Church of Saint Philip Neri
Pennsburg, PA 18073
November 27,
2011
|
Rev. ARobert.
Roncase, Pastor Deacon Michael J.
Franks,
Permanent Deacon Rev. Edmond J. Speitel, Pastor Emeritus Rev. John J. Scarcia, Retired Pastor Rev.
Raymond W. Smart,
Retired, Resident Shirley
Misiak,
Office Manager Mark J.
Meinzer,
Business Manager Catherine
E. Faust,
Director of Music Patricia
A. Schleeweiss,
School Principal Jeffrey
W. Daley,
Director of Religious Education Colleen
Daley,
Parish Youth Minister Sister
Patricia Kelly, M.S.B.T., Parish Outreach Rectory Phone 215.679.9275 Rectory Fax 215.679.0386 School Phone 215.679.7481 Religious Education
Phone 215.541.3120 Religious Education
Fax 215.541.1398 Parish Social Hall
Phone 215.679.8116 Parish Outreach Phone 215.679.2282 Neri Center Phone 215-679-6490 Church & Rectory
Address: 1325 Klinerd Road Pennsburg,
PA 18073 Hours: 9:00 AM – 3:00
PM Email Address: spnofc@comcast.net Website Address: www.spnparish.org School Address: 6th &
Washington Streets East Greenville, PA 18041 Hours: 8:00 AM – 2:30
PM Website Address: www.spnelementary.com Religious Education
Center Address 565
Main Street East
Greenville, PA 18041 Hours: 8:00 AM – 4:00
PM Neri Center Address 6th &
Washington Streets East
Greenville, PA 18041 ROSARY: Prayed in the Chapel Every Saturday after the 8:00 AM Mass
Every
Monday at 1:00 PM |
SCHEDULE
OF MASSES Saturday – Vigil Mass – 5:00
PM Sunday – 7:30, 9:30, 11:00 AM Weekdays – In the Chapel Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday – 8:00 AM Wednesday – 5:00 PM HOLY DAYS: 8:00 AM, 9:30 AM, 7:00 PM Eve of Holy Days – 5:00 PM CHAPEL
OPEN FOR VISITS The
Chapel will be opened Monday thru Saturday until
7:00 pm for your visits to the Blessed Sacrament. CONFESSIONS Saturdays: 4:00 – 4:45 PM or: at
the Rectory BY APPOINTMENT anytime. BAPTISMS Celebrated the 2nd & 3rd
Sundays of each month. Please call the Rectory to schedule. 2nd Sunday
Baptisms are held at the 11:00 AM Mass 3rd Sunday
Baptisms are held at 12:30 PM PRE-JORDAN
CLASSES 1st
Monday of every month at 7:00 PM in the Rectory meeting room. MARRIAGES Arrangements should be made at least SIX MONTHS before the date of the wedding. NEW
PARISHIONERS Welcome to your new home! Please stop by the rectory between 9:00
am - 3:00 pm to fill out a registration card. We are happy to have you in our parish
and want to get to know you. SHUT-INS Please call the Parish Outreach Office. SACRAMENT
OF THE ANOINTING Please call the Rectory. EUCHARISTIC ADORATION Every 1st Friday from 10:00 AM
to 6:00 PM in the Church,
followed by Benediction. FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS
If
you wish to have a floral arrangement placed in front of the altar, please call
the rectory. |
OUR
PARISH MISSION STATEMENT
WE ARE THE CATHOLIC PARISH COMMUNITY OF ST. PHILIP
NERI, ANSWERING CHRISTÕS CALL TO DISCIPLESHIP THROUGH WORD, SACRAMENT AND
SERVICE.
WE PROCLAIM GODÕS HOPE AND LOVE TO ALL.
Serving at Mass November
27
Extraordinary Ministers Lectors
5:00 pm –
Trudy Moser Jack Nash
Dave Moser Monica
Nash
Priest
Deacon
Priest
Alice Swift
Annemarie Quigley
Jim Quigley
Linda Benko
John Burke
Dave Boone
Teri Boone
7:30 am –
Pat Scheerbaum Katrina
Faust
Lori Brozena Pete
Frank
Priest
Deacon
Christine Adelsberger
7:30 am –
Steve Adelsberger
Jim Michels
Chuck Rodgers
Trish Dornisch
John McHale
Stephanie Greczek
Michael Sledgen
9:30 am –
Cecilia Kirkwood G.
Kirkwood
Mary Souder Sue
DiMarco
Priest
Mark Meinzer
Bob Brennan
Eleanor Brennan
11:00 am –
Bob Schwind M.
Gehringer
Barbara Schwind
Priest
Mark Meinzer
Mary Lavin
Marlene Leidy
Serving at Mass December
4
Extraordinary Ministers Lectors
5:00 pm – Marci
Jaman Linda
Franks
Catherine Cahill S.
Hunsberger
Priest
Deacon
Lisa Edleman
Michael Edleman
7:30 am –
Joan Pongia Ernie
Quarani
Rita Tokarski Michael
Lynch
Priest
Deacon
Michael Duka
Dina Corrado
9:30 am – Ed
Tryon Joe
Cassarella
Alica Tryon Paul
Leese
Priest
Priest
9:30 am –
Mark Meinzer
Colleen Daley
John Nash
Monica Nash
Judy Sledgen
Michael Dougherty
Mary Godshall
Jenny Josko
11:00 am –
Maryanne Charlton Luke
Verna
Kevin Charlton
Priest
Priest
Mark Meinzer
Amanda Charlton
Serving at Mass December
8
Extraordinary Ministers Lectors
Immaculate Conception
5:00 pm –
Marci Jama Bob
Ellis
Claire Holcombe
Priest
Lee Johnson
Jim Quigley
Annemarie Quigley
8:00 am –
Rita Tokarski Joe
Cassarella
Joan Pongia
Priest
Immaculata Barndt
LaRue Emmell
Jenny Josko
9:30 am – Cecilia
Kirkwood George
Kirkwood
Marianne Peters
Priest
Mark Meinzer
Eleanor Brennan
Bob Brennan
7:00 pm –
Alice Swift Linda
Franks
Linda Benko
Priest
Deacon
Teri Boone
Dave Boone
FIRST SUNDAY
OF ADVENT
November
27, 2011
Monday, November
28
8:00 am – Helen
Sieber, (Dorothy Krazek)
Tuesday, November
29
8:00 am – Joe
Cias, (Monica & Jack Nash)
Wednesday,
November 30, St. Andrew
5:00 pm – Thelma
Stanek, (Tony Bauer)
Thursday, December
1
8:00 am – Noreen
Bauer, (Tony Bauer)
First Friday,
December 2
9:00 am – Chester
& Thelma Stanek
Saturday, December
3, St. Francis Xavier
8:00 am – Michael
Sarbocca, (Mark & Pat Meinzer)
5:00 pm – George
T. Hollinger,
(David & Linda LeFever & family)
SECOND SUNDAY OF
ADVENT
December 4, 2011
7:30 am –
For the living & deceased members
of the Parish.
9:30 am – Joe
Cias, (Edna Dierolf)
11:00 am –
Vincentine Diascro, (Bob & Eleanor Brennan)
WE INVITE YOUR
PRAYERS
For the sick, those in hospitals, nursing homes,
and also for their caregivers.
Please pray in
particular for:
Rev. John J. Scarcia, Frances Cannon, Baby Lucy Littlefield, Baby Peter, Charlotte Azarovich, George
Bradford, Rick DeStefano, Baby Olivia Enriquez, Adam Canigiani, Jr., Jo Maturo,
Elsie Connelly, Colleen McMillar, Grace Guckin, Steven Gebhardt, Mildred Moyer,
Helga Camasso, Lily Morgitan, John Brazuk, Irene Maggs, Peter Szczybek,
Christine Keer, Kathleen Tew, Robert Tana, Rosalie Nelson, Michelle Fillman,
Cranford Coulter, Nellie Siemienski, Phyllis Lossino, Jane Boyle, Timothy
Byrne, Betty Geppert, Laura Barber, Patricia Pickford, Aaron Smith, Carol
Wildermuth, Patty Perry, Kristi Hertzog, Tavario Brunson, Janice Kolb, Genevieve Husted, Frannie T., Marie Mancini, Karl
Heebner, Loretta Slowick, Larry
Spacek, Katharina Dickmann, Ruth Wunder, James Wunder, Jr., Matt Horvath, Joni
Rembisz, Maria Vargo, Wayne Cherry, Jane Cassidy, Dawn Parents, Laura Peterson,
Peter Preston, Kathy Rafferty, Steven Thayer, Michael Colfer, Marilynn Mayer,
Howard Proffit, Rodney Proffit, Francis Burgert, Elaine Titlow, Tracey Delaney,
Kevin Sox & Frank Grim.
For those who have
died, grant them eternal rest and peace.
FLORAL/ROSE
ARRANGEMENT
The floral arrangement on the altar is in memory of James & Ruth Hemphill and James
Hemphill, requested by Rich and Ruth Rodeghiero.
SUNDAY COLLECTIONS
Due to the holiday
schedule, our Sunday collections will be posted in next weekÕs Bulletin dated
December 4th.
Give a St. Philip Neri Memorial Gift!
For a donation of $35 or more, there is a beautiful folder recording
the gift and donor to be presented to the family. A Mass is offered each month.
We also have ÒLiving MemorialsÓ for those special occasions in life.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER:
THIS
WEEK AT A GLANCE
Sunday, November 27
ChildrenÕs
Liturgy of the Word at the 9:30 am Mass
Gift of Love
Tree – Tags on Tree
MenÕs 30
& Over Basketball -
8:00 pm Hall
Monday, November 28
Holy Rosary
Hour
1:00 pm Chapel
SPN Quilting
1:30 pm Hall
Tuesday, November 29
Boy
Scouts
7:00 pm Hall
Wednesday, November 30
PREP/Religious
Education
6:00 pm School
Thursday, December 1
Cub
Scouts
6:30 pm School
Friday, December 2
SPN
Quilting
1:00 pm Hall
Brownie/Girl
Scouts at Neri Center 2:30 pm
Daisy/Girl
Scouts at Pre-School
2:30 pm
Saturday, December 3
Charismatic
Prayer Group
12:00 pm Chapel
Sunday, December 4
Second Sunday of Advent
ChildrenÕs Liturgy of the Word
9:30 am Church
Breakfast
w/Santa
8:00 am Hall
Gift of Love Tree
– Tags on Tree
Advent
Service
6:00 pm Church
KOC Thanksgiving
300 Drawing after Advent Service
MenÕs 30 &
Over Basketball
8:00 pm Hall
UPCOMING MEETINGS
Holy Rosary Hour – Monday – December 5th -1:00
pm in the Chapel
Pre-Jordan Baptismal Class – Monday – December 5th
– 7:00 pm in the Rectory Meeting Room
SPN Quilting – Monday – December 5th –
1:30 pm – Hall
Boy Scouts – Tuesday – December 6th – 7:00
pm – Hall
PREP/Religious Education – Wednesday – December 7th
– 6:00 pm at the School
Holy Day Vigil Mass – Wednesday – December 7th
– 5:00 pm in Church
Holy Day – Immaculate Conception – Thursday –
December 8th – Masses: 8am; 9:30am & 7:00 pm in Church
Cub Scouts – Thursday – December 8th –
6:30 pm-School
Cub Scouts Parents/Committee Meeting – Thursday – December
8th – 6:30 pm
SPN Quilting – Friday – December 9th –
1:00 pm – Hall
Brownie/Girl Scouts – Friday – December 9th
– 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm in Neri Center
Daisy/Girl Scouts – Friday – December 9th
– 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm in Pre-School
NO Activities planned – Saturday – December 10th
ChildrenÕs Liturgy of the Word – Sunday – December 11th
at the 9:30 am Mass
Little Church – Sunday – December 11th –
9:30 am –Hall
Gift of Love Tree – Sunday – December 11th
– ALL gifts returned today.
Knights of Columbus Meeting – Sunday – December 11th
– 7:30 pm at the Rectory
MenÕs 30 & Over Basketball – Sunday – December 11th
– 8:00 pm in the Hall
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
11.30.11 – Classes – Confessions
Grades 3-7
12.04.11 – 6th/7th
PREP Class & EDGE – 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm – Christmas Party
12.07.11 – Classes
12.14.11 – Classes – 6:00 pm
– 8:00 pm – Advent Prayer Services (School)
12.18.11 – NO EDGE
12.21.11 – NO Class
12.28.11 – NO Class
01.04.12 – Classes resume
01.11.12 – Classes
01.15.12 – 6th/7th
PREP Class & EDGE (6-7:30 pm)
01.18.12 – Classes
01.25.12 – Classes – NO 7th
Grade PREP Class;
01.25.12 – First Communion Parent
Meeting – This is a MANDATORY
Meeting – 6:10 pm
01.29.12 – 6th/7th
PREP Class & EDGE (6-7:30 pm)
01.30.12 – First Penance Prayer Service
in Church at 6:30 pm
SCHOOL NEWS
Through our thoughts and actions, we
strive to respect all God has given us. We recognize and accept each others
unique qualities and talents. St.
Philip Neri Elementary School is accepting 2011-2012 School Year Registrations. Any questions, please contact the school
office at: 215.679.7481.
PARISH NEWS
Saint Philip
Neri Parish Council Members-at-Large welcome any questions or comments you may
have.
Jim
Brinckman
jrybrinckman2003@yahoo.com
Keith
Greczek
KSG1600@verizon.net
James
Giuffrida
FIRST FRIDAY
Friday, December 2nd, is the first Friday of December. Mass is in Church at 9:00 am. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in
Church from 10:00 am until evening Prayer and Benediction at 6:00 pm. The
sign-up binder to commit for adoration time can be found in the vestibule under
the crucifix. Please commit to spend some time with Our Lord in the Blessed
Sacrament.
HOLY DAY REMINDER
Thursday, December 8th is a Holy Day of Obligation, the
Feast of the Immaculate Conception, our National Patroness. Catholics are
obligated to attend Mass on this Feast Day.
Vigil Mass:
Wednesday, December 7th: 5:00 pm
Masses: Thursday - December 8th:
8:00 am; 9:30 am; & 7:00 pm
PARISH ADVENT PENANCE SERVICE
The Advent Penance Service will be held on Monday, December 19th at
7:00 pm. Six to eight Priests will
be available for Confessions.
Save the date.
ADULT
ALTAR SERVERS
The
Adult Altar Servers are looking for a few good men and women to assist with
serving at the LordÕs Table.
Training will be provided. For more information, please call Pete Frank
at: 215.679.6942 or Trish Dornisch: 215.208.2913.
MASS GREETERS
NEEDED
Greeters
are needed for Saturday and Sunday Masses. Greeters arrive at Mass about 15
minutes before the start of Mass; greet parishioners at the door; help take
care of any special needs; and distribute Bulletins at the conclusion of Mass.
If you would like to be a Greeter on a regular basis or as a substitute, call
Dawn at: 215.679.2160; Shirley at the rectory: 215.679.9275 (between 10:00 am
– 4:00 pm) or email Doris at: gmomdecker@yahoo.com.
PARISH
OUTREACH
Attention: If you have had an abortion in your
past, and want to discuss how you feel today, confidential counseling is
available.
Call: 215.679.2282. If no answer, leave your
number and first name. Say your
number twice.
Needed: Martha Ministry needs help. Please call the Parish Outreach Office:
215.679.2282.
Weatherization Program assists individuals and families with limited income to cut their fuel
bills and save money by having a more energy efficient home. There is NO COST TO YOU for any
labor or materials, and no lien is ever placed on the house or property.
This
program is for all of Montgomery County through the Community Action
Development Commission. Call 1.877.223.2662 ext 118 for English speaking or ext
131 for Spanish speaking.
Elizabeth Ministry Update
Elizabeth Ministry is having a MomÕs Night Out at 7:00 PM at
Wing ManÕs in East Greenville on Wednesday night, Dec. 7. Do you want to spend
some Òquality timeÓ with other Moms for a couple of hours? Come join us! No pressure, just relaxing
conversation with some other
mothers. Need more info? Call Trina at 610-340-0580 or Cory at 267-923-8566.
LIBRARY MINISTRY LEADER NEEDED
The Parish is in need of an
Associate Leader to continue with the Parish Library.
If you are interested, please call
Jerry McAllister at: 610.754.6593 for details. Although some knowledge of a functioning
library would be helpful, it is not a requirement.
YOUTH MINISTRY
The
highschoolers have also been ministers to the younger teens to help guide them
in prayer. The high schoolers have started Lectio Divina with the Sunday
Gospels and will be using the Adult Catechism as weekly topics. It has been a
great start to the year!!!!
TBA but
usually during the first two weeks of December--Service Project at OPEN
LINE....it is in the evening.
We have
been asked to decorate a tree at St. Marks Church on 12/3. If you need service
hours, this would be a great way to earn them! 1-3 pm. (I will need an adult to
volunteer to assist).
Our
parish Youth Group is open to all teens, in grades 6th through 12th. If you
have any questions, please contact Colleen Daley 215-541-1716 or prolifer53@comcast.net
ONLINE
GIVING
Go green with St. Philip Neri Church by signing up for Online Giving.
If
you have not yet signed up, please consider doing so.
You will have the option to keep receiving your regular
offering envelope packets if you wish. Visit our parish website to sign up: www.spnparish.org.
THE GIFT OF LOVE TREE IS HERE!
The ÒGift of Love TreeÓ is now set up in the Sanctuary of the
Church.
If you wish to participate, take a tag from the tree, purchase the item
described, affix tag, and return it as soon as possible. All gifts should be returned by Sunday,
December 11th. Please
attach the tag to the gift and do not wrap the Present! Presents can be placed in gift bags with
tags attached.
The gifts will benefit Birthright in Pottstown, St. MaryÕs Franciscan
Shelter in Phoenixville, Catholic Social Services and BabyÕs Breath in
Collegeville.
For more information, please call the Rectory Office at: 215-679-9275.
Sponsored by the SPN
Respect Life Ministry
GIFT OF LOVE TREE
If you take
a bell shaped ÒornamentÓ from the tree marked C.S.S.; that means it is a family
of Catholic Social Services.
The C.S.S.
gifts must be returned by Sunday, December 11, 2011. Notice the words must be
returned. Thank you for your
generosity and your cooperation.
DORCAS FUND UPDATE
The
generosity of the people of St. Philip Neri Parish always gives me great
joy.
In May of
2010, we began the DORCAS FUND as a way to help our parish members who were
struggling during these difficult times.
To date, the DORCAS FUND has distributed $3,875.10 to help fellow parishioners
with medical bills, rent, mortgages, electric bills, water bills and more. God Bless you all for caring and living
out the Gospel.
SPN CRAFT GUILD
The Craft
Guild will not meet during the month of December. Our next meeting will be Tuesday, January 17, 2012. Call
Connie with any questions: 610.287.9829
CHARISMATIC
PRAYER GROUP
Prayer Meeting dates for December are:
Saturday
– December 3rd & 17th
12:00
pm in the Chapel
Call Rich at:
610.323.1127 with any questions.
TRAVELING CHALICE
Last week you
heard an announcement about the new program that will be instituted in our
parish on the Feast of the Holy Family, January 1, 2012, called the Traveling
Chalice Program.
The purpose of the
Traveling Chalice Program is to encourage families to pray vocations to the
priesthood as a family and to promote vocations within the family. Each week
one family will take home the Chalice for that week. The Chalice will be
encased in a specially made wooden holder. The purpose of the Chalice is to act
as a visual reminder to pray for vocations to the priesthood.
The Chalice and
its wooden holder will be packaged in a carrying case, along with vocation
prayers and instructions for receiving and handling the Chalice in your home.
Please pray that the youth in our parish will discern the vocation to which God
is calling them. After praying every day for one week, the family or individual
will return the Chalice to the Church Vestibule by 4:00 PM on Saturday.
It may be picked up either then or before or after Mass on Sunday.
Families or
individuals may begin to Òsign upÓ by the Second Sunday of Advent in a special
binder in the Vestibule of the Church.
St.
Philip Neri Home & School
Presents:
Breakfast
with Santa
Sunday
– December 4th
8:00
am – 12:30 pm
St.
Philip Neri Social Hall
1325
Klinerd Road
Pennsburg
PA 18073
Buffet
Breakfast
Secret
Santa Shop
Pictures
with Santa
Adults: $7.00 – Children 5-12: $4.00
Children
under 5: FREE
Doors
open at 8:00 AM
Santa
arrives at 9:00 AM!
Become a Member of
the Historical Committee
Come join
us as we discover our past, record our present and shape our future. The Historical Committee is looking for
new members. Our committee needs
people with varied talents to bring our history together. Some work can be done
on your own time and in your own home.
A partial
list of what is needed includes interviewers and photographers. We need people to work on the computer,
clip items from the newspaper, scan photos and list goes on. Call Shirley at: 215.679.9275, Dawn:
215.679.2160 or email Doris: gmomdecker@yahoo.com
if you are interested in being part of this committee.
ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA
SAFE ENVIRONMENT PROGRAM
Office for Child & Youth
Protection
Protecting GodÕs children for
Adults Awareness
12.12.11:
Archdiocesan Office Center in Philadelphia at 6:30 pm
01.18.12:
Archdiocesan Office Center in Philadelphia at
6:30 pm
02.06.12:
Archdiocesan Office Center in Philadelphia at 6:30 pm
To register: www.virtus.org or call: 215.587.2466
SAINT
CHARLES BORROMEO
Seminary
Annual Appeal
Please generously support the
Annual Seminary Appeal!
The Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary
Annual Appeal kicks off during the month of November. Please consider
supporting the Seminary; and if possible, increasing your gift over what you
gave last year. The Seminary community is grateful to you for your faithful
support. Your tax-deductible gift helps to enhance the many resources needed
for priestly training and enables the Church to form holy, educated and
dedicated Priests.
PLEASE SEND YOUR DONATION TO:
Saint Charles
Borromeo Seminary
Office for
Development
100 E.
Wynnewood Road
Wynnewood PA
19096
TO MAKE A DONATION ONLINE:
Please visit:
www.scs.edu
Invest just five minutes a day, and
your faith will deepen and grow—a day at a time.
Sunday,
November 27, 2011
First Sunday of
Advent
The time is now
In an Advent
pastoral letter to his diocese, the 15th-century bishop of Milan and later
saint Charles Borromeo wrote: ÒBeloved, now is the acceptable time spoken of by
the Spirit . . . . This is the time eagerly awaited by the patriarchs and
prophets.Ó Note the saint is using the present tense: ÒNow isÓ; Òthis is.Ó
Advent has a way of reaching into the past and making ChristÕs coming a living
reality in the present. It also, however, looks ahead. In a time of preparing
to celebrate ChristÕs first Advent we ready ourselves for his second—as
Borromeo said in his letter: ÒThe church asks us to understand that Christ, who
came once in the flesh, is prepared to come again. When we remove all obstacles
to his presence he will come, at any hour and moment, to dwell spiritually in
our hearts.Ó
TodayÕs readings: Isaiah 63:16b-17, 19b; 64:2-7;
1 Corinthians
1:3-9; Mark 13:33-37 (2)
ÒBe watchful!
Be alert! You do not know when the time will come.Ó
Monday,
November 28
Advent weekday
Home sweet home
The town of
Capernaum served as Òhome baseÓ for much of JesusÕ Galilean ministry. He taught
in the synagogue there, and it is the scene of many of his healings, including
that of Saint PeterÕs mother-in-law. In fact it likely was the hometown of
Peter and of Andrew, the first disciples Jesus called. We all need to feel Òat
homeÓ somewhere. Planting roots helps us feel connected and to flourish and
make a contribution to the world. Do you feel Òat homeÓ where you live, connected
to your community? If not, what can you do to begin putting down roots? Jesus
knew he needed a home base in order to fulfill his mission. How about you?
TodayÕs readings: Isaiah 2:1-5;
Matthew
8:5-11 (175)
ÒWhen Jesus
entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him.Ó
Tuesday,
November 29
Advent weekday
Get wise
In these
times of war, political conflict, and growing poverty, itÕs hard to imagine a
state of affairs in which wisdom and justice reign and everything works
together for the good. Yet thatÕs exactly the possibility God has promised and
offered from the prophets to Jesus. The more the world knows the ways of
God—and the more it follows them—the closer we will get to that
place where all have what they need and act justly toward one another.
TodayÕs readings: Isaiah 11:1-10;
Luke 10:21-24
(176)
ÒThere shall
be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be filled with
knowledge of the Lord.Ó
Wednesday,
November 30
Feast of
Andrew, apostle
Pass it on
On the feast
of Andrew the apostle we might consider how significant it is that the church
is ÒapostolicÓ as well as one, holy, and catholic. While the leadership of the
church in 2,000-plus years has had its share of rascals, it has always been of
the highest importance that the followers of Christ trace their spiritual
ancestry to those original 12 because it was to them that Jesus entrusted his
mission and message. If people alive today trace back their faith to its origins,
they will come to Saint Andrew and to the thousands who have faithfully passed
on to us what they have received.
TodayÕs readings: Romans 10:9-18; Matthew 4:18-22 (684)
ÒFaith comes
from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.Ó
Thursday,
December 1
Advent weekday
Just believe
Scripture
makes a point of linking justice and faith. Isaiah spoke of the messiah to come
for whom Òjustice shall be the band around his waist, and faithfulness a belt
upon his hips.Ó Keeping faith and acting justly are two sides of the same coin
because fidelity to GodÕs commandments and laws—which, as Jesus said,
boils down to loving God and others with oneÕs whole self—will create a
world of justice. It starts with your commitment to love.
TodayÕs readings: Isaiah 26:1-6;
Matthew 7:21,
24-27 (178)
ÒOpen up the
gates to let in a nation that is just, one that keeps faith.Ó
Friday,
December 2
Advent weekday
Patience, people
Advent is a
season of waiting. Children eagerly await Christmas, and while the jingle and
jangle of this time may have many adults secretly waiting for Christmas to
pass, the liturgical season of Advent has a different purpose: Waiting on the
Lord is a spiritual practice with many hidden benefits. It involves the
cultivation of quiet patience and of realizing that our trials and struggles
may not pass in a day, but that with patience, prayer, and perseverance they
will indeed pass. With its darkening days and falling temperatures, this part
of the year offers the right ambiance for reflecting on the passage of time and
seasons past. Allow yourself some quiet time, some down time if you like. Let
the season work its quiet magic on you.
TodayÕs readings: Isaiah 29:17-24;
Matthew 9:27-31 (179)
ÒWait for the
Lord with courage; be stouthearted, and wait for the Lord.Ó
Saturday,
December 3
Feast of
Francis Xavier, priest
Go west, young missionaries
If Saint
Francis Xavier—considered the greatest Christian missionary after Saint
Paul—were alive today, what would his mission territory be? If he were to
follow the popeÕs advice, heÕd head to the West—that is, to the
industrialized nations of Europe and North America. In a statement about the
need for a new evangelization, Pope Benedict XVI said that in the West Òmany of
the baptized lead totally un-Christian lives and more and more persons maintain
some links to the faith but have little or poor knowledge of it.Ó The goal of missionaries
in the new evangelization is not to proselytize but rather to help Catholics
and Christians Òdiscover the richness they already possess.Ó Become a
missionary in the new evangelization: Invite a friend to sign up to receive Take
Five for Faith!
TodayÕs readings: Isaiah 30:19-21, 23-26; Matthew 9:35-10:1, 5a, 6-8
(180)
ÒJesus went
around to all the towns and villages,teaching in their synagogues.Ó
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