Fourth Sunday of Advent December 23, 2018 MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK Monday 4:00 p.m. 12:00 a.m. Tuesday 9:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. Wednesday Thursday Friday Dec. 24 Deceased Members of the Rivera Family and Rev. Fr. Jose Toralba by Mercedes & Phillip Tucci Raymond Mazurowski by wife Helen & Family Dec. 25 The Nativity of the Lord Angela & Joseph Di Bella by Robert Di Bella Fred Kilpatrick & Deceased members of the Donato Family by Rita Kilpatrick Dec. 26 St. Stephen, The First Martyr Rosemary Braun & Catherine Riley by Catherine Codd Dec. 27 St. John, Apostle and Evangelist Joseph Walker by Barbara Ann & Al Maggio Dec. 28 The Holy Innocents, Martyrs Eucharistic Service Saturday Dec. 29 St. Thomas Becket, Bishop & Martyr 4:00 p.m. Michael Striano by wife Louise & Family Sunday Dec. 30 The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph 7:30 a.m. Deceased Member of the Staiti Family 9:00 a.m. George Herina by the Mandy Family 11:00 a.m. Sarah Befumo by the Masiuk Family Candle & Flower Offerings The Sanctuary candle is offered in loving memory of Patrina, Frank, Frank J. Passalaqua & Ronald La Grego by Josephine La Grego. The candle before the Blessed Virgin Mary is offered in loving memory of Jewel & Harold Augustine by daughter Lillian Augustine. The candle before St. Joseph is offered in loving memory of Anthony Aiello by wife Nancy. The candle before Blessed Pauline is offered in loving memory of Dorothy Kiefer by Judy & Bruce Tamarin. The candle before St. Jude is offered in loving memory of Vincent Perrone by wife Margaret. The candle before St. Anthony is offered in loving memory of Vincent Perrone by Maria & Dom De Nicolo. PARISH CALENDAR Dec. 24 Christmas Eve Parish Office Closed Dec. 25 Christmas Day Parish Office Closed Dec. 26 Office Closed Dec. 27-28 Office Closed Dec. 31 New Year s Eve Office Closed K of C New Year s Eve Party 7:30 pm Jan. 1 New Year s Day Office Closed Jan. 2 Woman s Faith Sharing - 9:00 am Jan. 3 St. Vincent de Paul 9:00 am Choir Practice 7:30 pm Jan. 5 Fair Trade/Food Pantry Children s Liturgy 4:00 pm Jan. 6 Fair Trade/Food Pantry Children s Liturgy 9:00 & 11:00 am SYG meeting 10:00 am Choir Party 1:00 pm Daily Readings Fourth Sunday of Advent Sunday Mi 5:1-4a; Heb 10:5-10; Lk 1:39-45 Monday Morning: 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Lk 1:67-79 Tuesday Vigil: Is 62:1-5; Acts 13:16-17, 22-25; Mt 1:1-25 or 1:18-25 Night: Is 9:1-6; Ti 2:11-14; Lk 2:1-14 Dawn: Is 62:11-12; Ti 3:4-7; Lk 2:15-20 Day: Is 52:7-10; Heb 1:1-6; Jn 1:1-18 or 1:1-5, 9-14 Wednesday Acts 6:8-10, 7:54-59; Mt 10:17-22 Thursday 1 Jn 1:1-4; Jn 20:1a, 2-8 Friday 1 Jn 1:5 2:2; Mt 2:13-18 Saturday 1 Jn 2:3-11; Lk 2:22-35 The Collection amount for the weekend of Dec. 16 th was $12,587. Thank you for your continued support of our parish!
A MESSAGE FROM DEACON JOHN B. We all know that the Bible has many stories and today in the gospel we heard the story about two great women of faith, Mary and Elizabeth as well as their two unborn children who also interacted with one another...jesus and St. John the Baptist. It was very unusual that Mary and Elizabeth were going to give birth, after all, one was past child bearing age and the other was a virgin, but as we all know, nothing is impossible with God. We are now at the 4th Sunday of Advent with only 2 days to go before Christmas. Our Advent journey began that 1st week with "hope and expectation" as we prepared for our annual Savior birth at His 1st coming. The 2nd week we heard from the prophet Isaiah telling us about St. John the Baptist who preached a Baptism of Repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Isaiah said St. John was a voice of one crying in the desert to prepare the way of the Lord. In the 3rd week of Advent we "Rejoiced" because the Lord was near and the clergy wore rose color vestments to celebrate the closeness of His birthday. How did we make it to this final week so quickly? Some may think that now our journey is almost over since it's the 4th week of the Advent season, but the journey is far from over. The journey my friends is about getting close to Jesus. It will take a lifetime, so the Advent season is just the beginning of the journey. We have to take into account His ministry, death, Resurrection and Ascension into heaven as well as the coming of the Holy Spirit of God. We have to look at the whole picture and that is why getting close to Jesus is a journey that will last a lifetime. The Christmas message is the same this year and every year, that Jesus is the Divine Son of God made flesh through Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit and through Jesus' ministry, death and Resurrection He saved the world. Peace to you and your families. Merry Christmas. Deacon John B. A MESSAGE FROM FATHER ED Dear Parish Family, On behalf of Father Ed, we would like to update you on his health. Last Sunday 12/16, before the 11:00 am Mass, Father Ed suffered a seizure, and was taken to Penn Medicine Princeton Hospital. After many tests, he was told he has a mass on the left side of his brain, with two smaller masses on the right. On Monday 12/17, many specialized teams came to evaluate him, Neurology, Oncology, Internal Medicine etc. Everyone was working together to come up with the best plan of action. Father was admitted to the critical care wing to be monitored very closely. He was then moved to a regular floor on Monday where he could move around more freely, while still being monitored. On Tuesday 12/18, he had another cat scan of the chest abdomen and pelvis to see if the cancer spread anywhere else throughout his body. Those scans came back with no recurrence anywhere else. Father asks that if when sending him texts, please identify yourself in the text so he knows who to reply to. As always, please keep him in your prayer and we will keep you updated as he wishes. ADVENT WREATH 4 th Candle (purple) The Angel Candle or The Candle of Love The angels announced the good news of a Savior. God sent his only Son to earth to save us, because he loves us! (John 3:16-17) Prayer for lighting the Advent Wreath Fourth Week Almighty and loving God, soon the whole world will celebrate the birth of your Son, Jesus. Even as we rejoice in our remembrance of his birth at Bethlehem, we find greater comfort in his promise to come again. May our preparations for this wondrous season remain with us, increase in us, and become as much a part of us as our breathing and our heartbeat. Then may we say, "Come, Lord Jesus, we are ready." Amen.
Christmas Infancy Narrative In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town. And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said to them, Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests. When the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us. So, they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them. Luke 2: 1-20
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NATIVITY OF OUR LORD ADVENT SCHEDULE 185 Applegarth Road, Monroe Twp., NJ Tuesday & Thursday Mornings 8:00-8:15AM Advent Morning Prayer Wednesday Mornings at 9:00AM Women s Faith Sharing Saturday, December 22 4:00PM Mass Saturday, December 22 6:00PM Simbang Gabi Mass & Celebration Sunday, December 23 7:30, 9:00 & 11:00AM Monday, December 24 Christmas Eve Mass 4:00PM & 12Midnight Tuesday, December 25 at 9:00AM & 11:00AM Christmas Day Mass Saturday, December 29 4:00PM Vigil of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary Sunday, December 30 7:30, 9:00 & 11:00AM Monday, December 31 8:30AM & 4:00PM Tuesday, January 1, 2019 9:00AM Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God Saturday, January 5 4:00PM Vigil Mass Epiphany of the Lord Sunday, January 6 7:30, 9:00 & 11:00AM Mass Epiphany of the Lord Contact the parish office 609-371-0499 x 10 for more information REMINDERS FOR JANUARY 2019 January 1 st - 8 th Grade Confirmation Red Envelopes are due. January 16 th Teaching Mass 7:00 pm in the Church Grades 3-7 January 30 th 8 th Grade Town Hall meeting 7:00 9:00 pm in the Hall THROWING AWAY OLD CHRISTMAS CARDS? Religious Ed will be collecting new and used Christmas cards for a class project (old cards just the covers). There will be a container in the Narthex after January 1 st. No photo cards please. Thank you. CHURCH ACTIVITIES On Wednesday, January 23, 2019, we have a trip planned to Atlantic City s Tropicana Casino. Cost $23 PP with $25 play money. A photo ID is required to obtain a Tropicana Advantage card to receive play money. Make check payable to Church Activities. Park in the rear of church parking lot and please arrive at 9:15am. Bus leaves promptly at 9:30 am returning approximately 7:30 pm. For reservations, call Rose Ferrari at 609-395-7185. PARISH MINISTRIES St. Vincent De Paul Society: If you are experiencing financial hardship due to a temporary loss of employment, illness, or disability, the St. Vincent de Paul Society is available to provide assistance for your everyday needs such as food, utility assistance, or agency referrals. Please dial the parish number 609-371-0499, then press 8, and leave a message with your name and phone number. Someone will return your call. All calls are handled in strict confidence. Giving Tree: Please know that your support and your VERY generous gifts give so many children the chance at a Christmas they never imagined. Each year, we are able to help more families. We don't know how, but this parish continues to give above and beyond our expectations. On behalf of all those we serve, we thank you and wish you and your families a blessed, peaceful Christmas and New Year.
Prayer Shawl: Our next get-together is Tuesday January 8th at 1:30 pm in the church hall. Join us as we create shawls for the sick and homebound members of the parish (and beyond!) New members are always welcome. Questions? Call Dorothy Kopil at 609-655-8138 or Liz Coulston at 732-561- 4139. Caring Meals: The Caring Meals group delivers soup year-round to our homebound parishioners and provides short-term help to parishioners who are recuperating from an illness or hospital stay with deliveries of home-cooked meals. If you like to cook or know of someone who could benefit from either of these two services, please call Maryanne Sheerin at 609-937- 4963. Elder Care: Do you need assistance with shopping periodically? Are you seeking a responsible person to sit with someone in need of supervision for a brief time? Do you require help with minor household chores? Please call Marge Nadolny 609-409-6164 for further information. Helping Hands: Do you need a helping hand with minor tasks around the house? There are parishioners who are willing to help in these situations. Please contact Esther Wolff by phone at 732-521-6019. The Women of Nativity invite you to join them on January 9th at 1:00 pm in Father Congdon Hall to view the inspirational and compelling true story, Entertaining Angels, The Dorothy Day Story. Dorothy Day, an impassioned New York Journalist and Catholic convert, founded the Catholic Worker during the Great Depression, and lived her words and faith by housing the homeless, feeding the hungry, and tending the sick! This movie, starring Moira Kelly and Martin Sheen, will inspire you to renew your commitment to love and serve your church and community. There is no charge for this event, but we ask that you fill out the form below, and return to the WON box in the narthex, so we can plan for refreshments." See you at the Movie" on Jan. 9th, at 1:00 pm! Any questions call Pam Chauvin at 609-664-2985. -------------------------------------------------------------- Name: Phone: Rosary Group: Please join us every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 7:50 a.m. to recite the Holy Rosary. We are seated at the right side of the church near the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. STEWARDSHIP BULLETIN REFLECTIONS 4 th Sunday of Advent For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy. (LUKE 1:44) When you hear the scripture readings and Gospel reading each Sunday, do you leap for joy? If not, don t blame the lecturer or priest, rather look inside yourself. Do you prepare for Mass each week or do you just show up and expect to be entertained? We are called to be active participants, not passive bystanders.