Second Sunday of Advent

Second Sunday of Advent December 9, 2012 And this is my prayer: that your love may increase ever more and more in knowledge and every kind of perception, to discern what is of value, so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the Glory and praise of God. - Philippians 1:11 The lighting of the second candle represents Peace St. Veronica Established 1951 434 Alida Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080 Fax: 650-588-1481 www.stveronicassf.com Phone: 650-588-1455

Parish Office Hours Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Lunch Noon - 1:00 p.m. Phone: 650-588-1455 Fax: 650-588-1481 Parish Staff Fr. Charles Puthota, Ph.D., Pastor Fr. Linh Nguyen, Parochial Vicar Deacon Roger Beaudry Deacon Joseph LeBlanc Jennifer Baylor, Administrative Assistant Stephanie de Prume, Finance Manager Ext. 306 Patricia Spiteri, Parish Secretary Karen Guglielmoni, Faith Formation & Wedding Coordinator Ext.305 Christopher Lindstrom, Music Director 650-588-1455 Ext. 308 St. Veronica Parish Mass Intentions WEEK of December 9, 2012 Sun 12/09 6:45 Emmanuel Enriquez 8:00 Ramona Blagg 9:30 Pat Kerrigan 11:00 Grace &Bill Albrecht 12:30 People of St. Veronica Mon 12/10 6:30 Jeb Lyons 8:30 Kathleen & Andrew Phero Tue 12/11 6:30 Maria Carvalho 8:30 Anthony Piety Gomes Wed 12/12 6:30 Linda Pohina 8:30 Sivas Pellini 6:30 David Llamas Thu 12/13 6:30 Cres & Linda Cuaton 8:30 Francesa Fazio Fri 12/14 6:30 Betty Wolfe 8:30 Betty Wolfe Sat 12/15 8:30 Andrew Phero 5:00 J. Kenneth Melvin Sun 12/16 6:45 Larry Romani 8:00 Albina Gina Noya 9:30 Giovanni & Maria Chiodo 11:00 Josefa & Sofia Carpio 12:30 People of St. Veronica Kathryn Lucchesi Principal St. Veronica Catholic School www.saintveronicassf.org Phone: 650-589-3909 Pam Cavagnaro Vice Principal SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION Sacrament of Baptism Baptismal Preparation classes are held once a month. Call the Parish Office 650-588-1455 Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) Call the Parish Office to register 650-588-1455 Ext.309 Faith Formation: 650-588-1455 Ext. 305 Catechetical instructions (1st to 8th grades) Confirmation Classes: 650-588-1455 Understanding the Word Jerusalem is portrayed as a grieving mother. Her sorrow is for her children carried off and scattered both east and west. Since this meant the loss of any future, Jerusalem faced extinction. This is why she is clothed in traditional garments of mourning. The prophet directs the city to Take off your robe of mourning and misery! Transformed by the glory of God, Jerusalem is told to stand on the heights and witness a reversal of fortune: the captives will return rejoicing; led away on foot, they will be carried back on royal thrones. The splendor that God bestows upon Jerusalem will be revealed to all the earth. The affection that Paul has for the Philippians flows from his appreciation of their faithfulness to the righteousness that God is accomplishing in them. Although Paul brought the good news of the gospel to these people, he acknowledges that it was really God who made it take root in their hearts, and it is God who will oversee its maturation until it is brought to completion at the day of Christ Jesus. Paul prays that their mutual love will increase, and that they will be pure and blameless for the coming day of Christ. John the Baptist is a most fascinating figure. He comes from a priestly family (see Luke 1:5), yet he is found in the desert, a place that calls to mind the wandering of the people in the region of Jordan, the gateway to the Promised Land, the very river crossed by the people as the entered the land. Thus crossing became a symbol of their entrance into a new life. - From Living the Word Parish Office email: churchoffice@stveronicassf.com

