Them, O Lord " Envelopes received in the First Collection: November 24 & 25: 341 December 01 & 02: 296 December 08 & 09: 272 If you currently receive envelopes but do not use them, please prayerfully consider including your donation in the collection basket at Mass. Thank you for supporting St. Veronica Parish and its works. Day Mass Time 1st Collection Religious Retirement Totals Saturday 12/08/12 5:00PM Sunday 12/09/12 6:45AM :00AM :30AM :00AM :30PM Immaculate Conception 12/8/ n/a TOTALS: $ $ $11,399.50

4 From the Pastor s Desk: A Scripture Reflection Dear Parishioners, The Dhammapada, a verse collection of the Buddha s sayings in Pali language, contains a precious ode to joy: Live in joy, in love, even among those who hate. Live in joy, in health, even among the afflicted. Live in joy, in peace, even among the troubled. Look within. Be still. Free from fear and attachment, know the sweet joy of the way. About a hundred years before the Buddha s message, the Jewish prophet Zephaniah about 640 B.C. proclaimed his ode to joy: Shout for joy, O daughter Zion! Sing joyfully, O Israel! Be glad and exult with all your heart. The most important reason for Israel s joy is: The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior; he will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in his love, he will sing joyfully because of you, as one sings at festivals. What an astonishing invitation and challenge! We need to rejoice because God rejoices over us. He even sings songs in praise of us---as at festivals! We often call God my joy, my love, my peace, my friend. If we take Zephaniah seriously, we have to imagine that God himself calls us: My joy, my love, my peace, my friend. Now, isn t that an awesome reason for our joy? One of the graces for me when I hear confessions is to be able to tell the penitents: God loves you. Do you know that God is delighted with you? He thinks the world of you! Do you believe that? God is so happy with you that he dances for joy. That God rejoices in us is a liberating message; it can change our lives. An image that I suggest on occasion to the penitent comes from Anthony de Mello: Look at Jesus looking at you, and smiling! We struggle with sin. It clings to us like the fog in South San Francisco! We are imperfect. We can be selfish and judgmental. It is hard for us to be other-centered. Our own issues and preoccupations can imprison and enslave us. But despite all our flaws, God delights in us and rejoices over us. This divine rejoicing over us holds the power to transform us. God s delight in us and our delight in him can turn us from tepid, mediocre Christians to passionate, enthusiastic ones. As a result, as John the Baptist instructs, the crowds will share their cloaks with the needy. The tax-collectors will stop collecting exorbitant taxes. The soldiers will turn their lives around. Everyone in their situation will be able to respond to the greater calling: to rejoice in God because God rejoices in us. John the Baptist knows a thing or two about rejoicing: he leaped for joy even when he was in his mother s womb at the presence of Jesus. Jesus lavish appreciation of John is a sign of his delight in the prophet. Paul too sings his ode to joy: Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again, rejoice! When God is near, why should we have anxiety and fear? God s disarming, rejoicing love will lead us to peace, kindness, prayer, and thanksgiving. This Gaudete (Rejoice) Sunday, as Christmas is fast approaching, one of the best things we can do is just open our minds and hearts to our God who takes delight in rejoicing over us. Out of this divine joy, God gives his own son to us. It s now our turn to rejoice. How shall we share this joy this Christmas season? How shall we become channels of God s joy to a world pining for the glad tidings? Your Friend & Pastor, Father Charles Puthota (This scripture reflection on this weekend s readings was published in Catholic San Francisco on December 14, 2012)

5 St. Veronica Giving Angel Be an Angel this Christmas season by visiting our parish Giving Angel in the vestibule of the church and taking a gift tag or two. Many local, worthy charitable organizations are in need of our help. You can impact someone s life for the better. The deadline for returning the wrapped gifts with the tags on them is Monday, December 17. Gifts may be returned to the Pastoral Center. Gift cards may be turned in at the Pastoral Center or placed in the weekend collection basket. Seeking New Ushers Are you interested in becoming an usher? Our 6:45 AM, 11:00 AM, and 12:30 PM masses are seeking new ushers to assist during the mass. Men, women, and young adults are welcome. Training will be provided. If interested, please contact T.J. Rafael at The Season of Giving This holiday season, we thank everyone who has supported St. Veronica this past year with their time, talent and financial contributions and look forward to support from all of our members in the year ahead. If you need a convenient way to make regular offerings or if you plan to make an additional gift before the end of the year, we encourage you to check out our electronic giving options. As the pace of life speeds up, especially around the holidays, you may find electronic giving a most welcome way to make contributions. Visit or contact the church office for more information. Attention Parishioners There is a need for Brown Paper Grocery Bags used to deliver various food items to our disabled and homebound Seniors. Parishioners from St. Veronica, All Souls, and Mater Dolorosa gather every Tuesday rain or shine in Mater Dolorosa s Parish Hall to sort out food from Second Harvest Food Bank and deliver the items to 210 Seniors by volunteer drivers. Please save your paper or plastic bags for us. You may bring them to the Pastoral Center. Thank you for your help. - Mary Beaudry Christmas liturgy Schedule 2012 December 15 to 23, 2012 Simbang Gabi Advent Masses All Masses at 6:30PM except Dec. 15th & 22nd at 5:00PM Saturday, December 22, 2012 Confessions 3:00 to 5:00 PM Monday, December 24, 2012 Christmas Eve 4:00PM (Children s Mass) & 9:00PM (8:15 - Christmas Caroling) Tuesday, December 25, 2012 Christmas Day 6:45, 8:00, 9:30, 11:00AM & 12:30PM Monday, December 31, :30AM Tuesday, January 1, 2013 New Year s Day (A Holyday of Obligation) 8:30AM & 6:30PM Save the Date Saint Veronica Annual Men's Club CRAB FEED will be February 9, Join us for a night of "Surf and Turf", fabulous raffles and a whole lot of DANCING!

6 2 - Santa s Breakfast Bingo, Falcon Deanery Baptism 12 Lady of 16 - Simbang Gabi 17 - Simbang 18 - Simbang 19 - Simbang 23 - Final Simbang St. Veronica 25 - Christmas :30 Mass Holy Day of 13 - St. Veronica Simbang 20 - Simbang Gabi 21 -Simbang 22 - Simbang December 2012 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 Parish Center 8-11:30AM - Scholastic Book Fair, Parish Center 9AM - 1PM - Spanish Mass, 6PM Mass 6:30 PM, PM, followed by Dinner Parish Center wide Advent Penance Service, 7PM at Mater Dolorosa PM, Parish Children s Christmas Eve Mass 4PM 9PM Midnight Mass New Years Eve Prep Class 7:30 Pastoral Center PM, Day Regular Schedule of Masses Hall 6-10PM Guadalupe Mass, 6:30PM, PM, Bingo, Falcon Hall 6-10PM 26 - NO BINGO School Children's Christmas Program 6:30PM, Mass 6:30 PM, PM,, Obligation Mass 8:30 & 5:00 Senior Luncheon, Noon, Parish Center Gabi Mass & Procession 6:30 PM, Gabi Mass 5:00 PM

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