CORPUS CHRISTI CATHOLIC CHURCH

December 29, 2013 The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph CORPUS CHRISTI CATHOLIC CHURCH 6300 McKenna Drive, Mobile, Alabama 36608 Email: Church@CorpusChristiParish.com! Website: www.corpuschristiparish.com TELEPHONE NUMBERS Parish Office: School Office: Rel. Ed. Office: Preschool Office: Youth Ministry: 342-1852 Fax 342-6313 342-5474, ext. 1 Fax 380-0325 342-5474, ext. 7 Fax 380-0325 342-2424 Fax 343-3119 342-1852 Fax 342-6313 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 342-1852 or 342-1420. 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 (342-1852) 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 (342-1852). 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 3K through 8. For info & registration, please call the school office. FULL-DAY CHILDCARE, for 6-week to 2-yr. olds. For info & registration, please call the preschool office

THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY, AND JOSEPH The Octave Day of the Nativity of the Lord: Mary, Holy Mother of God Holy Day Mass Schedule Tues., Dec. 31: 5:30 p.m. Vigil Mass Wed., Jan. 1: 10:00 a.m. Mass The Parish Office will be closed Dec. 31 & Jan. 1. Calendars for 2014 The 2014 church calendars are available in the vestibule. Ple ase sup p o rt th e ad ve rtise rs o n th e b ac k o f th e b ulle tin Their ads enable us to have our bulletins printed at no cost to the parish. Ads are purchased through Diocesan Publications. For info contact them at 1-800-292-9111 or www.diocesan.com. Once a month 3 rd Sunday 5:30 p.m. Mass During the school year (Sept. to May), we have an extra Sunday Mass the 3 rd Sunday of each month. High School students serve. Receive Emails from the Parish Please send your email to church@corpuschristiparish.com. 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 Ed. Room Classes resume Wednesday, Jan. 8 Bib le Stud y Gro up s Sundays, 8:45-10:45 a.m. in the school counselor's conference room. Breakfast is served also. We are studying Mark s Gospel. Tuesdays, 7:00-8:30 p.m. in the Parish House (except on the 2 nd Tuesday, in the school library). Info: Dave Burchette, 367-6660. Women s Bible Study: Thursdays, 9:00-10:45 a.m., Conference Rm., Com.Ctr. Penny Claiborne, 776-5850, claiborneps@aol.com or Joanne Donaghey, 554-6753, joannekd@aol.com Help keep YOUR CHURCH neat! When leaving your pew at the end of Mass, please take the song sheets, bulletins, and other materials with you! This will be very helpful to those who tidy up the church after Mass. Thank You! If you did not receive in the mail a copy of Corpus Christi s new Guide Book, please notify the parish office at 342-1852 or Church@CorpusChristiParish.com. CORPUS CHRISTI SCHOOL Op e n Ho u se Sunday, Jan. 5: From 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., representatives will welcome visitors for tours of the school and campus. Personal Tours at other times can be arranged by calling the school office, 342-5474, ext. 1. New Student Registration: Tuesday, Jan. 21, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Wednesday, Jan. 22, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. www.corpuschristiparish.com/school SUNDAY SCHOOL (CCD) No Classes Dec. 29. Classes resume on Sunday Jan. 5. Info: SundaySchool@CorpusChristiParish.com, or 648-4441. High School Confirmation Candidates Saturday, Jan. 11: Retreat Day at Visitation Monastery, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Note to Parents: Please walk your student in so you can sign him/her in. Parents and family members are invited to join the candidates for the closing Mass at 3:30 p.m. Extend a personal invitation... If you know someone who has left the Catholic Church or someone who may want information or who may have questions about the Catholic Church... Extend a personal invitation to them to call 342-1852 to speak with one of the priests who will be more than happy to take time to answer questions and provide information. Also extend a personal invitation to them to come to one of the Masses, or to come to our Adult Religious Education Classes. Or extend a personal invitation to fellow Catholics to learn more about their Catholic Faith in our continuing Adult Education program, or to phone or make an appointment with one of the priests to discuss any question, or request information. Your personal invitation could make all the difference in the world. A Christmas/New Year s Baby Shower for newborn babies to two-year olds for 2B Choices for Women Crisis Pregnancy Center Diapers of all sizes, but especially Size 3 and Size 4, are needed. Also needed: Items, such as baby wipes, shampoo, wash, powder, oil and bottles. Please no food or formula. Thanks to all who have been donating year-round at Corpus Christi. 2B greatly appreciates your donations to help babies and women. Please place donations in the designated box in the vestibule through Sunday, Jan. 12.

CORPUS CHRISTI CHURCH, MOBILE, ALABAMA DECEMBER 29, 2013 High School Youth The next Youth Ministry gathering will be a movie night on Sunday, January 5, from 6-8pm. The Corpus Christi High School Youth Ministry meets on the 1st and 3rd Sunday evenings of each month. Our program, modeled after the USCCB's document Renewing the Vision, is a comprehensive approach to youth ministry utilizing the eight components identified in Renewing the Vision as a framework: advocacy, catechesis, community life, evangelization, justice and service, leadership development, pastoral care, and prayer and worship. CCHSYM offers students Religious Education, opportunities for leadership, service, and prayer. Our 3rd Sunday of the Month 5:30pm Parish Mass offers the teens not only an opportunity to worship together, but to serve as members of the parish in roles as lectors, altar servers, and in the youth choir. We build community through our social events and through our collaboration with youth groups throughout the Archdiocese. More information can be found on the Parish website, the Corpus Christi High School Youth Ministry facebook page, or by emailing corpuschristihsyouth@yahoo.com. Men of St. Joseph Tuesdays, 7 to 8 a.m. in the Family Room Also Wednesdays, 7-8 p.m. in the Parish House All men are welcome to meet for prayer, reading the Gospel, and discussion. Info: Jim Donaghey, jbd@orthomobile.com or www.menofstjoseph.com. Wed Evening Info: Walter Bracewell, 599-1650 or walter.bracewell@yahoo.com Women of Mary Wednesdays, 7 to 8 p.m. Room 3 (2 nd Floor of the Community Center) All women are welcome to meet for prayer, reading the Gospel, and discussion. Info: Sr. Deborah Kennedy, R.S.M., 753-4872. Knights of Columbus Meeting: 2 nd Tues., Jan. 14, at 7 p.m., at the Parish House. Contact: Grand Knight, Bob Wheat, 490-9350. 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. In-Need Drop Box: This In-need drop box is next to the food pantry drop-off box in the vestibule. Parishioners are encouraged to fill out a card with your need and contact information, and deposit it in the locked drop box. Your information will be held in strict confidence and a member of our society will contact you. Join the Society of St. Vincent de Paul by attending a meeting. Meetings: 1 st & 3 rd Wed., 6:30 p.m., Com. Ctr. Conf. Rm. (2 nd Flr.) To obtain assistance, call 432-5173 and leave name & phone no. 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. Widowed Persons Support Group For information call parishioner Glen Porter at 666-8977. What do you get for the person who has everything? PURPOSE. Give the ones you love an opportunity to live life with Purpose. Internationally acclaimed speaker and author Matthew Kelly and local musician Eliot Morris will be in Mobile to share with us his Passion and Purpose event. This is not your typical church event! It has been a life changing event for tens of thousands of people. It will be held at McGill- Toolen on May 10th from 9-1:30pm. Tickets are $39.00. For tickets or more information call Susie Veasey at 510-5803 or email Susie@icscommunications.com. SUPERSTAR BASKETBALL All Kindergarten and 1 st Grade children enrolled in Corpus Christi School and CCD classes can participate. Please contact Susie Veasey for more info: 510-5803. susie@icscommunications.com First practice: Sunday, Jan. 5. Forms are in the vestibule. Registration Deadline: Sunday, Jan. 5. Wednesday Night Dinner 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Banquet Hall $9.00 for Adults! $4.00 for Children (Age 12 & under) Dec. 18-Jan. 1 ~ No Wednesday Night Dinners [Christmas holidays]. Wednesday Night Dinners resume Jan. 8. Must RSVP no later than TUESDAY EVENING Return an RSVP Card, or call 342-1852 or email WedNightDinner@CorpusChristiParish.com Breakfast Monday through Friday, 7:00 to 9:30 a.m. In the Banquet Hall Resumes Jan. 2. Scrambled or Shell Eggs - 99 Hash Brown Patty - 89 Sausage or Bacon Biscuit - $1.59 Sausage Patty - $1.10 Bacon (2 Slices) - $1.10 Pancakes (2 per order) - $1.29 Grits - $1.09 French Toast Sticks (4) - $1.69 Cereal $1.15 Fresh Fruit - 99 Fresh Fruit Cup - $1.99 Small Juice - 59 Fresh Fruit Parfait - $2.19 Yogurt 99 Bottled Juice $1.39 Nutri Grain Bar - $1.09 Bottled W ater: Large- 99 / Small- 59 ALSO: Fresh Hot Beignets on Tuesdays! ($2.29 per order) Lighthouse Catholic 80 CD Kiosk In the vestibule Provided by the Men of St. Joseph CD s are $3 each, or two for $5. Drop payments in the kiosk. Make checks payable to Lighthouse. Info: Jerry Scott tjscott007@comcast.net or 533-2593. First Friday Adoration 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the chapel. Please sign up for one of the hours at the table in the vestibule. Bulletin Announcements Send bulletin announcements to Bulletin@CorpusChristiParish.com