Mass Schedule Saturdays: 8:30AM & 5:00PM Sundays: 6:45, 8:00, 9:30, 11:00AM, and 12:30PM Holy Days: 6:30, 8:30AM, & 6:30PM Monday Friday: 6:30 & 8:30AM Spanish Mass First Sunday of each month at 6:00 PM unless otherwise announced Confessions Saturdays: 4:00 5:00PM Liturgy of the Hours Monday Friday: Morning Prayer at 6:00AM Eucharistic Adoration Monday Friday: 9:00AM 9:00PM Parish Registration Please complete and return form to the parish office, or simply drop it in the collection basket. Kindly print all information Name(s) Name(s) Address City & Zip Phone E-mail: Updating Current Parish Registration Moving / Please remove from mailing list. This is a new registration Please call me. ON THE HORIZON December 10-Deanery-wide Penance Service at Mater Dolorosa, 7 p.m. December 12-Our Lady Of Guadalupe Evening Mass. 6:30 p.m. December 15- First Simbang Gabi Mass, 5 p.m. Please remember the sick and the care-givers in our community. Pray that they may find comfort and healing in Christ. Kindly contact the Parish office if Homebound Eucharistic services are needed. Welcome Newly Registered Parishioners! Our parish continues to be blessed and enriched by the presence of new parishioners: Ryan Dilag Eduardo & Marilou Reyes Our parish welcomes you with open hearts and open arms. We thank God you have chosen to join our community. Pray for our Beloved Deceased In your prayers during the week, please remember the repose of the souls of our deceased especially: Charles (Chuck) Elliot - Died November 21, 2012 Richard (Dick) Battaglia - Died November 25, 2012 "Eternal Rest Grant Unto Them, O Lord " Envelopes received in the First Collection: November 17 & 18: 263 November 24 & 25: 341 December 01 & 02: 296 If you currently receive envelopes but do not use them, please prayerfully consider including your donation in the collection basket at Mass. Thank you for supporting St. Veronica Parish and its works. Day Mass Time 1st Collection Environment Totals Saturday 12/01/12 5:00PM 1399.25 219.00 1618.25 Sunday 12/02/12 6:45AM 1390.00 166.00 1556.00 8:00AM 923.00 189.00 1112.00 9:30AM 1306.00 329.00 1635.00 11:00AM 853.00 255.00 1108.00 12:30PM 1083.00 284.00 1367.00 Spanish Mass 6:00PM 447.00 N/A 447.00 TOTALS: $7,401.25 $1,442.00 $8,843.25

From the Pastor s Desk Dear Parishioners, China Travel Notes---Hong Kong to Guilin: Hong Kong, as you may recall, has a special administrative status, and one needs a special permit to enter it. You can be dazzled by the high-rise buildings of Hong Kong and the financial strength of that island. After wrapping up our visit to Hong Kong, we took a two-hour flight to Guilin, which is back in mainland China. Do you want to go to one of the most beautiful places on earth? That s Guilin for me. The airport even in a smaller city like Guilin was impressive: new, clean, equipped with the latest amenities, serving over 4 million passengers a year. After our arrival at night, though tired, I took a walk through the beautiful banks of the two lakes, Banyan Lake and Cedar Lake, both together called the Round Lake, located in the middle of the city. The plants and trees along the banks and the many bridges made this walk a memorable one. You could sense that there is something special and beautiful about this city. The next day, we took a ferry ride along the Li River for four-and-a-half hours. The river snakes through a very beautiful landscape dotted with hills, the kind of which I have never seen before. We had lunch on the boat, and the scenery from the top of the boat was out of this world. I fell in love with Guilin! I must go back and spend more time in this city because I felt a soul connection. The ferry ride ended in Yangshuo made famous by the same type of hilly landscape. One of the highlights of Guilin was a show called Impression by Sanjie Liu who directed the famous movie Raise the Red Lantern. This show was enacted by hundreds of people at night on River Li in what might be called the world s largest natural theater. The actors were all on boats and the staging area was the place where two rivers met. The natural stage was surrounded by the characteristic hills of Guilin. This is one of the best shows I have ever seen. After seeing the impressive Reed Flute caves, an agricultural farm, a tea garden (we picked tea leaves!), and a house in the rural area, we felt highly satisfied with the visual delights Guilin offered us. Capital Campaign: The three coordinators of the Capital Campaign---Terri, Tammi, and Sharon--- spoke at all the Masses last weekend, exhibiting the artistic renderings of how it would look like when the project is over. I know Christmas is a hectic time with all sorts of expenses for the family. In the midst of it all, please keep this project of paving our whole property in your thoughts and prayers. The sooner we raise the money, the sooner we can complete this project. The simple formula for the success of this project is: Let everyone participate in this project! Santa s Breakfast & Book Faire: Despite the continuous and heavy rains accompanied with strong winds last weekend, our traditional Santa s Breakfast and Book Faire went well. It was good to do this breakfast in the Parish Center where there is so much more space for people to move around. The food was excellent. With the Falcon Hall out of commission, the organizers of the Guild had to come up with imaginative plans to make it work. The result was splendid. It was a lot of work, but for all those who toiled to make this a success, it was a labor of love. Great job, Guild! The toy train by Mike & Mary Martin s family was a delight as usual. Everyone enjoyed the event. YOUCAT: YOUCAT stands for Youth Catechism of the Catholic. This is the book I blessed and gave the sixth graders of our school and faith formation at the 9:30 a.m. Mass last Sunday. It presents the catholic faith in question-and-answer format in an interesting way for the youth of today. It is a great book also for the parents. I m enjoying reading it myself. This book could be used by the sixth graders and their families for a renewed interest in the, our faith, our identity as Catholics, and all the good work that God is calling us to do. The Word of God: John the Baptist in the gospel this Sunday proclaims: Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God. How are we preparing spiritually for the coming of Jesus in our lives this Christmas? What inner renewal will this holy season bring about for us? These are questions worth pondering. Your Friend & Pastor, Father Charles Puthota

We offer our sincerest Congratulations and warmest Blessings to LJ Jordon & Sam Mizzi who celebrated the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony December 1, 2012 At St. Veronica Let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth. - John 3:18 The St. Veronica Giving Angel Be an Angel this Christmas season by visiting our parish Giving Angel in the vestibule of the church and taking a gift tag or two. Many local, worthy charitable organizations are in need of our help. You can impact someone s life for the better. The deadline for returning the wrapped gifts with the tags on them is Monday, December 17. Gifts may be returned to the Pastoral Center. Gift cards may be turned in at the Pastoral Center or placed in the weekend collection basket. It is with great joy we welcome into our church and community the following children who received the Sacrament of Baptism at our Saturday, December 1, 2012 Christian Joseph Castro Juliana Rose Cooper Kingston Niumeitolu Mahoni Christmas liturgy Schedule 2012 Monday, December 10, 2012 Advent Penance Service (Deanery-level) 7:00PM at Mater Dolorosa 307 Willow Ave., S.S.F, CA December 15 to 23, 2012 Simbang Gabi Advent Masses All Masses at 6:30PM except Dec. 15th & 22nd at 5:00PM Saturday, December 22, 2012 Confessions 3:00 to 5:00 PM Monday, December 24, 2012 Christmas Eve 4:00PM (Children s Mass) & 9:00PM (8:15 - Christmas Caroling) Tuesday, December 25, 2012 Christmas Day 6:45, 8:00, 9:30, 11:00AM & 12:30PM Monday, December 31, 2012 8:30AM Tuesday, January 1, 2013 New Year s Day (A Holyday of Obligation) 8:30AM & 6:30PM

