December 15, 2019 SUNDAY COLLECTION December 8 $6,112.65 “Christian hope, nourished by the light of Christ, makes the resurrection and life shine even in the world’s darkest nights.” — Pope Francis December 15—22 THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT What are we waiting for? Some people make the incredible claim that, 2,000 years ago, God’s spoken Word became flesh and blood. This incarnate Word lived and served and saved—not by rising to tremendous power, but by dying and rising to new life. A lot rides on John the Baptist’s question to Jesus: Are you the one? If not you, then who? If Jesus is the one, trusting in him means embracing a startling trajectory of service and surrender in a world of upward striving. It will turn our own lives inside out. What does it cost you to say: “Jesus is Lord”? ¿Qué estamos esperando? Algunas personas hacen la increíble afirmación de que, hace 2000 años, la palabra hablada de Dios se hizo carne. Esta palabra encarnada vivió y sirvió y salvó—no elevándose a un poder tremendo, sino muriendo y resucitando a una nueva vida. Hay algo muy importante en la pregunta de Juan el Bautista a Jesús: ¿Eres el elegido? Si no eres tú, ¿entonces quién? Si Jesús es el ele- gido, confiar en él significa aceptar una trayectoria asombrosa de servicio y entrega en un mundo de esfuerzos cuesta arriba. Va a volver nuestras vidas al revés. ¿Qué te cuesta decir: “Jesús es el Señor”? Sat, Dec 14 5:00pm † Edna Scheetz Sun, Dec 15 9:00am † Ethan Sithole 10:30am † Maria Martha Calvo 5:00pm PRO POPULO Mon, Dec 16 6:00am 9:00am † Wing Li † Deceased Members of Braconnier Family Tue, Dec 17 6:00am 9:00am † Emilio Maddara Jr. † Grace Comuzzi Wed, Dec 18 6:00am 9:00am 7:00pm † Florentino “Boy” de Guzman † Mr. & Mrs. Dorigo † Maria Luz Ditan Thu, Dec 19 6:00am 9:00am † Marciano “Nancy” de Venecia † Deceased Members of Westerwelt Family Int. Our Lady of Fatima School Staff Fri, Dec 20 6:00am 9:00am † Ethan Sithole † Joseph Alleluia Fernandes † Frank & Agnese Pignatelli & † Luigi & Madelena Delle Donne Sat, Dec 21 6:00am 9:00am † Mohsen Sithole † Jose Chinton & Rita Osana 5:00pm † Deceased Family Members of Ofelia & Sergio Legaspi Sun, Dec 22 9:00am † Lourdes De Leon 10:30am † Trevor MacDonald 5:00pm PRO POPULO CHRISTMAS TEN COMMANDMENTS 1. Thou shalt give thy heart to Christ. Let Him be at the top of thy Christmas list. 2. Thou shalt prepare thy soul for Christmas. Spend not so much on gifts that thy soul is forgot- ten. 3. Thou shalt not let Santa Claus replace Christ, thus robbing the day of its spiritual reality. 4. Thou shalt not burden the shop girl, the mail- man, and the merchant with complaints and de- mands. 5. Thou shalt give thyself with thy gift. This will increase its value a hundred fold, and he who re- ceiveth it shall treasure it forever. 6. Thou shalt not value gifts received by their cost. Even the least expensive may signify love, and that is more priceless than silver and gold. 7. Thou shalt not neglect the needy. Share thy blessings with many who will go hungry and cold unless thou are generous. 8. Thou shalt not neglect thy church. Its services highlight the true meaning of the season. 9. Thou shalt be as a little child. Not until thou has become in spirit as a little one art thou ready to enter into the kingdom of Heaven. 10. Thou shall not forget to share your joy, peace and faith with those around you. -- Author Unknown Confessions begin at 7:00pm Sun. Dec. 15th Our Lady of the Assumption (3141 Shaughnessy St. Port Coquitlam) Tue. Dec. 17th St. Clare of Assisi (2888 Delahaye Dr. Coquitlam) St. Peter’s (330 Royal Ave. New Westminster) St. Luke’s (20285 Dewdney Trunk Rd. Maple Ridge) Wed. Dec. 18th Holy Spirit Parish (224 Lawrence St. New Westminster) Thu. Dec. 19th Our Lady of Lourdes (828 Laval Square, Coquitlam) Fri. Dec. 20th St. Francis de Sales (6610 Balmoral St. Burnaby) Sun. Dec. 22nd St. Michael’s (9387 Holmes St. Burnaby) Mon. Dec 23rd OUR LADY OF FATIMA We are inviting all children ages 3 year old and up to help bring the spirit of Christmas to our parish by joining our Christmas children’s choir! Join us for rehearsals on the following dates in the church: Friday, December 20th 12:15-1:30pm Tuesday, December 24th 10am-11:30am The children’s choir will be singing at the 5pm Mass on Christmas Eve. For more infor- mation, please contact Shelley Halliday at 604- 939-0975. CHRISTMAS NOVENA MASSES (Misa de Gallo) December 16—24 at 6:00am Date Sponsors Choir Refreshments December 16th Readings in English Nercy & Ting Barona Dick & Stella Lee Vince Punsalan Socials Committee December 17th Readings in French French Community Ellen & Espiridion Lopez Elsie Hernandez Vivian Valancius Vince Punsalan French Community December 18th Readings in Filipino Dr. Ofelia Legaspi Annie Lee Catholine Butler Vince Punsalan Socials Committee December 19th Readings in Chinese Chinese Community John & Janet Tng Vince Punsalan Chinese Community December 20th Readings in English Marizen & Jhun Leoncio Maria Javier Raymond & Mary Jane Javier Peter & Anna Fernandes Vince Punsalan Socials Committee December 21st Readings in Filipino Couples for Christ Ida Gallo PS 98 Music Ministry Couples for Christ December 22nd Readings in English Knights of Columbus Maribel Agunod & Family Leonora Almazan & Family PS 98 Music Ministry Knights of Columbus December 23rd Readings in Spanish Hispanic Community Sunday 10:30am Choir Hispanic Community December 24th Readings in English African Community Amy Sundberg Sebastiani Family Jovencia Villa CFC Choir African Community VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR CHRISTMAS HAMPERS! Tuesday, December 17th St. Vincent de Paul Society is looking for volunteers to assist with putting togeth- er and delivering Christmas Hampers. Work on Christmas Hampers will begin at 8am on Tues- day, December 17 in the church library and delivery will start at 10:30 am. Helpers for the Hampers and Drivers are most welcome. PARISH OFFICE HOURS December 23—27: December 23 9am to 12pm December 24 Closed December 25 Closed December 26 Closed December 27 9am to 12pm December 30—January 3: December 30 9am to 12pm; 12:30pm to 4pm December 31 Closed January 1 Closed January 2 9am to 12pm; 12:30pm to 4pm January 3 Closed The easiest way to make a donation to Project Advance is to go online via www.projectadvance.ca. Be sure to select Our Lady of Fatima – Coquitlam as your parish. Please note that tax receipts for the year 2019 can only be offered for donations that are received within 2019. Thank you. 2020 SUNDAY ENVELOPES The 2020 Sunday Envelopes are available for pick up in the church. Please continue to use your 2019 envelopes until the end of this year. As your envelope number has likely changed for 2020, please use envelopes only for the year that they are intended. This helps to en- sure that your donations are recorded accurately. Assigning of envelopes is computerized and based on the frequency of usage. If you were not assigned a box of envelopes for 2020 and you would like one, please contact the parish of- fice. The parish office will gladly arrange it for you. MISA DE GALLO On Monday, the 16th of December, is the start of Misa de Gallo, the 9-day Novena Masses, as our immediate preparation for Christmas. The Mass is scheduled at 6:00 AM in our Church. Misa de Gallo is a religious custom brought to Filipinos by the Span- ish missionaries, and this originated in agricultural countries. As preparation for Christmas, a nine-day novena is held. Since the farmer needs to go to the farm, the Mass had to be very early in the morning, at dawn, so that he can attend the novena Mass before proceeding to the farm. We get up very early in the morning while it is still dark to go to Mass. That is why this was called “Misa de Gallo” (Mass of the Rooster) since it is the time the roosters begin to crow. This is also called Misa de Aguinaldo since this is our gift (prayers and sacrifices, especially the Mass) to the newborn Jesus. Now we have the vigil (anticipated) Mass in the evening, and this is literally Simbang Gabi (Mass in the evening).