St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Community 10750 Ohio Ave (at Selby) Los Angeles, California 90024 (310) 474-1527 www.sp-apostle.org Wherever you are on your faith journey, you are welcome here Fourth Sunday of Advent December 19, 2010 They shall name him Emmanuel, which means God is with us. Matthew 1:23 TRUST IN GOD On this final Sunday of Advent our scriptures focus on the historical birth of Jesus, who is son of David and Son of God, child and king, Jesus and Emmanuel. Isaiah the prophet begs Ahaz to ask for a sign, to allow God to offer him reassurance of the survival of the Davidic dynasty. The king hypocritically refuses to tempt the LORD in that way (Isaiah 7:12), but the prophet foretells the birth of a son, an heir to the throne, who will prove the Lord s enduring protection of God s chosen lineage on the throne of David. The child will be called Emmanuel. Matthew s reference to this history in his description of the birth of Jesus highlights the contrast between the faithless refusal of trust shown by Ahaz, and the complete trust in God shown by Mary and Joseph in bringing about the birth of Jesus Christ. Copyright, J. S. Paluch Co. Mass Schedule Sunday Masses 7:30 am 9:30 am 11:30 am 5:00 pm Saturday (one mass only) 5:00 pm Vigil Weekdays (Monday- Friday) Daily Masses are: and Reconciliation Thursday & Saturday 4:00-4:45 pm First Friday Exposition Oct May Only
Page 2 December 19, 2010 The Light of the World I m still not use to driving home in the dark after work since daylight savings time ended. Darkness seems a little out of place in sunny California, but it is part of our Advent experience, and very much part of our overall experience of God. The Old Testament begins with darkness, and John, the final Gospel, ends with it. Darkness is where it all began. Darkness covered the abyss (Gen 1:1b). In the beginning is nothing but darkness, void and without form. God breaks the darkness in Genesis in majestic splendor, speaking the words of creation, Let there be light! But setting the sun in the heavens on fire is too big an experience for us to take in. Fortunately, there are stories that are easier to comprehend. The story at the end of John is far less dramatic. Jesus is gone. The disciples have returned to fishing the Sea of Tiberius (Sea of Galilee). It is night. They have no luck. Their nets are empty. Then they notice someone on the beach. At first they cannot see who it is in the darkness. It is Jesus. He is cooking fish for his friends breakfast. On the horizon are the first pale traces of the sun preparing to rise. The little bar-b-que on the beach is almost too ordinary to take seriously. By sheltering a spark with a pair of cupped hands and blowing on it, the Light of the World gets enough of a fire going to make breakfast. The message is simple. We are asked to step out of the darkness, have some breakfast, and then go and feed others. Each Advent we recall the majestic splendor of the incarnation. Like the Genesis story, it takes root in darkness in a womb, void and without form. And, like the creation of the sun, the conception of this son, the Light of the World, is too extraordinary to take in. So once again, we are given an ordinary situation. Jesus is here. It is dark and the setting is humble, approachable. The breath of animals and the body heat of visiting shepherds keep the stable warm. We are not asked to understand anything very complicated. The message is simple. We are invited to step out of the darkness, revel in the wonder of the birth in this delicate newborn, and never be the same. Claire Henning, Pastoral Associate TODAYS READINGS First Reading You will be given this sign: the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel (Isaiah 7:10-14). Psalm Let the Lord enter; he is king of glory (Psalm 24). Second Reading God has called us to belong to Jesus Christ (Romans 1:1-7). Gospel The son born of Mary shall be called Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. He shall be Emmanuel, God