Third Sunday of Advent

Transcription

1 W e l c o m e t o S t. P a t r i c k C h u r c h C h a p e l S t r e e t, G r a s s V a l l e y, C a l i f o r n i a Third Sunday of Advent December 14, 2014 Father Sylvester Kwiatkowski, Pastor Father Innocent Subiza, Parochial Vicar James Shea, Deacon Carlos Astesana, Deacon (retired) Brian Moore, Deacon (retired) James Chatigny, Deacon (retired) Mass Schedule Saturday vigil 5 pm Sunday 7:30, 9 and 11 am Monday through Saturday 8:30 am Spanish Mass Saturday 6:30 pm Reconciliation Saturday 3 to 4:30 pm or by appointment Monday through Saturday 7:50 am Eucharistic Adoration See overleaf We, the parish of St. Patrick Church, being one community growing in faith and proclaiming our belief in the message and mission of our Lord Jesus Christ, invite all to open their hearts, hear His call, and become one with the Body of Christ.

2 St. Patrick Church 235 Chapel Street Grass Valley, CA phone fax web Fr. Sylvester Kwiatkowski, Pastor Fr. Innocent Subiza, Parochial Vicar (residence St. Canice Church) Linda Shirkey, Secretary Pamela Magill, Bookkeeper John Evans, Facilities Manager Karen Burford, Director of Faith Formation x 201 karinab@aol.com Barbara Burns, RCIA x 205 burnsla@peoplepc.com Frank Ortiz, Youth Ministry x 204 fortiz_53@hotmail.com Sr. Wendy Mitchell, Marian Consecration Mount St. Mary Academy info@mtstmarys.org For anointing of the sick, hospital visits or communion visits at home, please notify the parish office. Eucharistic Adoration Schedule Friday 9:15 to 11:00 a.m. First Saturday of the month 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. First Sunday of the month 12:00 Noon to 8:00 p.m. PASTOR S CORNER by Father Sylvester Kwiatkowski We have passed the midpoint of Advent and the Church lightens the mood with rose-colored vestments. We are encouraged to continue our spiritual preparation, especially prayer and fasting, for the coming of our Lord. For this same reason, the third candle of the Advent wreath is also rose colored. The Third Sunday of Advent is also known as Gaudete Sunday. This name is taken from the entrance antiphon of the Mass which says, Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice. Indeed, the Lord is near, Philippians 4:4-5. In Latin, the first word of the antiphon is gaudete, or rejoice. To be happy is good, yet joy is something more. It s another thing, something which does not depend on external motivations, or on passing issues: it is more profound. It is a gift. Pope Francis So even though you may be having happy times during Advent, Gaudete Sunday is a moment to stop and reflect on the source of true joy. And if the Advent season has brought causes for stress and sorrow into your life, then lighting the rose candle is an opportunity to take heart and refocus on what the Mass of Christ is all about. Let us pray for the spirit of joy for the coming of Jesus. Our joy in life is rooted in our relationship with God. We trust that no matter what happens in life, our relationship with God is much stronger and can endure whatever comes our way. Our trust in God s love for us moves us to pray without ceasing. Through prayer we can sense God s presence with us and are able to rejoice in the truth that God saves us and makes us whole again. In times of crisis, our first response is usually to complain rather than to give thanks. Our faith demands a different response. We are to give thanks in all circumstances because God is close to all who are in pain and need of comfort and peace. READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK December 15 through December 21 Monday: Numbers 24:2-7, 15-17a Matthew 21:23-27 Tuesday: Zephaniah 3:1-2, 9-13 Matthew 21:28-32 Wednesday: Genesis 49:2, 8-10 Matthew 1:1-17 Thursday: Jeremiah 23:5-8 Matthew 1:18-25 Friday: Judges 13:2-7, 24-25a Luke 1:5-25 Saturday: Isaiah 7:10-14 Luke 1:26-38 Sunday: 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16 Romans 16:25-27 Luke 1:26-38 MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK Monday 12/15 8:30 am Irene Selvester (D) Tuesday 12/16 8:30 am Irene Selvester (D) Wednesday 12/17 8:30 am Anne Elizabeth Feeley (D) Thursday 12/18 8:30 am Frank and Toni Gomez (SI) Friday 12/19 8:30 am The Povoncha Family Living and Deceased Saturday 12/20 8:30 am 5 pm Sunday 12/21 7:30 am 11 am Janet Voors (SI) David Voors (SI) Richard Larson (SI) Christopher Godwin (D) Chuck Pargett (D)

