-
Bulletin #: 568600 St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception 816
Park Dr. La Porte, TX 77571 Contact: Cheryl Frobenius,
281-471-2000, [email protected] Transmit Day/Time:
Tuesday/4pm Pages Sent: 8 Total, including cover page Software
Using: Publisher Special Instructions: 350 copies Thanks!
-
St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church
Archdiocese of Galveston Houston
816 Park Dr. La Porte, Texas 77571 281-471-2000
Fax:281-471-9365
Website:www.stmaryslaporte.com E-mail:[email protected]
Parish Office Hours Monday - Friday 9:00 am-12:00 Noon 1:00 pm-
4:00 pm
Eucharistic Celebrations Saturday: 5:30 p.m. Sunday: 9:00 a.m.
11:30 a.m. (Spanish) 1:00 p.m.
St. Mary’s Church
Monday (No Mass) Tuesday & Wednesday – 12:00 noon Thursday,
& Friday – 8:30 a.m.
Parish Staff Rev. Tony A. Castro, Pastor Deacon Hector Cantu
Deacon Julio Matallana Deacon Stan Avallone Bookkeeper-Nelda Shealy
Bulletin/Sacramental Records– Cheryl Frobenius Maintenance– Steve
Regan Parish Secretary-Jessica Jaramillo C.C.E. Director-Shari
Davis C.C.E. Coordinator - Graciela Lopez EDGE Coordinator-Randy
Tercero Life Teen Director-Shari Davis
Sacrament of Baptism Baptisms are celebrated on the 2nd Sunday
of the month. Classes are held on the 2nd & 3rd Tuesday of each
month. Please come by the Parish Office to register or call for
more information. Reconciliation The Sacrament of Penance is
offered on Saturdays, from 4:00p.m. to 5:00p.m. or by appointment.
Sacrament of Marriage Please contact the Parish Office at least (6)
six months prior to your desired wedding date to arrange a meeting
with Father Tony or one of the Deacons. If you want a Mass, you
must call Father Tony. Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults Are
you a non-Catholic who is interested in joining the Catholic faith?
Are you a baptized Catholic who has never received the sacraments
of 1st Communion and Confirmation? If your answer is yes to either
of these questions, call the Parish Office. Sacrament of First
Reconciliation/First Communion First Reconciliation/Communion
candidates must be baptized, at least in the second grade, and have
been attending CCE classes for at least TWO full years prior to
entering into sacramental preparation. Adults will be referred to
the RCIA program. Sacrament of Confirmation Confirmation is a
separate more intensive examination of the faith and our
responsibilities as practicing Catholics. Confirmands will meet
once per month in addition to attending Life Teen faithfully, both
one full year prior to the beginning Sacramental preparation and
during the preparation year (no more than three absences either
year). Parents/Sponsors will also be required to attend once per
month meetings. Confirmation candidates must have previously
received the Sacraments of Baptism and First Holy Communion. A
habit of attending weekly Mass is required for both years. Please,
note the above represents the minimum requirements. Adults will be
referred to the RCIA program.
Vision Statement St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception is a
Catholic Community of Believers called to serve Christ by gathering
together at the Lord’s Table in worship and praise, by serving our
brothers and sisters in Christ, and by being a welcoming beacon of
light to all. We are many parts, yet one body in Christ.
-
Saturday, November 28: 5:30pm Special Intention for Gerard
Griest By:Collling Family Sunday, November 29: 9:00am Zosimo† &
Sinforosa† Dapitan By:Distefano Family 11:00am People of the Parish
1:00pm Alex Cava† By:Heasty Family Tuesday, December 1: 12:000pm
Harold † & Agda† Burbach By:Frobenius Family Wednesday,
December 2: 12:00pm Zosimo† & Sinforosa† Dapitan By:Distefano
Family Thursday, December 3: 8:30am Special Intention for Cane
Paschal By:Paschal Family Friday, December 4: 8:30am Fr. Tony
Castro & Family By:Herkubda Robles Saturday, December 5: 5:30pm
Joachim Vo Van Nguyen† By:Nguyen Family Sunday, December 6: 9:00am
Dorothy Dawson† By:Doris Holmes 11:00am People of the Parish 1:00pm
Don Gore† By:Hellstein Family
St. Mary’s Fall Harvest No Grab & Go Today
Our Virtual Auction is ongoing on eBay until Sunday, December
6th @ 4pm. Be sure to keep a close watch on any items you may be
interested in. If you obtain an item through eBay, please call or
come by the office to pick it up. See something you know someone
could use or might like? Please call them up and let them know the
contact information. A very special thank you to each of you for
your support!
