Blessed Christmas December 25, 2017 St. Mary Catholic Church Hagerstown, MD St. Michael Catholic Church Clear Spring, MD
Dear Parishioners, Merry Christmas! For many, this is the most wonderful time of the year, yet unfortunately for some this is a sad time someone or something is missing that casts a shadow over the Christmas holidays. Whether we are joyful or sad or anywhere in between, I pray that as we celebrate the Lord s birth this year you may come to know Him more deeply in your lives. I pray that you will come to know, even just a little bit more, that the Lord became a little child to encourage you with this joy, to comfort you in your sadness. I pray in particular that St. Mary s and St. Michael s will be places where you will experience this joy and receive comfort and consolation in your sadness. Perhaps you will find this through one of our organizations or activities, some of which are described in these pages. Most especially, I pray that you find joy and consolation in the Presence of our Lord here in church. While the Lord walked the earth only for a few years in His physical body, He is present every moment of the day in the Tabernacle or in the Monstrance and especially in Holy Communion. If you have been away from the Church for some time, let us provide you with the opportunity to be reconciled with God and His Church. If you are searching, let us help you find the answers. Please accept this prayer card as a small Christmas gift, and with it, whatever your story is right now, let us pray for each other and radiate Christ to each other. May God bless you and keep you in His care, and may the Blessed Mother intercede for you, Father Cibelli All are welcome at Catholic Mass and other Catholic ceremonies. We are glad you are with us today to celebrate the Lord s birth! Please note, however, the Catholic Church does not observe open communion. To receive Holy Communion, Catholics must be properly prepared. This includes believing in Jesus Real Presence in the Eucharist, fasting for one hour, being in a state of grace and observing all the teachings of the Church. Among these are: having made one s First Communion (usually in second grade), being married according to the laws of the Church (for those in physically intimate relationships), attending Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation (unless health or bad weather prevents this), observing the days of fasting and abstinence (see inside front cover of Pew Missal), confessing any mortal sins in the Sacrament of Reconciliation prior to receiving Holy Communion (at least once a year). Please see the inside front cover of the Pew Missal for further guidelines, including for non- Catholics. Catholics who are not properly prepared and Non-Catholics are welcome to come forward to receive a blessing. To indicate your desire for a blessing, please cross your arms over your chest. Questions? Can we help in some way? Please contact one of the priests of the parish. Thank you for your reverence, and God bless you!
Father, Was Jesus actually born on December 25th? As we approach the celebration of the Incarnation, many people argue over the date of Jesus' birth. Pope Benedict covers the question very well in his book, Jesus of Nazareth. Furthermore, some people ask, "Why are we celebrating Christmas on December 25 th when the season in the Bible says there were shepherds in the field. [According to ] Ezra 10:9, the Jews were not out in the cold or rain season?" It is important to remember that the temperature around Jerusalem is about 45 degrees Fahrenheit and sheep have a heavy wool covering to keep them warm. To this day, sheep still graze the area year round, and this practice is recorded in the ancient Jewish Mishna. The date of December 25 th, some argue, was chosen because it is nine months after the Annunciation celebrated on 25 March. Because the Gospel of Luke, tells us that Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, served in the temple during the division of Abijah, and when he returned home, John the Baptist was conceived. The division of Abijah falls around the month of October. Since the Angel told Mary that Elizabeth was already pregnant six-months, that would put the annunciation in March and nine months later Jesus would be born in December. Perhaps the best evidence for a December 25 th date comes from Dr. Taylor Marshall who writes The best way to date Herod s death is by focusing on the testimony that Herod died a few months after a well-observed lunar eclipse. With modern astronomical models, we know that such a lunar eclipse occurred at Jerusalem before sunset on December 29 in 1 B.C. This would mean that Herod died sometime after A.D. 1. This lines up perfectly with the chronology of Dionysius the Little. This means that Christ was born on December 25 of 1 B.C. and that He was circumcised on January 1 of A.D. I would also draw your attention to a fascinating video on the star of Bethlehem, that can be found at www.bethlehemstar.com. Using the study of the positions of the stars and the biblical and historical data, the author comes to the conclusion that Jesus was born on December 25 th. St. Mary 224 W. Washington St. Hagerstown, MD 21740 Phone: 301-739-0390 Fax: 301-739-7082 Email: church@saintmarysonline.org Church website: www.saintmarysonline.org School website: www.stmarycatholicschool.org Pastor Rev. Ernest Cibelli Associate Pastor Rev. Lawrence Adamczyk Pastor Emeritus Rev. George Limmer Mass Schedule Saturday: 8:30 am and 5:15pm Sunday: 8:00am, 9:30am, 11:00am and 12:50pm (Extraordinary Form) Monday-Friday: 6:30am and 8:30am Holy Days: 7:30pm on the day and 7:30pm vigil ST. MICHAEL, Clear Spring: Sunday Mass at 10:30am Solemnity of Mary Mother of God Monday, January 1, 2017 Masses are at 10:00 AM 12 noon, Extraordinary Form Not a Holy Day of obligation this year because it falls on a Monday.
