The First Sunday of Advent

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2 The First Sunday of Advent The Lord Is Coming, But 'Where Are We Going'? God has always been present in His creation. His Spirit was always among us and in nature. That He took flesh and became man we also know. That he remains with us until the end of time, it's not new to us either. We also know that He will come again. But in this season of the 'coming' - Advent, its worth asking 'where are we going?' Many years ago Solomon Asch conducted what we know today as the 'conformity experiment'. In brief, the experiment consisted of groups of actors and in each group there would be one person who wasn't an actor and didn't know about the identity (actors) of the other members of the group. All participants of each group were asked the same question. The actors would always answer first and were instructed to intentionally give the wrong answer even when it was evident that it was wrong. After many runs, in order to 'go along' or 'just fit in', the last participant would end up giving the wrong answer even knowing that it was wrong. He just wanted to 'conform' with the large group, the mainstream. Christ came to give a message that is obviously different, always right and the truth. Yet many choose the wrong path, and others in order to fit, just go along with that. At the end, it's not 'all the same', is it? Christ did not conform to the mainstream. He didn't conform to sin. He didn't normalize what was contrary to His message, the Word of God. As I begin once more this journey of Advent I ask myself, 'where am I going?' Am I walking straight to Him, 'the way, the truth, and the life'? Or am I am turning my back just in order to fit in? The Lord is always with us. Are we always with Him? Have a lovely Advent. With sincere love, Fr. Estanislao Mikalonis, Parochial Vicar St. Vincent de Paul Collection - This Sunday! The goal of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is to offer tangible assistance to those in need on a person to person basis and to offer spiritual services. A key strength of the Society is in the personalized delivery of help. This aid may take the form of intervention, consultation or often through direct dollar or in-kind service. Your generosity in this Sunday s 2nd collection will assist our own local conference of St. Vincent de Paul to help our neighbors Zin need. Please Pray z For the Sick & Homebound Fr. Thierry Geris, Terry Flynn, Tina Reyes, Lydia Li, Tom Bednar, Stephen Lee, Andrea Binger, Peggy Peterson, Cindy Palmer, Maria Merlitti, Donna Riordan, Agnes Tan, Lucienne Woods, Carolyn Byrne, Arturo Tecson, Joseph Crea, Pat Briggs, Jim McLaughlin, Donna Humy, Becky Baer, Cathy Doerr, Anne Bisacca, Kim Davis, Jim Adams, Mark LaFlamme, Mary Carlstead For the Recently Deceased James Tweedie, Msgr. Eugene Boyle, Joan Copenhagen, Jeanese Rowell, Bernard Lieb, Gladys Hughes, Bernard Dillon, Virginia Kreutzer, Travis Krutt, Rosemary Hobson, Lil Kavenaugh, Louise Thursby, Patricia Cullen, Lou Schaefer, Mary Mansour, Charles Franklin, Kay Munn, Shirley Deschamps, Chester Dilauro, Rose Lefebvre, Brian Gallagher Pray For Lists guidelines: Have permission from the person to be listed. Go through the Pastoral Home Ministry to list the names. Names will be on the list for 3 months and then be removed. Can request names to be continued after 3 months. Contact the Pastoral Home Ministry x22 or fongmt@hotmail.com Mass Intentions Sunday, November 27: 1st Advent 9:00 am SAG... Brian Gallagher 10:30 am OLR... Brazella Cooper 10:30 am STA... Marcos Motta (SI) Readings: 2 Samuel 5:1-3/Psalm 122:1-2, 3-4, 4-5/Colossians 1:12-20/Luke 23:35-43 Monday, November 28 7:15 am STA... Reina Flores 8:30 am OLR... Laddie Hughes Readings: Isaiah 4:2-6/Psalm 122:1-2, 3-4b, 4cd-5, 6-7, 8-9/Matthew 8:5-11 Tuesday, November 29 8:30 am OLR... Sr. Fidelma, L.C. M. (SI) Readings: Isaiah 11:1-10/Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17/Luke 10:21-24 Wednesday, November 30: St. Andrew 8:30 am OLR... Laddie Hughes 12:15 am STA.... Audrey Custodio (SI) Readings: Romans 10:9-18/Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 11/Matthew 4:18-22 Thursday, December 1 8:30 am OLR... Reina Flores Readings: Isaiah 26:1-6/Psalm 118:1 and 8-9, 19-21, 25-27a/Matthew 7:21, Friday, December 2 7:15 am STA... Laddie Hughes Readings: Isaiah 29:17-24/Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14/Matthew 9:27-31 Saturday, December 3: St. Francis Xavier 12:15 pm STA... Living & Deceased members of Hidalgo family (SI) Readings: Isaiah 30:19-21, 23-26/Psalm 147:1-2, 3-4, 5-6/Matthew 9:35-10:1, 5a, 6-8 Sunday, December 4: 2nd Advent 7:30 am STA... Joseph Koo 9:00 am SAG... Tsung Chai-Koo 10:30 am OLR.... Angel P. Alberto Readings: Isaiah 11:1-10/Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17/Romans 15:4-9/Matthew 3:1-12 SAG Flooring Campaign The St. Albert the Great flooring fundraising campaign is nearing its conclusion. The parish is very grateful for the donations made to date. If you ARE ABLE, AND have yet to contribute, WE WOULD BE TRULY GRATEFUL.

