St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish 5112 Pocono Crest Rd. PO Box O Pocono Pines, PA 18350 Parish Office: (570) 646-6424 Web Page: http://www.stmaxkolbepoconos.org Mass Schedule: Saturday ~ 4:00 p.m. Sunday ~ 8:00 & 10:30 a.m. Saturday Confessions ~ 3:00 p.m. December 24, 2017 The Fourth Sunday of Advent Our Mission Statement We Worship ~ We Teach ~ We Care
December 24, 2017 The Fourth Sunday of Advent Our Christmas Mass Schedule Christmas Eve Masses on Sunday, Dec. 24th: 5 pm - Family Liturgy 8 pm - Mass During the Night Christmas Day Mass on Monday, Dec. 25th 10:30 am - The Nativity of The Lord GOD S PROMISE The lengthy passage from Samuel is a wonderful exposition of God s promise to the house of David: that his throne would forever be gloriously occupied by his descendants. Hidden in the mystery of the prophecy is the promise of the Savior, the Messiah, Son of God and Son of David. The prophet Nathan, speaking in God s name, poetically turns around David s plan to build a house for God, and announces God s plan to build a house, that is, a dynasty for David. From this house of David will come the Messiah, the Christ, not in kingly splendor as David ruled, but as a humble man, destined to rule forever and over all. When God gives a gift, it s amazing what we are given so different from what we ever could have imagined. Copyright J. S. Paluch Co., Inc. St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish Staff Reverend Sean G. Carpenter ~ Pastor Deacon Frank Gisoldi Deacon Tom Amoroso Melissa Laverty Pastoral Associate ~ St.MaxMelissa@outlook.com Coordinator of Religious Education Marion Colvin Office Manager ~ mcol@ptd.net John Marcinkowski, Jr. Coordinator of Music ~ jjm1105@ptd.net May Jesus fill your life with love and may you be blessed with endless reasons to smile and rejoice. Merry Christmas, Fr. Sean & Staff TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION Children of the parish are somewhat focused on Santa Claus these days, who is keeping an eye on who s naughty and who s nice. Santa Claus, with his heavenly patron Saint Nicholas, has been more or less in charge of gift-giving to American children for a hundred years or so. In other places, perhaps more attentive to our Christian tradition, there are different gift-bearers. In Greece, Saint Basil delivers the presents on his feast day, December 31, and makes sure everyone is sprinkled with holy water. The Baby Jesus is in charge elsewhere, called the Christkind in Austria and Belgium, El Niño Jesús in Columbia, and Le Petit Jesus in France, where he shares his duties with Père Noël. In the Czech Republic almost everyone is atheist, but Ježíšek, the infant Jesus, brings gifts to one and all. In Poland the Star Man is said to bring the gifts, although often he turns out to be the village priest in disguise. Saint Nicholas, not his Americanized cousin, is the giver in Holland, where he wears a bishop s miter, and in Russia, where he wears a bishop s crown. Soviet Russia tried to dethrone Saint Nicholas and promote Grandfather Frost, but no one was much fooled by this attempt to squeeze religion out of Christ s birth. One country has a saintly woman in charge of the gifts, Saint Lucy, honored in Sweden on December 13, when children serve their parents breakfast in bed, and others awake to news that they have been nominated for a Nobel Prize. Some children have a second round of gifts on Epiphany, when the magi assume the gift-giving duties. In general, the gifts of Christmas are simple pleasures, not great heaps of treasures. Once upon a time, a new pair of socks or an orange was enough for us. No matter what gifts we receive, all of them are to point us to the true gift, and the true giver. Rev. James Field, Copyright J. S. Paluch Co.
Dec. 23rd through Dec. 31st Saturday 4:00 pm Susie Mastrorille by Mary Ann Giovia Sunday 10:30 am John Marcinkowski Sr. by Immaculata Prayer Group Christmas Eve Masses: Sunday 5:00 pm Christmas Eve Family Liturgy Christmas Mass Intentions 8:00 pm Mass During The Night For The Parishioners Christmas Day Monday 10:30 am Christmas Mass Intentions Tuesday 9:15 am Christmas Mass Intentions Wed 9:15 am Christmas Mass Intentions Thursday 9:15 am Christmas Mass Intentions Friday 9:15 am Communion Service Saturday 4:00 pm Christmas Mass Intentions Sunday 8:00 am Christmas Mass Intentions Sunday 10:30 am Christmas Mass Intentions *9:15 am mass will still be celebrated when we have a funeral mass that day. Saturday Confessions - 3 pm First Friday Adoration will be held after the 9:15 am Communion Service each month. St. Max Office Hours Monday - Wednesday 9 am to 4 pm Thursday - 9 am to 12 pm Friday - Closed The Office will be closed Christmas week & will re-open January 2nd, 2018 Saturday: Mal 3:1-4, 23-24; Lk 1:57-66 Sunday: 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Rom 16:25-27; Lk 1:26-38 Sunday: Vigil: Is 62:1-5; Acts 13:16-17, 22-25; Mt 1:1-25 During the Night: Is 9:1-6; Ti 2:11-14; Lk 2:1-14 Monday: The Nativity of the Lord: Is 52:7-10; Heb 1:1-6; Jn 1:1-18 Tuesday: Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59; Mt 10:17-22 Wednesday: 1 Jn 1:1-4; Jn 20:1a, 2-8 Thursday: 1 Jn 1:5 2:2; Mt 2:13-18 Friday: 1 Jn 2:3-11; Lk 2:22-35 Saturday: 1 Jn 2:12-17; Lk 2:36-40 Sunday: Sir 3:2-6, 12-14 ; Col 3:12-21; Lk 2:22-40 Weekly Collection 12/10/17. $ 5,012. Feast of Immaculate Conception. 1,145. Diocese Collection for Retirement 208. Christmas Flowers 702. Thanks For Your Generosity
CCD CLASSES AT ST. MAX September-May, Pre-K/K-Grade 12 Sundays, 9-10:15 a.m.: Grades 1-5 Sundays, 10:25-11:30 a.m.: Pre-K/K Sundays, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.: Grades 6-8 Youth Group (Grades 9-12): Schedule Varies If you still need to register your child, forms are available in the Parish Office and by the upstairs exits. You may also print out a form from the parish website StMaxKolbePoconos.org. As we celebrate the Christmas season, kindly note there will be NO CCD CLASSES on Sunday, December 24 and Sunday, December 31. Classes resume Sunday, January 7 for all students. CCD CANCELLATION PROCEDURES In the case of inclement weather, please listen to Radio Stations: WSBG (93.5 FM); Magic 93 (93 FM) WVPO (840 AM); WARM (590 AM) TV Stations: WNEP (Channel 16); WYOU (Channel 22); WBRE (Channel 28) or Blue Ridge (TV13). You can also call the parish office to check. SCRIPTURE SHARING Tuesday mornings at 10 a.m. in the parish hall. All are welcome to join us as we reflect on the Scriptures for the upcoming weekend. CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS Adults who would like to become members of the Catholic Church are welcomed into a process of inquiry and formation. It is open to those who have never been baptized, those baptized in another Christian Church and those baptized as infants in the Catholic Church but who have not received further catechetical formation nor, consequently, the Sacraments of Confirmation and/or Eucharist. For information please call the parish office. Parish Life THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY During this holiday season, the generous parishioners of St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish helped 120 families in need on the Pocono Plateau by choosing a name from our Giving Tree and purchasing a gift of new clothing for a child. In addition, our parishioners purchased items and stuffed more than 150 Christmas stockings with protein bars, socks, personal products, books, puzzles and more for the Stockings for Soldiers Program sponsored by Bolock Funeral Home, benefitting active duty soldiers, homeless veterans and veterans at the local VA Hospital. The parish thanks you for your kindness and generosity to the community this Christmas season. WINTER ACTIVITIES FOR ALL AGES AT FIVE LOAF HOUSE TEEN NIGHT On Friday, December 29, from 6-9 p.m., the Five Loaf House, 133 Firehouse Road, Pocono Pines, is hosting a Teen Night for ages 13 and up. Enjoy pizza and refreshments while getting to know teens from other area congregations and learning how you can help those in need in your own community. For more information or to sign up, contact Pastor Steve Gray at 267-324-9168. TACO NIGHT The Five Loaf House, 133 Firehouse Road, Pocono Pines, will host an All-You-Can-Eat Taco Night and White Elephant Sale on Saturday, January 13, from 4-8 p.m. Menu includes beef, chicken or vegetarian tacos; rice, beans, drink and dessert. Cost is $15 for adults and $10 for kids ages 5-12. Children under the age of 5 eat free. Proceeds benefit Five Loaf House, a 501c(3) charity serving the communities of the Pocono Plateau.
Parish Life Parish Life at St. Max The child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. ~Luke 1:35 Sunday, Dec. 24th & Monday, Dec. 25th Please check the mass schedule inside the front cover of this bulletin. The Office will be closed Christmas week & will re-open January 2nd, 2018 Meetings are the 1st & 3rd Mondays of the month @ 7 pm in the parish hall. ~ http://knights13752.webs.com/ ~Facebook at KnightsofColumbus Pocono Pines Lord, I pray my child learns to value others in the same way You value each of Your children. ~1 John 4:16 DIOCESE OF SCRANTON CELEBRATES 150 TH ANNIVERSARY Be sure to like Diocese of Scranton 150th Anniversary on Facebook. This will be the central location on social media with all information about the anniversary, pictures, videos and events going on in the different parishes and schools throughout the Diocese. Help us spread the word by sharing the page! We encourage everyone to use the hashtag #DoS150 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram when posting about diocesan, parish and school events related to the 150th Anniversary Year. Prayers for Military and Government Service HA Valerie Novak ~ Sr. Airman Charlie Maldanado Jake Yuskaitis ~ Staff Sgt. William D. Olsen Alston Smart, Jr. ~ Eugene Maslar, Jr 1st Lt. Mark Gaido ~ Lt. JG Michael Huf Airman Patrick Alminde Seaman Nicole Beckman ~ Cpl. John P. Bramley Lt. Col. Christopher Yuskaitis Lt. Joseph V. Yuskaitis, Jr. - Major Thomas M. Smith 2nd Class Petty Officer DC2, Jeffrey Royall Sgt. Amber Keppol ~ Sgt. Andrew Malave Sgt. Matthew Ponce ~ MK1 Katie Stodnick Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Week of December 24th Sanctuary Light In Honor of Fr. Edward Kearns by Peggy Bostwick Bread and Wine For The Unborn Altar Flowers Available for $100 for one week
Parish Life Waiting" The question is: Is the humanity of our time still waiting for a Savior? One has the feeling that many consider God as foreign to their own interests. Apparently, they do not need him. They live as though he did not exist and, worse still, as though he were an obstacle to remove in order to fulfill themselves. Even among believers we are sure of it some let themselves be attracted by enticing dreams and distracted by misleading doctrines that suggest deceptive shortcuts to happiness. Yet, despite its contradictions, worries and tragedies, and perhaps precisely because of them, humanity today seeks a path of renewal, of salvation, it seeks a Savior and awaits, sometimes unconsciously, the coming of the Savior who renews the world and our life, the coming of Christ, the one true Redeemer of man and of the whole of man. ---Pope Benedict XVI, General Audience December 20, 2006 Theresa Spicci ~ George Ondrajka Jay Crandall ~ Daniella Maldanado Betty Colburn ~ Amy Hatlee Kathleen Chambers ~ Claire Abbazio Fr. Paul Mullen ~ Joan Harrigan Darrin Rockefeller ~ Kevin Kret ~ Bobbie Morin Temi Miller ~ Bill Gleason ~ Nancy Gordon Fr. Urban ~ Kyle Brennan ~ Joseph McKenna Margaret Broderick ~ Cecilia McIlvenny Frank Ware ~ Richard Snell ~ Fran Yuskaitis Michael F. Romano ~ Kim Maria Giganti ~Lou Larson Msgr. Jerry Sherba ~ Sr. Marietta ~ Lurita Soprano Samson Colborn ~ Antonia Lucia ~ Violet Sloat David Mancuso ~ Paul Fulton ~ Deacon Frank Antoinette Gisoldi ~ Leslie Fox ~ Vivian Kanopp Lisa Champney ~ Rosa Santos ~ Bob Ruezinsky An unexpected pregnancy can be a difficult and frightening time, and it s important that your friend knows you are thinking of her and supporting her. Your support might be the only support she receives. Even if we never know how, the smallest things we do can change someone s life. USCCB Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities 10 Ways to Support Her When