THE WISE STILL SEEK HIM. December 1, First Sunday of Advent

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1 CHURCH OF THE EPIPHANY December 1, 2013 First of Advent Church Address 8235 S.W. 57 Avenue, Miami, Florida Ministry of Religious Education & Pastoral Services Mrs. Isabel Prellezo, Directress Telephone: Office of Development & Parish Affairs Mr. Edmund F. Onorati, Director Telephone: Ministry of Music Mr. Thomas Schuster, Organist Mr. Angelo Marchese, Cantor Mr. Georgi Danchev, Choirmaster Telephone: School Sister Margaret Fagan, IHM, Principal Ms. Ana Oliva, Vice Principal 5557 S.W. 84 Street, Miami, Florida Telephone: Fax: Convent Sister Carmen Teresa, IHM, Superior Telephone: Rectory/Mailing Address 8081 S.W. 54 Court, Miami, Florida Telephone: Fax: Masses Monday-Friday 6:30 & 8:00 a.m. Saturday 8:00 a.m. Saturday Vigil 5:30 p.m. 8:00, 9:30, & 11:00 a.m. 12:30* & 6:00 p.m. (*Spanish) Rosary Daily 7:40 a.m. Novena Mondays 8:30 a.m. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in the Church Monday-Friday 7:00-8:00 a.m. & 8:30-9:30 a.m. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in the Adoration Chapel Thursdays 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Sacrament of Reconciliation Saturdays at 4:30 p.m. Sacrament of Baptism Call the Parish Office two months in advance. Sacrament of Matrimony Call the Parish Office ten months in advance. Monsignor Jude O Doherty, Pastor Father Luis Largaespada, Associate Pastor Deacon Don Livingstone Deacon Norman Ruíz-Castañeda Deacon José Luis Carrión, Jr. Deacon Thomas V. Eagan Deacon Marcos Pérez THE WISE STILL SEEK HIM

2 Pastor s Pen Today is the first of Advent. For the next few weeks we will be contemplating and celebrating the coming of Christ into the world. For many people, this means primarily a backward look. Every year at Advent, they turn their faces to the past, roll back their thoughts 2000 years and celebrate the birth of a Baby in Bethlehem. And that is a valid part of the season. Certainly, we are all grateful for the Christmas story and all that it means. How poor our lives would be without it! But, Advent is not simply a matter of history. The writers of the new Testament glanced backward with gratitude, but then, they faced forward with hope. They spoke to us, not simply of the Christ Who had come, but also of the Christ Who is coming. That is the emphasis of our gospel reading for today. Jesus was talking with His disciples about His coming, but not in any historical sense. He pointed their thoughts toward tomorrow and sought to prepare them for the fact that He was coming again. His emphasis was on preparation and expectation. He told them that His coming would be a repeat performance of what happened in the days of Noah. In other words, many people would not be expecting it, and therefore, would not be prepared. He said, "Two men will be out in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding meal; one will be taken and one will be left." Then He added this exhortation, "Stay awake, therefore. You cannot know the day your Lord is coming." Obviously, He was telling His disciples two things: one, that He was coming again; and two, that they should expect Him at any and every moment. to happen. But I don't expect that to happen today, and I am not going to pretend that I do. I am trying to understand Advent in a way that will have meaning for my life here and now. The coming of Christ into the world should be something more than a dim memory or distant hope. For us, it would be a present reality. Not just history or prophesy, but personal experience; that is what the coming of Christ should mean to us. The time that we least expect Him is today. So look for Him; that's when He said He was coming. But don't look for Him in the clouds; look for Him on the streets. That is where He will most likely be found, among people who need Him. Look for Him in the face of a child. Look for Him by the bed of a sick friend. Look for Him in a home where the father and mother are out of work, and the necessities of life are in short supply. Look for Him close by a young person who is in trouble at school, in trouble at home, in trouble with the law. My prayer for us this Advent season is that we will become spiritually alert, that we will cultivate an awareness of Christ, that we will train our eyes to see Him, not just in the past, not just in the future, but now. He comes to us everyday in many different ways, but most of us miss Him, for the simple reason that we are not expecting Him. I do not believe that Christ was telling His first disciples or us to be constantly expecting the end of the world. And that is what His future coming means in the minds of many people. They associate it with the end of the world and the end of everyday life as we know it. I believe that Christ will return someday to mark the culmination of history and the end of time. That will be His Second Coming, and it is a certainty

3 The Goodness of God At Thanksgiving especially we think of the Goodness of God. Most everyone conceives God in terms of goodness. Exactly what the goodness of God means we are not quite sure. I think we tend to give it an economic interpretation or, at least, we perceive Him to be good because of everything He gives us. But, the Scriptures warn us not to draw an equation between the goodness of God and material abundance. We should be grateful for the material blessings we enjoy, but we must not make our spiritual condition contingent upon them. It is fitting and proper that we should give thanks for the food we eat, the clothes we wear, the cars we drive, and the homes we live in. Yet, God forbid, should we awaken in the morning and find everything gone, it would in no way detract from the goodness of God. That is what the goodness of God means--not so much what He gives us as what He is doing with us, working side by side with us in meeting the everyday challenges of life. So we give thanks every day, and most especially on Thanksgiving Day for whatever degree of prosperity we enjoy. But, most of all, we are thankful for His Presence that fills life with meaning and strength and purpose and direction. And we can say with the poet. Yet in the maddening maze of things, And tossed by storm and flood, To one fixed trust my spirit clings; I know that God is good. The goodness of God is expressed best by HIS PRESENCE to us. This is something we all need to know and be more aware of. Sometimes, we are almost afraid to admit it because we don t want to hide behind a religious dream. We want to deal with reality. But, if we can see the truth of it that is what Divine help for daily living really means. It is not something magical or sentimental. It is something real and practical. His Presence does not make life easy; it makes life meaningful. That is what we need. The thing that wears people out in life is not the struggle, but the sense of futility, the emptiness of it all. We can handle the struggle as long as we believe there is a purpose to it, that we are accomplishing something. That is what the Word of God keeps telling us. We are not merely stumbling from meaningless crisis to meaningless crisis. We are going somewhere with God. We are building something for eternity.

4 Mass Intentions Date Time Intention Requested By Readings Saturday 5:30 p.m. + Rafael Becil Raul Moas & Family Nov Otmara Pina Gomez Family + Sergio & Dolores Salas Family 8:00 a.m. + Aguilera Family Members Family Dec. 1 + Ramon Iglesias Iglesias & Ruiz Families 9:30 a.m. + Luis Manuel Lange Family + Blanca Dao Family 11:00 a.m. People of Epiphany 12:30 p.m. + Otto Neuman Neuman-Villalba Family + Aristides Jacobs, Sr. Pistorino Family 6:00 p.m. + Fernando Barros Barros family Castro-Calderin Family Family Monday 6:30 a.m. + Julia Almeida Hernandez Pistorino Family Dec. 2 + Evangelina Delgado Diaz Family 8:00 a.m. + Diego Ricardo Hernandez Parents Hernandez-Zambrano Wedding Anniversary Children + Isabel Garcia-DuQuesne Margarita Del Valle Tuesday 6:30 a.m. + Sally Noble Bouret Fernandez-Silva Family Dec. 3 + Dr. Thomas John Zaydon, Sr. Diana Diaz 8:00 a.m. + Alex Carrion Family + Jose Miguel & Gloria Morales-Gomez Antonio & Elena Cabrera Wednesday 6:30 a.m. United States of America Pistorino Family Dec. 4 + Margarita Amore Diana Diaz 8:00 a.m. + Fanny Gutierrez Castro Family + Sante De Leo Charur Family Thursday 6:30 a.m. + Julia Almeida Hernandez Alicia Aixala Dec. 5 + Amanda Romero Diana Diaz 8:00 a.m. + Jonathon A. Perez Abinader Family + Julia A. Hernandez Durrieu Family Friday 6:30 a.m. + Barbara O Connor Mary Teasdale Dec. 6 + Maria Alvarez Aleida Gutierrez 8:00 a.m. + Epiphany Parish Members + Nelson Simonetti, Jr. Myriam Grad Saturday 8:00 a.m. + Bea Campbell Family Dec. 7 + Arnoldo Robelo Family ( Vigil) 5:30 p.m Soldiers in Harms Way Shahin Family + Angel R. Valls Gallinal Family 8:00 a.m. + Adolfo Velasquez Amanda Rodriguez Dec. 8 + Isabel Garcia-DuQuesne Varona Family 9:30 a.m. I.H.M. Sisters Pistorino Family Eladio Almeida Pistorino Family 11:00 a.m. People of Epiphany 12:30 p.m. + Blanca Yolanda Gomez Monsalve Reardon Family + Fidelina Fraga Alfonso Jorge & Gloria De La Osa + Felix A. Rosabal Family 6:00 p.m. Alice & John Scott Family + Pedro Acosta Miriam & Raymond Lopez Is 2:1-5 Ps 122:1-9 Rom 13:11-14 Mt 24:37-44 Is 4:2-6 Ps 122:1-9 Mt 8:5-11 Is 11:1-10 Ps 72:1-2,7-8, 12-13,17 Lk 10:21-24 Is 25:6-10a Ps 23:1-6 Mt 15:29-37 Is 26:1-6 Ps 118:1,8-9, 19-21,25-27a Mt 7:24-27 Is 29:17-24 Ps 27:1,4,13-14 Mt 9:27-31 Is 30:19-21,23-26 Ps 147:1-6 Mt 9:35-10:1,5a,6-8 Is 11:1-10 Ps 72:1-2,7-8, 12-13,17 Rom 15:4-9 Mt 3:1-12

