December 15, 2013 Third Sunday of Advent CORPUS CHRISTI CATHOLIC CHURCH 6300 McKenna Drive, Mobile, Alabama 36608 Email: Church@CorpusChristiParish.com! Website: www.corpuschristiparish.com TELEPHONE NUMBERS Parish Office: 342-1852 Fax 342-6313 School Office: 342-5474, ext. 1 Fax 380-0325 Rel. Ed. Office: 342-5474, ext. 7 Fax 380-0325 Preschool Office: 342-2424 Fax 343-3119 Youth Ministry: 342-1852 Fax 342-6313 PASTORAL STAFF Very Rev. James F. Zoghby, V.F., Pastor Rev. John S. Boudreaux, Associate Pastor Deacon Arthur W. Robbins, Deacon Sr. Donna Cooper, R.S.M., Visitation Chaplain Mrs. Linda M. Hawkins, Pastoral Assistant Mrs. Joan T. McMullen, School Principal Mrs. Kathleen Q. Jester, Parish Catechetical Leader Mrs. Judi B. Ankiewicz, R.C.I.A. Coordinator Mrs. Colleen DeVoe, Youth Ministry Co-Director Mrs. Brenda Martens, Youth Ministry Co-Director Mr. Matthew F. Purvis, Music Director Mr. Jay H. Henley, Gym Manager TO REGISTER AS A MEMBER OF THE PARISH Please fill out a Census Form. Census Forms are available in the church vestibule and parish office. COMMUNITY CENTER RENTALS & SERVICES For rental information and kitchen services, please call the parish office at 342-1852 or 342-1420. SUNDAY MASSES Vigil: 5:30 p.m. Saturday Morning: 7:00, 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. WEEKDAY MASSES 6:30 a.m.: Monday through Friday 8:15 a.m.: Monday through Saturday SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION Saturday: 5:00 p.m. and by request, particularly after the 6:30 & 8:15 a.m. weekday Masses. BAPTISM, MARRIAGE, ANOINTING OF SICK Please call the parish office (342-1852) or information and scheduling baptism, marriage, anointing of sick. ADULT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (R.C.I.A.) Please see published schedule for specific dates and times, or call the parish office (342-1852). SUNDAY SCHOOL (C.C.D.) Grades K 12, Sundays during school year, 10:05-10:55 a.m. in school bldgs. SCHOOL, SACS-accredited for Grades 3K through 8. For info & registration, please call the school office. FULL-DAY CHILDCARE, for 6-week to 2-yr. olds. For info & registration, please call the preschool office
THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT Ple ase sup p o rt th e ad ve rtise rs o n th e b ac k o f th e b ulle tin Their ads enable us to have our bulletins printed at no cost to the parish. Ads are purchased through Diocesan Publications. For info contact them at 1-800-292-9111 or www.diocesan.com. Celebrating Advent This Sunday 3 rd Sunday 5:30 p.m. Mass During the school year (Sept. to May), we have an extra Sunday Mass the 3 rd Sunday of each month. High School students serve Tomorrow Night Communal Reconciliation Service Advent Celebrations of God s Loving Forgiveness Monday, Dec. 16, 7 p.m. This Weekend MASS WITH THE ANOINTING OF THE SICK Saturday, Dec. 14, at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15, at 7 a.m. During these two Masses, after the homily, the Sacrament of the Sick (for physical, emotional, mental or spiritual healing) will be given to all who feel the need for it because of age or illness. This anointing will also be brought to shut-ins at home and others requesting it. Christmas Mass Schedule Christmas Eve, Dec. 24 4:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. Christmas Day, Dec. 25 7:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. Live Nativity Scene for either the 4 p.m. or the 5:30 p.m. Christmas Eve Mass For K 5 th Grade children. If you want your child to participate, please send an email to