Abigail Santos (Div. 3, 6-8 grade) 11-14 year old, 1st place Council and District Competitions of The Knights of Columbus 2018 Keep Christ in Christmas Poster Contest.

ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC CHURCH Phone # 703-880-4300 HERNDON, VIRGINIA http://www.sjcherndon.org December 22, 2019

MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK

ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC CHURCH Phone # 703-880-4300 HERNDON, VIRGINIA FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT December 22, 2019

Saturday, December 21 8:00 a.m. + Osvaldo Bustos by The Sobalvarro Bustos Family 5:00 p.m. + Clarence Dauer by Jeffrey Dauer Sunday, December 22 7:00 a.m. + Edward Lisiewski by Lisa Pearce 8:30 a.m. - Samantha Wong & Kaila Pagulayan by Paul Pagulayan 10:00 a.m. - Living and Deceased Parishioners of St. Joseph Parish 11:30 a.m. + Rhonda Lapierre by The Schaefer Family 1:00 p.m. + Henry Daniels by Karen & Mike Prendergast 3:30 p.m. - Spanish Mass 5:00 p.m. + Romulo Neag by The Neag Family Monday, December 23 6:30 a.m. + Kenneth Baker by his mother 8:00 a.m. + Eduardo Rodrigues by Urania Rodrigues Tuesday, December 24 - Christmas Eve 8:00 a.m. + Elizabeth Laurick by The Boye Family 4:00 p.m. + Rachel & William Laughrige by The Laughrige (Church) Family 4:00 p.m. + Tim Cotter by his mother (Hall) 6:00 p.m. + Joseph Francis Paraiso by his Family 8:00 p.m. + Jesus Vasquez by Ivy Dumlao Wednesday, December 25 - Christmas Day 8:00 a.m. - In Thanksgiving by Edna Manlangit 10:00 a.m. + Richard Canavan by The Schaefer Family 12:00 p.m. + Paul Judson White by Juanita White 3:30 p.m. - Spanish Mass Thursday, December 26 8:00 a.m. + Josephine Salvatore by The Kornman Family Friday, December 27 6:30 a.m. - For the intentions of Rue Quizon by Edna Manlangit 8:00 a.m. - For the intentions of Pacita Stewart by Pacita Stewart Saturday, December 28 8:00 a.m. + Walter J. Dobranski by The Dobranski Family 5:00 p.m. + Roy Prince by The Selestay Family Sunday, December 29 7:00 a.m. + Hal Launders by Jeffrey Fairfield 8:30 a.m. + John Diciurcio by Harriet & Harry Ulrich 10:00 a.m. - 56th Wedding Anniversary of Tony & Mary DeBenedittis 11:30 a.m. - Living and Deceased Parishioners of St. Joseph Parish 1:00 p.m. + Horacio Saenz by The Saenz Family 3:30 p.m. - Spanish Mass 5:00 p.m. + Gary Swank by The Moriarty & Toole Families

CHRISTMAS/NEW YEAR’S SCHEDULE

Tuesday, December 24 8:00 a.m.

Masses for Christmas Eve

4:00 p.m. Mass in Parish Hall

4:00 p.m. Mass in Church 6:00 p.m.; 8:00 p.m. (Choir)

Masses for Christmas Day,

Wednesday, December 25, 2019 8:00 a.m.; 10:00 a.m.; Noon;

3:30 p.m. Spanish Mass

Tuesday, New Year’s Eve December 31, 2019

6:30 a.m., 8:00 a.m. & 5:00 p.m. Feast of the Solemnity of Mary

the Holy Mother of God

Wednesday, New Year’s Day, January 1, 2020

Feast of the Solemnity of Mary The Holy Mother of God

8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m., Spanish 3:30 p.m.

Please note: There will be no 5 p.m. Mass.

“Make this Advent and Christmas different than previous years. Commit to Just One Yes. It will change you, your

family, your community, and, like Mary's powerful “yes” to God, it can change the world.” Bishop Burbidge

What is #JOY?

How can you experience more JOY this Advent and Christ-mas? Our #JustOneYes (JOY) movement encourages all in the diocese to increase their connection to God. How can you join the movement? Commit to a daily Rosary, daily Mass, your favorite prayer, or an extra holy hour a week, something that brings you closer to Christ. Register your JustOneYes at www.arlingtondiocese.org/JustOneYes. Text JustOneYes to (833) 602-8554 to receive weekly encour-agement during the Advent/Christmas Season to complete your “yes”!

ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC CHURCH Phone # 703-880-4300 HERNDON, VIRGINIA http://www.sjcherndon.org December 22, 2019

The Youth Ministry Corner A en on High School Students! There will be no Sunday Night

Youth Ministry on December 22nd and 29th.

See you on January 5th!

For more informa on, contact Jenn Chmiel at:

jchmiel@sjcherndon.org.

The Parish staff wishes to thank the following parish ministries: We thank all of our parishioners who share their time, talent, and treasure with the parish community. The commitment of the parishioners ranges from their involvement in the ministries of the parish; or-ganizations associated with the parish; participation in the weekly offertory program or Faith Direct; par-ticipation in the daily 6:30 am and 8:00 am Masses; praying the rosary each day in the Church; praying before the Blessed Sacrament on Wednesday eve-nings and First Fridays; faithful participation in the weekend Masses; etc. We are blessed as a faith com-munity to have many individuals sharing their time, talent, and treasure with the parish community, Dio-cese, and local community.

Merry Christmas! Joyeux Noël! Buon Natale! Feliz Navidad! Chuć Mưǹg Giańg Sinh! 'Meri kris-mas' (메리 크리스마스)! Maligayang Pasko!

