The Church of the Incarnation 544 Prospect Street Wethersfield, CT 06109 Rev. James M. Moran Pastor Mrs. Noranne Wamester Pastoral Associate Mrs. Maggie Seaver Coordinator of Middle School Faith Formation Youth Minister Mrs. Audrey Saharek Pastoral Assistant Mrs. Teri Aiudi Rectory Office Assistant Faith Formation Secretary Mrs. Theodora Niver Director of Music Vanessa Crowley Lorissa Heath Rosanne Sweeney Gowdy Andrew Russo Heather Picard Bonney Gianna Bielenda Cantors Toni Munoz Sacristan Marguerite Heinimann Rectory Assistant Mass Schedule Confessions on Saturdays from 3:45-4:30p.m. Vigil Mass: Saturday at 5:00p.m. Sunday Masses: 8:30 & 10:30 a.m. Daily Mass: (Mon. - Fri.) 9:00 a.m. Recitation of the Rosary before 9:00 a.m. daily Mass Sacrament of Baptism By previous appointment Sundays at 12:30 p.m. in the Baptistry of the Chapel. Weddings Please contact a priest 6-10 months prior. New Parishioners and Faith Formation Registration The Church of the Incarnation welcomes new parishioners. All forms are available at the main entrance of the church. Please mail or place in the collection basket. You may also visit our website for printable forms at: www.thechurchoftheincarnation.com Rectory Hours 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Rectory Fax Church E-Mail Faith Formation Website address: (860) 529-2533 (860) 721-6595 cincarnation@sbcglobal.net (860) 529-6765 www.thechurchoftheincarnation.com gotellit@aol.com
Page Two First Sunday of Advent..November 29, 2015 SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28TH 5:00 pm Deceased members of the Nesta & DeRose Families SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 29TH 8:30am Maria Frederica, Vincenzo & Loreto DiMattia & Nancy Cavallaro 10:30am Vincent Diana MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30TH 9:00am For all our parishioners TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1ST 9:00am Rita Ware WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2ND 9:00am Lawrence & Louise Spellacy THURSDAY, DEC EMBER 3RD 9:00am Bernadette & Leonard J. D Onofrio FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4TH 9:00am Anthony DiCicco SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5TH 5:00pm Jack Lawlor SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6TH 8:30am Richard Cornelio, Jason DeLucco, and Anton & Stefanie Begusch 10:30am Raymond Esposito The Sanctuary Candle will burn from 11/30/2015 12/6/2015 in memory of Mike Fallon. The Blessed Virgin Mary Candle will burn from 11/30/2015-12/6/2015 in memory of Raymond Esposito. Thank you to all who donated to our Annual Collection. Donations will be gratefully received throughout the year. To date we have collected $92,325.00. Thank you to all who donated to the Catholic Campaign for Human Development. Thank you to Peter & Victoria Kalousdian and the Incarnation Social Action Committee for sponsoring the Continental Breakfast after the parish Mass of Thanksgiving. PRAYER FOR PEACE: Please join us in the Church 30 minutes prior to the 9am Daily Mass to pray for peace in all the troubled areas of our world. Please return your All Souls Envelopes during November. Since all souls are remembered during Nov., all souls remembrances will be accepted during the month of November. Friday is the first Friday in December. Mass will be held at 9am with Vocations Holy Hour after in the Chapel.
Page Three First Sunday of Advent..November 29, 2015 We continue our 17th Advent Giving Program...Angel Tree Please take an angel home with you and return your unwrapped gift with angel attached to gift no later than December 13th so the gifts can be delivered on time. See Green flyers. Thank you for sharing with those less fortunate during our most Blessed Season of Christmas. Families in The Light Please let your light shine as a family or a religious education community and sign-up to light the Advent wreath during the four weeks of Advent. This is a wonderful way to prepare for the coming of the Christ Child. Sign-up poster in the Narthex. When it is your time to light the wreath, please tell the celebrant prior to mass that you will be lighting it. Gr. 8: Faith Formation will be held on Tuesday, December 1st and Gr. 7: will be held on Wednesday, December 2nd from 6:30-8pm in Fr. Crawford Hall. Emerson-Williams Faith Formation K-6 Sat., December 5th at 9am. If you have offered a Mass in memory of a loved one and wish to carry the gifts up at Mass, please notify the usher prior to Mass that you will be doing so. Thank you! BAPTISM Paul Rozum IV
Page Four First Sunday of Advent..November 29, 2015 A Weekly Bible Study 1 st Sunday of Advent Jeremiah 33:14-16 The nation was in crisis. Religious reform initiated by King Josiah gave way to idolatry and infidelity. The fall of Jerusalem was imminent. Today s excerpt from the 7 th century B.C. prophet Jeremiah occurs in a larger passage expressing the promise that restoration, healing, abundance and lasting peace will one day be realized. God looks kindly upon Judah in spite of his people s infidelity. Even in its brevity, this excerpt offers three very powerful passages: The days are coming when I will fulfill the promise I made It was the promise of a long-awaited Savior who would come to rescue his people from oppression. We, too, await that Savior who will free us from the bondage of our infidelities and sinfulness, and fulfill the promise of salvation. The one I raise up will do what is right and just in the land The Savior would bring about justice and righteousness, and would establish a kingdom of lasting peace. We, took, await the day when peace will prevail while we work in our time for justice and righteousness. Jerusalem shall dwell safely The Savior would protect his treasured land. We, too, find in him the safety and security no earthly entity could ever provide. Advent is a time to reflect upon messages of waiting, trusting, hopefulness, and the restoration of peace. It is also a time to reflect upon promises fulfilled. May we recognize that great gift that will again enter our hearts, our Savior, Jesus Christ. May the words of Jeremiah help to prepare our hearts to appreciate the great gift of our salvation.
Page Five First Sunday of Advent..November 29, 2015 CHILDREN S LITURGY OF THE WORD: Sunday, December 6th at the 10:30am Mass. Children s Liturgy of the Word (CLW) is celebrating 15th years of ministry! What a blessing this ministry has been for our parish and our children! But all ministries are only as rich as their resources. CLW has been seeking new Ministers of the Word to bring the gospel message to our children. We thank all our very dedicated ministers who have served CLW for many years and continue to lead our children but we are in need of more individuals and families. We welcome all who are interested, especially parents and grandparents. The commitment is minimal and the rewards are bountiful! Please consider becoming a member of this wonderful ministry for the future of our church! Call/email Filomena at (860) 721-0538 or menaffgm@cox.net. Thank you to the Paruta Family for hosting the refreshments! Ho, Ho, Ho SANTA will soon be on his way from the North Pole to Incarnation for the 14th Annual Children s Christmas Party! Sponsored by the Incarnation Men s Association. This is a free event. Join us on Sunday, December 6th from 1:30-4pm in Fr. Crawford Hall! There will be a special Christmas story presentation given by Fr. Moran. A 4 x 6 color photo with Santa Claus will be taken of each child. Magic show, balloons, ice cream, cookies & refreshments will be served. Please take home a green sign-up sheet which can be found at the Church entrances. They can be returned in the collection baskets. Thank you! Incarna on Women s Club Annual Christmas Party Thurs., December 3, 2015 Wethersfield Country Club 6:00pm Social 7pm Dinner Menu: Cheese & Crackers, Salad, Roasted Potatoes, Vegetable Medley, Cheesecake, Coffee/Tea. Chicken Marsala $34.00 Broiled Salmon $34.00 Petite Filet Mignon $36.00 For reservations please call: Rita Sulick 860-257-8351. Reservation forms on tables in church. The Past Presidents of the Women s Club look forward to hosting this traditional holiday party. Members & guests are most welcome. Please make checks payable to The Church of the Incarnation. Thank you! There will be a Project Baby Love collection next weekend. Disposable diapers & wipes are needed. Interested in joining The Incarnation Men s Association or Knights of Columbus? Call Mike White at (860) 667-2099. Be listening Monday for the final day of WJMJ s Radio-thon. Support your Catholic radio station on Monday November 23 and keep your favorite uplifting music, inspirational messages and religious news on the air. WJMJ, Where Faith Meets Life, on the FM dial in Hartford at 88.9, New Haven 107.1 and www.wjmj.org on the Internet.
