Second Sunday of Advent 9 December 2018

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1 Second Sunday of Advent 9 December 2018 Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight His paths. ~ Luke 3:4 St. Michael Catholic Church & School Gastonia, North Carolina

2 Sunday, December 9 Second Sunday of Advent This Week at St. Michael Sacred Liturgy 7:30 AM Holy Mass Bill Horton 10:00 AM Holy Mass For the People 12:00 PM Holy Mass (Spanish) Priest Intention Meetings & Events 8:45 AM FF-English: School/C-Hall 8:45 AM Donuts and Dogma: PC/K 10:00 AM FF-Spanish: All bldgs. 10:00 AM Spanish Pillars Celebration: PC/K 1:00 PM Span Children s Choir Practice: C-Hall 2:00 PM Spanish Dance Practice: 7:00 PM SAA: C-Hall Monday, December 10 Tuesday, December 11 Wednesday, December 12 Our Lady of Guadalupe Thursday, December 13 St. Lucy 8:00 AM Lauds 8:15 AM Holy Mass Jacqueline Coulombe 6:00 PM Holy Mass (Spanish) Priest Intention 5:00 PM Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament 5:00-5:45 PM Confessions 5:30 PM Holy Rosary and Benediction 6:00 PM Our Lady of Guadalupe Holy Mass (Spanish) Priest Intention 7:00 AM Holy Mass (EF) Deceased Members of the McDowell Family 7:45 AM Lauds 2:30 PM Regnum Christi: HFR 3:00 PM Children s Choir Practice: Ch 5:00 PM Amor por la Vida: C-Hall 6:30 PM Missionary Ministry Mtg: C-Hall 7:00 PM Guadalupe Practice: Gym 7:00 PM Confirmation II: HFR 6:30 PM Emmaus Groups: PC/C-Hall 7:00 PM Schola Practice: HFR 7:00 PM Spanish Altar Server Training: Ch 5:00 PM Our Lady of Guadalupe: Gym/K/Ch 7:00 PM Adult Choir Practice: Media Center 5:30 AM TMIY: PC/K 6:00 PM Parish Life Meeting: PC 6:30 PM RCIA: HFR 7:00 PM Span. Catechist Training: C-Hall Friday, December 14 St. John of the Cross 8:00 AM Lauds 8:15 AM Holy Mass Father Matthew Buettner 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament 3:00 PM Divine Mercy Chaplet 5:00 PM Benediction 9:30 AM CSS (Revelation): HFR 11:00 AM SMCS PK Program: PC 5:15 PM Legion of Mary: HFR 5:45 PM Rehearsal Kauth Wedding: Ch 6:30 PM Spanish Youth Group: C-Hall 7:00 PM Spanish Choir Practice: Ch Saturday, December 15 Sunday, December 16 Third Sunday of Advent Gaudete Sunday 8:00 AM Lauds & Miraculous Medal Novena 8:15 AM Holy Mass Joe Stanton 3:30 PM - 4:45 PM Confessions 4:30 PM Holy Rosary 5:00 PM Holy Mass Zach Templeton 7:30 AM Holy Mass For the People 10:00 AM Holy Mass St. Michael Catholic School 12:00 PM Holy Mass (Spanish) Priest Intention 1:30 PM Kauth Wedding: Ch/Gym/K 2:00 PM Cursillo: HFR 8:00 PM AA Meeting: C-Hall 8:45 AM FF-English: School/C-Hall 8:45 AM Donuts and Dogma: PC/K 10:00 AM FF-Spanish: All bldgs. 1:00 PM Span Children s Choir Practice: C-Hall 2:00 PM Spanish Dance Practice: Gym 5:00 PM Youth Group Gaudete Celebration: Ch/Gym/PC/K 7:00 PM SAA: C-Hall

3 Please Remember in your Prayers Parish Members & Friends: Fr. James Ebright, Fr. George Kloster, Sister Mary Olivia Shirley, Sr. Josepha Whi y, Anna Ashworth, Janet Atherton, Joe Bell, Janice Black, Burton & Beth Bradley, Jeffrey Brown, Mark Bue ner, Dwayne Burks, Eneida Ceballos, Hilario Chegue, Steven Cherry, Chuck Deal, Gail Driscoll, Be y Dow, Glenda Downey, Elizabeth Eddie, Logan Escandón, Pete & Rebecca Files, Shannon Frazer, Lynne Freeman, Imogene Friedrich, Kathy Geoffroy, Penny Godwin, Aleyda Gómez, Fred Halek, Lynn Hamm, Gwen Hart, Calvin Hebert, Dorothy Henley, Kevin Hornbeck, Beverly Hornbeck, Judy Horton, Eric Hunter, Connie Hu er, Margaret Jacobs, Buddy James, Linda Johnson, Robin Johnson, Briceida Juya, Debbie Kerpsie, Kay Landry, Maureen Lupton, Pat Lauzon, Olivia Levesque, Kent Lupton, Cookie Lynn, Antonia Marin, Dianne Marler, Josefina Mar nez, Rita Mascarenhas, Doris McFee, Sadie Messer, Micheli Family, Andrew Milewski, Heather Monteleagre, Sarah Monteleone, Marion Moore, Wayne Moore, John Moore, Jack Neerincx, Sarah O Keefe, Gerald Orazem, Hernán Ortega, Mary Packard, Charles Pasour, David Peace, Henry Phillips, Ivo Raimundo, Penny Ramsey, Maryely Rebolledo Ceballos, Gladys Rodriguez, Sue Ruocco, K.S., Bill Saluke, Jo Santoro, Marie Seager, Gemma Servin Vega, Maureen Setlock, Jim Sneska, Pat Splawn, Bob Stauss, Michael Stone, McKenzie Reese Tapper, Maerene Thomas, Tinsdale Family, Emperatriz Vidal, Steve Wells, Jacqueline Wood, Paul & Marion Yager For all in service to our country: Stefan Zapata, Derrick Dobbins, Ma hew Barker, Kevin Haskins, Stephanie Miller, Kevin Tiddy, Jeffrey Kaldah Saturday, December 15 5:00 PM Mass Greeter: Sue Neerincx Lectors: John Welsh, Micheline Schmidlin Gi s: Mike & Micheline Schmidlin EMHC: Jeff Templeton Sunday, Greeter: Lectors: Gi s: Sunday, Greeters: Lectors: EMHC: Our lady of fatima: Pray the rosary everyday! SERVERS OF THE SACRED LITURGY December 16 7:30 AM Mass Phyllis Mueller Ellen Roberts, Lee Ann MacMillan Arlene Sellers December 16 10:00 AM Mass Jane Sheppard John Kea ng, Teresita Kullberg Roger Shepard Highlights December 2018 ~ January 2019 Location: St. Michael Catholic Church Campus, Unless Otherwise Noted FOR A FULL LIST OF EVENTS, VISIT OUR PARISH CALENDAR: Saturday and Sunday, December 8 & 9 Youth Group Coffee Fundraiser Saturday and Sunday, December 8 & 9 Youth Group Ornaments Fundraiser Wednesday, December 12 Our Lady of Guadalupe Celebration Saturday, December 15 at 7:30 PM Concert of Sacred Music For Advent and Christmas: St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte Saturday & Sunday, December 14 & 15 L.A.M.B. Fundraiser Friday, January 11, 2019 at 12 Noon March for Life: Charlotte, NC In Loving Memory of Bill Horton By Judy Horton A Prayer for Our Priests Eternal Father, we li up to you our priests and all the priests of the world. Sanc fy them; heal and guide them; mold them into the likeness and holiness of your Son, Jesus, the Eternal High Priest. May their lives be pleasing to You. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. READINGS FOR THE WEEK 12/10 12/17 Monday: Is 35:1-10; Ps 85:9-14; Lk 5:17-26 Tuesday: Is 40:1-11; Ps 96:1-3, 10ac, 11-13; Mt 18:12-14 Wednesday: Zec 2:14-17 or Rv 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab; Jdt 13:18bcde, 19; Lk 1:26-38 or Lk 1:39-47, or any readings from the Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary, nos Thursday: Is 41:13-20; Ps 145:1, 9-13ab; Mt 11:11-15 Friday: Is 48:17-19; Ps 1:1-4, 6; Mt 11:16-19 Saturday: Sir 48:1-4, 9-11; Ps 80: 2ac, 3b, 15-16, 18-19; Mt 17:9a, Sunday: Zep 3:14-18a; Is 12:2-6; Phil 4:4-7; Lk 3:10-18 On the Cover: The Sermon of St. John the Baptist by Pietr Bruegel the elder

4 Donuts & Dogma Sundays at 8:45 AM in the Parish Center Speaker: Bill Melton Topics: December 9, 16: Advent Reflec ons Pilgrimage to 2019 March for Life Around our Parish & Diocese Support the Re rement Fund for Religious Aging religious need your help. Senior Catholic sisters, brothers, and religious order priests ministered for years for li le to no pay. Their sacrifices now leave their religious communi es without adequate re rement savings. Your gi to today s second collec on for the Re rement Fund for Religious helps to provide medica ons, nursing care, and more for tens of thousands of elderly religious. Please be generous. St. Michael s and the Knights of Columbus are sponsoring a 3-day bus trip to Washington, DC staying two nights in the Best Western Plus. Trip dates are Thursday, January 17 - Saturday, January 19, 2019 and include: transporta on, hotel, two breakfasts and ac vi es. It is a very prayerful and enjoyable trip. We pray, socialize, a end Mass, March for Life and visit DC sites. Cost for a double occupancy hotel room (before non-included meals) is $160/person. Contact Linda Mooney for more informa on at vpmooney@aol.com or Rosary Leaders Needed We are looking for five or more parishioners interested in crea ng a team to lead the Holy Rosary before the 10 AM Mass on Sundays. The recita on of the Holy Rosary should begin at 9:30 AM and be finished by 9:50 AM to allow 10 minutes of silent prayer. Each person will be responsible for only one Sunday each month. For more informa on please contact Deacon Timothy Mueller at St. Michael s Altar Guild is seeking individuals who have a desire to join a group of parishioners who lovingly care for the altar and church. Commitment is approximately two hours every 6 to 8 weeks. No experience necessary. Thank you for considering the Altar Guild. You will find that it is such and honor to serve Our Lord in this way. For more informa on, please contact Helen O Daly: hodaly@bellsouth.net / (Feel free to text) Many thanks to our Knights of Columbus for their Financial Support! Spiritual Adop on - Ninth Month To all who brought me food and visited during my recovery me from my surgery. Please con nue to keep me in your prayers. Maureen Lupton Thanks to you and all your prayers, it s my birthday! Thank you so much for your prayers. Because you prayed for me, I got the best of all gi s LIFE! God bless you I love you! Thank you too, from all the mothers and babies for whom you ve been praying these past nine months.

5 Around our Parish & Diocese Thrift Store Needs Please take a tag with you from our Angel Tree and put a smile in someone s face this Christmas! Fixings for Christmas Dinners (including turkeys & ham) Winter clothing (jackets & coats) Footwear for adults and children Blankets and warm bedding WE NEED VOLUNTEERS in all areas, especially cleaning and heavy li ing! For addi onal informa on please contact Amy Prui at or Thank you for your generosity! ANNUAL KEEP CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS SALE Where: Catholic Shoppe at Belmont Abbey College When: Friday, Nov 23rd - Saturday, Dec 22nd. Take 20% off all Advent and Christmas items, such as Advent candles and Na vi es! Take 20% off any one regular price item of your choice! (This offer may be used once a day) Men on that you saw the sale in your parish bulle n and receive an addi onal 10% off your en re purchase! Our extended holiday hours are 10 AM - 5 PM Mon. - Sat. and Thursday 10 AM - 8 PM Are you a writer? The NC Chapter of the Catholic Writers Guild will meet at St. Pius X Catholic Church, Simmons Parish Center, 2208 North Elm Street, Greensboro, NC 27408, at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 12, Lunch will be served. You do not need to be a published author to join our group; just a Catholic, with an interest in wri ng! Virginia Lieto will present What Type of Editor Do You Need? For more info, contact Ginny Lieto, at ginny@virginialieto.com.

6 Prayer to Our Lady of Good Remedy O Mother of the Divine Redeemer, who under the title of our Lady of Good Remedy comes to the aid of all who call upon thee, extend thy maternal protection to us. We depend on thee, Dear Mother, as helpless and needy children depend on a tender and caring mother. WISH LIST Paper towels / Toilet Paper Floor Cleaner / Toilet Bowl Cleaner Bleach Baby Wipes/Kleenex Batteries Air Freshener Laundry Detergent Dryer Sheets Canned meats (Tuna, Chicken, Spam, Vienna Sausages) Juice Boxes Noodles Pasta Sauce Gift Cards: Walmart, Target, Lowe s, Harris Teeter You may give electronically at Prayerfully consider giving at least one hour's wage per week to the Lord. Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. The next Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekends are Mar 1-3, 2019 in Hickory, NC and Feb 1-3, 2019 in COLUMBIA, SC. Early sign up is recommended. For more informa on visit our website at: h ps:// NCMarriageDiscovery.org or contact us at applica ons@ncmarriagediscovery.org or Some of the obstacles that keep us from making a straight path for the Lord are the same obstacles that keep us from embracing stewardship as a way of life. John the Baptist calls us to reform our lives and let go of the selfishness and greed that keep us from following God s will.

7 Pastor PARISH DIRECTORY 708 St. Michael s Lane Gastonia, NC In Residence Hispanic Priest (Ext. 112) Deacon Rev. Fr. Lucas Rossi LCRossi@stmichaelsgastonia.org Rev. Fr. James Ebright jaebright@charlottediocese.org Rev. Fr Jose Antonio Juya jjajuya@yahoo.com Rev. Mr. John Weisenhorn yourdeak@gmail.com Deacon / Facilities Manager Rev. Mr. Tim Mueller (Ext. 104) tmueller@stmichaelsgastonia.org Pastoral Care Sr. Carolyn Mary Coll, RSM mercy1827.9@gmail.com Administrative Assistant Mrs. Phyllis Mueller (Ext. 129) prmueller@stmichaelsgastonia.org Parish Secretary / Communications Ms. Lissette Westover secretary@stmichaelsgastonia.org Religious Education (English) Mrs. Theresa Webster (Ext. 114) tmwebster@stmichaelsgastonia.org Choirs Adult Mrs. Toni Keating tmkeating@stmichaelsgastonia.org Children Mrs. Kristen Levine tklehome@bellsouth.ne Schola Ms. Kristy Brown kristylynnbrown@gmail.com St Michael Thrift Store 1111 S. York Street Gastonia, NC Phone: Tuesday Friday:10 5:30 Saturday:10 4 Thrift Store Manager Ms. Amy Pruitt appruitt@stmichaelsgastonia.org St. Michael Catholic School 704 St Michael s Lane Gastonia, NC Phone: School Principal (Ext. 118) Mrs. Sheila Levesque salevesque@stmichaelsgastonia.org DIRECTORIO DE MINISTERIOS 708 St. Michael s Lane Gastonia, NC Vicaría de Gastonia - Ministerio Hispano Padre Jose Antonio Juya Bendición o Presentación de Niños: Betty Villegas Catequesis para Niños, Jóvenes & Adultos Mireya Rico Luzmar Go mez Charla para el Sacramento del Matrimonio Marıá y Dioney Consejería Espiritual - Jueves y Viernes Llame al Padre Jose al Coordinadora Comité Pastoral Hispano Reina Granadino Coordinador General de Liturgia John Herrera Julio Garcıá Graciela Lo pez Decoración para Celebraciones/Artículos Religiosos Nora Hospitalidad: Ariel y Diana Salazar Lectores: Luzmar Go mez / Ministros Extraordinarios de la Sagrada Comunión Julio Garcıá Graciela Lo pez Ministerio de Jóvenes Ivonne Segura Ministerio del Coro (incluyendo bodas/quinceañeras) Fa tima Brens Rolando Espinoza Ministerio Misionero Graciela Lo pez Alicia Alvare Misa para Difuntos Primeros viernes durante Misa de sanacio n Ano tese con Betty Villegas Monaguillos: Mireya Rico Ofrendas: Ariel y Diana Salazar Preparación Pre-Matrimonial: Marıá Luna Preparación Pre- Bautismal: Graciela Lo pez Quinceañeras: Luzmar Go mez Visita a enfermos: He ctor y Alicia Alvare Padre Jose

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9 Preparando el Nacimiento Del santo Evangelio según san Lucas 3, 1-6 Oración introductoria Señor, Tú sabes que mi deseo de pasar este tiempo contigo en la oración es auténtico. Creo que estás aquí, a mi lado, porque nunca me abandonas. Eres mi Dios, mi Señor, mi Padre, mi Creador. Yo no soy nada. Tú lo eres todo, mas aún, Tú eres mi todo. Gracias por tu amor, tu perdón y tu gracia. Petición Jesús, ayúdame a responder generosamente a mi vocación como lo hizo san Juan el Bautista. Reflexión Ya hemos comenzado el período del adviento. Pero el adviento es muy breve y, en un abrir y cerrar de ojos, nos encontraremos ya en la Navidad. Por eso, es urgente preparar bien el nacimiento y el pesebre para la llegada del Niño Jesús. Se cuenta que el gran estadista italiano, Alcide de Gasperi - fundador de la Democracia Cristiana y gran líder político después de la Segunda guerra mundial- solía preparar el nacimiento con particular devoción, junto con su mujer. De entre las ovejitas escogían a dos, a las cuales les ponían los nombres de las dos hijas: María Romana y Lucía. Cada día de la novena de Navidad, las niñas debían ofrecer un sacrificio especial al Niño. Si se portaban bien, la ovejita avanzaba un poco hacia el portal de Belén; de lo contrario, venían alejadas cada vez más de la gruta. Era la gran lección de mortificación y de acercamiento al Señor que les enseñaban sus padres. necesitamos convertirnos diariamente en nuestra vida. Porque convertirse significa "volver a Dios", "cambiar" de actitudes y de comportamiento. El verbo hebreo que expresa este concepto es "sub" y significa, ni más ni menos, "volver"; el vocablo latino "cum-versio" indica la misma idea. Sin embargo, en griego se dice "metá-noia" -que quiere decir, literalmente, "cambio de mente", "cambio de corazón"-. Convertirnos, pues, es acercarnos más a nuestro Señor, alejándonos del pecado y de las propias pasiones que nos apartan de Él; convertirnos para cambiar nuestra mentalidad mundana y sustituirla por unos criterios de fe, auténticamente cristianos; cambiar "nuestro corazón de piedra - como decía Ezequiel- por un corazón de carne", lleno de amor, de compasión, de perdón y de caridad. Nosotros pensamos igual que Cristo en todo? Pensamos como Él piensa acerca de la fama, del poder, de la riqueza, del sufrimiento, del dolor? Y nuestro corazón es como el Suyo para amar al Padre Celestial y todos los hombres sin excepción, como Él nos amó? Todo esto es convertirse. Juan Bautista, con palabras del profeta Isaías, nos exhorta también hoy a cada uno de nosotros: "Preparad el camino del Señor, allanad sus senderos; elévense los valles, desciendan los montes y colinas; que lo torcido se enderece y lo escabroso se iguale". Estas imágenes bíblicas nos hablan de la necesidad de la conversión. Los montes, en este contexto, vienen a ser signo de la soberbia, del orgullo y de la prepotencia: tienen que ser rebajados y anulados! Los valles son nuestros complejos, caídas, desconfianzas y depresiones, y tienen que ser rellenados. Lo torcido es toda forma de pecado y de desorden moral; lo escabroso son nuestras sensualidades, vicios, concesiones a la tentación y el juego con las pasiones que nos llevan al mal; debe ser enderezado! También nosotros tenemos que preparar el pesebre de nuestra alma para cuando Jesús nazca. No es sólo una bonita tradición o una práctica piadosa para entretener a los niños. Si un acto importante se prepara con mucha anticipación una gran fiesta, la celebración de un aniversario, una graduación, un matrimonio, etc.