SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT.

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1 The Most Reverend Edward B. Scharfenberger, D.D. Bishop of Albany The Very Reverend David R. LeFort, S.T.L., V.G., Rector The Reverend John Tallman, Parochial Vicar The Reverend Paul Mijas, Parochial Vicar Timothy Kosto, II, Deacon In residence The Most Reverend Howard J. Hubbard, D.D. Bishop Emeritus Religious Education and Faith Formation Dr. Thomas Fowler Cathedral Social Services Food Pantry Mr. Mark Ciavardoni Director of Music and Organist Dr. Brian F. Gurley Development, Public Relations & Events Mr. Thomas M. Prindle Parish Secretary Ms. Pilar Dell Liturgical Coordinator Mrs. Melissa Martínez Parish Bookkeeper Mrs. Kathy Zorian Facilities Manager Mr. David Ucci, M.B.A Rectory and Cathedral Offices 125 Eagle Street Albany, New York Phone: Fax: Follow us on facebook: Religious Education Office Phone: ext. 4 FFCICa@rcda.org Church Music Office Phone: ext. 5 brian.gurley@rcda.org Social Services Food Pantry Office 93 Park Avenue (basement office) Phone: ciavardm@rcda.org CATHEDRAL OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION In the City and Diocese of Albany Established 1848 Corner of Eagle Street and Madison Avenue (at the Empire State Plaza), Albany Mission Statement We, the worshipping community of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, rooted in the Gospel and the celebration of the Eucharist, seek to make known God s love in the world through serving one another, sharing our faith and welcoming all. Schedule of Liturgical Celebrations The Holy Eucharist (Mass) The Lord s Day: (anticipated Mass) 5:15 p.m. on Saturday 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Sunday Weekdays: Holy Days: Monday-Wednesday-Friday 12:15 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday 7:15 a.m. Please check the bulletin and website. The Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Saturday: 4:00-5:00 p.m....and other times by appointment The Sacrament of Holy Baptism Call the church office to make arrangements for appointment and instructions. The Sacrament of Holy Matrimony Couples should contact the parish office six to eight months in advance of the proposed marriage. The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick If you are anticipating surgery, please contact the parish office. Religious Education To register, and for information, call: , ext. 4 Parish Food Pantry 93 Park Avenue; Basement, Entrance at north side of building Food and personal care items collected on the last Sunday of the month. Food distributed Monday-Friday, l0:00a.m.- 12:00p.m. Pastoral Visits At home or in the hospital, please call the parish office. Tours of the Cathedral are available by appointment; please contact the Rectory Office for information and/or to schedule a tour. Handicapped-Accessible

2 CATHEDRAL OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION ALBANY SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT. First Reading: This passage in Baruch is a response to the destruction of Jerusalem. Written from the Babylonian captivity, the author directly addresses Jerusalem. It offers a vision of total restoration, in which the Holy City is raised back up and restored to glory. Second Reading: Here we experience Paul s deep and heartfelt gratitude for the faithful partnership of the community at Philippi. His prayer for the members is joyful and confident, grounded in God s promise. His desire that their love and discernment increase, along with their purity and blamelessness, is as relevant a prayer for disciples today as it was in Paul s time. Gospel: Luke borrows the imagery from Isaiah as he introduces us to John the Baptist, the cousin of Jesus and the one who begins preparing people for the coming of the Prince of Peace. He is a pioneering figure, hearing God s word and springing into action, going out into the entire region to proclaim baptism for forgiveness of sins. The list of important persons of the day that starts this Gospel passage situates John within the culture and the age. The Season of Advent The liturgy of Advent constantly repeats how we must awake from slumber of habit, lethargy and mediocrity; how we must abandon sadness and discouragement because the Lord is near! Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI Advent Reconciliation Service On Tuesday, December 18 beginning at 7:00pm, the Cathedral will offer our traditional Communal Reconciliation Service. Bishop Scharfenberger will preside. There will also be several visiting priest confessors available for individual reconciliation and absolution. Solemnity of the Nativity of our Lord The solemn liturgies of the Nativity of our Lord are scheduled at the Cathedral as follows: Monday, Dec. 24, 5:15pm Family Mass with Fr. LeFort; and at 11:15pm, a Service of Lessons & Carols with our choirs. Tuesday, Dec. 25, 12:00am Midnight Mass with Bishop Scharfenberger; and 10:00am Mass with Fr. LeFort. Update: 2018 Bishop s Appeal Last Spring, we began our annual Bishop s Appeal here at the Cathedral. This year, our goal had been set at $76,511.00, a reduction of 3% from last year s goal. That sounds like a lot, because it is a lot! But as of the end of November, we have received gifts/pledges totaling $71,424.26, an astounding 93% of our goal! With only a little more than $5,000 to go, we can make our goal by mid-march, the closeout of this year s campaign. If you are already sharing in this annual appeal, thank you! If you have not yet taken the opportunity to share in support of Bishop Scharfenberger and his ministry of shepherding our entire diocese, please consider making a pledge or gift. And to all: thank you for your prayerful and generous consideration. 2

