Mass Schedule

Saturday

5:00 p.m. SFX

7:00 p.m. (on Jekyll)

Sunday (SFX)

8:30 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

6:00 p.m. in Spanish

Weekday Masses

St. Joseph Chapel

Mon. - Noon

Tues. Thurs. Fri.

7:00 a.m.

Wednesday

8:00 a.m. & 7:00 p.m.

Reconciliation:

Church

Saturdays

4:00 - 4:30 p.m.

Sunday

7:45 - 8:15 a.m.

(Or by appointment)

St. Joseph Chapel

(Please go to the main office for a key)

Monday - Friday

9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

St Joseph Chapel

First Friday

Adoration

2:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Holy Hour

7:00- 8:00 p.m.

First Saturday

8:45 a.m.

St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church

www.xavierbrunswick.org

Church Address: 1120 Newcastle Street,

Brunswick, GA 31520

Phone: (912)265-3249 Fax: (912)265-6797

Email: annbuebel@bellsouth.net

Jesus Comes to Save Us!

Christmas begins Sunday evening. We have been preparing ourselves for this great event over the course of Advent. Last week we examined the message and role of John the Baptist. As we continue our journey today we look to the mother of Jesus, Mary. As we seek to fathom the incredible mystery of God becoming a little baby at Bethlehem whom better to walk with than the teenaged Hebrew girl that God chose to be His mother?

How can we fathom this fact: That the God who shaped the Swiss Alps, who filled the Pacific Ocean, who sculpted the Grand Canyon, who hung the stars and formed the planets was born as a little baby in a stable in Bethlehem? Who better to turn to than the mother who was there from His conception to the Cross?

As Catholics we believe that Mary, as a special privilege, was free from all sin. We can reason to this. We have a perfect Fa-ther in heaven who wanted to send His perfect Son to earth to free us from our sins. What is lacking in this equation? The perfect mother. Although she always had free will, Mary never sinned. She would be the new Ark of the Covenant. As God dwelt with the people of Israel in ancient days so he would take residence in Mary.

For thousands of years before Jesus, people walked in darkness. The world was place of sin and selfishness and there was no hope of heaven. God desired the reconciliation and healing of His people. His perfect plan was to send His Son into the world to show us the depths of the Father's love.

The time, however, had to be right. God waited for the "fullness of time." It had to be a time when the message could be received and then sent forth to all corners of the world. The Roman system of highways worked to make the world more connected. From the Greek dynasties there was a worldwide language base. The time was ripe for the message to go throughout the world. It was the "fullness of time".

God was ready to enact the plan of redemption. He called forth one of His special messengers, the archangel Gabriel. Go to this young maiden and ask if she will cooperate with my plan. We might imagine the young virgin at prayer. No doubt much of her prayer life consisted of the Psalms. She would pray weekly in the synagogue and no doubt recite some psalms from memory each day.

One day while at prayer she is greeted by the archangel, who says, "Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you." This messenger then brings his message to Mary. "Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus." She will have baby and she will name him, "God saves." She is then told, "He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will given him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."

Most importantly though he will be called "Son of the Most High." That means he will be the Son of God. We see the poor teenaged girl in Mary next. How can this be since I am not even married? Gabriel tells her that God will be the Father of this child.

After thousands of years of darkness we see God's plan revealed. God will send His own Son into the world to save people from their sins. But first a perfect mother must be found. How will Mary respond to this request? St. Bernard wrote that after the question of the angel the heavens stopped and trembled as all awaited Mary's response:

"We too are waiting, O Lady, for your word of compassion; the sentence of condemnation weighs heavily upon us…Tearful Adam with his sorrowing family begs this of you…Abraham begs it, David begs it. All the other holy patriarchs, your ances-tors, ask it of you, as they dwell in the country of the shadow of death. This is what the whole earth waits for, prostrate at your feet. It is right in doing so, for on your word depends comfort for the wretched, ransom for the captive, freedom for the condemned, indeed, salvation for all the sons of Adam, the whole of your race.

And how does Mary reply? "May it be done to me according to your word." Heaven explodes in celebration when Mary said her "Fiat." Mary said "yes" to God's will. He had found the perfect mother and she said yes. Mary would be the new Ark of the Cove-nant!

This is the backdrop for where we find ourselves this week. We are preparing to recall that cold evening in a stable in a Beth-lehem where Mary would give birth to the Son of God, the child who was sent to save us from our sins. During this season Jesus was growing within Mary. Has Jesus grown within us this Advent season? Mary's job was to bring Jesus into the world. The call remains the same for you and I. We are called to bring Jesus into our world, to: our families, our friends, our workplaces, and our communities. This Christmas may we respond with the same generosity that the humble virgin of Nazareth did.

-Fr. Tim McKeown

St. Francis Xavier Staff

Fr. Timothy McKeown

Pastor

912-265-3249 ext. 11

Fr. Chris Ortega

Associate Pastor

912-265-3249 ext. 12

Ann Buebel

Office Manager

912-265-3249 ext. 0

Maggie Shafer

Director of Finance

912-265-3249 ext. 16

Permanent Deacons

Rev. Mr. Ntungwa Maasha

912-262-0458

Rev. Mr. Larry Guyer

Director of Religious Ed.

912-265-3249 ext. 14

Christian Formation

Center

Juan Perez-Valdes

Hispanic Ministry

912-264-6805 ext. 11

Marisol Soler

Youth & Family Ministry

912-264-6805 ext. 12

Joe Sechkar

Director of Liturgy

Facilities Maintenance

St. Francis Xavier

Catholic School

1121 Union St.

Brunswick, GA 31520

912-265-9470

Dr. Terry Mermann

Principal

Lori Carden

Office Manager

As we approach the end of the calendar year, please consider making a year end tax deductible gift to the Forward with Faith Campaign. It can be made out to SFX with the memo "Forward with Faith." Last contributions to receive tax credit will be the Christmas Day masses.

We are thankful for our new hymnals/

missalettes. Since they need to last

throughout 2018 a few pointers: Please

do not take them home or out of the

church. Please place them in the racks

with the binder side up. Please do not

fold in and half and place in the rack.

Thank you!

Christmas Eve, Sunday, December 24th 5 p.m.

7 p.m. (Jekyll)

9 p.m. (Spanish)

Midnight

Christmas Day, Monday, December 25th 8:30 a.m.

11 a.m.

Collections for:

December 16th - 31st will

be posted in the bulletin

on January 6th & 7th.

Special Collections

Dec. 25 Diocesan Catholic

Schools

Please note that the schedules for the Lectors, Greeters, EMs and altar servers are now on a bulletin board next to the Marian Chapel.

Please consider bringing canned goods to

mass next week. Especially helpful are pop-

top cans that people can open without an

opener. Meats, tuna fish and peanut butter

and crackers are good protein items. We are

grateful for your help. Please check the expi-

ration dates before donating. We cannot dis-

tribute out of date items.

Advent and Christmas Mass options

Saturday evening (Advent) + Sunday night (Christmas Eve)

Saturday evening (Advent) + Monday morning (Christmas Day)

Sunday morning (Advent) + Sunday night (Christmas Eve)

Sunday morning (Advent) + Monday morning (Christmas Day)

St. Francis Xavier - Weekly Intention for Vocations Matthew 9:38

“Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

Meditation: “To believe in the Lord and to accept his gift, therefore, leads us to entrust ourselves to Him with thankful hearts, adhering to his plan of salvation. Our first duty, therefore, is to keep alive in families and in parishes…and in all the sections of diocesan life this appeal to the divine initiative with unceasing prayer. We must pray that the whole Christian people grows in its trust in God, convinced that the “Lord of the har-vest” does not cease to ask some people to place their entire existence freely at his service so as to work with him more closely in the mission of salvation.” – Pope Benedict XVI

Intention: We pray that our parish and our families may be open to vocations and re-

newed in our efforts to foster them. Let us encourage our sons and daughters, our sisters

and brothers, to simply be “available” to Jesus. May we always trust in his Divine Plan for

our lives and for those we love.

Anna Hardwick

Huong Thi Phan

Richard Brunegraff

David Higbee

Gloria Quiñones

Vera Borkowski

Kathleen Koreski

Billie Lou Henjum

Michael Mleko Jr.

Steven Gentzle

Savannah Jones

Shelby Jones

Jason Runyon

Wyatt Kersey

Steve Williams

Frances Nohrden

Kathy Poliwka

Michael Rafolski

Jane Rafolski

Tom Crankshaw

Marlana Padovani

Jane Allen

Andrew Robson Jr.

Sr. Mary A. Curran

Judy Wyatt

Lewis Dawson

Jean Davis

Kevin Nicklay

Pierce Rogers

Ida Chapman Welch

William Waddell

William Pankin

Georgia Burgess-Erwin

Maria Zambon

Moira Kaluzienski

Gertrude Roberts

Byron Bankston

Judy Perry Majka

Benjamin Koreski

Leslie Kaufman

Buddy Vasquez

Bradley Huffman

Pat Ragsdale

Venus Gines

Maria Borrego

Vicky Hancock

Jackie Maasen

Helen Berry

Margaret Young

Peggie Cash

Katharine Thompson

Jim Holland

Sr. Kathleen J. McMenamin

Deborah Pitts

Betty Jean Murray

Betty Blouin

Lisa Ann Pankin

Jason Runyon

Eunice Petrich

Kathy Rogers

Arlene Dixon

Tony Brimer

Greg Zito

Jack Zinkenlaker

Dusty Sloan

Karla Lewis

Elma Ognilla

Let us pray for all those in the military and police

force both active and retired.

Mass Intentions

Saturday, December 23

5:00 p.m. t Jack & Jeanne O’Donnell

7:00 p.m. t Richie & Tilly Johnson

( At Jekyll United Methodist Church)

Sunday, December 24

8:30 a.m. t Bill Pollack

11:00 a.m. t Margaret & Jim Lewandowski

Christmas Eve, Sunday, December 24th

5 p.m. Living & Deceased Diocesan Priests

7 p.m. (Jekyll) Living & Deceased Military

9 p.m. (Spanish) Our Parish Family

Midnight Living & Deceased School Benefactors

Christmas Day, Monday, December 25th

8:30 a.m. Parish Ministry members

11 a.m. Living & Deceased Sisters of St Joseph

Tuesday, December 26

7:00 a.m. t Maria & Chevillard Fazio

Wednesday, December 27

No Masses

Thursday, December 28

No Mass

Friday, December 29

No Mass

Saturday, December 30

5:00 p.m. t Andrew Guyer

7:00 p.m. t Delia Schlosser

( At Jekyll United Methodist Church)

Sunday, December 31

8:30 a.m. t Jack Curtin

11:00 a.m. t Thomas Winner

6:00 p.m. Our Parish Family

December 24, 2017

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Mass Intention Request: Having a Mass offered for a loved

one, living or deceased, is a wonderful expression of caring,

compassion and thoughtfulness. The usual donation for a

Mass offering is $10. Please stop by or call the parish office

and someone will gladly assist you with your request.912-265

-3249 ext. 0

There will be a

7 a.m. Mass on

December 26th

and no

morning masses

on December

27, 28 and 29

Parish Activity Contacts

Adult Bible Study, Joe & Linda Kirby…………….267-9359

Altar and Environmental Care, Diane Lott……….223-1261

Bereavement, Ann Buebel………………………..265-3249

CCW, Cate Gooch-Coolidge………………………266-0100

Culture of Life, Rose Lodise…………….…….…...264-4121

Greeters, Ginger Dorcas…………..……………....275-8492

Jekyll Island Catholic Ladies, Eleanor Daniel…....635-3046

Knights of Columbus, Bill Schuster……………….266-6779

Religious Ed., Larry Guyer ……………………..…265-3249 ext. 14

Religious Articles Shop, Rose Lodise……..……...264-4121

St. Monica Society, Peggie Cash…………….…....264-5458

St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store…………...….…....262-6027

Parish Council, RoseMary Jones

at rosemarysjones@hotmail.com

Most Rev. Gregory John Hartmayer, OFM Conv.

Bishop of Savannah

M embership

To be a registered member of the parish is to

have a sense of belonging to a family. Newcom-

ers are requested to register at the church office

soon after arrival to meet the staff and learn

about your new parish. In the time of family sick-

ness, death or special need, parishioners are

asked to notify the Church office. If requested,

Holy Communion will e brought o anyone desiring

to receive the Eucharist but are unable to attend

Mass for serious reasons.

Church Office

405 Howe St.,

Brunswick, GA 31520