HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE

Celebration of the Eucharist Saturday Vigil—4:00PM Sunday—8:30AM and 11:00AM

Weekday Schedule Communion Service: Monday and Friday at 9:00 AM

Mass: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 9:00 AM

PASTORAL STAFF

Dr. Kathie Sousa Deacon Mark Leonard Fr Don Rutherford Sacramental Minister

PARISH LIFE CENTER

2416 7th Avenue Watervliet, NY 12189 (518) 273-6020/Fax: (518) 273-3978 Email: info@ihm.rcpw.org Website: www.rcpw.weebly.com

Office Hours: Mon—Thurs: 8:30am—3:30pm Friday—10:30am—3:30pm

Administrative Assistant Judith Pope: jpope@ihm.rcpw.org

Secretary Mary Beth Knapik

Archivist Thomas Hanley: thanley@ihm.rcpw.org

FAITH FORMATION &

YOUTH MINISTRY CENTER

2425 7th Avenue (518) 328-0427

Coordinator Sharon Kowalski skowalski@ihm.rcpw.org Call for appointment

Sacrament of Reconciliation Saturday 3:30 pm—3:45 pm or by appointment

Sacrament of Baptism Please contact the Parish Office to make arrangements. Baptisms are generally on the 2nd weekend of the month.

Sacrament of Matrimony Couples should make arrangements as soon as the engagement is announced.

Anointing of the Sick If you are hospital bound, homebound or seriously ill and desire to be anointed, contact the Parish Office. Eucharist can be brought to any parishioner by a Eucharistic Minister.

Our mission at Immaculate Heart of Mary is to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ and to praise His name, by being a Christ-centered, welcoming, unified community. Called to holiness, we celebrate the love of God through prayer and worship, the Eucharist and other sacraments, catechesis, evangelization and service to all. Always His people,

we strive to be good stewards of our time, talent and treasure.

HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE

IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY PARISH Watervliet/Green Island NY

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT December 20, 2015

“Blessed are you among women,

and blessed is the fruit of your womb.”

TODAY IS THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT and Mary travels to visit Elizabeth.

Both women are pregnant. Both pregnancies are wrapped in mystery. Both pregnancies point

the way to something new.

As soon as the angel Gabriel told Mary of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, Mary “set out…in

haste” to visit her cousin. We know that God comes to us “in haste” to answer our many

needs, although at times we might think God isn’t hasty enough. Only when we set aside our

human impatience can we see that God’s “haste” may have a different time line than our

“haste.” Lest we forget, God is always present.

Elizabeth, in her late years, was pregnant with John the Baptist. This alone was a miracle.

And yet when Mary came to visit Elizabeth with her own miraculous pregnancy, Elizabeth

immediately recognized that the Lord was the baby in Mary’s womb. Both women responded

joyfully knowing that God was present.

Elizabeth, having been barren for so many years, could have tried to take the limelight

with her unexpected late-in-life pregnancy. Yet she responded to Mary with joy, amazement,

and awe wondering how she, Elizabeth, could be so lucky to have Mary, the mother of the

Lord, come all the way to see her. Truly God was present.

As we get ready to celebrate again the Birth of Jesus, let us remember with amazement

and awe the miracle of this wondrous birth. Let us “leap” with joy like the baby in Elizabeth’s

womb. Let us remember that Our Savior was born for us, and that God is always and truly

present.

How is God present to you? Blessings, Kathie

Christmas Mass Schedule December 24th: 4:30 PM, Family Mass 7:00 PM

December 25th: 9:00 AM We wish you all a very happy, holy Christmas. As you celebrate, be sure and remember why we are celebrating.

It’s time to put Christ back into Christmas.

Masses for January 1, 2016 (Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God) Holy Day of Obligation:

December 31: 5:00 PM January 1: 10:00 AM

MARY’S KITCHEN: New Time:

3 to 5pm—Please note: there will be no

Mary’s Kitchen on December 21. We will resume on Monday, December 28, on the winter time schedule, 3 to 5pm.

Mary’s Kitchen is open Mondays from 3 to 5pm. All members of the commu-nity are invited – both parishioners and non-parishioners alike – to pick up a take out meal during those times.

Questions about Mary’s Kitchen? Contact Sharon at 328-0427 for more infor-mation.

SOCIAL JUSTICE—Please remember to place your donation for our neigh-bors in Sprakers, in the box located on the back table of the Church. In the Miracle that is Christmas, the kindness of strangers can turn des-pair into joy and a renewed sense of hopefulness. Sincere thanks for your generous support of our Christmas program!

FAITH FORMATION—For All Ages Sharon C. Kowalski, Coordinator of Faith Formation and Youth Ministry, skowalski@ihm.rcpw.org

Upcoming Faith Formation Schedule There will be no AM or PM sessions on Sunday, December 27. Sessions will resume at the regular times on January 3

rd.

Advent Caroling The PM session of Faith Formation will be caroling in the neighborhood surrounding the parish on December 20

th.

December 24: 4:30pm, Family Liturgy Shepherds, angels, innkeepers, animals at the manger…who else would you expect to see on Christmas Eve?? Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus will encounter them all as they follow their journey which ends at the manger in Bethlehem. Our young people in Faith Formation will present the Christ-mas story as a simple play during the homily and end with singing Adeste Fidelis.

Children’s Liturgy of the Word There will be no Children’s Liturgy of the Word on December 24 and 27.

Here’s What’s Coming Up in December/January December 20: Advent Caroling, Faith Formation December 24: Family Liturgy/Christmas play

January 3: Prek-gr. 1 Coffee hour, immediately following the 11am Mass.

PLEASE NOTICE PARISH OFFICE HOLIDAY SCHEDULE:

MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY: DECEMBER 21, 22 & 23 … OPEN 8:30AM TO 3:00PM

THURSDAY, dECEMBER 24 AND FRIDAY, dECEMBER 25 ... CLOSED

PARISH CHRISTMAS PARTY—Sunday, January 10th is the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord. It is also the day of our Parish Christmas Party immediately following the 11:00 am Mass. Everyone is welcome. Please join us!!!!!!

ROSARY SOCIETY —The Rosary Society would like to wish all of the members of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!! Our next meeting will be held January 6th at 6:00 pm in the Parish Life Center.

HANNAFORD

GIFT CARDS

AVAILABLE

DURING WEEK AT

PARISH OFFICE!!

(Great Stocking

Stuffer!!)

IHM Website: What’s Happening???—Have you been on the IHM website, www.rcpw.weebly.com lately? If you forgot to pick up a bulletin last week, you can find it on the website, as well as Mass times, information on Faith For-mation, Reconciliation, contact information for the staff and parish offices and even some suggested sites for daily prayer and other organizations. Check it out and see for yourself!!

“THE LITTLE BLUE BOOK” and “the WORD among us” —Have you

noticed the booklets on the back table in the Church?? Please feel free to pick up your copies for reflective reading during Advent and the Christmas Seasons. Spend some quiet time with the Lord during this busy season.

SCRIPTURE STUDY: Exodus 19-23—Please note: there will be no Scripture on Thurs-

day, December 24 and December 31. Sessions will resume in January 2016. You are invited to join us on Thursdays in 2016, between 6 to 7:30PM, at the Faith

Formation and Ministry Center (2425-7th Avenue). For questions or for more information, please contact Sharon at 328-0427 or skow-

alski@ihm.rcpw.org.

RCIA: Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults—Do YOU have questions about the

Catholic faith? Need to receive sacraments – either Baptism, Eucharist or Confirma-tion, for yourself, an older teen or young adult?

If you would like more information, contact Sharon at 328-0427.

When Doing Your Estate Remember Your Parish

ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE

Feast of the Immaculate Conception of BVM Dec 8, 2014….….$1762.00 Dec 8, 2015……..$1120.00

Due to early deadline of publication, the weekly collection totals will be in upcoming bulletins.

In loving memory of

John A O’Brien requested by the Family

10/16/16

In loving memory of

James D Langford requested by

Lilia Langford & Christine Callahan 6/12/16

Memorials for 2015-16

1/3/16

In loving memory of

Bryan T Roberts (son)

Raymond & Helen Werner (parents) requested by Judith Pope

4/24/16

In loving memory of the Edward Brooks Family,

Foglia Family & Monticup Family

requested by Rose Brooks & Family

1/3/16

In loving memory of

The Barron & Rys Families requested by the Family

In loving memory of

Joseph V Germano requested by the Family

4/17/16 2/28/16

In loving memory of

Genevieve M Dyer requested by her beloved husband

Bill, Children & Grandchildren

1/31/16

In loving memory of

William T Fahr, Sr & Julia F Fahr requested by the Family

In loving memory of

Dr. Richard P Crinigan, Jr requested by his wife, Patricia

and Children 4/24/16

Mass Intentions for Dec 21—27 Mon., Dec 21 9:00am—COMMUNION SERVICE

Tues., Dec 22 MASS 9:00am—Thomas Tercilla, req by a parishioner Margaret Halpin (B’day), req by the family

Wed., Dec 23 MASS 9:00am—Living & Deceased members of IHM

THURS., DEC 24 CHRISTMAS EVE

4:30pm—Carol Lansing, req by the family

7:00pm—Joseph Germano/Margaret Oaksford, req by the family Helen McNamara, req by Peggy Germano

FRI., DEC 25 CHRISTMAS DAY

9:00am—LIVING & DECEASED MEMBERS OF IHM

PARISH

Sat., Dec 26 4:00pm—George Sibincich (Anniv), req by the family Charles & Lorraine Bulson (60th Wed. Anniv), req by the family James Giroux, req by Aunt Nadia

Sun., Dec 27 8:30am—Marion Persons, req by Brenda John “Butch” Cusack, req by Ken & Sandy Urquhart Bertha Bariteau, req by Norma Brennan

11:00am—All parishioners of IHM, both living & deceased

IHM PRAYER TREE MINISTRY—If you have someone you would like prayed for: increased health, speedy recovery from surgery or illness, safe travel; contact Brenda at 271-6184.

"The Eucharist is the heart and the summit of the Church's life." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1407) The weekly celebration of the Eucharist on Sat-urday evening or Sunday morning defines who we are as Catholics—in our parishes, in our households of faith in our neighborhoods, and in our world.

We have 3 Mass options every weekend: Saturday, 4pm; Sunday, 8:30 and 11am. See you in Church!!

(Sanctuary Lamp request prior to Feb.1, 2015)

Sanctuary Lamp Memorial for week of December 20—26, 2015 In memory of Francis, Kathleen & Eileen Deck, donated by Joan & Karl

Readings for the Week of December 20, 2015 Sunday: Mi 5:1-4a/Ps 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19/Heb 10:5-10/Lk 1:39-45

Monday: Sg 2:8-14 or Zep 3:14-18a/Ps 33:2-3, 11-12, 20-21/Lk 1:39-45

Tuesday: 1 Sm 1:24-28/1 Sm 2:1, 4-8/Lk 1:46-56

Wednesday: Mal 3:1-4, 23-24/Ps 25:4-5, 8-10, 14/Lk 1:57-66

Thursday: Morning: 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16/Ps 89:2-5, 27, 29/Lk 1:67-79

Friday: Vigil: Is 62:1-5/Ps 89:4-5, 16-17, 27, 29/Acts 13:16-17, 22-25/Mt 1:1-

25 or 1:18-25

Night: Is 9:1-6/Ps 96:1-3, 11-13/Ti 2:11-14/Lk 2:1-14

Dawn: Is 62:11-12/Ps 97:1, 6, 11-12/Ti 3:4-7/Lk 2:15-20

Day: Is 52:7-10/Ps 98:1-6/Heb 1:1-6/Jn 1:1-18 or 1:1-5, 9-14

Saturday: Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59/Ps 31:3-4, 6, 8, 16-17/Mt 10:17-22