FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23, Rev. Thomas J. Whitman, Pastor Director of Religious Ed: Sr. Sandy Pedone, H.M. Parish Secretary: Lori Vasconi Financial Secretary: Carol Koch Maintenance: Brad Goodall Music Director: Mary Messina Office Hours Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM (closed 12:30-1:30 PM) Schedule Saturday Vigil - 5:15 PM Sunday - 8:30 & 11:00 AM Weekday: M, T, Th, Fri - 8:00 AM Wed. - 12:10 PM (Check weekly bulletin for changes.) Confessions Saturday: 4:00-4:30 PM or by request. Religious Education Program Sundays, 9:30 AM - 10:45 AM CCD Grades K-10 at Case Avenue Elem. School, Grade 11 in the church annex. Our Lady of Perpetual Help Every Wednesday after the 12:10 PM in the Mother s Chapel. Shenango Valley Catholic School System Mr. William Lyon, Principal, Kennedy Catholic Middle and High Schools: 724-346-5531 Mr. Joshua Testa, Principal St. John Paul II: 724-342-2205 PARISHIONER PRE-REGISTRATION FORM NAME STREET CITY & ZIP PHONE E-Mail Place completed form in today s collection basket or drop it off in the church office. New Member Address Change Update Info Baptism: Please contact the parish office to schedule a time and date. A pre-baptism class is required. No baptisms during Advent and Lent. Matrimony: By appointment six months in advance. Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA): Please call the church office at 724-981-3232. Prayer Line: For intentions, please call 724-342-3456.
PASTOR S COLUMN CHURCH CALENDARS: The church calendars for the year 2019 are available at all the exits. We are grateful to McGonigle Funeral Home for sponsoring these calendars again this year. CHRISTMAS MASSES: es for Christmas Eve are at 4:30pm, 7:00pm, and Midnight. on Christmas Day will be at 9:30am. CHRISTMAS COLLECTION: As we have done in the past, we will tithe (10%) of the Christmas Collection to the Prince of Peace Center. Your generosity to this collection will help to support the great work of the Prince of Peace Center. In the past we have people who have come forward anonymously to match what we give to Prince of Peace. So far I have one person who will match what the parish gives to Prince of Peace from this collection. PARISH COMEDY NIGHT: Mark Friday, January 18, 2019 on your calendar! We will be holding another parish comedy night consisting of dinner, professional comedians with clean humor. These have been wonderful evenings and we hope you will consider joining us for this year s event. Invite family, friends and neighbors. Tickets are on sale weekdays in the parish office during regular office hours or with Fr. Tom after weekend es. Consider them as stocking stuffers for Christmas! REFLECTIONS ON THE READINGS: See Christmas Message Parish Organizations Altar Servers Sr. Sandy Pedone, H.M. (724) 981-3232 Baptismal Class Fr. Tom Whitman (724) 981-3232 Catholic Daughters of America Pauline Radasevich (724) 962-2001 Choir / Music Ministry Mary Messina (724) 977-8025 College Care Packages Deb Nevant (724) 866-2465 Cursillo Liaison Mary Beth Jones (724) 346-5050 Eucharistic Ministers Fr. Tom Whitman (724) 981-3232 Food Pantry TO VOLUNTEER ONLY (724) 877-4171 Garden & Grounds Committee Fr. Tom Whitman (724) 981-3232 Hospitality/Greeters Bryon Anzevino (724) 962-0801 Knights of Columbus Tom Rookey (724) 347-7224 Liturgy Committee Sandy Swogger (724) 866-4923 Liturgy of the Word for Children Sr. Sandy Pedone, H.M. (724) 981-3232 Money Counters John Bonomo (724) 981-3232 Parish Advocate for the Disabled Catherine Holl (724) 347-4423 Parish Building & Maintenance Committee Frank Connelly (724) 346-5247 Pastoral Council Neil Ostheimer (724) 981-3232 Prayer Chain Joan Stoudt (724) 342-3456 Pre-Cana Dennis & Mary C. Rubano (330) 448-1935 Prince of Peace Soup Kitchen JoAnne White (724) 347-5027 Pro-Life Catherine Holl (724) 347-4423 Quilters Joann Sangregorio (330) 448-8733 R.C.I.A. Sr. Sandy Pedone, H.M. (724) 981-3232 Religious Education Sr. Sandy Pedone, H.M. (724) 981-3232 Sacramental Prep. Sr. Sandy Pedone, H.M. (724) 981-3232 Sacristan Stephen Pass (724) 877-5225 Sister Parish David U Halie (724) 983-1998 Small Christian Communities Kay Stockan (724) 347-3830 St. Joseph Parish Finance Committee Jim Black (724) 981-7510 St. Rose/St. Mary Cemetery Carol Koch (724) 346-3711 Ushers Fr. Tom Whitman (724) 981-3232 Vacation Bible School Sr. Sandy Pedone, H.M. (724) 981-3232 West Hill Ministries Mary Beth Jones (724) 346-5050 Women s Guild Jo Anne White (724) 347-5027 FEATURED FOOD PANTRY ITEM Next week s featured item - Toothpaste. Please place your donation in the shopping cart located in the Gathering Space. UPCOMING FEATURED ITEMS Canned Fruit - Cereal - Crackers If you d like to volunteer, please report to the church s lower level at 8:00am on our next distribution day, Friday, January 4. PLEASE PRAY FOR: Alice Fabrey, Tony Perry, Darlene Lenhart, Mary Lou Brandon, Lorraine Penhos, Fran Ray, Ed Thomas, Joe Simko, Ann Jofery, Anna Hines, Ed Benedict, John Keaveny and Bill Lasche. MINISTRY SCHEDULES Eucharistic Minister * Lector * Altar Server * Greeter The 2019 1st quarter Ministry Schedule for weekend es, January 5 through March 31 is now LIVE and available online via the Web Terminal. Please log on to https:// www.rotundasoftware.com/ministry/stjosephchurchsharon to view and/or print your schedule. For those who do not have internet access, please pick up your copy of the schedule on the credenza in the Gathering Space. Welcome St. Joseph Parish Community Welcomes All New Parishioners & Visitors! You are always welcome here at St. Joseph Parish. If you are considering or would like to join our parish, we welcome you to please pick up a Welcome Packet which are located at each entrance. You may place your completed census form in the offertory basket during, drop it off at the parish office during our normal weekday office hours or mail it to Saint Joseph Church, 79 Case Ave., Sharon, PA 16146.
Christmas Message The twenty-fifth day of December, unknown ages from the time when God created the heavens and the earth and then formed man and woman in his own image. Several thousand years after the flood, God made the rainbow shine forth as a sign of the covenant. Twenty-one centuries from the time of Abraham and Sarah; thirteen centuries after Moses led the people of Israel out of Egypt; eleven hundred years from the time of Ruth and the judges; one thousand years from the anointing of David as king; in the sixty-fifth week according to the prophecy of Daniel. In the one hundred and ninety-fourth Olympiad; the seven hundred and fiftysecond year from the foundation of the city of Rome; the forty-second year of the reign of Octavian Augustus; the whole world being at peace, Jesus Christ, eternal God and Son of the Father, desiring to sanctify the world by his most merciful coming, being conceived by the Holy Spirit, and nine months having passed since his conception, was born in Bethlehem of Judea of the Virgin Mary. This is the nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the flesh. How do we understand this birth of Jesus, this Incarnation of God into human life? It is truly a profound mystery that invites us to reflect year after year on the richness of God s love and care for each one of us. No matter how often we reflect on this Christmas miracle we always come away with a new insight into the goodness and graciousness of our God. There was a television show called Son Rise about a couple who had an autistic child. They wanted their son to change and enter into their space, their world. And they did everything they could to get that child to enter into their world and to be like them, the normal people. And then one day the parents realized that they would have to enter his world. Indeed the only way to relate to their son, the only way to be closer to him was to leave their world behind and enter his. It was nonsensical and grueling to do so. The mother entered into the child s world on his terms, day after day sitting on the floor, playing seemingly silly, goal-less games with this child, waving her hands and entering his world. After years many days and thousands of hours of this her son spoke to her! Tears rushed to her eyes as she embraced her son. By entering his world she connected with her son. There s the incarnation. That s the mystery of Christmas. That s the price God paid for us. God entered our world on our terms to feel the reality of being human, so we could speak back to God who would understand. May you come to experience and know in this season the closeness of our loving God, a connectedness to God. May the light from his eyes be your guide in moments of darkness. May the warmth of his breath increase the warmth of your heart. May the gentle touch of his hand calm your every fear. May the strength of his embrace give you courage in all your endeavors. And may the assurance of his presence bring you his peace. On behalf of the parish staff, I would like to wish you and your family a very Blessed and Joyful Christmas Season. Our prayer is that the peace the Christ child brings will be the peace that dwells with you each and every day of the New Year. FUNERAL Our sympathy and prayers to the family of Josephine Caruso. May her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.
