Schedule Sunday Masses 7:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 11:30 AM, 6:00 PM Saturday Vigil Mass 6:00 PM Weekday (Mon-Fri) 8:00 AM Confessions Saturday 4:30 PM —5:30 PM

Welcome to Our Roman Catholic Family

311 S. Central Avenue Safford, AZ 85546

928.428.4920 FAX 928.428.4922

StRoseLima@gmail.com

Saint Rose of Lima Parish Pastor: Rev. Robert A. Rodriguez

Parochial Vicar: Rev. Vincent W. Ahar Deacon: Carl Vessels

EAC Newman Center

3592 W. 4th Street Thatcher, AZ 85552

928.348.7539

St. Martin de Porres Mission

50 S. Main Pima, AZ 85543

Schedule Tuesday Mass 11:00 AM (When the college is in session during Fall & Spring semesters.)

Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish

Schedule Sunday Mass 8:30 AM Weekday Mass ( Monday thru Friday) 9:00 AM Confessions Friday 9:30 AM —10:00 AM

2257 S. 1st Avenue Solomon, AZ 85551

928.428.0149 OLGSolomon@gmail.com

San Jose Mission

1670 Church Street San Jose, AZ

Other Services at St. Rose of Lima Parish

Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction Friday 8:30 AM—1:00 PM Baptisms Every 1st & 3rd Saturday 10 AM Baptismal class 2nd Saturday 10 AM—Noon Call for registration Weddings Minimum of 4 months advance. Call for further information. Office Hours: 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM Website: www.SaintRoseLima-Safford.com

Third Sunday of Advent

December 13, 2015

Schedule First Sunday of the month Mass 4:00 PM

Services Baptisms & Marriages available upon request.

Other Services at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish

Baptisms Every 2nd & 4th Saturday 10 AM

Office Hours: 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM

Baptisms The parents of the child to be baptized must submit a copy of the baby's birth certificate. Parents and godparents need

to attend the parish baptismal class. Classes are given on the second Saturday of the month from 10:00 a.m. until noon. Please call

the office to sign up for the next scheduled class. All requirements for the Diocese of Tucson and Saint Rose of Lima will be given

to the parents at this time. Baptisms are performed the first and third Saturdays at 10:00 a.m. Our office staff is limited, therefore,

sponsors and godparents proof of sacraments, documents and payment must be submitted at least one month before the

baptism. When choosing godparents, if they are married, they must be married through the Catholic church, if single you

must not be living with a partner. Donation is $20.00.

Quinceañera The candidate and her parents must contact the office at least one (1) year or more before the date requested.

Quinceañera are not performed during Holy Days. Requirements: active within the parish, youth group, Religious Education, Mass

attendance, etc. or Six(6) sets of meetings and volunteer ministries given by Fr. Robert. Cost is $250.00. There is a non-refundable

deposit of $100.00 to hold the date. Balance to the church must be received in the office one week before the ceremony.

Weddings The couple must contact office at least 6 months prior to the desired wedding date. An appointment will be made for

the couple. At that time it will be determined if the date desired is available, and all requirements for the Diocese of Tucson and

Saint Rose of Lima will be given to the couple. Donation is $150.00.There is a non-refundable deposit of $50.00 to hold the date.

Balance to the church must be received in the office one week before the ceremony.

New Bulletin Deadline As of Tuesday, November 17, there will be a new

deadline for the bulletin. Tuesday’s at 12:00pm

noon will be the new deadline. Anything submitted

after won’t be published until the following weeks

bulletin. I thank you for your cooperation, God

bless you all.

St. Rose of Lima

Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24

4 p.m., 6 p.m. and Midnight (12 a.m.)

Christmas Day, Friday, December 25

9:30 a.m.

Our Lady of Guadalupe

Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24

Midnight Mass (12 a.m.)

Christmas Day, Friday, December 25

10 a.m.

