Christmas Giving Tree 2018

Transcription

1 December 9, 2018 Christmas Giving Tree 2018 Second Sunday of Advent This Week... Catholic Charities Welcomes refugees from oppressed and war torn countries and sponsors them as they adjust to their new lives in Santa Clara County. Home First (Formerly EHC) Provides shelter and meals daily to homeless men, women and families through a multileveled network of transitional and long term housing. Vasona Creek Healthcare Facility Offers short and long term health care and rehabilitation services. Vasona Creek is home to 50 Catholic residents, who are visited by our priests and a team of Eucharistic Ministers to the Sick from St. Mary's. Heritage House Heritage House provides homeless, pregnant women with a safe place to live, nutritious meals, and counseling. Post natal care for mothers and infants continues for one year. Sacred Heart Ministers to the physical and emotional needs of the hungry and homeless through the distribution of food, clothing, household goods, job counseling, and housing assistance. Parisi House Parisi House is Santa Clara County s first mother and child residential alchohol and drug treatmant facility. They provide living facilities for mothers that have made the choice to end the cycle of substance abuse. West Valley Community Services WVCS provide a continuum of basic needs, family support services and housing services to the West Valley comunities of Santa Clara Valley. Next Door, Solutions for Battered Women Provides shelter, meals and counseling for battered women and their children. Next Door is currently caring for 45 women and 60 children. House of Grace Women in transition, and their young children, find shelter, food and counseling at this place full of the grace of God. Casa de Clara A Catholic Worker Home which shelters and feeds women with small children. Casa de Clara follows the model established by Dorothy Day to support the working poor. Outreach to Prisoners Provides Give Us This Day Prayer Books for County Prisoners Saint Mary s Parish Community Annual Christmas Giving Tree Giving Hope and Joy to Those in Need Gifts are Due Today This year our Parish will support 11 agencies that minister to those in need in Santa Clara County. In addition to gifts, we gratefully accept monetary donations made out to St. Mary note: Giving Tree. Anyone who wishes to receive a receipt for tax purposes, please contact Jane at (408) x121 or jnajour@stmaryslg.org. Sun. 9 Mon. 10 Tue. 11 Wed. 12 Thu. 13 Fri. 14 Sat. 15 Sun. 16 2nd Collection - Retirement Fund for Religious CHRISTMAS GIVING TREE Collection at all Masses - LAST DAY Playways 9a Elem Faith Formation 9a & 11a Malankara Mass 1p Parent/Child Reconciliation Retreat 2p Youth /choir Practice 4p WAV 6p Prayer Shawl Ministry 10:15a Adoration and Rosary 6 p Elem Faith Formation 4p Women s Support Group 6:30p EDGE 7p Small Christian Community 6:30a Women s Spirituality Group 8a Prayer Group Meeting 10a Centering Prayer 7p RCIA 7p Advent - Four Weeks10a Organ Practice 4:30p Advent Reconciliation 6p Ecuador Immersion Trip Info Night 6:30p Choir Practice 7p Prayer Group 8 a Centering Prayer 3:30p Scripture Study 9:30a First Reconciliation Service 7p Men s Faith Sharing 6:30 a Adoration Divine Mercy 3 p Robotics Tournament 8a Reconciliation 3:30 p Playways 9a Elem Faith Formation 9a & 11a Malankara Mass 1p Parent/Child Reconciliation Retreat 2p Youth /choir Practice 4p WAV 6p Welcome to St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception For more detailed information about what is happening now and in the future at St. Mary go to our online calendar on our website or on the computer in the parish office. Registration Forms can be found online, in the vestibule of the church or in the Parish Office. 219 Bean Avenue Los Gatos, California fx

