St. Mary, Mother of God Church · Father Ronald Maquiñana ... The first purple candle lit is for the first week, the prophet's ... Memorial Flowers

St. Mary, Mother of God Church A Parish of the Diocese of Greensburg

A Pennsylvania Charitable Trust Roman Catholic Church

608 High Street ~ Freeport, PA 16229

Father Ronald Maquiñana—Pastor [email protected]

Parish Staff

William Girardi, Pastoral Associate—412-719-7085 Claudia Vertosick, Business Manager/Parish Secretary Helen James, Religious Education Director Thomas Koharchik, Choir Director William Girardi, Social Hall Coordinator—412-719-7085 David Valencic, Parish Custodian Richard Bertino, Cemetery Caretaker

Ministries Kristen Marhefka/Julie Polana Gardone—Teen Ministry Melissa Kristine/Beth Macurdy—Evangelization John Nemcek—Homebound Ministry

Organizations Diane Grant—Christian Mothers Ray Smetana/Mary Ellen Gray—St. Vincent de Paul Society

Office Information Administrative Center Numbers & Hours : 724-295-2281 (Office) 724-295-3090 (Fax) Monday through Thursday - 9:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. Friday - 9:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. Parish Website: www.stmaryfreeport.com Parish Email Address: [email protected]

Parish Information Saturday (Vigil): 4:00 P.M. Sunday: 8:30 & 11:00 A.M. Weekday Masses: Monday through Friday—8:00 A.M. Holy Day of Obligation: 8:00 A.M. & 7:00 P.M. Reconciliation: Saturday - 3:00—3:45 P.M. Baptism: Sundays within the 11:00 A.M. Mass (by appointment) Marriage: Contact the Parish nine months in advance. Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults: RCIA helps you to learn more about the Catholic faith. Pre-registration is required. Con-tact Fr. Ron or William Girardi at 724-295-2281. Hospital or Home Visit: If you would like to receive Holy Communion or if you know someone who would like to have the priest visit, please call Fr. Ron at 724-295-2281. Anointing of the Sick: Contact Fr. Ron at 724-295-2281. Holy Communion: Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Commun-ion are available to bring the Eucharist to the sick and home-bound. If you know of someone, please call the Administrative Center at 724-295-2281. Baptism: To understand the importance of the Sacrament of Baptism and your obligation as parents, you are required to attend one baptismal class. To register for one of these classes, please call the Administrative Center at 724-295-2281.

Established 1826

December 10th, 2017

This week we enter into the second Sunday of Advent and we lit two purple can-dles on our Advent wreath. The first purple candle lit is for the first week, the prophet's candle symbolizing hope, reminding us that Jesus is coming. Then, as we enter the second week of Advent, another purple candle is lit, the Bethlehem Candle of Faith, reminding us of Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem. What did their journey look like? It was hard, especially for Mary, since she was close to giving birth. But they were forced to leave Nazareth and travel to Bethlehem to register for a census as ordered by the Emperor Augustus. They had to travel ninety miles to the city of Joseph's ancestors. It was a fairly grueling trip, especially because the road was not just flat, but there was some uphill and downhill. Most likely Mary and Joseph would have traveled only ten miles a day because of Mary's impending delivery. And the trip through the Judean desert would have taken place during the winter, when the temper-ature is in the 30’s during the day and at night it would be freezing. Imagine that scenario. To protect themselves during inclement weather, Mary and Joseph would likely have worn heavy woolen cloaks, constructed to shed rain and snow. They had to bring their own provisions—probably water in wineskins and a lot of bread. Breakfast would be dried bread, lunch would be oil with bread, and herbs with oil and bread in the evening.

That must have been extremely hard for Mary. And their hardships did not end when they arrived in Bethlehem because of the over crowdedness in the city. They were forced to seek lodging at a primitive inn where Jesus was born in a stable. That was how difficult the journey was for Mary and Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem. No wonder in our gospel this Second Sunday of Advent, we have John the Baptist preparing the way of the Lord and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. He did this to make the people aware of who is coming after him, “one mightier than him”, and he asked them to prepare. As we get nearer to the coming of Christmas, we are also asked to prepare in order to welcome the Lord with a clean heart and mind. Hopefully, our preparation is not just external, like beautifying our homes with Christmas decora-tion, shopping, Christmas gifts or food on our table for Christmas, but also something internal and spiritual like receiv-ing the sacrament of reconciliation, attending mass and making others happy by our charity or works of mercy.

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Carpet has been removed and the marble project is underway!

December 9th/10th Donut & Beverage Social—Immediately following all weekend masses - Fellowship Hall December 10th Religious Education Classes—9:30 - 10:40 A.M.— Security Guard - “Jim Zollinger” Choir Practice—9:45 - 10:45 A.M.; 11:00 A.M. Mass December 13th 1st Reconciliation—7:00 P.M. - Church December 16th Baptism—5:15 P.M. - “Ashley” December 17th Teen Ministry Meeting—9:25 A.M. Religious Education Christmas Party—9:30 - 10:40 A.M.— Security Guard - “Trina Champagne” Choir Practice—9:45 - 10:45 A.M.—11:00 A.M. Mass; Baptism—12:15 P.M. - “Germy” December 21st Advent Penance Service—7:00 P.M. December 22nd Parish Office Closes at 12:00 Noon December 24th No Religious Education; No Choir Practice; 11:00 A.M. Mass; Baptism—12:15 P.M. - “Polliard”

Christmas Memorial Flowers

may be placed in the regu-lar collection until Sunday,

December 17th. Please write the names of those

you wish to honor on the envelope. We will publish the names of

those you so wish to honor with a donation.

The Mardi Gras wine tas ng fes val will be held Saturday, February 10th, 2018, 6:00-10:00 P.M. in our Fellowship Hall. Tickets are $30.00 each and includes wine tas ng and a lite fare. Have you started your Christmas shopping yet? Do you have someone on your list that you have no idea what to buy them? Perhaps you

need a couple stocking stu ers? How about ckets to our wine tas ng event? What a perfect gi for the one who has everything! To reserve your ckets, call Bridget at 724-294-0089, Mari-anne at 724-295-9568 or Je at 724-596-0503. This event is sponsored by our Parish Council.

Penance Services for Advent - Communal Penance services are an excellent way to enter into the spirit of the call to conversion that Jesus issues to each of us. We are ever more conscious of the need for reconcilia on among the people of God, God’s great mercy in forgiving us, and the bene t that we receive from each oth-ers prayers. Several priests will be available at each of these Penance services. Following is the remaining schedule for our Regional Penance Services for our area:

Saturday, December 16th - Christ, Price of Peace, Ford City - 12:00 Noon Monday, December 18th - St. Mary, Yatesboro - 7:00 P.M. Tuesday, December 19th - St. Lawrence, Cadogan - 7:00 P.M. Thursday, December 21st - St. Mary, Freeport - 7:00 P.M.

First Reconcilia on will be held Wednesday, Decem-ber 13th, at 7:00 P.M. Parents and all family

members are encouraged to a end and receive this sacrament with them. Please keep these children in your prayers!

Community Christmas Sing! Please join in as a Community to Celebrate the Christmas Season (with singing and musical performances). Satur-day, December 16th at 7:00 P.M. at

The Sower’s Chapel—100 Iron Bridge Road, Sarver. Commu-nity choirs, vocalists, instrumentalists and congrega ons are invited to join together for a fes ve musical evening. Come all ye faithful!

A Christmas Party for all of our Religious Educa-on students will be held on Sunday, December

17th, in our Fellowship Hall. The children are to go to our Fellowship Hall where they will enjoy some treats and beverage, look at the decorated trees in

the classrooms, have a sing-a-long, and more! Parents are invit-ed and encouraged to a end this party with their children.

Christmas Eve 5:00 & 10:00 P.M. Christmas Day

10:00 A.M.

Today, immediately following all masses. Please take the me to

stop in and extend a friendly hello to your fellow parishioners.

Knights of Columbus #2602 will sponsor a Pancake & Sausage Breakfast on Sunday, December 17th, from 9:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M., at the council home located at 28 Gar eld Street, Natrona. Cost is

$6.00/adults and $3.00/children under 6.

MASSES FOR THE 2ND SUNDAY OF ADVENT SATURDAY: December 9th 4:00 P.M. Fr. Dominick DeBlasio (Maryellyn and Bill Bale) SUNDAY: December 10th 8:30 A.M. Deceased Members of the Mazurowski Family (John & Jeannie Mazurowski) 11:00 A.M. St. Mary Parishioners MONDAY: December 11th 8:00 A.M. Joseph Klaput, Jr. (Marianne Sheehan) TUESDAY: December 12th 8:00 A.M. Leonard Stanoski (Wife—Norma Jane) WEDNESDAY: December 13th 8:00 A.M. Birdie Posney (Pastorial Council) THURSDAY: December 14th 8:00 A.M. Ray Ravotti (Bob & Judy Bergstrom) FRIDAY: December 15th 8:00 A.M. Fr. Louis Cheatham (Friend)

MASSES FOR THE 3RD SUNDAY OF ADVENT SATURDAY: December 16th 4:00 P.M. Anita Rosato (Family) SUNDAY: December 17th 8:30 A.M. St. Mary Parishioners 11:00 A.M. Martha Kerr (Garrie & Christine Davies)

Offertory Collection for December 3rd, 2017 No. of Envelopes Mailed Out: 593 No. of Envelopes Received: 220

Collection: Offertory - $5,263.00 Electronic Payments (9) - $555.00 Loose - $284.00; Children - $27.50

Candle Money - $307.00 Total Collection - $6,436.50

THANK YOU!

Saturday, December 16th, 2017 Judy Policicchio and Joanne Colpo

Thanks to our advertisers who sponsor this bulletin. Please support them with your business.

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The Altar Bread and Wine were donated for this week

in loving memory of GLADYS STACHORA & ELIZABETH BASILONE

By The White Family

In acknowledging the Real Presence of Christ, The Sanctuary Lamp (Candle) will burn this week in

loving memory of RAYMOND RAVOTTI By Guido & Sandra Ravotti

Christmas is a wonderful me for us. In addi on to the very special meaning of the liturgical celebra on, we are always happy to see so many parishioners whose sched-

ules may not allow them to a end Mass at our parish on a regular basis. If you are one of those who cannot visit our parish as much as you like, why not consider scheduling a recurring electronic contribu-

on. This will allow you to con nue to support your parish even when you are out-of-town, too busy to remember an envelope, working weekends, or a ending Mass at another parish. When you sign up, please remember to provide your envelope number.

MINISTRY SCHEDULE FOR DECEMBER 16TH & 17TH, 2017 Altar Servers Extraordinary Ministers of Holy

Communion Lector Greeters Organist Cantor

Saturday - 4:00 P.M.

Bill Girardi; Zach Showers Madison & Dawson Gaillot

Dave Brestensky Andrea Camerlo; Fred Walker

Janice Meola Sharon Mihalich Verne Bergstrom Alex Smith

Sunday—8:30 A.M.

Andrew Nigra; Luke Boylan Madison & Austin Bachar Alexandra Lasko

Judy Bergstrom John & Betty Lou Nemcek

Susan Shea Don & Jean Miller Tom Koharchik Tom Koharchik

Sunday—11:00 A.M.

Celeste Beacom Jacob & Erin Schaeffer Victor & Olivia Svitek

Lisa Isenberg Patty Hughes Melissa Schaeffer

Bill Cogley Karen Fennell Dave Wesolosky Choir

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(724) 295-29501-877-551-6760TOLLFREE

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ConsiderRememberingYour Parish in

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please call the Parish Office.