CCD@CorpusChristiParish.com with the child s name, age and the Mass you will be attending. You will receive details by Dec. 20. Thank you. Calendars for 2014 The 2014 church calendars are available in the vestibule. ADULT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (R.C.I.A.) Continuing Ed. for Catholic and other adults who want to learn about and/or join the Catholic Church Wednesday Nights, 7:00-8:30 in the Adult Education Room of the Community Center Classes resume Wednesday, Jan. 8 Bib le Stud y Gro up s Sundays, 8:45-10:45 a.m. in the school counselor's conference room. Breakfast is served also. We are studying Mark s Gospel. Tuesdays, 7:00-8:30 p.m. in the Parish House (except on the 2 nd Tuesday, in the school library). Info: Dave Burchette, 367-6660. Women s Bible Study: Thursdays, 9:00-10:45 a.m., Conference Rm., Com.Ctr. Penny Claiborne, 776-5850, claiborneps@aol.com or Joanne Donaghey, 554-6753, joannekd@aol.com CORPUS CHRISTI SCHOOL Op e n Ho u se Sunday, Jan. 5: From 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., representatives will welcome visitors for tours of the school and campus. Personal Tours at other times can be arranged by calling the school office, 342-5474, ext. 1. www.corpuschristiparish.com/school SUNDAY SCHOOL (CCD) Classes: 10:05-10:55 a.m. in the school buildings. Sunday School participants at 9 a.m. Mass are dismissed with the final blessing. Info: SundaySchool@CorpusChristiParish.com, or 648-4441. Volunteers Needed for 5:30 p.m. & 11 a.m. Mass To Present the Children s Liturgy of the Word Notify the parish office, 342-1852. Thank You! Santa NiCholaus is coming to visit us next Sunday after 11 a.m. Mass! Help keep YOUR CHURCH neat! When leaving your pew at the end of Mass, please take the song sheets, bulletins, and other materials with you! This will be very helpful to those who tidy up the church after Mass. Thank You!
CORPUS CHRISTI CHURCH, MOBILE, ALABAMA DECEMBER 15, 2013 Receive Emails from the Parish Please send your email to church@corpuschristiparish.com. High School Youth This Sunday, Dec. 15: All high school students are invited to join the Corpus Christi High School Youth Ministry next Sunday evening for the 5:30 p.m. Mass, followed by our annual potluck and $1 dirty Santa party. If you can help sing or play with the choir for Mass, please come to church at 4:30 p.m. for a short practice session. No dollar at this meeting just your $1 gift for the Dirty Santa. Society of St. Vincent de Paul Poor Box, Food, Clothing donations put in the designated places in the vestibule are distributed by our St. Vincent de Paul Society. Join the Society of St. Vincent de Paul by attending a meeting. Meetings: 1 st & 3 rd Wed., 6:30 p.m., Com. Ctr. Conf. Rm. (2 nd Flr.) To obtain assistance, call 432-5173 and leave name & phone no. In-Need Drop Box: This In-need drop box is next to the food pantry drop-off box in the vestibule. Parishioners are encouraged to fill out a card with your need and contact information, and deposit it in the locked drop box. Your information will be held in strict confidence and a member of our society will contact you. Men of St. Joseph Tuesdays, 7 to 8 a.m. in the Family Room Also Wednesdays, 7-8 p.m. in the Parish House All men are welcome to join us, especially for our 4 th anniversary meeting, which will be followed by breakfast in the banquet hall. We meet each week for prayer, reading the Gospel, and discussion. Info: Jim Donaghey, jbd@orthomobile.com or www.menofstjoseph.com. Wed Evening Info: Walter Bracewell, 599-1650 or