December 11, 2005 BulletinTHIRD SUNDAY OF
ADVENT
December 11, 2005 Week of Dec. 12, 2005 - Dec. 18, 2005 Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. --1 Thessalonians 5:16 Today's Readings Readings for the Week Priest Intentions for the Week Holiday Schedule of Services Announcements --Parish ----School of Faith and Formation ----Youth Ministry and Confirmation ----Other Parish Announcements --Diocese --Community Finances Today's Readings First Reading -- As a garden makes its growth spring up, so will God make justice spring up before all the nations (Isaiah 61:1-2a, 10-11). Psalm -- My soul rejoices in my God (Luke 1:46-50, 53-54). Second Reading -- Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophetic utterances. Test everything; retain what is good (1 Thessalonians 5:16-24). Gospel -- I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, make straight the way of the Lord (John 1:6-8, 19-28). MORE THAN DISCIPLES Each of today's four scriptural roles--disciple, prophet, apostle, herald--forms a facet of our life in Christ as we live it day by day. Isaiah tells us that a prophet is anointed, as we were anointed at our baptism in water and the Spirit, to bring glad tidings and to promote God's reign of healing, justice, and peace. An apostle, like Paul, is one who is "sent." Each of us, in his or her own way, is sent by Christ to be a voice of rejoicing, to encourage prophetic voices in the world, and to make sure that the work of the Spirit thrives. John the Baptist shows us the job of the herald, making the Lord's way straight, announcing the coming of the Light of the World. Today we also hear from Mary, model disciple. Her song, the "Magnificat," shows us the world we must believe in and work for: one in which God is praised, where God's favor is bestowed on the humble, where the hungry are filled and the rich are sent away empty, a world that continues to know and rejoice in the mercy of God that lasts for all ages. (c) Copyright, J. S. Paluch Co. TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION The tradition of anointing the sick with blessed oil is very old, but developed slowly and unevenly in the first eight centuries of the church's life. St. Augustine, who wrote volumes of homilies from his thriving church in North Africa, plus pastoral directives, letters, and memoirs, never mentions it at all. We know from ancient prayers that it did happen in Rome, Milan, Gaul, and the British Isles. In Rome the bishop blessed the oil of the sick, but it could be applied by a priest, deacon, or a layperson. It seems that sick persons could even anoint themselves. St. Genevieve of Paris was known for anointing the sick in her care. Perhaps inevitably, complaints of abuses, and even trickery by sorcerers, brought an end to this consoling practice. In a dangerous world with a dispersed population, clerics may have preferred that this hands-on care was a lay privilege. The purpose of anointing, however, was not simply healing, but forgiveness of sin and an experience of saving power of Christ. By the year 800, dioceses everywhere were organizing rituals for priestly anointing. Although anointing of the sick is reserved to priests today, perhaps this treasured memory will enrich the future of the sacrament. --James Field, (c) Copyright, J. S. Paluch Co. Readings for the Week
Priest Intentions
Holiday Schedule of Services Communal Penance Service There will be a Communal Penance Service on Wednesday, December 14th at 7:30 PM. Dawn Mass - Simbang Gabi - Misa De Gallo Everyone is invited to attend the Dawn Masses starting Thursday, December 16th - Saturday, December 24th, 5:30 A.M. Refreshments will be served after each Dawn Mass. Our Lady of Guadalupe, 40382 Fremont Blvd., Fremont, is also hosting Dawn Masses beginning at 6:00 A.M., December 16th - 24th. Christmas Eve Saturday, December 24, 2005 5:00 pm - Children's Family Mass 8:00 pm - Vigil Mass 11:30 pm - Christmas Carols 12:00 am - Midnight Mass Christmas Day Sunday, December 25, 2005 8:00 am, 10:00 am, & 12:00 pm (There will be no 6:00 pm Mass) Announcements School of Faith & Formation Children's Christmas Choir Rehearsals Monday, December 19, 6:00-7:00 p.m. - Church Tuesday, December 20, 6:00-7:00 p.m. - Church Wednesday, December 21, 6:00-7:00 p.m. - Church Children must attend two rehearsals to participate in the Christmas Eve Family Mass. Christmas Eve Family Mass Saturday, December 24, 5:00 p.m. - Church We invite all children (grades K-8) to be part of this celebration and to join our special children's choir. Christmas Break NO CLASSES - Monday, December 19, 2005 to Monday, January 2, 2006. Classes resume Tuesday, January 3, 2006. We wish all our children and their families a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year 2006!! Youth Ministry and Confirmation Youth Ministry & Confirmation Holiday Pot Luck St. Anne Youth Ministry will meet on Monday, December 12 for the LAST TIME in 2005! We will celebrate the Advent season and the community we have formed with a holiday pot luck dinner. All Youth Ministry students and Confirmation candidates are invited to attend. Please bring a main dish, a side dish or a dessert to share. The celebration will be held in the Parish Hall from 6:3-0 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Confirmation Retreat Please pray for the Confirmation candidates and staff who are on retreat this weekend!! Los Angeles Youth Day St. Anne's Youth Ministry will be attending the Los Angeles Youth Day from March 29 thru April 1. If you are interested in going please call (471-7766) or email (stayouthministry@sbcglobal.net) the Youth Ministry Office to obtain more information. We're trying to have the group set by Christmas break....so act fast! Other Parish Announcements Advent Giving Take a HEART today from the Giving Tree at the entrances of the church. Bring back a gift by Friday, December 16th. Make sure to attach the heart tag on the gift, and put it in the barrels by the church's entrances. Experience the joy of giving from the heart! St. Vincent de Paul: Food Bank Distribution Alameda County Food Bank distribution is on Saturday, December 17, 2005 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00a.m. If you are low income and residing in St. Anne's boundary, you may be eligible to receive food. St. Vincent de Paul: Christmas Baskets As you know Christmas is just around the corner and we are again collecting non-perishable food for the Christmas baskets. The barrel will be at the entrances of the church until December 16. Bring in your donation before then. Again, thank you very much and may God bless you. Also, The members of St. Vincent de Paul are throwing a party for all homeless and low income families on Sunday, December 18, 2005 from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30p.m. at the church hall. If you know of anyone who would benefit from this, please invite them. This is open to anyone. The presents that you give from the Giving Tree will be distributed at this time. We also need volunteers. Please come. This is a chance for us to put our faith into actions. Thank you. Safe Environment for Children Project Attention all parish and school volunteers! For those volunteers that attended the November 15th training session and did not receive an information packet, please pick up your packet at the parish office. You will need to fill out and return the "Policy Guidelines" to the Diocese of Oakland, 3014 Lakeshore Ave., Oakland, CA 94610. The Diocese of Oakland requires that ALL parish volunteers, (liturgical ministers, ushers, lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, choir members, sacristans, ministers to the sick), Religious Education Catechists, substitutes and teacher aides) attend a Safe Environment training in order to continue as a volunteer. If you missed the training at St. Anne's on November 15, check the Diocesan Safe Environment website for alternate training dates and locations . Safely Home - Bereavement Grief Support Ministry Safely Home, Bereavement Grief Support Ministry, will meet on Wednesday, December 21, classroom #101, 6:30 - 8:30 pm. Blessed are the Sorrowing: They shall be Consoled, The members of our group sends out our heartfelt condolenses and prayers to those in our parish community who have lost loved ones. May the Lord fill you with consolation, strength and peace in your grief journey. You are welcomed and invited to attend our Grief Support Ministry Meetings. Informal Safe Haven towards healing. For more info: call Roseann Langley 510-471-6545 Is God calling you to be a volunteer in our group? We still need gentle ,kind compassion souls to help comfort our Bereaved...Rewards are Heavenly Christmas Trees And Flower Donations Environment and Art is accepting potted poinsettias and monetary donations towards flower arrangements and live Christmas trees. Please bring your monetary donations to the parish office: Mon.-Fri., 9:am-7:30 pm. Deliver poinsettias Dec. 19-24th. Thank you! Environment and Art: Give Us A Helping Hand Christmas setup is scheduled for Saturday, December 24th starting at 9:00 am. You can help with the linen setup, flowers or decorations for the entrances, hall, back wall and altar. Extra 6-8 foot ladders are also needed. Contact Zella Yanos at the parish office, 471-7766 (Mon.-Fri., 3:45-7:30 pm) or Beth Florendo at 487-3789. Thank you! New Year's Eve Dance Party Join us in greeting "Year 2006" with our New Year's Eve Dance Party. Lots of fun, great company, entertainment, food and drinks await you! Come celebrate with our new pastor, Father Geoffrey. Tickets @ $25 each are available from the following: Parish Office, Finance Council, Schola Cantorum (8am choir), Choir of Unity (12pm choir) and Knights of Columbus. Seating is limited. Payment is required for confirmation. St. Anne CYO, Girls Basketball All girls in grades 2-8 are eligible to play basketball for St. Anne's Parish. The program plays other Catholic Parishes in Newark and Fremont for league play in division levels of grades 3-8. We are trying something new this year: we have our sign-up forms put on the St. Anne Web page. Please download all the registration forms and print them out. Please fill out all the forms completely, and mail all the supporting documents to the address on the information face page. If you have friends that don't go to St. Anne, but would like to play, please feel free to tell them about the program. Practice will start in Feb. 06. Diocese Announcements no announcements this week Community Announcements Songs of Advent and Christmas, Holy Spirit Church, Fremont Come and hear the Holy Spirit Church choirs of all ages, plus the local Couples for Christ choir, in concert: Sunday, December 11th at 3:30 p.m. in the church. We’ll sing a variety of short choral pieces and favorite carols for all to sing. Please come, and find a bit of peace, joy and spiritual refreshment in the Advent season. 37588 Fremont Blvd at Central; call 510-797-3409 for further details. "The Forgotten Carols" Glenn Yarbrough, world-famous folk singer from the 1960s, will narrate and sing "The Forgotten Carols" on Tuesday and Wednesday, December 13 & 14, 8 PM, Old Mission San Jose, 43300 Mission Blvd., Fremont. A touching Christmas story with backup singing by the local Deo Gloria choir, directed by Sharon Xavier de Sousa. Tickets $25-$35. For information or reservations, please call 510-793-6375 or email acdocker@sbcglobal.net Finances Weekly Collections
SCRIP Program The Holidays are around the corner. Make your holiday shopping easier with great gift certificates.
Special Orders available too. If you shop at Albertson's and do not have a Community Card, pick one up in the SCRIP room after one of the Masses. All proceeds from this fund-raiser go toward the "Building Our Future" project. Home: |