The Church of St. Gerard Majella FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT DECEMBER 3, 2017 ADDRESS 9600 Regent Avenue North Brooklyn Park, MN 55443-1499 OFFICE HOURS Monday-Friday: 9:00 AM-5:00 PM Saturday and Sunday: CLOSED EUCHARIST Saturday 5pm, Sunday 8:30, 10:30 am WEBSITE: www.st-gerard.org Like us on FACEBOOK St. Gerard s Youth TWITTER handle: @StGerardYM St. Gerard s Youth INSTAGRAM: @StGerardYouth Parish Office: 763-424-8770 Fax Number: 763-424-4327 Faith Formation: 763-424-8600 PASTORAL Services Rev. Thomas Santa, C.Ss.R. - Parochial Administrator Rev. Tuan Pham, C.Ss.R. Bro. Bruce Davidson, C.Ss.R. Rev. Matthew Bonk, C.Ss.R. Rev. Patrick Keyes, C.Ss.R. Barbara Staats - Business Administrator Anne Tiller - Pastoral Minister Amy Wittak- Liturgical Ministry Tim Smith - Dir. of Liturgical Music Colette O Brien - Communications Judy Foster - Dir. of Faith Formation Emily Wenner - Youth Faith Formation Coordinator Heidi Schleif - Preschool & Elementary Coordinator All Are Welcome! We are a Catholic community striving to love God and our neighbors. No matter who you are, or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here! Who Am I To Judge? --Pope Francis SUPPORT Services Sue Czerniak - Secretary/Receptionist Dianne Goodwin - Secretary/Receptionist MAINTENANCE Services Dave Neuman - Maintenance Operator Roger Popham - Custodian Hearing Assistance Devices are available at the Sound Desk in the Church. Low-Gluten hosts are available. Please call the parish office for more information.
The Church of St. Gerard A NOTE FROM THE PASTOR It is not easy to be ordinary. All of us like to feel, at least every once in a while, that we are very special. We like to believe that life really does have all of the bells and whistles, the loud and thumping theme music that fills a good Hollywood movie. We like to believe that at least once in a while our very presence is the source of a reaction, hopefully a favorable reaction, from the people around us. We want to be noticed, we want to be counted, we want to be loved and affirmed. There is nothing fundamentally wrong with our desire to be noticed, to be counted, to be special. There is nothing fundamentally wrong with becoming important, or necessary, or even for that matter the center of attraction every once in a while. But that being said and acknowledged it is not the circumstance or the place where most of us find ourselves, and for those unfortunate few who are indeed the center of everything, it is usually a place and a circumstance that soon becomes tiring, in and of itself. The ordinary moments of our life, that is what is important. The ordinary moments of life are what truly challenge us. The ordinary moments of life are those moments that provide us with grace, blessing, and love and are in fact the path for us to the Kingdom of God. Ordinary holiness is part and parcel of our everyday experience of life and that is one of the reasons we have chosen this idea as our Advent theme. It is not difficult to have your attention captured and focused by the extraordinary or the dramatic. Certainly all of us can recall moments when our personal attention, the attention of our family, and even the attention of our national community have become singularly focused because of a specific event or experience. We acknowledge that such moments exist and we acknowledge their power and their ability to capture our attention, but they are not usually sustained. Eventually, no matter how dramatic, extraordinary, or whatever, the event or the experience begins to fade and our attentions are then focused back on the ordinary and the routine. When Jesus was with us he did not often speak about the end times as are referenced in the more expanded version of Mark s gospel that we heard this morning. Jesus did not ignore the reality of the last days but he seemed to be more concerned about the tragedy and the suffering that was right in front of him. There was no real need to wait for the spectacular moment, the ordinary moment in time presented enough of a challenge and that is where Jesus again and again focused our attention. Don t think about the spectacular spectacle of the Son of Man arriving in triumph on a cloud; think rather of the ordinary spectacle of the poor among you who have nothing to eat and nothing to wear. Don t become too distracted by the roaring of the raging sea or the erupting power of a volcano, which is most certainly a spectacular The Church of St. Gerard sign of the power of God, but rather focus your attention on those who yearn for peace and justice and whose voice is not often heard. Don t sit on your porch and wait for the last day, as many of the early Christians did in anticipation of the return of Jesus, but get out there and work, make the kingdom of God come alive today, in your own time and place. It is in the ordinary where you will find your salvation. The season of Advent which we begin today is an opportunity for us to once again accept the call of the Lord to become focused on the Kingdom, the ordinary living out of the plan of the Father in our lives. It is perhaps an opportune time to receive such an invitation and a reminder because it is counter-cultural in the truest possible sense of the word. Everything that we will hear in the weeks ahead is intended to distract us from what is important and necessary and rather convince us that just one more thing, yet another pile of stuff, is in fact the potential secret of our specialness. We know it is not true, we know that there is nothing that we can possibly purchase that will deliver all that we might hope for. Nevertheless, we can become distracted enough by such a hollow promise to actually believe it, if even for a moment. If the gospel has a message for us today it might very well be the challenge to keep all of life in the proper perspective. The gospel challenges us