CHURCH OF SAINT BERNARD 1160 WOODBRIDGE STREET SAINT PAUL, MN 55117 One block west of Rice Street on Geranium Avenue DECEMBER JUNE 10, 2, 2018 10TH 1ST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY OF ADVENT TIME Traditionally, Advent wreaths are constructed of a circle of evergreen branches into which four candles are inserted, representing the four weeks of Advent. Ideally, three candles are purple and one is rose, but white candles can also be used. The purple candles in particular symbolize the prayer, penance, and preparatory sacrifices and goods works undertaken at this time. The rose candle is lit on the third Sunday, Gaudete Sunday, when the priest also wears rose vestments at Mass; Gaudete Sunday is the Sunday of rejoicing, because the faithful have arrived at the midpoint of Advent, when their preparation is now half over and they are close to Christmas. The progressive lighting of the candles symbolizes the expectation and hope surrounding our Lord s first coming into the world and the anticipation of his second coming to judge the living and the dead. Parish Staff Pastor Reverend Ivan Sant Associate Priest Reverend Joseph Kureh Parish Administrator Karen Ryan Cronin Thornton Secretary Gloria Nava Gloria Nava RCIA and Missionary/ Internship Program Alonna Alonna David Mertz Neira Mertz Refugee Liaison Hsawreh Sharpoehtay Music Refugee Director Liaison Assistant Mary Julia Beth Marksue Redmond Assistant Music Director Music Director Grace Mary Grace Thompson Beth Redmond Accountant Assistant Music Director Jim Rice Grace Thompson Parish Office Parish Office Phone: (651) Phone: 488-6733 (651) 488-6733 Fax: (651) Phone: Fax: 489-9203 (651) 489-9203 488-6733 Website: Website: Fax: www.stbernardstpaul.org (651) 489-9203 Website: www.stbernardstpaul.org Facebook Facebook Page: Page: Parish Parish Life at Life at St. Bernard's Facebook Catholic Page: Church, Parish St. Life St. Paul, at MN MN St. Bernard's Catholic Church, St. Paul, MN Mass Schedule Mass Schedule Saturday 8:30 am & 4:00 pm Saturday Sunday at 8:30 8:00 am && 10:30 4:00 am pm pm Sunday 1:30pm at 8:00 (Spanish) & 10:30 am am 2pm Weekday (Spanish) Monday-Saturday Weekday - Mass at at 8:30 8:30 am am Monday-Saturday - Mass at 8:30 am Confessions Confessions Mondays after the 8:30 am Mass Saturdays 3:30 and after the 4:00 pm Mass Mondays after the 8:30 am Mass Saturdays 3:30 and after the 4:00 pm Mass M I S S I O N S T A T E M E N T Saint Bernard s is a Roman Catholic parish providing vital services to the diverse North End community of St. Paul. As we extend the hand of welcome to all, our mission is to learn, love, and live the challenging Word of Jesus Christ, offering parishioners and neighbors direction and support at every phase of their faith journey.
A WORD FROM FR. IVAN The Meaning of the Season of Advent from Pope Benedict XVI. "Presence" Advent, this powerful liturgical season that we are beginning, invites us to pause in silence to understand a presence. It is an invitation to understand that the individual events of the day are hints that God is giving us, signs of the attention he has for each one of us. "Waiting" The question is: Is the humanity of our time still waiting for a Savior? One has the feeling that many consider God as foreign to their own interests. Apparently, they do not need him. They live as though he did not exist and, worse still, as though he were an obstacle to remove in order to fulfill themselves. Even among believers we are sure of it some let themselves be attracted by enticing dreams and distracted by misleading doctrines that suggest deceptive shortcuts to happiness. Yet, despite its contradictions, worries and tragedies, and perhaps precisely because of them, humanity today seeks a path of renewal, of salvation, it seeks a Savior and awaits, sometimes unconsciously, the coming of the Savior who renews the world and our life, the coming of Christ, the one true Redeemer of man and of the whole of man. "Preparation" Christmas is a privileged opportunity to meditate on the meaning and value of our existence. The approach of this Solemnity helps us on the one hand to reflect on the drama of history in which people, injured by sin, are perennially in search of happiness and of a fulfilling sense of life and death; and on the other, it urges us to meditate on the merciful kindness of God who came to man to communicate to him directly the Truth that saves, and to enable him to partake in his friendship and his life. Therefore let us prepare ourselves for Christmas with humility and simplicity, making ourselves ready to receive as a gift the light, joy and peace that shine from this mystery. "Sign" God s sign is his humility. God s sign is that he makes himself small; he becomes a child; he lets us touch him and he asks for our love. How we would prefer a different sign, an imposing, irresistible sign of God s power and greatness! But his sign summons us to faith and love, and thus it gives us hope: this is what God is like. He has power, he is Goodness itself. He invites us to become like him. Yes indeed, we become like God if we allow ourselves to be shaped by this sign; if we ourselves learn humility and hence true greatness; if we renounce violence and use only the weapons of truth and love. "Changing" Only if people change will the world change; and in order to change, people need the light that comes from God, the light which so unexpectedly [on the night of Christmas] entered into our night. PRAYER TO THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION O God, who by the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, did prepare a worthy dwelling place for Your Son, we beseech You that, as by the foreseen death of this, Your Son, You did preserve Her from all stain, so too You would permit us, purified through Her intercession, to come unto You. Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen. Page 2 St. Bernard
