December 22, 2019 | Fourth Sunday of Advent 1971 S T. L AWRENCE DRIVE, S ANTA CLARA, CA 95051 T EL. NO. 408-296-3000 F AX NO. 408-296-3100 E-Mail Address: [email protected]Website: www.saintlawrence.org VxÄxuÜtà|Çz bâÜ Vtà{ÉÄ|v Yt|à{ g{ÜÉâz{ jÉÜá{|Ñ? Xwâvtà|ÉÇ? tÇw fxÜä|vx Mass Schedule Horario de Christmas Eve Masses Tuesday, December 24, 2019 4:00 PM (Children’s Mass) 6:00 PM (English) 8:00 PM (Spanish) 12:00 AM Midnight Mass (English) Christmas Day Masses Wednesday, December 25, 2019 9:00 AM (English) 11:00 AM (English)
Transcript
December 22, 2019 | Fourth Sunday of Advent
1971 ST. LAWRENCE DRIVE, SANTA CLARA, CA 95051 TEL. NO. 408-296-3000 FAX NO. 408-296-3100 E-Mail Address: [email protected] Website: www.saintlawrence.org
December 24, 2019 4:00 PM (Children’s Mass) 6:00 PM (English) 8:00 PM (Spanish) 12:00 AM Midnight Mass (English)
Christmas Day Masses Wednesday,
December 25, 2019 9:00 AM (English) 11:00 AM (English)
Saint Lawrence The Martyr Catholic Parish and Education Center - Contact Information
December 22, 2019 - Fourth Sunday of Advent - Page 2
Our SCRIP box has been restocked with the popular Gift Cards you have requested like Starbucks, Safeway, Walmart, Lucky’s, Target, fast food places, and others. Sorry we will not stock Costco due to the cost and low percentage we receive. Please buy your SCRIP Gift Cards by visiting our Scrip window in the vestibule when we have a volunteer after Masses. You can also purchase SCRIP at the Parish Office on Thursdays from 2:30-4:30pm or through the online phone App named Benefit Mobile. Remember that when you buy SCRIP Gift Cards through us you still receive the value you paid for the gift card, but we receive a percentage (ranging from 1% to 21%) for every purchase you make. This is a very easy way with no additional cost to you to support Saint Lawrence Parish and School with the normal shopping you do for your household. For questions, please call the Parish or School offices to find out how the SCRIP program works.
St. Lawrence the Martyr Parish accepts donations electronically using your computer, tablet or smart phone. Parishioner Benefits Set up your own contributions Your donation is automatic and safe Electronic giving is efficient, practical and easy
Please prayerfully consider Online Giving.
Visit our Parish website at ww.saintlawrence.org
for more information or to sign up.
December 22, 2019 Fund for Church Loan Payments
and Maintenance
December 29, 2019 St. Vincent de Paul
Please note that there will be NO Adoration
of the Blessed Sacrament on Thursday,
December 26, 2019. Thank you.
Ann Ayala Ben (3 years old)
Tim Brown Jerry Campisi
Sue Collins Louise Dale
Ron and Linda Daily Raymond Gutierrez Margaret Haselden
Maria González Hornsby Ann Lizotte
José Luis Oregel Márquez Patricia Martinez
Berna Muñoz Emily Grace Navarra Elizabeth Ostachuck
Lina Pirotta Moses Pirotta
Soledad Valadez Lina Velasco
Rosalio Villagomez
Due to the early submission of this week’s bulletin to the printer, the Stewardship Data
will be published in next week’s bulletin. Thank you.
December 22, 2019 - Fourth Sunday of Advent - Page 3
Dear St. Lawrence the Martyr Parishioners and Visitors,
Today, Sunday, December 22nd, is the 4th Sunday of Advent, when we complete lighting all candles on the Advent Wreath and it communicates the reality that the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is near. Usually the fourth week of Advent is not a full week, which means our time of preparation is short for those last-minute preparations that need to be completed.
In addition to much preparation of sending and spending, as well as wrapping up gifts for others, our spiritual preparation is most important during this extra busy time. I pray that you were able to take advantage of some time during these weeks of the Advent Season to prepare and reflect on the Incarnation Event (the birth of the Son of God into this world on Christmas) and the blessing it truly is for us. If we either missed the chance or want more time to reflect on what we actually celebrate at Christmas, the Church gives us another special period of time in the Christmas Season to reflect and celebrate. As a Church, we do not just celebrate the Christmas one day and forget about “the reason for the season”, but she gives us another period of time in the Christmas Season that lasts until the Sunday of the Baptism of the Lord on January 12th.
On Christmas night we hear the heavenly chorus of angels singing the joy of the birth of Jesus in a humble manger in Bethlehem. We too join in this joy as we come together as a faith family and church in the promise and hope of the proclamation, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (Lk 2:14) As we begin the celebration of Christmas remember to celebrate the great gift of God’s love for each of us with others around us as we continue to pray for a more peaceful and just world for all.
I pray that these last few days of Advent will be filled with the joy and peace of knowing that our Savior is Coming Soon!
May God Bless you these last days of Advent and throughout the upcoming Christmas Season!
In Christ, Fr. Ernesto Orci Pastor P.S. As we hear and reflect about the happenings of Mary and Joseph’s travels from Nazareth to Bethlehem and Jerusalem and Jesus’ birth, keep in mind the upcoming 10-day Holy Land Pilgrimage I will be leading with others from St. Lawrence in the October/November 2020 timeframe. It will be an opportunity to see and walk in those same places, as well as celebrate Mass each day in a holy site. Call the parish office to be on the interested list for more information.
Estimados feligreses y visitantes de San Lorenzo Mártir,
Hoy, domingo 22 de diciembre, es el cuarto domingo de Adviento, cuando terminamos de encender todas las velas en la Corona de Adviento y nos comunica la realidad de que el nacimiento de Nuestro Señor y Salvador Jesucristo está cerca. Por lo general, la cuarta semana de Adviento no es una semana completa, lo que significa que nuestro tiempo de preparación es corto para las preparaciones de último minuto que deben completarse.
Además de mucha preparación para enviar y gastar, así como para envolver regalos para otros, nuestra preparación espiritual es más importante durante este tiempo tan ocupado. Rezo que pudieron aprovechar algo de tiempo durante estas semanas de la temporada de Adviento para prepararse y reflexionar sobre el Evento de la Encarnación (el nacimiento de Hijo de Dios en este mundo en Navidad) y la bendición que realmente es para nosotros. Si perdimos la oportunidad o queremos más tiempo para reflexionar sobre lo que realmente celebramos en Navidad, la Iglesia nos dará otra temporada especial en la temporada navideña para reflexionar y celebrar. Como Iglesia, no solo celebramos la Navidad un día y nos olvidamos de "la razón de la temporada", sino que nos da otro período de tiempo en la temporada de Navidad que dura hasta el domingo del Bautismo del Señor el 12 de enero.
En la noche de Navidad escuchamos el coro celestial de los ángeles cantando la alegría del nacimiento de Jesús en un humilde pesebre en Belén. Nosotros también nos unimos a esta alegría al unirnos como familia e iglesia de fe en la promesa y esperanza de la proclamación: "Gloria a Dios en las alturas y paz en la tierra a aquellos en quienes descansa su favor" (Lc 2:14) Al comenzar la celebración de la Navidad, recuerde celebrar el gran regalo del amor de Dios para cada uno de nosotros con otros a nuestro alrededor mientras continuamos orando por un mundo más pacífico y justo para todos.
¡Oro para que estos últimos días de Adviento se llenen de la alegría y la paz de saber que nuestro Salvador viene pronto!
¡Que Dios los bendiga estos últimos días de Adviento y durante la próxima temporada navideña!
En Cristo, Padre Ernesto Orci Párroco
PD. Mientras escuchamos y reflexionamos sobre los sucesos de los viajes de María y José desde Nazaret a Belén y Jerusalén y el nacimiento de Jesús, tenga en cuenta los 10 días de peregrinación a Tierra Santa que lideraré con otros de San Lorenzo en tiempo de octubre/noviembre 2020. Será una oportunidad para ver y caminar en esos mismos lugares, así como para celebrar la misa todos los días en un lugar sagrado. Llame a la oficina parroquial para estar en la lista de interesados para obtener más información.
December 22, 2019 - Fourth Sunday of Advent - Page 4
Learn more at ww.dsj.org More information to come.
December 22 to 29, 2019 Year A for the
Please call ahead for Pre-Needs or At-Need
Arrangements
CATHOLIC CEMETERIES OF THE DIOCESE OF SAN JOSE
Gate of Heaven Cemetery 22555 Cristo Rey Drive,
Los Altos, CA 94024 (650) 428-3730
Calvary Cemetery 2655 Madden Avenue, San Jose, CA 95116
(408) 258-2940
Mass for those enrolled in the
Christmas Flowers Offering
Monday, December 30,
2019 at 8:30 AM
December 22, 2019 - Fourth Sunday of Advent - Page 5
“This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph,
but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.
Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame,
decided to divorce her quietly.” In today’s gospel we hear Matthew’s account of the birth of Jesus. It starts out by talking about Mary’s betrothal to Joseph and Joseph’s reaction when Mary is found “with child through the Holy Spirit.” In that time and culture, marriage involved two steps spread out over one or two years:
1. Betrothal: A formal exchange of consent before witnesses. This usually took place when the bride was 12- or 13-years-old. She legally belonged to her husband from then on, and the bond could be broken only by legal divorce.
2. The taking of the bride into the groom’s family home. This usually took place a year or two later.
At this point in Matthew’s account, only step #1 has taken place. (Matthew tells us what Joseph does not yet know: She was with child through the Holy Spirit.) In the strict interpretation of the law, Mary would be stoned to death. But Joseph planned to apply it more mercifully by quietly divorcing her. The Latin word for mercy is “misericordia” which literally means a “heart filled with miser.” In his own hear Joseph felt the misery of Mary, the woman he loved. Mercy surrounded Jesus from the first moments of his human life. May it surround all God’s children. May we, like Joseph, bring our share of mercy to this world today and tomorrow. There will be plenty of chances.
The Account by Matthew of the Birth of Jesus Christ
Taken from The Little Blue book Of Reflections On Advent
MASS TIMES Sunday 8:00 AM 10:00 AM (Children’s Liturgy of the Word) 12 Noon 1:30 PM (Mass in Spanish) 6:00 PM (Youth Mass) American Sign Language (ASL) Mass 3:30 PM (In the Church) 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month Saturday 8:30 AM 5:00 PM (Sunday Vigil) Monday – Friday 8:30 AM
Reconciliation Saturday 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM or by appointment
Eucharistic Adoration Thursday - All day Adoration starts at 9:00 AM and ends with Solemn Benediction at 8:30 PM
Devotions Rosary (English) ● Monday to Saturday After the 8:30 AM Mass Rosario en Español ● Martes 6:30 PM en Capilla Novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help ● Tuesday 8:15 AM
Chapel Open Daily from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM
SIMBANG GABI 2019
The Filipino Catholic Community of Saint Lawrence the Martyr Parish warmly invites everyone in our community to participate in their annual tradition of novena Masses, a celebration of family and community. A time for fun fellowship happens at the Community Center after the Mass on December 23.
“Simbang Gabi” Schedule: December 22, Sunday, at 6:00 PM December 23, Monday, at 7:00 PM
For more details, please contact Mr. Romel Antonio at (505) 847-4345,
or Mrs. Marilyn Pestano at (408) 390-4229.
Holy Day of Obligation Wednesday, January 1, 2020
Mass Times: 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM
“’José, hijo de David, no tengas reparo en llevarte a María, tu mujer, porque la criatura que hay en ella viene del Espíritu Santo’. Cuando José se despertó hizo lo que le había mandado el ángel del Señor y se llevó a casa a su mujer.” (Mt 1, 18-24)
No fue fácil para San José aceptar la noticia de que su mujer estaba embarazada sin haber tenido relaciones con él. Sin la intervención de Dios, María habría tenido que asumir la dura condición de madre soltera y Jesús habría llevado el baldón de ser un hijo de padre desconocido. Pero ese miedo de San José tiene también un significado simbólico: el miedo a dejar entrar en la propia vida al Hijo de Dios. A un Hijo de Dios que no venía con los ropajes propios de su rango, pues si así hubiera sido nadie habría dudado en aceptarle con todos los honores. Por el contrario, venía camuflado de debilidad, de la debilidad de un niño pobre, tan pobre que sólo tenía para defenderle los brazos y el corazón de una jovencísima muchacha nazarena.
También a nosotros nos puede pasar lo mismo: por miedo a complicarnos la vida, por miedo a lo que Dios nos pueda pedir, hacemos oídos sordos a la voz del ángel del Señor, que nos invita a llevarnos a nuestra casa a la Virgen con el Niño en su seno, con el Niño en los brazos. No queremos líos y, efectivamente, no tenemos los líos de Dios. Pero como los problemas no se pueden evitar, tenemos, a cambio, los que proceden del enemigo, del pecado, de nuestro propio egoísmo. Llevarse a María a casa, como hizo San José, es sinónimo de aceptar lo que Dios nos pida, de aceptar la ley del amor como la suprema de nuestra vida. Rechazar a María no es simplificar la vida, sino complicarla de otra manera, de una manera más dañina para nosotros y también para los demás. De nosotros depende con quién nos complicamos la vida: si con Dios y María o con sus enemigos.
Propósito: Participar en las escuelas de agradecimiento y en los cursos de formación. Ayudar a quien nos necesita, conscientes de que así dejamos entrar a Dios en nuestra vida. Pbro. Santiago Martin.
Responsable MARC.
Palabra que da Vida
No habrá clase del 27 de Dic- 10 enero por vacaciones iniciaremos nuevamente el 17 de enero 2020.
December 22, 2019 - Fourth Sunday of Advent - Page 6
You Can Help Your Marriage – Do you feel alone? Are you frustrated or angry with each other? Do you argue … or have you just stopped talking to each other? Does talking about it only make it worse? Retrouvaille (pronounced retro-vi with a long i) helps couples through difficult times in their marriages. This program has helped 10’s of 1000’s of couples experiencing difficulties in their marriage.
For confidential information about or to register for the
February program beginning with a weekend on February 7-9, 2020 call 408-605-4998
or email: [email protected] or visit the web site at www.HelpOurMarriage.org
Tickets are now available at the Parish Office.
Year! Now on its
The name of the winner of the December 15, 2019 drawing will be published in an upcoming bulletin.
The next drawing will be on January 26, 2020 for a $300 prize.
Remember that each ticket you buy now gives you 6 chances to win.
Please return your sold ticket stubs with payment to the Parish Office since the sooner you turn in your sold tickets, the more chances you have to win the prizes money.
Deadline: Tickets must be returned to the Parish Office
on January 25, 2020 before 12 Noon for the drawing on January 26, 2020.
December 22, 2019 - Fourth Sunday of Advent - Page 7
Office for the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults
