MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK Sunday December 16th - 3rd Sunday of Advent 8:00 AM + Mary & Joseph Mariniello, Sr. by Family 9:00 AM + Marguerite & Louis DeLorenzo by Family + Concetta Rosa by Susan & Kyle Webb 10:15 AM + Dr. Harvey Scribner by Lucy Stamilla + Carmen Squillace by wife & children + Dominick Castelluccio by Family 11:30 AM + Michael Cacione (Ann.) by daughter Maria & Family + Salvatore Arnone by Carmelo & Mary Ann Carbonero + Carmela Tripodi (6 Month Ann.) by daughter & Family + Maria Belfiore by Maria Prestigiacomo 12:45 PM People of the Parish 7:15 PM Youth Mass Monday December 17th 7:00 AM + Denise DeVincentis Cusmano by grandmother Elsie + Aurelio Tartaglione by wife Tuesday December 18th 7:00 AM + Joseph Mariniello, Sr. by Family + Martha Romano by Ginny D Elia & Family + Antonina Caruso by Family + Nicholas Peter Franco by Virginia Franco & son 7:00 PM + Miraculous Medal/St. Anthony Novena Wednesday December 19th 7:00 AM + Anthony Ruta by Giovanni D Pasquale + Bessie Alma Montiel by Gloria Colombo & Family + Rosina Carcella by Mr. & Mrs. Fiorello Abbruzzesi Thursday December 20th 7:00 AM + Special Intentions by Patrick & Gloria Tomlinson + Kenneth L. Cowles by Patrick Tomlinson + Angelo Rizzolo by Mr. & Mrs. Frank Setticase Friday December 21st 7:00 AM + Ronnie DeVincentis by Elsie + Angie Andreolo by Joyce Andreolo Saturday December 22nd 7:00 AM + Tessie Napotina by Lona & Ralph Padovano + Laura Caruso by Tina Spincola 5:30 PM People of the Parish 7:00 PM + Rafael Rodríguez by su esposa e hijos + Arturo Perez y Amada Bedoya by su hija Sunday December 23rd - 4th Sunday of Advent 8:00 AM + Viola & Angelo Colella & Rosina D Ambrosio by Jo & Vince Puglisi + Louis Miller by Jean Driscoll 9:00 AM + Frank & Eulalia Carollo by daughter-in-law Angelina Carollo + Gussie Castellano by Mr. & Mrs. Charles Zoccoli 10:15 AM + Catherine Zoccoli by children + Paul Costa by Cira Sutera + Elvira Iannucci by the Choir 11:30 AM + Maria Belfiore by Anthony & Joanne Cangiamila + Aurelio Tartaglione by wife + Pino, Carmelo & Enzo Petrocelli by Patrizio & Anna Petrocelli 12:45 PM + Special Intentions 6:00 PM + Simbang Gabi - Pilipino Dear Brothers and Sisters: There was an amusing item in the press not too long back. It concerned the funeral of James Smith, a lifelong fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers football team. When mourners arrived at the funeral home, they found the recently deceased Mr. Smith, 55, propped up in his favorite armchair in black-and-gold pajamas, a beer and a pack of cigarettes at his side, while a high-definition TV played a continuous loop of Steelers highlights. Smith s friends and relatives agreed it was a perfect tribute. I couldn t stop crying after looking at the Steelers blanket in his lap, said Smith s sister, MaryAnn. It was just like he was at home. We live in a culture in which it is perfectly acceptable to be a fanatic about a football team, but not about your faith. If you were dressed at your funeral according to where you put your priorities, how would you be dressed? As sports fan? A parent? A Republican or Democrat? Would there be many artifacts that would speak of your faith in Jesus Christ? Go with me for a few moments to Southeast Asia, to the border areas of Laos and Vietnam. Before the Western powers imposed national boundaries, the kings of Laos and Vietnam reached an agreement on taxation in the border areas. They chose an interesting formula. They divided the citizens into two groups, depending on how they lived. Those who ate short-grain rice, built their houses on stilts, and decorated them with Indian-style serpents were considered Laotians. On the other hand, those who ate long-grain rice, built their houses on the ground, and decorated them with Chinese-style dragons were considered Vietnamese. The exact location of a person s home was not what determined his or her nationality. Instead, each person belonged to the kingdom whose cultural values he or she exhibited. If you lived one way, you were Laotian. If you lived another, you were Vietnamese. Whose cultural values does your life exhibit? The kingdom of this world or the kingdom of God? Christ is beckoning you to a different kind of life. He is calling you to be a special kind of person. He is calling you to live the kingdom life a life lived following his footsteps. Will you heed his call when he says, Follow me? Your response will chart the direction for the rest of your days. What will it be? A renewed way of living your faith or more of the same old way? It s up to you. -1- FRIARS CORNER Love and Prayers, Fr. Brian
Christmas Flowers/Flores de Navidad As in past years, St. Francis Church has been beautifully decorated for Christmas. We invite you to again share in the decoration of our Church through your memorial gifts. If you wish to make an offering in memory of a loved one, envelopes have been provided in your packet of envelopes at home. Envelopes will also be available at the doors of the Church as you leave. We ask that you give a minimum contribution of $10 for each name. We thank you again for your generosity. Como en los años anteriores, la Iglesia San Francisco de Asís ha sido lindamente decorada para la Navidad. Queremos invitarlos de nuevo a compartir en la decoración de nuestra Iglesia a través de su donación en memoria de un ser querido. Si usted desea hacer una donación, puede obtener un sobre en la rectoría, o en la Iglesia. Le pedimos que haga una donación mínima de $10 por cada nombre. Les agradecemos de nuevo su generosidad. CHRISTMAS CARDS - MASS REMEMBRANCE At the entrance of the Church, you will find Christmas Cards. You can remember your family, relatives or friends living or deceased. Fill out the envelope and return it either to the Church office or put it in the collection basket with your donation. These envelopes will be placed on the altar during the Christmas season. Tuesday, December 18 th, 2007 Advent Penance Service at Immaculate Conception Church 7:30 PM Mass Monday, Christmas Eve December 24 th, 2007 5:30 PM Christmas Family Mass 12 Midnight Mass (Trilingual) Translators Tuesday, Christmas Day Mass 8:00 AM & 10:00 AM English & 12:00 PM Spanish CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE!!! Monday, December 31st, 2007 6:00 PM Vigil Mass (Spanish) Holy Day Tuesday, January 1 st, 2008 - Holy Day of Obligation New Year s Day 8:00 AM English Mass 10:00 AM English Mass OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED ON: DECEMBER 24, 25, 31 & JANUARY 1 Have you finished your Christmas Shopping? If not, today is your last chance. Order your gift cards today and we will make sure you get them by Friday, 12/21. Return your order form to the person in charge after each Mass. Orders should be handed in no later than Sunday, 12/16 after every Mass or Monday, 12/17 before 10 AM at the Rectory. -2-
CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE - ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI SCHOOL 1967-2007 CALLING ALL ALUMNI!!! St. Francis School is proud to announce its 40th Anniversary. Alumni are an integral part of the school s family. Please contact the school office with any information regarding past graduates. School office 201-488-8862. SAVE THE DATES! * Saturday, January 26th - Alumni Homecoming * Friday, May 30th Dinner Dance * The Class of 2008 salutes the alumni * Sunday, June 8th - Picnic SCHOOL CONCERT St. Francis School will be holding its annual Christmas Concert on Sunday, December 9th, at 3:00 pm in the school gym. The theme of this year s concert is Child of Peace. The tickets are $3.00 for adults and $1.00 for children under 12. Children under 2 are free. All are invited to attend this very joyous Christmas production! LA FAMILIA QUE REZA UNIDA, PERMANECE UNIDA La Virgen DE FATIMA de la parroquia San Francisco de Asís continúa visitando los hogares. Si usted desea ser visitada por la Virgen Madre de Dios y Madre nuestra, escuchar la Palabra de Dios, rezar el rosario y cantar cantos, favor de llamar a los teléfonos de: Lola Santos 201-342-0685 o Gladys Cobos 201-498-9345. GRUPO DE ORACIÓN Todos los Martes en el sótano de la Iglesia nos reunimos para orar, cantar y alabar a Dios. Durante el año tenemos diferentes predicadores, misas de sanación, etc. Hora: 7:30 PM. Todos están bienvenidos para compartir con nosotros. CURSILLISTAS Se reúnen todos los Sábados a las 5:45 PM en el Sótano de la Iglesia. Todos están cordialmente invitados a participar de estas reuniones. Los esperamos. NOVENA NAVIDEÑA Jorge Meneses junto con el Comité Hispano estarán celebrando la Novena Navideña a partir del 