She s Unexpectedly Expecting, www.bit.ly/10waysrespectlife Parish Life Give a Lasting Commemorative Gift Our Commemorative Gift Program has 4 Pine Trees available, that will be planted in our Prayer Garden. The cost of sponsoring one of these trees is $500. St. Max will provide an engraved marker alongside each tree in that is sponsored. Typically this would be in memory or honor of someone - family or friend. Sponsorship forms are available in the parish office. St. Max Prayer Shawl Group The next meeting will be on January 2nd @ 6:30 pm. Prayer shawls are knitted & crocheted by the group and are given to those who have illness or have recently been hospitalized. Join us in this ministry with your time and talent or by donating yarns or funds for the group to purchase additional supplies. ~Thank You. Christ s first advent brought us GRACE; His second advent will bring us GLORY! The Holy Spirit will come upon you...so the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. ~Luke 1:35 Footprints by Margaret Fishback Powers Immaculata Prayer Group Join the Prayer Group on Saturdays at 2 pm for Prayer - Song - Praise The next meeting will be on December 16th. There will not be meetings on Dec. 23rd, Dec. 30th or Jan. 6th. Meetings will resume on January 13th. If you would like more information, please call Diane -570-646-4707, or Peggy -570-646-1623.
Around The Diocese Join Fr. Sean Spiritual Highlights of Italy October 8-17, 2018 ~ $2,689./pp Reserve by Dec. 6, 2017 and receive $100./pp discount. Call Marge McCauley @ 570-486-4231 CANTOR WORKSHOP KING S COLLEGE, WILKES-BARRE SAT., JAN. 13-9 am - 2 pm For more information call 570-207-2213 or Email: scrantonnpm@outlook March for Life - Bus Trip To Washington, D.C. January 19, 2018. Bus will leave from Our Lady Queen of Peace Church in Brodheadsville at 5:45 am & return approximately 9:30 pm. Cost is $25 & includes a buffet dinner. Additional info, is available. Contact Tom Whitehead at 570-646-8174. Early reservations are required to ensure retaining the bus. LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM The Pennsylvania Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) offers financial help to households suffering from heating crises. This federal program helps such low-income households to pay their heating bills. Forms for this program are available in the parish office or apply online at: online @www.compass.state.pa.us If you have a heating emergency, please call the local Monroe County Assistance Office, toll free at 1-877-905-1495 or 570-424-3030. Around The Diocese SAVE THE DATE. APRIL 21, 2018 9:00 A.M. TO 2:30 P.M. AN EVENT OF THE FLAME OF LOVE OF THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE CHURCH BRODHEADSVILLE, PA www.flameoflove.us For More Information contact Cathy Bagley (570) 856-5628 Villa of Our Lady Retreat House in Mt. Pocono is in very great need of volunteers to help in the dining room and kitchen during meals on the weekends. If you have 2 or 3 hours to offer please contact Sister Josandra @ 570.839.7217 or josand64@ptd.net Ecumenical / Interfaith FOOD PANTRY NEWS Location: Five Loaf House 133 Fire House Rd., Pocono Pines Next Distribution date - Jan. 8th & 9th Monday - 8:30-11:00; 12:00-2:00; 4:00-5:00 Tuesday - 8:30-11 am Food Donations are accepted on Mon/Tues only, from 9 am -11 am, or call 570-646-7456. If you have furniture & household goods in good condition, contact Elaine Madere @ 732-995-3370 or elaine-madere@yahoo.com ~Thank You St. Maximilian Parish greatly appreciates the support of the advertisers allowing our congregation to receive this bulletin at no cost to the church. While we appreciate their support, we are not liable for any of their actions, fees, or services.