CORPUS CHRISTI CHURCH, MOBILE, ALABAMA DECEMBER 29, 2013 Welcome, New Parishioners Ricky & Lois Gafford E.J. & Cathy Parker Joseph & Marie Tuohy and their son, Dylan REST IN PEACE Lois Delmas Neno Flowers The flowers before the altar last weekend were placed in memory of Andre Colletti on his 18 th birthday. Given by his family. Flowers The flowers before the pulpit last weekend were been placed in memory of Sue March Given by Richard March & Family. Flowers The additional flowers before the altar this weekend have been placed in memory of Samuel R. Bugg on the 12 th anniversary of his death. Given by his family. Collections totals from last weekend and from Christmas will be posted in next weekend s bulletin Thank You and God Bless You To all who tithe and contribute to support God's work here, those who make a special bequest in their will for Corpus Christi Church. Tax- Saving Tip: A direct donation of appreciated shares of stock will benefit not only the church but also the donor: The church receives the shares, and the donor saves by not having to pay the capital gains tax, and by being able to deduct the full amount of the value of the stock to reduce his/her income tax. For info, or to transfer shares of stock to Corpus Christi Church, contact your stockbroker, or call Steve Setterstrom at Citigroup Global Mkts. at 470-1060. Offering Envelopes If you wish to use Offering Envelopes, just notify the parish office (342-1852). An initial set will be sent to you right away, and then, every two months, you will receive a two-month s supply of envelopes. Online Giving With Online Giving you can either make a one-time contribution or set up a recurring automatic withdrawal from a checking or saving or credit card account: Go to www.corpuschristiparish.com; click Church ; then click the green Online Giving icon on the side left of the church s homepage. Follow the instructions to contribute to the tithing or building fund or special collections. For assistance, call 1-800-348-2886, ext 4, or the parish office, 342-1852. Silent Night On Christmas Eve, 1818, the carol Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht! was heard for the first time in a village church in Oberndorf, Austria in the Church of St. Nicholas. The German words for the original six stanzas of the carol we know as Silent Night were written by a young priest, Father Joseph Mohr, in 1816. On Christmas Eve, 1818, Father Mohr journeyed to the home of musician-schoolteacher Franz Gruber who lived in an apartment over the schoolhouse in nearby Arnsdorf. He showed his friend the poem and asked him to add a melody and guitar accompaniment so that it could be sung at Midnight Mass. Thus was born a song that has worked its way into the hearts of people throughout the world. Now translated into hundreds of languages, it is sung by untold millions every December. In 1859, John Freeman, Episcopal bishop of Florida, published the English translation that is most frequently sung today. The version of the melody that is generally sung today differs slightly from Gruber s original, which was a sprightly, dance-like tune in 6/8 time, as opposed to the slow, meditative lullaby version generally sung today. A version recorded by Bing Crosby is one of the fewer than 30 all-time singles to have sold 10 million (or more) copies worldwide. My First Christmas In Heaven I see the countless Christmas Trees around the world below, with tiny lights like heaven s stars reflecting on the snow. The sight is so spectacular, please wipe away that tear, for I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year. I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear, but sounds of music can t compare with Christmas choirs up here. I have no words to tell you, the joy their voices bring, for it s beyond description to hear the angels sing. I know how much you miss me, with sadness in your heart, but I am not so far away. We really aren t apart. So please be happy for me now. You know I hold you dear, as I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year. I send you each a special gift, the gift from heaven above. It is the gift of love I send, more precious than pure gold, and always is the most important in stories Jesus told. Please love and keep each other as our Father said to do, for I can t count the blessings God has for each of you. So have a Merry Christmas, and wipe away that tear. You know, I m spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year. Author Unknown

Why Is Mary Called Mother of God? Q. Calling Mary the Mother of God seems wrong and unacceptable. How can anyone be God s mother? A. Your misgivings are understandable. On the face of it, without knowing the historical background of the title ( Mother of God ), such a title for Mary might sound ridiculous and even blasphemous. However, when we speak of Mary as the mother of God, we, of course, do not mean that she was the mother of God the Father. We do not mean that she was God s parent from eternity, but that she was the mother of Jesus when he took on our human nature. Jesus, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity (One God, Three Divine Persons), was truly divine, truly God, from the first moment of his coming in the womb of Mary. Here is the historical background for the title: In the early centuries of the Church, ways of presenting and speaking about the mystery of the divinity and humanity of Christ and the mystery of the Trinity led to controversies that were settled at the early Councils of the Church just as the first major controversy (over whether or not Gentile Christians had to keep all the requirements of the Mosaic law) was settled at the Council of Jerusalem around 50 A.D. The Council of Nicaea I, in 325 A.D. was the first council to deal with the Christological and Trinitarian controversies. That council was followed by the Council of Constantinople I in 381 A.D. But it was the next council, the Council of Ephesus, in 431 A.D., that dealt with the teaching of the bishop Nestorius, which was seen as denying the unity of the divine and human natures in the Person of Christ. It was at that Council of Ephesus that the Church gave Mary the title (in Greek) of Theotokos (God-bearer) to proclaim that the child she gave birth to was not only human but also truly divine. She carried in her womb, and gave birth to, the divine Son of God, the divine Word of God who did not consider his divinity a thing to be clung to, but who emptied himself, taking on the nature of a servant (Philippians 2:6-7). The title Mother of God was used to proclaim Mary as the Mother of the divine Son of God made Man. The Council of Ephesus thus decided that the shortest and most direct way to pinpoint the basic belief that Jesus is truly God is to say simply: Mary is Theotokos, bearer or mother of God not from eternity, of course, but as he comes into this world in his human nature, in the womb of Mary. No one can accept that brief statement without believing that Jesus is both divine and human. He had a mother as we did, and therefore he is one of us. And yet, the child of that mother was God, not by some later fiction, but as he came from her womb. The Greek title Theotokos (God-bearer), which the Council chose, was already commonly applied to Mary in Christian worship and devotion long before the Council of Ephesus. The title Mother of God came into official Christian doctrine as a vital part of belief about Jesus himself, not primarily as a way to honor Mary. It does, of course, reflect honor on her to have had such an intimate share in God s plan of salvation. In Luke s Gospel, Mary is greeted by Elizabeth as mother of my Lord. Mary is the Mother of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is God (John 20:28). Therefore, Mary is Mother of God. My being proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit finds joy in God my savior, For he has looked upon his servant in her lowliness; all ages to come shall call me blessed. God who is mighty has done great things for me, holy is his name. Luke 1:46-49

Handel s Messiah George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) was a German- British Baroque composer, famous for his operas, oratorios, anthems and organ concertos. In his youth, Handel was the most sought after composer in Europe and became very wealthy. But as time went by, his operas lost their appeal. By age 52 he was deeply in debt. A few years later, in 1741, Handel was asked to write an oratorio based on the meditations on the life of Christ by one of his close friends. Handel felt inspired and completed the work in 24 days. Handel first publicly performed Messiah in Dublin, Ireland, in a music hall. The reviews of Messiah s debut were outstanding. He refused any commission for the initial performances because he said that this was God s work. But when Handel took Messiah home to London for performing, he was not as warmly received. The Anglican clergy were vehemently against it. It was too modern for them, even calling it a sacrilege and blasphemy. Over the objections of local church officials who balked at performing a sacred work in the profane settings of a public music hall, Handel performed Messiah at Covent Garden Theater on March 23, 1743. The critics in London, however, were not impressed. Newspaper reviews were critical. Handel s friend, Charles Jennens, who had supplied much of the text, wrote to another acquaintance: His Messiah has disappointed me... I shall put no more sacred works into his hands to be abused. But the early London performances did give rise to a tradition that has survived to this day. King George II arose from his seat at the beginning of the Hallelujah Chorus, and etiquette at the time demanded that if the King arose, so should everyone around him. Thus the tradition of standing for the chorus was born. Over much of the next decade Messiah was infrequently performed and nearly forgotten. Handel gave the work to the London Foundling Hospital for its fund raising. Every year for the next 20 years, Handel rehearsed and directed the oratorio at sites determined by the hospital, and the work achieved great popularity. Handel became, once again, a respected and rich man. Shortly after his final performance of Messiah in 1759, Handel died. He was buried in Westminster Abbey and more than three thousand mourners attended his funeral. But, as with most creative geniuses, Handel s greatest praise came long after his time. Ludwig von Beethoven (1770-1827) once said, He was the greatest composer that ever lived. I would uncover my head and kneel before his tomb. Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809), after hearing Handel s Messiah for the first time, admitted: He was the master of us all.