St. Bernard Mass IntentionsSunday, December 3 - First Sunday of Advent10:00 Liv/Dec of O'Hare Family12:00 Intention of Donna Briggs 8:00 Pro Populo

Monday, December 412:10 Intention of Bill Andrews

Tuesday, December 512:10 + Raymond Frail

Wednesday, December 6 - St. Nicholas12:10 Intention of Dakota Perkins

Thursday, December 7 - St. Ambrose12:10 + Stanley Urbanski 5:30 Vigil + Patricia Lundstrom

Friday, December 8 - IMMACULATE CONCEPTION12:10 + In Thanksgiving

Saturday, December 9 - MISA GUADALUPAN4:30 + Willie Orr

Sunday, December 10 - Second Sunday of Advent10:00 + Victor Haydu12:00 NO MASS/No Misa 8:00 In Thanksgiving

St. Mary Mass Intentions9 AM Sun. Dec. 3 - All Souls in Purgatory9:30AM Wed., Dec. 6 - Intention of the Class of 19657:00PM Fri., Dec. 8 - Pro Populo (Immac. Conception)9 AM Sun. Dec. 10 - + Ethel Becker

Scripture Readings for the WeekMon. Isaiah 2:1-5; Matthew 8:5-11Tues. Isaiah 11:1-10; Luke 10:21-24Wed. Isaiah 25:6-10; Matthew 15:29-37Thur. Isaiah 26:1-6; Matthew7:21, 24-27Fri. Genesis 3:9-15,20; Eph 1:3-12; Luke 1:26-38Sat. Isaiah 30:19-26; Matthew 9:35-10:1-8Sun. Is 40:1-5,9-11; II Peter 3:8-14; Mark 1:1-8

PRAYER REQUESTS: Carol Consolo, Marlene Madia, Ruth Reinhart, Sr. Catherine Walsh, John Streffler, Renee Schillinger, Rosalia Duran, Mabel Brown, Bud Lundstrom, Clara Piscazzi, Patricia Finn, Ann Miller, Marilyn Maximovich,

in our Book of Prayer Requests.

SOLEMNITY of the Immaculate Conception - Friday, December 8th is a Holy Day of Obligation every year. Catholics are to gather to celebrate Mass; hearing God's Word and receiving the Eucharist. We ask the Patroness of the United States to pray for us to her Son, Jesus Christ, our King and Sovereign Lord.

MARIACHI MASS - our annual Honor to Our Lady of Guadalupe will be Saturday, December 9th at 4:30pm. All are welcome to attend, pray, and honor the Patroness of the Americas. There is a festival afterward in the Social Hall with Ethnic Food, Dances, and a Social.

PRAYER SUPPORT – You can also send requests to the prayer line at: st.bernard.prayerchain@gmail.com.Or, inscribe them in the Intention Book at either parish.

LUMEN GENTIUM - Our prayer/study/reflection group, on this important document of Vatican II, is facilitated by Michele & Ray Schmidt, from 6:30 to 8:30 PM, in the History Room on Wednesday, Dec 13. If you have any questions, please call 313-319-1188 or email: mtschmidt@sbcglobal.net.

RAYS OF MERCY CENACLE - Join us TODAY after the 10am Mass for the Induction of four new members. Facilitator: Manena Vidlak 330-762-1959.

2018 MASS INTENTION BOOK - We are accepting Mass Intention requests for both parishes. Please come by the Parish Office to check the Mass Calendar, or through the US Mail with the requested dates, phone number in case your date is already taken, and the offering for each Mass.

ST. BERNARD PIPE ORGAN RECITALThis past week the Schantz Organ Company began the reconstruction of our pipe organ. Their plan is to have the organ back in service by Christmas, and we will rededicate the organ with a Blessing and Recital on Sunday, January 21, 2018 at 3:00pm. SAVE THE DATE!

OUR   ST. BERNARD SCHOLA CANTORUM  - is ready for a new Church year. Any men OR WOMEN interested in participating, please contact Fr. Dan. Or simply show up at one of the

practices: Tuesdays 6:30 – 7:30 PM in the Upper Room of the church. Yes, we are expanding the Schola to invite women to join in singing praise to God in the beautiful form of Gregorian Chant. Please consider participating at any level – full time, part time, or just occasionally. No prior experience needed! Stay tuned for a Workshop that will be held toward the end of January.

ADVENT BEGINS

December 3, 2017Happy New Year! This Weekend we

begin a new Liturgical Year. Beginning with this four-week Season of Advent, the Church awaits Jesus' Second Coming by gathering together weekly to listen to his Word from the Bible (especially, the Gospel of St. Mark), sharing God's presence and activity in our lives, offering our lives and sacrifices with Christ at the Altar, and with his blessing and Spirit go out to bring his message to others.

Throughout the Liturgical Year we will celebrate significant events in the life of Jesus. We soon will celebrate his birth in the world and in our life. Then his baptism, his time in the desert, his miraculous deeds and teachings which lead to his Passion and Death on the cross. But it doesn't end there. We will continue to follow him through his Resurrection from the dead and his ascension to the right hand of the Father. And, it doesn't end there. As in the ordinary time of our lives we find his extraordinary presence among us until he returns in glory - at a time even he did not know.

As we follow him throughout this Liturgical Year as faithful disciples and prepared for his return, we will celebrate the lives of men and women who are examples and intercessors for the Church. First among them, the Blessed Virgin Mary; St. Joseph, St. Bernard, our patron saints, and our favorite ones too. They are spiritual heroes for us.

A calendar can do more than just mark the days and months. During the years 1938-1945 in Europe, the largest diocese with bishops, priests, and seminarians was not - Rome, Paris, Krakow, or London - it was the concentration camp of Dachau. Over 2,500 Catholic clergymen were encamped in

three of the 33 barracks. Over 1,000 died from disease, starvation, and torture.

How did they endure - in part, the Liturgical Calendar. They followed the life of Christ, the Blessed Mother, and the days of the Saints. If it was Lent, a priest would give a nightly reflection - of course, out of earshot of the camp's guards. If it was the feast day of St. Bernard, they celebrated the name day of any one so named - whether a German, Frenchman, Pole, Belgian, or Spaniard. Following the Liturgical Calendar kept them going. It united them with a world far beyond the horrors and monotony of their daily lives. It gave hope and meaning which kept them faithful to the end.

ADVENT EVENING of CONFESSIONS

Wednesday - December 6

5:00 - 8:00 PMat

St. BernardSt. Sebastian & St.

Vincent dePaul

Priests will be available for the Sacrament of Penance in these churches on Dec. 6th, 5-8pm.Confessions are also heard on Saturdays from

3:00- 4:00 PM in St. Bernard Parish

confessional.

- Prepare for Christ's coming by going to Confession -

The Immaculate Conception of Mary

Friday - December 8, 2017

Patroness of the United States

Masses for this Day of Obligatory Attendance

St. Bernard: Dec. 7 - 5:30pm (Vigil Mass)

Dec. 8 - 12:10pm (Mass of the Day)St. Mary: Dec. 8 - 7:00pm (Mass of the Day)Children's Hospital Chapel: Dec. 8 at Noon

La Celebración Anualde

Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe

Los invitan a la Misa Bilingüe con

Mariachi4:30P.M.

Sábado, 9 de Diciembre, 2017

en la Parroquia de St. Bernard

Al terminar la misa seguiremos con:Música de Mariachi Bailes Folklóricos

Deliciosas Comidas Hispanas

¡Entrada y Parking Gratis!

Comidas $5.00 cada plato Sodas y Aguas Frescas

$1.00Tamales, Pozole y Postres a

la cartaPara más información (330) 253-

5161.

Christmas Tree Set-up - Volunteers are needed on Wednesday, Dec. 13 at 5:00pm in St. Bernard church to erect two trees with lights. Families welcome! Pizzas and Beverages Provided.

Summit Choral Society Concert - Friday, Dec. 15 through Sunday, Dec. 17th at 7:30pm each night in St. Bernard church. Tickets are on sale at their SC

Society website.N.B. The 8pm Sunday Night Mass on Dec. 17th will be in St. Mary Church (750 S. Main).

Church Decorating - At both St. Bernard and St. Mary Parish will be Saturday, Dec. 23 at 9:00am. Volunteers are needed to set out Nativity Sets, Flowers, Candles, etc. Please make our churches beautiful with the Church's united effort.

CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE

Sunday, Dec. 24 - 4th Sunday of Advent

9:00 am St. Mary Sunday Mass

10:00 am St. Bernard Sunday Mass

12:00 pm St. Bernard Sunday Mass

Sunday, Dec. 24 - Christmas Eve Masses

4:30 pm St. Bernard Children's7:00 pm St. Bernard Bilingual

(Esp)Midnight St. Bernard (choir at

11:30p)

Monday, Dec. 25 - Christmas Day Mass

Midnight St. Bernard (choir at 11:30p)

9:00am St. Mary Mass of Day

10:00am St. Bernard Mass of DayCOOKIE SALES at SV-SM HIGH SCHOOL - Saturday, December 9 from 10am-4:00pm. This is an annual benefit for the School's Music Boosters.

THEOLOGY ON TAP AKRON Food, Fellowship, and Faith for Young Adults in their 20’s and 30’s. At Ray's Place, 25 Ghent Rd., Fairlawn at 7:00pm, Wed., Dec. 13. Fr. Pat Anderson of St. Mary, Hudson will give insights on Waiting in Advent. Admission is $5.

KEEP CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS - The K of C Knights, Council 547, are offering again the white, plastic Nativity Trees for your Christmas display. Please see their display at our church door(s) with order forms. Every sale supports the charitable work of K of C.

Spiritual Materials for AdventAre available at FORMED.ORG on your internet provider. Or in the front of St. Bernard church on the LIGHTHOUSE Book and CD rack. Grow in Faith!

NOTICIAS PARROQUIALESMISA EN HONOR A LA VIRGEN DE GUADALUPE - será el sábado 9 de diciembre a las 4:30 pm. Por favor pase la voz a sus amigos y conocidos.

AVISO DE SUMA IMPORTANCIA- necesitamos a todos los asistentes de la misa en español y a

todos los interesados en donar para esta gran festividad del 9 de diciembre celebramos la misa a nuestra Virgen de Guadalupe, les recordamos que mire la lista de las donaciones, y si usted quiere donar por favor hablar con Lety, Leonor, Carmen, Dina, o Nancy. Les agradecemos todo su apoyo y toda su colaboración.

NECESITAMOS VOLUNTARIOS - para el festejo a la Virgen de Guadalupe, favor de hablar con Lety, Leonor, Carmen, Dina, o Nancy. Les agradecemos todo su apoyo.

Mass Offerings November 26thSt. Bernard - TBA on Dec. 10St. Mary - TBA on Dec. 10

Your Box of Contribution Envelopes will be available to pick up in the church in a week or two. Please be sure to take the box for your household.

The December Second Collection next Sunday is for Retired Religious Sisters and Brothers. Thank you for your care to those who served the Church.

From the Pastor...This weekend the Divine Mercy

Cenacle will welcome four new members after the 10:00 Mass in St. Bernard Parish House. The Cenacle consists of Catholics from both parishes who strive to grow in their faith by practicing together the Works of Mercy (feed the hungry, clothe the naked, satisfy the thirsty, shelter the homeless, visit the sick and the imprisoned). The Cenacle, under the direction of Manena Vidlak, is a spiritual group that is conducted in both Spanish and English. God bless them being merciful to those most in need.

This Season the people of St. Mary Parish will again have two Giving Trees. One will be a Prayer Tree in which members of the community pray for the intentions of each other in this season. Everyone can always use prayer! The other tree is an Outreach Tree to assist 40 children at Education Alternatives in Cuyahoga Falls. This organization provides educational, therapeutic, and vocational services to children and teens. Please check the tree for a child's Letter to Santa. DO NOT WRAP your gift. Return the letter and gift to the tree by Dec. 17th.

Once again St. Bernard Parish will have two Giving Trees. One is designated to

assist the Akron Pregnancy Center. The other tree is for our own Hot Meal/Hunger Program. To avoid confusion, each tree has its own colored ornaments. Please return your gift WRAPPED with the ornament attached to the priest Sacristy by Dec. 17th.

Each year there are five Holy Days when Catholics are obliged to attend Mass. Two of them are obligatory no matter if they fall on a Saturday or on a Monday: December 8 and December 25. The other three: January 1, August 15, and November 1 are not obligatory when they fall on a Saturday or on a Monday. This year December 25 falls on a Monday and is obligatory, but January 1 is not obligatory, yet nevertheless encouraged.

You are encouraged to make time for the Sacrament of Penance (Confession) in Advent. Turning from sin and preparing or renewing a place for Christ in your life is what the preparation for Christmas is all about. This coming Wednesday priests will be available from 5-8pm at St. Vincent, St. Sebastian, and St. Bernard.

Hope to see you at the Mariachi Mass and Festival in Honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe. It is an annual tribute for many people throughout the Akron area. St. Bernard is again pleased to sponsor this celebration.

A Blessed Advent to All! Peace, Fr. Dan