to remain focused on all that truly gives life. It acknowledges the dramatic but it continually calls us back to the ordinary, to the present moment, and to an experience of the Kingdom that can fully provide us with all that we truly need. Ordinary holiness is our Advent grace and blessing. Rev. Thomas M. Santa, C.Ss.R. For the Redemptorist Community and Staff ADVENT BOOKS AVAILABLE Pick up an Advent book from the Gathering Space. Also available in large-print and Vietnamese. FEAST OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION Join us Friday, Dec 8th at 8:30am or 7:00pm in the Church. YEAR END GIVING IRA s - If you make a direct transfer from your IRA to St. Gerard s, you get to count that money toward your required minimum distribution but because it s not actually distributed to you, it won t increase your adjusted gross income. This option is particularly beneficial if you don t itemize deductions on your tax return. Gifts of Stock - Gifts of stock can provide you with double tax benefits. First, you may be able to claim a charitable contribution donation in the amount of the current market value of the stock (original cost plus any increase in value). Second, you don t pay taxes on the appreciated value of the donated stock. For more information contact Barbara Staats at the parish office at 763-424-8770
Justice and Outreach ANGEL TREE PROJECT The Angels are here! The Angel Tree Project has a long history at St. Gerard s. Your generosity has brightened the Christmas Season for innumerable families throughout the years. Please consider selecting one, two or more angels from the trees in the church. Please return your gifts by Saturday, December 9. Thank you in advance! COMMUNION MINISTERS FOR NORTH MEMORIAL HOSPITAL Eucharistic ministers are needed to bring communion to Catholic patients at North Memorial Hospital. VIRTUS training and background check required. The commitment is 1-3 hours, two Saturdays a month. For more information, contact Anne Tiller at annet@st-gerard.org or 763-424- 8770 ext 120 BURRITO BREAKFAST On December 12, our friends from San Rafael will be celebrating the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Come join us in celebration at the Burrito Breakfast on December 10 after the 8:30 and 10:30 Masses. We hope you will also share some of your fond memories of their visit this past July. FARE FOR ALL Fare For All provides fresh, quality food at a lower cost than a typical grocery store. It helps families stretch their food budget and access nutritious foods that tend to be more expensive. Fare For All offers food packages with contents that change throughout the month. During November and December they are offering holiday packages at $30. Fare For All accepts cash, credit, debit, and EBT cards (no checks). To learn more call 763-450-3880. ANOINTING OF THE SICK The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick will be celebrated on Saturday, December 9th, following the 5:00 pm Mass in the Church. If you are ill and would like to receive this sacrament, please stay in the Church following Mass. If you have any questions, contact Anne Tiller at 763-424- 8770 ext 120 or annet@st-gerard.org BIZAA - SPONSOR A CHILD As you prepare your Christmas card this year, do you want to send out a new family picture? Add a new family member by sponsoring a child in Africa. Your sponsorship will help a child go to school and end their entrapment in child labor and child trafficking. A gift in any amount is available. To find out more contact Christina Spaeth-Harrer at 651-247-2126 or Christinaspaeth@yahoo.com. Faith Formation RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES Sunday, December 3, before the 10:30 mass, we welcome into baptism Lizbeth Jaquez and Sebastian Jaquez. Also, during the 10:30 mass, we welcome to the table of the Lord for the first time, Lizbeth Jaquez, Able Jaquez and Aiden Mulli. Congratulations to all! CAN YOU BE A PRAYER PARTNER? Our First Eucharist/Reconciliation and Confirmation students need your prayers! Sign up to be a prayer partner and support a student through prayer during their Sacramental year. You are also welcome to send them notes of encouragement during the year and be present when they receive their Sacrament. Contact Emily Wenner to get involved as a prayer partner. FIRST RECONCILIATION MEETING The second parent/child meeting for First Reconciliation will be on Monday, December 4 from 6:00-7:15 pm in St. Francis Hall. At least one parent is expected to attend with each child. Don't forget to complete and bring your Lesson 1 and 2 pamphlets! ADULT FAITH FORMATION PRESENTATIONS Adult Faith Formation will soon be looking at offering presentations between Sunday masses with guest speakers. Are there topics you would like to see presented or questions you have about our catholic traditions and teachings you would like to see addressed? Contact Judy Foster at judyf@st-gerard.org. We encourage your input! PREPARATION OF GIFTS Everyone, especially our children and youth, are invited to bring food donations to the CEAP bin in front of the altar during the Preparation of Gifts. Monetary donations for CEAP are also appreciated and can be placed in the collection basket. Checks can be made out to CEAP and cash should be placed in a labeled envelope. YOUTH CONNECT WITH US! Follow us for activities and exciting ways to get involved! twitter: @StGerardYM instagram: @stgerardyouth website: www.st-gerard.org and click on YOUTH! STEWARDSHIP THOUGHTS Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time will come. - Mark 13:33 We all take things for granted. In particular, we take time for granted. Our lives are so busy, many of us are planning our time - days, weeks, months, even years in advance. Remember, our time on earth is a gift. None of us knows how long we will be here. Start today and begin thanking God for each and every day.
