1-180 St. Thomas of Villanova FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT CHRISTMAS EVE - DECEMBER 24, 2017 Stewardship Thought for the Week “ Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you.” Luke 1:28 Faith is a gift from God. Take time in silence and thank Him for all the gifts He has given you. Try to set aside any anger or resentment you have and rally open your heart to receive the gift of God’s mercy and forgiveness. We can’t give what we don’t have. We need to receive God’s mercy and forgiveness first before we can give it to others. A Note from the Pastor: This is the shortest fourth week of Advent possible; we barely have time to celebrate it before Christmas is upon us. The suddenness of this experience is fitting as we reflect on the Gospel story of the Annunciation. We can be sure that Mary was not at all expecting a visit from an angel with the tidings she received. Yet she handled it with grace, as a person whose faith readied her to deal with such improbabilities that life often throws at us. In this way she is a model for us to follow. Truly her way of living was full of grace; we are exhorted to follow in her footsteps. We begin the season of Christmas with the unlikely story of a poor child’s birth having monumental consequences for the world. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if our society valued the birth of any poor child similarly! In a world traditionally apathetic to the poor and their plight, how refreshing is the notion that the birth of every human person is a reason to celebrate life. We often forget amidst the commercial flurry of Christmas that the primary reason for the coming of Jesus among us was to remind us of just that: the value of every human life. Jesus came among us a poor child; he had no money, no power, no status – his importance lay in the bare fact of his existence as a human like us. This is the central message of Christmas. St. Augustine said, “God loves each of us as if there were only one of us.” In other words, God loves us for who we are, giving full appreciation and attention to everyone equally, not only to those who are rich, famous, gifted, etc. It should be our primary focus in this Christmas season to live in this way, both appreciating our own worth as God’s creatures, and valuing it in others. St. Thomas of Villanova is an Augustinian, Roman Catholic Community. As the Body of Christ, we share our time, talent and treasure to fulfill our Baptismal commitment. Following the example of St. Thomas of Villanova, our patron, we take as our challenge the mission of Jesus and strive to love and experience God through worship, social justice, education and evangelization. Thank you for your generosity for the week of December 16 and 17, 2017. Number of Envelopes 349 Envelope Amount $17,249.10 Loose Cash $2,188.10 Electronic Offerings $4,594.88 Other Total $24,032.08 10% Tithe $2,403.21 Income for Dec. 18, 2016 $37,657.23
Transcript
1-180 St. Thomas of Villanova
FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
CHRISTMAS EVE - DECEMBER 24, 2017
Stewardship Thought for the Week
“ Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you.” Luke 1:28 Faith is a gift from God. Take time in silence and thank Him for all the gifts He has given you. Try to set aside any anger or resentment you have and rally open your heart to receive the gift of God’s mercy and forgiveness. We can’t give what we don’t have. We need to receive God’s mercy and forgiveness first before we can give it to others.
A Note from the Pastor:
This is the shortest fourth week of Advent possible; we barely have time to celebrate it before Christmas is upon us. The suddenness of this experience is fitting as we reflect on the Gospel story of the Annunciation. We can be sure that Mary was not at all expecting a visit from an angel with the tidings she received. Yet she handled it with grace, as a person whose faith readied her to deal with such improbabilities that life often throws at us. In this way she is a model for us to follow. Truly her way of living was full of grace; we are exhorted to follow in her footsteps. We begin the season of Christmas with the unlikely story of a poor child’s birth having monumental consequences for the world. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if our society valued the birth of any poor child similarly! In a world traditionally apathetic to the poor and their plight, how refreshing is the notion that the birth of every human person is a reason to celebrate life. We often forget amidst the commercial flurry of Christmas that the primary reason for the coming of Jesus among us was to remind us of just that: the value of every human life. Jesus came among us a poor child; he had no money, no power, no status – his importance lay in the bare fact of his existence as a human like us. This is the central message of Christmas. St. Augustine said, “God loves each of us as if there were only one of us.” In other words, God loves us for who we are, giving full appreciation and attention to everyone equally, not only to those who are rich, famous, gifted, etc. It should be our primary focus in this Christmas season to live in this way, both appreciating our own worth as God’s creatures, and valuing it in others.
St. Thomas of Villanova is an Augustinian, Roman Catholic Community. As the Body of Christ, we share our time, talent and treasure to fulfill our Baptismal commitment. Following the example of
St. Thomas of Villanova, our patron, we take as our challenge the mission of Jesus and strive to love and
experience God through worship, social justice, education and evangelization.
Thank you for your generosity for the week of December 16 and 17, 2017. Number of Envelopes 349 Envelope Amount $17,249.10 Loose Cash $2,188.10 Electronic Offerings $4,594.88 Other Total $24,032.08 10% Tithe $2,403.21 Income for Dec. 18, 2016 $37,657.23
2-180 St. Thomas of Villanova
A Story About The True Meaning Of Christmas
It's just a small, white envelope stuck among the branches of our Christmas tree. No name, no identification, no inscription. It has peeked through the branches of our Christmas tree for the past 10 years or so. It all began because my husband Mike hated Christmas---oh, not the true meaning of Christmas, but the commercial aspects of it – over-spending, the frantic running round at the last minute to get a tie for uncle Harry and the dusting powder for Grandma, the gifts given in desperation because you couldn't think of anything else. Knowing he felt this way, I decided one year to bypass the usual shirts, sweaters, ties and so forth. I reached for something special just for Mike. The inspiration came in an unusual way. Our son, Kevin, who was 12 that year, was wrestling at the junior level at school he attended, and shortly before Christmas, there was a non-league match against a team sponsored by an inner-city church. These youngsters, dressed in sneakers so ragged that shoestrings seemed to be the only thing holding them together, presented a sharp contrast to our boys in their spiffy blue and gold uniforms and sparkling new wrestling shoes. As the match began, I was alarmed to see that the other team was wrestling without headgear, a kind of light helmet designed to protect a wrestler’s ears. It was a luxury the ragtag team obviously couldn't afford. Well, we ended up walloping them. We took every weight class. And as each of their boys got up from the mat, he swaggered around in his tatters with false bravado, a kind of street pride that couldn't acknowledge defeat. Mike, seated beside me, shook his head sadly, "I wish just one of them could have won," he said. "They have a lot of potential, but losing like this could take the heart right out of them." Mike loved kids, all kids, and he knew them, having coached little league, football and lacrosse. That's when the idea for his present came. That afternoon I went to a local sporting goods store and bought an assortment of wrestling headgear and shoes and sent them anonymously to the inner-city church. On Christmas Eve, I placed the envelope on the tree, the note inside telling Mike what I had done and that this was his gift from me. His smile was the brightest thing about Christmas that year and in succeeding years. For each Christmas, I followed the tradition, one year sending a group of mentally handicapped youngsters to a hockey game, another year a check to a pair of elderly brothers whose home had burned to the ground the week before Christmas and on and on. The envelope became the highlight of our Christmas. It was always the last thing opened on Christmas morning and our children, ignoring their new toys, would stand with wide-eyed anticipation as their dad lifted the envelope from the tree to reveal its contents. As the children grew, the toys gave way to more practical presents, but the envelope never lost its allure. The story doesn't end there. You see, we lost Mike last year. When Christmas rolled around, I was still so wrapped in grief I barely got the tree up. But Christmas Eve found me placing an envelope on the tree, and in the morning, it was joined by three more. Each of our children, unbeknownst to the others, had placed an envelope on the tree for their Dad. The tradition has grown and some day will expand even further with our grandchildren standing around the tree with wide-eyed anticipation watching as their fathers take down the envelope. Mike's spirit, like the Christmas spirit, will always be with us. May we all remember Christ, who is the reason for the season, and the true Christmas spirit this year and always.
As we celebrate this joyous Season, we wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!
The Augustinians and the Parish Staff of St. Thomas of Villanova
Fr. Joe, Fr. Michael, Fr. Allan, Fr. Peter, Fr. Steve, Fr. Tony and Deacon Don Janine Bowers Brian Fairfield Karen Farley Charlie Gilmore Patty Greenhalgh Mary Kurek Jeanmarie Lorello Maria Luby Mary Kate McCauley Anne Murphy Alice Obarski Tara Penza Kathy Roethlein Cathy Van Kula
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Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from the
Faculty, Staff and Children
at St. Thomas of Villanova Preschool.
Preschool News
Preschool registrations are now being taken for the 2018-2019 School Year. Classes are available for 2, 3, 4 and 5 year olds. Children must be 2, 3 or 4 by October 1, 2018 for their perspective classes. Full and half day options are available. If interested, please call the Preschool Office at 610-525-7554 and be sure to visit the website at www.stvpreschool.org.
Mon., Dec. 25th THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD 10:30AM-VNCH Tues., Dec. 26th Saint Stephen 12:05PM-RMCH Betty McManus - Talin Bakalian Wed., Dec. 27th Saint John 12:05PM-RMCH The Gibbons Family Thurs., Dec. 28th The Holy Innocents 12:05PM-RMCH Paddy McCormack Fri., Dec. 29th Fifth Day within the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord; Saint Thomas Becket 12:05PM-RMCH Sat., Dec. 30th Sixth Day within the Octoave of the
Nativity of the Lord 9:00AM-RMCH 5:00PM-RMCH In Thanksgiving to the Holy Family Sun., Dec., 31st Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph 7:30AM-VNCH Stephen J. Doro 9:00AM-RMCH For the Parishioners of St. Thomas 10:30AM-VNCH John (Jack) McDevitt
No 7:00PM Mass this evening.
Schedule of Events for the week
of: December 24, 2017 Recitation of the Rosary after the daily Liturgy.
Monday, December 25, 2017—CHRISTMAS DAY No Centering Prayer Christmas Mass-VNCH 10:30AM Food Addicts in Recovery - Café 7:00PM Tuesday, December 26, 2017 Wednesday, December 27, 2017 Women’s 11th Step Spirituality Meeting 6:00AM Food Addicts in Recovery - Café 9:30AM Exercise - Aud 10:00AM No Religious Education Classes Thursday, December 28, 2017 No Walking With Purpose Golden Living Mass 2:00PM Friday, December 29, 2017 Saturday, December 30, 2017 Sunday, December 31, 2017 Rosemont Village Eucharistic Prayer Service 10:30AM No 7:00PM Mass this evening.
Thank you to our Cradles to Crayons volunteers who sorted clothing and other items at the Giving Factory in Conshohocken on December 12
th. Your
help was especially appreciated during this busy time of year. Volunteers of middle school age and above, please plan to join us at our next volunteer outing at Cradles to Crayons on Tuesday, February 13
th from
6:00-8:00pm.
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Thank you to our St. Francis Inn volunteers who helped to serve a warm meal to a grateful community on Dec. 17
th. Your kind words and
compassionate presence helped to spread the joy of the Advent Season on Gaudete Sunday.
Thank you and Health Update from Fr. Michael
This past Friday, marked six weeks since my open heart surgery. Although full recovery takes months, I’m well enough to return to active ministry, and I couldn’t be happier about that. While I will continue my regular cardio-rehab workouts at Bryn Mawr Hospital, I will be resuming my full pastoral duties on Christmas. At this time, I want to sincerely thank all of your for you prayers and support during this difficult time. The outpouring of concern and kindness I received was truly overwhelming. Cards, chocolate candy and flowers were all greatly appreciated. I am deeply grateful for the restoration of my health, but most especially I am grateful to be home with all of you for Christmas.
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CHRISTIAN SERVICE PRAYERLINE The parish prayer line is waiting for your prayer request. Please contact [email protected] or Millie Seeds at 610-353-2025 to activate the parish prayerline. We have parish teams available for your special intentions. PROJECT HOPE This is a transportation ministry for our Parish. If you need a ride to your medical appointments or to food shop this week, please call Anne Hennessy at 610-525-2112. Please give at least 3 days notice.
DINNERS TO THE DOORSTEP This ministry is for parish families who are in crisis or for parish couples welcoming a new baby. Homemade dinners are delivered. Two parish coordinators keep a list of volunteers who are called as needed. If you are in need of this delicious community support, please call Maria Gunn at 610-291-7205.
ST. FRANCIS INN Volunteers are needed to serve the midday meal at the St. Francis Inn in Kensington on Sunday, January 21st. The Inn tries to meet the immediate daily needs of the poor and homeless people they serve with food, cloth-ing and hospitality. This ministry is open to anyone 16 years or older. For more information and to sign up, contact our parish coordinator, Sheila Holst at 610-659-5828 or [email protected]. HELP AT HOME MINISTRY Do you have a small household repair that you need done? A bigger job that needs assessment? General repairs such as: Plumbing (faucet / toilet repairs); Electric (fix a light); Mechanical (AC and heat, appliance); Structural and cosmetic (threshold, window repair, patching) Are you unable to physically perform the job? Not sure where to begin? Cannot afford to get it fixed? Contact: Parish Coordinator, Jim and Ann Colizzo Jim at 908-797-6228 [email protected]; Ann at 484-883-4019 [email protected] or Anne Murphy, Parish Staff at 610-525-4801, [email protected]. MOTHER AND NEW FAMILY SUPPORT MINISTRY Parishioner and Nurse Practitioner Volunteer offers support to new moms around navigating the complexities of being a new mom. Contact Suzanne Foley at 610-952-0147or [email protected] or Anne Murphy at [email protected].
We wish a warm welcome to the newest members of our parish: Mariel Harden of Wayne Mary Makoski of Havertown Maria Salvemini of Aston Joseph Schiazza of Aston Resting in Peace: Rev. John Hagan, O.S.A. Remember those in need of our prayers, especially: Frank and Richard Beston, Katherine Breck, Jennifer Greenberg, Patricia Ann Harley, Bridget Kelly, Angele Kuchukian, Pamela LaMonaca, Patrick McCabe, Jerry O’Connor, Bert Rodgers, Marie Scenna, Annie Sears, and Robert J. Wahl.
Please pray for our soldiers assigned in Afghanistan and in other parts of the world. Please also pray
for the soldiers who are returning from their assignments, especially the wounded.
FEED THE HUNGRY MINISTRY -
JANUARY 6TH
The Life Center of Delaware County is a residence for the homeless but it opens its doors every day to anyone who comes off the street in need of a meal. Our parish serves dinner six times a year on the first Saturday of the odd numbered month. As a general rule, STV fills between 150 to 200 dinner plates each time we go. The next St. Thomas Night at the Life Center is on January 6th, so if you can provide any of the following: cooked meatloaf, roasted potato casserole, green bean casserole, dinner salad (greens, cherry tomatoes), and a bottle of Italian dressing, gallon jugs of lemonade, fruit punch, sweet tea (no soda), (10 gallons needed), and/or premade wrapped sandwiches (bologna and cheese, PBJ and cheese). If you can help prepare an entrée or buy any of the above on Saturday, January 6th, and deliver it to the Steele’s home in Villanova, we can truly use your help. Contact Dennis Steele —- [email protected].
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SCRIPTURE REFLECTION SESSION
The parish offers weekly Scripture Reflection Sessions on Tuesday mornings (10:00am) and
evenings (7:00pm). These sessions are conducted by Fr. Michael and Ginny Neumer.
The sessions are based on the Sunday scripture readings for the following week’s Mass. The object of these sessions is to enhance and heighten the worship experience of those participating in the sessions by reflecting on and discussing the weekly readings
prior to the Eucharistic celebration.
All are welcome! You are even encouraged to bring a friend or two.
ST. JOHN’S CASSEROLES Want to help out a great nonprofit that serves hot meals to those in need? St. John’s Hospice is greatly in need of pre-cooked casseroles. Every day they provide over 350 lunchtime meals to homeless people in Philadelphia close to the Convention Center. We are looking for volunteers who can make a casserole and bring it to our freezers located in the room outside the elevator in the lower level of the Rosemont Chapel. Casserole tins are available on the top of the freezers. Any home cooked casseroles must have a protein, i.e., meat and/or beans. Please label and date your casserole with masking tape. If you have any questions, or need recipes for the casseroles, please contact Cathy Van Kula at [email protected].
AUGUSTINIAN VOCATIONS If you are interested in learning more about the Augustinian Order and what it means to be an
Pi Beta Phi, an organization of Villanova University, is hosting a book collection to help children’s literacy in local schools. Donations of children’s books are welcome. They can be dropped off at the parish office in Rosemont any time during Advent. Bins will be provided at the churches at Villanova and Rosemont for Sunday collections. Your generosity is appreciated; Thank you.
YOU ARE INVITED TO A
BROWN BAG LUNCH
MONDAY, JANUARY 22ND
at 12:45pm in the
Rosemont Auditorium
Come to view a “TED TALK” BY Dan Buettner
followed by a lively conversation. Topic: “How to live to be 100+”
National Geographic writer and explorer, Dan Buettner, studies the
world’s longest-lived people, distilling their secrets into a single plan for
health and long life. Bring your Lunch! Dessert and drinks available.
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SAVE THE DATE!
January 15, 2018
MARTIN LUTHER KING
Service Ministries for All Ages
FAMILY — MORNING OF SERVICE
Rosemont Auditorium - 10:00am-Noon Pre-school and elementary school children and parents join hands to create practical gifts: - Assemble hygiene kits for Project Home’s Hub of Hope. - Design and decorate cards for our military troops and veterans. - Prepare cheese sandwiches for the Patrician Society in Norristown. - Decorate t-shirts for children in Puerto Rico affected by Hurricane Maria. - Create bookmarks and other decorative crafts for residents of local nursing homes.
HELP NEEDED!!
Help is needed to run the craft tables on Martin Luther King Day of Service with the Family Service morning in the Rosemont Auditorium. Please contact
Readings for the Week: Monday: Is 62:11-12; Ti 3:4-7; Lk 2:15-20 Tuesday: Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59; Mt 10:17-22 Wednesday: 1 Jn 1:1-4; Jn 20:1a, 2-8 Thursday: 1 Jn 1:5-2:2; Mt 2:13-18 Friday: 1 Jn 2:3-11; Lk 2:22-35 Saturday: 1 Jn 2:12-17; Lk 3:36-40 Sunday: Sir 3:2-6, 12-14 or Gn 15:1-6; 21:1-3; Col 3:12-21 or 3:12-17 or Heb 11;8, 11-12, 17-19; Lk 2:22-40 or 2:22, 39-40
MEN’S GOSPEL REFLECTION GROUP
Do you desire a richer connection to the Word of God? Are you looking for a way to share your faith with other men of faith? Would you like to re-enforce your faith while navigating your daily life?
If any of these questions caused you to pause and think, then you might enjoy our weekly men’s Gospel Reflection Group. We gather weekly in the Parish
Center to discuss the coming Sunday’s Gospel. Join us on Thursday mornings from 6:30am to 7:30am
in the Parish Center next to the Rosemont Chapel.
WOMEN’S 11TH STEP MEDITATION –
each Wednesday from 6:00am to 6:45am in the Parish Center
Step 11 – Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out. Join us, even if you are not part of “program”, for a great way to start our day as “we ask God to direct our thinking, especially asking that it be divorced from self-pity, dishonest or self-seeking motives.” Page 86 of AA Big Book
Centering Prayer Silent Meditation Would you like the gift of prayer? Centering Prayer presents ancient Christian wisdom teachings in an updated form. It is not meant to replace other kinds of prayer; rather it casts a new light and depth of meaning on them. Centering Prayer is a relationship with God and a discipline to foster that relationship. This method of prayer is a movement beyond conversation with Christ to communion with him. Join us Mondays at 7:30am in the Rosemont Chapel. We will not be having Centering Prayer on Monday, December 25, 2017 and Monday, January 1, 2018. The Centering Prayer Silent Meditation will resume on Monday, January 8, 2018.
EXERCISE PROGRAM AT ST. THOMAS Ageless Exercise, Inc. presents a unique exercise program for the young at heart consisting of range of motion, strength training, weight bearing exercises, balance challenges; all done to upbeat fun music. Therapy bands, hand free weights, and balls are used for strengthening and stretching muscles and attaining range of motion movement. Weight bearing exercises to strengthen bones and the skeletal structure as well as aerobic endurance are included in the weekly class. The class is led by a Certified American Counsel on Exercise (ACE) Instructor. Come join us and learn about your body, have fun, and strengthen muscles and bones. Where: The St. Thomas of Villanova Auditorium When: Every Wednesday from 10:00am to 11:00am Cost: $10 a month – checks made payable to Ageless Exercise, Inc.
NEWS FROM MALVERN PAREPARATORY SCHOOL AND VILLA MARIA ACADEMY
Students from Malvern Preparatory School and Villa Maria Academy are hosting the Cups for Caritas, our 2017-2018 iteration on the ten-year tradition of Empty Bowls events at Malvern. This year’s event, which raises funds for Bethesda Project (www.bethesdaproject.org), will be held on Sunday, January 14, on Malvern Prep’s campus. The event will begin with 9:00am Mass in Our Mother of Good Counsel Chapel and will feature student and guest speakers sharing context for the caritas of this year’s event. The doors of Stewart Hall will open at 10:30am where guests will have the opportunity to choose a handmade ceramic cup to use and keep as a reminder that there are always people in our world in need of caritas. The morning features a simple buffet-style brunch, a silent auction, guest speakers, and a “leftovers” cup sale. Tickets are $25/adult and $15/children 10 + under. Advance ticket sales are appreciated and available online at www.mpemptybowls.org. For more information, please contact [email protected] or 484-595-5203.
Archdiocese of Philadelphia Metropolitan Tribunal DO YOU KNOW YOUR TRIBUNAL?
The Tribunal is a group of specially qualified Catholics whose responsibility is to come to the help of people who have experienced divorce and who may wish to remarry in the Catholic Church. When a divorce occurs, the Catholic Church always seeks to balance two realities. One is the unbreakableness of the bond of marriage. This is God’s law. It cannot be broken by human intervention. On the other hand, the Church is concerned about the spiritual welfare of the people involved. Was this a true marriage? Even though a Catholic marriage was celebrated, was there perhaps some deficiency in the consent of the parties involved? The annulment procedure addresses this problem. If you are divorced and want to marry in the Church or remarried outside the Catholic Church, please telephone the Tribunal Office.
THE TRIBUNAL 222 North 17th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103 Telephone: 215-587-3750
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PROCEDURE FOR INVESTIGATING A CHURCH DECLARATION OF NULLITY
Anyone who had a marriage that ended in divorce can petition the Tribunal for a Declaration of Nullity. The Tribunal is looking to see if something was lacking in the intentions of the parties in regards to children, fidelity and permanence, and/or their understanding for marriage, and/or in their ability to enter into and fulfill marriage. 1. To begin, go to the website of the Archdiocese, www.archphila.org, and download the forms. On the top right
of the webpage, under the heading, “How do I’, click on the tab “Start the Annulment Process”. Follow the instructions, fill out the form on your computer, print out the form, obtain the proper documents and send everything to the Tribunal. When your application is received you will be contacted to begin your case with formal testimony. 2. Once your formal testimony has been taken, your former spouse will be cited by the Tribunal. Your former spouse will be notified of the grounds and reason for the Petition. If you do not have an address for your former spouse, you need to provide the Tribunal with an explanation as to why that is so and what steps you took to locate your former spouse. 3. If your former spouse participates in the case, is in favor of a Declaration of a Nullity, and agrees with the grounds and the reasons for the Petition and if their testimony is similar to your testimony, the it is possible that the case may be heard in a process called the “Brief Process” or the “Bishop’s Process” given by Pope Francis. 4. In cases where the former spouse is opposed to a Declaration of Nullity, where the former spouse does not respond to the Tribunal, or is unable to be located, and even cases from #3, these cases continue on in the normal process for a Declaration of Nullity. Pope Francis facilitated this ordinary process by permitting Tribunals to accept the case of anyone who lives within their local diocese, no matter where the marriage took place (even if in a foreign country) or no matter where their form spouse lives (even if in a foreign country). Also, if the Tribunal arrived at granting a Declaration of Nullity and if the other person is not opposed to it and does not appeal it, then the Declaration becomes immediately effective, without need for anything further. The normal process takes 6-8 months. 5. Archbishop Charles Chaput, in accord with the wishes of Pope Francis, has decreed that the Archdiocese will absorb the $800 cost of the process. Petitioners are asked to contribute something out of charity according to their means after the completion of the process.