3 This Week s Highlights Sunday, November 27 NO FAITH FORMATION CLASSES Monday, November 28 6:30 pm...rcia (SAGH) 7:00 pm...young Adults (OLRH) Tuesday, November 29 3:00 pm...sess Tutoring (SAGH) 7:00 pm...hispanic Prayer Group(DCC) 7:00 pm...spirituality Tuesday (SAGH) Wednesday, November 30 4:00 pm...ysop (OLRH) 6:00 pm...rcia Children Thursday, December 1 10:00 am...prayer Group (SAGH) 3:00 pm...sess Tutoring (SAGH) 7:00 pm...hispanic 1st Communion Catechesis, Adults & Children (PC1st & PC2nd) Friday, December 2 3:45 pm...isp Meeting (OLRH) 6:00 pm... Goretti Group (STA, THB) 7:00 pm...1st Friday Adoration (DCC) Saturday, December 3 Presider Schedule 2nd Sunday of Advent Dec. 4, 2016 St. Albert the Great 1095 Channing Ave. Sat 5:00 pm... Fr. Stanley Sun 9:00 am fr. Pogorelc, PSS Sun 11:00 am (Byzantine) Fr. Hernandez St. Thomas Aquinas 751 Waverley St. Sun 7:30 am... Fr. Hester Sun 8:45 am Fr. Lavagetto, OP Sun 10:30 am Fr. Kuupuo Sun 12:00 pm... TBA Our Lady of the Rosary 3233 Cowper St. Sun 9:00 am (Spanish)... Fr. Gazzingan Sun 10:30 am Fr. Stanley St. Thomas Aquinas Parish Spirituality Tuesday, November 29 Homelessness in the Year of Mercy; a four person panel from the Human Concerns Committee There is a community plan to end homelessness in Santa Clara County. Tonight s presentation will bring us up to date on this plan, and will also discuss several local on-going efforts to relieve the suffering of local people. There are four presenters, each one a member of our parish. Veronica Duluk will start off with a discussion of showing mercy to people all over the world. Anne Fillin will then tell us how the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and other helping agencies do not give up on those with ongoing problems. George Chippendale will explain the concept of the Safety Net, established by United Way over thirty years ago. Mike Veuve, who was the CFO of both Catholic Charities and Emergency Housing Consortium, and Veronica Duluk, the Vice President of the board of directors of Santa Clara Catholic Charities, will talk about the community plan to end homelessness in Santa Clara County. They will describe the programs coming along that the general public needs to support to provide the facilities and the personnel for doing Corporal Works of Mercy. Join us on Tuesday, November 29 at 7:00 pm in the St. Albert the Great Hospitality Center. The Advent Wreath This Sunday, November 27th, the Church enters a new season. Advent is a winter feast celebrated for the four darkest weeks of the year. The sun rises later and later and sets long before the day is complete. Christmas comes during the darkest of this dark time. It is the Feast of Light, the celebration of Him who is the Light of the World. And so, throughout these four Advent weeks, we light a candle for each of the weeks. As the advent of Christ overcame the darkness of the world, so also, does Christ overcome the darkness within our lives. The wreath (a circle) is the symbol for eternity; the evergreen symbolize life; the purple candles, hope; the rose (pink) candle, a sign of joy for the Third Sunday and third week of Advent; and the number of candles (four) is symbolic of the four weeks of Advent and the of the traditional legends that the world waited four-thousand years for the advent of the Redeemer. Many families keep alive the tradition of the Advent Wreath in their homes. If the Advent Wreath is not yet a familiar sight in your home, perhaps, this year might be the time to begin. The wreath can be placed on the dinner table or in another prominent place in your home where all can see and can be used as a part of the grace before each evening meal throughout the Advent Season. Christmas Poinsettias & Flowers We need your help in making our churches look beautiful for the holidays. Won t you consider donating toward a poinsettia plant in remembrance of a loved one or just as a gift from you? Special Christmas Flower Envelopes are available in the pews. All your gifts will be greatly appreciated.