This Week at St. Gerard s INTENTIONS MON-FRI 8:25 AM - Eucharist & Liturgy of the Hours TUE 9:00 AM - Perpetual Help Devotion MONDAY, DECEMBER 4 8:25 am - Communion Service TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5 8:25 am - Jack Fischer WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6 8:25 am - Arthur Dols THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7 8:25 am - Johnny Podominick FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8 8:30 am - Grace Clausen 7:00 pm - Grace Onuoha SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9 5:00 pm - Don Heintzeman SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10 8:30 am - Wally Rymanowski 10:30 am - Gary Livieri PARISH EVENTS MONDAY, DECEMBER 4 6:00 pm - 1st Reconciliation Meeting 6:00 pm - Elementary Faith Formation 7:00 pm - Justice/Outreach Commission TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5 9:00 am - Perpetual Help Devotion 9:30 am - Womens Prayer/Support Group 7:30 pm - Regent AA WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6 9:00 am - Eucharistic Adoration 6:00 pm - EDGE Middle School Classes 7:00 pm - Choir Rehearsal THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7 10:00 am - Cornerstone Scripture Study 6:00 pm - Centering Prayer 7:00 pm - RCIA FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8 Feast of the Immaculate Conception 8:30 am - Eucharist 7:00 pm - Eucharist SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9 4:00 pm - Private Confessions 5:00 pm - Eucharist 6:00 pm - Anointing of the Sick SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10 8:30 am - Eucharist 8:30 am - Liturgy of the Word, Children 9:30 am - Burrito Breakfast 10:30 am - Eucharist 10:30 am - Liturgy of the Word, Children 10:30 am - Pre-K Faith Formation Classes 11:30 am - Burrito Breakfast 6:00 pm - Confirmation PLEASE PRAY for the sick and ailing members of our parish community, and all those in our Parish Prayer Book, especially: Joan Blashack Also remember those loved ones who have died. READINGS FOR DECEMBER 10, 2017 2nd Sunday of Advent Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11 2 Peter 3:8-14 Mark 1:1-8 SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM Call the Parish Office to schedule a date and register for the preparation class. SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION Saturday at 4:00 pm or any time by appointment. SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE Please contact the parish office at least six months prior to the desired date. Get the App Donate Online
Community Announcements SOCIAL MEDIA SUNDAY - DECEMBER 9/10 Bring your phone or tablet to church the weekend of December 9/10. Download the new St. Gerard App after mass. There will be step-by-step instructions and our youth will be available to help! Can t wait? Download today by visiting www.st-gerard.org! PLEASE PICK UP YOUR PHOTOS! Please pick up your framed photo from the Altar of the Dead display. They are in a basket outside the parish office. Thank you! KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS CEAP FOOD DRIVE The St. Gerard s Knights of Columbus will be collecting non-perishable food for the holidays from December 4-23. The Knights will hand out grocery bags with a list of suggested food items after the Masses on December 9, 10 and 16,17 for donations to the CEAP food shelf to help alleviate hunger in our community. Please return your donations by Saturday, December 23. Thank you for your support. 2017 ADVENT/CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE 1 st Sunday of Advent Dec 2, 5:00pm and Dec 3, 8:30am & 10:30am 2 nd Sunday of Advent Dec 9, 5:00pm and Dec 10, 8:30am & 10:30am Advent Reconciliation Service Thursday, Dec 14, 7:00pm 3 rd Sunday of Advent Dec 16, 5:00pm and Dec 17, 8:30am & 10:30am 4 th Sunday of Advent Dec 23, 5:00pm and Dec 24, 8:30am & 10:30am Christmas Eve Dec 24, 4:00pm (Children s Mass) Dec 24, 6:00pm & 10:00pm with 9:30pm Christmas Carols Christmas Day Dec 25, 10:00am with 9:30am Christmas Carols CHRISTMAS FLOWER MEMORIALS Remember loved ones by donating toward the purchase of flowering plants to decorate the church. Please complete the form and return it with your check to the parish office or in the Sunday collection. New! Form and donation now available online! YOUR NAME: NAME(S) OF LOVED ONES: