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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23 7:30am
Mass (Cantor & Organ) 9:30am
Mass (Choir & Organ) 11:30am Mass (Spiritu
Contemporary Group) 1:00pm
Greening of the Church (Church/Plaza) 1:00pm
Hallelujah Chorus (Choir room) 2:00pm
7th & 8th Grade Schola
(Choir room) 3:00pm
Hosanna (Choir room) 4:00pm
Reconciliation Service (Church)
6:15pm Mass (No music) 7:00pm
Greening of the Church (Church/Plaza) MONDAY, DECEMBER 24 - CHRISTMAS
EVE 5:00pm
Christmas Eve Vigil Mass 7:00pm
Christmas Eve Vigil Mass 11:00pm Christmas Eve Vigil Mass TUESDAY, DECEMBER 25—CHRISTMAS 8:00am Mass for Christmas Day 10:00am
Mass for Christmas Day 1:30pm
Script/Comm (Presbyterian Homes) WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26 8:30am
Word/Eucharist (Chapel) 6:30pm
Cantor Rehearsal (Church) 7:15pm
Choir practice (Choir Room) 7:00pm
Room Visits (New Brighton CC) THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27
8:30am Mass (Chapel)
2:00pm Mass (St. Anthony)
7:00pm Room Visits (Innsbruck) 7:15pm
Script/Comm (Trevilla) FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28
8:30am Mass (Chapel) SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29 4:30pm
Mass (Cantor & Organ) SUNDAY, DECEMBER 30
7:30am Mass (Cantor &
Organ)
9:30am Mass (Choir &
Organ) 11:30am Mass (Spiritu Contemporary Group)
1:00pm Hallelujah Chorus
(Choir room) 2:00pm
7th & 8th Grade Schola
(Choir room) 3:00pm
Hosanna (Choir room) 6:15pm
Mass (No music) PLEASE NOTE: The parish office is will close at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, December 24 and
at 4:00 p.m. the rest of the
week. |
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Connections… December
23, 2001—Fourth Sunday of Advent Æ The
angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream: “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to
take Mary into your home. For it is
through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him
Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:18-24 A
parent’s dream From the moment a couple
learns that they will be parents, they begin to dream about and dream for
their child. The first dreams are for a safe birth, a
strong and complete body, good health and physical development. Then parents dream that their son or
daughter will excel in sports, master the sciences, distinguish themselves in
the arts, music or literature. They
may even dare to dream that their child may one day be elected President,
quarterback the Forty-niners, sing at the Met, or conquer Wall Street. Along the way, of course, the dreams
will change. Where they once dreamt
about the Nobel Prize, Mom and Dad will now setting for passing algebra. The dream of a World Series ring is quickly forgotten when
anguished parents wait and hope that their son will walk again or that their
daughter will wake up after a horrible accident. The dream of a Bill Gates-like fortune all
but disappears when Mom and Dad desperately pray for their child’s safe
return from a dangerous sojourn into the world of drugs, sex and violence. Joseph dreamt dreams for his family as
well. This Sunday and next we will
hear about two of his “dreams” as recounted in the Gospel of Matthew. In today’s Gospel, the angel assures Joseph
that he should not fear about taking his beloved Mary as his wife despite her
pregnancy, that his compassion and love for her will not be disappointed. Next week, the Sunday after Christmas, we
will hear the angel tell Joseph to take his family to Egypt to escape King
Herod’s murderous search for the child. Fear, disappointment, adversity and
tragedy will change and alter our more grandiose dreams for our
children. But, as Joseph learns from
his dreams, the most important things, we can dream for our children is that
they know the love and safety of a family, the acceptance and forgiveness of
understanding parents, the knowledge and wisdom of the God of graciousness
and peace. CONNECTION:
Christmas is the season of hope that the “dreams” of every
family for happiness, peace, forgiveness, and compassion be realized. In this season and in every season, may
Joseph be our model for making those dreams a reality: like Joseph, may we possess the openness of
heart and spirit to behold God’s presence in all things; like Joseph, may we
possess the humility and selflessness to seek understanding and acceptance
within our families even at the cost of our own expectations and hopes; like
Joseph may we possess the courage and commitment to be sources of affirmation
and support for our spouses and children. u |
