Saturday, December 14 8:30 AM Frank Houghton 5:00 PM John Rogers The People of St. Mary Magdalen Sunday, December 15 7:00 AM Antonia Wallace & Ryan McGaha 9:00 AM Betty Lavelle 11:00 AM Francis & Lillian Dean Monday, December 16 8:30 AM Eugenio Navaleza Tuesday, December 17 8:30 AM Dorothy D’Amico Wednesday, December 18 8:30 AM Ben Bundens Thursday, December 19 8:30 AM The Eddie Michaels Family Friday, December 20 8:30 AM Harry & Christopher Monck Saturday, December 21 8:30 AM The Cannon & Naccihia Families 5:00 PM Patricia Mallon Sunday, December 22 7:00 AM The Parishioners of SMM 9:00 AM Charles Beane, Thomas & Adia Gagliardi 11:00 AM Ann M. Collins

Sunday, Dec. 15 Christmas Angel Gifts due back 9:45AM Bambinelli Brunch – Hall 3PM Cub Scouts #342 – Hall Monday, Dec. 16 6-8PM Cub Scouts – Hall Wednesday, Dec. 18 7-9PM Knights of Columbus - Hall Thursday, Dec. 19 No Daily Mass – Vespers set up 1-3PM Bingo – Hall 6-7PM Cheerleading - Hall 7PM Candlelight Vespers – Church 7:30PM Boy Scouts Troup #342 – Hall Sunday, Dec. 22 PREP Christmas Program - Gym

READINGS FOR THE WEEK THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Sunday Is 35:1-6a, 10; Jas 5:7-10; Mt 11:2-11 Monday Nm 24:2-7, 15-17a, Mt 21:23-27 Tuesday Gn 49:2, 8-10; Mt 1:1-17 Wednesday Jer 23:5-8; Mt 1:18-25 Thursday Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25a; Lk 1:5-25 Friday Is 7:10-14; Lk 1:26-38 Saturday Sg 2:8-14 or Zep 3:14-18a; Lk 1:39-45

Next Sunday’s Schedule

Altar Servers Lector(s) Priest Celebrant

Saturday, 5PM December 21st

Ryan Adams Sophia Rosanio Theresa Rosanio

Joan Bianco Father Kirk

Sunday , 7AM December 22nd

Katie Ballinger Seamus Oliver

Steve Schuessler Father Kirk

Sunday , 9AM December 22nd

Celea Ransom Jude Szczerba, Jr.

Anna Szczerba

Melanie Dudley Father McQuaide

Sunday , 11AM December 22nd

Dominic Rufo Gina Rufo

Clare Yeatman

Marie Parks Father McQuaide

No Second Collection This Weekend

No Second Collection Next Weekend

12/25 – Christmas Gift

PM

REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS

Please continue to pray for all those who may be hospitalized, sick, or recovering, especially:

Marietta Abello, Michael Barton, Jack Bresch, Maureen Byrne, Christine Cavaliere, Ann Davis, Connor Davis, Tom DeLucia, Anne Marie Donovan, Billy Donovan, Sue Edwards, Linda Finney, Noah Fogg, Joseph Gawinski, Helen Hahn, Kay Honecker, Ed Hunt, Ellie & Levi Jernigan, Keith Koeferl, Catherine Kohl, Terry Lagassa, Greg Long, Michael Malone, Nancy McGovern, Betty Jo McHenry, Gloria Meyers, Joanne Miller, Lester Molnar, Flora Monck, Joe Moussalli, James Mulvena, David Nash, Dolores Nowak, Marie & Bob O’Connor, Annemarie Pavco, Robert Pavlin, Gerald Petrilla, Rochelle Ransom, Devon Reed, Debbie Rice, Lou Rombach, Nancy Schram, Ann Shields, Neil Segil, Louise Simpson, Beau Smith, Vincent Smith, Jackie Steadman, Jack Toy, Joan Trolio, Becky Yu, Dolores Welty & Helen Zeroka.

Please contact the parish office if you would like to add a name or would like your name removed.

LET US PRAY FOR OUR MEN & WOMEN SERVING IN THE ARMED FORCES.

ESPECIALLY FOR: 2LT Michael Aleixo (Army), CPT David Paul Cline Jr. (Army), CPT Matthew Cline (Army), CPT Foster Day (Army), 2LT Patrick Devine (Army), Lt. Cmdr. Jason Erickson (US Coast Guard), Corporal Michael Gallo (Marines), PFC Kyle Isakoff (Marines), CPT Sean Kealey (Army), Sgt Meghan Miller, LT JG Julie DiGiovanni Plessinger (Navy), PFC Elena Shields (National Guard), Lance Corporal Mark Staley (Marines), 2LT Matthew Stone (USAF), Corporal Cody Turner (Marines), & Seaman Michael A. Zullo (Navy).

Call the parish office to add an Armed Forces member.

We are thankful for their courage and dedication to duty in difficult circumstances

There will be no daily mass on the morning of Thursday, Dec. 19th because

the sanctuary will be set for Vespers.

