Third Sunday of Advent December 15, 2013 7851 54 th Avenue North St. Petersburg, Florida 33709-2338 Phone: 727-546-3315 Fax: 727-547-2005 E-Mail: holycross7851@gmail.com Website: www.holycrossrcc.com Reverend John D Antonio, Pastor M A S S S C H E D U L E Saturday Vigil 4:00 p.m. Sunday Masses 8:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. 12:30 p.m. in Spanish Daily 8:00 a.m. Monday Saturday Mass with Anointing of the Sick First Friday, 11:00 a.m. SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION Confessions are heard on Saturday from 3:00 3:45 p.m. on Sunday 11:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m. or by appointment SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE Contact the parish office six months in advance. PARISH OFFICE HOURS Monday through Thursday 8:30 a.m. 3:30 p.m. Friday 8:30 a.m. Noon "On Jordan's bank the Baptist's cry announces that the Lord in nigh."
Parish Office Parish Phone 727-546-3315 Parish Office Hours Monday through Thursday 8:30 a.m. 3:30 p.m. Friday 8:30 a.m. Noon Parish Office E-Mail holycross7851@gmail.com Faith Formation 727-546-9654 Parish Secretary Robin V. Riley Frequently Used Ministry Contact Numbers CCD / RCIA / RCIC Joseph Havelka and Pat Ryan 727-546-9654 Adult Catechesis Pam Haines 727-541-2488 Hospitality Ministry Merlita Jones 727-399-2043 Ministries of Life Bereavement Pat Ryan 727-546-9654 Respect Life Kay Mandalinich 727-347-8051 Prayer Line Ministry Call Marie at 727-544-1504 Society of St. Vincent de Paul Open Mon, Tues, Wed & Fri 9:00 11:00 am Closed Thursday 548-9878 Scripture Reflection: Well we re about halfway there. We re just about at the midpoint of Advent, this holy season of joyful waiting, preparation, and anticipation. And in just a couple of weeks we will celebrate the birth of Jesus, our Lord and Savior, the Prince of Peace. It is really quite astounding when you think about - a God visiting his people by choosing to become one of them, a God willing to immerse himself fully in his creation by taking on a human nature and actually walking our walk, so-to-speak. In today s Gospel passage, John (while in prison) sends some people to Jesus to ask him if he is the one who is to come, that is, the messiah. Jesus responds by telling John s disciples to tell him what they hear and see. It s as if Jesus is saying, Look around. Pay attention. Isn t it obvious? This is part of the challenge set before us this Advent, to prepare ourselves to welcome the Lord Jesus into our lives not only in light of what we know he did for our sake in laying down his life for us, but also acknowledging and embracing the consequences and implications of the Incarnation itself. God looks at us, his beloved children, and sees people who are capable of remarkable things, capable of being channels of God s grace and mercy, and capable of helping others also see the created world through the eyes of faith - eyes opened by the light of what we will celebrate in just a couple of weeks. Military Order of Malta American Association. Christmas Mass Schedule Christmas Eve: Tuesday, December 24 English: 4:00 & 9:00 pm Carols/Choir begin 30 minutes before each Mass Christmas Day: Wednesday, December 25 Spanish: 12:01 am English: 8:00 & 10:00 am Spanish: 11:30am Confessions for Christmas Tuesday, December 17 & Thursday, December 19 4 to 5 pm and 7 to 8:30 pm in both Spanish and English The Parish Office will be closed on Tuesday, December 24th and Wednesday, December 25th observance of Christmas.
