St. Francis Xavier Church (Newtowne) FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT DECEMBER 3, 2017 Newtowne Mission from 1640 First Chapel Built 1662 Current Church Built 1731 OLDEST CATHOLIC CHURCH IN ORIGINAL THIRTEEN STATES Reverend Robert G. Maro, Administrator sfxparishmd@gmail.com William J. Nickerson, Deacon 21370 Newtowne Neck Road Leonardtown MD 20650 Telephone: 301-475-9885 Fax: 301-475-5662 Web: stfrancisxavier.md@adwparish.org Email: sfxparishmd@gmail.com WELCOME NEW PARISHIONERS! Registration forms are in the church vestibule and on our parish website SUNDAY MASSES Saturday 4pm (Anticipated Mass) Sunday 8am and 11am DAILY MASSES Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 8am HOLY DAY MASSES As announced in the bulletin CONFESSIONS Saturdays 3:15-3:45pm and by appointment FIRST FRIDAY ADORATION Following the 8am Mass until 5pm, with Evening Vespers at 4:30pm BAPTISMS: By appointment with Father MARRIAGES: Arrangements should be made with your Pastor at least six months in advance; call the Rectory BULLETIN ITEMS Send to sfx1640bulletin@gmail.com: deadline is Friday, one week before Sunday publishing date
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam Dear Parish Family, For the greater glory of God... Today we celebrate not only the first Sunday of Advent but also the feast of our patron, St. Francis Xavier. I think it s great that his feast coincides with the beginning of the new Church year. Here are some interesting facts about our special intercessor in heaven: Francis Xavier was born in Spain in 1506 and went to the University of Paris. It was there that he met St. Ignatius of Loyola, who was about to start the Society of Jesus (now known as the Jesuits). St. Ignatius wanted Francis to join him, but at first Francis wanted none of it. But St. Ignatius challenged him with Our Lord s words from Mark s Gospel: What does it profit to gain the whole world and lose one s immortal soul? (Mark 8:36) Francis became a Jesuit missionary to the East Indies. During his time in India, Japan, and other lands in the Far East, he brought approximately 30,000 converts into the Church. He baptized so many people that he could barely raise his arms to pour the water for baptism. He was canonized in Rome in 1622 on the same day as St. Ignatius of Loyola. In 1927 he was declared the patron of the foreign missions, along with St. Therese of Liseux. This Advent, may we have the same zeal and love for the Christ child that inspired St. Francis Xavier to go to the ends of the earth for the greater glory of God. Peace and blessings, Fr. Rob Saturday December 2 3:15pm Confessions 4pm Josephine Griffin Sunday December 3 First Sunday of Advent 8am St. Francis Xavier Parish 11am David Foggo Monday December 4 St. John Damascene 8am Our Seminarians Tuesday December 5 NO MASS Wednesday December 6 8am Dorothy Bootsie Hall Thursday December 7 St. Ambrose 8am Rev. John Mattingly 7pm Ivonne May Friday December 8 Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary 8am Jacinta Igot Saturday December 9 St. Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin 3:15pm Confessions 4pm The Missar Family Sunday December 10 Second Sunday of Advent 8am St. Francis Xavier Parish 11am Msgr. Thomas Duffy PRAY FOR THE SICK Especially Ivonne May and Erin Schaller. To add someone to our prayers for the sick in the intercessions at Holy Mass and in the parish bulletin, email sfxparishmd@gmail.com or sfx1640bulletin@gmail.com. If you are seriously ill or preparing for a surgery, call the Parish Office to arrange for the sacrament of anointing of the sick.