CHRISTMAS FLOWER OFFERINGS ENVELOPES

If you would like to make a Christmas flower offering in memory of someone please return the envelopes as soon as possible. This envelope was included in the pack mailed to your home. We don’t have extra, but do have a signup sheet in the office if you do not receive envelopes or misplaced yours. Please PRINT AS CLEARLY as possible to ensure your loved ones’ name is listed correctly. All offerings received by Dec. 16th will be posted in the Christmas bulletin. Envelopes received after that date will be in the revised list for the New Year bulletin.

CHRISTMAS CONFESSION will be heard after & between the masses on Dec. 22nd. Confessions are also heard every

Saturday after the morning mass.

ADVENT CANDLE LIGHTING Still one week left to light the candle…

if interested use our SignUpGenius located on the front page of our website

or call the parish office at 652-6800.

CHRISTMAS ANGEL TREE Gifts are due back this weekend 12/15

before the 11AM mass for parishioners that took Christmas angels off the tree.

Use the “angel” as the gift tag for the wrapped gift or donation. Contact

Stephanie.casey@smmchurch.org with questions.

Late gifts may miss intended recipients.

DELAYED ENVELOPES We apologize that you were without envelopes on 12/1. Our envelope provider, DP Murphy, had fallen behind

due to a power outage in Oct. that majorly damaged their equipment, forcing 250 jobs to be moved to their NY facility. This facility’s ability to handle their work & the extra jobs caused a delay with the Nov. & Dec. envelopes. We expressed our concern & were assured they are working on it: adding more people to the task at hand & extending their hours to get back on track. Thank you for your understanding.

In the rush of the Christmas season, let us not forget to focus our thoughts,

our hearts and our minds on Christ, the very reason we celebrate.

OFFERTORY PROCESSION Each week a child that is receiving their 1st Communion in May will bring up the gifts

with his/her family.

December 14th & 15th 5PM Mass No Family Assigned 9AM Mass No Family Assigned 11AM Mass No Family Assigned

It's that time of the year & we could really use your

help installing the Christmas décor on

Sunday Dec. 22nd after the 11AM Mass …lifting, hanging, swagging, & staging to create this

beautiful story of Christ’s birth. Any help you can

give would be greatly appreciated. To sign up or

for more details call Richard Heiss (302) 428-

0525. Service hours given!

CANDLELIGHT VESPERS SERVICE DEC. 19TH AT 7PM

Candlelight Vespers music has been

carefully selected to bring the Christmas

message without need of a sermon & will be

performed by the Adult Choir of SMM

Parish and the Mastersingers of

Archmere Academy accompanied by full orchestra under the

direction of Mr. David Ifkovits.

Fr. Kirk invites you to join him for a Parish Christmas Dinner! Dinner will include Appetizers, Prime Beef, and Chef’s choice of Potato & Vegetable as well as assorted desserts. Wine, beer, ice tea, water, and sodas are included. Hard alcoholic beverages are BYO. Free child care by our Girl Scout Troop. (Chicken Fingers & Pizza for the kids.) Entertainment will be provided by the Philadelphia String Ensemble. Please RSVP & pay online using the link on our website or call the parish office. Registration & payment must be made by THIS SUNDAY, DEC. 15TH. Dinner limited to 100 people.

Bring your Bambinelli (Jesus from your Manger) to the 9am Mass on Dec. 15th for a special blessing that mirrors the one Pope Francis does in Rome. After Mass, follow Santa down to the Church Hall to enjoy a Christmas Brunch, Hot Chocolate Bar, Pictures with Santa, and Seasonal Crafts brought to you by Youth Ministry, Children’s Liturgy and HSA. During the brunch we will also be raffling off an electric scooter. Cost $4 per person/ Max Cost per Family $28. Walk-in registrations will be accepted at the door.

Help out at the event: sign up genius on parish website. (Counts as a service for Confirmation.)

Thank you to all those that helped out with the Advent Wreath

Workshop we held December 1st.

The Advent Wreath Workshop is a cherished parish tradition. We sold out and had over 85 families participating!

Helping at this event is a great way to give back & be involved as part of the parish community. If you are interested in helping to organize this event next year,

please contact Karen.yasik@smmchurch.org.

PARISH ADVISORY BOARD ANNOUNCEMENT

Last weekend’s bulletin contained an insert announcing our Board Members for the Parish

Advisory Council, complete with a form to fill out if interested in getting involved in parish life at St. Mary Magdalen. If you missed the insert, all the

information is available on our parish website under the “About Us” tab, then Parish Advisory Council.

2019 REMEMBRANCE ANGELS

Leo Beattie Jim Borden Benjamin Bundens Wallace Cannon Mary Donohoe Jo Ellen Eros Shea Grace Fuller James David Garringer Frances Guynes Barbara L. Hausman Beatrice Hession Robert Hildenbrand Lorraine Bradley Johnson Sandra M. Konetski Therese Lagasse Patricia LaMarche Elizabeth Lavelle Lewis Lawton Ernest Mammarella Lillian McGowan Albert Lee Moran Eugenio Navaleza James Edward Pellegrino Gerald Petrilla

Dear Parishioners,

This year, I once again have the privilege of visiting Rome during the Christmas Holiday Season – a truly mystical and magical time to experience the Holy City. We will celebrate Mass every day at The Basilica of Saint Peter (Upper Basilica), The Basilica of Saint Peter Grotto (Burial place of many Popes), The Basilica of Saint John Lateran, and The Basilica of Our Lady of Grace (burial place & Shrine of Saint Maria Goretti.)

