December 16, 2018 THE ROMAN CATHOLIC PARISH OF SAINT MICHAEL 25 MAPLE AVENUE, BEACON FALLS, CT 06403 PHONE 203-729-2504 FAX 203-723-0710 LYCEUM (CHURCH HALL) 203-729-9406 1
ST. MICHAEL, BEACON FALLS, CT WEEKEND ALTAR SERVERS FOR NEXT WEEKEND Saturday, December 22nd 5:00 pm Mass E. DeGeorge, E. Pulkkinen, R Bucciferro, J. Setaro Sunday, December 23rd 7:30 am Mass G. Miranda, D. Fencil, A. Fencil, Z. Mathieu 9:15 am Mass S. Rubano, E. Ruhl, D. Kiernan, C. Perry 11:00 am Mass A. Torrens, R. Setaro, E. Rindos, J. Hicks THIS WEEK'S SECOND COLLECTION IS FOR THE MONTHLY COLLECTION. St. Michael Church is in need of a part-time secretary/bookkeeper for the Rectory Office. More information to come but, if you are interested, please contact Fr. Mathai or Deacon Victor Lembo. CHRISTMAS WAFERS Can be picked up in the sacristy after all masses or in the Rectory during office hours, Monday - Friday from 9am - 3pm. Cross Catholic Outreach wishes to thank you for the welcome you extended to Fr. Collins on his recent visit to your parish. On behalf of the poorest of the poor, we thank you for having shared in their lives. May our Lord continue to bless all of you for your love and support. Children's Christmas Tree Trimming Mass Grades 1-5 SUNDAY, December 16th at the 9:15 am Mass 3rd Grade Reconciliation 3rd Grade parent meeting regarding reconciliation will be held directly after the January 13th class. 3rd Grade Reconciliation Will take place in the Church on Thursday, January 24th at 6:30 pm with practice on Wednesday, January 23rd at 6:30 pm Classes: Grade 1 & 2 Sunday Jan. 6th & 20th at 9:00am Grade 3 Sunday, Jan. 13th & 27th at 10:45 am Grade 4 & 5 Sun., Jan. 13th & 27th at 9:00am Grade 6 Tuesday, January 8th, 6:30-7:30 pm Grade 7 Thursday, January 3rd, 6:30-7:30 pm Grade 8 Tuesday, January 9th, 6:15-7:15 pm Grade 9 Monday, January 7th, 6:00-7:00 pm We are now accepting donations for Christmas Flowers in memory of deceased loved ones to decorate our church. Envelopes are available in the vestibule of the church. FREE. Book of Meditation, Poems and a Short Story, with St. Michael Church pictures, written by church member, Judy Howarth, on the table in the vestibule. Feel free to take a copy of the book. There are 10 now and more of the books will be added as needed. The Parish Council will meet on Monday, December 17th at 7:30pm in the Rectory. 2
DECEMBER 16, 2018 3rd Sunday of Advent December 16, 2018 Our Lady of Calvary Women's 2018-2019 Retreat Schedule follows. Weekend Retreat dates for 2019: Jan. 11-13, Feb. 15-17, Feb. 22-24, March 1-3, March 8-10, March 29-31 and April 5-7. Our Theme is "The World will be Saved by Beauty". To register, or for more information, go to www.ourladyofcalvary.net or call 860-677-8519. ST. MICHAEL CHURCH CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE 2018-19 CHRISTMAS EVE, MON., DEC. 24TH 8:00AM & 5:00PM VIGIL CHRISTMAS DAY, TUE., DEC. 25TH 12:00AM (Midnight); 9:15AM & 11:00AM NEW YEARS EVE, MON., DEC. 31ST 8:00AM; 8:30AM-9:30AM ADORATION & 5:00PM MASS OF THANKSGIVING NEW YEARS DAY, TUESDAY, JAN. 1ST 9:15AM & 11:00AM Religious give thanks. "This money is pure gift," writes a religious sister of the support made possible by the Retirement Fund for Religious. "It enables us to continue providing care for our elderly sisters." Your gift to last week's collection helps hundreds of religious communities meet pressing retirement needs while continuing to serve the People of God. Thank you for your generosity! In Christianity, we hear often about the "Good News." We might often associate it with Jesus' compassion to the poor, his healings and miracles, and the salvation he won for us. In today's Gospel, we read of John the Baptist. "Exhorting them in many other ways, he preached good news to the people." Yet as we examine the rest of the reading, we see examples of John's preaching. If you have two cloaks, give one away. Don't cheat others out of their money, extort, or lie. And, of course, the warning that the Messiah is on the move and "his winnowing fan is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." Merry Christmas? Not only do John's listeners enjoy his message, but they seem to think he might be the awaited Messiah! To understand today's Gospel, it's important to understand the Jewish people. For most of their history, God's chosen people had been under someone else's heel. They were slaves in Egypt. Their kingdoms were ravaged first by the Assyrians, then the Babylonians. Now they were under the yoke of the Roman Empire. Familiar with being strangers in a strange land, welcoming the stranger, caring for the vulnerable, and enacting justice was incredibly important to them as a people. While John's words may seem odd or strong to our modern ears, this call to justice was welcome, even if it was directed at the hearer. The truth is, no one is exempt from John's call to repentance. We all have further to go in the Christian life. We can all grow in virtue and love our neighbors more generously. The Church gives us the Advent season to examine our own hearts. Did any of John's warnings resonate with you? That could be a great thing to bring to Jesus this week! A Family Perspective Today's gospel tells us to SHARE! This Christmas resist the pressure to give token gifts. Instead, use those funds to give NECESSITIES to the poor. If our impoverished brothers and sisters are not on our gift list, we've missed the point of Christmas. Vocation Reflections "What ought we to do?" the crowds ask John, and he sends them to fulfill their calling. Doing the ordinary extraordinarily well is a step toward welcoming Jesus. "Do what you are committed to do". If you have a commitment to become a priest or religious, call Fr. Michael Casey, Director of Vocations, Archdiocesan Center at St. Thomas Seminary, Tel. 860-761-7456, email vocations@aohct.org or visit the web at www.hartfordpriest.com. Find our bulletin anytime you need it. Now you can find our bulletin online, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Go to www.seekandfind.com and enter our church s zip code. 3
THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT DECORATE THE CHURCH NIGHT 2018 All are invited to help decorate the Sanctuary for the coming of the Lord on Monday, December 17th at 6:30pm. This a great opportunity for Confirmation students to earn service hours! Light snacks and refreshments will be served. The Knights of Columbus Museum, 1 State Street in New Haven, has a new Christmas exhibit, Christmas in Poland, from now until February 3, 2019. The show features more than 100 items, some from the museum's own collection. Highlights include: Szopki from Kraków, hand carved wooden crèches and traditional Polish clothing. Open 10am - 5pm daily. Free admission & parking. More at 203-865-0400 or kofcmuseum.org. Masses from Sat., Dec. 15th to Sun., Dec. 23rd Sat., 12/15 5:00 pm 3rd Anniv. Jorge Rodrigues (by Joanne & Kayla) Sun., 12/16 7:30 am Parish Family Mass 9:15 am CCD Children's Christmas Tree Trimming Mass 11:00 am 8th Anniv. Luz Garcia (by daughter & family) Mon., 12/17 8:00 am Katherine & Gerald Foody (by Gerry & Charles Vesterman) Tue., 12/18 Wed., 12/19 8:00 am Daily Mass 8:00 am 18th Anniv. Manuel Silva (by family) 8:30-9:30 am Exposition and Adoration Thur., 12/20 8:00 am No Mass Fri., 12/21 8:00 am Daily Mass Sat., 12/22 Sun., 12/23 8:00 am Daily Mass 5:00 pm MaryLou Krimowski (by Ronald & Josephine Krymowksi) 7:30 am 4th Anniv. Marjorie LeFever (by niece) 9:15 am Parish Family Mass 11:00 am Sunday Mass LAST WEEK'S COLLECTION Envelopes Weekly: $3,300.00 Loose: $172.00 Retirement Fund for Religious: $1,571.10 Readings for the Week of December 16, 2018 Sunday: Zep 3:14-18a/Is 12:2-3, 4, 5-6 [6]/Phil 4:4-7/Lk 3:10-18 Monday: Gn 49:2, 8-10/Ps 72:1-2, 3-4ab, 7-8, 17 [cf. 7]/ Mt 1:1-17 Tuesday: Jer 23:5-8/Ps 72:1-2, 12-13, 18-19 [cf. 7]/Mt 1:18-25 Wednesday: Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25a/Ps 71:3-4a, 5-6ab, 16-17 [cf. 8]/Lk 1:5-25 Thursday: Is 7:10-14/Ps 24:1-2, 3-4ab, 5-6 [cf. 7c and 10b]/Lk 1:26-38 Friday: Sg 2:8-14 or Zep 3:14-18a/Ps 33:2-3, 11-12, 20-21 [1a; 3a]/Lk 1:39-45 Saturday: 1 Sm 1:24-28/1 Sm 2:1, 4-5, 6-7, 8abcd [cf. 1a]/ Lk 1:46-56 Next Sunday: Mi 5:1-4a/Ps 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19 [4]/Heb 10:5-10/Lk 1:39-45 4
DECEMBER 16, 2018 Congratulations to Father Mathai who celebrates his 46th Anniversary of Ordination on Sunday, December 16th. Our POT O' GOLD Raffle is Back!!!!! What is the best way to complete our Lyceum Kitchen Renovation? Buy a Pot O' Gold Raffle Ticket for only $20! Tickets make great Christmas presents or stocking stuffers! Sell all 2,000 Pot O' Gold Raffle tickets and raise $25,000!! And you could be the lucky recipient of our $10,000 1st prize! Plus there are 11 other cash prizes. My dear Parishioners, LIVING ADVENT You can help us reach this goal by buying and/or selling tickets now. Tickets are available at all weekend Masses and at the Beacon Falls Pharmacy. Only faith helps us to accept the mystery of the Incarnation that is to say We believe in the plan of God for mankind. And that was initiated when Christ was born in Bethlehem as a humble baby like any other in appearance yet totally different because He is the son of God. And He came to share the love of God with us. Questions? Call Melanie at (203) 526-8183. Thank you for all your support! Our faith also demands that we believe in the second coming of Jesus in glory at the end of time to judge and to reward. The period in between the two comings is the Advent of waiting and this is our life. Life is to be lived in joy and happiness and this is possible only for those who hope and love. And so in these last days of Advent, we are invited to strengthen our hope and to manifest our love to the Infant God of Bethlehem and to our brothers and sisters. Happy Advent. REMINDER: Please note, when Region #16 schools are closed or delayed due to inclement weather, we will cancel mass for that day. Fr. Mathai Vellappallil, S.D.B. Pastor 5
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