November 27, 2005 BulletinFIRST SUNDAY OF
ADVENT
November 27, 2005 Week of Nov. 28, 2005 - Dec. 4, 2005 Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come. ---Mark 13:33 Today's Readings Readings for the Week Priest Intentions for the Week Announcements --Parish ----School of Faith and Formation ----Youth Ministry and Confirmation ----Other Parish Announcements --Diocese --Community Finances Today's Readings First Reading -- We are the clay and you, O Lord, are the potter: we are the work of your hands (Isaiah 63:16b-17, 19b; 64:2-7). Psalm -- Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved (Psalm 80). Second Reading -- God is faithful; by God you were called to fellowship with the Son (1 Corinthians 1:3-9). Gospel -- Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come. (Mark 13:33-37). From the Pastor My Dear Friends in Christ: This Sunday marks the beginning of the season of Advent. There is no question that many of us are not familiar with the word "advent" and its origin. For us, December is Christmas. So, whenever we mention that these four weeks are part of the preparation for the season of Advent, we get this funny look that says, "What are you talking about?" Because of this, I would like to share with you its meaning and origin. The word "advent" comes from a word adventus, which means coming. It was used to describe the official visit of a monarch or the annual visit of a god. The Christians began using it to describe the first historical coming of Jesus among men as well as his glorious return at the end of time We know that Easter was the feast for Christians. However, with the development of the feasts of Christmas and Epiphany, a season of preparation was introduced. Just as Lent is a preparation for Easter, Advent became a season of preparation for Christmas by prayer, fasting, and liturgical gatherings. Appearing in the West, in France and in Spain in the fourth and fifth centuries, it was not until the sixth century that it reached Rome, when it consisted at first of six weeks. Later it was diminished to four weeks of preparation. The spirituality of expectancy and waiting developed, thus directing the attention of the Christians toward the glorious return of the Lord at the end of time. I hope that I am able to help you understand the meaning and the origin of this great season of Advent. The gospel challenges us to be "alert." Many times God has come and is coming into our lives unexpectedly to show his love and to call us to conversion. In order to grasp the Spirit of God passing through our lives, we must be on guard. We must keep our faith alert and fully awake. Above all, we must keep our hope. Christian hope is the certainty that every day God calls us so many times, most especially during events of grace such as Christmas. In God's peace and love. --Fr. Geoffrey WATCH! "Watch!" This word occurs three times in today's Gospel passage. Moreover, it is placed at significant points: the beginning, the center, and the end. Though this is technically a parable, it is quite short (four verses). The threefold repetition of "watch" leaves no doubt as to what the story is about. We often think of Advent as a time of waiting, but it truly is a season of watchfulness, a very active form of waiting for the coming Day of the Lord. It is that Day, more than Christmas day, that the Christian community faithfully expects, using all of our gifts and talents for this purpose, as Paul reminds us in the letter to the Corinthians. When we use these gifts in faithful watching and expectation, we become like the servants of the parable, set to their tasks, not waiting around idly, but engaged in the master's work until his return. May our Advent be a time when we return or rededicate our lives and our communities to this work--the active and diligent faithfulness that the Lord will expect to find. (c) Copyright, J. S. Paluch Co. TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION Each of the seven sacraments, like other aspects of the Church's pastoral plan, is an attempt to be faithful to the image of Christ we discover in the Gospels. Anointing of the sick is rooted in Jesus' saving deeds of healing and even rescue from death. What is your favorite encounter of Jesus with a sick person? Often, it seems that Jesus would go at once to the person in a crowd who was in the most pain, in the deepest need. A man born blind, Peter's mother-in-law, a woman afflicted by years of uncontrollable hemorrhages, a little Roman girl beloved by her soldier father, a crippled man lowered from the rafters, and even a man who lost his ear to a swinging sword in the garden of agony. This list reads like an admissions chart in an emergency room, and perhaps that is the point. The whole human experience from childhood to old age, from sudden catastrophic illness to chronic debilitating conditions, is represented by those for whom Jesus has such great compassion. This we can name a treasure of tradition with a capital "T." We are a people of compassion for our sick, who reach out in tenderness to listen, to keep vigil, to strengthen, to touch with reverence, and to anoint with precious oil. --James Field, (c) Copyright, J. S. Paluch Co. Readings for the Week
Priest Intentions
Announcements School of Faith & Formation First Communion We Listen to the Holy Spirit - This week the young people of our parish preparing for Reconciliation are reflecting on the Holy Spirit who helps us make good decisions. The Holy Spirit gifts us with the courage to overcome obstacles that stand in our way of loving God and others, and with the wisdom to value God above all creatures. How do we, as a parish, show that the grace of the Holy Spirit is alive in us? Youth Ministry and Confirmation Youth Ministry St. Anne Youth Ministry will meet on Monday, November 28 to discuss the first week of Advent: "You Are The Potter, We Are the Clay." Meeting is the usual time, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Hall. December Youth Ministry Retreat There will be a Parent & Student meeting for all those attending the December 2nd Youth Ministry Retreat. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 29 in Classroom #6 at 7:30 p.m. Payment for the retreat will be due at the meeting. Letters were sent home containing some information about the retreat. If you have any questions, please call the Youth Ministry Office at 471-7766 # 19, email stayouthministry@sbcglobal.net . Thank you! St. Anne Confirmation: Brown Bags Due Those confirmation candidates who did not turn in their brown bags, you must turn your completed brown bag projects on Sunday, November 27, either between 12 and 2 pm at classroom 101 or at the youth mass that evening. If you lost the instructions, go to http://stanneconfirmation.com/ and enter the site, click on downloads, and "Brown Bag Instructions Handout". St. Anne Confirmation: Confirmation Retreat All Confirmation candidates are reminded that there is a Parent/Candidate meeting on Sunday, December 4th at 2:00 p.m. in the Hall. The retreat payment will be due then; you will receive much more information about the retreat too! ALL parents and candidates are required to attend! Other Parish Announcements You Are Invited... Holy Hour: Thursday, December 1, 7:30 PM - Church First Friday Mass Friday, December 2, 7:30 PM - Church Newly Baptized We welcome the new members of our Catholic Christian Community and we congratulate the parents and families of these children: October Baptisms: Keyla Albano - Elliot Bernardo - Kean Baltazar - Nyla Garcia - Camille Malveda - Bryce Miranda - Reyna Pepito - Joshua Santos November Baptisms: Anthony Anderson,Jr. - Eva Aquino - Ashly Barber - Kaela-Marie Bardillon - Valerie Dela Cruz - Marc Fineza - Daren Manrique - Jordan Soto - Klisha Tongsong Safe Environment for Children Project Attention all parish and school volunteers! 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 Jesus said "Come to me all you who labor and are burdened and I will give you rest". SAFELY HOME BEREAVEMENT GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of every month, classroom #101, 6:30 - 8:30 pm. Our group offers a comfortable Safe Haven to share common grief experiences. Informal and compassionate, understanding and caring. Finding God's plan and purpose for us and opening our hearts to His guidance and healing. No sign-ups or reservations required. A call would help for planning purposes. More volunteers are needed, no experience needed, we will train, and the rewards are Heavenly. All are welcome to share and be good listeners and comforters to ease the pain of sorrow. For more information call Roseann Langley @510-471-6545. Deacon Carlos Rabuy has offered to help individuals who are members of the grief support group and who need more in depth one-on-one meetings. Eucharistic Minister Training There will be a training meeting for all who are interested in becoming an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion (Eucharistic Minister) on Tuesday, November 29 at 7:00 p.m. in the Church. New Lector Workbooks Lectors: Your new Lector Workbooks are in the Parish Office. Please pick them up as soon as possible. Parish Office hours: Mon.-Fri., 9 am - 7:30 pm, Saturdays, 9 am - 5 pm, Sundays, 9 am - 2 pm. Dawn Masses The deadline for advertisements for the Dawn Mass Program Booklet will be Monday, November 28th. We encourage parishioners to support and participate with this event. SPRED (SPecial Religious EDucation) Are you aware that there are children with special needs waiting- perhaps for you- to be a volunteer catechist in the setting of a small faith community here at St. Anne. SPRED (SPecial Religious Education Department) in the Diocese of Oakland invites you to share your faith with children with developmental disabilities (such as autism, cerebral palsy, and mental retardation) in the SPRED community here at St. Anne. Training is provided, the only requisite is a desire to share and grow in faith with others. If you are interested in learning more about this ministry, which addresses the spiritual, needs of persons with developmental disabilities please call: Warren Chauvin: 785-9321; Maria Garcia: 471-5798; Geneveva Bagaoisan: 471-9128 . Diocese Announcements no announcements this week Community Announcements "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 Final Proceeds from the Parish Fall Festival Seventy thousand dollars ($70,000.00) were raised during the Fall Festival in September. All proceeds from this fundraiser help to decrease our debt loan (1.2 million) to the Diocese. 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: |