December 16, 2007

Third Sunday of Advent

Brothers and sisters, on this Third Sunday of Advent, we feast once again at the tables of word and Eucharist. With patient longing we anticipate the coming of the Lord Jesus in this holy place. Let our ears be attentive to the voice of the Lord who comes to save us.

MASS SCHEDULE

Dec.   15        4:30PM        Josephine Okinsky……………By Sister Gloria

Dec.   16      10:00AM        Mamie Formichelli................The Formichelli Family

Dec.   20      12:15PM        Novena to the Miraculous Medal

Dec.   22        4:30PM        John Florkiewicz……………..…By Daughter

                                             Dolores Harriman……………...By Daughter

Dec.   23      10:00AM        John & Raffaela DeMatteo............By Family

                                             Louis Pidgeon…………………..Wife Mary

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS                                           

12/15:   B. Cummings, G. Glover & C. Glover              12/16:    L. Zautner & A. Welch & J. Rey

12/22:   R. White, C. Kiszkiel & B. White                    12/23:    D. Alvarado & S. Hedman & M. Sieder

               

COMMENTATOR & LECTOR

12/15:   L. Lucas & C. Green                                           12/16:   D. Holodak & Youth

12/22:   M. Burger & R. Nicolella                                   12/23:   W. Chura & M. Perrella

               

ACOLYTES

12/16:  Rachel, Christine & Michael Natalie                   12/23:  Mattias & Vitas Carosella

 

Holiday Mass Schedule

Christmas Eve                                    4:00 PM          Carols

Christmas Eve Liturgy                      4:30 PM         

Christmas Day Liturgy                    10:00 AM        

 

MEMORIAL DONATIONS FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON –We are now accepting memorial donations for the Holiday Season. Envelopes are located in the front entrance of the church.  If you would like to make a contribution in memory of a loved one, please print this information clearly on the envelope. Completed envelopes may be placed in the offertory baskets or mailed to the rectory.  Please submit all envelopes by December 18th for inclusion in our Christmas Memorial.   All donations will be used for altar decorations for the Advent/Christmas Season. 

 

ACOLYTE MEETING – Sunday December 16th following the 10 AM mass in the church.

We welcome anyone who is interested in becoming an acolyte as well as our current acolytes.  We will be covering the following items:

1.  Check out robe sizes / order new ones if needed
2. Chance for new prospects to find out what the program is about
3. Go over expectations at Mass
4. Solidify schedule going into end of Jan and through Lenten season.

Hope all of you will be able to attend and remember, bring an interested friend!

 

ANNUAL COOKIE WALK – Please plan on joining us on December 15th from 10AM to 12PM and/or Sunday December 16th following the 10AM mass.  Purchase a container for $3.00 and fill it with your choice of cookies and browse through an assortment of lovely hand crafted items.   We will also be doing a raffle.  The drawing will be held on Sunday December 16th in the Parish Center. 

 

MAKE A WISH – ADOPT AN ANGEL CAMPAIGN -The most important members of the team of MAKE A WISH Foundation is the supporters.  It would not be possible to grant wishes without YOU.    Your help allows MAKE A WISH to give a sick child a healthy outlook for the hope and promise of his or her future.  Angels will be sold after Masses in December for $3.00 for adults and $1.00 for children. 

 

Giving Hearts Program for Catholic Charities of Schenectady:  Tags are located at the front entrance of the church.  Please return the gifts no later than December 16th.  Questions:  contact Donna or Frederick Simone (346-2097) or email:  dasimone@aol.com.

 

SCHOOL OF RELIGION –Classes are scheduled for Dec. 16th.  NO CLASS Dec. 23rd &

Dec. 30th (Christmas Recess) Class resumes January 6th.  In case of inclement weather and the possibility of cancellation exists, please tune in to your local radio/TV station.  We are listed as St. John the Baptist, Schenectady.

 

Regional Food Bank - 6th grade and up youth and their families are invited to volunteer at the Regional Food Bank Thursday January 10th 6:30 to 8:00 PM.  The food bank is located at 965 Albany Shaker Road, Latham.  To sign up, contact Donna Simone.  Visit www.regionalfoodbank.net for more information on the Food Bank.

 

CHRISTMAS SING –A –LONG –Sunday Dec. 16th @ 7PM at St. Anthony’s Church.  Please join us for a ceremony of Advent Lessons and Carols.  Carols of the season will be interspersed with nine readings from Holy Scripture prophesying the birth of our Lord.  Refreshments will be served following the service in the Church Hall.  All are welcome.

 

PANCAKE BREAKFAST – We donated $260.00 and a lot of non-perishable food to the SICM food pantry.  Many thanks to all who worked and contributed!

MEETING DATES

SUNDAY December 16th Acolyte Mtg. following 10AM Mass in the Church

THURSDAY December 20th Bible Study 11:00 AM in the Parish Center

THURSDAY January 10th Liturgy Committee 6:30PM in the Parish Center

 

OFFERTORY COLLECTION:  The offertory collection for the weekend of 12/09/07 was $2,094.00.    Needed to meet weekly expenses is $2,000.00.   “If you look at what you do not have in life, you don't have anything. If you look at what you have in life, you have everything.”

                                      MEDITATION:  3RD SUNDAY OF ADVENT
                                           REJOICE!  Happy Holydays!
With the media celebrating "the Holidays," many Christians are upset over the banishment of "Merry Christmas" as an appropriate greeting for these days.  Meanwhile, so many Christians forget that the Christmas
season HASN'T begun yet.  It BEGINS ON December 25.  So "Merry Christmas" is NOT the proper greeting for THIS season.  On the Christian calendar, it's ADVENT--the Coming, not the "already here" of the  Christ-mas (Christ's Mass).  But Advent includes some wonderful days to celebrate.  We've slipped passed St. Nicholas Day (Dec. 6).  Christian  readers could have had a Happy Heavenly Birthday party for Thomas
Merton, who entered Paradise on Dec. 10, 1968.  All of us in the  Americas should have celebrated Our Lady of Guadalupe (12th). Those of  Scandinavian descent, or other Christian party lovers, might have celebrated St. Lucy's Day (13th), lighting candles and eating cake!  On  December 14, those of a contemplative bent could have celebrated St. John of the Cross' feast.  If you missed all this fun, do not fret.  The 22nd marks the Winter Solstice, the gift of nature that the early Church  embraced as the best time to celebrate the coming of the sun/Son--and  reminding of that the Son will come again!  Finally, return to the Christian calendar tomorrow and begin praying the great O ANTIPHONS, said/sung before Mary's Magnificat at Evening Prayer (Vespers) each  evening from Dec. 17-23.  These acclamations of the titles of Christ seen by Christians in the Old Testament also are used for the Alleluia verses before the Gospel readings for these days.  They are: O Wisdom; O Lord; O Key of David; O Radiant Dawn; O King; O Emmanuel.  Each title can be subject of an extended meditation.  Why not Google "O Antiphons" and enjoy these final days of ADVENT.  THEN, beginning on the evening of  December 24th, start wishing everyone a Mary's Christmas--that's where  "merry' came from--celebrating Christmas as MARY did, joyfully sharing  Jesus with the people of the world!

 

 

 

St. John the Baptist Catholic Church

Schenectady’s Historic Church   

Over 175 Years of Worship and Service

 

 

Rev. Michael T. Schmitt – Sacramental Minister

 Administrative Assistant –Eileen Mazur

Parish Office Hours 8:30AM-2:30PM Monday through Thursday 374-9148 Closed Friday

Parish Center Email: sjb@albany.net Web Site:  www.albany.net/~sjb/

Saturday Mass taped for Channel 16 – Shown: Sunday 2 PM & Monday 2 PM

St. John the Baptist Mission Statement

Dedicated to Celebrating Christ’s Love in

Worship, Works of Charity and Fellowship