Mass Intentions Saturday December 1 8:30am 4:00pm Edward Gunter Sunday December 2 1st Sunday of Advent 8:00 am Catholic United Financial Living/Deceased 10:30 am Alter & Rosary Living & Deceased Monday December 3 8:30 am Bill Kline Tuesday December 4 8:30 am Kellan Luir Wednesday December 5 8:30 am Bill Klein Thursday December 6 8:30 am Majorie Toth Friday December 7 8:30 am Roger Canti 6:00 pm Bev Anderson Immaculate Conception 7:00 pm Parish Immaculate Conception Saturday December 8 8:30am Mary Lascon Immaculate Conception 4:00pm Irene Morris Sunday December 9 2nd Sunday of Advent 8:00 am Delores Mollner 10:30 am Carrie Hafner 2:00pm (Spanish) Parish Prayer Line Please call Shirley at (651) 488-6330 Mass Readings for the Week of December 2nd: Sunday: Jer 33:14-16/1Thes 3:12-4.2/Lk 21:25-28, 34-36 Monday: Is 2:1-5/Mt 8:5-11 Tuesday: Is 11:1-10/Lk 10:21-24 Wednesday: Is 25:6-10a/Mt 15:29-37 Thursday: Is 26:1-6/Mt 7:21,24-27 Friday: Is 29:17-24/Mt 2:27-31 Saturday Gn 3:9-15,20/Eph 1:3-6,11-12/Lk 1:26-38 Sunday: Bar 5:1-9/Phil 1:4-6,8-11/Lk 3:1-6 Weekly-Sunday 11/25/18 Weekly Collection Actual Capital Campaign Update Budget Envelope Income $4,392 $4,666 Plate & Spanish Mass 1,082 631 Gas/Lights 134 127 Campus Repair 99 69 Year to Date: Envelope Income $96,713 $102,652 Plate & Spanish Mass 16,506 13,882 Gas/Lights 3,210 2,794 Campus Repair 2,288 1,518 We have reached our goal to cover the restoration of the bell tower! Extra donations are accepted. We are sorry for the delay in sending out the pledge reminder letters. If you have made a pledge to donate to this cause, please keep up on the scheduled payment dates and all will be accounted to. This will allow the parish to continue making payments on time. Total Pledges: $872,098 Payments to date: $654,497 Amount remaining: $217,601 St Bernard Page 3
Parish News & Events Healing Mass Anointing of the Sick within Mass On Tuesday December 4th @10:30am There will be no 8:30am Mass. Retirement Fund for Religious Collection On the weekend of December 8-9 Your gift works for elderly religious by helping to furnish medications, nursing care, and more. Please support this collection for the Retirement Fund for Religious and give to those who have given a lifetime. Bake Sale ATTENTION BAKERS!! The Festivities Committee will be hosting its annual Christmas bake sale December 15 & 16 after all masses. We will be accepting baked goods donations before each mass in the back of church and selling after each mass. We look forward to the many different Christmas bake goods and thank you in advance for your support. Holy Hour Every Thursday from 6 7pm In the Church World Youth Day Fundraiser Immaculate Conception December 7 & 8 Holy Day of Obligation Masses Schedule Friday December 7 @ 6pm English 7pm Spanish Saturday December 8 @ 8:30am Looking for Church Cleaning Help Please come on Saturday, December 8 to help clean the church as the Advent and Christmas seasons are around the corner. Start your day with morning Mass and then stay and help with the cleaning. Many hands make for light work! Hope to see you there! Feast Our Lady of Guadalupe December 12 at 6pm Rosary, followed by traditional music of Mariachi style. Mass at 7pm and refreshments and music after mass at the Parish Center. Organized by St. Bernard s Hispanic Ministry. All are welcome! December 8th from 9am-3pm High School Gym Raffle Ticket Drawing 54 inch TV, Snow Blower, Wii & Exercise Bench You can still purchase tickets at $5 each Food & Entertainment St. Paul, Minnesota Page 4
Advent 2018 Events Advent Holy Hour : In preparation for Christmas, we will be having a Holy Hour of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on every Thursday, at 6pm. All are welcome and invited to pray. Advent Morning Prayer: Every morning at 5:45am in the Grade School Basement. Healing Mass (Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick): Tuesday December 4 at 10:30am. Immaculate Conception (Holy Day of Obligation): Friday, December 7 Masses at 6pm and 7:00pm (Spanish). And December 8 Mass at 8:30am Church Cleaning: Saturday December 8 after mass. Please help clean the church as the Advent and Christmas seasons are around the corner. Start your day with morning Mass and then stay and help with the cleaning. Many hands make for light work! Our Lady of Guadalupe: Wednesday, December 12 Masses 8:30am (English) 6pm Special Celebration in Spanish with Rosary, traditional children dance, mariachi music and mass, and food and refreshments after mass. All are welcome. Christmas Concert: By the Blue Water Brass Band on Friday December 14 at 6pm at St. Bernard Church. Beautiful Christmas music to help us enter in the Christmas atmosphere. Free for everyone. Christmas Bake Sale: annual Christmas Bake Sale in the back of the church after the weekend Masses of December 15th and 16th. Church Christmas Decorations : Saturday December 22 from 9am onwards. Advent/Christmas Penance Celebration: Sunday, December 23 at 4pm. Confessions to prepare ourselves for a beautiful Christmas Celebrations. Hope to you take advantage of these events to have a blessed Advent waiting for Jesus Christ to be born in us. St. Paul, Minnesota Page 5