is with us (Matthew 1:18-24). Christmas Eve Friday, December 24 th 4:00pm Family Mass (Children s choir) 7:00pm Mass (guitar and piano) 12midnight Mass (Schola)*carols at 11:30pm Christmas Day Saturday, December 25 th 9:30am Mass (Caritas Choir)*carols 9:10am 11:30am Mass (Schola)*carols 11:00am No 7:30am or 5:00pm Mass Feast of the Holy Family Sunday, December 26 th Sunday Masses: 7:30am, 9:30am, 11:30am, 5:00pm Feast of the Epiphany Sunday, January 2 nd Saturday Vigil at 5:00pm Sunday Masses: 7:30am, 9:30am, 11:30am, 5:00pm Special thanks to our generous parish family who donated a 2007 Mercedes C230 to the parish for my use. In addition, they will provide for the maintenance on the vehicle for the future. This gift allowed me to pass my car along to Fr. Joe who was upgraded from his 1999 Honda, which will be sold. Also special thanks to our parish family who paid for the painting of all of the church doors and entryways as well as the handrails. It is amazing what a fresh coat of paint will do. Thanks to both families for your extreme generosity, Fr. John
PAGE 3 December 19, 2010 Rev John Ardis, C.S.P. 424-832-5151 Pastor jardis@sp-apostle.org Celeste Anlauf 424-832-5162 Director of Development canlauf@sp-apostle.org Parish Office Hours Monday through Friday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Closed from 12:00 to 12:30 PM PARISH STAFF Bridget Lander 424-832-5150 Teen Confirmation Coordinator blander@sp-apostle.org Lois Massey 424-832-5152 Business Operations lmassey@sp-apostle.org Community Gift Whatever you did for one of these least of these, you did for me. Mt 6:40 b Times are difficult for so many. The finance council and the parish staff have discussed how best the parish can respond to the increased need that we are experiencing through phone inquiries, walk-ins and the increased requests from various charitable agencies. Since September 2009, the parish has been giving 5% of the weekly collection to a charity. Parish Support Monthly Credit Cards: $52,240 Weekly Collection : 10,733 Mary Ann Bertolucci 424-832-5158 Ministry/Facilities mbertolucci@sp-apostle.org Sr. Stella Maria Enright, DMJ 310-474-1588 School Principal srstella@sp-apostle.org Claire Henning 424-832-5153 Pastoral Associate chenning@sp-apostle.org Irene Holly 310-689-6212 Director Children s Religious Ed iholly@sp-apostle.org Barbara Murphy 424-832-5159 RCIA Director bmurphy@sp-apostle.org Rev Joseph Scott, C.S.P. 424-832-5154 Associate Pastor jscott@sp-apostle.org Christopher Walker 310-689-6213 Director of Music cwlaudate@hotmail.com All Other Ministries SPA Church Office 310-474-1527 parishoffice@sp-aportle.org If you would like to assist St. Paul the Apostle Church in continuing its mission and receive a charitable income tax donation? Please consider making a difference at St. Paul's by donating a gift of securities or contact Celeste Anlauf, our parish Development Director at: 424-832-5162. The Paulist Fathers Priests in Residence Peter Abdella, C.S.P. 310-474-9405 Ed Donovan, C.S.P. 310-689-6211 Ivan Tou, C.S.P. 310-689-6203 Ted Vierra, C.S.P. 310-689-6210 Patrick Hensy, C.S.P. 310-689-6209 Ed Wrobleski, C.S.P. 310-470-4103 UCLA Catholic Center (310) 208-5015 Fr. Peter Abdella, C.S.P., Director Fr. Ivan Tou, C.S.P., Asst. Dir. UCLA Medical Center (310) 267-8191 Rev. Tom Clerkin, C.S.P., Chaplain Paulist Productions (310) 454-0688 Fr. Eric Andrews, C.S.P. President Save the Date May 13 15, 2011 St. Paul the Apostle School 75th Diamond Jubilee A Celebration for current St. Paul s Families and alumni of all ages! Help the 75th Committee locate alumni! We want everyone there.. If you can help us locate some of your old St. Paul s pals, contact Celeste Anlauf canlauf@sp-apostle or 424-832-5162 Partners in Prayer Partners in Prayer, sponsored by St. Paul the Apostle Senior Ministry, seek to be of service by praying for others. Please call us with your prayer request and we will notify our circle of Prayer Partners. Calls may be made to: Maureen Morrissey (310)-281-1939.
Page 4 December 19, 2010 Mass Intentions Saturday, Dec. 18, 2010 5:00 PM Casmir Desillo Sunday, Dec. 19, 2010 7:30 AM Dr. Benedict Ahn 9:30 AM Jon Douglas 11:30 AM Beveryl Birthday 5:00 PM Raymond Boldy Monday, Dec. 20, 2010 Anne and Peter Savino Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2010 Dr. John Cosgrove Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2010 Patty Costello Thursday, Dec. 23, 2010 Vincent Vescio Christmas Eve Friday, December 24th 4:00pm Yvette Elliott 7:00pm Gregory Creutz 12midnight Mass For All SPA Parishioners Christmas Day Saturday, December 25th 9:30am Mass For All SPA Parishioners 11:30am Mass Paul Chan No 7:30am or 5:00pm Mass Sunday, Dec. 26, 2010 7:30 AM Logan Henry 9:30 AM Amelia Heller Nass 11:30 AM Beverly 5:00 PM Special Intention We Pray for * Teddi Schumann, Ella Alexander, Espranza Villeja, Stella Dunbar Mary Marks, Nancy Vondrasek,, Katie Darcy Mulligan, Pamela Marks, Mary Marks, Blanche Olsen, Grey Walker, Hugh Fagan, Chase Vilamore, Gerald Guess, Lucy Gerdvasio, Louise Taylor, Carole Paulson, John Cesario We also continue to pray for those men and women serving in the US Military: = Deceased: Jeffrey Wolf Justin Aragones Ammini Williams How can I have a name added to the prayers of the faithful? You can call the parish office anytime (310) 474-1527. If you do not reach anyone, you can press 8 and leave a message in the general mailbox. You can also e-mail: parishoffice@sp-apostle.org *Please let us know about the conditions of those we are praying for. We will keep/remove their names as requested after the first few weeks. TODAY at 3:00 pm Our annual "Festival of Lessons & Carols" led by our Children's Christmas Choir The Caritas Chorus and the New Schola Cantorum with our famous English Tea and Mince Pies reception Come and hear the Christmas story Sing your favorite carols and hear music from Handel's 'Messiah' In the bleak midwinter The Holly and the Ivy Mary did you know? and much more - including a WORLD PREMIERE 'Heaven and Earth are Wed' by Andrew Everson Peace Hope Joy May we be Beacons of Hope, Messengers of Joy, and Instruments of Peace each day of the New Year. Christmas Novena Cards Send your loved ones the gift of prayer this season. The novena will begin Christmas Day and the masses will be celebrated by the Paulist Fathers. Cards are available in the parish office and in the sacristy after the masses. $5.00 donation requested. Community Assistance Ministry St. Paul s provides a community wide assistance ministry to serve our parishioners who are homebound, hospitalized or in nursing homes. We will arrange rides to appointments and shopping in the local West LA and Santa Monica area (the services are free, but if there are parking fees they must be paid by the recipient before leaving their place of residence). We provide outside referrals for all other needs. Three days advance notice is required. We do not provide financial assistance. Please call Patti O Keefe 424-832-5169 for assistance, information or if you d like to volunteer.
Page 5 December 19, 2010 How Does a Person Become Catholic? (RCIA) RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) is a process through which searchers explore the life of the Church and the role of Christ in their lives in an environment of care and support. Please join us on Wednesday evenings in the Multi-purpose room at 7:30 pm as we journey through the faith together. Contact Barbara Murphy, RCIA Director at 424-832-5159 or bmurphy@sp-apostle.org RCIA for Children The RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Children) 8 yrs. to 14 yrs. of age is also part of the process where the children that have not received the sacraments of Baptism or Holy Eucharist meets on Sunday morning after the 9:00AM mass with their parents Contact Irene Holly at 310-689-6212 or iholly@sp-apostle.org Children s Religious Education (CCD) Please call Irene Holly, Director, for more information at: 310-689- 6212 or email iholly@sp-apostle.org Classes are held Wednesday afternoon from 3:45 to 5:15PM. Teen Confirmation For information on Confirmation please contact, Bridget Lander, Confirmation Coordinator. blander@spapostle.org Sandwich Builders 7:00 8:00 PM in the JCPC E-mail : spasandwichbuilders@gmail.com Next SBers is Jan 21, 2011 Young Adults Ministry SPAYAM meets every Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at St. Paul s. All are welcome! Bring your faith, your friends, and questions! Email YoungAdultsMinistrySPA@gmail.com Baptism Prep Class The baptism preparation class is offer the first Weds of each month at 7:30 pm in the church class. Preregistration is not necessary. Toddler Group SPA Toddler Group meets on Tuesdays @ 10:00 am in the Multipurpose. Please e-mail Addy addy_cab@yahoo.com for information. The group meets on the same schedule as school. Sunday Family Liturgies - Upcoming masses are 1st Grade on January 23 at 9:30 am and 8th grade on Jan 23 as well at the 5 pm Bible Study The Gospel of John II Monday Mornings 7:00 to 8:00 AM Multi-Purpose Room Repeated Friday Mornings 11:00 AM to 12:00 N Multi-Purpose Room. Business Development Network Are you a business professional who can give, and wants to receive, business referrals? If so, please join the ST. PAUL S BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT NETWORK. Meetings are