THIS WEEK DECEMBER 3: FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT *Collection for Father Andrew White School *Fr. Thomas Clifford, SJ, will speak on Early Society of Jesus and Today s Society of Jesus Community at 6:30pm in the Hall. Refreshments will be served. All are welcome. DECEMBER 6 *Adoration and Confession 6:30-7:30pm *Children s Choir brief rehearsal during CCD *Choir rehearsal will begin at 7:30pm DECEMBER 8: A HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION *Mass will be celebrated Thursday, December 7 (Vigil Mass) at 7pm Friday, December 8 at 8am LOOKING AHEAD Advent Confessions/Holy Hour Prepare your heart to receive the Lord this Christmas through Adoration and the Sacrament of Confession Wednesday Dec 6,13, and 20: 6:30-7:30pm SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10 *Collection for Retired Religious *Church Tour with Fr. Rob 9:30-10:30am. Visit the sacristy and find out the meaning behind the symbols in the sanctuary, the vessels, and vestments used at Holy Mass. All are welcome. There will be NO Bible Study December 12. Resumes January 2, 2018 NOVENA PRAYER TO ST. FRANCIS XAVIER O most lovable and loving St. Francis Xavier, in union with you, I adore the Divine Majesty. The remembrance of the favors with which God blessed you during life, and of your glory after death, fills me with joy; and I unite with you in offering to Him my humble tribute of thanksgiving and of praise. I implore you to secure for me, through your powerful intercession, the inestimable blessing of living and dying in the state of grace. I also beseech you to obtain for me the favor I ask in this novena (here make some petition). But if what I ask is not for the glory of God, and for the good of my soul, please obtain for me what is more conducive to both. Amen. It is not the actual physical exertion that counts towards one s progress nor the nature of the task, but by the spirit of faith with which it is undertaken. St. Francis Xavier SECOND COLLECTIONS Dec 8 Dec 9 & 10 Immaculate Conception Retirement Fund for Religious Dec 16 & 17 Maintenance Fund Dec 25 Jan 1 Christmas Collection Solemnity of Mary
WARM PROGRAM IT S NOT TOO LATE TO VOLUNTEER! Join with Our Lady s Church at Medley s Neck December 27 December 30 to provide winter emergency shelter to our homeless brothers and sisters here in St. Mary s County. SFX parishioners are invited to help with this community ministry: making and serving dinner and breakfast, cleaning up after meals, monitoring the participants, and helping with social activities. College and high school students may earn community service hours. Questions? Want to sign up to help? Call or email Our Lady s Parish, 301-475-8403, olcmedleysneck@gmail.com. Knock Your Socks Off For the Homeless presents its Second Annual Sock Drive Mama socks, Daddy socks, Baby socks too we need new socks from people like you! Of all items given each year, socks are the least donated and most needed item for shelters. Help raise the numbers this season and keep the toes of our locals warm this winter. Donations can be dropped off at: Leonardtown Maryland Antique Center Deadline for donations is December 16! This Sunday, as we celebrate the First Sunday of Advent, our parish and others across the Archdiocese of Washington also begin the Find the Perfect Gift invitation. Through Find the Perfect Gift this Advent, we are challenged to invite family, friends, neighbors, or co-workers who are not currently practicing their faith to join us for Christmas Mass to experience the love and joy of the Jesus, our Perfect Gift. Find Christmas invitations, resources, and parish Mass times online at FindthePerfectGift.org. Remember your loved ones this Christmas Christmas Flower Offering envelopes and My Christmas Offering envelopes are available in the church vestibule. Please submit your offerings by December 20, 2017. Names will be published in the bulletin. Our venerable parish will be decorated this Christmas Season with your gracious offering, in honor of beloved family and friends and in memory of our dearly departed. New! Bulletins just for Kids! Starting this Sunday, we re offering Growing with the Gospel bulletins for children. Two versions My Family and Me for PK-1st graders; My Church, My Family and Me for 2nd -3rd graders. Both are designed to amplify the Sunday Gospel message and to help your child grow with the Gospel.
Sing for Christmas! CONSIDERING A YEAR-END GIFT OR DONATION? Whether for gratitude, the joy of the season, catching up on a commitment, or excitement about exceeding your commitment, we are grateful for your yearend giving and want to assist in any way we can. Giving in sensible and effective ways may help minimize your tax burden and stretch your charitable dollars. Here are some ways to support our parish as the years ends: Cash gifts of cash are easy and may be eligible for a federal tax deduction. Securities gifts of appreciated assets can be appealing, because long-term gains are not taxed, and the gift is generally deductible from income tax at the full value on the date of the gift. Charitable Gift Annuities these may bring many benefits through support for our parish, fixed income for life, and potential tax benefits. Only gifts that are received in the parish office by December 31, 2017 can be reported on your contribution statement issued by St. Francis Xavier parish. If you have any questions, please call or email Gertrude Thomas at the rectory: gertiethomas@outlook.com. Sunday, December 24 at 4pm, the Children s Choir will sing for the Children s Christmas Mass. We welcome singers grades pre-k to 8 to join the children s choir. Practices will be held after 11am Mass on December 3, 10, and 17. Brief practices will also be held at CCD on Dec 6 and 13. Please contact Bob Schaller or Maria Nickerson at 240-577-1697 or schaller@md.metrocast.net for more information. Join us for a Sunday Breakfast Sunday, December 17 St. Francis Xavier Church Hall 8:30am to 12:30pm Regular and Blueberry Pancakes, Eggs, Bacon, Sausage, or Biscuit with Sausage Gravy - plus Coffee & Juice Free Will Donation To Benefit our Seminarians and our Community Charities