3 FAMILY MINISTRY AND FORMATION Religious Education and Catholic Formation for Our Public School Families REGULAR FAITH FORMATION December 20 and 27: No Faith Formation Christmas Break January 5: Regular Faith Formation Topic: Epiphany and Stewardship WHAT IS FAMILY MINISTRY AND FORMATION? Family Ministry and Formation is a unique and dynamic religious education process that teaches our Catholic Faith to the children, youth and parents of our community, including preparation for the Holy Sacraments of First Communion and Confirmation. Please note that preparing children or youth for the sacraments is a two-year preparation process. For more information about our program, please call Karen at , x 201 or at karinab@aol.com. WANTED: ANGELS AND SHEPHERDS! The 4 pm Mass on Christmas Eve is our Family Mass in which we enact the Christmas story. This is a great way for children and families to celebrate the birth of Jesus! Practice will be on Sunday, December 21, after the 11 am Mass and costumes are provided. Older children and youth can help too by serving at the Mass as readers, greeters and ushers. We also need parents or youth to help with the children during the pageant. For more information and to sign up, please contact Karen at , x 201. MORE THAN DISCIPLES Each of today s four scriptural roles disciple, prophet, apostle, herald forms a facet of our life in Christ as we live it day by day. Isaiah tells us that a prophet is anointed, as we were anointed at our baptism in water and the Spirit, to bring glad tidings and to promote God s reign of healing, justice, and peace. An apostle, like Paul, is one who is sent. Each of us, in his or her own way, is sent by Christ to be a voice of rejoicing, to encourage prophetic voices in the world, and to make sure that the work of the Spirit thrives. John the Baptist shows us the job of the herald, making the Lord s way straight, announcing the coming of the Light of the world. Today we also hear from Mary, model disciple. Her song, the Magnificat, shows us the world we must believe in and work for: one in which God is praised, where God s favor is bestowed on the humble, where the hungry are filled and the rich are sent away empty, a world that continues to know and rejoice in the mercy of God that lasts for all ages. Copyright J. S. Paluch Co. LIGHTHOUSE CATHOLIC MEDIA This weekend the Knights of Columbus is excited to introduce a new addition to our ongoing Faith Formation and Evangelization efforts here at St. Patrick. Thanks to the generosity of our own Knights of Columbus council and a $1,000 donation by Gino and Barbara Tonin, the vestibule of our church contains a beautiful new kiosk filled with Lighthouse Catholic Media CDs, books, booklets and pamphlets. These provide dynamic educational and inspirational materials about our Catholic Faith and feature many of the best Catholic speakers and authors we know today, such as Venerable Fulton Sheen, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, Scott Hahn, Jeff Cavins, Matthew Kelly, Johnette Bencovic and more! Lighthouse Catholic Media is a Not-for-Profit organization, so your donations for the materials you take will help us keep this ministry going. The suggested donation amounts are $3 for each CD, $2 for booklets, $5 for books, and $.50 for pamphlets. You will also find these suggested donation amounts listed on the kiosk. Pick up some CDs for the young people in your life, for people who d like to know more about the Catholic faith, or for yourself! They re great for road trips or just driving to school or work every morning then watch how the Lord uses those CDs to touch hearts! There will be someone by the kiosk after Mass to answer any questions you may have. Please take a few minutes to see what we have to offer. PILGIMAGE TO FATIMA LAST CHANCE Join Father Simon Twomey March 16-27, 2015, on a pilgrimage to Portugal and Spain Lisbon, Fatima, Nazare, Santarem, Santiago de Compostela, Burgos, Zaragoza, Montserrat and Barcelona. This all-inclusive tour is $3,495 per person from Sacramento. For more information or a brochure, please contact Cathie Ensel or (cell). CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE Christmas Eve/Vigil 4 pm Children s Mass 6:30 pm Vigil Mass 9 pm Midnight Mass Christmas Day Masses 7:30 am,, 11 am PILGRIM VIRGIN OF FATIMA STATUE The Pilgrim Virgin of Fatima statue has been visiting homes throughout the parishes of St. Canice, St. Patrick and St. Dominic in Colfax since 1991, making over 500 home visitations. The statue represents Our Lady herself who s message is to bring peace and who s purpose is to prepare the family or individual for Consecration to her Son s Sacred Heart. The statue stays in the home for at least nine days so that a novena can be made. We are in need of a home to bring the Pilgrim Virgin of Fatima to during these holy days of Christmas. Do you feel a call to invite her into your home? She is waiting. Please call Helen at

4 ST. PATRICK MEETINGS THIS WEEK Mon 12/15 7:50 am 7 pm Tues 12/16 7:50 am 9:30 am 6 pm 6 pm 7 pm Wed 12/17 7:50 am 11:30 am 6:30 pm Thurs 12/18 7:50 am 10:30 am 6 pm 7 pm Fri 12/19 7:50 am 5 pm Sat 12/20 7:50 am 9:15 am Sun 12/21 10 am 12:30 pm Divine Mercy Choir Practice O.L. Perpetual Help Legion of Mary Choir Practice Knights of Columbus Men s Bible Study Divine Mercy Bible Study Luncheon Bereavement Liturgy of the Hours Charismatic Prayer Group Christmas Program RCIA Christmas Party Eucharistic Adoration Choir Practice Families of Nazareth Opening Doors Catechism Round Table FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP ~Our Return to God~ Sunday Collection 12/7: $13,325 Weekly collection budget for fiscal year: $10,769 Thank you for your generosity! POINSETTIAS REQUESTED Your donations of Poinsettias, any size, would be gratefully appreciated by the Altar Committee. They will be used to adorn the altar during the Christmas Season. Please bring them to the Church vestibule after the Masses on Dec. 20 and 21, but not before. Thank you. SPECIAL COLLECTION FOR THE RETIREMENT FUND FOR RELIGIOUS Today there will be a second collection Retirement Fund for Religious. The Collection for the Retirement Fund for Religious provides vital support for the retirement needs of senior sisters, brothers and religious order priests. It also helps ensure that younger members can continue the good works of their elders. Please prayerfully consider a generous contribution to the Retirement Fund for Religious. ST. PATRICK STEWARDSHIP Here we are finishing the second week of Advent, preparing the way of the Lord. With all of the many distractions around us, and we know there are many for all of us, how do we "prepare the way of the Lord?" The most basic and true way, as individuals, is to prepare our own hearts and minds for the Word made incarnate. Without the birth of Christ, all that we have, and truly all that we only need, would not be here. His death and resurrection, giving us His forgiveness and limitless mercy, would never have occurred. With the sacrament of Baptism, we rejected Satan and all his works. We were given a clean slate. Our souls were cleansed of the stain of original sin. For most of us that happened as infants, and the recognition of that great sacrament wasn't truly manifested to us. We do know, though, that since that time throughout our lives we fell from the graces of God by our own actions. Sins were and, unfortunately, continue to be a part of our lives. Thanks be to God! "Forgive us our trespasses!" With and in Christ our sins are forgiven through God. With the sacrament of Reconciliation/Penance, and contriteness in our hearts, we are absolved of our actions and once again placed into a full state of grace. thus receiving the graces necessary to sin no more. As human beings it is an unending and humiliating endeavor. Thanks be to God! God's love and mercy is limitless! He is always there for us! No matter how tragic the situation may be, He listens, knows, and answers our prayers in ways that we don't understand. This coming Tuesday evening, December 16, there will be a Penance service starting at 6:30. We are being given the opportunity to "prepare the way of The Lord" in the truest manner possible. Take advantage of this wonderful opportunity given to us by all of the priests/confessors who will be here to provide this fulfilling sacrament. Pondering thought: "Forgive us our trespasses." Pat Gerving ADVENT RECONCILIATION LITURGY Join us on Tuesday, December 16, at 6:30 p.m. as we celebrate God's mercy and forgiveness! The evening includes scripture, music, and individual time with a priest. Several priests will be on hand and we hope you will take advantage of feeling God's healing in preparation for Christmas. ST. PATRICK HALL REFRIGERATORS AND FREEZER At the end of each month the refrigerators and freezers will be cleaned out as needed. Please remove all your items by the 26th of each month. Anything left in the appliances will be discarded. As those who use the refrigerators know, there are items and spills that have been left for indefinite amounts of time. We hope this procedure will provide a cleaner environment for our food supplies. If you have any questions, please call John Evans, Facility Manager,

5 PARISH BOOK CLUB GATHERING All parishioners are invited to a meeting of the St. Patrick and St. Canice Book Club on Tuesday, December 30, at 7 pm in the Angel s Nest. The Angel s Nest is located at the back of St. Patrick s Church and can be reached by walking along the outside right wall of the Church. The meeting will last about an hour and a half. We will be discussing Mother Theresa, Come Be My Light: the Private Writings of the "Saint of Calcutta, edited by Brian Kolodiejchuk, M.C., Doubleday 2007, ISBN The book is available on line or at your favorite bookstore. The discussion will be led by Michael Moreland. In addition to stimulating conversation, coffee, tea and cookies will be provided. INTERFAITH FOOD MINISTRY It s that time of year when you can sponsor an Interfaith Food Ministry family for the holidays. A $20 donation allows one family to receive one Christmas dinner. A $40 donation allows two families to receive Christmas dinners and so on. This donation provides a ham and all the trimmings to families registered with IFM or The Food Bank of Nevada County. Checks can be made payable to IFM, 440 Henderson Street, Grass Valley, CA or made through our website PRO LIFE WALK FOR LIFE WEST COAST Advent a time of change and preparation for the birth of our Lord Jesus! The birth of a new baby a child a unique human being is a wonderful time. Too many parents struggle with this event due to society culture and pressures that have reduced this child to a commodity. Let s change that. Join us for the 11 th Annual Pro-Life Walk for Life West Coast in San Francisco on Saturday, January 24, We have one 56-seat bus reserved. There is a seat for you! $25 per person gives you the round trip bus ride; coffee, juice, donuts, rolls before we leave; and bottled water and snacks during the walk. To reserve your seat on the bus, or get info, call Charlie Babiarz at or your RSVP to WFLbusGrassValley@gmail.com. For additional info, history, resources, etc, check out the Walk for Life West Coast web site at Then take action and RSVP your place on the bus and pray for life! RCIA ALUMNI CHRISTMAS PARTY Calling all past RCIA participants and sponsors. You are invited to celebrate Christmas with the current RCIA inquirers, catechumens, candidates, sponsors, and team. Our Alumni Christmas Party will be held on Thursday, December 18, in the small hall beginning at 5:30 p.m. We will have food, music, caroling, and a white elephant gift exchange. So, go through your closets and garage for a gift, bring your singing voice, and join us for an evening of fun. If you can attend, please RSVP to Barbara at burnsla@peoplepc.com or Let us not be justices of the peace, but angels of peace. St. Thérèse of Lisieux TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION The tradition of anointing the sick with blessed oil is very old, but developed slowly and unevenly in the first eight centuries of the church s life. St. Augustine, who wrote volumes of homilies from his thriving church in North Africa, plus pastoral directives, letters, and memoirs, never mentions it at all. We know from ancient prayers that it did happen in Rome, Milan, Gaul, and the British Isles. In Rome the bishop blessed the oil of the sick, but it could be applied by a priest, deacon, or a layperson. It seems that sick persons could even anoint themselves. St. Genevieve of Paris was known for anointing the sick in her care. Perhaps inevitably, complaints of abuses, and even trickery by sorcerers, brought an end to this consoling practice. In a dangerous world with a dispersed population, clerics may have preferred that this hands-on care was a lay privilege. The purpose of anointing, however, was not simply healing, but forgiveness of sin and an experience of saving power of Christ. By the year 800, dioceses everywhere were REFLECTING ON GOD S WORD Certain watchwords are associated with each season of the church year, almost becoming a motto. Advent s is Wake up. It then leads to other words like Watch, Wait, and Witness. But every Third Sunday of Advent, we anticipate the coming Christmas season, whose key word is Rejoice. This Sunday was traditionally called Gaudete ( Rejoice ) Sunday. Priests continue to wear rose-colored vestments today, signaling joy. Joy is not only for Christmastime and the occasional Sunday. I remember as an altar boy, before Vatican II, Mass began with the prayers at the foot of the altar. The priest would begin: I will go up to the altar of God. The server responded: To God who gives joy to my youth, or as some translations had it, To God, my exceeding joy. It was a reminder that God is the source of all joy and that joy is one of the great gifts of God, one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. St. Paul reminds us that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22 23). Now there is a good list for Christmas giving. Tell your loved ones your Christmas gift this year will be to pray throughout the coming year that the Spirit will bring them one of these gifts. John s gift to the people who came out into the wilderness was to call them to prepare for the Lord, to give them a sense of heightened anticipation that the One coming to them would fill them with joy. James A. Wallace, C.Ss.R. Copyright 2014, World Library Publications. All rights reserved. organizing rituals for priestly anointing. Although anointing of the sick is reserved to priests today, perhaps this treasured memory will enrich the future of the sacrament. Rev. James Field, Copyright J. S. Paluch Co.

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