3 SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT Just a gentle reminder If you are among our parishioners who receive collection envelopes and fly south every winter, please call or the parish office to temporarily suspend your envelopes. These envelopes are returned to the Parish Office and we must pay the postage on them. If you let us know when you plan on returning, we ll let the envelope company know when to restart sending them to you. Are you an Amazon shopper? Did you know that when you shop using Amazon Smile, the company will donate a half-percent of each purchase to a organization you choose? Amazon Smile is a simple and automatic way for you to support The Cathedral every time you shop and it comes at zero cost to you. It's a donation made by Amazon in your honor. You just have to select us at smile.amazon.com and use smile.amazon.com instead of Amazon.com whenever you shop. THE EVANGELIST IS SEEKING A NEW EDI- TOR: The Evangelist, the newspaper of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, is seeking a new editor. Go to for information. Please join us for Hospitality after the 9:00 am and 11:00 am mass on Sunday, December 16th. If you would like to assist in this hospitality by either serving, baking or purchasing baked goods, please contact Judy Gilligan at Fr. Jorge Reyes and the diocesan Hispanic Apostolate will be celebrating Mass on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12 at 7:30pm at the Cathedral. 3 Stewardship Treasure The collection for December 2nd was $3, The second collection was $1, Thank you for all you have given to the Cathedral. Cathedral Social Services Thanksgiving dinners were given to 116 Families, each family received a $10.00 gift card to Price Chopper. For a dessert. Thanks to the generosity of our parishioners, Food Pantry and Elks volunteers. As the cold weather approaches us we are always accepting donations of new or used Coats, Hats, Blankets, Scarfs and Gloves. Thank you for your generosity and may God continue to bless you for your many acts of kindness. Cathedral Christmas Flowers and Decorations : A wonderful way to remember your deceased relatives and friends, as well as the living, is to place flowers in their memory or honor in the Cathedral. Please fill out one of the flower envelopes that can be found in church or in the envelope that was included in your latest set of envelopes. Please return your envelope in the collection basket or to the rectory before December 20, Please pray for our sick; Jeffrey Abraham, Robert Buell, Shirley Anderson, Lucy Apisa, Stephen Beattie, Judi Barlow, Carol Bruce, Grace Isabelle Caruso, Carmella Cervera, Mary Faith Colvin, Theresa Cooney, Sr., Gertrude Cosenke, RSCJ, Marc Daniels, John Dare, Jr., Denise Degasparis, Michael Dolan, Ann Doherty, JoAnn DeLucia, Diane Fontanelli, Janette Fusco, Bernice Girma, Karen Goral, Carol Greenshields, Jean Gutbrodt, Bryan Hanley, Sophie Hanley, Jacqueline Heisler, Kenneth Hockeson; Douglas Hoffeler, Dorothy Jordan, Reny Jose, Bill Keane, Amy Keegan, James Laung, Donald Law, Gayle Leonard, Rebecca Leno, Therese Lenz, Diane Lo Prete, Maria Marchio, Marie-Ann Melenfant, John McGrath, Mary Grace Meneses Sr., Maria Mercurio, CSJ, Stephanie Merenda, Diane Mueller, James Murphy, Mary Murphy, Shane O Donnell, Josephine Pitcherale, Marcia Pedone, Catherine Rappazzo, Mark Roman, Matthew Rosato, Megan Ruthman, Elaine Spoor, Jane Strodel, Adam Ventura, Sebastian Vicencio, Richard Warner, Raphael Warner, Rosa Maria Santos

4 December 8, 2018 Cathedral Liturgical Celebrations, Meetings and Mass Intentions for the week of December 8, 2018 December 16, 2018 Saturday, December 8, 11:00 AM Mass For The Solemnity of The Immaculate Conception 5:15PM Mass Sunday, December 9, 9:00AM Mass 10:00AM Faith Formation 11:00AM Mass Intentions: Maike Hickson, Dorothy Cummings McLean, Charlie Specht, and Hilary White 5:00PM Mass Intention: Adam Sean Lanoir Monday, December 10, Tuesday, December 11, 7:15AM Mass 12:00PM AA meeting (rectory) Wednesday, December 12, 7:30PM Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Mass in Spanish) Thursday, December 13, 7:15AM Mass Friday December 14, Intention: John Sulzman Saturday, December 15, 5:15PM Mass Intention: Reverend Stephen Wirkes Sunday, December 16, 9:00AM Mass 10:00AM Faith Formation 11:00AM Mass 5:00PM Mass 4A

5 From Fr. LeFort December 8, 2018 Surely over the last few months, you ve noticed that we pray the Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel at the conclusion of Masses for the Lord s Day. We are doing this at the invitation of Bishop Scharfenberger who has encouraged parishes, families and individuals to adopt this devotion. A further invitation is to encourage families and individuals to pray the Sub Tuum Praesidium prayer each day. The Sub Tuum Praesidium prayer (translated into English as Beneath Thy Protection ) is probably the oldest prayer that we have that addresses our Blessed Mother. A copy of the prayer has been found, for example, on a third century papyrus scroll from Egypt. Like most prayers, it asks for the protection of our Blessed Mother, most especially in times of difficulty or turmoil. All are encouraged to offer these prayers and devotions for our entire Universal Church and her members. Sub Tuum Praesidium Prayer: We fly to Thy protection, O Holy Mother of God. Despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O Glorious and Blessed Virgin. Amen. 4B