DECEMBER 20, 2020
St. Mary Catholic Church www.stmary-wc.org 925-891-8900
BEHOLD, I AM THE HANDMAID OF THE LORD. MAY IT BE DONE TO ME ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD.
LUKE 1:38
ADVENT FOURTH SUNDAY OF
There will be no Faith Formation or Youth Minis-try Sessions for the next three weeks. You will receive notification when it is time to resume.
May the Peace and Joy of the Season
be with each of you.
The Faith Formation/Youth Ministry Team
Austin, Janet, Jethro, Heather, Mary, Maureen
Dear Friends,
Faster than we could ever have imagined, here we are in the final week of Advent, getting our homes and hopefully our hearts ready to welcome the Savior and Lord: Emmanuel.
Today’s Gospel brings our Blessed Mother to her im-portant place in our Faith. The angel Gabriel ap-pears to her and gives her a message of peace. She has been called by God to be the mother of the Sav-ior, and her faith and trust in God allows her to say “Let it be done to me.”
Let us pray in these final days of preparation for a stronger faith and trust in God. May we know and believe in His love for us all, and may we celebrate the peace which only He can bring.
May you and your loved ones have a blessed Christ-mas. May we stay safe. And may the healing power of Jesus be with us and with the whole world.
Father Fred
FAITH FORMATION
THE ETERNAL GOD
King David wished that the ark of God might have a more permanent home. David may have envisioned something like the cedar palace where he resided. God had in mind something more: a throne where David’s descendants would rule for ever, a kingdom where Jews and Gentiles alike would be welcome. Mary’s prayerful nature led to an even more disturb-ing message. She would conceive and bear a Son though she was not yet married. “How can this come about?” Mary wondered. “The Holy Spirit will come upon you,” she was told (Luke 1:35). Mary’s acceptance of this difficult challenge ushered in this, the final age of God’s reign. What was once a secret known only by chosen people like King David and his descendants must now be made clear to all so that, as Saint Paul wrote to the Romans, we can be brought to the “obedience of faith” “according to the command of the eternal God” (Romans 16:26). Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.
(NOTE: Public Masses discontinued per County orders)
∗ Sat., Dec. 19 -- 1:00-4:00 pm Confessions in the Faith Formation Building
∗ Sun., Dec. 20 -- 10:00-11:00 am - Drive-thru Communion
∗ Mon., Dec. 21 -- 7:00-8:30 pm Confessions in the Faith Formation Building
• Fri., Dec. 25 -- 9:00-11:00 am - Drive-thru Communion
• Sat., Dec. 26 -- 3:00-4:00 pm Confessions in the Faith Formation Building
• Sun., Dec. 27 -- 10:00-11:00 am - Drive-thru Communion
Daily Masses will be posted on our Parish Website each day: www. stmary-wc.org
Revised Service Schedule
PRAY FOR THE SICK
Staff and Administration Website: www.stmary-wc.org
Parish Office 891-8900 Fax 934-1358 Fr. Fred Riccio, [email protected] Pastor 891-8900 Fr. John Blaker, 891-8900 In residence Deacon Paul Turek [email protected] Ana Lau, [email protected] Office Manager 891-8908 Aileen Baker, [email protected] Bookkeeper 891-8911
Faith Formation
Maureen Tiffany [email protected] Director of Faith Formation 962-5808 Mary Kerfs, [email protected] Administrative Assistant 891-8939 Austin Pisciotto [email protected] Coordinator K-Grade 6 891-8944 Jethro Castillo [email protected] Youth Minister Grades 7-12 891-8920 Heather Abraham, [email protected] Coordinator Confirmation 891-8934 & Community Service Tim Mannix [email protected] RCIA & Liturgy Coordinator 891-8921
School
Office 935-5054 [email protected] Website: www.st-mary.net Alumni: [email protected] Garrett Padia, Principal 935-5054
DATE INTENTION
12/20 Robert Seib & Family (L)
Raul Zambrana
Enrique Ron
Salvador Ramos Campos
12/21 Rory Narboneta (L)
12/22 John Viano & Family
12/23 Eduard Hajek
12/24 The People of St. Mary Parish
12/25 The People of St. Mary Parish
12/26 Annie Ten
John Finbar Hayes
Anthony De Cristoforo Allison Flamez Monica Jara Ana Alvarez Isabel Castillo Susana Jaime Rosalinda Reyes Jeanine Gordon Christine Pollnow Jake Johnstone Diane Hewson Clarissa Gutierrez Julia Rodriguez Fred & Emilia Sohn Raul Gonzalez Raquel Zittel Quinn Gurnett David Toy Ana Lopez Dominador Hontucan Oralee Floria
Mary McLoughlin Angela Regan Beverly Regan Josefina Zabat Audry Robinson Loretta Holmes Nancie Campi
Betty Baker Carol Erikson
Nydia Pajarillo Danyel Sheets
Beth Wainwright Robin Wood
Billy Silva Mary Kennedy Marcella Hatch Cheryl LaMarre Marissa Magno
Jim Crowley Ed Regan
THE BABE OF BETHLEHEM
Little Babe of Bethlehem, Beneath that Star so bright,
I almost catch a glimpse of You In every star-filled night.
I see You as the sacrifice Upon the cross that day;
I see You as my risen Lord Who washed my sins away.
I see You as my dearest Friend Who guides me every day,
The One Who hears my every plea When I kneel down to pray.
But in the silence of the night My thoughts go back each year
To the Babe of Bethlehem When Christmas time draws near.
Gertrude B. McClain (Salesian Inspirational Books)
The Line-up
In heaven, there were two lines. One said “Men who were bossed by their wives,” and the other one said, “Men who weren't bossed by their wives.”
There was a big line for the first one, but then the angel who was checking people’s names in the book of life saw one man in the other line. So he told the guys to wait. He asked the man why he was standing in that line.
The man replied, “My wife told me to.”
“Where does God dwell?” is a question on the minds of many as we contin-ue to adjust to the pandemic. David wanted to build an ornate dwelling for the Ark of the Covenant, but God said, “No, that’s not what I had in mind!” The reading from Romans teaches us that God is present in the Word, and in Luke’s Gospel passage today, Jesus is residing in the womb of Mary. We know that Jesus is present in the assembly gathered, the Koinonia, as well as within the Eucharistic species. But no matter how one experiences the pres-ence of Jesus, these days are challenging. In many places, only limited num-bers continue to be allowed in church, while others are only able to worship via live stream. None of the pat answers to where God dwells really fit. We need to try and answer this with new eyes and ears and heart.
A CLASSIC IMAGE. When we think of today’s Gospel, the image of this meeting between the Angel Gabriel and Mary by Fra Angelico (1440–1445) likely comes to mind. In this fresco, Gabriel and Mary are outside sit-ting among the columns, and Gabriel, with his big wings and hands crossed, gazes upon Mary and gestures to-wards her. She is well dressed in a traditional blue garment, and though her face shows shock, her folded hands model submission and humility. This work of art is so beautifully executed that we can miss some of its finer de-tails. Similarly, because the Gospel scene is so familiar, we can forget to take in its small details. A few years ago, this author found a children’s book called “The Nativity” illustrated by Julie Vivas. Because her drawings were so fresh and charming and simple, she invited new perspective on the story.
LOOKING AGAIN. Luke says that Mary “was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.” She asks, “How can this be?” These questions don’t fit with how Fra Angelico positioned Gabriel and Mary. In the Vivas illustrations, the Angel Gabriel sits down with battered wings and a balding head and has a cup of coffee with Mary as the two of them try to figure it out together. The text is the same, but the message conveyed is different. There is a different degree of comfort and familiarity to these illustrations. This “having a cup of coffee” is something we need to learn to do with the scriptures and with our lives. After this event, pregnant Mary traveled into the hill country to be with Elizabeth; an older, wiser, mentor—a mother figure. She spent three months there reflecting and preparing for the birth of her child. In this final week of Ad-vent, take a few moments to find a Gabriel/Mary or an Elizabeth/Mary moment and read the Christmas read-ings again to see what you might have overlooked, and to find a new way for Christ to dwell in you. Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co., Inc.
THERE WILL BE NO ADVENT COMMUNAL PENANCE SERVICE DUE TO THE PANDEMIC
Our regular time for face-to-face confession is Satur-day from 3:00 to 4:00 pm; however, we will have extended hours for confession on the following dates:
Confessions will be heard in the Faith Formation Building
Sat., Dec. 19 1:00 to 4:00 pm
Mon., Dec. 21 7:00 to 8:30 pm
Tues., Dec. 22 1:00 to 4:00 pm & 7:00 to 8:30 pm
La Primera Lectura nos dice que David deseaba construir un templo de cedro para Dios, pero por me-dio del profeta Natán, Dios le dice que no quiere que se le construya un templo. Las intenciones de David eran buenas, pero, encerrar a Dios en un templo no era el plan de Dios para la humanidad. Su plan per-fecto era la Encarnación del mismo Dios en María; es decir, Dios afuera. Dios en todos, en cada ser hu-mano. Nosotros somos el templo de Dios; Él desea morar en cada persona. ¡No en un templo, no en la parroquia! Dios está vivo, se mueve en cada ser humano.
María es el mejor templo escogido por Dios, humilde, sencillo y lleno de amor para el Hijo de Dios. Con su “Sí” ella se entrega toda a él. Ahora, nosotros al re-zar el santo rosario afirmamos lo que María es para Dios y para nosotros. Ella es arca de la alianza, puerta del cielo y estrella de la mañana. En resumen: las lecturas de hoy nos invitan a ver tres puntos claves donde Dios muestra su presencia: 1. Cuando Natán va a casa de David. 2. Cuando el arcángel Gabriel va a casa de María. 3. Y cuando San Pablo dice: “¡A Dios, el único sabio, por medio de Cristo Jesús, a él sea la Gloria por siempre ¡Amén”! (Romanos 16:27). El punto 4 nos toca a cada uno de nosotros: ya sa-bemos que María es luz que irradia a Cristo en esta Navidad; es un misterio gozoso el ser Madre de Dios. Entonces, ¿Dónde llevare la luz de Dios que habita en mí? ¿Qué tipo de arreglos necesita el templo de mi persona para que Dios nazca en él? ©LPi
El burrito pide la posada
Si pudiera hablar mi lengua, si fuera tan orgulloso,
yo que apenas un burrito, perdido en la milpa solo… Hoy me han cargado una carga
con un rosal y una rosa: Nunca tuviera mi lomo menos peso y más aroma.
Adelante iba José arreando yuntas de sombras, atrás ángeles-espejos anticipaban la aurora.
Y arriba sobre mi espalda, luz de luz, rosa de rosa, Dios escondido en la Virgen, hostia dentro de su custodia.
En la procesión nocturna mis patas eran andas; candeleros los maizales y el palio las nubes blancas.
Mi aliento era el incensario; mi hocico, carbón en brasa.
Soy su servidor el burro que anduvo nueve jornadas. Al filo de nieve y luna vengo pidiendo posada,
¿quién me renta una parcela para una Rosa en su Rama?
Joaquín Antonio Peñalosa
(Libros Inspirativos Salesianos)
LECTURAS DE LA SEMANA Lunes: Cant 2:8-14 o Sof 3:14-18a; Sal 33 (32): 2-3, 11-12, 20-21; Lc 1:39-45 Martes: 1 Sm 1:24-28; 1 Sm 2:1, 4-8abcd; Lc 1:46-56 Miércoles: Mal 3:1-4, 23-34; Sal 25 (24):4-5ab, 8- 10, 14; Lc 1:57-66 Jueves: 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Sal 89 (88): 2-5, 27, 29; Lc 1:67-79 Viernes: Vigilia: Is 62:1-5; Sal 89 (99):4-5, 16-17, 27, 29; Hch 13:16-17, 22-25; Mt 1:1-25 [18-25] Navidad: Is 9:1-6; Sal 96 (95):1-3, 11-13; Ti 2:11-14; Lc 2:1-14 Sábado: Hch 6:8-10; 7:54-59; Sal 31 (30):3cd-4, 6, 8ab, 16bc, 17; Mt 10:17-22 Domingo: Sir 3:2-6, 12-14; Sal 128:1-5, 8-9; Col 3:12-21 [12-17]; Lc 2:22-40 [22, 39-40]
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