2 Stewardship is the grateful response of a Christian disciple who recognizes and receives God s gifts and shares these gifts of love of God and neighbor. We are keeping up with technology! Our parish provides Online Giving as an electronic tool for contributions so you can give via the web. Online Giving helps you maintain your giving even if you cannot be here at Mass. This also helps the parish streamline our cash flow, especially during bad weather or vacation times. Text Giving is now Available... What does this mean? If you have not yet signed up for ConnectNow Online Giving, or even if you have, we are now also providing the ability to text your donation to the Sunday Collection as well as Christmas, Easter and 2nd collections. Number to text to: stmaryslg.org/donate THANK YOU to those who have already signed up for online donations. If you would like to discontinue receiving envelopes please contact Teri at tstucci@stmaryslg.org. Memory Bricks Memory Bricks are a great way to remember a special event, person or loved one in our community. When you purchase a brick your contributions fund our Parish and School buildings & grounds upkeep and improvements. Information and order form can be found on our website at stmaryslg.org/brick-order-form. 1. Text the amount you would like to give to your church s designated number ( For other than Sunday Collection Read Tips Below ). 2. If you are a first time text-giving donor, or not signed up for ConnectNow Giving currently, you will be prompted to visit a secure URL. 3. Once you click the registration link, you will enter your credit or debit card information. 4. At this point your donation will process. 5. You will see a confirmation text showing your donation and registration were successful. For more information on Text Giving go to Thank you for your continued support to St. Mary Church. Our Sunday collections are currently $30,174 behind our goal, as of Nov. 30th. We have been talking a lot about stewardship this fall. In addition to ongoing needs, we have the opportunity to participate in the long-term health and vibrancy of our parish through support of our endowment and consideration of estate gifts. One of our parishioners has generously offered to match contributions made to our endowment up to $20,000. This opportunity is available until December 31, So far we have received close to $5,000. Please consider supporting the future of St. Mary s by participating in the endowment fund. More information about the endowment through the Catholic Community Foundation can be found on our website - stmaryslg.org/parish-endowment. Lightweight Tables/Chairs for Howley Hall/Gym Tables: ~ $4,500 Chairs: ~$16,300 After many years of service our tables are breaking down, many of which are irreparable. The chairs are also showing their age and are in need of replacement. The tables and chairs are used regularly for events by the church and school.

3 New Staff The transition from fall to winter brings with it many changes. Advent begins even as Christmas merriment emerges again. Cycles and seasons, arriving and departing, time and space is the constant reminder that transformation advances in ways that keep us in suspense and wonder at the natural ebb and flow of life. Winter gives us reason to slow down and pay attention. We are more inclined to staying indoors when the weather is wet and cold. Some are making preparations for their Christmas pilgrimage to visit family and friends while still others are preparing to greet their relatives and friends here. We can recognize patterns in nature that ascribe meaning and purpose to our life. Even as fluctuations materialize inexorably throughout our lives, we are challenged to create a sense of permanence in a world of change. Early on in our human development, we become aware of life s patterns. Patterns assure us that what happened in the past will happen again. Sometimes change is what needs to happen. We may live autonomously; still we look to what are universally accepted patterns to guide us. There are many things over which we have little or no control, and the things Advent Schedule ADVENT RECONCILIATION Wed., December 12, :00 p - 8:00 p Priests will be available for Individual Confession Sat., December 15, :00 a - 9:30 a Priests will be available for Individual Confession CHRISTMAS EVE CELEBRATION Monday, December 24, :00 p Mass - Howley Hall 4:00 p Mass - Church 6:00 p Mass 10:00 p Mass Adult Choir (w/ 30 min. prelude) over which we can exert some control are what make us capable of being autonomous. It is also what makes each of us unique. With this in mind, I wish to bid a fond farewell to Jill Montanari and to thank her for her work and service as the Parish Administrative Assistant. She brought her best to the parish office every day by assisting parishioners and staff members alike. She has a deep faith and trust in God, and it showed in the way that she served. Her work in the parish has been exemplary and her friendly and warm manner with those she encountered brought comfort to many. Jill remains a parishioner and will always be remembered with great fondness in the history of this parish. Even while she is leaving the staff, I know we will continue to work together. As with this change, I would like to welcome and introduce to St. Mary Parish Ms. Mary Jane Araya as our new Parish Administrative Assistant. Mary Jane has 17 years of experience working as an employee in the Diocese of San Jose. She has an extensive background in both Catechetical Ministry and Parish Administrative duties. She served at Most Holy Trinity and St. John Vianney Parishes in San Jose. She is married with two grown children, and she tells that she is delighted to be working with us. Please help me welcome Mary Jane Araya to St. Mary Parish. Stop by the parish office and say hello. CHRISTMAS DAY CELEBRATION Tuesday, December 25, :30 a Mass 10:00 a Mass The Niners ***Please note time changes*** *note: NO 9:00 am, 11:15 am & 5 pm mass Mary Mother of God (New Year's Day) Tuesday, January 1, :30 AM Mass

4 Family Faith Formation It s not too late to register for classes! Register online at stmaryslg.org/ faith-formation. For information and to register for Faith Formation classes for all ages go to our website at: stmaryslg.org/faith-formation. For more information contact Terri Trotter at ttrotter@stmaryslg.org. Advent is Here. Our students have been exploring the theme of Advent in their classes. Advent means coming. It is a time to prepare for the coming of Christ at Christmas. We really celebrate a three-fold coming---the coming of Christ as an infant at Christmas, the coming of Christ in our daily lives, and the second coming of Christ. It is a time to prepare our hearts for Christmas by working on changing something that has prevented us from following the path of Christ. As we continue to wait in joyful hope may we be grateful for the many gifts in our lives. What do we remember each week of Advent? Ministry to the Sick - Volunteer Opportunities Can you volunteer to be a Eucharistic Minister to the sick? We need volunteers to join the Sunday Morning Team at The Terraces. The lead minister at each location draws up a schedule at the start of the year so there is a lot of flexibility for members to switch dates as needed. Please prayerfully consider if you might be able to serve. Training and support provided. Contact Jane if interested. jnajour@stmaryslg.org Week 1: HOPE: Week 2: FAITH: Week 3: JOY: Week 4: PEACE: Reminds us that Jesus is coming. Bible Verse: Romans 15:12-13 Reminds us to prepare the way of the Lord Bible Verse: Luke 3:4-6 Reminds us of the joy at the coming of the birth of Jesus Bible Verse: Luke 2:10 Reminds us Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace Bible Verse: Luke 2:14 Ecuador Immersion Trip Information Night Wednesday 12-6:30pm St. Mary Conference Room Please join us If you are interested in an Immersion trip to visit The Working Boy s Center in Quito, Ecuador and Damien House in Guayaquil for the spring trip, with tentative dates of February 12-22, 2019 For more information contact Jill at jillmontanari@gmail.com or or Carol De Carvalho, BVM assoc. at cdecarvalho@yahoo.com

5 PRAY FOR THE DECEASED Edwin Abate Doris Dias Rene Marchand Lee Reik PRAY FOR THE SICK Monica Aitken Larry Beck Vincent Seid We pray for all parishioners who need healing of body, mind and spirit, that Jesus be a source of strength and comfort. To place a name on this list (for three weeks), contact Pastoral Care, x121. You also are invited to write names in St. Mary s Book of Petitions and Prayers in front of Mary s statue in church. National Donor Sabbath Month. The Holidays are upon us. This is a time to reflect on and have gratitude for all of the blessings that we have received throughout the year. While many of us are looking forward to celebrating with our loved ones, thousands of people in our community who are on the transplant wait list will be wondering if this might be their last holiday. Organ and tissue donors can give the most precious gift, the Gift of Life. Organ and tissue donation offers the hope to heal lives and is a generous act supported by Pope Francis and the Catholic church. Your decision to register as a donor gives hope to the thousands who are waiting for a second chance at life. Among them are parents hoping to see their children grow up and kids looking forward to pursuing their dreams, but their future looks uncertain. Be a miracle to someone in need; register as a donor at DonorNetworkWest.org or at the DMV and share your decision with your loved ones. Christmas Giving Tree 2018 Annual Christmas Giving Tree 2018 Collects gifts for individuals and families who will have little or nothing under the tree on Christmas morning. Giving hope and joy to those in need. Please take one or more ornaments from the Christmas tree located in the back of Church. Fulfill the request on the gift tag, return unwrapped gifts for the Christmas Giving Tree by December 9th. Collection baskets are located in our Parish Office and Church. Cash or check donations are welcome and will be used to purchase needed items. Tax donation receipts are available upon request from the Pastoral Ministries Office. Contact Jane Najour jnajour@stmaryslg.org or (408) x121 Thank you for your support and generosity Monday: Is 35:1-10; Ps 85:9-14; Lk 5:17-26 Tuesday: Is 40:1-11; Ps 96:1-3, 10ac, 11-13; Mt 18:12-14 Wednesday: Zec 2:14-17 or Rv 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab; Jdt 13:18bcde, 19; Lk 1:26-38 or Lk 1:39-47, or any readings from the Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary, nos Thursday: Is 41:13-20; Ps 145:1, 9-13ab; Mt 11:11-15 Friday: Is 48:17-19; Ps 1:1-4, 6; Mt 11:16-19 Saturday: Sir 48:1-4, 9-11; Ps 80: 2ac, 3b, 15-16, 18-19; Mt 17:9a, Sunday: Zep 3:14-18a; Is 12:2-6; Phil 4:4-7; Lk 3:10-18 St. Vincent de Paul Society - St. Mary Conference Help Us Help Others in our Community Friday, December 14, :00 PM SACRED HEART PARISH Saratoga Avenue, Saratoga, CA Tickets: $65, $75, $85 Purchase tickets at: or by calling: (4TIX)

