Fourth Sunday Of Advent December 20, 2015 Christmas December 25, 2015 The Pastor s Christmas Prayer Pope Gregory the Great spoke of the place where Jesus was born. In one sense he could say Jesus was born in a stable in the city of Bethlehem (Hebrew for house of bread ). In another sense Pope Gregory the Great said that Jesus was not born in a house but rather along the road of human nature. We can pray with Pope Gregory in this way: Dear Lord, Christmas is a unique day because Jesus was not born just in one place, or one day, but He is of all eternity. He always was, is now and always will be. Jesus, you come to me for no other reason except to find me, give me your mercy and lead us back to Paradise. You have always accompanied me along the road of my life, as you do all peoples of all times. Show me your road that leads to paradise because my road is filled with detours, disrepair and dead ends. On your straight road you have built many refueling stations called churches. Energize me in your Church with the bread of life and all the other spiritual road services called sacraments that I may follow your road alone, that leads me back to Paradise. May the Blessed Mother, the guardian of the road to heaven, be for me a sure sign you have posted along the road to guide me on the right path. Reduce the road rage in my life and let this Christmas help me be kinder, gentler and more open to my family, friends, neighbors, colleagues and strangers. I offer this prayer to You who lives and reigns forever and ever Amen 2015 CARDINALS APPEAL So far this year our parish has donated $150,000 for the running of the institutions of our great archdiocese. We are shy of our goal by $7,000. I mention this because last year, parishioners put us over the top in December of 2014 by making their donations at the end of the year. Perhaps there are parishioners who can put us over the top by making their donations to 2015 Cardinal s Appeal before January 1 st. It is also a tax deductible donation. You may write your check to the 2015 Cardinals Appeal and drop off at the rectory or send directly to 1011 First Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10022 Thank you and God Bless you. ATTENTION USHERS: Please come to a Thank You for all you do meeting, TODAY, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20 TH at the Considine Center. We will also plan for Christmas and New Years Masses. RECTORY OFFICE The Rectory office will close at 2:00pm on Christmas Day. Tithing & Stewardship Weekly Goal $18,000 December 13 th - $15,577.74 Retired Religious - $5,459.94 Immaculate Conception - $2,156.00 Christmas is a special time of giving. This giving very much includes prayerful and generous donations to our own parish. Each worshipper is asked to give thanks to God for our parish by a generous show of support in the Christmas collection. Second Collection on Christmas Would you consider an extra donation to the second passing of the basket on Christmas Day? Our parish has a reserve fund for major capital repairs for our 100 plus year old buildings. With this second collection we can project the extent to which we can repair or update our facilities. Thank You The Poor At Christmas You have an opportunity to help the unfortunate right in our own parish. The Poor Box donations are given to St. Barnabas parishioners who have fallen on hard times. Please know that your anonymous donations are encouraged especially at Christmas time. The Poor Boxes are situated by the church and chapel doors.
