December 11, 2011

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Fax: 650-588-1481 Phone: 650-588-1455 www.stveronicassf.com

434 Alida Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080

Established 1951

St. Veronica Church

I rejoice heartily in the Lord; in my God is the joy of my soul

Isaiah 61:10

Parish Office Hours Monday to Friday

8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Lunch Noon - 1:00 p.m.

Phone: 650-588-1455 Fax: 650-588-1481

Parish Staff Fr. Charles Puthota, Ph.D., Pastor Fr. Linh Nguyen, Parochial Vicar Fr. Joe Walsh, In Residence

http://rico50.blogspot.com Deacon Roger Beaudry Deacon Joseph LeBlanc Sandy Kearney, Parish Manager Patricia Spiteri, Parish Secretary Karen Guglielmoni, Faith Formation & Wedding Coordinator Christopher Lindstrom, Music Director 650-588-1455 Ext. 308

St. Veronica Catholic School Phone: 650-589-3909

Kathryn Lucchesi Pam Cavagnaro Principal Vice Principal

Parish Office email: churchoffice@stveronicassf.com

SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION

Sacrament of Baptism Baptismal Preparation classes are held once a month.

Call the Parish Office 588-1455

Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) Classes from October 2nd through Pentecost.

Call the Parish Office to register 588-1455

Faith Formation: 650-588-1455 Ext. 305 Catechetical instructions (1st to 8th grades)

Confirmation Classes: 588-1455

Mass Intent ions WEEK of December 11 , 2011

Sun 12/11 6:45 † Rufino Leduna, Sr. 8:00 † Roger Ipac 9:30 † Faina Pabros Aoay 11:00 † Monica & Canday Serdinia 12:30 People of St. Veronica

Mon 12/12 6:30 † Frank Shaw 8:30 † Katherine Casentini Tue 12/13 6:30 † Kenny Comtois 8:30 † Patrick Kerrigan Wed 12/14 6:30 Willie & Ethel Pinkney 8:30 † Novella Fenisey & Family Thu 12/15 6:30 † Jason Peruzzi 8:30 † Peter Tarantino

Fri 12/16 6:30 † Rufino Leduna, Jr. 8:30 † Antonio Maggi Sat 12/17 8:30 † Rosario & Gregorio Saldivar 5:00 † Robert Lagomarsino

Sun 12/18 6:45 † Nymfa Osorio 8:00 † James & Simon Prendiville 9:30 † Emanuel Borg 11:00 † Mike & Kevin Folan 12:30 People of St. Veronica

St. Veronica Parish

Multi-Cultural Link - Simbang Gabi

Here at St. Veronica, the 2011 Simbang Gabi celebra-tion will begin on Thursday, Dec. 15 and continue through Friday, Dec. 23. All masses are at 6:30 p.m. except for Sat-urday, Dec. 17, which will be the regular 5 p.m. Mass. There will be a reception in the Parish Center following the final Mass on Dec. 23. Sponsorship opportunities for the Simbang Gabi cele-bration are still available! Please contact the Pastoral Center for information on how you can become involved.

* * * * * * * * The origin of Simbang Gabi can be traced back in 1660, dur-ing the early years of Christianity in the Philippines. During the season of advent, missionary friars held masses for nine consecu-tive days as preparation for the coming of Jesus Christ. In addition, they decided to celebrate these masses at dawn, when the roosters (or gallo) announce the beginning of the day. Thus, the name Misa del Gallo (literally, Rooster’s Mass) was introduced. The masses are celebrated early so that the Filipino ancestors, who are commonly farmers by occupation, can still manage to attend without abandoning their fields. It has been a routine that Filipinos would walk or ride their carretela (carabao sleds) and head to the nearest church at 4:00 AM. After the one hour mass, they would proceed to their fields and work. They follow this routine until the day before Christmas. - adapted from www.robnuguid.com

Mass Schedule

Saturdays: 8:30AM & 5:00PM Sundays: 6:45, 8:00, 9:30, 11:00AM, and 12:30PM

Holy Days: 6:30, 8:30AM, & 6:30PM Monday—Friday: 6:30 & 8:30AM

Confessions

Saturdays: 4:00—5:00PM

Liturgy of the Hours Monday—Friday: Morning Prayer at 6:00AM

Eucharistic Adoration

Monday—Friday: 9:00AM—9:00PM

Parish Registration

Please complete and return form to the parish office, or simply drop it in the collection basket.

Kindly print all information

Name(s) ____________________________________

Name(s) ____________________________________

Address ____________________________________

___________________________________________

City & Zip ___________________________________

Phone ______________________________________

E-mail: _____________________________________

Updating Current Parish Registration

Moving / Please remove from mailing list.

___This is a new registration Please call me.

Please remember the sick and the care-givers in our community. Pray that they may find comfort

and healing in Christ.

Please contact the Parish office if Homebound Eucharistic services are needed.

WELCOME NEW PARISHIONERS!

Our parish continues to be blessed and enriched by the presence of new members:

G. Peter Gross John, Celina, Sophia, Jordan & Julia Aspillera,

and Maddy & Belle Deonigi

We extend our hearts in a warm welcome to you and thank God you have chosen to join our community.

Ushers Needed - Stewardship Opportunity

We are in need for ushers at all Masses except the 9:30 a.m. Mass. Men and women are most welcomed.

For more information on how you can be part of this Ministry.

Please contact T.J. Rafael at: TJRSPOON@aol.com or 650-952-3659

Thank you for your sacrificial offering in supporting St. Veronica.

Saturday 12/03 5:00PM 1432.00 204.00 1636.00

Sunday 12/04 6:45AM 740.00 179.00 919.00

8:00AM 1643.00 196.00 1839.00

9:30AM 1497.25 295.00 1792.25

11:00AM 1333.00 285.00 1618.00

12:30PM 1189.00 269.00 1458.00

Salvazion y Alabanza TOTALS:

121.00 7955.25

1428.00

121.00 9383.25

Day Mass Time 1st Collection Church Environment Totals:

Retired Religious need your support By 2019, it is projected that retired religious will outnum-ber wage-earning religious by nearly four to one. Your gift to the Retirement Fund for Religious helps ensure that elderly Catholic sisters, brothers, and religious order priests receive the care they so richly deserve, now and in the future. Please give generously to today’s second collection.

Please remember in your prayers the recent losses from our community.

Gerald Andrew Gross - Died October 29, 2011

John (Jack) Conway - Died November 14, 2011 John Elia - Died November 28, 2011

Leonel Guzman, Jr. - Died November 29, 2011

"Eternal Rest Grant Unto Them, O Lord …"

From the Pastor's Desk Dear Parishioners, Grade-level Mass: Last Sunday the grade-level Mass was held at 9:30 a.m. The 6th graders from our St. Veronica School and Faith Formation and their families were present. Once a month we invite the different grades to be present at this Mass and enjoy the community and share faith. I thank the teachers, catechists, and parents for participating in these Masses with great enthusiasm and making it a special occa-sion. Angel Choir: At the same 9:30 a.m. Mass once a month, the children sing in their angelic voices, charming everyone and inspiring us to pray. It’s a thing of beauty, giving us great joy. If parents are interested in their children being part of this choir, please contact the parish office and talk to Sandy Kearney or Karen Guglielmoni. Santa’s Breakfast: This Women’s Guild Event last Sunday was a big success, thanks to the support from many school and parish families. While this event is a fundraiser, it’s a heart-warming occasion for families to come together and have breakfast, take pictures of children with Santa Claus---and anticipate the magical season of Christmas. Women’s Guild, it was a job well done! Congratulations! Book Faire: Last weekend, there was also the Scholastic Book Faire held in the parish center. The children and fami-lies got to browse books and buy some. Also, it’s a great oc-casion to buy books as Christmas gifts. I bought for myself a book entitled Painless Spanish, in my desire to teach myself Spanish, which, by the way, sounds really beautiful to my ears. At the Book Faire, I also had the pleasure of reading to a group of children a small pictorial book on Jesus being born and how his parents are rejected by many people, but the ani-mals invite them to the manger so that Jesus can be born. It was a charming little book full of feelings and very colorful pictures of the Holy Family and the animals. God touched me through that experience of my reading this story to the chil-dren. Lighting of the Advent Candle: Many families are partici-pating in the lighting of the Advent candles at the weekend Masses. I’m delighted and grateful. Thank you for participat-ing in this ceremony as we sing the hauntingly beautiful song “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel” laden with spiritual longing and expectation. If you would like to participate in this ceremony, please call the parish office. Spanish Retreat: The week before last, there was a Spanish Charismatic Retreat in our parish center and Falcon Hall, which goes to show the multi-cultural nature of our parish

community, which reflects the multiculturalism of California and the universal Church. This group organized themselves in an impressive way during this retreat, and with great faith and the spirit of community prayed, sang, and danced. Mini Retreat: I gave a mini retreat last Saturday to Legion of Mary and Adoration Teams in the Pastoral Center. As these two groups focus on prayer, my two talks were on this very theme of prayer. I shared with them some thoughts on why purifying our notions of who God is and of who we are is so vital in our striving to find a connection with God in prayer life. Our understanding of who God is also has the ramifications for relations within nations and for international peace and harmony. There was a great spirit of openness in this group during this retreat. These two groups are also in-volved in many activities for the good of those in need and for strengthening the parish community. The Word of God: This Third Sunday of Advent is tradi-tionally called Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete means Rejoice. The readings invite us to start the process of rejoicing at the pro-spect of the holy baby to be born in our lives, all over again, bringing us endless blessings. The Blessed Virgin Mary’s voice “My soul rejoices in God my Savior” is added to the other voices calling for the spirit of joy. With Christmas just two weeks away, let’s get ready to rejoice and celebrate. For more on this topic, please see my scripture reflection in the Catholic San Francisco this weekend. 100 Things to Do before I Die: Three weeks ago, I did one of those 100 things I have to do before I die. That is, walking across the Golden Gate Bridge (GGB). Walking the span with Sandy and her husband, I found the views from the bridge stunning, majestic, and breathtaking. Wow! No won-der people come from all over the world to see this bridge. It took 40 minutes to walk each way. Completed in 1937, the GGB is an architectural marvel and the pride of California. If we could do such fabulous things over 70 years ago, what more fantastic things are we capable of achieving today, giv-en all the advances in science and technology? A Couple of Jokes:

Strange man---"Ma, there's a strange man at the door." "Has he got a bill?" "No, Ma, just an ordinary nose."

Anyone else---"Why won't you marry me?" demanded Jack. "There isn't anyone else, is there?" "Oh, Jack," sighed Maggie, "there must be."

Your Friend and Pastor, Father Charles Puthota

Saint Veronica Church www.s tveronicass f .com

434 Al ida Way South San Franc isco , CA 94080

(650) 588-1455

CH R I ST M A S L I T U R G Y SC H E D U L E 2011

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2011

Advent Penance Service (Deanery-level) 7:00PM

St. Veronica Church

DECEMBER 15 TO 23, 2011 SIMBANG GABI ADVENT MASSES

All Masses at 6:30PM except Dec. 17th at 5:00PM

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2011

CONFESSIONS 3:00 – 5:00 PM

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2011

CHRISTMAS EVE 4:00PM (Children’s Mass) & 9:00PM

8:15 PM – Christmas Cantata

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2011 CHRISTMAS DAY

6:45, 8:00, 9:30, 11:00AM & 12:30PM

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2011 Vigil Mass – 5:00PM

SUNDAY, JANUARY 1, 2012

NEW YEAR’S DAY 6:45, 8:00, 9:30 11:00AM & 12:30 PM

Christmas Eve Masses

Please take note . . . The Christmas Eve Masses will be at 4 p.m. and 9 p.m.

The 4 p.m. Mass will feature children of the parish in the annual Christmas Pageant.

Prior to the 9 p.m. Mass, the St. Veronica Choir will present the cantata, “Lead Me Back to Bethle-hem” beginning at 8:15 p.m.

Join in the celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas

The 6:30 p.m. Mass on Sunday, December 11, 2011

will feature Aztec dancers in traditional attire

Bring the whole family to this multi-cultural celebration of prayer, worship and praise!

It is with great joy we welcome into our church and community the following children who

received the Sacrament of Baptism at our Church

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Sydney Makaelyn Perez Felarca Elle Marie Reloba

We offer our sincerest Congratulations

and warmest Blessings to:

Dana Smith & Daniel Pitcher

who celebrated the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony

November 19, 2011 St. Veronica Church

“Let us not love with words or tongue,

but with actions and in truth.: - John 3:18

Penance Service this Wednesday

St. Veronica will be the host for the deanery-wide Penance Service at 7 p.m. on Wednesday,

December 14, 2011. Prepare for the season of Christmas in song, prayer, reflection

and reconciliation.

Last week’s Scripture Crossword Solution.

A Blessing for Christmas Trees

The use of Christmas trees is relatively modern. Its origins are found in the medieval mystery plays that depicted the tree of paradise and the Christmas light or candle that symbolized Christ, the Light of the world. According to custom, the Christ-mas tree is set up just before Christmas and may remain in place until the Solemnity of Epiphany. The lights of the tree are illuminated after the prayer of blessing. In the home the Christ-mas tree may be blessed by a parent or other family member.

Lord our God, we praise you for the light of creation: the sun, the moon, and the stars of the night. We praise you for the light of Israel: the Law, the prophets, and the wisdom of the Scriptures. We praise you for Jesus Christ, your Son: he is Emmanuel, God-with-us, the Prince of Peace, who fills us with the wonder of your love. Lord God, let your blessing come upon us as we illumine this tree. May the light and cheer it gives be a sign of the joy that fills our hearts. May all who delight in this tree come to the knowledge and joy of salvation. We ask this through Christ our Lord. R/. Amen.

The lights of the tree are then illuminated.

- adapted from www.usccb.org

JOHN

THE

BAPTIST

Drivers Needed

The local Second Harvest Food Bank is in need of drivers to deliver bags of groceries to the disabled and elderly here in South San Francisco. Distribution occurs on Tuesday

mornings from 9-11 a.m. out of the Mater Dolorosa location. Those interested may contact Mary Beaudry at 650-219-6689 for further information.

The St. Veronica Giving Angel

Be an Angel this Christmas season by visiting our parish Giving Angel in the vestibule of the church and taking a gift tag or two. Many local, worthy charitable organizations are in need of our help. The deadline for returning the wrapped gifts with the tags on them is Saturday, December 19. Gifts may be returned to the Pastoral Cen-ter or may be placed in the front of the church near the Nativity. Gift cards may be turned in at the Pastoral Cen-ter or placed in the weekend collection basket.

Annual Saint Veronica Men’s Club

Saturday, January 14, 2012 6:00p.m. – Midnight

$50 per person with hosted bar (Caesar sa lad , Mar ina ted Crab , T r i -T ip w i th vegg ies ,

pes to pas ta , & desser t )

Please send in the reservation form, along with your check made out to “St. Veronica Men’s Club”.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

List Names

1. _________________________________________

2. _________________________________________

3. _________________________________________

4. _________________________________________

Number of adults attending _______ x $50 = _______

If possible, please try to seat me with the following: _____________

____________________________________________________

RSVP is January 6, 2012 Reservations can be sent to the school office or Pastoral

Center—Attention: “CRAB FEED RESERVATIONS” Any questions, please email rocha6anne@gmail.com

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