St. Mary Church Holy Mass Intentions December 25 31, 2017 Day Date Mass Intention Monday 12/25 8:00 James & Joan St. Ledger 10:00 Sister Corda Mullenix EF, High Mass 12:00 St. Mary s Parishioners St. Michael Church 10:00AM December 25, 2017 St. Michael s Parishioners Tuesday 12/26 6:30 Gene Eakle 8:30 Francis & Ann McDermott Wednesday 12/27 6:30 Ruth & Stan Bond 8:30 Sara & Philip Alencherry Thursday 12/28 6:30 Vocations to the Priesthood 8:30 Fr. Erik Lenhart Friday 12/29 6:30 Special Intentions of Catherine Daley 8:30 Monsignor Robert S. Passarelli Saturday 12/30 8:30 David McLaughlin 5:15 Special Intentions of Maria Axline Sunday 12/31 8:00 Sara Stephanie Bock 9:30 Special Intentions of Mary Brady 11:00 Special Intentions of the John Koch Family EF, Low Mass 12:50 St. Mary and St. Michael Parishioners St. Michael Church 10:30AM December 31, 2017 St. Mary and St. Michael Parishioners Readings for December 24 31, 2017 Sunday 12/24 Monday 12/25 Tuesday 12/26 Wednesday 12/27 Thursday 12/28 Friday 12/29 Saturday 12/30 Sunday 12/31 Sunday FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT 2nd Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16 / Romans 16:25-27 / Luke 1:26-38 THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD (Christmas) Vigil: Isaiah 62:1-5 / Acts 13:16-17, 22-25 / Matthew 1:1-25 Night: Isaiah 9:1-6/ Timothy 2:11-14 / Luke 2:1-14 Dawn: Isaiah 62:11-12 / Timothy 3:4-7 / Luke 2:15-20 Day: Isaiah 52:7-10 / Hebrew 1:1-6 / John 1:1-18 Saint Stephen, The First Martyr Feast Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59 / Matthew 10:17-22 Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist 1st John 1:1-4 / John 20:1a, 2-8 The Holy Innocents, Martyrs Feast 1st John 1:5 2:2 / Matthew 2:13-18 Fifth Day within the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord Saint Thomas Becket, Bishop and Martyr 1st John 2:3-11 / Luke 2:22-35 Sixth Day within the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord 1st John 2:12-17 / Luke 2:36-40 Sunday THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH Feast Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14 / Colossians 3:12-21 / Luke 2:22, 39-40
Poinsettias In Honor or In Memory of Breen & Helen Mason Francis Ritchick, Sr. Mrs. Frances Close Mrs. Vera Willard Barb & Frank Lancaster Nan Lancaster Lash Dorothy Jones Mary & Joe Borg Deceased Members of Borg Family & Fiorello Family Mary & Paul McElwee Ernest Prete Maria Maino Karen Anne McElwee Debra Ann Bowers Mr. & Mrs Robert T. Swarner Virginia VanDyke Susan Barrett Dubrosky Paul & Nancy Carpegna Bradley E. Palm Robert Kight Jeffery Kight Michelle Clark Anthony Mozingo George & Ellen Demmitt Bill & Mary Walter The Ecobona Family The Demmitt Family Doris Ahalt Frances Hazel Bowers Pauline Alice Rowe Lucille Brandenburg David B. Merritt The Calandrelle Family The Lushbaugh Family The Grove Family Tobechi Eke Angela Orji Orji Lrengeus Anyae Paulina Orji Kelechi Akachukwu Barbara Grove Dorothy Jolliffe William Jolliffe Charles R. Stone The Deceased Members of the Palkovitz Family Frank & Sarah Acre Albert S. Lease William F. Burger The Acre Family Francis & Ann McDermott James & Joan St. Ledger Frank & Frances Nowakowski Anna Casto Paul & Madeline The Bender Family The Bandoffs Family The Strong Family Paul Bender & Family Eric Bender & Family The Ralph Hamby Family Bernard McAniff Marcella McAniff Homer & Anna and daughter, Nina Staubs Howard & Wife, Nina Staubs Fred & Cleo Burger Donnie Harris Larry Barbour Joan Sanford John Sanford Deceased Walsh Family Deceased Heinrich Family Deceased Goodrich Family Michael Reese, Jr. Michael Reese, Sr. The Deceased Wilson Family The Deceased Keeler Family Father Robert Passarelli Ben Bostion Robert T. Smith
