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Page 2 December 18, 2016 WEEKLY CALENDAR SUN. DECEMBER 18, 2016 8:00 AM Mass 9:00 AM Coffee Hour in School Cafeteria 9:00 AM - Noon Benny s Faithful Art in Cafeteria 10:00 AM Mass/Simbang Gabi Procession 11:00 AM Simbang Gabi Luncheon 11:30 AM Teen Confirmation Class 4:15 PM Reconciliation 5:00 PM Mass 7:00 PM Christmas Concert MON. DECEMBER 19, 2016 7:45 AM Mass 8:30 AM Rosary 6:00 PM SMdP Sandwich Makers TUES. DECEMBER 20, 2016 8:45 AM Communion Service (New time) 7:00 PM Women s Ministry Cookie Exchange 7:00 PM Youth Group WED. DECEMBER 21, 2016 6:30 PM Mass 7:00 PM Human Concerns and Social Justice Meeting LITURGIES SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2016 FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT Is 7:10-14 Ps 24:1-6 Rom 1:1-7 Mt 1:18-24 8:00 AM Mass (RIP) Gaetano Borriello by Rosa Borriello 10:00 AM Mass (RIP) Everett Willette by Tom & Jan Barrett 5:00 PM Mass (INT) The Parishioners of St. Benedict MONDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2016 Jgs 13:2-7,24-25a Ps 71:3-4a,5-6b,16-17 Lk 1:5-15 7:45 AM Mass (RIP) Pat O Toole by Helen O Toole TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2016 Is 7:10-14 Ps 24:1-6 Lk 1:26-38 8:45 AM Communion Service (New time) WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2016 St. Peter Canisius, Priest, Doctor of the Church Sg 2:8-14 Ps 33:2-3,11-12,20-21 Lk 1:39-45 6:30 PM Mass (RIP) Aidan McNally by Helen O Toole THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22 2016 1 Sm 1:24-28 (Ps) 1 Sm 2:1,4-8 Lk 1:46-56 8:45 AM Mass (RIP) Dan Reilly by Cath Reilly FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2016 St. John of Kanty, Priest Mal 3:1-4,23-24 Ps 25:4bc-5ab,8-10,14 Lk 1:57-66 7:45 AM Mass (RIP) Nancy Hebestreit THURS. DECEMBER 22, 2016 8:45 AM Mass 7:00 PM Choir Rehearsal FRI. DECEMBER 23, 2016 Parish Office Closed 7:45 AM Mass SAT. DECEMBER 24, 2016 4:00 PM Family Christmas Mass 10:00 PM Christmas Eve Mass SUN. DECEMBER 25, 2016 10:00 AM Christmas Day Mass TUESDAY COMMUNION SERVICE NEW TIME Please note, our Tuesday Communion Service time has changed and is now at 8:45 AM. PRAY FOR THOSE THAT ARE SICK Arlette Fellores, Carmen Gonzales, Chris Durbin, Norm Taylor, Tom Weber Sr. & Jr., Willie Kleffner, Monica Salle-Ilacqua, Dale Steen, Janice Mosey, Roseanne Borden, Lenard Alvarez, Den Costales, Eugene Haydu, Zeny Zimmerman, John Bulman, Lucille Jasper, Nora Taylor, Tim Day, Easton Brown, Xavier Schmitt and Francisco Ortiz SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2016 VIGIL OF THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD Is 62:1-5 Ps 89:4-5,16-17,27,29 Acts 13:16-17,22-25 Mt 1:1-25 4:00 PM Mass Is 9:1-6 Ps 96:1-3,11-13 Ti 2:11-14 Lk 2:1-14 10:00 PM Mass SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2016 THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD Is 52:7-10 Ps 98 Heb 1:1-6 Jn 1:1-18 10:00 AM Mass (RIP) Jacqueline Willette by Tom & Jan Barrett FAMILY MASS EACH WEDNESDAY Join us on the 1 st Wednesday of the month, bring the kids, sit up front and enjoy the gift of daily Mass. Have the kids bring a stuffed animal to snuggle and share God's love. Everyone is welcome, please help spread the word! Join us the 1 st Wednesday of

Page 3 December 18, 2016 From our pastoral Leadership Dear Friends, At a recent community dinner, as each guest was introducing themselves, the word community was used by every person as they described what they appreciated about St. Benedict Parish. This is consistent with the other dinners we ve had, and with my conversations with parishioners in general. Whether a person is relatively new to the parish, or has been a member for decades, the response is the same - it is the special sense of community that drew them to be part of our parish. It s easy to be misled and believe that it is us, as members, that make our community so welcoming and special. Certainly, we play a part, but more than just a club or a community organization, it is our faith as Catholics and the Holy Spirit working in and through us that animates our community and sets us apart. In this final week of Advent, I have a challenge for you! By the doors of the church we have postcards inviting people to join us for Mass on Christmas, with some details about parish activities on the reverse side. Our parish community needs to grow in order to be a strong, viable community well into the future so why not share this hidden treasure with your family and friends this Christmas? I am asking everyone to invite one person to join us in this Christmas season. As Father Bryan says, we don t impose, but propose our faith to others. Advent is a time of joyful hope, and we can easily share this with others. So invite someone to join you for Mass this Christmas, and let s see where the Spirit might lead us. Let s continue to