Welcome to Sacred Heart

We extend a warm welcome to those who attend our Church. We hope that you will find ourparish community a place where your life of faith will be nourished. We also hope that you will share your special

gifts within the community. Your prayers, your presence and your talents are most welcome. Parish registrationforms are in the back of the church or may be obtained at the Parish Office.

Sacred Heart CATHOLIC CHURCH

Main Church7190 Highway 17 South

Fleming Island FL 32003

Mission Church207 Palmetto Avenue

Green Cove Springs FL 32043

PARISH OFFICE7190 Highway 17 SouthTel 284-3811 Fax 529-8845Office Hours: Monday – Friday8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.Pastor: Father Michael Pendergraft Business Manager: Tish AguilarReceptionists: Mary Bullington, Silvia AlexanderYouth Director/RCIA Coordinator: Mike Curtis Hall Director: Arlene Manalo

RELIGIOUS EDUCATIONTel 284-9983Kristin Michler-Belleza (K-5)Sandra Curtis (6-12)

MUSIC MINISTRYKaren Otto, Lisa Moser, Mike Curtisand Ann Marie Barta

ANNUNCIATION CATHOLIC SCHOOL1610 Blanding Blvd., Middleburg 32068Tel. 282-0504Principal: Victoria Farrington

MASS SCHEDULESaturday Vigil: 5:30 p.m.; Spanish 7:30 p.m. (Mission Church)Sunday: 8 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.Holy Days: 8 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.

Weekdays: Monday through Friday 8 a.m.Sacrament of Reconciliation: Sat. 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. or by appointment

To arrange for Baptism or Marriages please call the Parish Office.Homebound Parishioners: Please call the office if you know of anyonewho needs Eucharist brought to the home or would like a visit.

Web site: www.sacredheartgcs.org

MISSION STATEMENT

Compelled by the Gospel, we the parish family of Sacred Heart, promote and support Christian Life by serving our parishand community through the celebration of the sacraments, educational programs and other parish ministries.

STEWARDSHIP Today’s Gospel provides a blueprint for good stew-ardship: “Let the man who has two coats give to him who has none. The man who has food should do the same.” Your Gifts to God and Parish ~ November 27th Sacrificial Giving: $ 9,663.13 Building Fund: $ 5,838.15 Not in envelopes: $ 3,680.15 Children’s Sharing Children’s offerings support feeding children in Haiti. See Kristin Michler-Belleza (284-9983) or Bob Raspa for additional envelopes. Direct donation to feed Haitian children via FISH ministries by check mailed to: Chris-tianville Foundation PO Box 1056 Palatka, FL 32178 Treasure: $ 102.20

Third Sunday of Advent December 11, 2016

Those whom the L has ransomed will return

and enter Zion singing, crowned with everlasting joy.

— Isaiah 35:10a

There will be a Mass celebrating the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Monday, December 12th, at 7:30 pm, our at Green Cove Church.

The Parish extends its congratulations to the families of Mason Massey and

Benjamin Hill, who were recently baptized.

Advent Reconciliation Services If you were unable to attend our Reconciliation Service, our neighboring parishes will have Advent Services on :

Tuesday, Dec. 13th, 7:00 pm, St. Cather ine Wednesday, Dec. 14th, 7:00 pm, St. Luke Tuesday, Dec. 20th, 7:00 pm, San Juan Del Rio

ANGEL GIVING TREE If you took an angel “ornament” from the Angel Giving Tree, please return wrapped gifts with the Angel tag attached today!

Thank you!

Aging Religious need your help. Senior Catholic sisters, brothers, and religious order priests have offered their lives in service to others - Educating the young, comforting the sick, seeking justice for the oppressed. Today, many are frail, el-derly, and in need of assistance. Your gift to the Re-tirement Fund for Religious helps to furnish medica-tions, nursing care, and other necessities. Please give generously to today’s collection.

Retirement Fund for Religious Collection takes place this

weekend, December 10th and 11th.

Youth Corner

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION Confirmation ~ The mandatory Parent/Student Meeting in Decem-ber has been moved to Sullivan Hall because of the parish Reconciliation Service. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, December 14th, during your child’s normal class time. Please be advised that Confirmation fees are due at that time and the both the student and the parent needs to be pre-sent. Even if you have turned in your packet, you are still obligated to at-tend the meeting to ensure your pack-et is complete. For more information, please contact Sandra Curtis at 284-9983.

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Christmas Break

No Classes from December 18th - January 4th

Classes resume Sunday, January 9th.

YOUTH GROUP Wednesday, December 14th

ANNUNCIATION CATHOLIC SCHOOL NEWS

SHEEP (Sacred Heart Early Education Program)

will meet tomorrow, Monday, December 12th, at 9:15 am in the Activity Center.

Education News

Everyone is invited! Sacred Heart’s Annual Christmas Pageant Friday, December 16th, at 7:00 pm

All are invited to a joyous evening sharing the story of the First Christmas. Join our parish children

and teens as they present a Living Nativity. Light refreshments will be served.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * At Annunciation Catholic School, your parish school, it is our goal to make a Catholic education available to every parishioner.

Think a Catholic Education is too expensive for your children?

How about a $5,677.00 scholarship?

Please explore the Step Up for Students Scholarship Program

which makes a Catholic elementary education affordable for our families.

www.stepupforstudents.org

6:00 –7:05 pm High School Grades 9-12 7:05-8:10 pm Jr. High Grades 6-8

WOW & BIBLE STUDY Combined Christmas Gathering

has been cancelled.

In Our Parish...

Fellowship, laughter, and song await you at our up-coming CCW Meeting on Monday, December 12th, at 6:30 pm in the Activity Center. We will begin with a scrumptious pot luck dinner, so please bring your favorite dish to share. If you are bringing food, we ask you to arrive at 6:15 so we can set up the buffet. This year our annual Santa’s secret auction fundraiser will benefit Quigley House. If you are able to donate a $10 wrapped or bagged gift for the auction, please bring it with you, however, the most important thing to bring is yourself. Mysterious white bags, intense silly games, gifts, the singing of carols, tons of laughter and the company of wonderful women await.

All women of the parish are welcome. We hope to see you there ! ! !

THE COUNCIL OF CATHOLIC WOMEN

CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE

Fleming Island

CHRISTMAS EVE, Saturday, December 24th 4:00 pm Children’s Mass 6:00 pm 8:00 pm 11:00 pm (A Lessons and Carols Program will begin at 10:20 pm) Green Cove Springs 5:00 pm Chr istmas Eve Mass (In English) 7:30 pm Chr istmas Eve Mass (En Español) CHRISTMAS DAY, Sunday, December 25th Fleming Island 10:30 am

NEW YEAR’S SCHEDULE Fleming Island Saturday, December 31st 5:30 pm Vigil Mass 7:30 pm Vigil Mass in Green Cove (En Español) Sunday, January 1st 8:00 am 10:30 am 5:30 pm

CHRISTMAS MUSIC Please Consider Joining the Choir for Christmas! We will practicing on December 14th & December 21st for the Christmas Eve 11 pm Mass and a Les-

sons and Carols program pr ior to Mass. Practices will be from 7-8:30 pm in the Church. You only have to commit to attending two practices. We are looking for additional singers and hope you will consider this opportunity

to make beautiful music that will help you be filled with the spirit of Christmas. For more information you can contact Karen Otto at 904-553-3178 or ka-renannotto@hotmail.com.

Music Ministry Children & Youth Choir will sing at the following Christmas Eve Masses: 4:00 pm Mass - Children’s Choir 6:00 pm Mass - Youth Choir If you are between 4-12 years old, please join the Children’s Choir. We will practice on Tues-day, December 20th, from 5-6:15 p.m. All youth of the parish are invited to sing with the Youth Choir. The Youth Choir will prac-tice on Thursday, December 22nd, starting at 11am All practices will be in the Church. For more information, please contact Karen Otto at 553-3178 or karenannotto@hotmail.com.

CHURCH CLEANUP Let’s Clean the Church for Christmas!

SATURDAY, December 17th , 9:00 am—12:00 noon

All parishioners are invited to join us - we need volunteers of all ages. Extra vacuum cleaners, extension cords,

small ladders, rags and other supplies would be helpful.

Marriage Preparation Marriage Preparation: To schedule a wedding, an engaged couple must meet with their parish priest or deacon at least eight months before their pro-posed wedding date. Preparation for the sacrament includes attending a diocesan program such as Engaged Encounter or Pre Cana. Also, cou-ples of child-bearing age will need to take a full course of Natural Family Planning. Pre-registration for each of these programs is mandatory. The next Engaged Encounter program will be January 15th -17th at Marywood Retreat Center. The next Pre Cana program will be February 20th in Jacksonville. For more information about the di-ocesan requirements or to register for any of the di-ocesan programs, please visit www.dcfl.org or call (904) 551-2619.

Third Sunday of Advent Lasting joy is a hallmark of a Chris-tian. Where can you bring joy this week? Find your strength in God’s promise. (Isaiah 35:16, 10).

If you think God is calling you to be a priest, call Fa-ther David Ruchinski at (904) 262-3200 ext. 101, or email vocations@dosafl.com.

Pray For

Vocations

Around the Diocese...

Enchanted Christmas Village The Enchanted Christmas Village (from November 25th – December 31st) is a magical experience that will provide support to local charities, including Catholic Charities. Experience our live nativity sce-

ne or shop for Christmas at our international market place and craft barn where unique items, including religious crafts and

gifts will be available. Drink a cocktail for a good cause, served by Catholic Charities volunteers and a percentage of every drink purchased will go to Cath-olic Charities. www.JacksonvilleChristmas.com for information. To purchase tickets, visit Jackson-villeChristmas.com or call (888) 486-6413. Use pro-mo code CATHOLIC and 10% will go to Catholic Charities. To volunteer as a bartender or bar back, contact Charlene Akers at cakers@ccbjax.org or

BULLETIN DEADLINES FOR THE HOLIDAYS Because of the holiday deadlines set by the publish-ing company, articles for the bulletin should be into the Parish Office by the following dates:

December 25th bulletin due by noon on December 19th

January 1st bulletin due by noon on December 19th

January 8th bulletin due by noon on December 20th

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BISHOP KENNY HIGH SCHOOL All 7th and 8th grade students and their parents

are invited to attend an informational open house at Bishop Kenny High School on Sunday, January 8th. Come visit BK’s beautiful campus, meet administrators, and learn about

spiritual, academic, athletic, and extra-curricular pro-grams offered at the school. Families of children currently enrolled in Catho-

lic Schools will receive invitations with the des-ignated time for their school the week of Decem-ber 26th.

Families of students not enrolled in Catholic Schools are welcome to join us at either the 12:30 or 2:30 session.

PRAYER LIST Names will be printed in the bulletin for four weeks, then removed. Please call with names you would like to have includ-ed on our list. Thank you for helping us keep our list current. Please pray for… Lois Battisti, Amanda Castelli, Jeanne Gallina, Guy Gallina, Judy Henderson, Alexis Lato and Family, Karen McCallan, Tabitha Perry, Molly Polone, Don-na Ramos, Keith Willis, Dang Andux, Brenda Chester, Frances Harshaw, Hugh James, Mary Alice Marley, Jean Phelps, Marshella Ramos, Jeff Beattie, the Belfanti Family, Donna Guzinski, Corey Jordan, Brandon Kellogg, Levi Shepherd, Dragan Snyder, Kayla Snyder, Vivian McGowan, Ligaya Velasco, our prayer blan-ket recipients and our homebound parishioners.

PARISH WEBSITE AND CALENDAR Be in the know… check out our website and parish calendar at www.sacredheartgcs.com. Contact

Leigh Clark at 529-7366 or email triplechorses@hotmail.com if you want your meeting or event on the calendar.

TODAY’S READINGS First Reading — The barren deserts will rejoice and flower. Tired bodies will receive strength. Aching hearts will be made glad (Isaiah 35:1-6a, 10). Psalm — Lord, come and save us (Psalm 146). Second Reading — Be patient, for the coming of the Lord is as sure as the rain (James 5:7-10). Gospel — Tell of what you hear and see: The blind regain their vision, the crippled their movement, the deaf their hearing (Matthew 11:2-11). The English translation of the Psalm Responses from Lectionary for Mass © 1969, 1981, 1997, Interna-tional Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.

READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: Zec 2:14-17 or Rv 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab; Jdt 13:18bcde, 19; Lk 1:26-38 or Lk 1:39- 47, or any readings from the Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary, nos. 707-712 Tuesday: Zep 3:1-2, 9-13; Ps 34:2-3, 6-7, 17-19, 23; Mt 21:28-32 Wednesday: Is 45: 6b-8, 18, 21b-25; Ps 85:9ab, 10 -14; Lk 7:18b-23 Thursday: Is 54:1-10; Ps 30:2, 4-6, 11-12a, 13b; Lk 7:24-30 Friday: Is 56:1-3a, 6-8; Ps 67:2-3, 5, 7-8; Jn 5:33 -36 Saturday: Gn 49:2, 8-10; Ps 72:1-4ab, 7-8, 17; Mt 1:1-17 Sunday: Is 7:10-14; Ps 24:1-6; Rom 1:1-7; Mt 1:18 -24

Monday, December 12th, 8:00 am – In memory of Lester Skaff requested by Sacred Heart Parish. Tuesday, December 13th, 8:00 am - In memory of Amanda Marie Harpin requested by Jack and Helen Garrity. Wednesday, December 14th, 8:00 am - In memory of Yolanda Yatco requested by the Yatco Family. Thursday, December 15th, 8:00 am - In memory of Joyce Beresch requested by the Sacred Heart Minis-try of Consolation. Friday, December 16th, 8:00 am - In memory of Alan Vogt requested by the Sacred Heart Ministry of Consolation. Saturday, December 17th, 5:30 pm - In memory of Carlos Mercado requested by his Parents. Sunday, December 18th, 8:00 am - In memory of Jim Bazley requested by Mary Jacoboski. Sunday, December 18th, 10:30 am - For the Spe-cial Intentions of the Parishioners of Sacred Heart Parish. Sunday, December 18th, 5:30 pm - In memory of Dr. Deborah Coletti-Blakely requested by her moth-er, Anne.

THANK YOU to all who are using the container in the park-ing lot to recycle aluminum cans. The profit is used by our Outreach Ministry to help others. Please no tin cans, boxes or plastic bottles!

SULLIVAN HALL All events held at Sullivan Hall will be scheduled through Sullivan Hall director, Arlene Manalo. For prices, availability and more information, call Arlene at 284-3811 or email arlenemanalo34@gmail.com www.facebook.com/shsullivanhall