Next Weekend “Lucky Draw” @ 6pm
1st Drawing $1,000. 2nd Drawing $ 500. 3rd Drawing $ 500. 4th
Drawing $ 250.
You can place your donations in a blue envelope or make them
through our Online Giving account by selecting
smfallharvestdonation. For every $10 you donate, your name will be
placed in the donation barrel for an additional chance to win one
of the Lucky Draw Prizes. Deadline to purchase tickets will be at
4pm.
Thank You Advertisers! Dixie Safe & Lock
Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy Mike Shanahan Carpenter
Robert’s A/C & Heating Schoppe Pest Control
SJ Art & Frames Thay’s Junk Removal
Torres & Faus Law Firm
Updated Mass Information... Beginning this Sunday, November
29th, the following changes will occur: the Spanish Mass time will
change from 11:30 am to 11 am. Seating at the 9 am will also be
increasing. The Church capacity will remain at 25%(70 people), with
overflow extending into Rosary Hall. The Mass in Rosary Hall will
be live streamed and communion will be distributed. We ask that
once Mass begins in Church or the Church doors are closed to please
proceed to Rosary Hall.
-
Dear parish family, 1 Sunday of Advent (Year B) Hope,
expectation, vigilance, and preparedness, are the liturgical themes
on the season of Advent. These are same key words that the world at
large embraces. We have high hopes of the Covid Vaccines soon to be
released that the long wait towards normality would eventually
happen. However “normality” is still a distance away. The most
important element is that we must be extra vigilant. The Biblical
metaphor is “watch”. It means in the most practical sense not to
let our guards down. Otherwise, the agony of this pandemic will
only be prolonging. Hence we just have to follow the guidance of
health and science professionals - this is a global health issue.
The First Sunday of Advent, marks not just the beginning of our
preparation for Christmas, but also the beginning a new liturgical
Church year for us as Catholics. Advent extends over the next four
Sundays, literally culminating on Christmas Eve this year. The word
“Advent” comes from the Latin word Adventus, which means “coming.”
Like Lent this is a preparatory season, one that has us looking
forward and waiting for something greater. We are aware that the
One Who is coming is Christ, but that means more than just Christ’s
birth at Christmas. It also means the coming of Christ into our
lives through grace and the sacraments. In the Gospel, Jesus warns
us, "Be watchful! Be alert!” Our staying spiritually awake and
alert helps us attentive to the real issues of life. The readings
this Sunday should help us reflect or sense that that our weary,
battered, sick and confused world is not what God has in mind for
us. God has plans to bring about another world reality through
Jesus Christ – the life of grace. And for those who are ready and
awake will know when God comes and how to respond to God’s
presence. Advent awakens us to realize we have invested our
treasure, our energies, and talents in the wrong places and wrong
ends. The master, our Lord, whom we serve, is coming to help us
awaken from sleep so we can put aside our false values the world is
offering us. And rebuild our lives on him, who is our rock. Isaiah
in our first reading imagines us as clay to be formed by our God,
"the potter," and reminds us, "we are all the work of your hands."
The clay can only be formed when soft. When our hearts are hardened
then they are like hardened clay never can be molded but only to be
broken. It is when our souls and our hearts are receptive to the
voice of God, that we are a soft clay on the hands of the potter,
we can be molded to what He intends to us be. Stay safe always.
Blessings to all and have a good week. Fr. Tony Querida familia
parroquial, 1er domingo de Adviento (Año B) Esperanza, expectativa,
vigilancia y preparación son los temas litúrgicos en el tiempo de
Adviento. Estas son las mismas palabras clave que el mundo en
general acepta. Tenemos grandes esperanzas de que las vacunas Covid
se lancen pronto y que la larga espera hacia la normalidad
finalmente suceda. Sin embargo, la "normalidad" todavía está lejos.
El elemento más importante es que debemos estar más alerta. La
metáfora bíblica es "vigilar". Significa, en el sentido más
práctico, no bajar la guardia. De lo contrario, la agonía de esta
pandemia solo se prolongará. Por lo tanto, solo tenemos que seguir
la guía de los profe-sionales de la salud y la ciencia: este es un
problema de salud mundial.
El Primer Domingo de Adviento, marca no solo el comienzo de
nuestra preparación para la Navidad, sino también el comienzo de un
nuevo año litúrgico de la Iglesia para nosotros como católicos. El
Adviento se extiende durante los próximos cuatro domingos,
culminando literalmente en la víspera de Navidad de este año. La
palabra "Adviento" proviene de la palabra latina Adventus, que
significa "venida". Al igual que la Cuaresma, esta es una temporada
preparatoria, una que nos hace mirar hacia adelante y esperar algo
más grande.
Somos conscientes de que el que viene es Cristo, pero eso
significa más que el nacimiento de Cristo en Navidad. También
significa la venida de Cristo a nuestras vidas a través de la
gracia y los sacramentos. En el Evangelio, Jesús nos advierte:
"¡Estad atentos! ¡Estad alerta!" Mantenernos espiritualmente
despiertos y alerta nos ayuda a estar atentos a los problemas
reales de la vida.
Las lecturas de este domingo deberían ayudarnos a reflexionar o
sentir que nuestro mundo cansado, maltratado, enfermo y confuso no
es lo que Dios tiene en mente para nosotros. Dios tiene planes para
producir otra realidad mundial a través de Jesucristo: la vida de
gracia. Y aquellos que estén listos y despiertos sabrán cuándo
viene Dios y cómo responder a la presencia de Dios.
El Adviento nos despierta para darnos cuenta de que hemos
invertido nuestro tesoro, nuestras energías y talentos en los
lugares y fines equivocados. El maestro, nuestro Señor, a quien
servimos, viene a ayudarnos a despertarnos del sueño para que
podamos dejar de lado nuestros falsos valores que el mundo nos
ofrece. Y reconstruir nuestra vida sobre él, que es nuestra
roca.
Isaías en nuestra primera lectura nos imagina como arcilla para
ser formada por nuestro Dios, "el alfarero", y nos recuerda, "todos
somos obra de tus manos". La arcilla solo se puede formar cuando
está blanda. Cuando nuestros corazones se endurecen, son como
arcilla endurecida que nunca se puede moldear, sino que se puede
romper. Es cuando nuestras almas y nuestros corazones están
receptivos a la voz de Dios, que somos una arcilla suave en las
manos del alfarero, podemos ser moldeados a lo que Él quiere que
seamos.
Mantente protegido siempre. Bendiciones a todos y que pases una
buena semana. P. Tony
-
Spiritual Direction Feeling stuck in your faith? Deeper intimacy
with Our Lord Is possible. With gentle encouragement from a
spiritual director and your commitment of 30-60 minutes a day you
can enter into a deeper relation-ship with Our Lord than you ever
thought possible. Spiritual direction can help you learn to pray
better. Interested in spiritual direction? Due to COVID Spiritual
Direction is available via
Zoom.ContactTracy:[email protected]
Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston Prayer in the Time of the
Coronavirus
Comfort us, O Lord, for we are like your disciples on the storm
tossed seas, unsettled by what lies ahead. We turn to You, our
Healer and Guide, to still our hearts in our time of need and hear
our prayer: Heal those who are sick with the coronavirus and
protect the elderly and most vulnerable. Give strength to all who
tend to our health and wisdom to researchers who work toward a
cure. Open our eyes and hearts, as you did during Hurricane Harvey,
that we may look beyond our immediate needs to care for others who
need help. Through the Holy Spirit, guide our leaders to make wise
decisions for the welfare of all the people they serve. Grant
eternal rest to those who have died from the virus. May Mary, Our
Mother, who has heard our pleas in the storms of our lives,
intercede to her Son, that we may find healing and a prompt end to
this illness.