Retrouvaille provides marriage

help! Retrouvaille is a Catholic

organization to help struggling

couples rediscover hope and

purpose in their marriages. The

next Weekend in Tucson is

January 8-10. Register Now! For

confidential information, contact

Art or Valerie at 800-470-2230 or

Email valartrosa@gmail.com or

Visit www.HelpOurMarriage.com

Father Vincent Ahar’s Reflection

REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS (3RD SAY C). We do face the ups and downs of life. When things turn out pretty good, we say it is a moment of great joy but

when we pass through difficult challenges we refer to it as a ‘trying moment of life, a hard time and an unpleasant

experience’. Joys and sorrows are part and parcel of human existence. Today’s liturgical celebration is an invitation to

rejoice in the Lord always whatsoever happens. Our joy should not be conditioned by any external experience or force.

It should be born out of a personal encounter and experience of God’s saving mysterious presence. Accordingly, the

third Sunday of advent is known as “rejoice Sunday” rightly translated from the Latin expression ‘Gaudete Sunday’. In

its originality, advent was observed as a penitential season replete with fasting, abstinence and similar practices. The

fasting and prayer became light on the third Sunday of advent because the Lord’s coming became nearer. Our reflection

therefore, centers around one of the “joyful mysteries” of Christ who as it were, was born to die and rose again from the

dead. Such that Joy, sorrow and glory are inter woven as mysteries of salvation. Little wonder then that in the readings

of today, we are enjoined to rejoice amidst a sorrow filled back ground primarily because the dawn of our salvation is

close at hand.

R1. Zephaniah3:14-18. Zephaniah’s prophecy was uttered during a period of religious degradation; people

worshipped the sun, moon and stars in Jerusalem. Hence, they were so close to ruin. Yet the prophet Zephaniah

announced the victory of God’s love over sin and a radical transformation of the social, political and religious situation.

Here is a reason why he requires the poor to rejoice: shout for joy…Rejoice with all your heart…the Lord has repealed

your sentence; the Lord the king of Israel is in your midst...as a victorious warrior.

R2. Philippians 4:4-7 St. Paul tells us to be always happy in the Lord. The crucial question of the moment is

this; how can we be happy and rejoice when there is war, injustice, religious degradation, exploitation by the powerful

where the rich become richer and the poor become poorer what Martin Luther King Jr. described as minimizing the

minimum and maximizing the maximum?, how can the displaced people living as refugees, the used, deserted and

abandoned mother with her kids, the unemployed, those who lost their jobs, having to struggle for the necessities of life

such as food, clothing, shelter, the terminally ill, the elderly whom society see as an unwanted burden and turn their

backs on, and many more, how can they be happy and rejoice? Humanly speaking, it is more likely to be sad and sorrow

stricken facing such adverse situations. Humanly, a person is going to fret, worry and suffer anxiety when the basic

necessities of food, health care, clothing or shelter are lacking. When a person is persecuted, ridiculed, abused or

threatened, when surrounded by broken relationships, estranged family ties; one is not in talking terms with another and

the dreams of living together as husband and wife happily married are shattered. The only way a person will keep from

worrying is to pray for and receive an injection of supernatural power which God readily gives to the poor in spirit who

without leaning on what they have or burying their heads inside their present circumstances look forward to God’s

special intervention with faith and hope that for the future God will bring good out of evil, change their sorrows into joy

and as such depend on God totally. This does not mean that we should be unconcerned about the problems of life. There

is a difference between concern, anxiety and worry.

Concern drives us to arise and tackle the problems of life with indomitable courage and diligence. Concern

drives us to tackle and conquer all that we can handle. Anxiety and worry call all kinds of problems… fear to act,

withdrawal, hesitation, cowardice, depression, discouragement, defeatist attitude, quick unplanned action, unwise and

harmful decisions, physical sickness and infirmities, emotional problems, spiritual backsliding, distrust and unbelief. So

do not worry ‘saying, “what shall we eat or what shall we drink or what shall we wear?” for the pagans run after these

things, and your heavenly father knows you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these

other things will be given to you. Given God the first place in life will produce in us joy and peace because when Christ

is at the centre all troubled waters calm down. He commanded the sea and the waves remained calm when the storms

rose against the disciples at sea. With him we are at peace always. He gives us the spiritual gifts of joy and peace.

