The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) December 25, 2016 · 4:15PM Joseph E. Valentour, Jr., M/M Joseph E ... Patin & fly., Richard & Alice Martin, Dot ... Patricia Howse, Corinne &

OFFICE HOURSMonday–Thursday8:30AM –12:30PM 1–3:30PM

MASS SCHEDULESaturday (anticipated) 4:15PM

Sunday 8:15AM, 10:15AM, 6:15PM

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 7:15AM

Wednesday 5:30PM

Confessions heard daily 30 minutes before Mass.Confessions heard Saturdays from 3:30 - 4:00PM.

Children’s Church is held at 10:15AM masses.Children 4 years old up to first communion areinvited to participate in their own celebration ofthe Liturgy of the Word. Simply bring children tothe baptistry 10 minutes before mass begins.

PARISH STAFFRev. Gary Schexnayder, PastorDeacon Nelson Schexnayder, DeaconDeacon Michael Morrison, DeaconDeacon Ronald Chauvin, DeaconLinda SoutherSecretaryGerrie BaumboureeDirector of Religious Education / SafeEnvironmentMarc Conque4:15, 8:15 & 10:15 Music MinisterMichael Grado10:15 Choir DirectorFrancis LeBlanc6:15 Music MinisterElmary FrancisBulletin Editor & BookkeeperAnne GuidryBaptism CoordinatorTonia HarringtonFirst Communion/ FirstPenance Coordinator, &Preschool Religious EducationDiane TricheWelcome & Visitation MinisterDiana ZeringueLiturgical Coordinator

BAPTISMRegistration during the early stages of pregnancy for the Baptism course isstrongly recommended.

CONFIRMATIONAll students, including those in Catholic schools, are to register in August oftheir junior year of high school. Call the office for registration requirements.

FIRST PENANCE AND FIRST COMMUNIONAll children, including those in Catholic schools, should be registered at thebeginning of their second grade year in order to participate in the sacramentalpreparation.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION• First through tenth -graders meet on Tuesday evenings, October-April.• Vacation Bible School, for children ages 4-10, is held for one week eachsummer.• Confirmation students must complete 24 hours of high school religiouseducation prior to their junior year.• Adults wishing to learn more about their Catholic faith, including thosewishing to become members of the Catholic Church, should call the office tospeak with Gerrie Baumbouree.

SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGEThe church can be reserved as much as 18 months before a wedding. In mostcases, diocesan policy requires an appointment six months prior to thewedding date. Couples are required to attend a diocesan marriage preparationcourse. Please view wedding guidelines on the parish web site, under OurParish.

COMMUNION FOR THE HOMEBOUNDPlease call the office to speak with Diane Triche.

6 1 0 Rain Tree Trail Lafayette , LA 7 0 5 0 7 www.setonchurch.org Office : (3 3 7) 2 3 5-1 4 8 3 Fax: (3 3 7) 2 3 5 -9 6 4 5

The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) December 25, 2016

Sun Children’s Church (10:15 AM) Tues Adoration (7:45AM til Wed 4:00PM)

Tues Alanon (7:00 PM) AA (8:00 PM) Wed Rosary Group ( 10:00 AM)

Dec Dec Dec Dec Dec 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

PPPPParararararish Datish Datish Datish Datish Dateeeee25 Christmas Day Sunday, December 25. Masses at 8:15AM and 10:15AM. NO 6:15PM Mass.

26 Parish Offices Closed Monday, December 26, in observance of Christmas.

31/1 New Year’s Masses Saturday, December 31, at 4:15PM, Sunday, January 1, 8:15AM, 10:15AM & 6:15PM.

Primeaux, E.J. Primeaux, Norton Zeringue, Jr., John,Agnes, & Rena Lemaire, Alozia Beniot, Floyd Speyrer,Fred & Roy Souther, Gregory Delahoussaye (AD), Laura,Olivia & Sophia Delahoussaye, Shirley Daigle, JoyceHebert, Ro Foley

Sunday, Jan 1 - New Year’s Day8:15AM M/M Adlar Hebert & fly., Dr. & Mrs. Glynn

Hebert & fly., M/M Adles Hebert & fly., M/M RaouelVincent & fly., M/M Dennis Trahan & fly., Velma Gaudet,Nolan Hargrave, Jr., Evia Lanclos, Agnes Hargrave, GloriaDupre, Bertha Guilbeaux, Yves Guilbeaux, Chad Lyons,Jim Pollock, E.J. & Inez Camelle, Deceased members ofPollock, Camille & Matthieu families, Irene Webb

10:15AM Mr. Dewey F. Wheeler (BD), John L. Leblanc,Annabelle L. Leblanc, Joann Delhomme, Rene D.Delhomme, Sr., Rene D. Delhomme, Jr., Pat Broussard,Howard & Agnes Hollier, Russell Hollier, Shine & MaryDomingue, Charlotte Domingue, Deneige Breaux, AshtonBreaux, Shannon Breaux, Paul & Ina Savoie

6:15PM For the parishioner of St. Elizabeth SetonChurch

B=Birthday, WA=Wedding Anniv., AD=Anniv. of Death

SUN MON TUES WED THURS FRI SAT

3:30PM Confession

Monday, Dec 26 7:15AM A.G. Domingue (BD), Angelique

Sonnier, Louis Dooley

Tuesday, Dec 277:15AM Diana Zeringue & fly, Fred & RoySouther, Souther family

Wednesday, Dec 285:30PM Shine & Mary Domingue, CharlotteDomingue, Deneige Breaux, AshtonBreaux, Shannon Breaux, Paul & Ina Savoie

Thursday, Dec 29 7:15AM Ro Foley (BD)

Friday, Dec 307:15AM Yvonne Hernandez, BellaHernandez, Gussie Hernandez

Saturday, Dec 31 - New Year’s Eve4:15PM Joseph E. Valentour, Jr., M/MJoseph E. Valentour, Sr., Kristen V.Fauntleroy, Roy, Cora & Paul Gauthier,Evella B. Primeaux (AD), Eraste

SESMass Intentions

6:30PM Choir Practice, A

From the StaffFrom the StaffFrom the StaffFrom the StaffFrom the Staffatatatatat

St. ElizabethSt. ElizabethSt. ElizabethSt. ElizabethSt. ElizabethSeton ChurchSeton ChurchSeton ChurchSeton ChurchSeton Church

6:30PM Choir Practice, A

8:15AM, 10:15AM,6:15PM Masses

New Year’s Day

NO Religious Ed

NO RCIA4:15PM Mass

New Year’s EveNO Children’s Church

Par ishO f f i c e s C l o s e d

8:15AM, 10:15AMMasses

Christmas Day

Par ishO f f i c e s C l o s e d

NO Religious Ed

7:00PM Rite of Marriage(Bennett Guidry/Kaci Misita)

6:15PM RCIA resume, FC

New Year’s Mass Schedule Masses will be celebrated asfollows: Saturday, December 31st at 4:15PM - Sunday, January 1st at8:15AM, 10:15AM and 6:15PM.

Building and Maintenance Fund Second CollectionThe second collection next weekend (December 31 & January 1)will be for the Building and Maintenance Fund. Please be as generousas possible.

Liturgical Ministers Schedules For the months of Januaryand February 2017 have been mailed out. Contact Diana Zeringue ifyou did not receive your schedule.

NO Children’s Church

Building & MaintenanceFund Second Collection

Building & MaintenanceFund Second Collection

6:30PM Parish CouncilMeeting, MB

Kenneth Guidry, Pat Howse, John Strezo, Lisa Dupuis, Luke & Evelyn Forey, M/M John S. Mouton &fly., M/M Melvin L. Mouton, M/M Dudley Patin & fly., Richard & Alice Martin, Dot Laster, Fred &Roy Souther, Slim & Lois Souther, Al Souther, Roy & Georgette Caubarreaux, M/M Zenon Aucoin, M/M Milton Nelson, James & Charlie Begnaud, L. P. Burleigh, Pen & Helena Burleigh, Marie Manning,Herman Christensen, Frank Christensen, Ruth Billings, M/M Lanny Benoit, Larry Simon, PresleyTurner, Harry J. Chauvin, Bertha & Rufus Edgar, Rose Broussard, Roy Fontenot, M/M Leo Prejean, M/M Jacob Pierre Higginbotham, Deceased members of DeJean & Lemelle flys., M/M Milton Jackson,Sr., M/M Herman Lyons, Sr., Herman Lyons, Jr., Jackie Dauphine, Marya J. McHenry, Sylvia Swearingen,Jim Pollock, E.J. & Inez Camille, R.E. & Lena Pollock, Joseph & Lea Camel, John & Eline Matthieu,Bonnie Harrison, Pat Broussard, Pat Howse, Deceased members of Pollock, Camel & Matthieu flys.,James Chiasson, Nolan Hargrave, Jr., Evia Lanclos & Agnes Hargrave, Henry & Rosina Dupont, Sam& Vergie Alise, Jules Escagne, M/M Whitney Landry, John Mulzac, III, Loomus Angelle, M/M J.D.Jeansonne, M/M Rudolph Lee, M/M William Lee, Dr. & Mrs. Wilfred Dolan, M/M Edward Dolan, M/M John Dolan, M/M Allen Dolan, Rev. George Dolan, Mr. Norbert Dolan, Betty & Merrit Becker & fly.,M/M Luke Coussan, Madeline P. & Perkin Marciss, Joanna C. Stewart, Theriot & Champagne flys.,Russell & Aristide Comeaux, Rose & Walter Menard, Alice Theriot, Christopher Gresko, Joe Gresko,Alton Olivier, Charlie Miller, Matt Chapman, Herman Thibodeaux, Sr., Hanes & DeRouen flys., Sonnier& Longcrier flys., Petit & Hawkins flys., M/M Edias Hebert, Kenneth Lopez, Antoine Vincent, Sr., M/M Herbert Palombo, Pat & Flaman Palombo, Dudley Hebert, Bill Soileau, Eddie Watson, Violet Leger, Joseph Potier, Andy Stephens,Tom Basco, Patsy Basco, Guidry, Arceneaux & Fontenot flys., Edison & Mary Lafleur, Onest & Effie Savant, Joseph Francis, LillianWilliams, Harrison Francis, Orita Cranon, Francis, Fusilier, & Winters flys., Susonna Andrews, Bernice Watkins, Joan Reed, LucyGilliam, Marilyn Spielmann, M/M Raphael Landry, Betty L. Thibodeaux, Loretta, John & Michael Cote, S. Michael Cote, Jr., LarryMiller, Baumbouree & Moreau flys., Helen, Joe & Richard Chachere, Howard LeBlanc, M/M Lubin Allemand, Jr., Kahnray Miller,Geraldine Quebedeaux, Weldon & Mary Hobbs, Jordyn Bajat, M/M John Dampe, M/M Kermie P. Bajat, Felix & Sylvia Bernard,Joseph & Alice Thevenote, Harvey J. Broussard, Mabel & Leo Fontenot, Floyd & Margaret Pitre, Floyd Richard & Futch flys.,Dale J. & Elvia Firmin, Joey Broussard, Curley J. Hebert, Carlton Hammer, M/M Etienne Alleman, Avic William, Junior, Haywood,Earl, Gladye, Nick & Donald Delahoussaye, John Sibille, Kay K. Muse, Jeanette Boudreaux, Jerry Hebert, Linwood & Elise Kleinpeter,The Kimball fly., Diana Viator, Sharon Borel, John Strezo & Patricia Howse, Corinne & J.E. Landry, Jr., Ruth & Harold Nichols, ClydeB. Landry, Patricia Poirrier, Pat & Paul Breaux, Paula Breaux King, Jeffrey Paul Breaux, Bernice & Bradley Guilbeau, M/M CliffordFrilot, Jr., M/M McKinley Ceasar, Pete & Jeanne Begnaud, John & Goldie Begnaud, Jessica Begnaud, Richard, Fay & MichelleGuidry, Barbara Landry, Gary Landry & Bob Duhon, Shirley Schambough, M/M Sylvan Romero, Ethel & Elba Dardeau, EddieDardeau, Wilfred & Juanita Hanks, Manuel fly., Moreau fly., Fontenot fly., Lafleur fly., Pitre fly., E.B. Arceneaux & N. Brunet flys.,Judy Badeaux Peck, Roce Badeaux Anderson, Jim Harris, Charlie Mouton, Aubrey & Jackie LaPlace, Junius & Flo Delahoussaye,Inez Baudoin, Angelique Sonnier, Yves & Cora Lalonde, Curlis Braun, Juanita & Clarence Dardeau, Murray &Annabelle Fontenot,Louis Dooley, Jr., M/M A.G. Domingue, Calvin J. Broussard, M/M Paul Dumond & fly., The Hommes fly., Mire fly., Paul & OlitaAnderson, M/M Yves Soileau, Lena Bertrand, M/M Luke Frederick & Elwood, M/M Nelson Quebedeaux, Sr. & Bowsley, Lucille,Roy & Joan Weighner, Sandie Broussard, Kibodeaux, Daigle & Duffy flys., Catherine Schexnider, Jimmy Venable & Anna Hogan,Mary Leger, Rita Jo Bernard, Patricia Shelvia, Juanita Smith, Charles Bessard, Roy Shelvin, Comeaux & Thibodeaux flys., Anna LouBreaux, Ray & Gloria Romero, Larry & Ann Hebert, M/M Clifton Chevalier, Sr., Clifton Chevalier, Jr., Craig, Jolie & Sharon Armand,Earl Armand & Bobby Sargent, Jesse & Jenesie Zwniga, Dewey J. Matt, M/M Vince Thibodeaux, M/M Selfort Matt, M/M AlbertAucoin, M/M Emile Terrebonne, Paul Landry, M/M Ernest Breaux, M/M Albert Landry, Paul Cazonave, M/M Adali Cazonave,Raymond Martin & Elie Olivier fly., Pat Broussard, Howard, Agnes & Russell Hollier, M/M Andrew Arnaud, M/M Leland Arnaud,Fred Martin, M/M Rosevelt Ledet, Crystal Lynn Acosta Phipps, Corita & Lucien Marks, Lorena Bryant, Carol Marks, Michael

Wayne Acosta, Lorraine Higginbotham, Chris Douet, Mark Trahan, Russell Dalfrey, Neva Hemphill, Yves& Agnes Moran, Jules & Mary Dalfrey, Ryan Guidry, Joseph, Jr. & Leonora Simpson, M/M Sam Serio, M/M Joseph Simpson, Sr., M/M Orfanello, In Memory of Michael “Pete” Kleinpeter, Walter, Edabell, Orida,Nolya, & Wallace LeBlanc, Earl, Ruth, Vernon & Katherine Sonnier, Nolita Langlinais & Linda Stevens,Bryan & Derek Lemelle, Thelma Martin, Celestine Lemelle, Stephen Lemelle, Baby Joseph Simpson, III,Bruce Weir, M/M Robert Serio, Barbara Twickler, M/M Aaron Grolman, Lucio Orfanello, Theophile & EllaConstantine, Wilsie Constantine, Dennis & Stafford Broussard, Ula Keith, Denise Ogle, John Elmo Albardo,Mamie & Dutch Burgin, Wilson & Terry Landry, Margaaret L. Ridder, Eustache & Helen T. Lormand,Lucien & Bertha M. Olivier, Adelma & Melvina Cormier, Maud O. Courville, Mike Duplechain, Alexandra O.Johnson, Taft & Laura C. Francis, Darrell, Albert & Horace Francis, Helen & Howard Green, Sr., MaryCelestine, Donald, Sr. & Ro Foley, Jolynda Comeaux, Shirley Daigle, Edna, George Sr. & George Jr. Brignac

2016 Christmas FlowersSpecial Thanks to those who made donations toward this year Christmas Flowers drive.

JJJJJUUUUULLLLL

PASTOR’S CORNERDecember 24 - 25, 2016

Homework for the week of December 25 - December 311 John 1:1-4

A Merry and Joyous Christmas to you, to your family and to your loved ones! For me the best day of the week tocelebrate the Birth of the Messiah is Sunday, the Lord’s Day. The days of Advent with its beautiful readings,especially from the prophet Isaiah, prepared us to be well disposed to celebrate and recognize the coming of the longawaited Savior of the Jewish people. The Lord Jesus, the Prince of Peace, is the Emmanuel (God is with us), theChrist Child is the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings come to us so humbly, so simply and so wonderfully in themanger at Bethlehem.

On this Christmas day, in my name, in the names of our Deacons: Nelson Schexnayder, Michael Morrison andRon Chauvin, and in the name of the Staff of St. Elizabeth Seton Church, we offer to all of you our fellow Parishionersour prayers and our best wishes at this holy season of the year. May each one of us take time to properly celebratethe Christmas event in a personal, spiritual and religious manner as we renew our faith in the Lord Jesus, the onesent by the Father to save us from our sins and to reconcile us to the Father and to give us true and lasting peace.The mystery of the Incarnation, God becoming truly human in the person of the Christ Child, calls us to open ourhearts and our inner spirits to the providence of God. The blessings and the graces in the Messiah fulfill our greatestneeds and sustain us in our deepest longings. Take time to remember, take time to pray and to worship the Childborn of Mary on this Christmas Day.

Of the gifts and blessings that I am most grateful for, next to my personal faith in God and in the person of JesusChrist, the Messiah and the Prince of Peace, are my family and my friends. At this special time of the entire year,may we value, appreciate and acknowledge the relationships of our lives. Being with loved ones makes the feast ofChristmas so meaningful and so enjoyable. May each one of us renew and refresh our commitment to the relationshipsof our lives by doing our best to care for one another with the grace, the kindness, the mercy and the understandingthat comes from the love of the Lord for us that we know in the person of Jesus Christ. As the Father loves us sodevotedly and so faithfully in Christ, may we strive to love one another.

The coming of the Lord Jesus in our midst to save and to redeem us is a vocation and a way of life given us by thewords, the actions and the mission of the Messiah. St. Paul’s words to Titus that are the second reading for theMidnight Mass for Christmas eloquently teach us the challenge of the Birth of Christ. “Beloved, the grace of Godhas appeared, saving all and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live temperately, justly anddevoutly in this age, as we await the blessed hope, the appearance of the glory of our great God and savior JesusChrist, who gave himself for us to deliver us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people as his own,eager to do what is good.” (Titus 2:11-14) May our proper celebration of the Christmas Event bless all the relationshipsof our lives and also make a real difference in the way we follow the Lord Jesus our Savior in all the actions, in theways we live our daily lives.

A word of gratitude to all of you who have been so faithful and so considerate during the Advent season by yourprayers, your kindness, your generosity and your goodness. As your Pastor, I thank you for your lived faith, for yourcommitment to our Church Parish, for your willingness to share of your gifts and resources with others, and yourdiligence in living your relationship with the Lord Jesus.

My love, prayers, best wishes and gratitude to you and to your loved ones, for all you do for the Lord and for thegood of St. Elizabeth Seton Church Parish. A holy, peaceful, wonderful, safe and joyful Christmas. JoyeuxNoel, Feliz Navidad and Merry Christmas!

SHALOM! Fr. Gary

St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church is pleased toannounce that we now offer electronic giving as a wayto automate your offertory donations. Electronic givingis convenient so that when travelling, illness or othercircumstances prevent you from attending services, thisprogram will allow your offerings to continue on anuninterrupted basis.

To set up a recurring giving schedule, visit us onlineat www.setonchurch.org and locate the

Online Giving button located on the Home Page. Or, you can use

the QR code on the front of this bulletin on your smart phone!

If you choose this method of electronic giving,

and you receive envelopes, please call the office(235-1483) to cancel the mailing of envelopes!

____________________________________________________________

Volunteers are needed for Lafayette General Health at:Lafayette General Medical Center, Lafayette GeneralSouthwest, and University Hospital and Clinics. We wouldlike to give you an opportunity to give back to yourcommunity while experiencing the joy and satisfaction ofserving others through our extensive volunteer program.We have positions in Pastoral Care, Information desks,greeters, clerical assistants, and many more. For moreinformation call Monica Guidry, Volunteer Manager at (337)289-7130 or email [email protected].

One night a man had a dream. He dreamed hewas walking along the beach with the Lord.Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. Each

scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand; onebelonging to him, and the other to the Lord.

When the last scene of his life flashed before him, helooked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed thatmany times along the path of his life there was only oneset of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at thevery lowest and saddest times in his life.

This really bothered him and he questioned the Lord aboutit. “Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you,you’d walk with me all the way. But I noticed that duringthe most troublesome times in my life, there is only oneset of footprints. I don’t understand why when I neededyou most you would leave me.”

The Lord replied, “My precious, precious child, I loveyou and I would never leave you. During your times oftrial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints,it was then that I carried you.”

author unknown

FOOTPRINTS

Pastoral Care Volunteers – UHC

Pastoral Care Volunteers are needed at UniversityHospital and Clinics (formerly “UMC”). If you are aEucharistic Minister and would like to volunteer to helpvisit patients, please contact Father Richard Kalinowski,SVD, in the Pastoral Care Office (261-6454). Pleaseleave a message with your name and telephone numberclearly stated and Father Richard will contact you.___________________________________________

St. Edmond Catholic ChurchKnights of Columbus

Regional Pro-Life WalkSaturday, January 21, 2017

All are encouraged to pray for our Seminarians as theystudy to become faith-filled followers and leaders of Christ.Below is a list of those to pray for this week:

* Monday, December 26th - Jonathan Harris* Tuesday, December 27th - Rev. Mr. Matthew Hebert* Wednesday, December 28th - Nicholas Hebert* Thursday, December 29th - Sal Istre* Friday, December 30th - Andrew Killeen* Saturday, December 31st - Luke Kirk* Sunday, January 1st - Blake Dubroc

Prayer: O God, who wills not the death of a sinner butrather that he be converted and live, grant we beseechyou, through the intercession of the Blessed Mary, everVirgin, Saint Joseph, her spouse, Blessed Junipero Serraand all the saints, an increase of laborers for Your Church,fellow laborers with Christ to spend and consumethemselves for souls, through the same Jesus Christ YourSon who lives and reigns with You in the unity of theHoly Spirit God forever and ever. Amen.

SEMINARIAN PRAYER CALENDAR

UPCOMING EVENTS!!!

“The Choice Wine”

From the founder of That Man Is You, Steve Bollman,the Choice Wine is a similar program designed to helpcouples develop their marriages into truly a Love forChrist. St Elizabeth Seton, along with Our Lady ofWisdom will be offering this program on Saturdayevenings from 6:00 - 8:30PM at John Paul The GreatAcademy starting on January 14, 2017. For moreinformation contact Jeffrey Miller at (337) 962-4757 orMandy Comeaux at (337) 224-6094

Homebound?

If you are a parishioner who is homebound or know of aparishioner who is homebound and unable to attend Mass,Diane Triche, our Minister to the Sick and Homebound, would like to bring Communion to you or anotherparishioner on a weekly basis while you are unable tocome to church. Please call the office at 235-1483 andleave your name and phone number for Diane Triche,and she will return your call in a timely manner. Dianecan also be reached at [email protected].

“Food for the Journey” a monthlylunchtime speaker series designed to help Catholicslive out their faith in our daily lives. Due to the earlydate of the first Tuesday of January 2017, theJanuary session of “Food for the Journey” will notbe held. Our February session of “Food for theJourney” is scheduled for Tuesday, February 7,2017. Information on the February session will beforthcoming. Thank you for your understanding.__________________________________________

___________________________________________

PRAY FOR OUR PRIESTSAll are encouraged to pray for the priests who work in

the Diocese of Lafayette each day. Every day there is aspecific intention for one of our priests for specialconsideration; the specific intentions this week are:

* Monday, December 26th - Rev. Emmanuel Awe, SSJ* Tuesday, December 27th - Rev. Donald Bahlinger, SJ* Wednesday, December 28th - Rev. Matthew Barzare* Thursday, December 29th - Rev. Herbert Bennerfield* Friday, December 30th - Rev. Lloyd Benoit* Saturday, December 31st - Rev. Paul Bergeron* Sunday, January 1st - Pope Francis

Prayer: Eternal Father, we lift up to you these and allthe priests of the world. Sanctify them. Heal and guidethem. Mold them into the likeness of your Son Jesus, theEternal High Priest. May their lives be pleasing to you. InJesus’ name we pray. Amen.

UPCOMING EVENTS

* Saturday/Sunday, December 24/25 - Christmas MassSchedule:

Saturday, December 24 at 4:00PM and 6:00PM

Sunday, December 25 at 8:15AM and 10:15AM

* Monday, December 26 - Parish Offices Closed.

* Tuesday, December 27 - NO Religious Ed. Classes.Classes resume on January 10th, at their regularly scheduledtimes.

* Wednesday, December 28 - NO RCIA Classes.

* Saturday, December 31 - New Year’s Eve Mass4:15PM

* Sunday, January 1 - New Year’s Day Mass Schedule: 8:15AM, 10:15AM, & 6:15PM

* Monday, January 2 - Parish Offices Closed.

Homework for the week of December 25 - 311 John 1:1-4

On this day of gifts and gift-giving, it seemsappropriate that we take a moment to reflect o the greatgift of God’s Word. Because it is creative, God’s Wordalways points to its author, always calls us to respond.Because it is powerful, God’s Word can link the sublimewith the ridiculous, the transcendent with the immanent,the divine with the human. Because it is graceful, God’sWord establishes a relationship of deep intimacy betweenus and God.

At the heart of God’s Word lies a tantalizing tensionbetween the mysterious and the mundane. In ourliturgical celebration, this unresolved tension both revealsthe meaning of life for us and calls us to respond, to actupon that meaning.

Once accepted and opened, the gift of God’s Word isa gift that keeps on giving and keeps on calling us togive in return.It dares us to be like the gift-giver and tobecome gifts for others, not only at Christmas, but atevery moment of life.

THE GIFT OF GOD’SWORD

TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITIONAn old joke asks, “What time is Midnight Mass?” The

answer is not really obvious, since Christmas is unique inhaving several distinct celebrations. The readings and prayersvary greatly from hour to hour. The Vigil Mass hinges on thefamily heritage of Jesus and his origins. The concept of“midnight” predates clock time, and really has to do with acelebration in the hours of darkness. Years ago, it was notpossible to receive Communion without fasting for a full day,so the late hour of this Mass made it possible for the peopleto receive. The first Mass after sunrise, the Mass atDawn, was once known as “The Shepherds’ Mass,” andlater Masses set aside stories of Jesus’ birth to focus on thekey to the day’s celebration: John the Evangelist’s majestictheology of Christ’s identity as the Word made flesh, dwellingamong us. One feast, four separateMasses. Only monasteriesmanage the whole round. Parishioners typically take just oneentry point into the mystery. Yet there is much to savor andcelebrate in the coming of Christ into the world. Christmasis not a day, but a season. You still have two weeks to sendthose Christmas cards before you’re officially late!

- Rev. James Field, Copyright @ J.S. Paluch Co.

WEEKLY DONATION

Thank you for your generosity.

December 18, 2016

Offertory: $9,405.00Building Fund: 542.00Other Donations: 1,830.00

Total Donations: $11,777.00