St. Veronica Honors our Lady of Guadalupe (Patroness of the Americas) Wednesday, December 12, 2012 6:30 p.m. All are welcome to be part of this Aztec tradition Bring the whole family! Have a extra coats in your closet? St. Veronica Girl Scouts One Warm Coat Drive We are the St. Veronica School Girl Scouts. This year we are working toward collecting the most coats in our area. You can help us by donating new or gently loved coats, any sizes. We can also take cash and then go and purchase coats with the money. We enjoy being a part of our community and giving back to others in this way. You can also help us to bring a smile to others faces. We will be present to greet you during Masses on the weekend of December 15 th. Come by and say hello! Collection Boxes will be located in the church vestibule and in the school library. The Season of Giving This holiday season, we thank everyone who has supported St. Veronica this past year with their time, talent and financial contributions and look forward to support from all of our members in the year ahead. If you need a convenient way to make regular offerings or if you plan to make an additional gift before the end of the year, we encourage you to check out our electronic giving options. As the pace of life speeds up, especially around the holidays, you may find electronic giving a most welcome way to make contributions. Visit www.stveronicassf.com or contact the church office for more information. Attention Parishioners There is a need for Brown Paper Grocery Bags used to deliver various food items to our disabled and homebound Seniors. Parishioners from St. Veronica, All Souls, and Mater Dolorosa gather every Tuesday rain or shine in Mater Dolorosa s Parish Hall to sort out food from Second Harvest Food Bank and deliver the items to 210 Seniors by volunteer drivers. Please save your paper or plastic bags for us. You may bring them to the Pastoral Center. Thank you for your help. - Mary Beaudry A Blessing for Christmas Trees The use of Christmas trees is relatively modern. Its origins are found in the medieval mystery plays that depicted the tree of paradise and the Christmas light or candle that symbolized Christ, the Light of the world. According to custom, the Christmas tree is set up just before Christmas and may remain in place until the Solemnity of Epiphany. The lights of the tree are illuminated after the prayer of blessing. In the home the Christmas tree may be blessed by a parent or other family member. Lord our God, we praise you for the light of creation: the sun, the moon, and the stars of the night. We praise you for the light of Israel: the Law, the prophets, and the wisdom of the Scriptures. We praise you for Jesus Christ, your Son: he is Emmanuel, God-with-us, the Prince of Peace, who fills us with the wonder of your love. Lord God, let your blessing come upon us as we illumine this tree. May the light and cheer it gives be a sign of the joy that fills our hearts. May all who delight in this tree come to the knowledge and joy of salvation. We ask this through Christ our Lord. R/. Amen. The lights of the tree are then illuminated. - adapted from www.usccb.org Seeking New Ushers Are you interested in becoming an usher? Our 6:45 AM, 11:00 AM, and 12:30 PM masses are seeking new ushers to assist during the mass. Men, women, and young adults are welcome. Training will be provided. If interested, please contact T.J. Rafael at 650-952-3659. Advent Penance Service Mater Dolorosa will be hosting our deanery-wide reconciliation service. As you make preparations for Christmas, come prepare your hearts as well. Parishioners and priests from our neighboring parishes will gather Monday, December 10th at 7PM to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We will hear readings from the Advent scriptures, sing and have the opportunity for individual confessions. Mater Dolorosa 307 Willow Ave. (& Miller) South San Francisco, CA St. Vincent de Paul would like to extent a warm Thank You to all who donated and made this year s Thanksgiving collection a success.

2 - Santa s Breakfast 3 4 5 - Bingo, Falcon 9 10 - Deanery - 11 - Baptism 12 - Our Lady 16 - Simbang Gabi 17 - Simbang 18 - Simbang 19 - Simbang 23 - Final Simbang 24 - - St. Veronica 25 - Christmas 26 - Bingo, Falcon 30 31-8:30 AM 6-7 - Vigil Mass for 8 - Holy Day of 13 - St. Veronica 14-15 Simbang 20 - Simbang Gabi 21 -Simbang 22 - Simbang 27 28 29 - December 2012 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 Parish Center 8-11:30AM - Scholastic Book Fair, Parish Center 9AM - 1PM - Spanish Mass, 6PM Mass 6:30 PM, PM, followed by Dinner, Parish Center wide Advent Penance Service, 7PM at Mater Dolorosa PM, Parish Children s Christmas Eve Mass 4PM 9PM Midnight Mass Mass New Years Eve Prep Class 7:30 PM, Pastoral Center PM, Day - Regular Schedule of Masses Hall 6-10PM of Guadalupe Mass, 6:30PM, PM, Bingo, Falcon Hall 6-10PM Hall 6-10PM School Children's Christmas Program 6:30PM, Mass 6:30 PM, Holy Day of Obligation, 6:30 PM PM,, Obligation Mass 8:30 AM Senior Luncheon, Noon, Parish Center Gabi Mass & Procession 5:00 PM, Gabi Mass 5:00 PM