THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT (GAUDETE)December 14, 2014

COURAGE MINISTRYCOURAGE is a Roman Catholic apostolate in the Diocese of Brownsville helping women and men facing homosexual struggles lead chaste lives. Bi-monthly meetings are confidential and offer support and friendship. All calls are taken with discretion. Please call 956-686-7711.

Monday, December 15: Mass @ 7 am (Church) Posada-Larry & Irma Morales @ 6 pm (944

Closner)Tuesday, December 16:

Mass @ 7 am (Church) CCE (6th-8th Grades) @ 6:30 pm (School) Posada-Mary Salinas @ 6 pm (733 S.

Vermont)Wednesday, December 17:

Mass @ 7 am (Church) Adoration from 7:30 am to 6:30 pm Vespers & Benediction @ 6:30 pm CCE CLASSES (9th-12th) @ 7-8:30 pm

(School) Posada-Jesus Noriega @ 6 pm (2407

Liberty Dr)Thursday, December 18:

Mass @ 7 am (Church) Bible Study @ 7:00 pm (Hall) Posada-Dora Ybarra @ 6pm (932 S.

Texas)Friday, December 19:

Laudes (Morning Prayer) @ 7 am (Church)

Posada-Oscar Presas @ 6 pm (141 Prosperity Dr)

Saturday, December 20: Confession @ 4 pm (Church) Mass @ 5:00 pm (E) (Church) Posada-Pedro Martinez @ 6 pm (152 Las

Palmas)Sunday, December 21:

Mass @ 7:00 am (S) (Church)

(December 13-21, 2014)Saturday, December 13 – Vigil of Third Sunday of Advent5:00 pm (E): †Hilario, †Beatriz & †Albert Martinez, †Eva Estrada by Presas

†Mike Garza, by Beatriz Campos†Ignacio, †Rebeca & †Ma Consuelo Trevino, by

Family†Guadalupe Gonzales, by Trevino Family†Roque De Leon, Jr., by Diana De Leon†Luis & †Herminia Banuelos, by Family†Lupe Cantu, by Elisa Cantu†Trinidad & †Adela Hernandez, by Family†Manuela L. & †Baldemar Garza, by Raul

Garza†Jose & †Herlinda Pena, by Oscar & Delia

Gutierrez†Lupita & †Ramon Gutierrez, by Oscar & Delia

GutierrezSunday, December 14 – Third Sunday of Advent7:00 am (S): †Virginia Garcia, by M/M Joaquin Dominguez, Jr.

†Simon Calvillo, by Mary Jane Lucas†Severo Cano, by Socorro Cano

9:00 am (E): Pro Populo11:00 am (E): †Carlos & †Jovita Gonzales, by David Ruelas

†Tiburcio & †Severa Ruelas, by David Ruelas

†Jose Cisneros, Jr., by Rudy & Michelle Cisneros

†Emerarda & †Aurelio Loredo, by M/M E.J. Garcia

†Dionico Loredo, by M/M E. J. Garcia†Lupita Martinez & †Catalina Mejia, by

Jodie O.†Pablo Valdez, by Juan & Esmeralda Valdez

1:00 pm (S): †Abundio & †Maximina Zamarripa, by Ernesto Z.

†Jimmy & †Cora Closner, by Family†Anita Galvan, by Dolores L. Garcia

Monday, December 15 – Advent Weekday7:00 am (S): Tuesday, December 16 – Advent Weekday7:00 am (S): Wednesday, December 17 – Late Advent Weekday7:00 am (S): †Leopoldo F. Ramirez, by Family

†Adela V. Ramirez, by FamilyThursday, December 18 – Late Advent Weekday7:00 am (S): In Thanksgiving for †Mike & Yolanda Garza “38th

Ann.”Friday, December 19 – Late Advent Weekday7:00 am (S): Laudes (Morning Prayer) Saturday, December 20 – Vigil of Fourth Sunday of Advent5:00 pm (E): †Santiago & Marie Fernandez, by Family

†Leopoldo Mendoza, by M/M Rudy Elizondo†Lupita Martinez & †Catalina Mejia, by Juan

M.†Tomasa Mednoza, by M/M Rudy Elizondo†Daniel, †Carmen & †Jesus Trevino, by

Family†Olivia & †Arthur Karle, by M/M Ernesto

Zamarripa†Lupe Cantu, by Elisa Cantu†Jason Gonzales, by Janie Adame†Aurora Gonzales, by Salinas FamilyIn thanksgiving of Jose Antonio Gonzalez, by

Family

POSADAS will be held from December 15 to 23. It is a novena in preparation for Christmas. Posadas will begin at 6:00 pm every evening at the neighborhoods. Please bring a flashlight!

Monday, December 15: Altar Servers Larry & Irma Morales 944 Closner

Tuesday, December 16: Ushers Mary Salinas 733 S. Vermont

Wednesday, December 17: RCIA Jesus Noriega 2407 Liberty Street

Thursday, December 18: Adoration Group Dora Ybarra 932 S. Texas

Friday, December 19: Altar Society Oscar Presas 141 Prosperity Drive

Saturday, December 20: Knights of Columbus Pedro Martinez 152 Las Palmas Drive

Sunday, December 21: CDARosa Gracia 237 Las Palmas

Monday, December 22: Pastoral Council Tilly Castaneda 1138 W. 14th Street

Tuesday, December 23: Choirs

LAST DAY FOR CCE CLASSES will be on Sunday, December 14; Tuesday, December 16 and Wednesday, December 17, 2014 due to the Christmas and New Year’s Break. Please mark your calendar. Classes will resume on Sunday, January 4; Tuesday, January 6 and Wednesday, January 7, 2015.

Marlen Gutierrez, Marissa Garza, Julie Leal Garza, Aurelia Leal, Joaquín Domínguez, III, Irene Gutierrez, Irma M. Martinez, Hilda Marquez, Alicia Z. Vasquez, Sr. Norma Gutierrez, MCDP, Antonia Mata Martinez, Roy De León, Robert Marroquin, Viola Cantú, Nellie Galván, Gorgonio Trevino, Virginia Codon, Jovana Lopez, Irma Euresti, Irene García, Isaiah Garza, Daniel Avila, Jr., Maria de Luz Calixto and Lupita Verduzco.

FLOWERSFor the weekend of December 13 & 14

QuinceañeraAlexis Baez

Collection for weekend of December 7: Regular $ 5,182.57

Poor Fund $ 562.48December 8: Immaculate Concepcion $ 741.83

Wednesday, December 24 – Christmas Eve

Children’s Mass @ 7 pm (E) Christmas Carols @ 11 pm (B) Midnight Mass @ 12 midnight (B)

Thursday, December 25 – Christmas Day

Mass @ 10 am (B)Wednesday, December 31–New Year’s Eve

Evening Mass @ 6:30 pm (E)Thursday, January 1 – Day of Obligation –Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

Mass @ 10 am (B)2015 SUNDAY ENVELOPES will be at the main entrance of the church. They are by last name. If you would like to have Sunday envelopes, please call at (956) 565-1141 or drop by the parish office.MASSES FOR 2015: The Mass Book is open for the months of January thru March, 2015. Please drop by the parish office.

2015 CALENDARS: Registered members of the Parish may pick up calendar at the Parish Office.

To All High School Youth from Grades 9th – 12th: YOU’RE INVITED to Angels of Mercy Youth Ministry Group on every Wednesday from 6-7 pm at School Building Room#8. Please contact Gina Garza 789-3467 or 514-5138.(CATECHUMEN): Please pray for our CATECHUMENS: Angel Gabriel Garza, Pedro Luis Garza, Savannah Deeandra Guerra, Caitlyn D. Gutierrez, Kristy Lopez, Dominick Ivan Martinez, Emily Martinez, Brihanna Jazmin Navarro, Leticia Adrianna Navarro, Ashley D. Rangel, Alejandrina Robledo, Victoria Salinas, Leiah Jane Sanchez, Carolina Treviño, Rebecca Marie Treviño, Yamileth Treviño, Paulino Vasquez III, Javier Adolfo Vasquez,

Monday: Nm 24: 2, 7, 15-17a; Mt 21: 23-27Tuesday: Zep 3: 1-2, 9-13; Mt 21: 28-32Wednesday: Gn 42: 2, 8-10; Mt 1: 1-17Thursday: Jer 23: 5-8; Mt 1: 18-25Friday: Jgs 13: 2-7, 24-25a; Lk 1: 5-25Saturday: Is 7: 10-14: Lk 1: 26-38Sunday: 2 Sm 7: 1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Rom 16:25-27

Lk 1: 26-38

In Loving Memory of †Benita Solis

†Teodora V. &†Miguel

In Loving Memory of †Jose Leal, Jr.In Thanksgiving for Aurelia R. & Yolanda Lealby Juanita Leal Huff

Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church

322 South Vermont Ave (PO BOX 805), Mercedes, TX 78570 (956) 565-1141 and 514-5566/Fax 565-1640 and CCE Office 514-

5138 Email Address: olm@olmmercedes.org Visit our website:

www.olmmercedes.org DIOCESE OF BROWNSVILLE: BISHOP DANIEL E. FLORES

Rev. Jean Olivier M. Sambu, Pastor

Deacon Roberto CantuAnnita Gonzalez, Bookkeeper

Diana Enriquez, SecretarySergio Garcia, Maintenance

Brother Moises A. Lopez, MSC, DREGina Garza, Coordinator of Youth

MinistryAngie Garza, Marriage Coordinator

CELEBRATION OF THE EUCHARISTSaturday 5:00 PM EnglishSunday 7:00 AM

Spanish9:00 AM English

11:00 AM English1:00 PM

SpanishMonday – Thursday 7:00 AM Bilingual

SACRAMENT OF PENANCESaturday at 4:00 pm or by Appointment

ADORATION Wednesday beginning at 7:30 AM,concluding with Vespers & Benediction 6:30 PM

PARISH OFFICE HOURS:

In Loving Memory of†Manuel & †Leobarda †Claudio, & †Marcelo, †Enrique, †Raymundo, †Jesús & †Roberto by Longoria Family

In Loving Memory of

†Israel Garza

In Loving Memory of†Cora & †Jimmy

Closner FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS

Daniel, Carmen & Jesse TrevinoPatricio Briones

by Domingo & Becky Briones

In Loving Memory of †Maria F. Garcia& †B. Garcia by Stevens Family

In Loving Memory of: †Horacio, †San Juanita & †Elia Pequeño

by Pequeño Family

In Loving Memory of

†Lupe Cantuby Elisa Cantu

In Loving Memory of †Teresita de Jesus

Marroquin by: Rebeca Marroquin

In Loving Memory of

†Alfredo & †Eva & †Maria

Cheto’s Vehicle Inspection Business 83 & Georgia

Mercedes, Texas 78570

Inspectors: Cheto,

THE EYE CARE CENTER“Enhancing the Precious Gift of Sight”

Lora N. Martinez, O.D. 355 West 3rd Street – Mercedes

(956) 514-0559

SPACE AVAILABLEPLEASE SEE

PARISH OFFICE

In Loving Memory of

†M/M Max Zapata, Sr. †M/M Mauro Vasquez, Sr.

by Mauro Jr. & Alicia Z. VasquezLOTS FOR SALE IN MERCEDES

Arroyo Palms SubdivisionOwner Finance AvailableFor Information contact

Davis Real EstateJames Ortega, Realtor at 956-975-6700

In Loving Memory of †Ramirez & †McVey Families

In Loving Memory of†Paula D. Garcia by Mary Garcia

In Loving Memory of

†Eduardo Noriega

GENERAL THEME: The Third Sunday of Advent is often called “Gaudete Sunday.” (Gaudete – gow-DAY-tay.) This word means “Rejoice!” Even in an imperfect world, the Lord calls on us to be a people of joy. God is not far from us; he is right here, in our midst, even when we do not recognize him. Let us pray for faith to realize his presence and hope to be a people of joy.

FIRST READING: Isaiah 61: 1-2a, 10-11: Today’s Mass gives the signs of the coming of the Messiah. Yet Jesus did not heal all ills or right all wrongs; for that we must await his Second Coming. But even when things are not perfect, God calls on us to rejoice.SECOND READING: 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-24: The Thessalonian people were worried about the Second Coming of Christ. The Lord did not seem to be coming very quickly, and there were still evils in the world. How could he be “Messiah” and not bring perfect justice immediately? Saint Paul tells them – and us – that we must live in faith and hope while we patiently wait for Christ’s return in glory.

In Loving Memory of †Rigoberto

Salinas

Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete)O God, who see how your people faithfully await the feast of the Lord’s Nativity, enable us, we pray, to attain the joys of so great a salvation, and to celebrate them always with solemn worship and glad rejoicing. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.