-, con cuánta mayor razón no debemos preparar el nacimiento de todo un Dios, que se hace hombre -más aún, que se hace un niño pequeño- por amor a nosotros y que se encarna para salvarnos y darnos la vida eterna? Propósito Necesitamos "preparar el camino del Señor y allanar sus senderos"; o sea, rectificar todo aquello que tiene que ser corregido para que, cuando Cristo venga, nos encuentre con el alma limpia por la gracia y con el corazón bien dispuesto. Entonces la Navidad dejará de ser una fiesta más o un bello folklore religioso, para adquirir su verdadero sentido en nuestra vida. Sólo si Cristo nace en nuestro corazón, la Navidad tendrá un valor y comenzaremos a vivir el cielo en la tierra. Éste es el mensaje del Evangelio de hoy. San Lucas nos refiere que Juan el Bautista recorría toda la comarca del Jordán predicando un bautismo de conversión. El color litúrgico de este período igual que durante la cuaresma- es el morado, que es el símbolo de la penitencia y de la austeridad. El sacerdote se reviste con los ornamentos sagrados de este color en la Santa Misa para invitar a todos los fieles al sacrificio y a la conversión, pues sólo así podemos purificar nuestra conciencia y nuestro corazón para que Cristo Niño lo encuentre bien dispuesto el día de Nochebuena. Diálogo con Cristo Pero, qué significa conversión? de qué o por qué tenemos que convertirnos? Todos, por lo general, nos creemos gente buena y pensamos que la conversión es sólo para los grandes pecadores. Sin embargo, el Papa Juan Pablo II nos decía que todos

10 PARISH INFORMATION SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM If you are interested in having your child baptized, please contact the church office at SACRAMENT OF HOLY MATRIMONY All weddings are celebrated inside the Church on Saturday at 10 AM or 12 PM. Please contact the church office at for more information. MARRIAGE TRIBUNAL ADVOCATE Please contact Donna Snyder at or at SACRAMENT OF ANOINTING OF THE SICK Please call the church office ( ) to set a time before serious surgery or any time in an emergency. HOLY COMMUNION AT HOME Please contact Sr. Carolyn Mary Coll at or mercy1827.9@gmail.com FAITH FORMATION & SACRAMENTS FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS Contact the Director of Religious Education Theresa Webster at ext 114 or tmwebster@stmichaelsgastonia.org RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS (RCIA) Anyone interested in learning more about the Catholic Faith or who wishes to become Catholic should contact the Director of Religious Education Theresa Webster at ext. 114 or tmwebster@stmichaelsgastonia.org DEVOTIONS Wednesday: 5:00 PM Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament 5:30 PM Holy Rosary and Benediction First Fridays: 10 PM Thursday 7:45 AM Friday: Nocturnal Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament Every Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM All Day Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament with Chaplet of Divine Mercy at 3 PM Saturdays: 8:00 AM Lauds & Miraculous Medal Novena Fridays of Lent: 6 PM Stations of the Cross PARISH PASTORAL & FINANCE COUNCIL MEMBERS Pastoral Council Steve Cherry Juan García Reina Granadino John Keating Maureen O Keefe Dacia Beaver John Guglielmetti Dawn Nielson Kevin Spalding scherry@mrdacpa.com gaston.instructor@gmail.com reinaigranadino@hotmail.com keatingusa@gmail.com Finance Council mokeefe31@gmail.com dacia333@hotmail.com gccgolfer7@gmail.com dnielson1@bellsouth.net kevin@bzcoach.com ST. MICHAEL S PARISH APP Download the app by texting the word app to 88202, or by clicking the QR Code below (you have to have a QR scanner app on your smartphone in order to scan the QR Code), or you can also download the app to your phone by visiting the App Store or Google Play! ATTENTION NEWCOMERS Have you completed a parish registration form? Do you have any questions? Please feel free to ask one of our Greeters!