4 November 27, 2016 Weekly Stewardship Report The Weekly Stewardship Report is delayed due to the Thanksgiving Holidays. We will report the collections in our next bulletin. Our weekly Sunday Offertory goal is now $12,000. This is the amount we need each week in order to meet our financial responsibilities. We are asking you to consider a 5% increase in your weekly or monthly donation. Advent Penance Liturgies & Confessions During the Advent Season, local parishes in our Deanery will offer several opportunities for you to experience the Sacrament of Reconciliation in preparation for the Christmas Season. St. Simon Parish (Los Altos) Monday, December 12 at 3:30pm & 7:00pm St. Nicholas Parish (Los Altos) Monday, December 12 at 3:30pm St. William Parish (Los Altos) Monday, December 12 at 7:00pm St. Thomas Aquinas Church (Palo Alto) Saturday, December 17 at 2:00pm St. Athanasius Parish (Mountain View) Monday, December 19 at 7:00 pm (Bilingual) Our Lady of the Rosary Church (Palo Alto) Monday, December 19 at 7:00pm (Bilingual) The Christmas Story II The Christmas Story II: The Animal s First Christmas (a ballet set to Tchaikovsky s Nutcracker Suite) & Songs to Prepare Us for Christmas. Presented by Young Sounds of Praise (from St. Thomas Aquinas Parish) and Holy Family s Ministry of Movement: Dance for Joy & Soaring Spirit Dance Ensemble on Saturday, December 10-2:00 p.m. Location: Seton School Auditorium, St. Albert the Great Admission: $10 adults; $5 - children 12 and under. All proceeds go to the Carpet/Floor Fund for St. Albert the Great. Join us for a wonderful afternoon of music and dance as we share music to get us in the mood for Christmas and tell the story of Jesus birth with the familiar and delightful music of the Nutcracker Suite by Tchaikovsky. All ages will enjoy this event. Tickets available at the Pastoral Center and at the door. Contact Susan Olsen at suolsen@dsj.org for more information.

5 Welcome new parishioners to St. Thomas Aquinas Parish! We encourage you to register as members of our growing family. Please your name, address, and phone to Cathy Miller at Current members please contact the Pastoral Center to update your information. KEY REFERENCES DC... Dermody Center DCC.. Dermody Center Chapel OLR.. Our Lady of the Rosary Church OLRH OLR Church Hall KC... OLR Kerry s Corner PC... Pastoral Center SAG.. St. Albert the Great Church SAGH SAG Hospitality Ctr. HOLY SACRAMENTS Please contact the Pastoral Center at for more information. Anointing of the Sick: Every first Friday at the 7:15 am, 8:30 am and 12:15pm Mass. Christian Initiation: Become a Catholic or renew your Catholic faith (Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation) as an adult, youth or child. Funeral: Arrange for a Funeral, Memorial Mass or graveside service for a loved one. Infant Baptism: Preparation may begin before or after the birth of your child. Marriage: Arrangements need to be made at least six months prior to the proposed marriage date. ADMINISTRATION, OFFICE STAFF, & COMMITTEES Main Phone: (650) Business & Operations Manager: Chuck Tully ext. 20 ctully@dsj.org Admin Assts: Cathy Miller ext. 24, camiller@dsj.org; Ron Aranha, raranha@dsj.org Pastoral Stewardship Council: (every 2nd Wed. 7:00 pm SAGH) Chair: Steve Carter (SCarter@aslcpa.com); Vice-Chair: Anne Morrison (ahbert55@aol.com); Secretary: Chris Lundin (clundin@stanford.edu) SESS.. St. Elizabeth Seton School SESA. SES Auditorium STA... St. Thomas Aquinas Church THB.. STA - Thomas House Basement THD.. STA - Thomas House Dining Room THL.. STA - Thomas House Library Community Life: Anne Morrison (650) Green Committee: Katia Reeves (katia.reeves@sbcglobal.net) Human Concerns Committee: Chair: Paul Chestnut (650) St. Vincent de Paul Society: (650) For truck donation pickup (650) Parish Site Committees: STA: Kay Williams ; OLR: Chris Lundin clundin@stanford.edu; SAG: Neil Barrett (650) St. Elizabeth Seton School (Daughters of Charity): 1095 Channing Avenue (650) Principal: Evelyn Rosa STA Photography: (650) , photography@ paloaltocatholic.org PALOALTOPHOTOG/SpecialR1 Stanford Hospital Chaplaincy: Fr. Samuel Nkansah Stanford Chaplain (650) Lucile Packard Children s Hospital Chaplaincy: Rev. Diana Brady (650) Widows/Widowers Group: Lorraine Dabney (650)