5 Mass Schedules December 7 / 8 Celebrants Lectors Altar Servers Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion Saturday 5:30 p.m. Msgr. Jude O'Doherty Sarita Baigorri Debra Menegay A. Gomez D. Granados F. Granados D. Hazday L. Hernandez J. Jimenez M. Khonsary J. Krause COORDINATOR:Kathy Moorman HOST:Kathy Moorman John Moorman Luis Siman Sandy Rogowski Craig Rogowski Cristina Velarde Jose Garcia 8:00 a.m. Fr. Luis Largaespada Lourdes Boue Calene Candela R. Renzi E. Rudd COORDINATOR:Andres Aguirre HOST:Amanda Rodriguez Andres Aguirre Chuck Broyard Ed Onorati Tom Beier 9:30 a.m. Msgr. Jude O'Doherty Gaby Lopez Monica Johnson A. Pujol A. Rodriguez I. Rodriguez C. Vega COORDINATOR:Mari Angel Carrion HOST:Mari Angel Carrion Ron Quintero Rosendo Castillo Lourdes Gonzalez Al Gonzalez Raphael Bastian Nydia Gonzalez 11:00 a.m. Msgr. Jude O'Doherty Guillermo Castillo Ramon Garcia G. Downey G. Figueredo A. Fraga A. Giganti A. Gilbert A. Gonzalez J. Gonzalez S. Gonzalez COORDINATOR:Ely Fleites HOST:Ani Diaz Jorge Diaz Manolo Dominguez Tere Larrieu Manolo Larrieu Ali Gilbert Maite Dominguez Ely Fleites 12:30 p.m. Fr. Luis Largaespada Thais Canizarez Leslie Gonzalez S. Alvarez E. Gonzalez COORDINATOR:Mary Gonzalez HOST:Mary Gonzalez Humberto Gonzalez Raul Zabala Tere Molins Delfin Molins Frank Varona Liliana Acosta 6:00 p.m. Fr. Luis Largaespada John O'Sullivan Julio Ramirez M. Wood S. Aviles H. Bertematti A. Camacho G. Campo A. Candela A. Carballo C. Castillo COORDINATOR:Rosa Maria Portuondo HOST:Rosa Maria Portuondo Ignacio Portuondo Rosy Verde Georgina Angones Frank Angones Ana Maria Perez Armando Verde

6 Bulletin Board Stewardship Corner JESUS IS COMING A curious little girl asked her kindergarten teacher, Why did God want to be born in a stable? Her teacher smiled and said, Because God wanted to show us that He loved every one of us, rich and poor alike. He sent His Son to all people to open the gates of heaven for us. The season of Advent begins today. The four weeks of Advent prepare us to celebrate the mystery of the Incarnation. God became human to bring us out of the darkness into His eternal light. During Advent, the liturgy stresses, not only penance, but also hope, light, joy and surrender. How can you really get ready to receive Jesus on Christmas Day? Why not begin preparing in a special way? Don t get caught up in the race of parties, shopping and cooking. Perhaps you can attend mass even once in a weekday during Advent, or visit the Lord during the day. Pray the rosary or just stop for a moment during the day to pray in your own words. One of the best ways, especially if it has been a while, is to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation so that on Christmas Day you give the greatest gift to God...yourself. We all realize that at Christmas time, we want our home to be decorated... Christmas presents under the tree fun and excitement Christmas dinner...friends and relatives...exchanging gifts a glass of cheer. All of these traditions are wonderful as long as we never forget the true meaning of Christmas. Jesus is born...born in a stable, wrapped in swaddling clothes, the breath of animals keeping Him warm and Angels singing, Glory to God in the highest and peace to all men of good will. Prepare for Christmas! Give baby Jesus the gift of yourself! Remember, Jesus is coming! Advent: Our Parish Forty Hours The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed all day and night in the main church, evening December 8 to Tuesday evening, December 10. We have sign-up sheets at all entrances for you to promise an hour of adoration with the Lord during those 40 hours. This plea especially goes out to those of you who do not participate in Adoration. There are three special evening events:, December 8 at 6:00 p.m. 40 Hours Opening Mass (Plenary Indulgence) Monday, December 9 at 6:00 p.m. Confessions Tuesday, December 10 at 7:30 p.m. 40 Hours Closing Mass Retirement Fund for Religious Whether we know it or not, we have all benefitted from the choice women and men religious made to follow Christ unreservedly. Because of their efforts, we have a system of Catholic education in this country; we have Catholic hospitals and nursing homes; we have social services that reach out to the poor and vulnerable; we have retreat centers - we have a Church alive! We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to them for their selfless service, and this collection is our best opportunity to say thank you. Please be as generous as possible next week to help meet their serious need for financial assistance. God bless you. A second collection will take place on December 7 & 8 and will benefit elderly women and men religious.

