In the year 1995, in the seventeenth year of my life, when Fife Symington was governor of Arizona, Bill Clinton was president of the United States, Chuck Keiffer was pastor of St. Theresa parish in Phoenix, Arizona, and Ron and Mary were my parents, the word of God came to my youth minister Eric and through him I started to see the salvation of God. Soon, Christ came into my life never to leave. I’m thankful beyond words.
Why am I being so specific, you ask? Because in the Gospel this week we hear the specific names of people holding civic and religious authority in first century Palestine when “the word of God came to John the Baptist:” Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate, Herod, Philip, Lysanias, Annas, Caiaphas, and Zechariah. All this is meant to help us see that God breaks into our history, into real human events. Jesus is no mere myth. He is the Word-which-breaks-in, in concrete moments, you might say. And now we anticipate his coming once again in our specific situations.
Advent challenge: Name as many civic and religious leaders who are in authority currently in your life. Now, name who the potential John the Baptists may be. A spouse? A friend? A podcaster? A work colleague who brings God’s word to you? Spend a moment considering that this comprises the concrete, historical setting into which Christ wishes to come. Then, with these specifics in mind, pray: “Come, Lord Jesus. Come.” — Father John Muir ©LPi
Welcome
Welcome to our Eucharistic Celebration on this Second Sunday of Advent.
The intentions of this Mass are for all those in our special intention basket and...
Please stand for our procession.
Mass Intentions
Posted the Friday before.
Universal Prayer (Petitions)
A. For the Church, that we may work together to smooth the rough ways and straighten the winding paths so that all people may see the salvation of God, let us pray to the Lord.
B. That nations of the world may cooperate to fill in valleys of poverty and make low mountains of debt so that all people may share in the bounty of our world, let us pray to the Lord.
C. For those who have difficulty following a straight path due to addiction, that they may recognize God’s grace accompanying them in their struggle, let us pray to the Lord.
D. For those who find the upcoming holidays a time of emotional or economic hardship, that they may know God’s constant presence throughout the valleys of their lives, let us pray to the Lord.
Announcements
1. Today, we have a second collection for the Retirement Fund for Religious. Your donations help the more than 24,000 senior religious who have dedicated their lives to service retire with dignity. Donations will provide for the essential care, medicine, and daily needs of senior sisters, brothers, and religious order priests who have served for decades—usually for little to no pay. Show your appreciation by supporting those who have given a lifetime.
2. We invite you to assist our Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception Mass this Monday, December 9. Our English Liturgy will be at 6:15pm. We remind you that this is a Holy Day of obligation. Due to additional liturgies, we will not have confessions.
3. This Thursday, December 12 is our feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. We will have mañanitas at 4:00am, and Mass in Spanish at 4:30am, 12pm, 5pm, and 7:30pm. Due to the high attendance, we invite you to carpool to Church.
4. The Parish is selling calendars for next year. These calendars are custom made and include Mass schedule times and major event schedule. You can purchase your calendar in the Parish Center for $5, there is a limited quantity.
5. We invite all those who feel the calling to be a Eucharistic Minister to attend our Archdiocese Eucharistic Minister training that will take place on Tuesdays January 7, 14, and 21, at 7:00pm in the St. Joseph Hall. There is a $15 donation for the course. This training is mandatory for all current Eucharistic Ministers.
6. The Parish is collaborating with St. Margaret Center for its annual Toy Drive. The toy drive helps approximately 1,000 low-income children and their parents. You can pick up a star with the age of a child you’d like to get a gift for at the Parish Center. Please bring your unwrapped toy from the Giving Tree to the Parish by December 11th.
7. We thank the Law offices of John Mikhail for sponsoring our bulletin; their information can be found on the last page of our bulletin. If you have a business and would like to sponsor our weekly bulletin, you can call the phone number at the bottom of the last page.