16 de Diciembre hasta el 24 de Diciembre del 2007. Todos los niños están invitados. Traigan sus instrumentos musicales preferidos. ADORACIÓN AL SANTÍSIMO - LOS PRIMEROS VIERNES DEL MES A partir de la misa de 7:00AM va a quedar expuesto el Santísimo durante todo el día hasta la liturgia de las 7 de la noche, en que se dará la bendición y se guardará el Santísimo. Dependiendo de la respuesta de nuestras diferentes comunidades tendremos este servicio religioso el PRIMER VIERNES de cada mes. Agradeciendo de antemano su presencia ante el Santísimo. *** Si usted tiene una hora exacta en que se comprometa frente al santísimo, por favor llame a la oficina de la Iglesia y deje su nombre y teléfono. -3-
OFFERING TO THE LORD The Collection for December 8 & 9 was $3,088; the second collection for the Utility Fund was $1,138; for the feast of the Immaculate Conception was $755 and for Priests Retirement Collection was $302. Thank you for your generosity. If you would like to have a loved one s name mentioned in the bulletin, please call the church office at 201-343- 6243. In addition, if you would like an intention to be added to the Apostolate of Prayer list, please send it via e-mail to StFrancisHack@AOL.com. PLEASE PRAY FOR ALL THE DECEASED MEMBERS OF THE PARISH Philomena Sanzari CALENDAR Sunday, December 16th 3rd Sunday of Advent Second collection is for the Fuel Collection Fund 10-11:30 AM Christmas Play - CCD in Gym After 12:45 PM Mass Rifa de la Canasta Navideña - Sótano 4:00 PM Pilipino Prayer Group 7:15 PM Youth Mass 7:30 PM Novena - Sótano Tuesday, December 18th 7:00 PM Miraculous Medal/St. Anthony Novena 7:30 PM Advent Penance Service at Immaculate Conception Church 7:30 PM Hispanic Prayer Group Wednesday, December 19th Thursday, December 20th 7:30 PM Socialites Meeting - Cafeteria Friday, December 21st Saturday, December 22nd 5:45 PM Cursillistas EVERY FIRST FRIDAY EUCHARISTIC ADORATION Beginning with the 7:00 AM Mass, lasting all day and ending at 7:00 PM with the Holy Hour Mass. Anyone interested in spending an hour with our Lord kindly call the office for a time slot. We hope to have an enthusiastic response from the entire par- ish community so that this will be- come a new tradition! MEMORIAL GIFTS THIS WEEK The Sanctuary Lamp will burn for John LaVallo Donated by Teri, Bob, Lisa, Terry & Baby TJ The Altar Bread will be consecrated for Anthony & Martha Romano Donated by Ginny D Elia & Family The Altar Wine will be consecrated for Martha Romano Donated by Domenic, Terri & Bob The Altar Flowers are in memory of Martha Romano Donated by Ginny D Elia & Family MAKE A TAX-SMART GIFT Use Your IRA to Make a Charitable Gift: December 31st Deadline Set for this Tax-Saving Program On August 21, 2006, a federal law called the Pension Protection Act of 2006, was signed, allowing IRA owners to share the wealth of their retirement savings by giving directly to a non-profit organization, without first counting it as income and paying income tax. The Pension Protection Act allows donors with traditional IRA assets, who are at least age 70 1/2 or older, to transfer those assets, directly to a charity, tax free. It could allow you to give your parish or Capuchin Friars, a gift directly from you IRA without triggering federal income taxes. The gift will also satisfy the rules for required minimum distributions for the year. We ll be glad to provide you with the tax-wise details. Please call the parish office or Beatrice Rea in the Planned Giving Office at 201-863-4036 PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SICK Mrs. Marini, JoAnne Navatto, Casimiro Gordillo, Maria Nilsa Osorio, Saloni Giyanani, Rosario Muñoz, Gloria Pollack, Tessie Vendra, Maria, Adelyn Rodriguez, Zoila, Bob Bark, Jesus, Vivian Cuesta, Lolo, Rosa, Esther, Angelica, Danny, Reyna, Antonio, Erika, Dulio, Chris Alimenti, Nancy Carucci, Isabella Duboto, Joseph V. Thomas, Louis Arias, Dario. CHRISTMAS CLUB The New Christmas Club begins on December 30th. WEEK #1. You can pick up a set of Christmas Club envelopes at the entrances of the Church after Mass this weekend. REMEMBER THIS IS YOUR GIFT BACK TO THE CHURCH AT CHRISTMAS. -4-
COVER SHEET Church name: St. Francis of Assisi Bulletin # 228650 December 16, 2007 Date of Publication: December 16, 2007 Number of pages transmitted: 5 Special instructions: -5-