Henry & Ethel Cullison Richard & Mary E. Smith Bernard & James F. Cullison William Bond Pauline Allison Donald Allison Mary Bulava Bob Carroll Tom Haslup Michael Diseati Teresa Diseati John Russell Helen Russell The Diseati & Russell Families Family & Friends of Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Baer Margaret F. Palmer The Deceased O Briens & Kiernans Carroll & Victoria Wollard Ludwig DeThomasis Janet DeThomasis Gus DeThomasis Anna DeThomasis Kathryn Hoffmeyer Phoebe Henge James J. Gray Mr. & Mrs. Philip Alencherry Jose Thattil Therma Amty All relatives and friends Baby Berin Charles C. Spencer Bill & Mary Kalk Avery Kalk Pete & Joan McNeil Vince & Joyce Knox Joseph Whalen Daniel Hartnett Mary Ann Hartnett Larry Hartnett Jim & Delores Dodson Jr. Taylor Donald Palmer Daniel Shinham The Clopper Family The Rowland Family The Bartle Family The Hofe Family The Weaver Family John H. Youngerman Violet Skipper Pat McCusker Robert Myers Homer & Sisson Grimm Andy & Lois Trumpower Bernard Moleskie Bill Fridinger Jim & Lois Trumpower Thelma Clopper Immaculate Conception Pat Kline Ralph &Marion Sherin Tom & Anna Kline Bud Sherin Grace Sherin Jean Cuff Richard Cuff Jean Stamos Norn Jean Jones Tina & Jacob Wallech The Schlotterbeck Family The Sylvia Family Florence & Larry Wilkes Adelle Elaine Agnes Miller Theresa Shipp The Waas Family The Domenico Family Eleanor Larimore Lillian White Patricia Guhr Felix Ignatius Pushpammel Raziah Sillian Muthammal Ignatius Betty Jean Miller Richard Walla Andrew F. & Dorothy Ridenour Josephine & William Coss Nicholas & Mary Torrine Augusta & Naomi Cearfoss The Rossi & Kolega Families And All who contributed to the Poinsettias
Prayer Groups Legion of Mary Padre Pio 13th of the Month Fatima Prayer Group St. Vincent de Paul Helping Others! CHALLENGING THE MIND LIVING THE FAITH Fully accredited Pre-K through 8th grade Visit us each Tuesday during Take A Look Tuesdays Adult Catechism Class Wednesday 10:30 AM Parish Office Conference Room Come with your questions about the Catholic Faith Grades 9 12 Bring a Friend! Food Fun Friends Games Questions? Contact Todd Anderson hagerstownhomeseller@gmail.com Mary McNeil emmbee@look-ma.com or 301-582-3752 Knights of the Holy Tabernacle Young men 8th 12th grade are invited to join Sundays, 6:30-8:30pm Bosco Room 2nd floor, St. Mary Parish Center Feasting!, Fun!, & Faith! Catholic Daughters of America What We Do! The work of the Court encompasses charitable works that include scholarships for youth and supporting youth with community/spiritual endeavors; an annual education contest for youth; spiritual and financial support of priests, sisters, and seminarians; support of Mary Center of Washington County -- annual baby shower and monthly monetary donations; fund raising (such as bake sales, an annual Tea Party, and the Father s Day Honor Roll) for goals such as donating $5,000 for the John R. Marsh Cancer Facility, $2,000 to St. Mary s School Funding Campaign, $500 annually to St. Mary s School, monetary gifts to St. Mary s Parish, donations to community needs such as Holly Place and REACH, State needs, and National charities. Lots of receptions for parish events are organized and provided by the Catholic Daughters and we organized the Mercy Committee made up of St. Mary s Parish volunteers which provides funeral receptions. Come to any meeting the 2nd Tuesday of the month (September-June) at 7 p.m. in Fatima Hall of the Parish Center. For more information, call Joanne Lewis (301-745-4445) or Linda Field (301-797-6189).