pray for one another, Marti Lundberg THE MEANING OF THE ADVENT WREATH We light the final candle today in anticipation of the coming of the Christ child to the world. Since the middle ages, Christians have used advent wreaths as part of their spiritual preparation for Christmas. Christ is the Light that came into the world (John 3:19). The symbolism is beautiful, incorporating evergreen branches signifying continuous life in Christ. Sometimes holly is used, reminding us of the crown of thorns that Jesus will wear. Any pinecones, nuts or seed pods used to decorate, signify life and resurrection. This is a great way to celebrate at home too lighting the candles before your evening meal, especially this week, to pray and usher in the Christmas season. Let us share our Advent blessings with others. Worship & spiritual life ST. BENEDICT / ST. ANNE HOLIDAY CONCERT This combined choir will present an evening of Christmas songs and music on Sunday night December 18 th at 7:00 PM in our church with an encore performance on Tuesday December 20 th at St. Anne. Please join Dr. Charles Hiestand and our choir for a night of laughter, love and just maybe a sing-a-long. SIMBANG GABI NIGHT MASS The Simbang Gabi is a 600 year Philippine tradition, originally beginning on December 16 th as a Novena to the Blessed Mother. Its liturgical significance is from the Season of Advent, as a time of spiritual preparation and purification to worthily welcome and receive the Child Jesus. Its origins began in Mexico, where the practice of holding Mass outdoors began in 1587, when the Pope gave permission to Diego de Soria, a Mexican friar, to hold Mass outdoors because churches could not accommodate the huge numbers that came to celebrate Christmas. The novena culminates, on the ninth day, with the Mass of the Gifts, or Misa de Gallo, which celebrates the birth of Jesus. However, it was not until 1669, during the early years of Christianity, in the Philippines, that the Misa de Gallo became a Philippine spiritual tradition when in preparation for the birth of Christ, missionary friars held predawn Masses to usher in the event of Jesus' birth. The masses were celebrated very early, usually at 4 AM, during the harvest season so that farmers could be in the fields at by dawn. At the first sound of dawn, at the crowing of the rooster, entire families would get up and walk to the nearest parish church. Colorful Parols (lanterns) were hung in every door, window, tree branch to light their way. After the mass, people gather in their homes to celebrate Noche Buena with a feast. Please join our Fillipino Community today in the cafeteria after the 10:00 AM Mass to celebrate Simbang Gabi. All are welcome! WOMEN S MINISTRY Our Holiday Cookie Exchange and Social is this Tuesday, December 20 th from 7:00 to 9:00 PM in the dining room of the Parish Center. Bake a couple of batches of your favorite Christmas cookie recipe and join us for a prayerful reflection. Then relax over refreshments and great conversation as we celebrate the season. You will be rewarded by taking home a variety platter of delicious home baked cookies for the Holidays. Very little fuss with big a pay off. See you there! ST. JOHN OF KANTY As a priest and distinguished professor at the University of Krakow, St. John of Kanty (1390 1473) had a passion for the world of ideas. He believed learning was not contained in the classroom or a textbook, but extended to all areas of life. Whether he was eating with the noble class or responding to the plight of the poor, St. John eloquently empowered people to bridge the ponderings of the mind with the feelings of the heart. In terms of his own spiritual journey, he followed the simple austere practices of the desert fathers never clinging to material goods, fasting whenever possible, and living in contemplative awareness. Because St. John was deeply respected by colleagues and students, many years after his death, his academic gown was used at the investiture of each new doctor of the university. (2017 Sourcebook pg. 28) Violence is not the cure for our broken world. It is a challenge to build up society, communities and businesses by acting as peacemakers. It is to show mercy by refusing to discard people, harm the environment or seek to win at any cost. ~~ Pope Francis, on World Day of Peace 2016

Page 4 December 18, 2016 Parish Stewardship - Fiscal Year 2017 July 1, 2016 - June 30, 2017 Total Budget - $396,000 Actual Budget Variance November $ 33,055 $ 33,275 $ (220) YTD $ 160,886 $ 170,659 $ (9,773) ** Amounts include collections from ALL Masses ** STEWARDSHIP OF TREASURE When he discovered that Mary was with child, Joseph resolved to end their engagement with as little disgrace as possible. But obedient to the voice of God, he changed those plans and became instead the protector of the child Jesus and His mother, Mary. God grant that I may be as open to the leading of the Holy Spirit! CURRENT PLEDGE TOTAL: over $1,000,000! We are so grateful too see our campaign pledge total over $1 million! 219 of our parish and school families have pledged to this important campaign. Thank you to everyone who returned a pledge card and contributed to this extraordinary, ongoing effort. Now we need you! We still need the participation of our entire community. If you haven t made a donation yet, there are pledge cards available in the vestibule or at the parish office. Your generosity and participation is appreciated! EVERY GIFT COUNTS! stewardship SCHOOL NEWS 2017 STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN This is the time of year when we ask you to prayerfully reflect on your financial support of our parish and make a pledge for your contributions in the coming year. This allows us to create a balanced parish budget - with a solid projection of our income. We utilize this information in our planning for programs and staffing. We strive to be good stewards of all the financial resources we receive. Pledge cards and registration materials have been mailed to all registered households and are also available at the church or parish office. Please help us by turning in your card soon and once again going to stbens.net to renew your online EFT giving and control your own account, the information does not roll over so please renew your account!. JOIN OUR COFFEE HOUR HOSTS TODAY! 8:00 AM Sherry Zane 10:00 AM Our Filipino Community The signup sheet is in the cafeteria. There is no cost to host, the church purchases all of the refreshments (donuts, coffee and juice). For your convenience, the set-up and clean-up directions are on the same easel with the sign-up sheet. Thank you for keeping this viable ministry going. This time of fellowship after Mass is important to our community. Please sign up to help! THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY FULFILLED YOUR ANNUAL CATHOLIC APPEAL PLEDGE! Please check if your employer has a Matching Gift program. Once payment of your gift has been paid in full, you can apply for the match per your employer s instructions! The Annual Catholic Appeal, Archdiocese of Seattle, is a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Tax ID # 91-0778147. Call 800-809-4921 if you have any questions. NOMINATE THE ST. BENEDICT CATHOLIC SCHOOL 2017 DISTINGUISHED GRADUATE Each year St. Benedict Catholic School identifies and honors an alumnus as a Distinguished Graduate. This award is sponsored by the National Catholic Education Association. Please consider nominating a Candidate for this recognition to be honored during the 2017 National Catholic Schools Week in January. Nominees should have graduated from St. Benedict Catholic School at least 10 years ago and have made notable contributions to their community and church. They should be active Catholics that through their life and achievements exemplify the devotion to faith, family and service that is instilled at St. Benedict Catholic School. Nominations for the 2017 Distinguished Graduate award are being accepted now through December 30, 2016. Nomination forms can be found on the School Bulletin Board in the vestibule of the church, on our website at www.stbens.net/alumni or by contacting Teresa Gillett, Development Director, at t.gillett@stbens.net or calling the school office at 206-633-3375. SCRIP FOR SALE AFTER EVERY SUNDAY MASS THROUGH CHRISTMAS Help support St. Benedict School by buying scrip cards. Cash and checks accepted. We sell over 50 stores, including most grocery stores. See our order form for details. A percentage of each card goes to the school. You can use QFC scrip to buy donations for the Food Bank. You can use scrip to buy items for the Christmas Giving Tree that will be set up in the Church vestibule. We will sell after every Sunday Mass from now until Christmas. Human concerns social justice ST. BENEDICT GIVING TREE Thank you for blessing a special person in need this Christmas. Once again your generous donations filled carts with over 400 gifts for families and individuals at Mary s Place, the St. Francis House, St. Martin de Porres, St. Vincent de Paul, the Juvenile Detention Center and over $2500 in cash donations for tuition scholarships, school supplies, uniforms and books for our sister parish St. Lawrence of Brindisi in Limulunga, Zambia. This is a great tradition of generosity supported by you through our annual Giving Tree and surpasses any question that Jesus is among us. If you have forgotten your gift, bring it to the office and we will make sure it gets to the right destination before the holiday. Contact Brenda Stratton at 206.527.8593 if you have any questions or concerns. This process and project is organized and distributed by the St. Benedict Human Concerns and Social Justice Commission and we thank each and every one of you!.