Mary, Star of the Sea, pray for us. Jesus Christ, Our Lord and
Savior, heal us.
Activities for the Week Sun., Nov. 29:No CCE, EDGE & Life
Teen Today Both Programs are Virtual & Live Tues., Dec.
1:Virtual Bible Study 6:30pm Thurs., Dec. 3:St. Vincent Mtg. 9:30am
KC Mtg. 6:30pm Rosary Hall Sun. Dec. 6: CCE 1st Reconciliation
Virtual EDGE Life Teen Virtual & Live
St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store Open
New Store Hours: Mon., Tues., and Wed., 9-11am
We are still in need of new volunteers!
You can pick any day you are able to work. If you are available
to help out, please call the office or contact Norma @
281-471-1752. Additional help may be available from: Catholic
Charities 713-874-6521 Baker Ripley Utility Assistance 713-590-2327
Harris County Office of Social Services 713-696-7900 Eviction Legal
Assistance 713-228-0735
St. Joseph’s Chapel Adoration Adoration will resume on Tuesday,
December 1. Adoration of the Blessed Sacra-ment is held on Tuesday
from 12noon to Thurs-day at 8:30am. If you would like to schedule a
weekly Holy Hour or be placed on the substitute list, please call
the office.
-
Upcoming Baptismal Dates December 13th & January 10th
Baptism classes are currently being held each month. Due to
COVID we are only able to offer the Spanish baptism classes and
baptisms on an as needed basis. Special arrangements can be made by
contacting the office. Baptisms will be held the 2nd Sunday of each
month. If you are planning to baptize here, you will need to
contact the office and fill out a registration form. We will also
need to make a copy of the child’s birth certificate from the
state. After you register, you may sign up for the baptism class.
If you do not live in La Porte, you must be a registered, active
member of St Mary’s to baptize your child here. You cannot register
in our parish only to baptize your child. Please call the office to
make arrangements to obtain the paperwork.
Pope’s Prayer Intention for November Artificial Intelligence
We pray that the progress of robotics and artificial
Intelligence may always serve humankind.
RCIA Classes Thursday 6pm Rosary Hall
(Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) Who should do the full
RCIA program? If you are not baptized or were baptized in another
Christian denomination and are interested in possibly becoming
Catholic, RCIA is for you. If you are a baptized Catholic adult who
needs First Holy communion and confirmation, then you should attend
RCIA to receive those sacraments. Coming once (or twice… or more)
obligates you to NOTHING. For additional information about RCIA
call the office or email Tracy, [email protected].
As the reality of COVID and perhaps not being able to a end Mass
is once again in the forefront, there are several ways for you to
con nue to donate: Our normal Sunday collec on, by mail ( St.
Mary’s, 816 Park Dr., La Porte, TX )or through our Online Giving
account posted on our website. Simply go to the website and click
on the copy of the picture for Online Giving. My prayers for good
health are with you and your family during this pandemic crisis and
always. With You In Christ, Fr. Tony Castro, Pastor
Virtual Bible Study… Has Started
Jesus: The Way, The Truth, and The Life: The marvelous treasures
of the Catholic Faith—the Eucharist, Mary, the saints, and the
Creed—are all centered on a single figure: Jesus Christ. Jesus is
more than a historical or theological figure. He is our Savior, our
Redeemer, our Lord, and our God. While many of us already know a
lot about him, how well can we say we really know him? Filmed on
location in the Holy Land, Jesus: The Way, the Truth, and the Life
is a new and fresh look at Jesus—who he is, what he is really like,
what he taught, and what he did for our salvation. This encounter
with Christ will inspire and empower you to center your entire life
on him as you come to know and love him in an ever-deeper and more
intimate way. We'll meet virtually on Tuesday evenings @ 6:30 pm.
Contact Tracy at [email protected] for details.
