“the virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall name
TRANSCRIPT
Fax: 650-588-1481 Phone: 650-588-1455 www.stveronicassf.com
434 Alida Way South San Francisco, CA 94080
Established 1951
St. Veronica Church
December 18, 2016
Fourth Sunday of Advent
“The virgin shall conceive, and bear a son,
and shall name him Emmanuel.” - Isaiah 7:14
Parish Office email: [email protected]
St. Veronica Parish Parish Office Hours
Monday to Friday
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Closed for lunch from 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
(unless otherwise posted)
Phone: 650-588-1455 Fax: 650-588-1481
Parish Staff
Fr. Charles Puthota, Ph.D., Pastor
Fr. Nicasio G. Paloso Jr., Parochial Vicar
Fr. Don Sharp, S.J., Weekend Assistant
Fr. Al Grosskopf, S.J., Weekend Assistant
Deacon Roger Beaudry
Deacon Joseph LeBlanc
Patricia Spiteri, Parish Secretary, Ext. 301
Oneyda Perez, Parish Bookkeeper, Ext. 304
Karen Guglielmoni, Faith Formation &
Wedding Coordinator, Ext.305
Christopher Lindstrom, Music Director, Ext. 308
Jim Rodriguez, Custodian/Maintenance
St. Veronica Catholic School www.saintveronicassf.org
Phone: 650-589-3909
Mrs. Kathryn Lucchesi Mrs. Geninne Ruegg
Principal Vice Principal
SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION
Sacrament of Baptism
Baptisms are to be arranged through the Parish Office.
Baptisms in English are typically held on the
1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month.
Baptisms in Spanish are typically held on the
2nd Saturday of each month.
Baptismal Preparation classes are held once a month.
Call the Parish Office at 650-588-1455
Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA)
Call the Parish Office to register 650-588-1455 Ext.309
Faith Formation: 650-588-1455 Ext. 305
Catechetical instructions (1st to 8th grades)
Confirmation Classes: 650-588-1455
Mass Intentions for the Week of December 18, 2016
Sun 12/18 7:00 † Paul & Verena Broussard
8:30 Ruby & Ito Martin & Family
10:00 † Rhonda Borg-Meyers
11:30 Ramon & Margarita Fernandez
6:00 † Roberto Gonzalez
Mon 12/19 6:30 † Claire D’Amico
8:30 † Joseph Borg
Tue 12/20 6:30 † Sam Watso
8:30 † Peter & Lynn Cinquini
Wed 12/21 6:30 † Charles Farrugia
8:30 † Brandon Fitzgerald Thu 12/22 6:30 † Miguela Garcia
8:30 † Eugene McPeake
Fri 12/23 6:30 † Fortunato & Eleanor Risso
8:30 Victor Mullins
Sat 12/24 8:30 † Patrick Kerrigan
4:00 † Mike Sr. & Kevin Folan
9:00 † Otto Graf
Sun 12/25 No Intentions
Wishing You a Holy & Blessed Christmas!
St. Veronica Parish Mission Statement
St. Veronica Church is a multicul-
tural community of believers who treas-
ure Jesus Christ at the center of their
profession of faith & practice. They wor-
ship & work together to build up a com-
munity of family & friends according to
the mind & heart of Christ. Out of the
abundance of joy & gratitude, they live &
share the good news of faith & hope,
striving to stand up for peace & justice,
to spread love & compassion, to care for
those who are in need, and to make our
nation & the world a better place for all.
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: ______________________________________
Primary language spoken at home: ________________
Updating Current Parish Registration
Moving / Please remove from mailing list.
___This is a new registration Please call me.
Mass Schedule
Saturdays: 8:30 a.m. & 5:00 p.m.
Sundays: 7:00, 8:30, 10:00, and 11:30 a.m.
Spanish Mass: Sundays at 6:00 p.m.
Holy Days: 6:30, 8:30 a.m., 6:30 p.m. (English)
Monday - Friday: 6:30 & 8:30 a.m.
Confessions
Saturdays: 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Liturgy of the Hours
Monday - Friday: Morning Prayer at 6:00 a.m.
Eucharistic Adoration
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday - Friday
except as posted for holidays and parish events
Thank you for supporting St. Veronica Parish and its works.
Saturday 12/10/16 5:00PM 1356.00 533.00 1889.00
Sunday 12/11/16 7:00AM 952.00 549.00 1501.00
8:30AM 1352.00 556.00 1908.00
10:00AM 1620.12 663.00 2283.12
11:30AM 1343.00 676.00 1919.00
Spanish Mass 6:00PM 349.00 208.00 557.00
TOTAL IN-PEW DONATIONS: $6,872.12 $3,185.00 $13,630.12
Other Contributions 914.00 n/a 914.00
Day Mass Time 1st Collection Religious Retirement Totals
Envelopes received in the First Collection:
November 26 & 27: 342
December 03 & 04: 385
December 10 & 11: 329
Feast of the Immaculate Conception (3 Masses): $2,063.00
If you currently receive envelopes but do not use them, please
prayerfully consider including your donation in the collection basket.
Pray for our Beloved Deceased
In your prayers this week, please remember the repose of
the souls of our deceased parishioners, especially:
Frank Pignati died Dec. 2, 2016
“Eternal Rest Grant Unto Them, O Lord . . .”
Year-end Contribution Statements for 2016 A friendly reminder: Any donations that you wish to be
recorded on your contribution statement for 2016 must be post-
marked by Dec. 31, 2016 in order to be recorded as a 2016
contribution. Donations postmarked after that date cannot (by
law) be recorded as a 2016 contribution.
Donations placed in the offertory collection basket during
the weekend masses of Dec. 31, 2016, and Jan. 1, 2017, will be
recorded as a 2017 donation.
For tax purposes, contribution letters will automatically
be mailed to those who donated $250.00 or more in 2016.
These letters will be sent no later than Jan. 31, 2017.
Thank you for your continued generosity to our parish.
Welcome New Parishioners!
Our parish continues to be blessed and enriched
by the presence of newly registered parishioners:
Chris, Mary, Jada & Jordyn Wu
May St. Veronica Church become a spiritual home where your
faith and fellowship may be nourished with inspiration for you
to live a life of service and generosity toward God and others.
From the Pastor’s Desk - A Scripture Reflection
Dear Parishioners,
One Christmas Eve a man, sitting in his living
room, suddenly heard the sound of geese. At the
door he saw several geese wandering about in the
snow. They were hungry, cold, and dazed. The man
went out and tried to get the geese to go into his
barn, but they were too frightened to understand.
Then he thought to himself, “If only I could be a
goose for a moment and mingle with them and
speak their language. Then I could tell them not to
be afraid. I could show them a safe way to the barn
and save them. But I would have to be one of them
so they could see and hear and understand.”
Suddenly it dawned on him. That was what Christ-
mas was all about. It was, as Cyril Eagan would
say, God making a five-sense breakthrough to hu-
manity. It was about God in Jesus speaking our lan-
guage, taking on our nature, and sharing our “joys
and hopes, the griefs and anxieties.” Christmas
means that God loves and cherishes us in ways we
human beings can finally understand and accept.
Our God is Emmanuel, the God who is with us.
This Incarnational mystery is proclaimed by the
Word of God this Sunday before Christmas --- in
anticipation of the moving narratives of the birth of
Jesus Christ, Savior of the world, next weekend.
Paul in Romans summarizes salvation history using
an ancient Christian creed. He gives us a glimpse
into Jesus from two perspectives. One is that he
“descended from David according to the flesh.”
This is foretold in the most messianic of the proph-
esies from Isaiah in the first reading. The other per-
spective is that Jesus was “established as Son of
God in power according to the Spirit of holiness…”
These two strands of Christology affirm the truth
that Jesus is the Son of Man and Son of God. He is
Emmanuel, God who descended to become man.
He also descended in the line of David and ascend-
ed to be “Jesus Christ our Lord.”
This Christology is again affirmed in the gospel
narrative. On the one hand, Jesus descended from
David through Joseph and on the other, he was
conceived by the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is the
perfect God-Man, absolutely capable of dwelling
with us and lifting us up to the heavenly realms.
He speaks our language and understands us com-
pletely. He is the only one who can save us.
The name of Jesus itself means Savior “because he
will save his people from their sins.” Looking for-
ward to Christmas, we are invited to deepen our
understanding of what the birth of Jesus Christ is
meant to accomplish. Jesus was born to save us,
which he accomplished over two thousand years
ago through his death and resurrection. However,
he is born all over again in our lives and in the
world of today in order to continue his saving ac-
tivity.
Jesus’ saving activity will “bring about the obedi-
ence of faith” which means we can hear God’s
word and keep it; love God’s word and live it. Je-
sus is God’s Word. He can speak our human word
as well. When we can hear Jesus speak in the
depths of our lives prompting us to say yes to his
call of love, we receive in abundance “grace and
peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus
Christ.”
One of the most existential ways in which Jesus
acts is to save us from ourselves. We are shackled
by all kinds of loneliness and hopelessness, obses-
sions and angsts, our bitterness and biases. These
may acutely be exacerbated by disease, decline,
and death. We are powerless to free ourselves. We
need Jesus now desperately to save us and bring us
forgiveness of sins and fullness of life. This is how
the birth of Jesus Christ can come about.
Your Friend & Pastor,
Father Charles Puthota
(This scripture reflection by Fr. Charles Puthota
on the Fourth Sunday of Advent’s readings
was published in Catholic San Francisco this
weekend)
St. Vincent de Paul Society Advent Food Drive
Each year, our parish supports the St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. Veronica Parish by participating in food
drives during the seasons of Advent and Lent. Can you spare a few items for those in need?
What to Donate: Money, non-perishable foods/canned goods, toiletries. Most of our clients are one- or two-person
families, so please keep this in mind when choosing your donated items. Protein-based non-perishables such as peanut
butter and canned meats, canned fruits and vegetables, hot and cold cereal, rice, pasta, and pasta sauce are in particular
need this season. When considering what size items to donate, please keep in mind that most of
our clients are one- and two-person families.
Duration of Food Drive: through Christmas Eve, Saturday, Dec. 24th
Drop Off Locations: The Church Vestibule food bin OR the Pastoral Center during business
hours
Note: Please do not bring any donations to the Rectory as it is a private residence.
To sponsor a Mass or join the Simbang Gabi planning committee, please
contact the parish office at 650-588-1455 and leave your name and
contact information. A member of the committee will be in touch with
details about sponsorship and how to become involved!
Christmas Cantata
All Are Welcome!
The St. Veronica Adult Choir will present
“God is With Us!” during two more perfor-
mances in the Church -
Wednesday, Dec. 21, at 3:45
p.m., and Saturday, Dec. 24 at
8:15 p.m. before the Christmas
Eve Mass. All are welcome to
attend these FREE performanc-
es and take a little time to relax
and reflect on the true meaning
of the holiday season.
Visit our “Giving Angel” Gifts due back by Monday, Dec. 19
If you selected a gift tag or two from the Giving Angel during this Advent season, this Monday, December 19, is the deadline to return the gift card or gift you purchased.
Please return your wrapped gift with the tag attached by Monday, Decem-ber 19, to allow time for distribution. Gifts can be placed by the angel or dropped off at the Parish Office.
On behalf of all the individuals and chari-ties who benefit from your generosity,
THANK YOU!
Mark your Calendars!
Walk for Life 2017
The 13th Annual Walk for Life San
Francisco and Walk for Life Mass at
St. Mary’s Cathedral will be held on
Saturday, January 21, 2017.
Archbishop Cordileone will cele-
brate Mass at the Cathedral at 9:30
a.m., followed by a rally at Civic
Center Plaza beginning at 10:45 a.m.
and the walk to Justin Herman Plaza
beginning at 1:30 p.m. The walk is
approximately two miles.
Walk for Life, which draws upwards
of 50,000 participants annually, is
held on or near January 22, which is
the anniversary of Roe v. Wade. For
additional information, visit
www.WalkForLifeWC.com.
Reflecting on the Word
Fourth Sunday of Advent
We are fascinated with the lives of great lead-
ers, heroes, and saints. We read biographies and au-
tobiographies or watch movies that tell their stories.
When we like them, we excuse their small offenses.
When we don’t, we use their sins to erase their
goodness. Like Isaiah, Paul, and Matthew, we read
their stories through the lens of the present.
Matthew describes the backstory to Jesus’ birth.
Mary, engaged to but not yet living with Joseph, is
found to be pregnant. Because Joseph loved her
deeply he wanted to keep this quiet. She could be
stoned according to the law, so he wanted to divorce
her quietly. Then the angel appeared and made clear
that the child’s conception was of God. Because of
his faith in God and in Mary, Joseph did as he was
commanded.
Isaiah spoke to a people on the verge of attack
to engender trust that God was with them, no matter
the outcome. We hear about a virgin who would
conceive and bear a son named Emmanuel, God-
with-us. See the connection with today’s Gospel?
The people believed.