ABBREVIATIONS: CC Children s Chapel, CR Combined Rooms, MR Music Room, PC Parish Center, RM Room, SH Small Hall THIS WEEK AT OUR PARISH Saturday, December 14 8:45 am Adult Catechism SH 10:00 am Spanish Sunday Choir Group MR 3:00 3:45 pm Confession Fr. John Church 4:00 pm Mass Fr. Gabe Church Sunday, December 15 8:45 am Bagels, Donuts & Hot Breakfast SH 10:00 am Mass Fr. John Church 11:15 am Faith Formation Class All RMS 11:30 pm Confession Fr Oscar Church 12:30 pm Mass in Spanish TBA Church Monday, December 16 8:00 am Mass Fr. Gabe Church 5:55 pm Bingo PC 6:30 pm Adult Catechism RM 1, 2 7:00 pm AA Central SH Tuesday, December 17 7:00 pm Columbiettes Social & meeting RM 10, 11, PC 7:00 pm Spanish Prayer Group Choir MR 7:30 pm Presence of God Prayer Group RM 12-14 Wednesday, December 18 9:00 am Bereavement Ministry CC Thursday, December 19 9:00 am Bible Bob RM 4 7:00 pm K of C & Columbiettes Christmas Party PC Friday, December 20 8:00 am Mass Fr. Mangafico Church 8:30 am Divine Mercy Chaplet Church 9:00 am Legion of Mary RM 12 5:00 pm Spaghetti Dinner PC 7:00 pm Bilingual Prayer Group SH Saturday, December 21 8:45 am Adult Catechism SH 9:00 am Coffee & Conversation CC 10:00 am Spanish Sunday Choir Group MR 1:00 pm Spanish Baptism CH 3:00 3:45 pm Confession Fr. Gabe Church 4:00 pm Mass Fr. John Church Sunday, December 22 8:45 am Bagels, Donuts & Hot Breakfast SH 10:00 am Mass Fr. John Church 11:30 pm Confession Fr Oscar Church 12:30 pm Mass in Spanish TBA Church 1:00 pm K of C Kids Christmas Party PC Saturday, December 14 8:00 am Fr. Raphael Kilumanga 4:00 pm Cassidy Family Sunday, December 15 8:00 am Extra Rummage Sale Helpers 10:00 am Sisters in Christ 12:30 pm Mery Narvaez Monday, December 16 8:00 am Holy Cross Parishioners Tuesday, December 17 8:00 am Tomaso & Domanica Tota Wednesday, December 18 8:00 am James Carr Thursday, December 19 8:00 am Thomas Patrick Reilly Friday, December 20 8:00 am Edward Pinzker & Kathi Nesheim Saturday, December 21 8:00 am Michael Shor 4:00 pm Austin & Herby Violette Sunday, December 22 8:00 am Blessings for Salazar Family 10:00 am Alyce Cetera 12:30 pm Stewardship Reflection Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, and the dead are raised Matthew 11:4-5 When Jesus cured the sick we called it a miracle. Yet God has blessed us with many good things our eyesight, our hearing, our talents, our health and so much more and we often take it all for granted. The good steward recognizes every blessing in life as a miracle from God and strives to use those gifts for God s honor and glory. Attendance & Offertory for the Week of 12-08-2103 4:00 pm 296 $2,461.50 8:00 am 159 $1,578.00 10:00 am 272 $1,546.36 12:30 pm 268 $ 509.23 Mail --- $ 410.00 Bldg. Fund --- $ 2,492.70 TOTAL 995 $8,997.79 Thank you for your continued generosity
Mass Altar Servers 12/22/13 4 pm A Walker W Walker Eucharistic Ministers T Budniak T Charron L Fitzpatrick L Fitzpatrick K Galinowski K Harkins C Utz 8:00 am E Renneker J Marach S Pacheco L Smith 10:00 am (L) C Kwiatkowski S Mattern K Casciato E Kwiakowski R Winiecki M Dixon T Dixon S Ferreira P Fielder RM Hughes Readers P Carroll V Zumpano G L'Eon L Labelle P Ryan S March Readings for the Week of December 15, 2013 Sunday Third Sunday of Advent Is 35:1-6a,10; Ps 146; Jas 5:7-10; Mt 11:2-11 Monday Nm 24:2-7,15-17a; Ps 25; Mt 21:23-27 Tuesday Gn 49:2, 8-10; Ps 72; Mt 1:1-17 Wednesday Jer 23:5-8; Ps 72; Mt 1:18-25 Thursday Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25a; Ps 71; Lk 1:5-25 Friday Is 7:10-14; Ps 24; Lk 1:26-38 Saturday Saint Peter Canisius, Priest and Doctor of the Church Sg 2:8-14 or Zep 3:14-18a; Ps 33; Lk 1:39-45 Sunday Fourth Sunday of Advent Is 7:10-14; Ps 24; Rom 1:1-7; Mt 1:18-24 Please go to our parish website for a further explanation of this Sunday s readings: www.holycrossrcc.com Bringing home the word Holy Cross Knights of Columbus are collecting items for our Veterans. The Veterans need new, unopened, sealed toiletries, such as shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, hand soap, disposable razors, shave cream, toothpaste, toothbrushes, etc. They also need new, sealed, in original package tee shirts and underwear. The VA Drop off bucket stations can be found by the church entrances, side doors and in the small hall. Donations will be accepted until December 15. What better way to honor our Veterans. We are in need of school supplies (pencils, pens, markers, crayons, paper, folders, tissues and more). Through your generous donations, we have been able to minimize the cost of purchasing these supplies. Donations may be dropped off at the Parish Office during the week or at the Faith Formation Office on Sunday after Mass. ------------------------------------- Adult Study of The Catechism of the Catholic Church The truths studied in [adult] catechesis are the same truths that touched the person s heart when he heard them for the first time. Far from blunting or exhausting them, the fact of knowing them better should make them even more challenging and decisive for one s life. (CT, Bl. Pope John Paul II) Come join us in our study of the Catechism of the Catholic Church every Monday Evening at 6:30pm in Classrooms1 & 2. Society of St. Vincent de Paul Suggested shopping list: Canned vegetables, jello, pudding, spaghetti sauce, pasta, macaroni and cheese, tuna fish, stew, toilet paper, saltines and cookies. Monetary donations are welcomed to restock the pantry and to help those in need. * - * - * - * - * Do you need help? We suggest that you check out a great website www.gethelpflorida.org SPAGHETTI DINNER Friday, December 20, 2013 5:00 to 7:00 pm Holy Cross Parish Center Salad, Spaghetti, Meatball, Soda, Italian Bread Only 6:00 per person
Women s Club SORTERS NEEDED: The Drop Off Shed is filling up each week and more sorters are needed. Air conditioned sorting room. Also, tables available in the large Parish Center for those who are unable to sort in the small room due to allergies, etc. Contact Sharon Schweikle at 546-5778 or Helen Jahnke at 547-9801 to set up a time to help sort ON THE JOB TRAINING PROVIDED. NO WOMEN S CLUB MEETING IN DECEMBER: Next meeting January 28, 2014 Posadas The Posadas is a traditional Christmas celebration that Franciscan missionaries developed in America with the goal of introducing the faith, and it continues to be popular throughout the southwestern United States and all of Latin America. The Posada will be celebrated by the Spanish Community of our Parish at the Grotto on our Church Grounds at 7:00pm every evening beginning Saturday, December 15 thru Monday, December 23. ANNUAL PASTORAL APPEAL...because WE are Catholic 2013 Parish Goal...$73,834.00 Amount Pledged...$74,136.40 Amount Received... $71,538.90 Total Donors - 387 Average Gift - $191.57 Percentage of Goal Paid - 96.73% These figures current as of December 3, 2013 Our Tree of Life is a unique opportunity to remember all those who are dear to us. If there is someone you would like to remember in a special way, please call the Rectory Office at 546-3315 for more information. MARCH FOR LIFE 2014 INFORMATION Important Dates The following is a list of important dates for the March for Life Trip. December 13, 2013- Permission Slips & Deposit Due January 8, 2014 @ 7:00pm- Meeting for the March & Full Payment Due January 19, 2014 @ 2:00pm- Prayer Send Off & Dinner at Holy Cross. January 20, 2014 @ 3:00am- Leave Holy Cross for Washington DC January 20-24, 2014- March for Life The cost for the March for Life trip to Washington DC will be $250.00 per person. This cost includes: (1) The transportation from St. Petersburg, FL to Washington DC, travel around the city to the different sights and events and from Washington DC to St. Petersburg, FL (2) The hotel stay for 4 nights. (3) A bright color beanie to be worn at the March & to be kept as a keep-sake in memory of the trip. Students will be required to pay for all the food necessary. We will plan to have 15 meals while we are away, if you send with your child $150.00 they can spend roughly $10.00 per meal. It is probably best to send around $220.00 so that there is a little extra room for spending. Please note, the cost is determined by the number of attendees divided by the total cost of the hotel stay & the bus fair. This cost cannot be determined until we have a set number of attendees. B I N G O Monday evenings at 5:55 pm in the Parish Center Handicap Accessible Reasonably priced Sodas, Snacks & Sandwiches Come early and bring a friend Please Support Our Advertisers Please use the goods and services of our bulletin advertisers, for without their financial support our bulletin would not be possible.
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