Relections of Our Parochial Vicar

This Sunday, the fourth in the season of Advent , heightens the feeling of expectancy and brings us nearer to the symmetrical point which is the anniversary of the birth of Jesus Christ. On August 9^th , 2008 barely two months after my priestly ordination I turned 30 years old.

This anniversary was marked by the celebration of a thanksgiving mass and reception and a lot of my friends gave me very many material gifts which I appreciated. But the most important and most striking of the gifts I got was the heart of a woman who was 90 years old. She said to me, “Fr. Theo, I may not have the material gift to offer you but I will offer you the gift of constant prayers from my heart. My son, it shall be well with you all the days of your priesthood”.

For me this woman opened her heart to me and gave me the gift of her heart. Today I have used all the material gifts and probably forgotten about them but I still hold this woman very special in my heart.

Christmas is a season of peace and love characterized by exchange of gifts and so often we give gifts to our loved ones except the one whose birth we celebrate. For this year’s Christmas, take some moments in silence and find out what gift is fitting for Jesus.

The Shepherds in the bush hurried to the stable in Bethlehem and there they did him homage, offering up their wills to him as they prostrated before the king of peace. The Maggi, the wise men from the east, opened their treasure and offered him Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh.  Can we offer him more of our time and talents through the Christian community and its activities? Can we visit him in the poor and needy, the sick and infirmed, in response to His teaching when he said “Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers and sisters you do unto me.”

As the Pope Francis effect continues to bring the church back to light, can we join him and celebrate the Joy of the good news in our world as the angels sang “Joy to the world the Lord has come, let earth receive her king, let every heart prepare him room”? So, what gifts are we ready to give?

As we prepare him room, we hope you can join us at our Christmas vigil mass on Tuesday, December, 24^th at 5pm. This mass will be presided over by Msgr. John Talesfore. Or you can come on Wednesday December 25^th at the 7:00am, 8:00am, 9:30am, or 11:30am mass.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas, a happy holiday, and praying for all our parishioners who will travel during the yuletide, that the almighty God will grant them total protection and safety as they travel and also bring them back safely to us.

May the peace of the new born prince of peace be with you all.

Fr. Theo Hwande

News Around the Parish

A Fabulous Christmas Boutique – if you missed it last weekend, this year’s Christmas Boutique was fabulous.  Beginning with the Champagne Preview on Friday night, the Mother’s Club beautifully decorated the Church hall with different booths selling different homemade or special gifts.  Everything from homemade jams, to personalized ornaments, to jewelry and specially decorated Christmas tree could be yours, for a slight fee that goes towards supporting the school.  On top of that, there were prizes to be won, like a getaway to Lake Tahoe.  I won a bottle of rum in a spin the wheel game, and a $50 gift certificate towards Lucky, for signing-up for e-script, which donates a portion of our purchase back to the school.  The evening was filled with food, music and laughter, as fellow parishioners and their guests enjoyed the evening with one another.  Although it rained Friday night, however, the weather cleared up the following day and it was sunny the rest of the weekend, which was perfect for the children.  There were many inflatable games, such as a zip line, set-up right in the middle of Ulloa Street, between the Church and the School.  Many kids lined up for an experience to zip down Ulloa Street, and they were amazed to see their principal, Mrs. Carol Grewal, zip along with them twice.  There were 3 other inflatable games in the school yard, one that was like a maze/obstacle course that you had to get through.  The kids would compete with one another to see who could get through the fastest.  There was also a rock climbing wall and 3 kids at a time can compete to see who would get to the top first.  Different games in the gym included a mechanical bull, karaoke, at least 4 tossing games with prizes ranging from goldfish, to salami, to tickets that can be cashed in for other prizes.  Face painting, removable tattoos and hair coloring were also popular.  To keep the children and adults energized, the Men’s Club barbequed hot dogs, burgers, Philly cheese steak and Portobello mushrooms. A great time was had by all.  To the countless volunteers who prepared for this weekend and made it a success, those who oversaw the events to ensure our children were kept safe, to the cooks, the counters, the builders, the decorators, the organizers, the sales associates, those who set up and cleaned up, to all of you who worked behind the scenes, thank you, thank you, thank you.  To those who spearheaded the weekend’s festivities, Kristi Mitchell, Chuck Lewkowitz, Mari McKeever, Jenny Nelson and Karen Peirotti, you did a fantastic job. I echo what Mrs. Grewal said to you, “thank you for your hard work, dedication and vision.”

Congratulations, 2^nd Graders – On Thursday night, Dec 12, our 2^nd graders celebrated their First Reconciliation.  Do you remember your own first reconciliation?  I don’t recall my first, but I do remember the ones after it and how wonderful it felt to come away with a clean heart.  These little ones remind us how good it is to prepare for the coming of Christ by celebrating Reconciliation.  It is an encounter with the God of mercy who shows us His love in a tangible and meaningful way.  So the parish is offering an Advent Reconciliation Service, on Wednesday, December 18, 2013 @ 7pm.  Please plan to join us.

Fr. Dan

News Around the Parish

Thank You – for your generous response to the St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP) Thanksgiving food collection.  We asked you for non-perishable food and parishioner Tad Tassone, who is also the local coordinator for SVDP, was touched by your magnanimity.  As they continue their work this Season, they ask for your help in fulfilling Christmas wishes.  They put up the Christmas giving tree with ornaments that list what some of the people they serve wish to receive for Christmas.  If you can, pick up a tag and bring it back with the gift wrapped and the tag on the outside, by December 15.  They’ll make sure your gift will be delivered to those in need.  Each year, they serve about 400 men, women and children.  Thank you SVDP members for your lovely ministry, and thank YOU for supporting this worthwhile ministry.

Cross Catholic Outreach – is a ministry that serves the poorest of the poor internationally by channeling aid through dioceses and parishes to effectively help the poor break the cycle of poverty.  They believe that true change comes from within, spiritually.  But spiritual change is not complete, if it isn’t also assisted by physical change.  They believe in sharing the hope and good news of the gospel, while working to improve the lives of the poor.  Neither side of their ministry is complete without the other.  This weekend, Msgr. Ted Bertagni will be speaking at all our masses on their behalf.  Ordained as a Conventual Franciscan priest in 1978 in Omaha, Nebraska, he was invested as a Monsignor in 1999.  He later became and is presently a priest of the Diocese of Mandeville in Jamaica.  Msgr. has an international background, having studied and lived in Europe and the Caribbean.  He has a Licentiate and a Doctorate degree in Sacred Theology from Sant’Anselmo and the Pontifical Liturgical Institute in Rome.  He served 20 years as a parish priest, pastor, and professor before dedicating himself full time to the service of the poor.  Welcome, Msgr. Bertagni!

Come support the School Christmas Boutique – earlier in the week, Santa’s elves were here to help set up for our annual Christmas Boutique.  It promises to be a wonderful weekend with the Champagne Preview on Friday night, 12/6 and a weekend of fun activities and shopping in the church hall, school yard and the gym.  The events will begin on Saturday, 12/7, from 10am – 6pm and on Sunday, 12/8, from 10am – 1pm.  To the myriad of volunteers and coordinators, thank you for making this event possible.

Volunteers, Save the Date – All parish volunteers are invited to a New Year’s Eve celebration.  A mass of thanksgiving will be offered for you and your intentions on 12/31 @ 5pm, followed by dinner in the Church Hall.  Invitations will follow…

Fr. Dan

Reflection of Our Parochial Vicar

Last Sunday we celebrated the feast of Christ the king which also marked the end of the liturgical year. Today we begin a new liturgical year in the life of the Church, Cycle A Year II with the first Sunday of advent.

Advent comes from the latin “Ad-venir” which means “to come to’. The season of advent affords us the special opportunity to prepare ourselves for the coming of our savior Jesus Christ. In the four Sundays of advent we are called to repent and prepare ourselves for the coming of Jesus both in Mystery, history and second coming.

Like the dawn from on high the son of justice, the son of God , visited us over two thousand years ago in the mystery of the incarnation, and so as we look forward to the anniversary of his birth, it is worthwhile that we prepare our lives but also prepare in anticipation when he will come again in glory.

Many of us prepare for the birth of Jesus in different ways, some prepare for Christmas holiday trips, and others do a lot of shopping, while others prepare to visit with loved ones and friends. No doubt these will make Christmas a remarkably different and special day. But if our preparations remain at this level alone then Christmas becomes a mere holiday and not a commemoration of the birth of the savior of the world. Hence the Church sets out these four Sundays of advent to guide us to prayerfully prepare ourselves with penitence so that we can be spiritually disposed to His birth, this time not in a filthy manger or a dirty and messed up stable, but in our hearts that have been made pure. So then as we make our other preparations, it is good to be aware that the most important preparation is the spiritual preparation because it is Jesus who is “the reason for the season”.

Among other preparations in our parish, we shall also be lighting the advent wreath, denoting the fact that the light of Christ will enlighten our hearts to search and to be able to make “straight his paths, to fill every valley, to make low every mountain and hill and make straight every winding road” in our lives (cf. Lk.3:4-6).  This light typifies the light that dawned on those who sat in the darkness of Isaiah’s prophecy and will break-forth on us at Christmas when we will sing with the angels, “Joy to the world the Lord has come”.

The dominant personage of advent, John the Baptist, has just a simple message for us -“Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand.” and when Jesus came he declared that the

Kingdom of God is in your midst”. May God help us as we prepare for the birth of his son in history and mystery.

We were to have the ceremony of acceptance on the first Sunday of advent but it has been moved to the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord. On this first Sunday, a  CCD family will help us to light the advent candle at the 5pm mass.

We wish you the best of preparation in this special season. Peace be with you.

Fr. Theo Hwande