As has become my custom, I would like to offer you the opportunity (if you wish) to submit your prayer and Mass intentions to me and I will remember those intentions at Mass and prayers every day. If you would like to submit an intention(s) to me simply place them in an envelope or call or email the office.

Please pray for me and the pilgrims who will accompany me on this journey of faith – December 26, 2019 through January 1, 2020.

Blessings on you, Father Kirk

PRAY FOR OUR SEMINARIANS

This holiday season take a moment to pray for our seminarians: Peter Schirmer, Kevin Lilly,

Brooks Jensen, Mark Donohue, James Gebhart, John Enemuo, Craig Kursinsky, Brennan

Ferris, & Michael Preston.

Lord Jesus, I ask your special blessing on these young men preparing for the priesthood for our

diocese. I pray that they will grow in faith, hope, and charity. May their hearts overflow with your

compassion, understanding, and generosity, and may their desire to serve you, inspire other to answer

your call. Amen

Light the Advent Candle Three Think of heavenly harmony

Angels singing “Peace on Earth” At the Blessed Savior’s birth.

REMEMBRANCE ANGELS & TREE

We have the Remembrance Angels & tree up again this Advent season. Our 2nd graders from SMM School & our PREP program have put together the angels with the names of those parishioners that died this year. Letters were sent to those families

inviting them to see the tree in the church, to let them know we remember them and their loved ones, and that we are praying for them all this Advent season.

We invite you to place an angel on the tree with the name of a loved one that is no longer with us. There is a basket next to the tree with extra Angels to add. Please join us in praying for all our Remembrance Angels this Advent.

Jeanina E. Picho Margaret Poppiti Armando Rivero Alexander Satkowski Gerald E. Siefring Sr. Lucy Ann Spincic Marguerite G. Strouss David W. Sydow Stefan Szczesniak John Walker Joan F. Ward Robert Winchell

CELIAC DISEASE - LOW GLUTEN HOSTS If you have gluten intolerance and would like to receive the low gluten host, go to the gift table as you enter church (behind the center pews, in front of the cry room) & follow the procedure listed. For more information please visit www.smmchurch.org/low-gluten-hosts

TO OUR NEW PARISHIONERS

A warm welcome is extended to all who come to SMM Parish. All new parishioners are invited to register in the parish office. You may stop in the parish office Monday-Thursday 8:30AM - 3:30PM, Friday 8:30am – 12:30PM or call us at 652-6800 and we will get all the necessary information from you and get a parish ministries directory in your hands.

Knights of Columbus to sponsor Youth Free Throw Championship: All girls and boys ages 9 to 14 are invited by the Bishop Curtis Council to participate in a competition for the Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship. The local competition will be held on Saturday, December 28, 2019 at 10:00 AM (doors open at 9:30AM) at the SMM Gym. Girl and boy winners at each age will qualify for the State Championship to be held in March 2020. Registration will take place prior to 10:00 AM on the day of the event. Please contact Dan Conaty at (302) 477-0878 with any questions.

THOSE IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE SMM’s St. Vincent de Paul Society (SVDP) will help those in need. If you are in need of assistance call (302) 652-6800 ext. 170 to start the interview process.

NOVEMBER SVDP STATISTICS: Calls Received: 26, Helped: 3,

Individual Donations: $30, Poor Box: $738

BULLETIN SUBMISSIONS: Information for the bulletin must be in 10 days prior

to the publication date. Email submissions to Stephanie.Casey@smmchurch.org

PARENTING POINTERS:

Children benefit from our ‘presence’ more than our ‘presents’. Ponder the tone that your presence with your family will take during this time before Christmas.

S. Vogt

MARRIAGE MOMENTS:

As we approach Christmas, it’s easy to become “busy-holics”; and race to prepare decorations, presents, and food. When feeling stressed with yourself or your beloved pause and take a deep breath and be patient with yourself and your spouse.

PARISH OFFICE CLOSED

The SMM parish office will be closed on the following dates due to the Christmas & New Year’s:

Friday December 20th at 11AM Tuesday, December 24th

Wednesday, December 25th

Thursday, December 26th Tuesday, December 31st Wednesday, January 1st

The Parish Staff at SMM would like to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas &

Happy New Year!

Rediscover the Love in Your Marriage. Retrouvaille of DE Valley offers hope for married couples experiencing loneliness, boredom, misery, or frustration in their marriage. Couples can learn valuable communication skills and rediscover intimacy. Our next program starts Feb. 21-23 at the Family Life Center in Malvern, PA. For more info call 215-766-3944. All inquiries are kept strictly confidential.