DECEMBER 4, 2016 SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT St. Luke Parish Rev. Danilo Soriano Pastor Religious Education Tel: 630/665-2322 stlrfp@aol.com Parish Office Tel: 630/668-1325 Parish Office E-Mail: stloff@aol.com Website: www.stlukecarolstream.org PREPARE THE WAY Saint John the Baptist appears on the scene today as Advent enters its second week. The mysterious consumer of locusts and wild honey, John echoes the words of the prophet Isaiah as he calls for repentance in the face of the nearness of the kingdom of heaven. The rhythms of the Christian life are often confounding. Each year we meet the Baptist and hear his calls for repentance. Each year we see him pointing to the one who is coming after him, the Lord Jesus. Yet each year the words and actions of John the Baptist echo anew in our hearts, because we have fallen into old sinful traps again and again. Advent gives us the opportunity once again to turn away from our sinful ways and embrace the gospel way of life. John the Baptist invites us to prepare the way for the Lord, in whom we place our hope. his love for the poverty of the Christ Child certainly popularized this beloved custom. Long before Francis, it was a custom at the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome to enshrine a rich image of Mary, gilded and bejewelled, embracing the child Jesus. This church was founded as a kind of home for the feast of Christmas in the fourth century. In 1223, Francis was ready to celebrate this feast in a new way. In the tiny city of Greccio, he asked friends to prepare a place where they could experience the poverty and suffering embraced by Christ in his birth. It was a living scene: an ox from the barn, an ass from the stable, and peasants standing in for shepherds and kings. The night of the celebration was beautiful, the weather was warm, and people came in crowds, bearing candles and singing hymns that echoed through the forest. Francis himself chanted the Gospel and preached. The custom spread quickly, and by the sixteenth century cribs were seasonal features not only in church, but in the home. On December 17, the liturgy begins to unfold the Lord s birth before us, and it s the right time to follow this beautiful tradition. In Germany, each night throughout Advent children prepare a bedding for the manger. At bedtime prayer, a child places a single straw in the manger for each act of devotion or virtue performed during the day. If the children are good, then the Christ child will have plenty of soft bedding when he is placed in the manger on Christmas. Rev. James Field, Copyright J. S. Paluch Co. Copyright J. S. Paluch Co., Inc. TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION Did St. Francis of Assisi invent the Christmas crib? Not exactly, but his devotion to the Incarnation and
MASSES CELEBRATED DURING THE WEEK ARE HELD IN THE CHURCH SATURDAY DECEMBER 3 4:15 4:45pm Confessions 5:00 The Intentions of the Celebrant SUNDAY DECEMBER 4 8:30am Ed Marski req. by his loving family 11:00 The People of St. Luke Parish Please pray for the sick in our parish especially, Pat Angelo, Shirley Chafer, Bill Clift, Disabled Vets, Angel Faulkner, Emily Giovingo and Jim Wright. Please remember our beloved dead especially Antoni Slonina and the men and women who have given their lives for our country. MONDAY DECEMBER 5 8:00am The Intentions of the Celebrant TUESDAY DECEMBER 6 8:00am Gary Wleklinski, Sr.,in remembrance of his birthday req. by Betty Wleklinski WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 7 8:00am The Intentions of the Celebrant THURSDAY DECEMBER 8 IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY 7:00pm The Intentions of the Celebrant FRIDAY DECEMBER 9 8:00am The Intentions of the Celebrant SATURDAY DECEMBER 10 4:14 4:45pm Confessions 5:00 The People of St. Luke Parish SUNDAY DECEMBER 11 8:30am The Intentions of the Celebrant 11:00 The Intentions of the Celebrant November 27, 2016 REG. CHURCH SUPPORT 118 SUN. ENVELOPE CONTRIBUTIONS =$3,321.80 LOOSE CONTRIBUTIONS =$ 212.00 TOTAL COLLECTION =$3,533.80 AVERAGE CONTRIBUTION =$ 28.15 EXPENSES =$7,005.56 CHRISTMAS FLOWERS =$ 155.00 FAITH COMMITMENT =$ 885.00 CAMPAIGN FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT =$ 235.00 Thank you so much for your on-going generous financial support of St. Luke Parish! Every amount contributed helps, so we respectfully ask that you continue to regularly use your church support envelopes. It is your generosity that allows us to do what we do. Please give as your financial needs allow.
TODAY S READINGS First Reading He shall bring justice for the afflicted; the earth shall overflow with the knowledge of the LORD (Isaiah 11:1-10). COOKIES WITH SANTA Second Reading Glorify God by living in harmony with one another, welcoming each other as Christ welcomed you (Romans 15:4-9). Gospel Produce good fruit worthy of your baptism; repent, for the reign of God is near (Matthew 3:1-12). The English translation of the Psalm Responses from Lectionary for Mass 1969, 1981, 1997, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved. READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: Is 35:1-10; Ps 85:9ab, 10-14; Lk 5:17-26 Tuesday: Is 40:1-11; Ps 96:1-3, 10ac, 11-13; Mt 18:12-14 Wednesday: Is 40:25-31; Ps 103:1-4, 8, 10; Mt 11:28-30 Thursday: Gn 3:9-15, 20; Ps 98:1-4; Eph 1:3-6, 11-12; Lk 1:26-38 Friday: Is 48:17-19; Ps 1:1-4, 6; Mt 11:16-19 Saturday: Sir 48:1-4, 9-11; Ps 80:2ac, 3b, 15-16, 18-19; Mt 17:9a, 10-13 Sunday: Is 35:1-6a, 10; Ps 146:6-10; Jas 5:7-10; Mt 11:2-11 DECEMBER 8TH IS THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY There will be a Mass at 7:00pm that night. All are welcome. RETIREMENT FUND FOR RELIGIOUS Your donation works for aging religious. I read that roughly 95 percent of donations to the Retirement Fund for Religious aid senior religious, a donor writes. That s wonderful when we truly want our donations to work. Your gift works for elderly religious by helping to furnish medications, nursing care, and more. Please support next week s collection for the Retirement Fund for Religious, and give to those who have given a lifetime. HO! HO! HO! Wanted children of all ages Santa is looking for you! Please come visit me on December 11th at Noon in Jericho and tell me what you want for Christmas. A special surprise is waiting for you. Enjoy delicious homemade cookies and do a fun Christmas craft. Sponsored by St. Luke Boosters LUMINARIA KITS The Luminaria tradition is anything but local. It dates at least to early 17th-century Spain. In one version, people burned cedar boughs along town paths, symbolically lighting the way to Bethlehem for Mary and Joseph. A slightly different version suggests that luminaria were intended to brighten the way for the Magi. The tradition is a feature of Christmas festivals in the American Southwest. On the weekend of December 17th and 18th. CCW will be selling Luminaria Kits after all masses. Each kit will contain 10 luminarias for a price of $5.00. We can celebrate the birth of Jesus by the light shining outside our homes and Church.
Use these readings and symbols to add to your Jesse Tree as you continue to follow the story leading to the birth of Jesus. Look under the Jesse Tree in the back of church for ornament samples. Taken from CRI/Voice, Institute, Dennis Bratcher, Copyright 2016 CRI/Voice, Institute THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU Thank you to all of our parishioners who donated products, services and rental property for the raffle baskets and auction at the St. Luke Christmas Dinner and Auction on November 18th Thank you to area businesses who donated over $1400 worth of gift cards and services. Here they are: RELIGIOUS EDUCATION RAMBLINGS This month is such a busy month in our lives. Our hope is that you can spend some quiet time to use the Advent Booklets with your children. Also, CCW is putting information in the bulletins this month on The Jesse Tree. Another form of prayer and preparation for Christmas. Anyways Brunch Café Brunswick Zone Carol Stream Park District Carol s Garden Charkies Chick-fil-A Cooper s Hawk Cozymel s Culver s Dick Pond Drury Lane Theatre First Eagle Bank Fresh and Silk Hot Spot Hot Dogs Jameson s Charhouse Jeans and A Cute Top John and Tony s MAC Theatre Manhattan s Mapleberry Menchie s Pepsi Pilot Pete s Red Apple Restaurant Rehab Nails & Spa Rooster s Barn and Grill Schaumburg Boomers Smokehouse Tasting de Vine Village Tavern As parents, we cannot do it all. Please use these prayer tools to help you refocus some of the Christmas hype. Merry Christmas IMPORTANT RE DATES December 4 RE Classes 9:40-10:50 December 11 RE Classes 9:40-10:50 Mass at 11:00am as a group Cookies with Santa 12:00 Jericho
ST. LUKE S RELIGIOUS EDUCATION FOOD DRIVE The R. E. classes will be having a food drive at all masses the weekend of December 10th & 11th. All donations can be dropped into the boxes at the entrances into church. We are collecting non-perishable food and paper items. The items below in bold are in needed the most. Pantry Needs: Cold Cereal, Coffee, Pancake Syrup, 5 pounds of Sugar, and Jelly for Sandwiches Shampoo, Laundry Detergent, Tooth paste and Brushes, Paper Towels, Paper Napkins and Toilet Paper Other items: Spaghetti Sauce, Pasta, Canned Fruit and Tea Baggies and plastic Garbage bags Thanks you for all your support with this program. ST. FRANCIS HIGH SCHOOL Please Join us at St. Francis High School for the Following Events: Christmas Coffee Information event for prospective parents on Wednesday, December 7th at 9:00am. Join us for a faculty, staff, student and parent panel discussion with a Question and Answer session. If interested, an optional tour of St. Francis High School will be available. To register visit our website at www.sfhscollegeprep.org Entrance Exam Saturday, January 14, 2017, begins at 8:00am To complete exam registration, the Admissions Office will need: i. Completed and signed registration form ii. $35 fee iii. Copy of seventh grade report card SHOP THE ST. VINCENT DE PAUL THRIFT STORES! YOUR HOLIDAY GIFT GIVING & MORE! * Holiday decorations create your own one-of-a-kind look! * Hostess gifts - Stop at our stores and buy a basket and festive towel and fill it with goodies! Or buy a vase and add a fresh bouquet. * Need a holiday outfit? Going to an Ugly Sweater party? Check our stock! * Say cheese - Pick up a frame and insert a family photo! * Need a White Elephant gift? Be creative and check us out! Last year our stores gave away approximately $240,000 in free clothing housewares and furniture to needy families. Proceeds from the sales at our stores goes into a general assistance fund which helps needy families. You shop with us we help others. By shopping at the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Shops not only will you be able to purchase items at low prices for your family but you are also helping the needy in the community. Stop by and see us soon!! 90 W. Lake Street, Addison, IL 630-628-9008 1014 N. Farnsworth, Aurora, IL 630-820-5370 105 N. Kennedy, Bradley, IL 815-932-2203 307 N. Chicago Street, Joliet, IL 815-722-1140 1820 W. Jefferson Street, Joliet, IL 815-729-4585 1427 N. Division Street, Morris, IL 815-942-9288 213 Main Street, West Chicago, IL 630-562-4801 NEW MATTRESSES for sale at our Addison, Bradley & West Chicago Stores! Thank you for helping us help others! Wishing you all a Merry Christmas!! For a form, visit our website at www.sfhscollegeprep.org