December 11, 2011 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. Judi B. Ankiewicz, Pastoral Assistant Mrs. Joan T. McMullen, School Principal Mrs. Kathleen Q. Jester, Parish Catechetical Leader 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. W EEKDAY 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) for 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 K through 8. For info & registration, please call the school office. PRESCHOOL, State-licensed for 6-week to 4-yr. olds. For info & registration, please call the preschool office
THIRD S UNDAY OF ADVENT Journey of Hope For Separated & Divorced Catholics This Tuesday, Dec. 13, at 6:30 p.m.: Introductory Meeting Meet in the Family Room of Corpus Christi Community Center Celebrating Advent Communal Reconciliation Service Advent Celebration of God s Loving Forgiveness Monday, Dec. 19, 7 p.m. MASS WITH THE ANOINTING OF THE SICK Saturday, Dec. 17, at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18, 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. Angel Tree Deadline tomorrow, Dec. 12: Attach angel as tag on the wrapped gift. A Christmas Baby Shower for newborn babies through 2B Choices for Women Place donations of new clothing and other items for newborn babies in the designated box in the vestibule by Friday, Dec. 16. 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 If you know of anyone needing assistance, please call 432-5173, or the Parish Office. All contacts are handled in confidence. st rd nd Meetings: 1 & 3 Wed., 7 p.m., Com. Ctr. Conf. Rm. (2 Flr.) SUNDAY SCHOOL Classes: Today, Dec. 11, & Next Sunday, Dec. 18. 10:05-10:55 a.m. No Classes on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. Classes resume Jan. 8. SCHOOL NEWS Christmas Holidays begin Friday, Dec. 16. Noon Dismissal. Classes resume Tuesday, Jan. 3. Ads for our 2012 Yearbook are now being accepted: If you are interested in putting an ad in the 2012 edition, please contact Sharon Lynn at 342-5474, ext. 1105 for details on submitting it. Communion Ministers Training for those who wish to serve and Mass and/or bring Communion to the Sick & Shut-in This Tuesday, Dec. 13, at 6:30 p.m. UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE Wednesdays, 7:00-8:30 p.m. Adult Ed. Room in the Community Center ADULT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (R.C.I.A.) Continuing education for Catholic adults and other adults who wish to learn more about and/or join the Catholic Church. Wednesdays, 7-8:30 p.m. in the Adult Ed. Room in the Community Center. Women s Bible Study A Marian Bible Study by Laura Marie Wells Thursdays, 9:00-10:45 a.m., starting Jan. 12 Sign up by calling or emailing Penny Claiborne at 776-5850 or claiborneps@aol.com or Joanne Donaghey at 554-6753 or joannekd@aol.com Studying the Bible is an important and integral part of our growth as Catholic Christians. Women of all ages are invited to join us as we study the Bible together, learn from Mary, and support one another on our faith journey. Mary was a daughter, wife, mother, friend and saint. She experienced many of the joys and sorrows that we face today as women. Nursery available. Bible Study Groups Sun: 8:45-10 a.m.: Info: Ken Crowley, 423-6921. Tue:, 1:30-3 p.m. : Genesis. Info: Judi Ankiewicz, 344-0321. Tue, 7 p.m..: Arts & Sciences Bldg., Fine Arts wing. Dave Burchette, 367-6660. Men of St. Joseph Tuesdays, 7 to 8 a.m. in the Family Room All men are welcome to meet for prayer, reading the Gospel, and discussion. Info: Jim Donaghey, jbd@orthomobile.com or www.menofstjoseph.com. Women of Mary Tuesday Meeting, 9 to 10 a.m. in the Family Room Wednesday Meeting, 7 to 8 p.m. in the Family Room Info: Judi Ankiewicz, 344-0321, or Sr. Deborah Kennedy, R.S.M., 316-3960.
CORPUS CHRIS TI CHURCH, MOBILE, ALABAMA DECEMBER 1 1, 2 0 1 1 Sign up for Live Nativity Scene for the 4:00 p.m. or 5:30 p.m. Christmas Eve Mass. th For K - 5 Grade children. If interested in participating, please send an email with the child s name & age, and which Mass to Kjester@CorpusChristiParish.com. You ll receive info by Dec. 20. Volunteers needed to sing with the choir at the 7:30 p.m. Mass on Christmas Eve. No experience or sign-up needed. Just come to the practice Wednesday, Dec. 21, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.! P lease support the school Com puter Club by purchasing raffle tickets to win an ipod touch. To enter the raffle, go to special table in the atrium after Mass. CORPUS CHRISTI SCHOOL O pen House Sunday, Jan. 8, 1:00-3:00 p.m. All interested parents are invited to tour our SACS-accredited school and meet our faculty and staff. You may also call the school office at 342-5474, ext. 1, to arrange a personal tour at your convenience. We offer many programs that provide a unique learning opportunity for all students. Daily Religion class! Weekly Mass! Elementary and Junior High Resource Program! Accelerated Reader Program! K-6 Spanish! 7th & 8th Grade Latin! Interactive Boards in all classrooms! Science Lab! National Junior Honor Society! Duke Scholars Program! Corpus Christi News (CCN)! Scholars Bowl Team! Computer Club! Shakespeare-After-School Drama Club! Chess Team! Running Club! Scouting! Elementary Band (5-8)! School Newspaper & Yearbook! CYO Sports Info: www.corpuschristiparish.com ( School ) or 342-5474, ext. 1. Cub Scouts Den Meeting: Tues, Dec. 13, 6 p.m. Christmas Party & Toys for Tots Deadline: Sunday, Dec. 11, 6 p.m., Com. Ctr To Join Cub Scouts or for info: Walter Bracewell 633-2027 or Mike Martin 633-5218 or visit ccspack29.scoutlander.com. Booster Club Meetings nd Jan. 11, Mar. 14, Apr. 18. 7 p.m., Rm. 6, (2 Floor, Com. Ctr.). Knights of Columbus nd Meeting: 2nd Tues. Dec. 13, 7 p.m., Com. Ctr. Conf. Rm.. (2 Flr). Contact: Grand Knight, Bob Wheat, 490-9350. Corpus Christi Christmas Concert and Silent Auction Proceeds will be used to pay for additional instrumentalists playing for the concert and possibly the 7:30 p.m. Christmas Eve Mass Sunday, Dec. 11, at 6 p.m. in the church Wednesday Night Dinner 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. in the Banquet Hall $9.00 for Adults! $4.00 for Children (Age 12 & under) Dec. 14 ~ Sliced Roast Beef or BBQ Chicken, Buttered New Red Potatoes or Macaroni & Cheese, Seasoned Green Beans, Dinner Roll, Tossed Salad w/dressings, Hot Apple Pie w/vanilla Ice Cream. Kids Menu: Assorted Pizzas, Tossed Salad. Must RSVP with your name & number in your party: 1. Return an RSVP Card, or 2. Call 342-1852 or 3. Email church@corpuschristiparish.com SPECIAL NOTES! 1. Send your email address to church@corpuschristiparish.com 2. Please support our advertisers on the back of the bulletin. Their ads give us our bulletins & inserts free of charge. 3. Current & past bulletins are online: www.corpuschristiparish.com; click Church then Sunday Bulletin. Widowed Persons Support Group For information call parishioner Glen Porter at 666-8977. Welcom e New Pa ris h ioners Breanna Darin + Chris Nguyen & Mary Ta and son, Eason + Laura Phillips BAPTIZED IN CHRIS T Jacob Ryan Sullivan (son of Edmond Joseph Sullivan & Stephanie Anne Lang Sullivan) + Eason Ta Nguyen (son of Christopher Le Nguyen & Mary Virginia Ta) REST IN PEACE Rita G. Gump (mother of Rita Langan) Mary R. Goff (grandmother of Jennifer Walker and Jay Henley) Flowers The flowers before the altar last weekend were placed in memory of Howard McFarlane on the 6th anniversary of his death. Given by his wife, Virginia McFarlane. Flowers The flowers before the pulpit last weekend were placed in memory of Sharon Lary on the 2nd anniversary of her death. Given by her husband, Robert Lary, and her children, Sharon (Bernie) Heggeman and Bart (Amy) Lary.
CORPUS CHRIS TI CHURCH, MOBILE, ALABAMA DECEMBER 1 1, 2 0 1 1 Next Sunday rd 3 Sunday 5:30 p.m. Mass High School Youth Ministry Next Sunday, Dec. 18, 5:30 p.m. All high school students are invited to join us next Sunday, Dec. 18, for our 5:30 p.m. Parish Youth Mass, followed by a special Holiday evening. We will have a potluck holiday dinner, a Dirty Santa gift exchange with $1 Dollar-Tree Items, and special guests, Fr. Zoghby and Fr. Boudreaux, for our "Ask the Priest" night! Please feel free to join us - all are welcome. Bring $1 and a friend! 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. 9:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. Thanks for the Continuing Prayers for Andre Parishioner Andre Colletti, who has been undergoing treatment at St. Jude s Children s Research Hospital in Memphis is currently able to stay at home with his parents and siblings, with 2-day trips back to St. Jude s each week. Andre and his family are grateful for the many prayers of fellow parishioners and for the outstanding care being provided by St. Jude s Children s Research Hospital. Christmas cards to Andre and his family with assurances of prayer for his healing can, at this time, be sent to his home address: Andre Colletti, 3215 Wynnfield Dr., E., Mobile AL 36695-2557. AA Alanon OA COD A 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. Rosary after 8:15 a.m. weekday Mass, Monday-Saturday. SPECIAL COLLECTION NEXT WEEKEND: Christmas Flowers. FIRST COLLECTION TODAY for tithing offerings. SECOND COLLECTION TODAY for Retired Religious. TH DEC. 4 BUILDING FUND ONLINE & COLLECTION: $4,080.00 TH DEC. 4 TITHING ONLINE & COLLECTION: $36,457.13 Thank You and God Bless You for your tithes, contributions & bequests to Corpus Christi Church. To make a direct donation of stock, ask your stockbroker, or call Steve Setterstrom at Citigroup Global Mkts. at 470-1060. Receive a detail listing of your contributions by mail, email or fax at any time: Call 342-1852 or email Church@CorpusChristiParish.com Online Giving With Online Giving you can either make a one-time contribution or set up a recurring automatic withdrawal from a checking or savings or credit card account: Go to www.corpuschristiparish.com; click Church ; then click the green Online Giving icon on the left, and follow the instructions to contribute to the tithing or building fund or special collections. For assistance, call 1-800-348-2886, ext 4, or parish office, 342-1852. Christmas Tree Blessing and Lighting We a ll ga th er rou n d th is Ch ris tm a s tree to join in pra yer a n d s on g. Th is evergreen tree s ym bolizes to u s th e gifts of life a n d growth. As we look u pon th is tree, we n ot on ly th in k of life h ere on ea rth, bu t a ls o of etern a l life. It is a s ym bol of God s everla s tin g love. We will ligh t ou r tree in h on or of J es u s, wh o is th e Ligh t of th e world. Let u s p ra y : O God, You m ad e this holy night to s hin e forth w ith the brightnes s of the true Light. We as k y ou to bles s this tree. We d ecorate our tree w ith lights in honor of Jes us, Who has com e to us to light up the d ark nes s. Grant to us, O God, the light of Your W ord. May Chris t s hin e ever in our hearts. Am en. S o n g O Ch ris tm a s Tree, O Ch ris tm a s Tree, How rich ly God h a s dres s ed you. O Ch ris tm a s Tree, O Ch ris tm a s Tree, How rich ly God h a s dres s ed you. You bid u s tru e a n d fa ith fu l be, a n d tru s t in God u n ch a n gin gly. O Ch ris tm a s Tree, O Ch ris tm a s Tree, How rich ly God h a s dres s ed you.
Corpus Christi Christmas Concert A dult & Children s Choirs & Orchestra and Silent A uction starting at 5:00 p.m. before & after the 6:00 p.m. Concert Sunday, Dec. 11 Church & Community Center 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. 9:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m.
Guadete Sunday ~ Rejoice Sunday Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I say: Rejoice! Philippians 4:4 The Third Sunday of Advent is traditionally called Gaudete (Rejoice!) Sunday. Having passed the midpoint of Advent, the Church lightens the mood a little. The third candle on the Advent wreath on this day is pink. The priest may even wear rose-colored vestments. After warming up a crowd of several thousand rains o a k e d y o u n g people with some jokes in the main square of Trent, Italy, Pope John Paul II told them: Don t tell your colleagues, and above all the press, that the pope makes jokes instead of making a serious meditation... Being holy means living in profound communion with the God of joy, having a heart free from sin and from the sadness of the world. Christ came to bring joy: joy to children, joy to parents, joy to families and friends, joy to workers and scholars, joy to the sick and elderly, joy to all humanity. In a true sense joy is the keynote message of Christianity, and the recurring message of the Gospels. Go therefore and become messengers of joy. Pope John Paul II Every human heart is made for joy. Pope John Paul II Be merry, really merry. The life of the true Christian should be a perpetual jubilee a prelude to the festivals of eternity. St. Theophane Venard To be merry without offending God is better any day than grumbling and quarreling. St. Francis Xavier Out of gratitude and love for God, we should desire to be reckoned fools. Laugh, and grow strong. St. Ignatius of Loyola Joy is very infectious. We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do. Be faithful in little things. Smile at one another. We must live beautifully. Mother Theresa of Calcutta The greatest worship you can give is to live joyfully because of the knowledge of God s love. Julian of Norwich Holiness consists of doing the will of God with a smile. Mother Theresa of Calcutta It is not fitting, when one is in God s service, to have a gloomy face or a chilling look. St. Francis of Assisi With the angel s greeting to Mary be joyful the New Testament begins. We could say that the first word of the New Testament is be joyful, be happy... This is the true meaning of Christmas: God is near us, so near that He became a child. Joy is the true gift of Christmas, not the expensive gifts that call for time and money. We can communicate this joy simply: with a smile, a kind gesture, a little help, forgiveness. And the joy we give will certainly come back to us. Let us pray that this presence of the liberating joy of God shines forth in our lives. Pope Benedict XVI
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 Somewhere along the line, piety became linked with gloominess, with a view that there s something noble about being dour, and dangerous about being joyful. Joy, humor and laughter show one s faith in God. For Christians, an essentially hopeful outlook shows that you believe in the resurrection, in the power of life over death, and in the power of love over hatred. Don t you think that after the resurrection Jesus disciples were th joyful? As the 14 century mystic Blessed Julian of Norwich said, All will be well, and all will be well, and all manner of things will be well! For believers in general, humor shows your trust in God, who will ultimately make all things well. Joy reveals faith. I m not advocating a mindless, idiotic happiness. As the Book of Ecclesiastes says, there is a time to weep and a time to mourn. You would be a robot if you weren t sad during a time of serious illness or at the death of a friend or family member, the loss of a job, or a sudden financial crisis in your life. Those are things to mourn and to grieve. But Ecclesiastes also says that there is a time to laugh. And sometimes laughter can be healthy even in the midst of sadness as a way of lightening a heavy situation. Fr. James Martin, S.J. from his book, Between Heaven And Mirth There is nothing Christian in gloom. Any repentance without love is phony, any penance unsweetened by faith and cheerfulness is unacceptable. We must live in sunshine even when we are sorrowful. We must live in God s presence. We must not shut ourselves up in our own hearts, even when we are feeling sorry about our past sins. Saint John Henry Newman 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 My dear young friends, I want to invite you to dare to love. Do not desire anything less for your life than a love that is strong and beautiful and that is capable of making the whole of your existence a joyful undertaking of giving yourselves as a gift to God and your brothers and sisters, in imitation of the One who vanquished hatred and death forever through love. Pope Benedict XVI 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 own human way to respond to his infinite love. Fr. David E. Rosage Please don t say that some great sorrow drove me into the convent. That s nonsense. I am, and have always been, one of the happiest women in the world. St. Katharine Drexel Sing praises to the Lord, O you his faithful ones, and give thanks to his holy name. For his anger is but for a moment; his favor is for a life-time. Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning. Psalm 30:4-5 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever! This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:1, 24