walter.bracewell@yahoo.com Women of Mary Wednesdays, 7 to 8 p.m. Room 3 (2 nd Floor of the Community Center) All women are welcome to meet for prayer, reading the Gospel, and discussion. Info: Sr. Deborah Kennedy, R.S.M., 753-4872. Knights of Columbus Meeting: 2 nd Tues., Jan. 14, at 7 p.m., at the Parish House. Contact: Grand Knight, Bob Wheat, 490-9350. Pack 29 Cub Scouts Dec. 15: Scout Christmas Party and Toys for Tots Drive To Join Cub Scouts or for info contact Walter Bracewell 599-1650 or Mike Martin 633-5218 or visit ccspack29.scoutlander.com. AA Alanon OA CODA AA: Sun., 7 p.m., and Wed., 7 p.m., Cougar Den. Alanon: Sun., 7 p.m., and Wed., 7 p.m., Arts & Sciences Bldg. OA: Sat., 9 a.m., Arts & Sciences Bldg. CODA: Tues., 6:45 p.m., Arts & Sciences Bldg. Widowed Persons Support Group For information call parishioner Glen Porter at 666-8977. A Christmas Baby Shower for newborn babies to two-year olds for 2B Choices for Women Crisis Pregnancy Center Diapers of all sizes, but especially Size 3 and Size 4, are needed. Also needed: Items, such as baby wipes, shampoo, wash, powder, oil and bottles. Please no food or formula. Thanks to all who have been donating year-round at Corpus Christi. 2B greatly appreciates your donations to help babies and women. Please place donations in the designated box in the vestibule through Sunday, Jan. 12. What do you get the person who has everything? PURPOSE. Give the ones you love an opportunity to live life with Purpose. Internationally acclaimed speaker and author Matthew Kelly and local musician Eliot Morris will be in Mobile to share with us his Passion and Purpose event. This is not your typical church event! It has been a life changing event for tens of thousands of people. It will be held at McGill- Toolen on May 10th from 9-1:30pm. Tickets are $39.00. For tickets or more information call Susie Veasey at 510-5803 or email Susie@icscommunications.com. Partners in Education Recognition The following students & teacher were recognized at the Dec. 10 school Mass for outstanding performance in the month of Nov. CollinWahl, Kindergartener, recognized by Assist-2-Sell Aaron Sheets, 5 th Grade, recognized by Firehouse Subs Sarah Gelineau, 8 th Grade, recognized by Knights of Columbus Julie Brannon, Teacher, recognized by Payne Environmental Svcs. To join the Partners in Education group, call School Principal Joan McMullen, 342-5474, ext. 1, or Richard March, 401-0466. Wednesday Night Dinner 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Banquet Hall $9.00 for Adults! $4.00 for Children (Age 12 & under) Dec. 18-Jan. 1 ~ No Wednesday Night Dinners [Christmas holidays]. Wednesday Night Dinners resume.jan. 8. Must RSVP no later than TUESDAY EVENING Return an RSVP Card, or call 342-1852 or email WedNightDinner@CorpusChristiParish.com Breakfast Monday through Friday, 7:00 to 9:30 a.m. In the Banquet Hall Scrambled or Shell Eggs - 99 Hash Brown Patty - 89 Sausage or Bacon Biscuit - $1.59 Sausage Patty - $1.10 Bacon (2 Slices) - $1.10 Pancakes (2 per order) - $1.29 Grits - $1.09 French Toast Sticks (4) - $1.69 Cereal $1.15 Fresh Fruit - 99 Fresh Fruit Cup - $1.99 Small Juice - 59 Fresh Fruit Parfait - $2.19 Yogurt 99 Bottled Juice $1.39 Nutri Grain Bar - $1.09 Bottled W ater: Large- 99 / Small- 59 ALSO: Fresh Hot Beignets on Tuesdays! ($2.29 per order) Lighthouse Catholic 80 CD Kiosk In the vestibule Provided by the Men of St. Joseph CD s are $3 each, or two for $5. Drop payments in the kiosk. Make checks payable to Lighthouse. Info: Jerry Scott tjscott007@comcast.net or 533-2593.