Christmas & New Year s Mass and Confession Schedule CHRISTMAS CONFESSIONS Monday, December 14 - RECONCILIATION MONDAY 3:00pm 8:00pm Main Church Saturday, December 19 4:00pm 5:00pm Main Church Monday, December 21 thru Thursday, December 24 th 9:00am 10:00am Main Church/Lower Church Wednesday, December 23 7:30pm 8:30pm Main Church Thursday, December 24 th CHRISTMAS EVE NO CONFESSIONS IN P.M. CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE Thursday - Christmas Eve 4:00pm - HS Chapel Youth Choir 4:10pm - Main Church 4:15pm - Lower Church 7:30pm High School Chapel - Pageant 11:40pm Christmas Carols Main Church Midnight - Main Church - Adult Choir NO CONFESSIONS ON CHRISTMAS EVE Friday - Christmas Day 7:30am 8:45am 9:00am 10:30am 11:45am 11:55am 1:00pm 1:00pm - Main Church - HS Chapel (Italian) - Main Church - HS Chapel - Main Church- Adult Choir - Lower Church - HS Chapel Main Church No Evening Masses - No Confessions Saturday, December 26 Feast Of The Holy Family 5:00pm - HS Chapel (Vigil for Holy Family) 7:00pm HS Chapel (Vigil for Holy Family) Sunday, December 27 Usual Sunday Schedule NEW YEAR S MASS SCHEDULE Thursday, December 31 5:00pm High School Chapel 7:00pm High School Chapel Friday, January 1 7:30am Main Church 8:30am Main Church 10::30am Main Church 1:00pm - High School Chapel (Year s Deceased) NO EVENNG MASS ON NEW YEARS DAY
LIVING NATIVITY CHRISTMAS DAY at 8:45am Italian Mass in the High School Chapel Lectio Divina Reflection: Today s Gospel is Luke 1:39-45. What is your attitude toward adolescents, the elderly, the unborn, the poor? What does it mean that salvation came to the world first through them? Lectio Divina is a tool in your faith toolbox to help you tackle the problems in your life. Contact Helen McCullagh 915-237-1595 for more information. Join us for a Session on Sunday morning from 9-10:15am in the Considine Center. Bread and Wine Memorials All 60 daily Masses in one month $100.00 All 8 Sabbath weekend Masses in one week $ 75.00 Four Sabbath weekend Masses in one month $ 50.00 All 15 daily Masses in one week $ 25.00 One Sabbath Weekend Mass in one week $ 15.00 Sanctuary Lamp Memorial Weekly $10.00 Gifts of Bread and Wine DECEMBER 4 Sabbath weekend Masses in one month : In memory of Olive & Oscar Greene and Ivy & George Sankar 4 Italian Masses In loving memory of Anthony, Lina Carlotta Piraneo Requested by their loving family The Sanctuary burns this week for Elizabeth & John Sr. & John Caldwell Memorial Mass For Year s Deceased Friday, January 1 st 2016 at 1:00pm in the High School Chapel Family and friends of our loved ones who were buried from Saint Barnabas Church this past year and are very welcome to join in our annual Mass for parish deceased. Souls in purgatory no longer have the benefit of the Eucharist; however, we can apply the benefits of our Masses to them. Please come to offer Mass for their intention. Saint Barnabas Men s Group Join them for coffee and lively discussions on our Catholic faith on Saturday mornings from 9:00am to 10:00am in Room 1-6 of the Considine Center. All men in their 20s-40s are welcome to attend. Please contact Ben Smith at benang2000@yahoo.com Can you help us decorate the churches for Christmas? If you have some spare time please stop by the Main Church tomorrow (Monday, December 21 st ) at 2:00pm Please come to polish, to clean, hang wreaths, put out the manger, and situate the poinsettias. Help make our church, chapel and lower church special for Christmas. Christmas Pageant Play Our annual Christmas Pageant Play will be held on Christmas Eve at the 7:30pm Mass All Saint Barnabas Parish children are invited to participate. Please contact our Music Coordinator, Ms. Shana Mahoney at manuguerra@aol.com or 212 960-3314 for more information. MASSES FOR THE WEEK MONDAY, December 21 6:30 Frank McGurk 8:30 Bridget Hanrahan and Patrick & Sean Tallon TUESDAY, December 22 6:30 Igino Ferentini 8:30 Diane Brennan and Marie Albert Lombardi 7:00 Henry Lessel WEDNESDAY, December 23 6:30 Philip James MacDonald 8:30 Michael J. Brennan and Eamon Duffy (2 nd ANN) 7:00 Elizabeth Caldwell THURSDAY, December 24 6:30 Catherine Rudkins 8:30 Eamon Duffy and Nora, Thomas & James Brennan FRIDAY, December 25 SATURDAY, December 26 8:30 Dec. Members of the Martin Family and James Fitzgerald 12:00 Brian Fallon (5 th ANN) and Bridget Brennan 5:00 Michael Mahoney 7:00 Michael Roche Baptismal Instruction Classes Parents wishing to have their children baptized at Saint Barnabas must attend one of the classes that are held normally on the second and fourth Monday of each month prior to arranging the child s baptism. The classes are held in the Elementary School Library at 8:00pm. No registration necessary. The next class for December will be held on Monday, December 28 th
The Parish Council is taking nominations for fellow parishioners who are worthy to receive the Parish Loyalty Award Plaque. These honors will be awarded at the annual parish volunteer party on a weekend in February (date to be determined due to our Sunday Discovering Christ Lenten Program). Nominations qualifications are a parishioner in good standing and of long and valuable service to the parish. Please submit nominations in writing and the reason why you are nominating them. Leave your letter at the rectory to the attention of Monsignor. The Lay Vicariate Council of the Northeast Bronx is working on a pilgrimage in honor of the Year of Mercy for all our deanery parishes. We will choose one of the five holy sites designated by Cardinal Dolan for our pilgrimage in order to obtain a plenary indulgence. We are looking at a Saturday day trip in the Spring. Congratulations to all our Second Graders who received the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time last Saturday. A special thank you to our catechists and 2 nd grade elementary school teacher who worked lovingly with our children to bring them to this great plateau in their spiritual life. CONFESSIONS Parents please know that the confessions have been heard for all students in our CCD and Elementary School for Christmas. Contributions toward Christmas Decorations Flower envelopes are available in the vestibule this weekend. If you wish your donation to be made in memory or appreciation of someone, please write their names(s) on the envelope. These names will be announced in a January bulletin. Eucharistic Vigil For the Holiness of Priests and Holy Vocations CHRISTMAS NIGHT December 25 th, 2015 8:00pm 7:00am at Our Lady of Shkodra 361 W. Hartsdale Road, Hartsdale 914 761-3523 7:00pm Thanksgiving Mass to the Sacred Heart and The Most Precious Blood of Jesus Celebrant: Rev. John Tino 7:00am Benediction followed by Thanksgiving Mass to Our Lady of Good Counsel Celebrant: Rev. Peter Popaj, Pastor 24 Saint Barnabas Festival Youth Choir Members Some of our talented Youth Choir member will be traveling on December 31st to Rome to sing the Epiphany Mass on January 6th, 2016 in the Sistine Chapel with Pope Francis! We congratulate the choir, and our thoughts and prayers are with them as they journey to the Vatican for this oncein-a-lifetime opportunity: Jennifer Anderson Maddisyn Campagnone Hannah Davis Pauline Gilmore Caitlyn Madigan-Power Chiara Manuguerra Fiona Martin Claire Mills Catriona Moriarty Kaylee Price Caitlin Thompson Amara Valerio Mary Beirne Zoe Coll Jamie-Lynn Figueroa Christina Jimenez Emilee Mahoney Sophia Manuguerra Kara McCourt Margot Mills Julia O'Sullivan Samantha Ramos Katherine Timmons Leyla Valerio CHASE THE GAME HOLIDAY BASKETBALL CLINIC at Saint Barnabas Elementary School Gym FOR BOYS AND GIRLS 9:00am 12noon GRADES K 4 12 noon 3:00pm GRADES 5 8 MONDAY DECEMBER 28 th THURSDAY 31 st, For more information please call (914) 320 5297 or email chasethegame1@juno.com CLASSIFIED Expressions Flower Shop NEW LOCATION ON MC LEAN New Address: 843 McLean Avenue Contact: 914 237-3900 718 231-1500 Facebook.com/expressionsflowershopyonkers Turning Those Special Moments Into Beautiful Memories PRO LIFE CORNER "Give us the grace - When the sacredness of life before birth is attacked, to stand up and proclaim that no one ever has the authority to destroy unborn life." Pope John Paul II
The Archdiocese of New York celebrates the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy 8-Day Pilgrimage to Rome April 1 8, 2016 Led by His Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan Participate in the Papal Mass on the Feast of Divine Mercy. For a brochure call 516 605-1551 or e-mail peter@petersway.com Aisling Irish Community Center FEEDING THE HOMELESS While we will all spent hundreds of dollars buying gifts this holiday season for our loved ones, please spare a thought (and a few dollars) for those who are less fortunate and call Fifth Avenue and other streets of New York their home each night. Volunteers are at the Aisling Irish Community Center every week to prepare 800 sandwiches which are later brought down to NYC and handed out at various locations to the homeless. They are also very grateful to the local businesses that supply them with soup, tuna salad, bagels, bread rolls, etc every week another testament of the generosity of business owners in our neighborhood! If you would like to make a small tax deductible donation as a gift to provide food for the homeless, please go to https://www.fundraise.com/aisling-irish-communitycenter-inc/feed-the-homeless. Thank you for helping them to reach out a helping hand to those who need it. WOODLOCH PINES TRIP - The Woodlawn Chapter 1147 of the AARP is having a trip to Woodloch Pines Resort located in the Pocono Mountains. The trip is scheduled from May 16, to May 20 th, 2016. For more information, contact Vicki Linton at 914-969-3610. The Yonkers Public Schools 2016 School Choice Process Now is the time for Yonkers parents/guardians to enroll their children for September 2016 placement in schools. To register, call the District s Information Center at 914 376.8050 to schedule an appointment. Sisters of Saint Elisabeth Convent in Minsk, Belarus are participating in Christmas markets and festivals exposing the items made in their monastic workshops. One of such is being held on Columbus Circle at 59 th Street and Central Park West until December 24 th. Please stop by and visit their booth they would make great Christmas gifts. Prayer Requests For The Sick & Endangered Please submit names of all those who are in need of prayer, cut this box out and return to the rectory office. Name: Due to limited space, we can only publish for 2 weeks Robert Mutchsler Parker Williams Craig-Ann Rocket Monday, December 21 12noon 2:00pm Playgroup (CC 1-4 1:00pm 3:00pm Leisure Club (CC 1-6) 3:00pm 9:00pm Cub Scouts (CC 3-4) 6:00pm 9:00pm BAC (HS Gym) 6:30pm 8:00pm AA (CC 2-6) Tuesday, December 22 12noon 2:00pm Playgroup (CC 1-4) 3:00pm 9:00pm Cub Scouts (CC 3-4) 7:00pm 9:00pm 12 Steps (CC 2-6) 9:00pm 10:30pm Msgr. Barry Bsktball League (HS Gym) 9:00pm 11:30pm McNiff Basketball (ES Gym) Wednesday, December 23 12noon 2:00pm Playgroup (CC 1-4) 1:30pm 4:00pm Golden Age (CC 1-6) 3:00pm 6:00pm BAC (ES Gym) 3:00pm 6:00pm Greenan Music (CC 2-4) 6:00pm 9:00pm BAC (HS Gym) 6:30pm 9:30pm Boy Scouts (ES Gym) 6:30pm 9:30pm Bingo (HS Caf.) 7:00pm 9:30pm A.A (CC 2-6) 9:00pm 10:30pm Msgr. Barry Bsktball League (HS Gym) Thursday, December 24 7:00pm 8 AA (CC 2-6) Friday, December 25 7:30pm 9:30pm A.A (CC 2-6) Saturday, December 26 9:00am 11:00am EMS (CC 2-6) Sunday, December 27 9:00am 10:15am Lectio Divina (CC 1-4) Banns Of Marriage For the First Time: Kevin Forde & Yury Pelaz For the Second Time: Michael J. McMorrow & Kara Armstrong Terence Flynn & Kaitlin Blaine Kevin Magee & Ann O Brien Darren Loftus & Thelma Connaughton The Sacrament of Baptism We welcome into the Roman Catholic Church and our parish community the following child who was recently baptized here at St. Barnabas: Lucas Anthony Bojaj, child of Paljoka & Pashka Rest In Peace Let us pray for our deceased parishioners, benefactors, relatives, members of the Armed forces, for those who are most forgotten and for those who recently died especially: Frank Joseph Coppola, Laura Buckley and Conor Breidenbach.