Paul wrote his letter to make clear that he was
set apart by God, an apostle, chosen to witness the
power of God made known in Jesus Christ the Lord.
They knew his past as a persecutor, but faith in Jesus
changed his life. His seemingly impossible transfor-
mation meant that people would know that God-with
-us through him.
This last Advent Sunday reminds us that we
come from a long line of people whose faith and
trust made clear that God is with us. We are to
make Christ’s presence known today. Tell the story
of how you know God’s presence because you fol-
low Jesus. Through you others will see Emmanuel,
God-with-us.
For Prayerful Consideration & Discussion
Who first told you about Jesus and the difference
he made in their lives?
What concrete signs make clear that God is with
you and with us?
Living and Praying with the Word
Emmanuel, you have come into our world
through people like Mary, Joseph, and Paul, and
have made God’s presence known through prophets
like Isaiah. Make my life a sign of the power of
your love that invites others to faith and trust that
God is with us still. - Living the Word
Advent and Christmas at St. Veronica
Thurs., Dec. 15 - Fri., Dec. 23: Simbang Gabi
Novena of Masses; dinner in the Parish Center
follows the 12/23 Mass
Fri., Dec. 23: Parish office closes at noon, No
Eucharistic Adoration
Sat., Dec. 24, Christmas Eve: Confession - 9:00-10:00 a.m.; Family Mass with
Pageant, 4:00 p.m.; Adult Choir Performance,
8:15 p.m.; “Midnight” Mass, 9:00 p.m.
Sun., Dec. 25, Christmas Day: Masses at 7:00, 8:30, 10:00, and 11:30 a.m. in
English; 1:30 p.m. in Spanish
Mon., Dec. 26, Christmas Day Observed: One Mass at 8:30 a.m.; Parish office closed;
No Eucharistic Adoration
Fri., Dec. 30, New Year’s Eve Observed: Parish office closed, No Eucharistic Adoration
Sat., Dec. 31, New Year’s Eve: Regular schedule of Masses
Sun., Jan. 1, New Year’s Day: Regular schedule of Masses
Mon., Jan. 2, New Year’s Day Observed: One Mass at 8:30 a.m.; Parish office closed;
No Eucharistic Adoration
Save the Date!
The Crab Feed is Back!
The Annual St. Veronica Men’s Club Crab Feed will
be Saturday, January 28, 2017, in the Parish Center.
Mark your calendars now and keep an eye on the bulle-
tin in early January for the reservation flyer.
The cost will be $65.00 per person
(21 & older only) and will include
all-you-can-eat crab, BBQ tri-tip,
Caesar salad, pasta, beer, wine, cof-
fee & dessert.
St. Vincent de Paul Society
Holiday Books 4 Hope Give the gift of books this holiday season!
Donate your books to the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Books
may be dropped off at any SVdP Thrift Store (334 Grand Ave.,
SSF is the closest one). Donated books are either gifted to chil-
dren during home visits or sold. Revenue raised helps support
SVdP’s programs. There is zero waste; all books are reused or
recycled. For more information, visit the website,
www.svdpsm.org/books-4-hope.
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“REPAIR MY CHURCH”
St. Veronica Church Building Renovation Project
We are receiving bids for Phase II! Thank you for your continued generosity!
Estimated Phase II project costs based on bids received:
Replace the 25-year-old heating and air-conditioning system
(11 or 22 families could donate $5,000 or $2,500 each) $55,000
Refurbish the 10 exterior doors, including new hardware
(10 or 20 families could donate $5,000 or $2,500 each) $50,000
Replace the sound system with an up-to-date wireless system, in-
cluding more microphones (already sponsored) $15,000
Install improved lighting in the pew area
(9 or 18 families could donate $5,000 or $2,500 each) $45,000
Remove the old plexiglass window coverings, clean windows and
fix broken & missing latches (already sponsored) $10,000
Estimated total of Phase II projects $175,000
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Detach and return the bottom portion with your donation - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I would like to donate the following amount to the St. Veronica “Repair My Church” Project:
___ $50 ___$100 ___$250 ___$500 ___$1,000 ___ $2,500 ___$5,000 _______ Other Amount
Name: _____________________________________________________
Address: ___________________________________________________
Email Address: ______________________________________________
Phone number: ______________________ Envelope Number (if applicable): ___________
Francis heard the invitation of Jesus: “Francis, go repair my Church.”
“Yes!” said Francis. “This is what I long for with all my heart.”