CORPUS CHRISTI CHURCH, MOBILE, ALABAMA DECEMBER 15, 2013 BAPTIZED IN CHRIST Finlea Brinkley Lawson (daughter of Paul Wesley Lawson & Mystie Dawn Harrison Lawson) Cadyn Lucas Parrino (son of Joseph Anthony Parrino & Carmen Jenelle Tipp Parrino) REST IN PEACE Francina Benejam FIRST COLLECTION TODAY for tithing offerings. SECOND COLLECTION TODAY for Corpus Christi Building Fund. If you did not receive in the mail a copy of Corpus Christi s new Guide Book, please notify the parish office at 342-1852 or Church@CorpusChristiParish.com. The Anointing of the Sick Who Should Receive It? EMERGENCY COLLECTION FOR THE PHILIPPINES: $8,777.63 RETIRED RELIGIOUS ONLINE & COLLECTION: $2,720.25 DEC. 8 TH BUILDING FUND ONLINE & COLLECTION: $4,869.00 DEC. 8 TH TITHING ONLINE & COLLECTION: $33,607.15 Thank You and God Bless You To all who tithe and contribute to support God's work here, those who make a special bequest in their will for Corpus Christi Church. Tax-Saving Tip: A direct donation of appreciated shares of stock will benefit not only the church but also the donor: The church receives the shares, and the donor saves by not having to pay the capital gains tax, and by being able to deduct the full amount of the value of the stock to reduce his/her income tax. For info, or to transfer shares of stock to Corpus Christi Church, contact your stockbroker, or call Steve Setterstrom at Citigroup Global Mkts. at 470-1060. Offering Envelopes If you wish to use Offering Envelopes, just notify the parish office (342-1852). An initial set will be sent to you right away, and then, every two months, you will receive a two-month s supply of envelopes. Online Giving With Online Giving you can either make a one-time contribution or set up a recurring automatic withdrawal from a checking or saving or credit card account: Go to www.corpuschristiparish.com; click Church ; then click the green Online Giving icon on the side left of the church s homepage. Follow the instructions to contribute to the tithing or building fund or special collections. For assistance, call 1-800-348-2886, ext 4, or the parish office, 342-1852. Q. I recently attended a church ceremony in which several people received the sacrament of the sick, including some who were young and didn t look sick at all. Isn t it necessary to be in danger of death to have this sacrament? A. Vatican Council II, in calling for a return to the ancient usage of the holy Fathers, said in its Constitution on the Liturgy, that the Anointing of the Sick is a sacrament not only for those who are in danger of death. According to our present rite for anointing of the sick, then, an individual need not be in danger of death, but dangerously ill either from sickness or advanced age. Older people are considered eligible for the sacrament simply because of the general infirmities of old age, even if they are suffering from no serious specific disease. Moreover, the illness need not be physical. Guidelines on this sacrament issued by the U.S. bishops note, Sickness is more than a medical phenomenon. Sickness is a crisis situation in the life of a Christian as regards his salvation, his life with Christ in the community of the Church. Anointing of the sick may be administered to people suffering from various kinds of spiritual or emotional crises. Thus, people no longer need to be dying, or even look sick, to receive the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. The official directions concerning this sacrament mention several specific circumstances in which people should be anointed, e.g., old age, before serious surgery, and sick children. Rev John J. Dietzen
The Joy of the Gospel Evangelii Gaudium Pope Francis There are Christians whose lives seem like Lent without Easter. I realize of course that joy is not expressed the same way at all times in life, especially at moments of great difficulty. Joy adapts and changes, but it always endures, even as a flicker of light born of our personal certainty that, when everything is said and done, we are infinitely loved. I understand the grief of people who have to endure great suffering, yet slowly but surely we all have to let the joy of faith slowly revive as a quiet yet firm trust, even amid the greatest distress: My soul is bereft of peace; I have forgotten what happiness is... But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness... It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. (Lam 3:17, 21-23,26) For I am certain of this: neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nothing already in existence and nothing still to come, nor any power, nor the heights nor the depths, nor any created thing whatever, will be able to come between us and the love of God that comes to us in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39 All that the Father gives me shall come to me; no one who comes will I ever reject, because it is not to do my own will that I have come down from heaven, but to do the will of him who sent me. It is the will of him who sent me that I should lose nothing of what he has given me; rather, that I should raise it up on the last day. John 6:37-39 Genuine Christian joy is not a perpetual state of ecstatic hilarity. By no means! True joy is that interior peace and happiness which comes from our awareness that God loves us just as we are. It comes also from the knowledge that we are striving in our human way to respond to his infinite love. Fr. David E. Rosage There is nothing Christian in gloom. Saint John Henry Newman It s not that the Gospel changes, but that we begin to understand it better. Blessed Pope John XXIII God protect me from gloomy saints! I am more afraid of those who are terrified of the devil than I am of the devil himself! From somber devotions and sour-faced saints, good Lord, deliver us! St. Teresa of Avila
Handling Holiday Depression Dear Padre, Why do I get so depressed every holiday season? I just can t get any joy into my bones. Feeling Blue Dear Feeling, It might help you to know that you have lots of company in your depression during the holidays. Many people feel like you do, and there are numerous factors that cause holiday depression. One of the reasons people get depressed at this time of year is because their expectations are too high. They think the holidays will be something like an instant fix that their problems with family or job or money will go away and then everything will be all right. Then again, for some people, holiday depression comes from living alone. Advertising gives the false impression that all families and group of friends are filled with joy - which is not necessarily true. One also can feel alone and depressed even while in the midst of a large family or group of people. Another factor affecting people s feelings at Christmas is their personal history of Christmases past. No matter how old we get, we still wear some of the garments of childhood. For some this is good; for others bad, depending on whether or not the childhood experience was good or bad. To feel joy at the Christmas season we have to enter into the spirit of generosity and love that radiates from the crib of the Infant. In other words we have to make something happen. Many times we sit around and wonder why we are not happier, or when someone else is going to make us happy. What we should be thinking is what we can do to make someone else happy. If we reach out to help and love others, we will be helped, and we will be loved, and we will feel the joy of Jesus. The joy of the world, whether at Christmas or any time of the year, is Jesus. An acceptance of him and his love and his teaching is a road to peace and contentment. Outside of him there is no lasting joy or peace. The Padre, Fr. Bill Mckee, C.SS.R. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever! Psalm 118:1 I trust Jesus so completely that even if I were to see hell open up before me, and find myself on the brink of the abyss, I should not lose confidence. I should not despair but continue to trust Him. Such is the extent to which His meekness inspires me. St. Pio of Pietrelcina By forgiving his executioners, Jesus showed he is not the accuser of the guilty but rather their advocate and intercessor. Jesus words of forgiveness ( Father, forgive them for they know not what they do ) were spoken in circumstances of the greatest hatred and cruelty. Jesus forgives His adversaries immediately, even as their hostility continues. Jesus is the defender, not the accuser of the guilty, because He knows that many can be less guilty than it appears, or one thinks. For this reason, he taught his followers not to judge others. The mercy Jesus asked for His executioners is extended to all humanity. Pope John Paul II Do We X-out Christ? In Greek type or script, the letter ( Chi ) looks like the letter X in our English print or type. The Greek (Chi) has been used as an abbreviation for Christ or Christos since the beginning of Christianity. Therefore, Xmas is simply an abbreviation for Christmas. Merry mas! Christmas is itself an abbreviation of Christ Mass. THE CHI RHO. In Greek the first two letters of the title Christ are Chi ( ) and Rho (Ñ), an early abbreviation of CHRist. The Chi ( ) was often superimposed on the Rho (Ñ) as a monogram for Christ. Sometimes, the Chi ( ) was turned or rotated to line up with the vertical line of the Rho (Ñ), forming a cross.
Pope Francis: This is our God: he is a dad to us. St. Paul, in his Letter to the Romans, writes: You received a spirit of adoption, through which we cry, Abba, Father! It is precisely the Holy Spirit that we have received in Baptism that teaches us, that urges us to say to God: Father, or better Abba, which means dad. This is our God: he is a dad to us. The Holy Spirit creates in us this new condition of being children of God and this is the greatest gift we receive from Jesus Paschal Mystery. God treats us as children, understands us, forgives us, embraces us, loves us, even when we make mistakes. Only by living as children of God, without being discouraged by our missteps or by our sins, feeling loved by him will our lives be new, inspired by serenity and joy. God is our strength! God is our hope! What a beautiful truth of faith this is for our lives: the mercy of God! God s love for us is so great, so deep. It is an unfailing love, one which always takes us by the hand and supports us, lifts us up and leads us on. Brothers and Sisters, let us never lose trust in the patience and mercy of God! God is not impatient like us, who often want everything all at once, even in our dealings with other people. God is patient with us because he loves us, and those who love are able to understand, to hope, to inspire confidence. They do not give up, they do not burn bridges, they are able to forgive. God s patience has to call forth in us the courage to return to him, however many mistakes and sins there may be in our life. We hear many offers from the world around us, but let us take up God s offer instead: his is a caress of love even if we are sinners, we are what is closest to his heart. Let s say this prayer: Lord, I believe in your love. And we open our hearts so that this love comes to us, fills us and pushes us to love others. Let us make an act of faith today: Lord, I believe. I believe in your love. I believe that your love has saved me. I believe that your love has given me that dignity that I did not have. I believe that your love gives me hope.