held on second Tuesdays of the month, at 7:30 a.m. at John O Groats, 10516 Pico Blvd. For questions, contact Jay Spillane, (310) 229-9300, jspillane@spillaneweingarten.com. SENIORS MINISTRY Book Club... The next meeting will be on Friday, January 7, 2011 in the Multipurpose Room from 9 to 10:30 AM. New members are welcome. For information, call Mary at 310-398-7930. SPA s Social Group meets in the Multipurpose Room, from 12:00-2:30 PM, on the 1 st and 3 rd Mondays of each month. Come join us Monday, Feb. 7th, 2011, for lively conversation, friendship, refreshments, and more as we play Bingo. New Members are welcome. For information, call Eva 310-837-4197 Please Note: Bingo will not meet in January 2011 due to vacations and holidays the Parish Office will be closed. Coffee and Donuts - Coffee and Donuts are offered after the 9:30 am mass. Contact erind9@gmail.com Friday Night at the Movies For more information contact Barbara Murphy at bmurphy@sp-apostle.org or 424-832- 5159. January 28, 2011 On The Waterfront. Sr. Rose Pacatte, Director of The Pauline Center for Media Studies will be our quest. UnUrban Theology A forum for Catholics and Non- Catholics to discuss Catholic theology and morality. Join us on the first Monday of the month from 7:30pm-9:00pm at The UnUrban Coffee House, 3301 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90405 Free Parking across the street at US Bank. Jan 3, 2011: The Church and the Media: Education and Cooperation, with Sr. Rose Pacatte. No fee but donations are gratefully accepted. For more info contact Barbara Murphy at 424-832-5159 or bmurphy@sp-apostle.org "Every Window Tells a Story" When was the last time you looked at our beautiful stained glass windows? Do you wonder who is in the third window on the east side or the first window on the west? Maybe you know Isaac Hecker is depicted in one of them and you wonder where he is. Well, now you can read all about them! Our FaithJustice Ministry has created a booklet entitled "Every Window Tells a Story" containing biographical sketches of each individual and gorgeous color photos of all. For a minimum donation of $5 to benefit the outreach programs of St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Community, a copy of this booklet can be yours to enjoy and treasure. "Every Window Tells a Story" is available from the parish office. FaithJustice also will have copies on hand during our annual Inspired Gifts Boutique on December 11th and 12th.
Page 6 December 19, 2010 Readings for the weekend of December 26th, 2010 The Holy Family The Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Readings are different at every Liturgy. If you would like to preview the readings for The Christmas Vigil or for Christrmas Day, please refer to the Breaking Bread book in the pews. Reading 1 Sir 3:2-6, 12-14 God sets a father in honor over his children; a mother s authority he confirms over her sons. Whoever honors his father atones for sins, and preserves himself from them. When he prays, he is heard; he stores up riches who reveres his mother. Whoever honors his father is gladdened by children, and, when he prays, is heard. Whoever reveres his father will live a long life; he who obeys his father brings comfort to his mother. My son, take care of your father when he is old; grieve him not as long as he lives. Even if his mind fail, be considerate of him; revile him not all the days of his life; kindness to a father will not be forgotten, firmly planted against the debt of your sins a house raised in justice to you. Readings 2 Col 3:12-21 Brothers and sisters: Put on, as God s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection. And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Wives, be subordinate to your husbands, as is proper in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and avoid any bitterness toward them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they may not become discouraged. Gospel Mt 2:13-15, 19-23 When the magi had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. He rod is going to search for the child to destroy him. Joseph rose and took the child and him mother by night and departed for Egypt. He stayed there until the death of Herod, that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled, Out of Egypt I called my son. When Herod had died, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child s life are dead. He rose, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go back there. And because he had been warned in a dream, he departed for the region of Galilee. He went and dwelt in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, He shall be called a Nazorean. Adult Confirmation If you are baptized Catholic and have received First Communion and wish to complete your initiation in the Catholic faith the 2011 ADULT CONFIRMATION FORMATION CORE SESSIONS Will be held at St. Mark Church (Parish Hall) 2475 Lincoln Blvd. Venice, CA 90291 (Corner of Lincoln and Garfield) SESSION DATES January 22 & 29, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. February 5 & 12, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. CONFIRMATION RETREAT March 5, 2011, 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. (Date and location to be confirmed) Please contact Barbara Murphy for more info: 424-832-5159 or bmurphy@sp-apostle.org