St. Raymond of the Mountains 170 School House Lane, P.O. Box 330, Donegal, PA 15628 724-593-7479 A Pennsylvania Charitable Trust and A Parish of the Diocese of Greensburg Parish Staff: Rev. Richard J. Kosisko, Administrator Email... rkosisko@dioceseofgreensburg.org Rev. Teodoro Abner Cortezano, Parochial Vicar Email... tcortezano@dioceseofgreensburg.org Bill Pospisil, Coordinator of Faith Formation Email.... bpospisil@dioceseofgreensburg.org Mary Strucaly, Parish Secretary Email.....mstrucaly@dioceseofgreensburg.org Addy Evangeliste, Bulletin & Parish Website Email.. aevangeliste@dioceseofgreensburg.org Contact Information: Parish Office... 724-593-7479 Parish Fax... 724-593-5934 Website - www.straymondchurch.org Online Giving Service (web base electronic contributions, safe & secure) Visit www.straymondchurch.org, select the Online Giving link and follow the commands Catholic Charities Help Line 1-866-409-6455 In the event of inclement weather: Please check our parish activities of cancellations at KDKA channel 2 BAPTISMS: Please contact the Parish Office for Baptism. CONFESSIONS: Saturday: 3:30 PM. MARRIAGES: Arrangements should be made with the Pastor at least one year in advance. December 23, 2018 MASSES: Saturday (Vigil): 4:30 PM. Sunday: 8:00 AM and 10:30 AM. Daily Mass: 8:00 AM at St. Raymond Chapel (under office) Except Friday. An Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction: Every First Friday of the month after the 8:00 AM Mass until 10:00 AM. Holy Days: See bulletin BULLETIN DEADLINE: Tuesdays at 10:30 AM. PARISH OFFICE HOURS: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Closed Friday. St. Raymond of the Mountains Parish Mission Statement We, the parish of St. Raymond of the Mountains (Donegal, PA) are situated in a resort area and comprised of many rural communities. We come together to share and strengthen our faith in God and each other by celebrating the sacraments and striving to follow God s teaching. We are called to be open to the Holy Spirit and to build a stronger Faith Community by serving the needs of others, by educating, and by welcoming all.
St. Raymond of the Mountains Church December 23, 2018 GOSPEL MEDITATION - ENCOURAGE DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF SCRIPTURE 4th Sunday of Advent Here we are, mere days from Christmas, and we hear a Gospel anticipating the birth of another child. Mary has received word that her cousin Elizabeth is with child. Pregnant as she is, Mary "set out and traveled to the hill country in haste." She has recently received the greatest news of her life - that she is to be mother to the Messiah by the power of the Holy Spirit - but her concern is for her cousin in need. Through God's grace, Elizabeth turns it into an opportunity to honor the coming Christ. "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb." Yet Mary's example of selflessness should inspire us. As Christmas draws near, there is plenty of goodness to anticipate for many of us. We'll reunite with family and friends, uphold time-honored traditions, swap stories old and new, exchange gifts, and welcome Jesus at the Christmas liturgy. These are wonderful things! Of course, they probably all come with their own to-do list. Shop for lastminute gifts, pick up recipe ingredients, ready the guest room, or pack your own bags. Mary probably had things to do as well. She had a lot to consider, for one thing. How do you plan to tell your parents you're pregnant, but no man was involved? When Joseph finds out, who will care for the practical needs of you and your child? Into what may have been a chaos of questions, Mary receives news that someone is in need. She goes immediately. In these final days before Christmas, stay watchful and awake! You never know when God might invite you to welcome, hospitality, and compassion. It might be tempting to reject the opportunity for your own needs. Follow the example of Mary! If God is providing you an opportunity to love, He will provide the means to accomplish all your other tasks. This Christmas season, may you too hear, "Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled." Readings for the week of December 23, 2018 Sunday: Mi 5:1-4a/Ps 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-18 [4] Heb 10:5-10/Lk 1:39-45 Monday: 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16/Ps 89:2-3, 4-5, 27 and 29 [2]/Lk 1:67-79 Tuesday: Vigil: Is 62:1-5/Ps 89:4-5, 16-17, 27, 29 [2a]/Acts 13:16-17, 22-25/Mt 1:1-25 or 1:18-25 Midnight: Is 9:1-6/Ps 96:1-2, 2-3, 11-12, 13 [Lk 2:11]/Ti 2:11-14/Lk 2:1-14 Dawn: Is 62:11-12/Ps 97:1, 6, 11-12/Ti 3:4-7 Lk 2:15-20 Day: Is 52:7-10/Ps 98:1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6 [3c] Heb 1:1-6/Jn 1:1-18 or Jn 1:1-5, 9-14 Wednesday: Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59/Ps 31:3cd-4, 6 and 8ab, 16bc and 17 [6]/Mt 10:17-22 Thursday: 1 Jn 1:1-4/Ps 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12 [12] Jn 20:1a, 2-8 Friday: 1 Jn 1:5 2:2/Ps 124:2-3, 4-5, 7cd-8 [7] Mt 2:13-18 Saturday: 1 Jn 2:3-11/Ps 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 5b-6 [11a] Lk 2:22-35 Next Sunday: 1 Sm 1:20-22, 24-28/Ps 84:2-3, 5-6, 9-10 [cf. 5a]/1 Jn 3:1-2, 21-24/Lk 2:41-52 St. Raymond of the Mountains Christmas and New Year s Mass Schedule 5 p.m. December 24 12 a.m. (Midnight) December 25, Nativity of the Lord 10 a.m., December 25, Merry Christmas! 6 p.m., December 31, The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph 10 a.m., January 1, 2019, Happy New Year! Christmas and New Year s Masses are Holydays of Obligation. Please remember in your prayers Josh B., Pam Balow, Matt Bauman, Sharon Berish, Beth Brown, Carla Brown, Ed Budinsky, Terry Cavicchio, Mary Cauley, Shawn Dellgross, Amanda Dennis, Dave DeWitt, Francis Ernesty, George Estochin, Laura Estochin, Mary Estochin, Mildred Estochin, Corinne Estock, Bill G., Patty Gadek, Gerald, Barry Huey, Mitchell Johnson, Darlene Jenniches, Karen, Jadon Kalp, Jim Kalp, Megan Kalp, Francis Kantorik, Carol Kelly, Ray Kostovny, Frank Kuhns, Namon Lilly, Leslie Lloyd, Juanita Miller, Richard Miller, Theresa Miller, Courtiney Mastowski, Cathy Nilson, Mindy O., Beth P., Ryan Painter, Chris Petrarca, Greg Petrucci, Madeline R., Richard Randall, Tracy Ritenour, Bernie Rusinko, Gertrude Chub Shaulis, Ted Shaulis, Helen Sparks, Lisa & Declan Spell, Edie Spell, Ernestine Stanton, Jason T., Mike Terretti, Theresa, Colleen and sons, Denise Thomas, Lanny Ulery, Bryce Vargo, Jane Waite, Jim Walters, and Margaret Witt.
A Pennsylvania Charitable Trust and A Parish of the Diocese of Greensburg St. Raymond Church Annual Breakfast with Santa is this Sunday at 11:30 a.m. in the Parish Social Hall. BIBLE The Gospel of Luke, especially the first two chapters of the Infancy Narrative including the Annunciation, the Visitation, the Birth of John the Baptist and the Visit of the Shepherds, makes excellent reading material during the Christmas season for youngsters and oldsters alike. Luke was a doctor who was converted by and accompanied St. Paul on his missionary journeys to what is now Turkey and Eastern Europe about twenty-five years after Jesus. Luke wrote his Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles in easy-to-read storybook fashion. The first chapter of John parallels the birth of Jesus with the creation of the universe. Other NT readings appropriate for this season are Philippians 3 and Hebrews 1 & 10. Predictions of the Messiah from the OT can be found in Baruch 5, Zephaniah 3, Isaiah 12, 40 & 52, Micah 4 & 5. GOD PROVIDES, BUT YOU RE THE DELIVERY SYSTEM Please consider a gift this Christmas to the Children and Family Services Appeal; the second envelope at all Masses on December 24 & 25. Providing Help, Creating Hope. 1.866.409.6455 Hunger and Poverty Don t Discriminate. NEW EVANGELIZATION My name is Ray Werthman, the Director of Evangelization for St. Raymond Parish. In a recent issue I stated that the New Evangelization is simply a personal proclamation of our Catholic Faith by word and by deed. The Word is Love and Truth, Mercy and Justice. The Deed is the Cross. Love involves empathy with the have-nots. Truth is learned by dialogue. Mercy must be earned. Justice is the law of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, as God demanded physical punishment in the Old Testament without Mercy. It was demanded of Saul by virtue of Law and Justice to slay every man, woman, child and any other living creature in that town full of pride, promiscuity, living without mercy, idolatry, to burn everything in that town in the same way that He himself vented His anger on the wicked at Sodom and Gomorrah. In the New Testament, however, he lets his Mercy shine forth to the poor and those who try to help rather than hinder. The Truth is proclaimed every Sunday in the Nicene Creed and in the Apostles Creed. We proclaim the Love by how and what we do and say in our daily lives. What goes around, comes around, as they say. And as we treat others, so will we be judged. To evangelize is to imitate the Virgin Mary and to give birth to Love Incarnate in our own lives. Families in Need this Christmas Once again, we will provide gift cards for families in need this Christmas. Please take an envelope from the table in the back of the church to help with the Families in Need campaign. If you know of someone in need this Christmas, please call the Parish Office. Thanks again for your support.
This Sunday, Dec. 23 Monday, Dec. 24 Tuesday, Dec. 25 Saturday, Dec. 29 Next Sunday, Dec. 30 This Week in the Parish - 8:00 a.m. Morning Mass - 9:00 a.m. St. Raymond Religious Ed. Classes (CL) - 10:30 a.m. Morning Mass - Church Christmas Decorating after Mass - 11:30 a.m. Breakfast with Santa - 5:00 p.m. Christmas Vigil Mass - 12:00 a.m. Christmas Midnight Mass - 10:00 a.m. Christmas Morning Mass - 4:00 p.m. Pray the Rosary (CH) - 4:30 p.m. Evening Mass - 8:00 a.m. Morning Mass No Religious Ed. Classes - 10:30 a.m. Morning Mass (RC) = Rectory Chapel (RM) = Rectory Meeting Room (CH) = Church (CL) = Classrooms (PH) = Parish Social Hall The Parish Office will be closed on December 24, 25, and 26, for Christmas holiday, and January 1, 2019 for New Year. Our Weekly Offering OFFERTORY December 15 & 16, 2018 Envelopes $2,648.75 Loose $524.00 Monthly $90.00 Total $3,262.75 Needed for Expenses $4,600.00 Difference -$1,337.25 Catholic Accent $25.00 Christmas $95.00 Children & Family Service $35.00 Immaculate Conception BVM $95.00 Solemnity of Mary $5.00 Christmas Flowers $5.00 Many thanks and may God Bless you for your generosity!!! 2019 MASS INTENTIONS We are now scheduling Mass intentions for 2019. Each person may request up to 10 intentions for ONE person or ONE family. The priest, by Canon Law, cannot celebrate multiple intentions for one Mass. If you would like to request your intentions, please do so as soon as possible; in writing, and place it in the collection or mail it to the Parish Office. Please indicate your intentions and suggested dates on your written request. The Mass Intentions Policy is posted on the bulletin boards in the Church, and can be provided to you upon request by calling 724-593-7479 or coming to the Parish Office.
MASSES THIS WEEK Sat. - December 22 - Vigil: Fourth Sunday of Advent 4:30 p.m. + Amelia Jenca - Birthday (Tidwell Family) Sun. - December 23 - Fourth Sunday of Advent 8:00 a.m. Our Parish Members 10:30 a.m. Special Intention (Ray Werthman) Mon. - December 24 - Late Advent Weekday 5:00 p.m. Our Parish Members Tues. - December 25 - The Nativity of the Lord 12:00 a.m. Our Parish Members 10:00 a.m. Our Parish Members Wed. - December 26 - St. Stephen, The First Martyr 8:00 a.m. + Ben Lawrence (Strucaly Family) Thurs. - December 27 - St. John, Apostle and Evangelist 8:00 a.m. Nicholas Jon Herman (Friends) Fri. - December 28 - The Holy Innocents, Martyrs NO MASS SCHEDULED Sat. - December 29 - Vigil: The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph 4:30 p.m. + Joan Kozlowski (Robert Kozlowski) Sun. - December 30 - The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph 8:00 a.m. Our Parish Members 10:30 a.m. Special Intention St. Raymond Christmas Decorating The Church decorating will be held this Sunday, December 23. Please stay and help decorate the Church after the 10:30 a.m. Mass. We need your help taking down the Advent Wreath, bringing in the Christmas trees, setting up the manger, hanging the garland in the Church. Thanks to all who can stay and help. LITURGICAL MINISTERS SERVERS Sat. Dec. 29 4:30 p.m. - Nico Pisula Sun. Dec. 30 8:00 a.m. - Cameron Wojnar Sun. Dec. 30 10:30 a.m. - Nicole Shinsky EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS OF HOLY COMMUNION Sat. Dec. 29 4:30 p.m. - Rachel Burke - Dorothy Voke - Ginger Cairns Sun. Dec. 30 8:00 a.m. - Karen Chearney - Noreen Brady - Darlene Grabill Sun. Dec. 30 10:30 a.m. - Deneen Vinkler - Cheryl Cupps - Mary DeLose Sat. Dec. 29 Sun. Dec. 30 Sun. Dec. 30 READERS 4:30 p.m. - Ceal Solan 8:00 a.m. - Candy Brangard 10:30 a.m. - Ray Werthman