Page 5 December 18, 2016 Human concerns social justice ST. MARTIN de PORRES SEEKING FUNDS AND HELP Our ministry group meets the first and third Monday s of the month to make sandwiches for the 225 homeless men of the shelter. In an effort to keep the ministry alive, we are seeking both monetary funds and volunteers. When each parish family donates $5.00 per month, we are able to feed many. We accept donations of boiled eggs and cookies and are always seeking sandwich makers. Our next sandwich making day is tomorrow, Monday December 19 th. Thank you for your donations. FIGHTING HUNGER IN WALLINGFORD 2016 We have surpassed 7000 pounds! Our food bank total stands at 7,408 pounds with a delivery of 287 pounds of food last Friday. We 10,000 8,000lb have less than a month to make our goal of 6,000lb 10,000 pounds and need 2,592. Please keep 4,000 the donations coming in, the QFC order form is in the vestibule for when you shop at the at 45 th and Wallingford QFC. Thank you for trying! Faith formation 1 ST SACRAMENT CLASSES BEGIN IN JANUARY If you missed the parent meeting for first reconciliation and first Eucharist, please contact Heidi Elston at h.elston@stbens.net. Classes begin Sunday, January 15 th at 8:45 AM. YOUTH GROUP IS BACK ON TUESDAYS! See you after the holidays! Our Youth Group is taking a break for Christmas and will resume January 3 rd. Merry Christmas! You can sign up today by going to http://www.signupgenius.com/ go/30e0b4daaa923a3f94-youth1. RCIA - RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION FOR ADULTS If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about the Catholic Faith? Contact m.lundberg@stbens.net to register. We meet on Monday nights at 7 PM in the Parish Center. No meeting this week because of the Community Dinner. BENNY S FAITHFUL ART: SIMBANG GABI EDITION! Make your own miniature paróls to celebrate the shining light of the star! This is our last activity until after Christmas Break. Benny Faithful Art will resume January 8 th. Merry Christmas! Contact Lucy Gillett at l.gillett@stbens.net with any questions. ADULT CONFIRMATION BEGINS JANUARY 29 TH If you are an adult that has been baptized Catholic and want to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, contact Marti Lundberg at m.lundberg@stbens.net to be part of our program. The Confirmation date is May 25, 2017 so sign up today. WEEKLY KIDS TRIVIA Who does (the animated character) Princess Fiona marry? Answer in next week s bulletin! Last week s riddle: What food do Giant Pandas normally eat? Bamboo! BAPTISM PREPARATION CLASSES Our next Baptism Class is on Saturday, January 7 th after the 1 st Saturday Mass in the Parish Center. Parents and potential Godparents should sign up to prepare to have their child baptized.. What else is happening ARCHDIOCESAN MASS FOR LIFE Bishop Eusebio Elizondo will be celebrating the annual Archdiocesan Mass for Life at the Marcus Pavilion on the campus of Saint Martin s University on Monday, January 23, 2017 at 9:30 AM. All parishioners are encouraged to participate in the Mass, because as St. John Paul II proclaimed, a great prayer for life is urgently needed (Evangelium Vitae 100). HOME VISITS BY CABRINI MINISTERS Are you aware that the Eucharist is taken to the sick and homebound of the parish. If you, or someone you know, are unable to attend Mass (especially during the Christmas Season) and need to have the Eucharist brought to their home, call the Parish Office at 206-632-0843 to set up a visit. COMMUNITY DINNER WITH MARTI & FR. BRYAN Monday, February 27 th at 6:00 PM You can sign up for a community dinner by calling the parish office or clicking on this link from the parish web site (www.stbens.net). We are looking forward to sharing a meal! SACRED HEART RADIO AM 1050 Hear news and views from a Catholic perspective. Our engaging mix of local and national shows, and subjects range from prayer to parenting to current events, there is something for everyone. Sanctify your commute! Tune in to AM 1050 today to stay connected in Christ. Try out the beautiful new Sacred Heart Radio app. It s available for iphone and Android. Take Sacred Heart Radio with you wherever you go! www.sacredheartradio.org. MASS FOR THE HOMEBOUND! This Christmas morning and every Sunday, Heart of the Nation will televise Catholic Mass at 6::00 AM on KVOS (MeTV) channel 12. Please share the time and channel information with friends or family members may be unable to get to church. HOPE AND HEALING AFTER ABORTION Women carry the abortion experience within their bodies. We [men] carry the abortion experience within our minds. For both of us the pain is very real and so is the healing. - Testimonial from Retreat Come on a Rachel s Vineyard Retreat and allow God to replace your pain with His merciful peace. March 10 th - 12 th, 2017 Call Valerie: 1-800-822-4673 You are loved with an everlasting Love! Project Rachel is a program of Catholic Community Services

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