CORPUS CHRISTI CATHOLIC CHURCH

Transcription

1 December 2, 2012 First Sunday of Advent CORPUS CHRISTI CATHOLIC CHURCH 6300 McKenna Drive, Mobile, Alabama Website: TELEPHONE NUMBERS Parish Office: Fax School Office: , ext. 1 Fax Rel. Ed. Office: , ext. 7 Fax Preschool Office: Fax Youth Ministry: Fax PASTORAL STAFF Very Rev. James F. Zoghby, V.F., Pastor Rev. John S. Boudreaux, Associate Pastor Deacon Arthur W. Robbins, Deacon Sr. Donna Cooper, R.S.M., Visitation Chaplain Mrs. Linda M. Hawkins, Pastoral Assistant Mrs. Joan T. McMullen, School Principal Mrs. Kathleen Q. Jester, Parish Catechetical Leader Mrs. Judi B. Ankiewicz, R.C.I.A. Coordinator Mrs. Colleen DeVoe, Youth Ministry Co-Director Mrs. Brenda Martens, Youth Ministry Co-Director Mr. Matthew F. Purvis, Music Director Mr. Jay H. Henley, Gym Manager TO REGISTER AS A MEMBER OF THE PARISH Please fill out a Census Form. Census Forms are available in the church vestibule and parish office. COMMUNITY CENTER RENTALS & SERVICES For rental information and kitchen services, please call the parish office at or SUNDAY MASSES Vigil: 5:30 p.m. Saturday Morning: 7:00, 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. WEEKDAY MASSES 6:30 a.m.: Monday through Friday 8:15 a.m.: Monday through Saturday SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION Saturday: 5:00 p.m. and by request, particularly after the 6:30 & 8:15 a.m. weekday Masses. BAPTISM, MARRIAGE, ANOINTING OF SICK Please call the parish office ( ) or information and scheduling baptism, marriage, anointing of sick. ADULT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (R.C.I.A.) Please see published schedule for specific dates and times, or call the parish office ( ). SUNDAY SCHOOL (C.C.D.) Grades K 12, Sundays during school year, 10:05-10:55 a.m. in school bldgs. SCHOOL, SACS-accredited for Grades K through 8. For info & registration, please call the school office. PRESCHOOL, State-licensed for 6-week to 4-yr. olds. For info & registration, please call the preschool office

2 FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT Ce le brat in g Adve n t Stewardship Put your gifts at the service of one another. Love cancels a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8, 10 Thanks to all who have returned a pledge envelope thus far. If you have not yet done so, please return your pledge now so that your pledge can be included in our first report in next weekend s bulletin. The pledge envelope is an expression of faith and love for God in our faith community. As suggested, take this opportunity to see what percentage of your income you offer, and consider raising it by 1%. Pledge envelopes can be placed in the first or second collection. This expression of faith, gratitude and love should be prayerful, planned, the first fruits and the proportion that expresses our acknowledgment of God gifts. Angel Tree Our (multiple) Angel Tree is in the vestibule to provide gifts for clients of Catholic Social Services Service Center and Refugee Resettlement Program. If you take an angel from the tree, save it and attach it as a tag on the wrapped gift you bring. ADULT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (R.C.I.A.) Continuing Ed. for Catholic and other adults who want to learn about and/or join the Catholic Church Wednesday Nights, 7:00-8:30 in the Adult Education Room Bible St udy Groups Sundays, 8:45-10:45 a.m. in the school counselor's conference room. Breakfast is served also. We are studying Isaiah. Tuesdays, 1:45-3:00 p.m.,in the Adult Ed. Room. Study of Exodus and Comparison to Hollywood Version. Info: Judi Ankiewicz, nd Tuesdays, 7:00-8:30 p.m. in the Conference Rm. (2 Flr, Community Ctr). The Acts of the Apostles. Info: Dave Burchette, nd Thursdays, 9:00-10:45 a.m., Conf. Rm (2 Flr), Com. Ctr. Penny Claiborne, , claiborneps@aol.com or Joanne Donaghey, , joannekd@aol.com SUNDAY SCHOOL (CCD) Classes resume today: 10:05-10:55 a.m., in school buildings. CORPUS CHRISTI SCHOOL Open House This Friday! Dec. 7, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 6, 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. All interested parents are invited to tour our SACS-accredited school and meet our faculty and staff. You may also call the school office at , ext. 1, to arrange a personal tour at your convenience. Our many programs provide a unique learning opportunity for all students. Daily Religion Class! Weekly Mass! Elementary and Junior High Resource Program! Accelerated Reader Program! 7th & 8th Grade Latin Elective! Interactive Boards in all classrooms! ipads! Science Lab! National Junior Honor Society! Scholars Bowl Team! Duke th Scholars Program (52% of current 7 Graders are Duke Scholars)! Corpus Christi News (CCN)! Computer Club! Shakespeare-After-School Drama Club! Green Club! Running Club! Scouting! Elementary Band (5-8)! School Newspaper & Yearbook! CYO Sports Also Announcing K3 & K4 Classes: We are pleased to announce the addition of our 3K & 4K program for the school year, providing the opportunity for children to learn, play and grow in a safe, developmentallyappropriate environment, helping them to develop socially, physically and spiritually, and giving them the building blocks for a life-long love of learning and academic success. Info: or , ext. 1. Nine McGill-Toolen Juniors were inducted into the National Latin Honor Society Last Week Six of the nine are Corpus Christi School Graduates: Emily Lannan, Paige LaGarde, Collin Phillips, Jake Picicci, Cameron Schaerfl, Ben Waddell High School Youth st Sunday, Dec. 2, 6:30-8:00 p.m. Join us for our 1 -Sunday-of-the- Month meeting during which we will do a special service project, making care packages with letters to our service men and women overseas. Freshmen Confirmation Candidates are especially urged to attend and get their service hours. We ll have pizza at 6:30 p.m., and then begin preparing our packages. Please bring gift wrap or individual powdered drink mix for our care packages the type of drink mix you can add to a bottle of water. Sunday, Dec. 16: 5:30 p.m. Mass, followed by Dollar Tree Dirty Santa Christmas Party. Bring a $1 item and a snack to share. Widowed Persons Support Group For information call parishioner Glen Porter at

3 CORPUS CHRISTI CHURCH, MOBILE, ALABAMA DECEMBER 2, IMMACULATE CON CEPTION HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION Masses: Friday, Dec. 7, 5:30 p.m. & Saturday, Dec. 8, 8:15 a.m. The Women s Club Women s Annual Advent Retreat: Tomorrow night, Monday, Dec. 3, at 6 p.m. in the atrium. Bring a soup salad or bread to share. Children s First Reconciliation Monday, Dec. 3, 7:00 p.m. Adults are welcome too. Wednesday Night Dinner 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. in the Banquet Hall $9.00 for Adults! $4.00 for Children (Age 12 & under) Dec. 5 ~ Carved Roast Beef with Roasted Garlic Au Jus, Herb Baked Chicken, Fried Fish Potatoes Au Gratin Squash Medley English Peas w/pearl Onions Assorted Cakes & Pies. Must RSVP with your name & number in your party: 1. Return an RSVP Card, or 2. Call or 3. WedNightDinner@CorpusChristiParish.com Children & Adult Singers! Christmas Concert: TONIGHT! 6:00 p.m. in the church. Christmas Eve: 7:30 Mass. Rehearse: Dec 4, 11, 18 at 7 p.m. Info: Matthew Purvis at pianoguy36609@aol.com. Men of St. Joseph Tuesdays, 7 to 8 a.m. in the Family Room nd Also Wednesdays, 7-8 p.m. in Room 6 (2 Floor) All men are welcome to meet for prayer, reading the Gospel, and discussion. Info: Jim Donaghey, jbd@orthomobile.com or Wed. Evening Info: Walter Bracewell, or walter.bracewell@yahoo.com Women of Mary Wednesdays, 7-8 p.m., in the Family Room. All women are welcome to meet for prayer, reading the Gospel, and discussion. Info: Sr. Deborah Kennedy, R.S.M., That Man is You! Men s Program Thursdays, 6:30-8:00 p.m. in The Parish House (Behind our parking lot at the S.E. corner of Evergreen Rd. & McKenna Dr.) Dec. 6: The Cry of the Child & A New Springtime POW example of Facing the Brutal Truth How Men Have Succumbed to Temptation The Attack on Fatherhood is Real & Relentless A Father s Legacy The Story of Eminem Failed Leadership Always Has a Personal Price. Blessed John Paul II Shows the Power of True Leadership JP II Sets Foundation for Family in the Third Millennium Seven Last Words of JP II JP II Was Faithful Unto Death Fruit of JP II s Leadership is the New Springtime Graces of Great Jubilee Still Producing Fruit. Info@paradisusdei.org or or Damian Bell, damian@rockbwm.com Boy Scout Meetings: Dec. 2, 5-6:30 p.m. Dec. 9, 5-6 p.m. To join, or for information, contact Mr. Edgar Maier at edgarmaier@bellsouth.net or Also visit Cub Scout News: 12/4 & 12/11 Den Meetings 6 pm. 12/16 Toys for Tots Toy Drive Deadline &and Pack Christmas Party 12:30 Community Center. To join Cub Scouts or for info: Contact Walter Bracewell, , or Mike Martin, , or visit ccspack29.scoutlander.com. Society of St. Vincent de Paul Poor Box, Food, Clothing donations put in the designated places in the vestibule are distributed by our St. Vincent de Paul Society To obtain assistance, call and leave name & phone no. st rd nd Meetings: 1 & 3 Wed., 7 p.m., Com. Ctr. Conf. Rm. (2 Flr.) Knights of Columbus nd Meeting: 2 Tues., Dec. 11, 7 p.m., at The Parish House. Contact: Grand Knight, Bob Wheat, Respect Life Gabriel's Project - To serve as a Prayer Angel for a woman requesting help with her pregnancy, to give assistance, or to donate using the pay pal account: Visit gabrielangels4u@gmail.com. Maria at Teen Peeps - Religious Christmas Cards for sale, all proceeds for 2B-Choices for Women Crisis Pregnancy Center, visit gabrielangels4u@gmail.com under the Teen Peeps link. Or contact Maria at 's & 30's Young Adults Christmas Celebration with Archbishop Rodi Thursday Dec :30 p.m. Praise & Worship Music & 7 p.m. Mass with the Archbishop in the Cathedral Crypt, followed by dinner and festivities at the Portier House. All those in their 20's and 30's are invited. Bring a friend & Christmas treat to share. Contact Lise Lirette for more info. Attention Catholic Singles Interested in joining an excellent Catholic singles organization? The Catholic Alumni Club International is looking to expand into the Mobile area. We provide a group dedicated to social, cultural, civic and spiritual relationships in a Catholic setting. For more info, contact Cheryl at cherylwilson2211@comcast.net or Cougars Running Wild 5K & 1-Mile Fun Run Sat., Dec. 8: 5K Race starts at 3 p.m.; the Fun Run around 4 p.m. at Mobile (Langan) Municipal Park. Fun for the whole family with a Kids Activity Area and food sponsored by Firehouse Subs, Krispy Kreme, Godfather s Pizza, and the Knights of Columbus will be cooking hot dogs. Register online at Active.com or at the parish or school offices. Registration fees until Dec. 6 are $15 for adults and $12 for children (15 & under.) The Fun Run registration fee is $10 for all. All registered participants will be eligible for many fantastic door prizes from Complete Skin Care Center, Rick s Sporting Goods, The Shed, McCoy s, Run N Tri, Zoghby s, Heros, and many more. AA Alanon OA CODA AA: Sun., 7 p.m., and Wed., 7 p.m., Cougar Den. Alanon: Sun., 7 p.m., and Wed., 7 p.m., Arts & Sciences Bldg. OA: Sat., 9 a.m., Arts & Sciences Bldg. CODA: Tues., 6:45 p.m., Arts & Sciences Bldg. First Friday Eucharistic Adoration: Dec. 7, beginning after the 8:15 a.m. weekday Mass, and continuing from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sign-up sheet is in the vestibule: At least two persons are needed for each hour.

4 CORPUS CHRISTI CHURCH, MOBILE, ALABAMA DECEMBER 2, Flowers The flowers before the altar this weekend have been placed in memory of Sharon Lary rd on the 3 anniversary of her death. Given by The Lary Family. Flowers The flowers before the pulpit this weekend have been placed in memory of Howard McFarlane th on the 7 anniversary of his death. Given by his wife, Virginia McFarlane. Around the Archdiocese: Providence Hospital s annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, Thursday, Dec. 6, at 6:30 p.m. in the Main Lobby. Purchase lights, at $5 each, in memory of a loved one or as an honorarium by contacting Karen Dixon in the Volunteer Office, Scrolls with the names are displayed in the lobby during the season. The public is invited. Volunteers needed for The Service Center of Catholic Social Services Christmas Angel program. Set-up & distribution of gifts will be on Dec at Prince of Peace Church during the day. A Xmas grocery distribution will at The Service Center will be on Dec. 13 & 14 and Dec. 17 & 18, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Info: Jamie Landry at or Volunteercoord@mobilecss.org. The McGill-Toolen Catholic High School Band and the Elementary Prep School Band present a Christmas Festival and Silent Auction Sunday, Dec. 9, at 2 p.m. at the McGill-Toolen Portier Center Gymnasium. We will also be selling homemade Christmas goodies, pizza by the slice and soft drinks. Come and support your favorite high school and elementary school musicians. Some of the items up for bid include an autographed photo of Phil Everly, and an Everly Brothers CD signed by Phil Everly, dinner for 10 prepared by Mr. Noah and Mr Porter with entertainment by Phil Proctor, a ShiTzu puppy, veterinary services donated by Rehm Animal Clinic, a cultured marble vanity top donated by David Fromdahl/Kitchen and Bath Center, Mobile Symphony Tickets, Mobile Ballet Tickets, $100 gift card donated by Zoghby's and so much more. SPECIAL COLLECTION NEXT WEEKEND: Retired Religious. Advent Colors In the liturgical renewal, the Church distinguishes, perhaps more clearly today, the difference between the season of Advent (a season of joyful expectancy) and the season of Lent (a specifically penitential season). While the official color for the season of Advent is violet, the Ordo for Mass suggests that bluer hues of violet might be used for Advent to express the difference between Advent and Lent. Some liturgists promote violet or purple for Lent and a deep blue as the color for Advent expressing Advent s theme of joyful expectancy and the role of Mary in the mystery of the Christmas event. Although we do not use blue vestments because blue is not one of the official colors in our Latin rite (white, green, violet and red are the four official colors), blue trim on violet vestments is an acceptable way to express the difference between the Advent and Lenten seasons (in the same way that blue trim is often used on white vestments for feasts of Mary). Today, Advent wreaths may be made with either violet or blue candles. There is also the option of using the traditional rose-colored candle for the third Sunday of Advent to symbolize the nearness of Christmas joy announced in the first word of that Sunday s Entrance Antiphon: Rejoice (Latin, Gaudete). In the Advent season, we pray that the Lord may find us waiting, eager in joyful prayer. cf. The Ordo and Catholic Customs & Traditions by Greg Dues FIRST COLLECTION TODAY for tithing offerings. SECOND COLLECTION TODAY for Corpus Christi Building Fund. TH NOV. 18 BUILDING FUND ONLINE & COLLECTION: $2, TH NOV. 18 TITHING ONLINE & COLLECTION: $22, TH NOV. 25 BUILDING FUND ONLINE & COLLECTION: $2, TH NOV. 25 TITHING ONLINE & COLLECTION: $27, Thank You and God Bless You for your tithes, contributions & bequests to Corpus Christi Church. To make a direct donation of stock, ask your stockbroker, or call Steve Setterstrom at Citigroup Global Mkts. at Receive a detail listing of your contributions by mail, or fax: Call or Church@CorpusChristiParish.com Online Giving With Online Giving you can either make a one-time contribution or set up a recurring automatic withdrawal from a checking or savings or credit card account: Go to click Church ; then click the green Online Giving icon, and follow the instructions to contribute to the tithing or building fund or special collections. For assistance, call , ext 4, or parish office, Do We X-out Christ? The Greek letter ( Chi ) looks like the letter X in our English, but it s the first letter of Christ in Greek. The Greek (Chi) has been used as an abbreviation for Christ or Christos since the beginning of Christianity. Thus, Xmas is simply an abbreviation for Christmas. Christmas is itself an abbreviation of Christ Mass. THE CHI RHO. In Greek, the first two letters of the title Christ are Chi ( ) and Rho (Ñ), an early abbreviation of CHRist [XP]. The Chi ( ) was often superimposed on the Rho (Ñ) as a monogram for Christ. Sometimes, the Chi ( ) was rotated to line up with the vertical line of the Rho (Ñ), forming a cross.

5 Corpus Christi Christmas Concert Combined A dult & Children s Choirs and Orchestra Tonight! Sunday, Dec. 2, at 6 p.m. in the church Advent Communal Reconciliation Service Monday, Dec. 17, at 7:00 p.m. Advent Anointing of the Sick Sat., Dec. 15, at 5:30 p.m. Mass and Sunday, Dec. 16, at 7:00 a.m. Mass. Christmas Mass Schedule Christmas Eve, Dec. 24 4:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. Christmas Day, Dec. 25 7:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m.

6 The End Is Near! Again. Predictions of the end of the world go back thousands of years. Even the early Christians believed that Jesus would come back at the turn of the century. St. Paul himself had to reconsider and realize that his work and that of the whole Church was really just the beginning. Some of the early saints predicted the end of the world. St. Clement thought time would run out about 60 A.D. St. Martin of Tours thought 400 would be the end. In 960, Bernard, a visionary in Germany announced that the world would end on Good Friday in 992. It didn t. An astronomer named John of Toledo calculated that a major calamity would destroy the earth in September of Many people in Europe and Asia were so convinced by his calculations that they dug shelters. The Byzantine emperor ordered all the windows of his palace boarded over, and, in England, the Archbishop of Canterbury ordered a national fast of atonement. Obviously, the world did not end. A group of London astrologers speculated that the world would end by a flood in February of By mid- January, at least 20,000 people had left their homes for higher ground. When the German astrologer and mathematician Johannes Soeffler agreed that a flood would destroy the world on Feb. 20, 1524, Count von Iggleheim order a 3-story ark to be constructed for his family. When the rain began to fall on Feb. 20, a panicky crowd trampled the count to death while attempting to board his ark. The world did not end. German monk and mathematician Michael Stiffel calculated that the end would come on Oct. 18, When it did not, he was soundly beaten by the citizens of Lochan. Solomon Eccles, a Quaker prophet, made a similar prediction in London in When Eccles was arrested, the hysteria he had stirred up abated. The world did not end. Nor did the end time arrive as Mary Bateman of Leeds, England, said it would. In 1806, Bateman claimed that her hen was laying eggs inscribed with the words, Christ is coming! When Bateman began selling tickets to heaven for a shilling each, she was arrested, convicted and eventually hanged. In January 1843, William Miller, founder of the American Adventist Movement, announced that the end of the world would take place by March 21, Thousands believed him, and tension mounted as the year-long vigil began, heightened by the appearance of a comet. Alas, the fateful year came to an end, and the world didn t. In York, Pennsylvania, grocery store owner Lee T. Spangler announced that the world would end by fire during October, On the last day of October, the only thing that fell on York was a light rain. The Jehovah s Witnesses frightened gullible followers at least three times with their predictions of the end of the world in 1914, 1918 and In San Francisco, seismographer and meteorologist Albert Porsta, who had made a reputation for himself predicting earthquakes, announced that, with the conjunction of six planets on Dec. 17, 1919, a magnetic current would pierce the sun and the earth would be completely incinerated. Alarm was widespread. Cases of suicides and hysteria were reported throughout the world. Proven wrong, Porsta returned to predicting the weather. In Los Angeles, a girl named Margaret Rowan announced that the angel Gabriel had told her the world would end on Feb. 13, It did not. Nor did the world end in 1931, as predicted by the Prophetical Society of Dallas, Texas. Neither was Charles Long of Pasadena, Calif., correct when he wrote a 70,000-word tract outlining details of the end of the world, which was to happen at 5:33 p.m. on Sept. 21, Many Italians who had long placed their trust in the old adage, Rome and the world are safe as long as the Coliseum stands were given over to hysteria when in 1954, engineers discovered huge cracks in the 1800-yearold amphitheater. Someone suggested that it was a sign of doom and that the world would end on May 24 of that same year. Thousands besieged the Vatican asking the pope for absolution. Despite a sharp rebuke from Pope Pius XII, who told the people, The world will see Tuesday and many more Tuesdays to come, thousands gathered in St. Peter s Square to await the end on May 24. The end did not come, and builders were sent to repair the Coliseum. TV preacher Herbert Armstrong used to predict that the world would end in 1972, and Jack Van Impe found evidence in Scripture that communists would invade America in CBN s Pat Robertson once declared that

7 the zero hour was at hand. He wrote to the members of the 700 Club: In the fall of 1982 we may well see the entire world engulfed in flames. Although he no longer specifies dates, he still says he expects to be alive when Christ returns. Hal Lindsey, author of the famous book The Late Great Planet Earth, predicted 1980 to be the end, and has had to revise his dates every 10 years or so. Other books have predicted: Christ Returns by Reasons Why, 88 Reasons Why The End Will Take Place In 1988, 89 Reasons Why The World Will End In 1989, September 15, 1994: Last Day And Return of Christ, and, The End of The Age - May 31, While most of the world was celebrating the turn of the century in 2000, many people were cringing in fear, dreading the disaster that would be Y2K. There was widespread panic as the year 1000 approached as well. There are several Catholic groups who are warning of the imminent return of Christ based on non-approved claims of apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Pope Benedict has called on Christians not to heed doomsday warnings that the world will end on December 21, Several films and documentaries have promoted the idea that the ancient Mayan calendar predicts that doomsday is on Dec. 21, As many as 90,000 people are expected to attend a massive event in Guatemala City on Dec. 21, 2012 just in case the world actually does end, while tour groups are promoting doomsdaythemed getaways. But the pope said that Jesus does not describe the end of the world, and when he uses apocalyptic images, he is not acting the prophet. On the contrary, he wants to stop his disciples of every epoch from being curious over dates and forecasts, and wants to give them the key to... the right road to walk today and tomorrow to enter into eternal life. The Book of Revelation is one of the most misunderstood and abused books of the Bible. It is easily misunderstood because it is filled with symbolism whose meaning is often lost on today s audience. It is abused because some people take advantage of the mysterious symbols in the book and assign their own meanings to them in order to frighten others into thinking that the end of the world is near. So, why is the Book of Revelation written in such a strange and unique style? It s actually a form of literature called apocalyptic literature which deals, not with a catastrophic event (as the word apocalypse is understood today) but with a revelation intended to provide encouragement and hope for people who are suffering through trials and tribulations. In the Old Testament, the Book of Daniel is an example of apocalyptic literature. When the Book of Revelation was written (around the year 100 AD), the early Christian Church was suffering many persecutions. For many, it seemed as though the end was near and, for some, it indeed was. The Book of Revelation was written to speak to this struggle and to offer hope in the midst of what seemed like a lost cause. Some of the symbolism in the Book of Revelation is indeed a coded language so as to protect Christians who practiced their faith illegally in the Roman Empire. For example, it is believed that the numbers 666 are a code or symbol to represent the Emperor Nero who was seen as the epitome of evil to Christians. In essence, the Book of Revelation tells the story of the eternal struggle between good and evil a struggle in which evil often seems to have the upper hand. In every age, this seems to be true from time to time. Like the early Christians, we are in need of hope in the face of seemingly desperate situations when all hope seems lost. Despite the many frightening images in the Book of Revelation, the story climaxes in the ultimate triumph of good. The Book of Revelation does not predict anything for the future except for one event: the glorious victory of Jesus Christ at the end of the world. We do a great disservice to the Bible when we try to make it a series of predictions for our own times.

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