PASTORAL TEAM Father Tom Bourque, T.O.R., Pastor Father Alberto Bueno, T.O.R., Parochial Vicar Father David Dodd, T.O.R., Parochial Vicar Father Pat Whittle, T.O.R., Weekend Assistant ROOM/HALL RENTALS - PRIVATE BOOKINGS Director of Facilities Mr. Danny Rucker 703-880-4340 And Events

PARISH OFFICES - Hours - 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Monday - Friday CHURCH OFFICE: 703-880-4300, FAX: 703-880-4320

The Parish Offices will be closed December 24, 25, and 26 for Christmas. We wish you all a very Merry and Blessed Christmas season.

ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC CHURCH Phone # 703-880-4300 HERNDON, VIRGINIA http://www.sjcherndon.org December 22, 2019

Maximo Acevedo Roberto Alcalde Kay Allen Kristen Coughlan Quinn Gorman Jim Holt

Mary Kish Dan Schaefer Jose Silva, Sr. Lawrence Wasko Wilbur Wingo

Merry Christmas from TMIY!!

TUESDAY NIGHTS & FRIDAY MORNINGS RESUMES January 7 & 10

That Man is You! gives you the opportunity to go deeper in your faith. TMIY is an interactive, multi-media men’s program focused on the development of authentic male leadership. Each lesson successively considers men in their relationship to God, to their spouse and to their children. TESTIMONIAL I had wanted to change my life to align with Christ for years but lacked the persistence to stick with it. The men at TMIY encouraged me to have the strength to embrace the Gospel and the love and forgiveness that God has for me and for all of us. — CJ, St. Joes Parishioner since 2016 Come join the Men of our Parish in enriching relationships with both Christ and family.

All men are invited to attend TMIY (Room 209)

Tuesday evenings at 7pm OR Friday mornings at 6:30a.m.

For more information contact Jack (jmatneytmiy@gmail.com) or Steve (mundts@aol.com).

CATECHISM CLASSES RESUME January, (Sat.) 4th, (Sun.) 5th, (Mon.) 6th, & (Tue.) 7th

The Knights of Columbus make a difference – Nearly two million men around the world have found that the Knights of Columbus adds something significant to their lives regardless of their schedules or commitments. Learn more at www.kofc.org/joinus or contact Jerry Fris-sora at jafrissora@comcast.net or Tom Matula at tmatu-la2@verizon.net.

Upcoming events: January 2 - Knights of Columbus Council Meeting January 11 - Sweats for Vets Distribution January 19 - Doughnut Sunday January 19 - Blood Drive January 20 - Free Throw Contest January 24 - March for Life Rosary/Mass

Especially for the sick of our parish:

A Christmas Gift for you!

Through the generosity of a benefactor, there are copies of this book in the vestibule of the Church. Please take a copy of the book for yourself or a friend.

“This is not just another book about the saints. Both personal and

practical, this book proves the saints are not long gone, but alive and well--and ready to join you on your journey! Discover how inviting the saints into your everyday life will open your eyes to the amaz-ing possibilities God has in store for you!” (Dynamic Catholic)

ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC CHURCH Phone # 703-880-4300 HERNDON, VIRGINIA FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT December 22, 2019

A REFLECTION ON A FRANCISCAN

CHRISTMAS TRADITION

Peace and good! As we prepare to celebrate the Solemni-ty of The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas), I would like to share the story of Francis of Assisi and his contribution to the tradition of the Christmas crèche (crib). I invite you to reflect on Francis’ visit to Greccio. We read the fol-lowing in the The Life of Francis by Thomas of Celano:

It happened, three years prior to his death, that he (Francis) decided to celebrate at the town of Greccio the memory of the birth of the Child Jesus with the greatest possible solemnity, in order to arouse devo-tion. So that this would not be considered a type of novelty, he petitioned for and obtained permission from the Supreme Pontiff. He had a manger prepared, hay carried in and an ox and an ass led to the spot. The brethren are sum-moned, the people arrive, the forest amplifies with their cries, and that venerable night is rendered bril-liant and solemn by a multitude of bright lights and by resonant and harmonious hymns of praise. The man of God stands before the manger, filled with piety, bathed in tears, and overcome with joy. A solemn Mass is celebrated over the manger, with Francis, a levite of Christ, chanting the holy Gospel. Then he preaches to the people standing around him about the birth of the poor King, whom, whenever he means to call him, he called in his tender love, the Babe from Bethlehem. A certain virtuous and truthful knight, Sir John of Greccio, who had abandoned worldly military activ-ity out of love of Christ and had become an intimate friend of the man of God, claimed that he saw a beautiful little child asleep in that manger whom the blessed father Francis embraced in both of his arms and seemed to wake it from sleep. Not only does the holiness of the witness make cred-ible the vision of the devout knight, but also the

A REFLECTION ON A FRANCISCAN CHRISTMAS TRADITION Cont’d…

truth it expresses proves its validity and the subse-quent miracles confirm it. For Francis's example, when considered by the world, is capable of arous-ing the hearts of those who are sluggish in the faith of Christ. The hay from the crib was kept by the people and miraculously cured sick animals and drove away different kinds of pestilence. Thus God glorified his servant in every way and demonstrated the efficacy of his holy prayer by the evident signs of wonderful miracles. (1 Cel, 30)

The tradition of the crèche (or crib) originates with Fran-cis of Assisi and is a Franciscan contribution to the cele-bration of Christmas. I invite you to read and reflect upon Pope Francis’ Apostolic Letter (2019, December 1), Ad-mirabile signum (On the meaning and importance of the nativity scene). Know that the Franciscan Friars and the Parish Staff will remember you and your family in our prayers during this Christmas Season. In the peace of Francis of Assisi,

Reference: Armstrong, R., Hellman, W., & Short, W. (1999). Francis of Assisi: Early Documents. New York, NY: New City Press, Chapter 30.