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8 Pastoral Administration Parish & Pastoral Ministries Offices: St. Mary School is accepting applications for the school year. The enrollmentprocess can be found on our website: smslg.org. Come to our All-School Open House, January 27, 2019, 10am-1pm. Call the school office with any questions, School office hours: 7:30am - 4:00pm St. Mary School does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and/or ethnic origin, age, sex or disability in the admission of students, the administration of educational policies, scholarships, loan programs, athletic and other school-administered programs. Fax: Fr. Rick Rodoni Pastor rrodoni@stmaryslg.org Fr. Biju Daniel Varghese Parochial Vicar bvarghese@stmaryslg.org Terri Trotter Pastoral Assoc., Director of ttrotter@stmaryslg.org Faith Formation -Infant through Adult Jane Najour Coordinator of Pastoral Ministries jnajour@stmaryslg.org Ellie Busmire Youth Ministry ebusmire@stmaryslg.org Corliss Greene Director of Music cgreene@stmaryslg.org Chloe Leinwand Music Administrative Asst. cleinwand@stmaryslg.org Mary Jane Araya Parish Administrative Asst. mjaraya@stmaryslg.org Teri Shepherd Tucci Business Manager tstucci@stmaryslg.org Coco Parish Cat & Mouser If it is an emergency and you need to reach a priest call x139 x138 x123 x121 x129 x122 x122 x110 x137 Parish Office hours: M-Th 8 a - 4 p (Closed 12-1 for lunch) Open 8:30a - 11:30a Hospitality Sunday -1st Sunday of the Month School Administration School Office: Monica Hernandez Lynne Dickerson Sheryl Becker Kathy Rosendin Fax: Interim Principal Vice Principal Office Manager Administrative Assistant mhernandez@stmaryslg.org ldickerson@stmaryslg.org sbecker@stmaryslg.org krosendin@stmaryslg.org x119 x161 x132 x118 Mass Times Daily: Mon - Sat 7:30 am Saturday (Vigil): 5 pm Sunday: 7:30, 9 & 11:15 am and 5 pm Reconciliation: 3:30 pm on Saturdays Rosary prayed after 7:30am daily mass The presiders schedule can be found on our website at: IMPORTANT SCHOOL DATES 13 - School Advent Reconciliation, 9am-12pm 15 - Robotics Tournament, St. Mary School Gym 21 - Jan 4 - Christmas Break - Merry Christmas & a blessed New Year! Jan am-1pm, All-School OPEN HOUSE! St. Mary School Alumni present at Santa Clara Faith Formation Conference Mai Clifford (Presentation High School), Henry Laurencio and Logan Shannon (Bellarmine College Preparatory), St. Mary School graduates Class of 2018, provided their student perspective at a session presented by our former Vice Principal Cecile Mantecon regarding their experience developing their Capstone Projects while in 8th grade. HOLIDAY SCRIP NOW AVAILABLE! PICK UP A FORM IN THE SCHOOL OFFICE, OR AT smslg.org