Page Six First Sunday of Advent..November 29, 2015 THE COMING KINGDOM Jeremiah could see it coming the kingship of Jesus and the restoration of Jerusalem. But was anybody listening? Is anybody listening now? It must have been tough being a prophet, but Jeremiah was persistent in his message because he knew that it needed to be heard. Also persistent in his message is Paul as he encourages the Thessalonians and all of us to live in accordance with the kingship that Jeremiah foretold. He encourages us to conduct ourselves in ways of holiness so that we may be well prepared for the king s coming. Finally, Jesus himself tells us to be ever diligent so that we may gain favor before our God and King. Jeremiah could see the kingship of Jesus coming. As we begin the season of Advent, Paul and Jesus tell us not only how to prepare for the Kingdom, but how to live it day to day. TODAY S READINGS First Reading The days are coming when the LORD will fulfill the promise made to Israel and Judah (Jeremiah 33:14-16). Psalm To you, O Lord, I lift my soul (Psalm 25). Second Reading May the Lord make you increase and abound in love that you may be blameless in holiness; conduct yourselves so as to please God (1 Thessalonians 3:12 4:2). Gospel There will be signs and you will see the Son of Man coming with power and great glory. Be vigilant (Luke 21:25-28, 34-36). READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: Rom 10:9-18; Ps 19:8-11; Mt 4:18-22 Tuesday: Is 11:1-10; Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17; Lk 10:21-24 Wednesday: Is 25:6-10a; Ps 23:1-6; Mt 15:29-37 Thursday: Is 26:1-6; Ps 118:1, 8-9, 19-21, 25-27a; Mt 7:21, 24-27 Friday: Is 29:17-24; Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14; Mt 9:27-31 Saturday: Is 30:19-21, 23-26; Ps 147:1-6; Mt 9:35 10:1, 5a, 6-8 Sunday: Bar 5:1-9; Ps 126:1-6; Phil 1:4-6, 8-11; Lk 3:1-6 SAINTS AND SPECIAL OBSERVANCES Sunday: First Sunday of Advent Monday: St. Andrew Tuesday: World AIDS Day Thursday: St. Francis Xavier Friday: St. John of Damascus; First Friday Saturday: First Saturday
Page Seven First Sunday of Advent..November 29, 2015 TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION Advent is a time rich in family traditions. Many of them have been so effectively absorbed into our culture that their religious origins are hidden. Some of us will set candles in our windows tonight. The custom began in Ireland during the so-called penal days, extending from 1691 to the Catholic Emancipation in 1829 and beyond. There were harsh penalties and fines for not attending the government church. Priests were forced into hiding, but people were resourceful and determined in guarding their faith. At Christmas, Irish families, particularly in the countryside, placed a lighted candle in the cottage window and left the door unlatched, hoping that a priest might come by and celebrate the Christmas Mass for them. The possibility of the Mass coming into the family home gave rise to other Irish customs at the beginning of Advent. The cottage received a fresh coat of whitewash, the threshold was swept especially clean, and fresh curtains were hung in the windows. The house was scrubbed until it gleamed, including all the pots and pans, and all garments and table linens were laundered. The custom of the Irish window candle was so admired in Catholic Europe that it was widely copied there, and now finds a welcome in households that may not exactly expect a priest to wander in! The Lord is near! Am I able to read the signs of the times? What is God asking of me? He may be asking you to serve as a priest or religious. If you hear his voice, call Fr. Jeffrey Gubbiotti, Director of Vocations, Archdiocesan Center at Saint Thomas Seminary, Tel. 860-242-5573, email vocations@aohct.org or visit the web at www.vocationshartford.org. Join us the 1st Friday of the month at 9:30am, Church of the Incarnation Blessed Sacrament Chapel, for Vocations Holy Hour. GREATNESS The measure of greatness is not the number of servants you have, but the number of people you serve. Anonymous THE THREE COMINGS OF ADVENT There are three distinct comings of the Lord of which I know, His coming to humankind, His coming into humankind, and His coming against humankind. St. Bernard: Third Sermon for Advent
Page Eight First Sunday of Advent..November 29, 2015 ALL ARE INVITED TO THE OPENING OF THE HOLY DOOR BEGINNING THE JUBILEE YEAR OF MERCY The Archdiocese of Hartford will inaugurate the Jubilee Year of Mercy, proclaimed by Pope Francis, on Sunday, December 13th, 2015 at 3:00 p.m. at the Cathedral of Saint Joseph, 140 Farmington Ave., Hartford, CT. The Jubilee Year will begin with the opening of the Holy Door at the Cathedral. This special liturgy will include a procession through the door, Evening Prayer, and Exposition and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. On this Gaudete Sunday, the Archdiocese of Hartford will prayerfully rejoice as our local Church strives to become more Merciful like the Father by practicing spiritual and corporal works of mercy in our local parishes and Archdiocese throughout this Jubilee Year of Mercy. Visit archdioceseofhartford.org for more information Defending Our Religious Liberty #196 Nov. 29, 2015 As we prepare to celebrate the Jubilee Year of Mercy, which Pope Francis will inaugurate on December 8 th, let us pray that our religious liberty is upheld when the Supreme Court rules on the pending cases challenging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) mandate. All are invited to join Archbishop Leonard P. Blair on Sunday, December 13 for the opening ceremony of the archdiocesan Jubilee Door of Mercy at the Cathedral of St. Joseph at 3 p.m. If you haven t done so already, please voice your opposition to the federal health care mandate by calling U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Sylvia Mathews Burwell at 202-205-5445, and your elected representatives. Let them know that the mandate is in violation of our First Amendment right to religious freedom.