The Church of St. Gerard Majella THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT DECEMBER 17, 2017 ADDRESS 9600 Regent Avenue North Brooklyn Park, MN 55443-1499 OFFICE HOURS Monday-Friday: 9:00 AM-5:00 PM Saturday and Sunday: CLOSED EUCHARIST Saturday 5pm, Sunday 8:30, 10:30 am WEBSITE: www.st-gerard.org Like us on FACEBOOK St. Gerard s Youth TWITTER handle: @StGerardYM St. Gerard s Youth INSTAGRAM: @StGerardYouth Parish Office: 763-424-8770 Fax Number: 763-424-4327 Faith Formation: 763-424-8600 PASTORAL Services Rev. Thomas Santa, C.Ss.R. - Parochial Administrator Rev. Tuan Pham, C.Ss.R. Bro. Bruce Davidson, C.Ss.R. Rev. Matthew Bonk, C.Ss.R. Rev. Patrick Keyes, C.Ss.R. Barbara Staats - Business Administrator Anne Tiller - Pastoral Minister Amy Wittak- Liturgical Ministry Tim Smith - Dir. of Liturgical Music Colette O Brien - Communications Judy Foster - Dir. of Faith Formation Emily Wenner - Youth Faith Formation Coordinator Heidi Schleif - Preschool & Elementary Coordinator All Are Welcome! We are a Catholic community striving to love God and our neighbors. No matter who you are, or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here! Who Am I To Judge? --Pope Francis SUPPORT Services Sue Czerniak - Secretary/Receptionist Dianne Goodwin - Secretary/Receptionist MAINTENANCE Services Dave Neuman - Maintenance Operator Roger Popham - Custodian Hearing Assistance Devices are available at the Sound Desk in the Church. Low-Gluten hosts are available. Please call the parish office for more information.
The Church of St. Gerard A NOTE FROM THE PASTOR I really enjoyed our Social Media Sunday this past weekend. The opportunity to introduce our parish App was something that I had looked forward to for the last few months as we prepared the App. Our middle school and high school youth, the St. Gerard App Masters were a great help to making the installation of the App on so many phones a real snap. I do not think we could have done it without their help and I look forward to their continuing help over the next few weeks. All in all I do not think we could have done anything to improve the introduction of this powerful tool for communication for our parish family. We enjoyed a very good staff meeting last week and were able to come to some consensus on some shared efforts that we need to implement. You will be hearing quite a lot of news about Adult Faith Formation opportunities in the weeks ahead. I think we are on the right track. I am also quite excited about our ambitious Christmas mass offerings. I think we have tried our very best to plan an opportunity for the celebration of the Christmas Feast that will be supportive of the many and varied needs of our faith community. It will also offer an opportunity for those families who do not regularly attend the Eucharist to find a celebration that fits into their schedule. It is going to be a lot of work for the staff, the liturgical ministers, and of course our music ministry but I think it will be worth the effort. I really appreciate the new digital projectors that were installed in church. What a difference they make! It is a pleasure to be able to read the screens and enjoy the full color of the thematic slides that are part of our liturgical experience. It was a very substantial commitment of funds, and I so appreciate the effort of all of those who contributed, but I think it was well worth the effort. Again, it is illustrative of what we can accomplish together when something is identified as a real need and essential for the enhancement of our faith community and worship. It encourages me to try to make some other much needed improvements in the months ahead, but more about that effort after Christmas. Right now we have more than enough to do. Thank you for your very generous response to the Angel Tree ministry. Because of your generosity Christmas will be a real celebration for some blessed families who will directly benefit from our shared effort. It truly makes a huge difference and in some cases changes the entire celebration of the day from a negative to a positive experience. That is really a wonderful thing, a great blessing, a real manifestation of the grace of God working through each and everyone of us. I hope your imaginations are both captured and nourished by our Advent theme, Ordinary Holiness. What a beautiful song composed by Tim and Julie. It is such a privilege to join our voices with theirs as we remind ourselves of the graced moment of the kitchen The Church of St. Gerard table gospel. I love the images that the song brings to mind and I think they provide a wonderful focus for our Advent reflection and prayer. Well, that is about it for this week. There is so much going on and the season seems to be calling us to a more and more frantic pace. In the midst of it all it is good to stop, catch your breath, and remember to pray. It does not have to be a long prayer or a complicated one. A good one is real simple and directly to the point: Thank you God! Have a great week. Fr. Tom Santa, C.SS.R. For the Redemptorist Community and Staff NOVEMBER BAPTISM Hadley Rose Grefe was made a member of the Church through the saving waters of baptism. May God continue to bless her family and our parish as we continue the vital work of teaching them what it means to follow Christ. Monthly Actual $75,072.59 Monthly Envelope Income: November 2017 Monthly Budget $78,436.00 Envelope Income Through November 2017 St. Gerard s fiscal year runs July 1st - June 30th YTD Actual $360,121.97 YTD Budget $389,455.00 RETIREMENT FUND FOR RELIGIOUS The appeal benefits some 32,000 aging Catholic sisters, brothers and priests in religious orders to help underwrite retirement and health-care expenses. Roughly 94 percent of donations aid elderly religious. Read more about the Retirement Fund and Sister Kathleen Mary Kiemen in the Catholic Spirit at http://thecatholicspirit.com/culture/faith -and-culture/retirement-fund-helps-care-members-supportministries/ (Sister Kate served as the director of justice and outreach at St. Gerard s from 1995 to 2004.) Donate online with the Give button of the app or website, or use an envelope from the bulletin board outside the parish office. YEAR END GIVING IRA s - If you make a direct transfer from your IRA to St. Gerard s, you get to count that money toward your required minimum distribution but because it s not actually distributed to you, it won t increase your adjusted gross income. This option is particularly beneficial if you don t itemize deductions on your tax return. Gifts of Stock - Gifts of stock can provide you with double tax benefits: 1) you may be able to claim a charitable contribution donation in the amount of the current market value of the stock, and 2) you don t pay taxes on the appreciated value of the donated stock. For more information, contact Barbara Staats at 763-424-8770.
Justice and Outreach ANGEL TREE Thank you St. Gerard s for your generosity! Faith Formation YOUTH GROUP CHRISTMAS PARTY High school youth group will meet on December 17 from 7:30-9:00 pm for a Christmas party. All high school students are invited! Come meet friends and have fun! "KEEP CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS" POSTER CONTEST The Knights of Columbus are having a poster contest for children ages 5-14. Entries will be accepted through December 18th. You can find a sheet with all the information and rules on the table across from the Faith Formation office. If you have questions, contact Ed Keller at 763-424-8064 or kfyram@gmail.com JUSTICE AND EQUITY IN TAX REFORM PROPOSALS The US Conference of Catholic Bishops has raised concerns about the tax reform proposals currently being considered in Congress. In written letters to both the House of Representatives and the US Senate, the bishops state that the proposals appear to raise income taxes on the working poor while simultaneously providing a large tax cut to the wealthy. The bishops mention several concerns with the proposals and urge Congress to support policy approaches that help individuals and families struggling within our society. To read the full text visit: http://www.usccb.org/ news/2017/17-237.cfm. To add your voice in support of the bishops concerns, contact your legislators by visiting: www.house.gov and www.senate.gov LOAVES AND FISHES St. Gerard s hosts Loaves and Fishes on the 4th Friday of every month. Our next date is Friday, December 22nd. We serve from 5-7 pm at St. Stephen's in Minneapolis. Sign up to serve on the easel in the Gathering Space. Contact Karen Brenteson at 763-561-7411 with any questions. GIVE. ADVOCATE. VOLUNTEER SafeJourney, a program serving North Memorial Hospital, helps individuals who are experiencing domestic abuse. Volunteer advocates are needed to provide a listening ear, emotional support, safety planning, information and referral. No previous experience. Training is provided. For more information, call Raelene at 763-581-3942. COMMUNION MINISTERS FOR NORTH MEMORIAL Eucharistic ministers are needed to bring communion to Catholic patients at North Memorial Hospital. VIRTUS training and background check required. The commitment is 1-3 hours, two Saturdays a month. For more info, contact Anne Tiller at annet@st-gerard.org or 763-424-8770 ext 120 BIZAA - SPONSOR A CHILD THIS CHRISTMAS Want to give your child s teacher something they ll really appreciate this Christmas? How about a sponsorship card for a child in Africa? Your teacher will receive a gift card and packet that can be shared with students. For more info, contact Christina Spaeth-Harrer at 651-247-2126. WINTER STRETCH Calling all 6th-12th graders! Looking for something fun to do over Christmas Break? Join us on Wednesday, December 27th for Mass, a service project, and skating at the Central Park Ice Skating Trail. Contact Emily at emilyw@st-gerard.org to sign up. MARRIAGE MENTOR COUPLE MINISTRY Marriage Mentor Couple ministry is one of our most important sacramental preparation ministries. These couples help prepare engaged couples for marriage in the Church. This process offers the engaged couple evaluation and methods of communication that will enhance and strengthen their relationship. This process is not religious instruction, but rather help in determining the differences in their relationship and how to respectfully work through them. However, faith traditions and beliefs are discussed. If this ministry sounds interesting to you as a married couple (5 yrs. married minimum), please contact Judy Foster at the parish office. This is a most rewarding and flexible volunteer ministry and you can participate as much or as minimally as you choose. Training is provided. THE ADVENT WREATH The Advent wreath is a tradition rich in meaning and symbolism. Darkness and Light - The Advent candles demonstrate the contrast between darkness and light. In the Bible, Christ is referred to as the Light of the World contrasted with the darkness of sin. As his Advent, or coming, draws nearer another candle is lit, each candle dispelling the darkness a little more. Shape - The circular shape of the wreath, without beginning or end, symbolizes God s unending love for us - a love that sent his Son to redeem us from the curse of sin. Color - Violet is a liturgical color that is used to signify a time of prayer, penance, and sacrifice. The Third Sunday of Advent is called Gaudete (Rejoice) Sunday. On this day we celebrate that our waiting for the birth of Jesus on Christmas day is almost over. Rose is a liturgical color that is used to signify joy.
This Week at St. Gerard s INTENTIONS MON-FRI 8:25 AM - Eucharist & Liturgy of the Hours MONDAY, DECEMBER 18 8:25 am - Communion Service TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19 8:25 am - Parish Families of St. Gerard & San Raphael WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20 8:25 am - Ralph Koenigsfeld THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21 8:25 am - Ralph Koenigsfeld FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22 8:25 am - Grace Clausen SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23 5:00 pm - Mariah Klein SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24 8:30 am - Patricia Lee 10:30 am - Henry Kaeferlein 4:00 pm - For all the children of the parish 6:00 pm - Living & deceased founding members 10:00 pm - Parish Families of St. Gerard & San Raphael PARISH EVENTS MONDAY, DECEMBER 18 6:00 pm - Elementary Faith Formation 7:15 pm - Elementary Catechist Social 7:30 pm - Boy Scouts TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19 9:00 am - Perpetual Help Devotion 9:30 am - Womens Prayer/Support Group 7:00 pm - KC Council Meeting 7:30 pm - Regent AA WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20 9:00 am - Eucharistic Adoration 6:00 pm - EDGE Middle School Classes 7:00 pm - Choir Rehearsal 7:15 pm - Middle School Catechist Social THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21 6:00 pm - Centering Prayer 7:00 pm - RCIA FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22 Office Closed 9:00 am - Loaves & Fishes Prep 5:00 pm - Loaves & Fishes (St. Stephens) SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23 4:00 pm - Private Confessions 5:00 pm - Eucharist SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24 8:30 am - Eucharist 10:30 am - Eucharist 4:00 pm - Christmas Eve Service 6:00 pm - Christmas Eve Service 9:30 pm - Christmas Caroling 10:00 pm - Christmas Vigil Service PLEASE PRAY for the sick and ailing members of our parish community, and all those in our Parish Prayer Book, especially: Joan Blashack Ardell Johnson Also remember those loved ones who have died. READINGS FOR DECEMBER 24, 2017 4th Sunday of Advent 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8B-12, 14A, 16 Romans 16:25-27 Luke 1:26-38 SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM Call the Parish Office to schedule a date and register for the preparation class. SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION Saturday at 4:00 pm or any time by appointment. SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE Please contact the parish office at least six months prior to the desired date. Get the App Donate Online
Announcements WELCOME TO ST. GERARD S! If you are visiting St. Gerard's today and would like more information about the parish or how to become a member, please stop by the Welcome Desk in the Gathering Space, pick up a new member info packet, and sign our guest registry. Also, visit the I m New tab of our new app or website! Thank you for worshipping with us today! We are so happy to have you here! Please come again! TEACHING POSITIONS AT ST. ALPHONSUS SCHOOL Faithful Beginnings Preschool at St. Alphonsus is hiring a parttime assistant teacher and part-time teacher s aide. If you are interested in either of these positions, please call the school office at 763-561-5101 or email your resume to Kari Staples, Principal at staplesk@mystals.org. KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS MEMBERSHIP The St. Gerard s Knights of Columbus are looking for men in our parish to join us in our mission to support our parish, our faith, and our Catholic way of life. The Knights support our parish youth groups and people with special needs in our community. We also support our seminarians and priests, and host events that invite our parish to get together as a family. If you are interested in membership and would like to receive information, please visit our website at kc13001.mnknights.org or email knights13001news@gmail.com 2017 ADVENT/CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE 1 st - 4 th Sundays of Advent Sat 5:00pm and Sun 8:30am & 10:30am Christmas Eve Dec 24, 4:00pm (Children s Mass) Dec 24, 6:00pm & 10:00pm with 9:30pm Christmas Carols Christmas Day Dec 25, 10:00am with 9:30am Christmas Carols CHRISTMAS FLOWER MEMORIALS Remember loved ones by donating toward the purchase of flowering plants to decorate the church. Please complete the form and return it with your check to the parish office or in the Sunday collection. New! Form and donation now available online! YOUR NAME: NAME(S) OF LOVED ONES: