MASS INTENTIONS
MONDAY, DECEMBER 15TH 6:30AM Angelo & Philomena Masciantonio 9:00 AM Alfred Bufano Family TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16TH 6:30AM Jacqueline Boyle 9:00AM Catherine Towlson WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17TH 6:30AM Leona Evans 9:00AM Harvey Kilner THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18TH 6:30AM John E. Marley 9:00AM Lori Hedrick FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19TH 6:30AM Robert E. Collins 9:00AM Primo – Wilson Families SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20TH 9:00AM David Schukraft 5:00PM Vigil Mass SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21ST Masses: 6:30, 8:00, 10:00AM and 12:00Noon
Saturday, December 20th & Sunday, December 21st
Parish Calendar of Events Monday, December 15th 2:30-5:30PM - Girl Scouts - Neumann Room 2:30-5:00PM - Girl Scouts - Hall 5:00-9:00PM- CYO Basketball - Hall Tuesday, December 16th After 9:00AM-7:00PM -Adoration of the Blessed- Chapel 2:30-4:00PM - Girl Scouts- Hall 4:15PM - PREP - School 6:00PM-10:00PM - CYO Basketball - Hall 7:00PM - Ladies Guild - Mary’s Chapel Wednesday, December 17th 4:15PM - PREP - School 6:00PM - PREP - School 7:00PM - Adult Choir Rehearsal - Church 7:30-10:00PM - CYO Basketball - Hall Thursday, December 18th 3:30-7:00PM - CYO Basketball - Hall 7:00PM- Boy Scouts - Hall Friday, December 19th 4:30-9:00PM - CYO Basketball - Donnelly Hall
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Saturday, December 20th 9:45AM-3:30 PM - CYO Basketball - Hall Sunday, December 21st 1:30PM - Sacrament of Baptism - Church 3:00-8:15PM - CYO Basketball - Hall 7:00PM - Ad Altare Dei - Neumann Room SUNDAY COLLECTION We thank you for your continued financial support of your parish. Your generosity to the Sunday collection amounted to $ 18,669.
5:00PM 6:30AM 8:00AM 10:00AM 12:00PM Baptism 1:30 PM
*Deacon Betzal Preaching
Fr. Vogan Fr. Davis Msgr. Skelly* Fr. Vogan (Adult Choir) Msgr. Skelly* (Guitar Group) Deacon Betzal
CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE
Confessions in Mary’s Chapel
Saturday, December 20th 4:00-4:45PM Sunday, December 21st 7:30 – 9:30 & 11:30AM Monday, December 22nd 12Noon-1:00PM Tuesday, December 23rd 4:00-4:45PM Tuesday, December 23rd 6:30-7:30PM
In your prayers, please remember all our sick: Matt Barna - Claire Carroll -Michael Crowley Rosemarie DeMeo- Mary Ecker- Keith Dublisky Anne Hagg - Doris Hart-Brian Hoey Danny Hammond - Helena Hart - Theresa Kobielnik Virginia Lang -Barbara Magozzi Tom Marley Carmella Moltini - Irene Moore - Patrick Noonan Anna Novashielski - Tim Poole - Marion Scampton Bill Tate - Madison Schaefer - Charles Schmidt Anne Todd - Madalynn Tinsley - John Tully Paul Welsh - Michelle Yannuzzi - Angie Zuccarino
Please pray for our deceased especially. Saphronia Brown
Christmas Eve Masses 4:00PM - Children’s Choir - 6:00PM
8:00PM - Adult Choir
Christmas Day Masses
7:00 – 9:00 and 11:00AM
January 1, 2009 Feast of Mary the Mother of God
(Holy Day of Obligation.)
Wednesday, December 31st 5:00 PM Vigil Mass Thursday, January 1st 7:00 –9:00 and 11:00AM
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A GREAT CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEA! THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT
Advent and Christmas time are wonderful weeks in a family’s life, but our focus on the coming of Jesus can get lost beneath the surface glitter of the season. As Christians, the lighting of the Advent wreath in our church and homes has become a cherished tradition. Lighting the Advent wreath before the family meal is a way to continue the Sunday celebration of the Eucharist in our homes. As you gather together for your family meal, light the first, second and third candles and pray: God of Wisdom, You are the source of all truth. Help us remember to always turn to you first when we are looking for answers. Help us to follow the way of Christ, whose coming we await. Amen. May this Advent draw you closer to each other and God.
IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN!! 2009 LOTTERY TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW We are now selling lottery tickets for the upcoming 2009 calendar year. This is an important Parish fundraiser that will help reduce our parish debt. Our aim is to sell all 1,000 available numbers. If each family bought just one ticket, we could reach our goal. With Christmas just around the corner, it would be a great gift for that hard to buy for person on your list or if you have a special lucky number you can buy it for yourself. Tickets are $50 each and are good each day of 2009. Ticket numbers run from 000 to 999. Winners are determined by the first 3-digit number drawn for the Pennsylvania Daily Number at 7:00 p.m. each evening. (All numbers are played straight.) Prizes are: $50 for weekday drawings and $100 if your number is drawn on Saturday or Sunday. There are also 3 special bonus prizes: $500 if you win on Mother’s Day, $500 on Father’s Day, and $1,000 on Christmas Day. Lottery tickets are available for purchase in the rectory after all Masses on the weekends or through various parish organizations, such as: Home and School, CYO, Knights of Columbus, or Ladies Guild. Buy your tickets soon for the best chance of getting your lucky number. If you would be interested in buying or selling lottery tickets, please contact Marianne Poole at 610-872-6461.
PRAYER FOR PRIESTS
In response to our Holy Father’s call to grow in holiness, the priests of the Archdiocese gather each year for a day of prayer and reflection on the priesthood. Please remember all the priests of the Archdiocese in your daily prayers, by saying the following prayer each day throughout the season of Advent. Risen Lord, Jesus, You love priests with all your priestly heart. Hear my heart-felt prayer for all our priests. I pray for faithful and fervent priests; for unfaithful and tepid priests; for priests who labor at home and abroad; for lonely and desolate priests; for young and old priests; for sick and dying priests; for the souls of priests in Purgatory. Merciful Heart of Jesus, remember all our priest: Give them a deep faith, a bright and firm hope, and a burning love. I ask that in their loneliness, You comfort them; in their sorrow, You strengthen them; in their frustration, You show them that it is through suffering the soul is purified. Eternal High Priest, keep all priests close to Your Sacred Heart and bless them abundantly in time and eternity. Amen.
CD CORNER
Count Your Blessings by Scott Hahn is a new CD in the stand. He explains the essential teachings regarding theology and practice of Catholic family life based on the image of the Blessed Trinity, demonstrating that God’s Word is all that is needed to create a loving family life. Check it out.
ADVENT GIVING TREE
The Advent Giving tree will be in the gathering space this weekend. The tree will feature ornaments with gift cards suggestions printed on them. You may take as many ornaments as you like and donate cards or cash in any amount you choose. No gift is too small. Thank you for your generosity to this program. Gift cards are available for purchase at the rectory. Please contact the rectory if you have a need this holiday- all calls will be kept confidential.
AID FOR FRIENDS
You have given a gift this year to many shut-ins. Thank you for the meals, breakfast bags, soups and visits to our special friends who also thank you. What a special gift to give to the Lord: feeding his people. Many meals have been enjoyed by the shut-ins this entire year. For some it was the way to stay in their own homes rather than go to a nursing home. Please continue to share with them.
PROJECT
H.O.P.E
Anyone requesting the transportation services of HOPE volunteers for the week of Monday, 15th to Friday, December 19th should call one of the following team captains: TEAM 8: DJ Venuti 610-494-7157 or
CHRISTMAS CALENDARS & MAGNETS
The 2009 Christmas calendars and magnets will be available in the gathering space this weekend. The calendars are courtesy of White Luttrell Funeral home and the magnets courtesy of D’anjolell-Stigale Funeral home. We thank them for their generosity. Please take one home with you as you leave Mass this weekend.
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Mary Lou Sweeney 610-485-3292.
These numbers are for THIS WEEK ONLY. Please call to schedule your ride as soon as possible but at least 24 hours notice is required.
Please note: Only two rides per person per week.
The Eucharistic Minister Christmas and First quarter 2009 schedules are available in the sacristy for those ministers who did not receive a copy via email.
ST. JOSEPH SCHOOL CHOIR The St. Joseph School choir will be singing at the Granite Run Mall, Wednesday, December 17th at 11:00AM.
December 1 December 2 December 3 December 4 December 5 December 6 December 7 Lottery Winners 494 Unsold 549 Unsold 016 Unsold 030 Unsold 095 Unsold 076 Unsold 584 Unsold
Think “SCRIP” for CHRISTMAS Gifts! The rectory carries gift cards galore for many, many stores – supermarkets too! Giving gift certificates this Christmas! Stop by the rectory we have a gift card for everyone on your list!
RESPECT LIFE God’s commitment to human life is at the very foundation of our life of faith. It commits us, if we are to follow Jesus, to be ourselves bearers and protectors of human life, especially the most innocent and vulnerable. BLOOD DRIVE St. James Alumni Association, Eddystone, Pa Monday, December 22nd 1:00PM – 7:00PM Call Jim Hegarty, Jr. to schedule 610-357-4060 or call the Red Cross directly at 1-800-GIVE-LIFE. CLOTHING DRIVE Friday, January 9th 9:00AM – 2:00PM The St Vincent DePaul collection truck will be located on the Holy Saviour Church parking lot.
ATTENTION ALL ALTAR SERVERS
Anyone who would like to serve any of the Christmas Eve or Christmas Day Masses should contact the rectory with the Mass you plan to attend. Available Christmas Day Masses 7am and 11am. Masses will be filled in the order received.
HANDSHAKING
Due to the approaching “flu season” and for other health reasons a number of people have expressed concerns about shaking hands at the beginning of Mass and at the sign of peace. It is not necessary to shake hands, but to greet or extend peace to those around you. So, if someone does not extend a hand to you, please be understanding.
2010 Mass Book
The 2010 Mass Intention book will open after the 5:00PM Mass on Saturday, January 11th in the Neumann Room. Mass Intentions remain a $10.00 donation.
Venturing Crew 225 News:
Did you know that there is a Venturing Crew right here at St. Joe’s? Venturing is an exciting, co-ed program for ages 14-20 Upcoming event: Vertical Extreme indoor rock climbing trip: January 3. Other trips we are planning include: winter camping, tobogganing, ocean fishing, mountain biking, and caving. Come and be a part of Crew 225 and join in the fun. For information please call Jeff Tiedeken at 610-872-4514 or email Shawn Tiedeken at pickle5@comcast.net or Susan Pegan at sjpegan@gmail.com.
Looking for a gift to give someone who has everything or for the gift that keeps on giving? Think: MONTE CARLO TICKET Always a sellout - includes buffet dinner. Tickets remain $20. with $5. voucher. Searching for the gift that last for 365 days! Think: ST. JOSEPH LOTTERY CALENDAR !
Tickets remain $50. great prizes all through the year.
EARLY BULLETIN DEADLINES Due to the Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays the following early articles deadlines apply: December 28th - Monday, December 15th January 4th - Wednesday, December 17th
TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE RECTORY! PARKING REMINDER!
Please do not park across the street in the Word parking lot Saturday evenings during December. The Word remains open until 8:00PM on Saturdays and needs the parking spaces for their
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Heed the Call
The priests of tomorrow are in our midst. They are members of this parish. They are members of our own families. Encourage Vocations, pray for the gift. www.HeedTheCall.org