December 20th, 2015 Fourth Sunday of Advent

MASS SCHEDULE

Daily Mass: 6:30 & 8:00 a.m. Saturdays: 8:00 a.m. & 4:30 p.m. Sundays: 6:30, 8, 9:30 & 11 a.m.;

12:30 & 6 p.m. 1st Friday of the Month;

Adoration & 12:00 noon Mass

Confessions:

Saturdays 3:30-4:15 pm & by appointment.

Parish Staff

PASTOR: Fr. Christopher Bennett Ext. 135

PAROCHIAL VICARS: Rev. Anthony Uytingco Ext. 130

And Rev. Chady Segovia Ext. 143

DEACON: Deacon Bruce Zorio, Ext. 137

PARISH SECRETARIES: Gayle Blackford & Adrienne DiVittorio

BUSINESS & FACILITY MANAGER Elaine Blocher, Ext. 136

SAFE ENVIRONMENT Nancy Jolliff Ext. 133

RCIA To become Catholic: 269-2226

PARISH RECORDS: Sue Pershon Ext. 124

PASTORAL MINISTRY: 264-5114 Loretta Pfaff Ext. 131

YOUTH/YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY: Chris Miller - 408-395-7949

CATECHETICAL MINISTRY: 264-8764 Director: Sr. Felicia Gross, O.S.F.

Rel. Ed. Assistant: Diane Forst Elementary Sacrament Coordinator: Gina Park

OUTREACH OFFICE: 269-2226 Ext. 132 Director: Nancy Melander

Pantry Hours: 4:00-5:30pm Tuesday & Wednesday Call for Saturday Hours

Church address and office hours: 1576 Curtner Avenue, San Jose, CA. 95125

Parish Office: (408) 269-2226 Fax: (408) 269-2784 Web Site: www.saintchris.com

Office Hours: 8:30am-12:00 & 1:00-4:00pm Mon—Friday

ST. CHRISTOPHER SCHOOL: 408-723-7223

School web site: www.stchris.us Principal: Mrs. Corrine Buich

Vice Principals: Sr. Kieran O’Connor, P.B.V.M, Mrs. Jutta Brassill and Mrs. Kathy Carter

Business Manager: Mrs. Stephanie Houlihan Finance Manager: Divina Orogo

Development Director: Teresa Behan

Fourth Sunday of Advent December 20th, 2015

The parish office will be closed for Christmas starting Wednesday, December 23rd and re-open on Monday, January 4th. Have a safe and healthy holiday. We wish you and your family a blessed New Year.

After Christmas, Mass’s will be: Saturday, December 26th, 4:30pm Mass ONLY

Sunday, December 27th. Mass will be at 6:30am, 8:00, 9:30, 11:00 and 12:30pm ONLY

And December 28-31 8:00am weekly Mass ONLY

“And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling

clothes and lying in a manger.”

Saint Christopher Christmas Eve Mass

4:00pm, Mass Church and Healy Hall 4:00pm Children’s Mass in

Presentation High School Gym 6:00pm, 9:00pm and Midnight in the Church

Christmas Day

7:00am, 8:00am, 9:30am, 11:00am and 12:30pm

New Years Day Friday, January 1, 2016

9:30 am Mass Only

IN REMEMBRANCE Let us pray for all who have died, that they may rejoice with the Risen Lord,

especially:

Jaime Ramos and Donald McAbee

Dear Parishioners:

When a couple is expecting the first child, the father- and moth-er-to be will often discuss the changes that they will have to make in their pattern of living and the differences another person in the house will make. Yet parents will tell you that when the child is actually born, it was not that they had to make changes in their lives but they had a totally different life. The Visitation is an Advent reflection about the preparation for the coming of The Child into our lives as Mary prepared. The coming of Christ to us is not merely that we take on a different ritual of prayer or another code of ethics or a certain set of beliefs it is all that and more for we take on a new life. It might seem strange to find the story of the Visitation of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth, as it were, stuck in here on the eve of Christmas. However, behind the story, lies the whole world of the ancient Testament about to burst into new life in the glory of the New Covenant. We see both Mary and Elizabeth express a total acceptance of the situation that is almost beyond belief. Mary and Elizabeth had difficulties to cope with in their pregnancy. Mary was not yet living with Joseph and people would talk about who the father of the child might be. A greater burden would be how to explain to Joseph, how could he not be troubled over her? Elizabeth was too old for child-bearing and the rearing of a child could not have been an easy prospect. She had the added difficulty of a husband who had lost his speech! Such is the simple human background to the story Luke tells. Against its problems the strong faith of each stands out. Each trusts in the Lord, sure that he will fulfil his promise and ac-cepting to be involved in his purpose of salvation. Each could also reach out to the other in faith and trust. Their faith in God was not a private affair. They could share the joy of their common experience both of trusting in God and of being blessed by him in the children they are carrying. In their mutual recognition, they are for each other a source of strength and support with the joy that this brings. Often enough the last people to know what our faith means to us are those closest to us. Mary and Elizabeth each found themselves in a situation where probably they could not communicate with the men closest to them, but in their friendship they could find support to accept their situa-tion, waiting for the Lord's time to resolve it. Mary had a long sad and hard road to travel but so simply and graphically Luke portrays this moment of intensity in the life of Mary and Elizabeth (and John) that it could be described as untrammeled ecstasy. Mary is the one character in this gospel incident who remains a character through-out the full sweep of the story. There are people at the beginning and end but the mother of Jesus is always there and Luke shows her, after the Ascension, praying with the infant Church. Mary faced many questions it was not for her to answer and situations it was outside her providence to change. She realized she could not live continually in the joy of the Visitation yet it was a source of strength and it was out of this strength that she spoke the first great procla-mation of the teaching of her Son. Indeed it is true to say the Mary of the Magniftcat was the first Christian preacher. The mystery or unfolding of the Visitation is the story of each of our lives. Life is never the same once we have been honored with such a visit. There will be sadness and joy but also, in hope, there will be faith and serenity. Will our meetings be good news of support, under-standing and the unselfish love that is the sure way of saying also to God "Here I am, I come to do your will". In this way we, too, can be bearers of Christ - to his world and ours. Fr. Christopher Bennett

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS (408) 264-8764

Religious Education Office Hours: Office hours- Mon.–Thurs. Closed Fridays

8:30-a.m.-Noon and 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19 4:30 Yvonne Pine, Joe & Ann Serio, Carmen Jordan, Vito Fabrizio, Ed Buelna,

Harry Hamilton , William C. Rike

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20 6:30 Yvonne Pine, Helen Boshell, Eva Moses, William Ford 8:00 Yvonne Pine, Michael Giammona, Gary Filice, Eugenio Fortino, Peter Welch, Sandra Egan 9:30 Yvonne Pine, Fadi Zikoor, Patrick Heyden, Charles Gross, Marie Monahan, Ray Aub, Herta Catherine Markvardsen 11:00 Yvonne Pine, Mildred Vargas, Mildred Battagua, Carl Middione, Mrs. Salazar 12:30 Yvonne Pine, George Lassalle, Claire Holl,

Dorothy Pope, Claire Farrell 6:00 Yvonne Pine, Harry Hamilton, Alec Giurlani (sp int), Leo Cunningham

RCIA

A Jubilee Year of Mercy Pilgrimage to Poland & the Czech Republic

Including: Warsaw, Czestochowa, Krakow, Wadowice, Auschwitz, Brno & Prague

13 Days: October 5th to 17th, 2016 Under the Spiritual Direction of:

Most Rev. Patrick J. McGrath & Rev. Christopher Bennett

For more information Email: revbennett@sbcglobal.net or pick up a flyer in the Parish office or the back of the church

Adult Confirmation Register Tuesdays of January 7:15-9pm at 2278 Booksin in the Marian Room with Deacon Bruce

Confirmation Our next session for confirmation will be on Thursday, January 7th in Walsh Hall from 7 until 8:30 pm. Students are asked to bring their work-books to each session. Please contact Chris Miller at cmiller@dsj.org or 408-395-7949 for additional information.

Youth Group The next youth group sessions will be Sunday, January 10th from 7-8:30pm in Walsh Hall. See www.saintchris.com for additional information, including the full schedule for the year.

From the Religious Education Staff of St. Christopher Parish: We wish all of the parish families who have children enrolled in our various Rel. Ed. Programs a Blessed Christ-mas and a Happy New Year. We thank you for your continued support with the religious for-mation of your children. CHRISTMAS BREAK FOR ALL OF THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS: The Sunday Religious Ed. program, and the Liturgy of the Word program have a break from December 20th through January 3rd. Sunday Rel. Ed. and Liturgy of the Word will resume on January 10, 2016. The Tuesday Religious Education program has a break from December 15th through Dec. 29th and will resume on January 5th. THE JUNIOR HIGH REL.ED: The J r. Hi. Rel. Ed. gathering for 7th and 8th will be Jan. 10, 2016.

Youth Ministry News: Chris Miller (408)-395-7949

cmiller@dsj.org or parish website www.saintchris.com—Select youth link

The 6th Annual St. Christopher Parish Christmas Concert

Sunday, December 20th after the 6 p.m. Mass from 7:15 - 8:30 p.m. in the St. Christopher Church Bring your family and friends to enjoy this free Christmas Concert featuring two professional performers and our very own St. Christopher parishioners Peggy Schrader & Dave Coldren of the Rhythm & Truth Band. The Rhythm & Truth Band will perform a number of traditional Christmas and holiday songs as well as songs written and recorded by Peggy. This is a wonderful chance to get into the Advent and Christmas Season through song and music. Christ-mas cookies, hot coffee and hot chocolate will be served prior to the star t of the concert and during the short intermission. (No food or drink will be allowed in the church.) Sponsored by the Holy Name Society Damon Sparacino (damonsparacino@yahoo.com) and Greg Armanino (gregarm19@gmail.com).

PLEASE NOTE: There will be no

First Friday Adoration Mass

For January It will resume In February

Social Justice

St. Christopher Young Adults

WHEN: Sunday Afternoons, 1:30-3:00 pm (see below for exact dates)

WHERE: Walsh Hall @ St. Christopher Parish,

DETAILS: St. Christopher Young Adults are a group of parishioners ages 18 to 39, single and married, who are connected by our Catholic faith and who actively partici-pate in the life of the Church. Our mission is to “continue lifelong learning in a Catholic environment through spiritual growth, reflection, and service as we strengthen our relation with God though each other, our faith, and our community." The group strives to offer the following programmatic com-ponents on a rotating basis: faith sharing, social events, and service opportunities. Par ticipants are also encouraged to get involved with the liturgical ministries at the Parish.

Please join us on the following Sundays as we build communi-ty, break bread (lunch will be included), and deepen our faith and relationship with Jesus Christ:

Sunday, January 10 from 1:30 until 3 pm Sunday, January 24 from 1:30 until 3 pm

Sunday, February 21 from 1:30 until 3 pm

Please contact youth and young adult ministry coordinator Chris Miller at 408-395-7949 or cmiller@dsj.org.

We look forward to seeing you at an upcoming event!

In our own time, there are so many needs which demand a com-passionate response from Christians…how can it be that even today there are still people dying of hunger? Condemned to illiteracy? Lacking the most basic medical care? Without a roof over their heads? John Paul II, Novo Millennio Ineunte, 50 All people are made in the very image of God and God is incar-nate in our image. Poor people in obscure villages, political leaders in Washington children growing up in the inner city, students at elite universi-ties, single parents struggling to make it, prisoners, refugees landless farmers, women, the elderly, and those caught up in war are all human beings with dignity. All people should be greeted with a sincere “Blessed are you…..” The selection from Micah ends with the line “He shall be peace.” We receive a special challenge in light of ongoing war in Syria and the dozens of other active conflicts around our world. In his 2005 Christmas Eve homily Benedict XVI said: “Christ gives himself to us and, in doing so, gives us his peace. He gives it to us so that we can carry the light of peace within and give it to others. He gives it to us so that we can become peacemakers and builders of peace in the world. And so we pray: Lord fulfill your promise ! Where there is con-flict, give birth to peace ! Where there is hatred, make love spring up !Where darkness prevails, let light shine. Make us heralds of your peace ! Amen.” December 20: International Human Solidarity Day http:///social.un.org./index/InternationalDays/InternationalHumanSolidarit… Any questions or comments please direct them to: Thomas Walsh tlsculpt@sbcglobal.net

Attention Please Parents and Children! An exciting new children’s choir is being formed here at St. Christopher’s to sing at the 9:30am Mass once a month. Mark your calendar. The first Mass the choir will sing at, will be Sunday, January 17th at 9:30am. Rehearsal will take place before Mass at 8:15 in the Walsh Hall. A flyer will follow up soon with more information. If you have any questions, call Loretta in the Parish office at 408-264-5114 or email: Loretta.pfaff@stchrissj.org

ANNUAL MEMORIAL MASS A special Mass of Remembrance for all our loved ones who died in 2015, will be held on Wednesday, January 20, 2016 at 7:00pm. If your loved one passed away in 2015, whether or not they were a pa-rishioner here, you are invited to attend. If you would like them included in the photo presentation during Mass, please submit a photo of them as soon as possible. Include the name of the deceased, the name & address of the person the photo should be returned to. You may mail or drop off to Loretta Pfaff, Msgr. Allen Center 2278 Booksin Ave., SJ 95125 or by email to: loretta.pfaff@stchrissj.org. All parishioners, family and friends are invited to join in this special com-memoration of our deceased loved ones. There will be a light reception following the Mass sponsored by St. Christopher Grief Ministry. Questions, call Loretta, 264-5114.

Did you know that we have an Online Giving pro-gram here at St. Christopher Parish? Our Online Giving program allows you to donate using your VI-SA, Mastercard, or bank account. Donations can be made for the Sunday Offering as well as most Sec-ond Collections and the Parish Renewal Fund. Why use the Online Program? Because gifts are done electronically you will no longer need to worry about remembering to bring your envelopes to church. It also allows you to use VISA or Master-card so you will be able to earn your miles or other awards on your credit cards. You can access our secure site by using the link on our parish website at www.SaintChris.com. Thank you in advance for you support of our parish.

CHRISTMAS ALTAR & FLOWER FUND To share in decorating the altar for Christmas, you may donate to the Christmas Altar and Flower Fund in memory of a loved one or as a sign of raise and worship. Special enve-lopes are available in the vestibule of

the Church or you may use a plain envelope. En-close the names of those you would like remem-bered with your donation and either drop in the col-lection basket or at the Parish Office.

CHRISTMAS FLOWER OFFERING IN MEMORY OF:

Sarah Carolyn DeCarli, Don DeCarli, Steven DeCarli, Bernice DeCarli, Ed & Agnes Wallace, Mar-yAnn Wallace, Donald Wallace, Karen Wallace, Helen Blackford, Danny Blackford, Eva Hazen, Eleanor Agu-lara, Eleanor Alexander, Frank & Josephine DeMarlo,

Anita & Pedro Roa, Michael Hausler, Bud Cabral, Man-ael & Evelyn Perry, Marlene Williamson, Jean Taddie, William C. Rike, Martha Martin, Cheryl Moses, Allen

Orlando, Paul & Mary Sue Simon, Bill & Loretta Bunce, John & Lena Hickey, Jim & Vernon Hickey, Maurice &

Mary Hickey, David Muller, Margaret Spencer, Ann Parsons, Alexandrine Rankin, Decesed Members of the Levin and Harper Families, Maria Serio, Mobeck family loved ones, Otto & Wilma Sorensen, Eugene Olszewski,

William & Mabel Crank, Dean Olszewski, Jadwiga Dlugopolski, Richard Olszewski, Rosa P. Morrone, Jo-sephina Morano, Deceased members of Stone & Grego-

ry family, William Romito, Familia Reyes,Nicole, Damian, Affre, Doreen, Nandi, William & Shella

Sweeney, Marietje Ryke, Van Ho, William & Helen Percy, Charles & Lena Cisi

St. Christopher Parish Children’s Christmas Eve Mass

The students of St. Christopher Religious Education Program, students of St. Christopher School, and children in our Parish, Grades 1-8, are invited to participate in the Children’s Christ-mas Eve Mass that will be celebrated on December 24th at 4:00pm in the Presentation High School Gym. If your child(ren) is interested in participating in this liturgy it is “MANDATORY” that he/she/they attend both practices. Please note that we are practicing in two different locations.

*Practice in Presentation Gym Wednesday, 12/23 @ 3:30-4:30 (choir only)

4:30-6:00 (readers/non-readers)

Religious Ed students please email Sr. Felicia srfelicia.gross@stchrissj.org Parishioners/St. Chris Students please email Debbie Carey debfcarey4@gmail.com

Lord Jesus Christ, you have taught us to be merciful like the heavenly Father, and have told us

that whoever sees you sees Him. Show us your face and we will be saved.

Your loving gaze freed Zacchaeus and Matthew from being enslaved by mon-

ey; the adulteress and Magdalene from seeking hap-piness only in created things; made Peter weep after his betrayal, and assured Paradise to the repentant thief. Let us hear, as if addressed to each one of us, the words that you spoke to the Samaritan woman:

“If you knew the gift of God!”

You are the visible face of the invisible Father, of the God who manifests his power above all by for-giveness and mercy: let the Church be your visible face in the world, its Lord risen and glorified. You willed that your ministers would also be clothed in

weakness in order that they may feel compassion for those in ignorance and error: let everyone who approaches them feel sought after, loved, and

forgiven by God.

Send your Spirit and consecrate every one of us with its anointing, so that the Jubilee of Mercy may be a year of grace from the Lord, and your Church, with renewed enthusiasm, may bring good news to the

poor, proclaim liberty to captives and the oppressed, and restore sight to the blind.

We ask this of you, Lord Jesus, through the intercession of Mary, Mother of Mercy; you who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit

for ever and ever. Amen.

Vigil Location: Planned Parenthood 1691 The Alameda, San Jose, CA 95126

Vigil Hours: 7AM—7 PM every day Local Contact: Pat 408-497-7270

INFORMATION FOR REPORTING COMPLAINTS OR ALLEGATIONS OF

SEXUAL MISCONDUCT: DIOCESE OF SAN JOSE

THE OFFICE FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN AND VULNERABLE ADULTS

1150 North First Street, Suite 100 San Jose, CA 95112

Complaints or allegations of Sexual misconduct may be reported via:

PHONE: 408-983-0113 EMERGENCY HOTLINE: 408-983-0141

EMAIL: protection@djs.org FAX: 408-983-0147

The Christopher Ministry provides meals to parish-ioners during times of temporary crisis or hardship. If you or a fellow parishioner needs the help of the Christophers’, please contact the Ministry Chairper-sons. Also, please consider becoming a Christopher and helping provide this important and comforting service to members within the community. Thank you in advance for your support.

Caroline Begg Karen Warford (408) 267-7820 (408) 266-7441 fcgardhouse@yahoo.com karenvijil@yahoo.com

Attention Online Giving Donors: If you have donations posted to your credit card and you have been issued a new credit card by your bank for what ever reason, please be sure and log on to your Online Giving Profile and update your account information. You can access the Online Giving Site by using the link on our Parish Website, www.SaintChris.com. If you have any questions

Thank you for your continued support of our Parish.

Please Pray For Us

We continue to pray for all the men and women serving our country

in this time of war:

Alex Ngo, Tim McCullough, Joey Bellomo, Nick Badagliacco, Matthew Ward, Angelo

Totanes, Ciro LoBono, Tyler Hammerness, Branden Alwine, Greg Cook, Connor

McDonald, Christian Dietz, Connor Quinn, Adam Christopher Madewell, Richard Stayskal,

Larry Chartier, Andrew Morgan, Derek Carroll, Al-len Ellerbee, Obadihah Petteway, Eric Gentrup,

Michael Arnone, David Wells, Ryan Trapani, Rafi Miranda, Spencer Fishman, Ryan A. Johnson, Da-

vid Ryan, Benjamin Owens-Filice, Christopher Healy, and Christine Doudell

Loydene Kiley Rick Lovoy

Alec Giurlani Nina Ratulowski

Connie Himmelsbach Lois Nemeth

Shannon Flynn Vera Gutierrez Dorothy Mariles

Ed Dimsey Gregoria Poole Roberta Enright,

Dave Paul, Anthony Cardoza,

Lily Rabanal, Virginia Dalziel,

Carol Whelan, Valerie Shupp,

Michael Scullion, Lenore Luedeman,

Paul Russo, Marcus Espinoza,

Cornell Wade, Marty Rattay, Roy LeFevre,

Martha & Charles Gregersen,

Dave Oliverio, Margret Gaffaney,

Al & Jean Trznadel, and Lena Iaconis

Pray for the ill in our Parish

St. Christopher Catholic School invites you to ap-ply for the 2016-2017 school year. Applications for Kindergarten through 8th grade will be accept-ed from December 2nd through January 11th. Applications can be found online at www.schris.us or picked up at the school's office. Any questions please call Stephanie Houlihan at 408.723.7223 x0