Intentions +Indicates Time Monday, December 24 Is 62: 1-5 / Acts 13: 16-17, 22-25, Mt 1: 1-25 or 1: 18-25 Is 9: 1-6 / Ti 2: 11-14 / Lk 2: 1-14 Is 52: 7-10 / Heb 1: 1-6 / Jn 1:1-18 or 1: 1-5, 9-14 (Office Closed) CHRISTMAS EVE +4:30 Joe Perrine (Dave & Vicki Miller) +7:00 Marilyn Stott (Family) Tuesday, December 25 Is 62: 1-5 / Acts 13: 16-17, 22-25, Mt 1: 1-25 or 1: 18-25 Is 9: 1-6 / Ti 2: 11-14 / Lk 2: 1-14 Is 52: 7-10 / Heb 1: 1-6 / Jn 1:1-18 or 1: 1-5, 9-14 (Office Closed) CHRISTMAS +12:00-Midnight -Alex Radkowski (Family) +9:30 Gertrude Ruhley (Dorothy & Bill Ogg) Wednesday, December 26-Acts 6: 8-10; 7: 54-59 / Mt 10: 17-22 Office/Church Closed Thursday, December 27 1 Jn 1: 1-4 / Jn 20: 1a, 2-8 Office Closed +8:00 Carmine Trenga, Sr. (Linda Delcostello) Friday, December 28-1 Jn 1:5 2:2 / Mt 2: 13-18 Office Closed +8:00 M/M John Kutchenriter (Son) Saturday, December 29-1 Sm 1: 20-22, 24-28 / 1 Jn 3: 1-2, 21-24/Lk 2: 41-52 The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph +5:15 Albert Bateman (Cal Bateman Family) Sunday, December 30 1 Sm 1: 20-22, 24-28 / 1 Jn 3: 1-2, 21-24/Lk 2: 41-52 The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph +8:30 Velma Ryan (Tom Phillips Family) +11:00 Mr. & Mrs. Clarence Wareham (Gene & Barb) Saturday, 29, Vigil 5:15 PM Ministry Schedule for December 29/30 M. Norman T. H. Cole, F. Smeraglia, S. Messina, P. Dach, D. Dach, K. Bonomo, Volunteer A. Jordan, M. Jordan, N. Jordan GS: F. Giroski, L. Volansky Fr: J. Bello Sunday, 30, 8:30 AM Sunday, 30, 11:00 AM S. Cleary P. Miller, J. Walsh, P. Emery, J. Vukovich, R. Vukovich, S. Delp, S. Swogger M. Bundrant, P. Haroldson, V. Haroldson GS: C. Dunn M. Joseph L. Dach, Volunteer, U. Goda, V. Mulligan, P. Piccirilli, S. Feeney, J. Sherbine, D. Ranelli, J. Grandy, G. Smith, D. Yao A. Anzevino, H. Busi, R. Busi, C. Joseph GS: B. Anzevino, A. Ward Fr: C. Krochka, B. Shelley CL L. Voytko WEEKDAY-HOSPITAL December 30 25 - Closed SRMC - G. Smith 26 - Closed Nugent - P. Dach 27 - Closed Clepper - F. Smeraglia
TICKETS ARE ON SALE AFTER ALL MASSES OR THROUGH THE WEEK IN THE CHURCH OFFICE DURING OFFICE HOURS.