Holy Spirit Catholic Church December 18, 2016
From The Pastor’s Desk Weekly Readings & Activities
Sunday, Dec. 18 Is 7:10-14; Rom 1:1-7; Mt 1:18-24 Monday, Dec. 19 Jgs 13:2-7; 24-25a; Lk 1:5-25 Tuesday, Dec. 20 Is 7:10-14; Lk 1:26-38 Wednesday, Dec. 21 Sg 2:8-14; Lk 1:39-45 Thursday, Dec. 22 1 Sm 1:24-28; Lk 1:46-56 Friday, Dec. 23 Mal 3:1-4, 23-24; Lk 1:57-66 Saturday, Dec. 24 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Lk 1:67-79 Sunday, Dec. 25 Is 52:7-10; Heb 1:1-6; Jn 1:1-18
Sunday, Dec. 18 FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT 8:00 a.m. Holy Mass—Juana Jara 8:30 a.m. Sunday Morning Food & Fellowship 9:00 a.m. HSCC Library Open (until 11:30 a.m.) 9:15/11:15 a.m. Children’s Faith Formation 9:15 a.m. Adult Clusters 1 “Acts” 9:30 a.m. Holy Mass— Bill & Eleanor McCaskill 11:15 a.m. Adult Cluster 3 “Estudio Biblico” 11:30 a.m. Holy Mass—Marion Weis 1:00 p.m. Childcare Staff Meeting 5:30 p.m. Holy Mass—Daniel Umipie 6:30 p.m. Youth Ministry Monday, Dec. 19 8:30 a.m. Holy Mass—Joyce McCann
Tuesday, Dec. 20 8:30 a.m. Holy Mass— Ruben Charles Ortiz, Sr. 9:00 a.m. Distribution of Angel Tree & Christmas Food Boxes 1:00 p.m. Distribution of Angel Tree & Christmas Food Boxes 7:30 p.m. K of C Officer’s Meeting Wednesday, Dec. 21 St. Peter Canisius 8:30 a.m. Holy Mass—Jim Fabish 9:30 a.m. Legion of Mary 12:00 p.m. PASTORAL OFFICES CLOSED— Staff Christmas Party 6:00 p.m. Confessions 6:00 p.m. Family Prayer Group Thursday, Dec. 22 8:30 a.m. Holy Mass—Herb DeLeon 7:30 p.m. Choir Practice Friday, Dec. 23 St. John of Kanty
*****PASTORAL OFFICES CLOSED**** 8:30 a.m. Holy Mass— Intentions of Gabe Evans 9:00 a.m. Holy Hour Saturday, Dec. 24 Vigil of Christmas 10:00 a.m. Children & Youth Christmas Choir Practice 5:30 p.m. Holy Mass—Vinci Lanza Youth Ministry Coat Drive 8:30 p.m. Holy Mass—Marty Butler Sunday, Dec. 25 Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) 12:00 Midnight Holy Mass—Intentions of SGM Wilford Banchs 8:00 a.m. Holy Mass—God’s Mercy on the Backsliders 9:30 a.m. Holy Mass— God’s Mercy on my Family 11:30 a.m. Holy Mass—God’s Mercy on all who did not enter The Door of Mercy
To live is to make decisions. Decision after decision builds the fabric of our lives. Just as brick upon brick builds a house, so do our decisions build our lives. And just as we wouldn’t ignore the types of bricks we would use to build a house, so we must not ignore the kinds of decisions we make in building our lives.
How many times life is not clear – the future uncertain and yet find ourselves faced with a decision that we must make. Many times we play it safe and, rather than choosing God’s way, we choose the safe and secure way to go. On this last Sunday before Christmas, the Church gives us Joseph as a model for how we are to welcome Christ, Joseph trusted in God – this gave him the power to accept and live through a very confusing and distressing time in his life. His decisions, and the actions that followed from it, were out of keeping with a legalistic and narrow perspective. His trust in God greatly broadened how he looked at life. Despite the problems involved, Joseph accepted his responsibility because he saw it as the will of God. He welcomed Jesus. Imagine what might have happened if Joseph had decided not to trust God. What he would have missed. How his life would have been so very different.
Acting out in commitment to love is a fearful thing, and it demands of us the greatest trust in God. We sometimes leave God out of our important decisions. We’re usually concerned about how a certain decision will affect us. Will it make me happier, give me more pleasure, more money? Or we may be thinking about how it will affect others. Will a certain decision bring some happiness or satisfaction to an-other person, or will it cause them pain or disturb them? Most of us don’t want our decisions to hurt others. But, sometimes what we decide can cause harm to other people. At times it can become very difficult to know what the right thing to do is. And yet, in all of our decisions we have to make room for God and for will of God.
The feast of Christmas is the strongest reminder that God takes us seriously. God sent his Son. Now we must take God seriously – not only alluding to God when it seems ap-propriate but at all times and in all circumstances – espe-cially in our decisions. Joseph was at a crossroads in his life. He was staring down two different paths – one included Mary and her unborn child. The other was leading perhaps to some other woman as his future wife. Because he left his decision open to the influence of God, he was able to make a life-giving decision.
In a week we will be asked to once again open our hearts in welcome to Jesus and to all of his children. May we be open to accepting him with joy and welcome just as our brother Joseph once did.
Please pray for the Souls in Purgatory!
Holy Spirit Catholic Church December 18, 2016
Sacramental Preparation Youth Ministry
Finances
IRA CHARITABLE ROLLOVER: NOW PERMANENT LAW Each IRA owner >70 ½ years may make a transfer, up to $100,000 per year, to a qualified charity. IRA Charitable Rollovers are tax-free and not included in adjusted gross income. An IRA Charitable Rollover may fulfill part or all of your required minimum distribution (RMD). To learn how you and Holy Spirit can benefit, contact your financial advisor or Ann Picha, x44 in the Parish Office. Due to an early bulletin deadline, the financials are not available.to report for the weekend of Dec. 10 & 11.
Altar flowers this week were donated in memory of Nicolas A. Ramos by friends and family. The Sanctuary Lamp will burn this week in honor of Jack & Juanita Ramsden requested by Mary Flusche.
Join us TONIGHT for our Christmas party! Wear your ugly sweater and come prepared for our wrapping paper fashion show! After tonight our next Sunday night meeting will be Jan. 8! Thank you to everyone who bought a poinsettia to support our Youth Stand for Life trip! We have around 50 teens and chaperones attending the trip and we are so appreciative of all the support you show our teens who stand up for life! Our March For Life Washington DC trip is FULL! However, there are still spots for the Dallas Catholic Youth Conference! All registrations are done online this year. This will be a great conference for 9th-12th graders including national speakers, great workshops, and uplifting praise and worship! For more information, email [email protected].
With the holiday season in full swing, there will be NO sacrament preparation meetings until Jan. 15. Enjoy this special time with family and friends but remember all At Home Faith Activities and baptismal certificate copies are due by Sunday, Jan. 2! Information and paperwork regarding infant Baptism (ages 6 and under) may be directed to Lisa Estrada, x12. The next baptismal preparation class for parents and godparents will be Saturday, Jan. 14, 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Look for information about our new parish electronic communication tool coming soon!
The Pastoral offices will be closed on the following days in observance of the Christmas and New Year’s holidays:
Friday, Dec. 23 Monday, Dec. 26 Monday, Dec. 30 Monday, Jan. 2
Christmas Eve, Saturday, Dec. 24—Children’s Mass (past year’s attendance: 860) 5:30 p.m.
Christmas Eve, Saturday, Dec. 24—Vigil Mass (past year’s attendance: 567) 8:30 p.m.
Please note: There will be no 8:30 a.m. Mass or 3:30 p.m. Confession on this day
Christmas Day, Sunday, Dec. 25—Midnight Mass (past year’s attendance: 686) 12:00 a.m. Christmas Day, Sunday, Dec. 25 8:00, 9:30 & 11:30 a.m.
New Year’s Eve, Saturday, Dec. 31—Vigil Mass 5:30 p.m. Please note: There will be no 8:30 a.m. Mass or 3:30 p.m. Confession on this day. Solemnity of Blessed Virgin Mary, Sunday, Jan. 1 HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION 8:00, 9:30 & 11:30 a.m.
The Nursery will be CLOSED Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Eve & New Year’s Day. It will reopen for the 9:30 a.m. & 11:30 a.m. Sunday Masses on Jan 8.
Holy Spirit Catholic Church December 18, 2016
Catechists, don’t forget our annual Epiphany Coffee Bar and voluntary Secret Santa Gift Exchange is scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 8 from 8:30-11:30 a.m., Room 106. So while you’re out picking up gifts for the holidays, grab a gift, $5.00 or less, to exchange with your fellow catechists. Attention Parents! On Sunday, Jan. 22, children in Grades Kindergarten through 3rd will be attending Mass as a class, as part of their lessons on the liturgy and sacraments. Additionally, Grades 4-6 will be attending a “teaching” Mass in the gym. Please mark your calendars NOW so as not to forget. It will be imperative that your children arrive to class on time (that’s 9:15 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.) to attend Mass and ensure an orderly flow for seating. Children arriving after 9:25 a.m. or 11:25 a.m. will be sent with their parents to attend Mass as a family. We appreciate your cooperation very much! This trip to Mass has become a much anticipated part of our curriculum and enjoyed, we hope, by the children. Parents, you are also cordially invited to attend our “teaching” Mass in the Gym, which will be facilitated by Deacon Paul.
Due to early bulletin deadlines, we are unable to share specifics on our Breakfast with St. Nick from last Sunday! But never fear! We’ll catch up! Watch for more information in next week’s bulletin. We still have our adorable EMOJI TOTE BAGS available for purchase! If you’re looking for a last minute Christmas gift, we have one for you! Stop by the Community Center front desk to pick one...or two...up for a $10.00 donation. Donations will go to purchase Bibles for the 1st Grade classrooms, as well as Children’s Mass Books for our upcoming Teaching Masses. Oops! I completely forgot to profusely thank Olimpia & Isabel McAllister and Esther & Phillip Jasso for their outstanding help with our Polar Express Family Movie Night! You guys were totally awesome! Thank you very much!
There are NO Faith Formation classes on
Christmas Sunday, Dec. 25 or
New Year’s Day, Jan. 1
in order to celebrate this joyous holiday season.
Classes resume on Sunday, Jan. 8!
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from the Faith Formation Office!
Holy Spirit Catholic Church December 18, 2016
Adult & Family Ministry
For information about any of our Adult & Family Ministry programs, please Email: Richard Johnson: [email protected]
Veronica Houston: [email protected]
Community Life Ministry
Outreach Ministry
A New Year’s Eve Celebration!
Saturday, Dec. 31 8:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m., Community Center Gym
Cost: $25 per person Attire: Holiday Casual
A night of fun with friends and family while enjoying DJ Gus Garza, hors d’oeuvres, beer & wine, and a
champagne toast at midnight
Advance ticket purchase required Tickets available in the Narthex after each Mass
or at the Community Center during business hours Last Chance to Buy: Dec. 27, 5:00 p.m.
No Tickets Will be Sold at Door
For more information contact: Mary Lindsey (972) 824-3677, [email protected]
Sponsored by ACTS
33 Days to Merciful Love. Fr. Michael Gait ley p r e p a r e s u s f o r Consecration to Divine Mercy through the “Little Way” of St. Thérèse. Tuesdays, 7:00-9:00 p.m. faci l i tated by Kathy Johnson. Starts Jan. 10.
More info and register at: www.holyspiritcatholic.com/adult-faith-formation
New Adult classes starting in January!
Psalms: The School of Prayer. Sundays 9:15-10:30 a.m., facilitated by John & Anne Owen. Starts Jan. 8.
Introduction to the Bible! Mondays 9:15-11:15 a.m., facilitated by Angela Harris. Starts Jan. 23.
Sunday Morning Food and Fellowship TODAY: Tamales by Catholic Daughters Join us in the Gym for some Christmas Tamales. Don’t forget to pick up your order form November. Next Sunday, Dec, 25: Christmas Break We will be off for the Christmas Break on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. We’ll see everyone back on Jan. 8.
Our Lady of Guadalupe THANK YOU! Thank you to everyone who helped make our Mass & Celebration such a wonderful event. It took so many GREAT Volunteers to make it all happen.
God Bless Everyone & Merry Christmas!
Exercise Class will NOT MEET on Wednesday, Dec. 21, Monday, Dec. 26., and Wednesday, Dec. 28. Class will resume after the new year on Wednesday, Jan. 4. ESL Classes will NOT MEET for the during the Christ-mas school break Monday, Dec. 19
— Thursday, Jan. 5.
Bryan’s House: We are raising money for Bryan’s House, a privately-funded organization that ministers to infants and children with special needs including HIV. You will find the “little red socks” in the Narthex. Please put your filled little socks in the collection basket or drop them off at the front desk in the Community Center. Please give generously. Checks should be made out to Holy Spirit. The Outreach office will send the contributions to Bryan’s House in January. Save the Date! The Annual Roe v. Wade Mass, March and Rally will be held Saturday, Jan.14 in downtown Dallas. This is an event you won’t want to miss! Please watch the bulletin for further details.
Inclement Weather Reminder: Out of concern for the safety of our staff and parishioners, we will follow the Duncanville ISD’s schedule for bad weather days. If DISD schools close, we will also be closed. Any activities or classes for that day/evening will be also cancelled.