7 Bulletin Board Parish Pilgrim Virgin Ministry You are invited to sign up after all the Masses on December 7 & 8 or on December 14 & 15 to receive the Pilgrim Virgin in your home during The visit of our Blessed Mother to our home is an opportunity to pray with her as a family. Family prayer is a great tool to keep Jesus Christ as the center and most important thing in our lives. The next session of our Baptism Preparation Program will be held on Saturday, January 25, The program runs from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Epiphany Parish Center. Attendance by the parents is a pre-requisite to the child s baptism. Church of the Epiphany Website We invite you to visit the website of the Church of the Epiphany and become familiar with the many activities of our parish community. Contemplative Cenacle of the Divine Mercy Monday, December 2 at 7:30 p.m. in the church We meet as a community in adoration and recollection to contemplate and venerate the image of the Divine Mercy. With songs of praise, prayers, the reading of the Gospel of the day, reciting the Chaplet and meditating on the Diary of the Divine Mercy in our souls under the spirituality of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, we allow ourselves to deepen our faith drawing closer with trust to the Fount of Mercy of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Join us! Parish Pilgrim Virgin Ministry During the week of December 1, the Parish Pilgrim Virgin will be in the home of: Vilma Felix Aleida Gutierrez To schedule your visit, please call Patricia & Luis Siman at Christopher Columbus High School CCHS is a private, Roman Catholic, all-boy, college preparatory high school conducted by the Marist Brothers. Open House Saturday, December 7 at 1:00 p.m S.W. 87 Avenue, Miami All interested 7th and 8th grade boys and their parents are welcome to attend. For more information, contact Michael F. Marinelli at , Ext PRAY FOR THOSE WHO ARE ILL: Jacob Alvarez; Sr. Blanca Eugenia Arnaiz, R.A.; Zoraida Barreto; Virginia Bender; Joseph Bronzetti; Mari Aixala Dawson; Ana Alicia Fernandez; Humberto Gonzalez, Jr.; Stephany Kury; Angel David Martinez; Rosi Maza-Saez; Caridad Mora; Elaine Nuehum; Ali Aixala Price; John Michael Portuondo; Violeta Tejera-Avila; Valeria Sofia Terrero; Yaela Vazquez; Teodula Wong. PRAY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE DIED: Manuel Jorge Cutillas; Edilia Puig; Ibrahim Q. Rosell; Haydee Souto; Richard C. Webster, Sr.

8 GIRL GIRL BOY GIRL GIRL BOY BOY Annual Christmas Toy Drive for St. Martin de Porres We are given the opportunity to be generous sharing the Good News of Christ s birth with the people from St. Martin de Porres. Our goal is to provide Christmas gifts for nearly 1,000 children and make Christmas a happy event for them. Gift tags will be available after all the Masses TODAY, indicating age and sex of the children. Make sure the gifts are age and sex appropriate. If a toy requires batteries, please include them. No used toys at this time, please! Wrap gift and firmly attach the original tag. Please deliver the toys to the Religious Education Office no later than Thursday, December 12. Consider Going the Extra Mile! Adopt a family for Christmas. After every Mass this weekend, there will be family sheets available with the names of every member of the adopted family. Be creative! Buy gifts for all family members perhaps include a certificate to one of the supermarkets, or add a few extra goodies. A party for families of St. Martin de Porres, is planned for, December 15. If you are interested in participating in this or any of the above activities, please contact the Religious Education Office at