FEAST OF FAITH What is the Mass? There is no simple answer to
that question. The Church uses many different images and terms to
describe our most important prayer. The Mass is the celebration of
the Eucharist, a Greek word that means “thanksgiving.” It is the
Lord’s Supper. It is the Breaking of the Bread. It is the memorial
of the Lord’s passion, death, and resurrection. It is the Holy
Sacrifice, in which the sacrifice of Christ on the cross is
perpetuated. It is the holy and divine liturgy, the sacred
mysteries. It is the source and summit of our Christian lives, the
new cove-nant, the work of the Holy Spirit, the paschal mystery.
The many different words and images that we use when we speak of
the Mass are not signs of confusion, but of won-der at what the
Catechism of the Catholic Church (1328) calls the “inexhaustible
richness” of the Eucharist. The Mass, our greatest prayer and our
deepest mystery, is celebrated every day, many times a day, the
world over. The Eucharist is both “bread from heaven” and “daily
bread.” The Mass is our everyday miracle. —Corinna Laughlin,
Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.
-
Please Pray For Our Troops and … Rey Salas, Sarah Purlee, Johnny
Hughes, Miles Libby, Richard & Deanna Broderick, Ron Johnston,
Theresa Rainwater, Beatrice Lyssy, Diane Bond, Joe Bond, Dean &
Benita Smithson, Jeremy Sander, Tyrina McCain, Belinda Lara, Joe
Sturm, Maverick, Amber Sander, Bob McFarland, Barry Stuff, Hamid H.
Kahn, Devon Tiffin, Donna Grammier, Mandy Trainer, Ean Hensley,
Fred Jauregui, John & Cariann Palvado, Hector Villarreal,
Alfredo Cariaga, Mimi Casarez, Amanda Zann, Margarita Mora de
Ramos, Jenny Matlock, Isabelle Calvillo, and Gayle Sullivan.
Continue to Pray for Edward Wachel, Joey Bernal, Joe Bernal,
Wal’Dean Lundquist, Fr. Gary Rickles, Edward D. Palacios, Joe
Lopez, Maria Garcia, Ladd Puskus, David Gonzalez, Vicki Farias,
Nell Turk, Rosie Yznaga, Teresa Mills, Joe Lozano, Sr., Angeles
Sullivan, Tim Hellstein, Leroy Marchan, Geraldine Christensen,
Kathy Strader, Daniel Vasquez, Herlinda Robles, Rosa Harness, Randy
Hanks, Jeanette Tilley, Marisol Leyva & family, Marisol Luna,
Pete & Juanita Sanchez, Betty Flynn, Orville Burgess, Edward
Salinas, Marlene Orellana, Humberto Villalobos, Kathy & Mark
McBride, Robert & Margaret Espinoza, Romela Nolan, Renee
Cortez, Aurelia Hinojosa, Cathy Hanzelka, Msgr. Boli Zientek, Gayle
Phillips, Jane Middleton, Rosa Reyes, Deacon Tom Lewis, Irene
Templet, Preston Wolf, Marcos Vasquez, Gavin Binkley, Clarence
Lewis, Red Cornejo, Linda Jaramillo, Deacon Merce Leal, Sue
Crockett, Ben Munoz, Diana Ortiz, Bob Davis, Janet Hoffpauir, Nick
Martin, Barry Armstrong and those requesting prayer via our web
site. Remember Our Shut-Ins Lydia Rubio, Trinidad Arrindon, Elida
Peterson, and those battling terminal illness and the residents of
La Porte Care Center and Parson’s House. Please Note: Names on our
“Please Pray For” list are left on for four weeks. If someone needs
to be put back on the prayer list or added please call the Church
Office.
The Gabriel Project is designed to help women and teenagers who
are in a crisis pregnancy. If you are in need of assis-tance or
know someone who is, please contact Belinda @ 713-805-4961 or the
Church Office.
ADVENT NO ALTAR FLOWERS 2021 Altar Flowers Jan. 16/17, 23/24,
30/31
Feb. 6/7, 13/14, 20/21, 27/18 Please contact Rose Kolenc
713-202-3283 or [email protected] to reserve your dates.
Church Sanctuary Candle In Loving Memory of Mary Boatman
By Silda Griffiths
Chapel Sanctuary Candle Special Intention for Archie Flowers
By Peggy Holland
Please Join Us… On Saturday, December 12th at 8:00am, the Altar
Society will be cleaning the church for Christmas. Everyone is
welcome, so please join us if you can. Contact for the Altar
Society is Sharon Ramos @ 281-451-9593.
