St. Felicitas Catholic Church

St. Felicitas Catholic Church
www.stfelicitassl.org
Dec. 15, , 2013 THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT
1662 Manor Blvd. San Leandro ● Email: stfelicitaschurch@comcast.net
Tel.No. (510) 351-5244 ● Fax (510) 351-5730
.
Parish Staff
Rev. Augustine Joseph
286
Parochial Administrator
Rev. Thomas Khue
Parochial Vicar
297
Rev Tran T Dinh , (In Residence)
351-5221
Vietnamese Ministry
Jose Prado Deacon (Retired)
Mercey Zamora, Pastoral Assoc.
347-1293
Spanish Ministry
Sr. Bernadette Nguyen
347-1283
Vietnamese Community
Sr. Ancilla Marie
347-1282
Pastoral Care
Sr. Magdalena Duong,
347-1287
Ministry
Sister Cecilia Chuong-Phan,
Altar Servers
357-2530
Sharon Clancey
281
Office Secretary/Receptionist
Bulletin
284
Clare Zipp,
Religious Education Office
Sandi Walton—DRE
483-4880
Fax: 483-2626
stlfelicitasccd@comcast.net
Convent
351-5577
St. Vincent DePaul
706-1972
Mass Schedule:
Sunday 7:30am, 9:00am, 10:30am
12:15(Spanish)
4:30pm(Vietnamese)
Saturday 8:15am, 4:30pm (Vigil)
Daily (Mon-Fri) 7:00am, 8:15am
Holy Days 7:00am, 8:15am, 7:00pm
1st Friday Exposition 12:30 - 4:45pm
Sacrament of Reconciliation
Saturday, 3:15 to 4:00pm or by appointment
Baptism
4th Sunday of every month 2:00pm
Contact Parish Office for information.
Marriage
Arrangements to be made 6 months prior to the
wedding
Parish Office Hours
Mon-Thurs 9:00am-4:30 pm
Fri .8:30am - 12:30pm
Sun. 8:30am - 12:00 pm
Parish School
357-2530
Meghan Anne Jorgensen
Principal
1650 Manor Blvd.
Fax: 357-5358
Emergency (during non-office hours)
875-9163
Third Sunday of Advent
December 15, 2013
Those whom the Lord has
ransomed will return and
enter Zion Singing, crowned
with everlasting joy
Isaiah 35:10a
Gaudete Sunday
Today is known as “Gaudete Sunday”. The term Gaudete refers to the first word of the Entrance Antiphon, "Rejoice". Rose vestments are worn to emphasize our joy that Christmas is near, and we
also light the rose candle on our Advent wreath.
"Rejoice: the Lord is nigh." As Christmas draws near, the Church emphasizes the joy which should
be in our hearts over all that the birth of our Savior means for us. The great joy of Christians is to
see the day drawing nigh when the Lord will come again in His glory to lead them into His kingdom.
The oft-repeated Veni ("Come") of Advent is an echo not only of the prophets but also of the conclusion of the Apocalypse of St. John: "Come, Lord Jesus," the last words of the New Testament.
On this, the third Sunday of Advent or Gaudete Sunday, we sense a definite mood change. The austerity of what can be a somber, though hope-filled, penitential season is replaced by a shift of emphasis. We see a burst of color appearing at the Mass today as rose-colored vestments replace the
violet. But why this shift in emphasis? We are edging that bit nearer to celebrating the coming of Our
Lord at Christmas, that is undeniably true, but looking at today’s Gospel we also see that we have
built upon last week’s message of preparation in Luke’s Gospel and now we see John the Baptist
actively proclaiming the Coming. ‘I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming.’
John the Baptist’s proclamation is sure and certain, filled with hope and, one must assume, wholly
joyful. Can we also feel in the depths of our hearts such joy as we hear this news?
To prepare meaningfully for Christmas can be exceedingly difficult. We must ask ourselves whether,
amidst the tumult of our everyday lives – the rush to find the right presents, get the cards away on
time, attend the obligatory functions – we are allowing ourselves to find the time to truly prepare and,
more dauntingly perhaps, truly proclaim this wonderful news. That Christ dwells in us, each and
every one, and that, in little over a week, we will celebrate the most astonishing and wonderful event
that is Christ’s birth here in our midst, should truly fill us with such joy and peace. However, it can
only do so if we allow ourselves the time to reflect, to pray and to prepare. Only then will we, like
John the Baptist, be so moved by the Spirit that we will also wish to proclaim this blessed coming of
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in a world that greatly needs to hear His message of salvation.
Fr. Augustine
THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT
December 15, 2013
Second Collection: Religious Retirement
Children’s Liturgy of the Word
vents of the Week
Dec16 thru Dec. 21
MON
12/16
10:30 am
TUES
12/17
1:00 pm
3:30 pm
7:00 pm
7:00 pm
7:30 pm
School Advent Practice
CCD Parent Faith Share
RCIA
Spanish Catechist Mtg.
Advent Parish
Reconciliation
WED.
12/18
5:00 pm
Spanish Catechist
Christmas
Faith Share Parents Mtg.
Christmas Pageant Prac.
Spanish Adult Choir
THURS
12/19
1:00 pm
6:00 pm
7:00 pm
7:00 pm
7:30 pm
Sch Advent Progrm Prac.
School Advent Program
Knights of Columbus
Spanish Youth Group
Spanish Small Faith
Communities
Church
Church
SMC
Hall
FRI.
12/20
7:00 pm
7:00 pm
Spanish Children’s Choir
Vietnamese Choir
Hall
Church
SAT.
12/21
6:00 pm
6:30 pm
7:00 pm
AE Rm
Viet. Children’s Choir
Viet. Angels Practice
Viet. Youth Nativity Skit Church
Practice
6::30 pm
6:30 p,m
6:15 pm
6:30 pm
7:00 pm
School Advent Reconciliation
Youth Event Planning
Christmas Pageant Prac.
Church
SMC
Church
Church
SMC
SMC
AE Rm
Church
ADVENT RECONCILIATION
Monday, Dec. 16
Reconciliation for School Children:
10:30 am ~ 2:30 pm
(1:30 ~ 2:30 for those unable to attend in
evening on Tuesday.)
Tuesday, Dec. 17
Reconciliation for all Parishioners
7:30 ~ 9:00 pm
**********
**********
CHRISTMAS MASS
SCHEDULE
Hall
SMC
Church
AE Rm
AE Rm
**********
CHRISTMAS EVE:
5:00 pm
7:00 pm
9:00 pm
11:30 pm
12:00 am
Children’s Mass
English Mass
Vietnamese Mass
Christmas Carols
Midnight Mass
CHRISTMAS DAY:
SUNDAY COLLECTION
Dec. 8, 2013
Sunday Collection:
Immaculate Conception
$ 10,612.00
$ 1,455.00
7:30 am
10:30 am
12:15 pm
4:30 pm
English Mass
English Mass
Spanish Mass
Vietnamese Mass
No 9:00 am Mass
STEWARDSHIP
Last Week’s Stewardship went to:
St. Vincent DePaul of our Parish.
This Week’s Stewardship will go to:
SPRED (Special Religious Education Dept.)
Mass Intentions Dec.15 thru Dec. 21
Sun 12/15
7:30 am
9:00 am
10:30 am
12:15 pm
Mon 12/16 7:00 am
8:15 am
Tues 12/17 7:00 am
8:15 am
Wed. 12/18 7:00 am
8:15 am
Thrs 12/19 7:00 am
8:15 am
Fri. 12/20 7:00 am
8:15 am
Sat 12/21 8:15 am
4:30 pm
Sun 12/22 7:30 am
9:00 am
10:30 am
12:15 pm
Jesus Montoya †
Mary Giannelli †
Parishioners
Rafael & Ligia Zamora
(50th Wedding Anniversary)
Alvarez Family †
Henry Paraguya †
Paul Arnerich †
Vincent Tu Nguyen †
Mina Rogel & family (Living
Domingo Labilles †
Marie & Patrick Ryan †
Gale DeVetter †
Angela Eckhart(Living)
Santos Paraguya †
Fred Lucero †
Parishioners
Ramona Balagot †
Richard Saunders †
Teresa Hoa Tran †
Spanish Community
LITURGICAL MINISTRIES
We thank you to the 12 people who signed up
Last month to serve at Mass as Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Greeters, Collection Takers, and
Head Ushers. WE STILL NEED MORE HELP,
Especially at the 4:30 pm, 7:30 and 9:00 am
Masses. Please turn in your name and phone
number to the Parish Office and tell your friends
who wish to serve God and our parish. How
powerful and such a witness your presence is
when you are here for Mass to worship making
it a time to serve our God and brothers and
i\sisters. Your calling is “as each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as
good stewards of God’s varied grace “
(1 Peter 4:10 )
Sr. Magdalena Duong, LHC
510-347-1298
PRAY FOR THE SICK AND HOMEBOUND
Anne Tran (Mother of Fr.Tom), Julie Chin, Peggy
Miller, David Silva Jr, Michael & Lora Babik,
Sheila Bickerton, Daniel & Raymond Bautista,
Maria Garcia, Connie and Joyce Guaraglia,
Ricardo Duenas, Pearle Cezair, Minh Dinh,
Joseph Vinh Ha, Maria Vargas, Leticia Delapena,
Mary Helen, Yen Ngoc Dinh, Ed Fletcher, Susan
Pulido, Mia Vicedo, Joseph Tinh Tran, Diane
Nielson, Alfred Caires, Gerry Toro, Al Falleiro,
Joseph Hoang, Gary Cordano Jr, Christina Cayabyab, Lam Dinh, Trinh Nguyen, Joseph Dinh,
Pearl DeSouza, Joe Carson, Lory Stark, Hazel
Soares, Ronald Bennet, Sara Le Fargo, Ailene
Basila, Josie Herrera, Mary Valladon, Jim Hackmeier, Adam & Faye Mitchell, Arlene Pershing,
Art Herrera, Audris Woo, John Vargas, Vincent
Jacques, Joe Zipp, Diep Hoang, Dee Darbo,
Doris Babik, Br. Joseph Seiler, Maria Trinh Ng,
Stephanie Rodrigues, Sheila Bickerton
Pray for the Deceased: William Figoni,
PROMISE FULFILLED
Today’s readings address the faithful one,
who waits on God but may not feel God’s presence.Every person who seeks God has at one
time or anotherexperienced the absence of
God. Jesus himself cried outduring his dark
night of the soul.
The Epistle of James speaks to this. The
author says that we must be as patient as the
silent, fallow earth that awaits the slow, soaking
rains of winter and the hard,necessary rains of
spring.
As the farmer is sure of the
precious yield of the land, we can be sure of the
precious yield of our patient waiting. God is
never far away.The messengers from John the
Baptizer asked Jesus if he was the one whose
coming John had announced. The messengers
wanted to hear the answer that the imprisoned
John already knew. Everything that John said
was finally happening: because of Jesus, light
shines in eyes; words of promise are received;
people leap and dance.
The promise of Isaiah is fulfilled in Jesus.
Wobbly knees and feeble hands are strong, the
desert blooms, the savanna and steppe flower,
the darkness is chased away.
Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.
Christmas Gift Drive Collection
The St. Felicitas, St. Vincent de Paul Conference
will be collecting gifts this weekend, Saturday Dec.
7th and Sunday Dec. 8th. Anyone who picked an
ornament off of our tree last weekend is asked to
bring the unwrapped gift along with the ornament
and place it in the manger located near the baptismal font.
If you were unable to purchase your chosen gift
please bring it to the parish office no later than
Wednesday Dec. 11th. If you have any questions or
lost your ornament please call our hotline at 7061972 and leave a message including your name and
call back number.
Thank you for taking part in this special event.
Edgar Walters, President
St. Felicitas SVdP Conference
THE LOOK OF LOVE
What does love look like?
It has feet to go to the poor and needy.
It has eyes to see misery and want.
It has ears to hear
the sighs and sorrows of others.
READINGS FOR THE WEEK
Monday: Nm 24:2-7, 15-17a; Ps 25:4-5ab, 6, 7bc9;
Mt 21:23-27
Tuesday: Gn 49:2, 8-10; Ps 72:1-4ab, 7-8, 17;
Mt 1:1-17
Wednesday: Jer 23:5-8; Ps 72:1-2, 12-13, 18-19;
Mt 1:18-25
Thursday: Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25a;
Ps 71:3-4a, 5-6ab, 16-17; Lk 1:5-25
Friday: Is 7:10-14; Ps 24:1-4ab, 5-6; Lk 1:26-38
Saturday: Sg 2:8-14 or Zep 3:14-18a;
Ps 33:2-3, 11-12, 20-21; Lk 1:39-45
Sunday: Is 7:10-14; Ps 24:1-6; Rom 1:1-7;
Mt 1:18-24
ST. FELICITAS SCHOOL
The last two weeks, as a continued reminder
of Christ’s light during Advent, we have gathered as a school community in the gym to light
the advent wreath together in song and
prayer. Each week we have focused on a different theme for preparing our hearts for Jesus.
The first week the focus was random acts of
kindness for each other throughout each day.
For the second week we have focused on forgiveness and that we are called to share
God’s endless mercy with one another.
Don’t forget that we will be joining together as
a community on December 19th to reveal and
celebrate Christ’s light during Advent through
song and prayer at our Advent program in the
Church at 7:00pm. We will be traveling the
advent journey together with our voices in
song, with a grand finale bursting with God’s
love! All are welcome and encouraged to attend and pray with us.
Thank you to all parishioners who supported
our pancake breakfast! It was a great
success!!!
God Bless you in this Advent Season!
Mrs. Meghan Jorgensen
Reflelxionemos sobre la Palabra de Dios
La alegria es diferente a la felicidad. La felicidad es una experiencia transitoria, pero la
alegria es algo mas profundo y con raices mas duraderas. No depende de las circunstancias a nuestro derredor. En el Evangeli de san Juan, Jesus dice a sus discipulos la noche
antes de morr, que desea que partaicipen en su alegria y que su alelgria sea completa
(Juan 15:11) y Pablo le dice a los tesalonicenses: “Esten alegres”
. (1 Tes. 5:16)
VIVAMOS LA PALABRA DE DIOS
Podemos pedirle a Dios que nos de esa alegria que el mundo no puede dar, una alegria
enraizada en nuestra fe en Dios, en nuestra confianza de que Dios, que resucito a Jesus,
tambien nos llevara a noso-tros a la plenitur de la vida. -World Library Publications.
TRADICIONES DE NUESTRA FE
La tradición mexicana de las Posadas se acompaña de las tradicionales piñatas. Aunque hay
piñatas de animales y caricaturas, la piñata original es una estrella con siete picos.
La piñata llegó al continente con los misioneros agustinos procedentes de España, mismos que
la habían recibido de italianos; y éstos, a su vez, la obtuvieron de Marco Polo quien conoció decoraciones de animales coloridos en China. El asociar la piñata con las Posadas viene de la cultura
Náhuatl quienes celebraban a Huitzilopochtli (dios de la guerra) del 17 al 26 de diciembre. Estos
ponían cazuelas de barro decoradas con listones y plumas sobre palos en el templo. Al romperlas,
tesoros y alhajas caían a los pies de su dios.
Los misioneros mezclaron las dos costumbres para la catequesis. La
estrella de siete picos
representa al diablo y los 7 pecados capitales, mientras que la venda en los
ojos es la fe en Cristo. El acto de pegarle a la piñata son nuestros esfuerzos cristianos a pesar de las desorientaciones que trae la vida.
Romper la piñata es estar bañado con la gracia del Espíritu Santo y recibir
los dones de Dios.
—Fray Gilberto Cavazos-Glz, OFM, Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.
Nuestras posadas las celebraremos con un potluck, y piñatas
en el gimnasio, el 22 de Diciembre, despues de nuestra celebracion eucaristica (12:15 P.M.)
Querida Comunidad de Santa Felicitas,
Personalmente y en el nombre del Comite Ministerial Guadalupano,
agradecemos a todos nuestros hermanos y hermanas que con gran espiritu
mariano nos apoyaron en la celebracion Pro-homenaje a nuestra Señora de
Guadalupe.
Que regocijo se experimenta cuando todos unidos aportamos cuanto
pudimos para que tanto la celebracion Eucaristica como las Mañanitas
estuvieran en sintonia mariana para alabar a nuestro Dios y Señor.
Oramos a nuestra Madre Santisima, para que Ella recompense a cada uno y una por la
gene-rosidad en tiempo, talento y dinero con que contribuyeron para que un año mas nuestra celebracion pudiera ser una expression de amor a Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe.
Mercey Zamora