In the gospel Luke 3:10-18, John the Baptist provides spiritual direction on how to transform the ills of society

beginning with the individual sinner’s repentance and then the publicans; tax collectors and security agents changing

the structures of sin in the community that cause untold hardship to fellow human beings. When this is achieved

happiness and joy will flow from God to us and from our good deeds to others. Our open handedness to the poor should

flow from our open mindedness which is characterized by the spirit of God’s mercy fervently advocated by Pope

Francis: ‘you cannot conceive of a true Christian who is not merciful, just as you cannot conceive of God without his

mercy. Mercy is the key word of the gospel’.

Third Sunday of Advent

December 13, 2015

Mass Intentions for Dec. 13—Dec. 20 ST. ROSE OF LIMA NOTICES

Second collections

December 19/20: St. Vincent de Paul

Youth Choir Practice

Meets on Wednesday at 5 p.m. in the church.

Messengers of Mary

Join us in praying the Holy Rosary Monday – Friday

mornings at 7:30 before Mass. We will pray the rosary

on Thursdays in the CHURCH (instead of the Chapel),

at 11:00 a.m. Remember to pray the rosary daily. Call

428.0573 for prayers & Consecration to Jesus

through Mary.

Spanish Bible Study

Spanish bible study meets every 2nd and 4th Friday

of the month. Bible Study will be in the St. Matthew

Class room led by Nemecio Ramos. All are welcomed!

Spanish Choir Practice

Meets every Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in the church.

Sun 7am ✞ Gilbert A. Gherna

10am Health & well being of the

Mary K. Howell family

11:30am St. Rose of Lima

parishioners

6pm ✞ Lity Pinedo

Mon 8am Health & well being of

Tommy Alvarado & family

Tues 8am Birthday blessings for Bea

Hernandez

Wed 8am Birthday blessings for Anita

Polanco

Thurs 8am ✞ Angelina Ruiz

Fri 8am Brugman & Lane living &

deceased families

Sat 6pm St. Rose of Lima

parishioners

Sun 7am Syrian refugees

10am ✞ Lucia R. Gonzales

11:30am ✞ Matthew Shane Sanchez

6pm ✞ Leonor Maya & Michael

Luna

Open to all High Schoolers

Join us for Mass every

Sunday at 11:30 a.m.

Then, meet in “The Cave”

from 12:30 p.m.—2:00 p.m.

Contact

Jolene Hernandez-Rodriguez at

480.456.9780

Registration is year round!

Newman Center

at

Eastern Arizona College

The last Newman Mass for 2015 was December 1.

Newman Mass will resume on Tuesday, January 19, 2016 at 11:00 a.m.

Join us as a family for Mass

every Sunday at 11:30 a.m.

Then meet in the Hall from

12:30pm-2:00.

Contact: Jolene Hernandez-Rodriguez

at 480.456.9780

Registration is year round!

St. Rose of Lima Weekend Collection for 12/05-06/2015

Offertory $ 5,346.50

St. Vincent de Paul $ 315.00

Building fund $ 257.00

Toys for Tots

We now have a box for “Toys for Tots” in the St. Rose of

Lima parish office. Won’t you be a part of this years

Christmas to bring joy to our little children who are less

fortunate. Please bring new, unwrapped gifts (to identify the

age and gender). Thank you and have a blessed Christmas.

St. Rose of Lima

RE Office Hours: 9am-12pm

Monday—Thursday

RE Office phone #: 348-4785

Religious Education, Confirmation, and R.C.I.A. registration will continue in the Religious Education Office 9:00am –12:00pm Monday-Thursday

St. Rose of Lima Christmas Play will be on Sunday, December 13, 2015. It will be in the Volunteers Hall at 7:00pm.

If your child is in need of Baptism, a notice will be sent home with your child. Please call the Religious Education Office at 348-4785 for further

Compliance Every 2nd Thursday of the month from 1:00- 2:30 pm., a compliance representative will be at St. Rose of Lima Parish to accept applications, take fingerprints, and show a Safe Environment Video. Compliance is a three part process necessary for clearance by the Diocese of Tucson to volunteer at St. Rose of Lima Parish and Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish. If you have questions, please call Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish at 428-0149.

Las Posadas

Las Posadas will take place

December 20, at 7:00pm. It will

be sponsored by the Life Teen

and Confirmation classes.

RE Formation Class

The next Formation class is this Tuesday, December 15, in

St. Matthew’s room. Arrive for dinner at 5 p.m. Bring a side

dish to share.

Session I is from 5:15—6:45p.m. and the topic is

“Introduction to the New Testament”.

Session II is from 7:00—8:30 p.m. and the topic is

“Prayer”.

The Brugman Family thanks the St. Rose

Parish Community for all of the support

we received during our time of loss.

Sincerely,

Donna, Mary and Joe Brugman

Pope Francis' Prayer for the

Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy

Lord Jesus Christ, you have taught us to be merciful

like the heavenly Father, and have told us that whoever sees

you sees Him. Show us your face and we will be saved. Your

loving gaze freed Zacchaeus and Matthew from being

enslaved by money; the adulteress and Magdalene from

seeking happiness only in created things; made Peter weep

after his betrayal, and assured Paradise to the repentant thief.

Let us hear, as if addressed to each one of us, the words that

you spoke to the Samaritan woman: "If you knew the gift of

God!"

You are the visible face of the invisible Father, of

the God who manifests his power above all by forgiveness

and mercy: let the Church be your visible face in the world,

its Lord risen and glorified. You willed that your ministers

would also be clothed in weakness in order that they may feel

compassion for those in ignorance and error: let everyone

who approaches them feel sought after, loved, and forgiven

by God.

Send your Spirit and consecrate every one of us with

its anointing, so that the Jubilee of Mercy may be a year of

grace from the Lord, and your Church, with renewed

enthusiasm, may bring good news to the poor, proclaim

liberty to captives and the oppressed, and restore sight to the

blind.

We ask this through the intercession of Mary,

Mother of Mercy, you who live and reign with the Father and

the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen.

TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION This week, our celebration of Advent makes a

transition in ritual and texts. Beginning December 18,

the countdown of nine days (a novena) to Christmas

sees a heightened sense of expectation, and also a

turning from the call of the Baptist in the wilderness to

the events leading up to Jesus’ birth. In ancient Spain,

December 18 was once celebrated as the “Feast of the

Expectancy,” and customs grew up to heighten

readiness in the homes.

Some customs arise from monastic life and practice

and spill over into our parish life. Beginning tonight,

those who pray Vespers will sing in the opening phrase

a beautiful title of Christ. These titles belong to a

collection of opening phrases called the “O Antiphons”

after the awe-inspired “O” sung on the first note.

There’s a playful code in the titles: O Wisdom, O Lord,

O Flower of Jesse, O Key of David, O Dawn, O Ruler,

O Emmanuel. When you take their Latin names—

Sapientia, Adonai, Radix, and so on—the titles form an

acrostic when you read them backwards: “ERO

CRAS.” In Latin, that is translated as “I will be there

tomorrow!” It’s as if Christ were answering the prayers

of the waiting people in the words of the prayers

themselves. —Rev. James Field, Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.

Mass Intentions for Dec. 13—Dec. 20

Sun 8:30am ✞ Nellie Seballos

Thurs 9:00am Birthday Blessing for

Omar Ramos

Fri 9:00am ✞ Ernest De Leon

Sun 8:30am ✞ Marie Brooks

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE

Second collections

Sunday, Dec. 20: St. Vincent de Paul

Rosary

The Rosary is recited daily at 8:30 a.m. before the 9:00 a.m.

Mass.

Eucharistic Adoration is on Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to

10:30 a.m.

Our Lady of Guadalupe Gift Shop is open weekdays

9:30 a.m.—3:00 p.m. and Sundays after 8:30 a.m. Mass.

Anointing of the Sick Mass is every first Friday of the

month at the 9:00am Mass.

GOSPEL REFLECTION:

Rejoice in the Lord always! I say it again.

Rejoice! (Philippians 4:4)

Parents please remember to sign the Attendance Form

on the table at church entrance for religious education

attendance.

The RE Program still needs animal costumes for their

Christmas play.

The can drive will continue for the month of December.

We are asking all RE students and parishioners to be

generous and bring a can of food each Sunday. All cans

collected will be donated to the St. Vincent de Paul

food bank. Deposit canned goods in the box provided at

the back of the church. Again, our goal is to collect at

least 100 cans during December.

A personal invite to ALL from the RE Program to join

us for our Christmas play presentation on Saturday,

December 19 at 4 p.m. in the parish hall. Come rejoice

with us!

Upcoming events: December 13 – RE class

December 15 – Dress rehearsal practice @ 4:30

December 17 – Dress rehearsal practice @ 4:30

December 19 – RE Christmas play @ 4 p.m.

Our Lady of Guadalupe Weekend Collection for 12/06/2015

Offertory $ 434.82

Building fund $ 51.90

A change of Schedule for Compliance:

A representative will be at St. Rose of Lima from

1:00 pm to 2:30 pm on the 2nd Thursday of each

month.

Many thanks to all who

donated and helped at the

Our Lady of Guadalupe

Fiesta this Saturday.

AN ADVENT PRAYER May the God of peace make us completely holy.

May God keep us blameless in spirit, soul and body

for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Forever faithful is the One who calls us—God our

Father!

Expectant, let us live in joyful hope

for the revelation of the glory

of our God and Savior, Christ Jesus!

To him be glory forever!

Come, Lord Jesus! Your grace be with us all. —From Come, Lord Jesus by Lucien Deiss, CSSp, copyright 1976, 1981, Lucien Deiss. Published by World Library Publications. p. 127

ORTEGA’S SHOES Mt. Graham Shopping

Center

Richard & Theresa Ortega

Elodia—Valarie—Sami

928.428.0636

VALLEY FURNITURE

350 E. Armory Road

Safford, AZ

928.348.9340

SECULAR FRANCISCAN St. Elizabeth of Hungary

Fraternity

Meets 2nd Saturdays 10 a.m.-2 p.m. At Our Lady of Guadalupe Church

David Esquivel, Minister

928.865.2887

Kachina Hot Springs

Mineral Spa 1155 W Cactus Rd

Safford, AZ

928.428.7212 Kachinamineralsprings.com

KNIGHTS OF

COLUMBUS Joe Figueroa,

Grand Knight

928.965.5662 Meets 1st Wednesdays at 7 p.m.

Walneck’s Safford Sewing Center

Jeff & Virginia Walneck Parishioners

Hwy 70 & 3rd Ave

928.428.0494

CATHOLIC DAUGHTERS

OF THE AMERICAS Court St. Rose of Lima #2398

Kittie Avalos, Regent

928.651.3257 Meets 3rd Wednesdays at 7 p.m.

At St. Rose of Lima

In St. Matthew’s room

THRIFTEE FOOD & DRUG Groceries-General Merchandise

Bakery-Deli

Pharmacy-Florist

755 S CENTRAL AVE

SAFFORD, AZ 85546

PHONE: 928.428.1844

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928.428.1740

EXTRAORDINARY

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Meets Tuesdays at 7:30-8:30 p.m.

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in St. Luke’s Room

928.322.8647

415 E US Hwy 70, Safford, AZ

Now Serving Breakfast @ 11AM

928.428.7148

In the Old Historic Town of Solomon

928.428.2094

CURSILLO

LEADERSHIP

For more information, contact

St. Rose of Lima Parish Office

928.428.4920

707 S. 6th Ave

Safford, AZ

928.428.1033

Brando’s Fun N’ Sun

Travel & Cruise

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513 W. Main Street, Safford

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Greens Furniture

David Montez the Furniture King

520 W. 5th St Safford, Az 428.5900

St. Jude Prayer Group

Praying for those

struggling with addiction

Meets at

St. Rose of Lima Church

in the Garden

Friday’s at 2:30 p.m.

Fifth Avenue Florist 516 S. 5th Avenue, Safford

928.428.2491

Mon—Fri 9 a.m.—5 p.m.

Saturday 9 a.m.—12 p.m.

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