St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. 1603 Avenue N Huntsville, TX 77340 Ph. 936.295.8159 Fax 936.295.3543 www.saintthomashuntsville.org Second Sunday of Advent December 6, 2015 STAFF Rev. Fred Valone …. Pastor Felix Ramos . . . . . ... ……Permanent Deacon Kathy Boscarino . . ………DRE / Youth Minister Maria Delgado ..…….……Elementary CCE Coordinator ..……….. Dir. of Music Ministry Jill Baker ……………….. Nursery Coordinator Dell Wells . . . . . . . . ...…...Bookkeeper Sylvia Vitela . . . . ……... . Secretary Laura Puente . . . …….. . . .Custodian Last Student Mass for the Semester Sunday, December 6th at 6:00 PM Friday, December 11th Our Lady of Guadalupe Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Holy Day of Obligation Tuesday, December 8th 7:15 am English 7:00 pm Bilingual 5:00 pm Procession 6:00 pm Mass
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St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church
Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.
1603 Avenue N Huntsville, TX 77340 Ph. 936.295.8159 Fax 936.295.3543
www.saintthomashuntsville.org
Second Sunday of Advent December 6, 2015
STAFF Rev. Fred Valone …. Pastor Felix Ramos . . . . . ... ……Permanent Deacon Kathy Boscarino . . ………DRE / Youth Minister Maria Delgado ..…….……Elementary CCE Coordinator ..……….. Dir. of Music Ministry Jill Baker ……………….. Nursery Coordinator Dell Wells . . . . . . . . ...…...Bookkeeper Sylvia Vitela . . . . ……... . Secretary Laura Puente . . . …….. . . .Custodian
Last Student Mass for the Semester Sunday, December 6th at 6:00 PM
Friday, December 11th
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Immaculate Conception of the
Blessed Virgin Mary Holy Day of Obligation
Tuesday, December 8th
7:15 am English
7:00 pm Bilingual
5:00 pm Procession
6:00 pm Mass
REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS / RECUERDEN EN SUS
ORACIÓNES… Judy Adib, Veronica Antwi, Alma Williams, James Aubey, Irma Avalos, Gene Barrett, Jordan Bergeron, Kathy Boscarino, Fidelis Burton, Phillip Caito, Dick Colgrove, Sunni Cook, Sabrina Coronado, Terry Corral, Melanie Davis, Margie Eglsaer, Colin Defour, Jose Luis Ecamilla, Paul Fivel, Diane Fuller, Diana Garcia, Rita Ghirardi, Winifred Grivich, Mary Gutermuth, Dorothy Laskoskie, Wilson and Naomi Lede, Andrew Leal, Sam and Marie Martinez, Becky McGaughey, Cheri McGee, Coby Meinzer, Carol Mendel, Bill Middleton, Donna Moore, Floyd and Maryann Moore, Tom Morales, Lourdes Mosqueda, Paula Phillips, Brenda Piñeda, Odell Rachal, John Raia, Samuel Ramos, Lillian Rodriguez, Lydia Rodriguez, Maria Ines Rodriguez, Jack Rumfield, Ana Marie Santos, John Sarley, Jerry Seaton, Cindy Schwanke, Marilyn Shepherd, Kayden Bryn Shipley, Wanda H. Smith, Elizabeth Speck, Tim Speck, Alfredo Torres, Emily Torres, David and Dorothy Townsend, Margie Turner, Matthew Varnum, Leo Vasquez, Lupe Vasquez, Joe Vitela, Dell Wells, Rose Youngblood.
Christmas flowers are being purchased to decorate our church for Christmas. The flowers may be donated in memory or in honor of a loved family member or friend or for some other special occasion. Please fill in the information requested below and return to the parish office.
The deadline is Friday, December 18th.
Offering is $20.
Christmas Flowers
_____ in honor of _____ in memory of _______________________________________ Donated by: _______________________________
_____ in honor of _____ in memory of _______________________________________ Donated by: _______________________________
Sat 12/5 5:30 pm Veronica Antwi and Family (their intentions)
Sun 12/6 7:45 am Christopher Everett
10:45 am Dan Shelton
12:30 pm Parishioners
6:00 pm CSC Intentions
Mon 12/7 No Mass
Tues 12/8 7:15 am Mary and William Grupa
Wed 12/9 7:15 am Holy Souls in Purgatory
Thur 12/10 7:15 am Donald Fellers
Fri 12/11 7:15 am Kathy Miller
Sat 12/12 5:30 pm Parishioners
Sun 12/13 7:45 am Tino Castro
10:45 am Cipriano Tovar
12:30 pm Perla Marisol de la Fuenta
7:00 pm Martin Moreno (special intentions)
6:00 pm No Mass
6:00 pm OLOG Intentions
MASS INTENTIONS of the WEEK
Weekly Readings Stewardship for November 29th: $ 6,740.33
Thank you for your parish support! Mon 12/7 Is.35:1-10;Lk.5:17-26
Tues 12/8 Gn.3:9-15,20;Eph.1:3-6,11-12Lk.1:26-38
Wed 12/9 Is.40:25-31;Mt.11:28-30
Thurs 12/10 Is.41:13-20;Mt.11:11-15
Fri 12/11 Is.4817-19;Mt.11:16-19
Sat 12/12 Zec.2:14-17;Lk.1:26-38
Sun 12/13 Zep.3:14-18;Phil.4:4-7;Lk.3:10-18
GIVING… We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give. - Winston Churchill
REFLECTION… That we may resist the lure of holiday advertising and instead concentrate on the message of simplicity and trust that is found in the Christmas manger scene.
“And this is my prayer: that your love may increase ever more and more in knowledge and every kind of perception, to discern what is of value…” (Philippians 1:9-10)
Glittery holiday ads can blind us to our stewardship values and distort our needs and wants. It is important that during this season of endless buying we remember that each of us also has the need to give back to God and to those who are in need.
ANNUAL CATHOLIC DAUGHTERS CHRISTMAS GOODIE BASKET FUNDRAISER SALE... will be held after all Masses on December 12th and 13th. We will have many types of gifts, large and small, and home made goodies, in all price ranges. Proceeds are used to help support parish events and other CDA designated charities. We are also sell-ing delicious Pawnee pecans, 16 oz. bags for $12 each and “Keep Christ in Christmas” magnets for $5 each. Contact Sable Losack at 936-295-8003 or ask any CDA member.
ELEVEN THREADS MINISTRY - since 2007, we have been providing prayer blankets, shawls, or lap robes for our Catholic parishioners who are seriously ill, in nursing homes and/or convalescent facilities, and baptisms. We are in need of more "threaders" to keep up with the ministry. If you crotchet, knit, or want to learn either craft and would like to consider joining our group or would like more information, please contact Mary Anne Cook at 295-7049 or Charley Sanders at 295-0653.
Advent Penance Service Schedule Servicio de Adviento Penitencial
Father Fred writes…Saint Bede used the words Miserando atque eligendo [With merciful
love He chose him] to describe Jesus’ selection of Matthew as a disciple. Pope Francis chose these words as the motto for his papacy. With this as his motto, it is not surprising that Pope Francis has declared a Jubilee of Mercy to begin on December 8, 2015 and to end the following year on the So-lemnity of Christ the King in November, 2016. You can read the full text of Pope Francis’ declara-tion on the Vatican web site: www.w2.vatican.va. [In the upper right of the web page you can change the language from Italian to English, if you want.] I share with you a couple of the interest-ing remarks by the pope in the declaration. Jesus Christ is the face of the Father’s mercy. These words might well sum up the mystery of the Christian faith…. When faced with the gravity of sin, God responds with the fullness of mercy. Mercy will always be greater than any sin, and no one can place limits on the love of God who is ever ready to forgive….. We need constantly to contemplate the mystery of mercy. It is a wellspring of joy, serenity, and peace… In short, the mercy of God is not an abstract idea, but a concrete reality through which he reveals his love as that of a father or a mother, moved to the very depths out of love for their child. It is hardly an exaggeration to say that this is a “visceral” love. It gushes forth from the depths naturally, full of tenderness and compassion, indulgence and mercy... Mercy: the word reveals the very mystery of the Most Holy Trinity. Mercy: the ultimate and supreme act by which God comes to meet us. Mercy: the fundamental law that dwells in the heart of every person who looks sincerely into the eyes of his brothers and sisters on the path of life. Mercy: the bridge that connects God and man, opening our hearts to a hope of being loved forever despite our sinfulness…. In short, we are called to show mercy because mercy has first been shown to us. Pardoning offences becomes the clearest expression of merciful love, and for us Christians it is an imperative from which we cannot excuse ourselves. At times how hard it seems to forgive! And yet pardon is the instrument placed into our fragile hands to attain serenity of heart. To let go of anger, wrath, violence, and revenge are necessary con-ditions to living joyfully. Let us therefore heed the Apostle’s exhortation: “Do not let the sun go down on your anger” (Ephesians 4:26). Above all, let us listen to the words of Jesus who made mercy as an ideal of life and a criterion for the credibility of our faith: “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy”: the beatitude to which we should particularly aspire in this Holy Year…. The Church lives an authentic life when she professes and proclaims mercy – the most stupendous attribute of the Creator and of the Redeemer – and when she brings people close to the sources of the Saviour’s mercy, of which she is the trustee and dispenser.
W h a t ’ s U p a t t h e Ca t h o l i c S t u d e n t C e n t e r
Joseph Magee, Ph.D., Director – 291-2620 – DSF Supported – http://www.shsu-catholic.org Week of December 6, 2015
Sunday 4 pm – Choir Practice 6 pm – Student Mass
Monday 4 pm – Rosary in the CSC 8:30 pm – Men’s Small Group Women’s Small Group
Tuesday 7 pm – Catholic Bible Study
Wednesday 4 pm – Rosary in the CSC 8 pm – Alive! Praise and Worship Music
Please Note: This Sunday, December 7, is the final Student Mass for the
Calendar Year. The 6 p.m. Student Mass will resume January 24.
To all the students and friends of the CSC:
Have a Blessed Advent in preparation for the coming of Our Lord at Christmas! Have a Merry Christmas and may God continue to bless you in the New Year!
Faith sharing and reflection on the Scriptures.
A faith-filled evening of Scripture, prayer, sharing, and great music!
Sunday, December 6 @ 7 pm – CSC Christmas Dinner Party Join us for fun, food, music, games and holiday cheer! There will be an optional gift exchange ($5 or less), and Christmas carols. Dinner provided by College Knights of Columbus
News and Events Sunday, December 6, 2015 Lifeteen and Edge 9:15-10:30 Tuesday, December 8, 2015 The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary—Mass begins at 7:00 p.m. The Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy begins today Wed., December 9, 2015 STAY youth night 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.—our Advent devotion continues w/ Altaration
Upcoming Events Saturday, Feb 20, 2016 Archdiocesan Junior High Youth Rally—10:30 a.m.—9:00 p.m. @ St. Simon & Jude. Opened to all 6th, 7th and 8th graders. Registration is due 1/17/2016 Fee: $40.00 Theme: Mercy Games Registration forms can be picked up during Edge, CCE, Youth Night or online @ www.saintthomashuntsville.org under Faith Formation / Edge Contact Kathy Boscarino, YM for more information.
Monday Dec. 14 1:00 pm to 5:00-ish pm setting up tables, moving boxes and gifts
Tuesday Dec. 15 3:00 till task is finished inventorying gifts
Wednesday Dec. 16 3:00 till task is finished shopping, wrapping, etc
Thursday Dec. 17 3:00 till task is finished ONLY IF NECESSARY
Friday Dec. 18 3:00 till task is finished fill food boxes, goodie bags, any last minute anything
Saturday Dec. 19 9:00 am deliveries to families
CHRISTMAS PROJECT… Want to help? Please join us in the CCE building:
Contact Mary at 936-581-2855 or [email protected] for more information.
Palabras de Padre Fred… San Beda el Venerable, comentando esta escena del Evangelio,
escribió que Jesús miró a Mateo con amor misericordioso y lo eligió: miserando atque eligendo. Siempre me ha cautivado esta expresión, tanto que quise hacerla mi propio lema.
Jesucristo es el rostro de la misericordia del Padre. El misterio de la fe cristiana parece encontrar su síntesis en esta palabra…. Ante la gravedad del pecado, Dios responde con la plenitud del perdón. La misericordia siempre será más grande que cualquier pecado y nadie podrá poner un límite al amor de Dios que perdona… Siempre tenemos necesidad de contemplar el misterio de la misericordia. Es fuente de alegría, de serenidad y de paz…. Así pues, la misericordia de Dios no es una idea abstracta, sino una realidad concreta con la cual Él revela su amor, que es como el de un padre o una madre que se conmueven en lo más profundo de sus entra-ñas por el propio hijo. Vale decir que se trata realmente de un amor “visceral”. Proviene desde lo más íntimo como un sentimiento profundo, natural, hecho de ternura y compasión, de indulgencia y de perdón…Misericordia: es la palabra que revela el misterio de la Santísima Trinidad. Misericordia:es el acto último y supremo con el cual Dios viene a nuestro encuentro. Misericordia: es la ley fundamental que habita en el co-razón de cada persona cuando mira con ojos sinceros al hermano que encuentra en el camino de la vida. Mis-ericordia: es la vía que une Dios y el hombre, porque abre el corazón a la esperanza de ser amados no ob-stante el límite de nuestro pecado…. Así entonces, estamos llamados a vivir de misericordia, porque a no-sotros en primer lugar se nos ha aplicado misericordia. El perdón de las ofensas deviene la expresión más evi-dente del amor misericordioso y para nosotros cristianos es un imperativo del que no podemos prescindir. ¡Cómo es difícil muchas veces perdonar! Y, sin embargo, el perdón es el instrumento puesto en nuestras frágiles manos para alcanzar la serenidad del corazón. Dejar caer el rencor, la rabia, la violencia y la vengan-za son condiciones necesarias para vivir felices. Acojamos entonces la exhortación del Apóstol: « No permitan que la noche los sorprenda enojados » (Ef 4,26). Y sobre todo escuchemos la palabra de Jesús que ha señala-do la misericordia como ideal de vida y como criterio de credibilidad de nuestra fe. « Dichosos los misericor-diosos, porque encontrarán misericordia » es la bienaventuranza en la que hay que inspirarse durante este Año Santo…. La Iglesia vive una vida auténtica, cuando profesa y proclama la misericordia – el atributo más estupendo del Creador y del Redentor – y cuando acerca a los hombres a las fuentes de la misericordia del Salvador, de las que es depositaria y dispensadora.
REFLEXION… Para que seamos Fuertes frente al atractivo de la publicidad festiva y nos concentremos en el mensaje de simplicidad y confianza que encontramos en la escena del pesebre navideño.
“Esto es lo que pido en oración: que el amor de ustedes abunde cada vez más en conocimiento y en buen juicio, para que disciernan lo que es major…” (Filipenses 1:9-10)
Los brillantes avisos comerciales nos pueden cegar en nuestros valores de servicio y distorsionar nuestras necesidades y deseos. Es importante que, durante esta temporada de un sin fin de compras, recordemos que cada uno de nosotros también tiene la necesidad de devolverle la mano a Dios y a acquellos que lo necesitan.