December Altar Duty Assignments Laundry ~ Cindy Bremer, Lucy
Morrison Altar Duty ~ Cindy Bremer, Lucy Morrison
READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: Rom 10:9-18; Ps 19:8-11; Mt
4:18-22 Tuesday: Is 11:1-10; Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17; Lk 10:21-24
Wednesday: Is 25:6-10a; Ps 23:1-6; Mt 15:29-37 Thursday: Is 26:1-6;
Ps 118:1, 8-9, 19-21, 25-27a; Mt 7:21, 24-27 Friday: Is 29:17-24;
Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14; Mt 9:27-31 Saturday: Is 30:19-21, 23-26; Ps
147:1-6; Mt 9:35 — 10:1, 5a, 6-8 Sunday: Is 40:1-5, 9-11; Ps
85:9-14; 2 Pt 3:8-14; Mk 1:1-8
In Remembrance of the Faithful Departed If you placed an
envelope in the collection basket on All Souls Day with the names
of the loved ones you have lost, we will be placing their names in
the Memory Basket located on the Altar for the month of November.
May they rest in peace.
Don’t Forget… Spanish Mass time is now at 11am. Also, we are now
live streaming Mass in Rosary Hall for the 9am Mass. Holy Communion
will be distributed.
Can We Help? If you or a loved one would like to receive a visit
from Fr. Tony or would like to be receiving Holy Communion at home,
on an ongoing basis, please call the office. Deacon Stan is the
only one bringing Holy Communion to the homebound at this time due
to the current health crisis.
-
Please pray for Our Lady’s in-tercession and protection for this
school year. Pray that the Holy Spirit will guide teachers, parents
and the community in support of the children of the parish!
NO EDGE or Life Teen Today Virtual & LIVE
EDGE Randy & Angie Tercero
[email protected] 713-826-0633
Life Teen Shari [email protected] Upcoming Retreat
~ Dates Dec. 5 th & 6th ~
No CCE Today Virtual First Reconcilia on Next Week
/ColorImageDict > /JPEG2000ColorACSImageDict >
/JPEG2000ColorImageDict > /AntiAliasGrayImages false
/CropGrayImages true /GrayImageMinResolution 150
/GrayImageMinResolutionPolicy /OK /DownsampleGrayImages false
/GrayImageDownsampleType /Bicubic /GrayImageResolution 300
/GrayImageDepth -1 /GrayImageMinDownsampleDepth 2
/GrayImageDownsampleThreshold 1.50000 /EncodeGrayImages true
/GrayImageFilter /DCTEncode /AutoFilterGrayImages false
/GrayImageAutoFilterStrategy /JPEG /GrayACSImageDict >
/GrayImageDict > /JPEG2000GrayACSImageDict >
/JPEG2000GrayImageDict > /AntiAliasMonoImages false
/CropMonoImages true /MonoImageMinResolution 1200
/MonoImageMinResolutionPolicy /OK /DownsampleMonoImages true
/MonoImageDownsampleType /Bicubic /MonoImageResolution 600
/MonoImageDepth -1 /MonoImageDownsampleThreshold 2.00000
/EncodeMonoImages true /MonoImageFilter /CCITTFaxEncode
/MonoImageDict > /AllowPSXObjects true /CheckCompliance [ /None
] /PDFX1aCheck false /PDFX3Check false /PDFXCompliantPDFOnly false
/PDFXNoTrimBoxError true /PDFXTrimBoxToMediaBoxOffset [ 0.00000
0.00000 0.00000 0.00000 ] /PDFXSetBleedBoxToMediaBox true
/PDFXBleedBoxToTrimBoxOffset [ 0.00000 0.00000 0.00000 0.00000 ]
/PDFXOutputIntentProfile (None) /PDFXOutputConditionIdentifier ()
/PDFXOutputCondition () /PDFXRegistryName () /PDFXTrapped
/False
/CreateJDFFile false /Description >>>
setdistillerparams> setpagedevice