Fourth Sunday of Advent - Holy Guardian Angels Parish

Fourth Sunday of Advent
December 21, 2014
A Word from Monsignor Hartgen
There is a Peanuts cartoon in which Lucy asks, “You
know what your trouble is, Charlie Brown?” Then, as she
often does, Lucy answers her own question: “The whole
trouble with you is you don’t understand the meaning of
life!” Whereupon Charlie Brown looks straight at Lucy
and asks, “Do YOU understand the meaning of life?” To
which Lucy answers, “We’re not talking about me, we’re
talking about you, Charlie Brown!”
In a few short days, how will we make this Christmas a
fruitful one? Allow me to answer my own question as we
turn to today’s Gospel reading from the first chapter of
Luke. There we discover the attitude of the one who
can answer our questions about the meaning of life. The
person whose first Christmas remains the most fruitful
Christmas of all time: Mary, the mother of Jesus.
According to the New Testament, Mary is a gracious,
strong, sensitive woman. This peasant girl, probably a
teenager from the little village of Nazareth way off in
the back country, suddenly hears the startling
announcement that she has found special favor with God
and that she is to become a mother in a very special way.
Can you imagine what this was like for this young girl?
And the first thing she did was to ask a question which
she herself could not answer: “How can this come
about?” And then she hears the answer, “The Holy
Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most
High will overshadow you. And so the Child will be holy
and will be called Son of God.”
At this moment, with this bewildering event bearing
down on her, Mary gives her beautiful response: “I am
the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me as you
have said.” That was the key to her life from that time
on. This unconditional acceptance of God’s will released
the full power of God’s love that was in her. Let it be!
“Let it be done to me as you have said.”
In Mary, we have the ultimate example of the quiet
acceptance of the Will of God. And her example in this
situation becomes a symbol of the lifestyle modeled for
us by Jesus, all the way to the Cross.
EUCHARISTIC EXPOSITION “The Eucharist is a priceless
treasure: by celebrating it and also by praying before it outside
of Mass, we are enabled to make contact with the very
wellspring of grace.” St. John Paul II Exposition of the Most
Blessed Sacrament is every Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to
10:00 p.m. in the Divine Mercy Chapel.
There is no Eucharistic Exposition this Thursday.
Fourth Sunday of Advent
December 21, 2014
Sun. 21 Fourth Sunday of Advent
2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Rom 16:25-27; Lk 1:26-38
(Sat.) 4:15pm Ann Marie Reedy
6:00pm Margaret M. & John J. Molets
(Sun.) 7:00
Living & Deceased Parishioners
8:30
Anna Haines
10:00
Robert Smith
12:00
Dec’d. of the Giamotti Family
Mon. 22
1 Sm 1:24 - 28; Lk 1:46 - 56
7:30 Nazareno Cicogna
12:10 Quirino DiMarco
Tue. 23 St. John of Kanty, Priest
Mal 3:1-4, 23-24; Lk 1: 57-66
7:30 Jay Snukis
12:10 Lawrence J. O’Boyle
Wed. 24
2 Sm 7: 1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Lk 1:67-79
7:30 No Mass
12:10 No Mass
Thurs. 25 – The Nativity of the Lord
Vigil: Is 62:1-5; Acts 13:16-17, 22-25; Mt 1:1-25
Night: Is 9: 1-6; Ti 2: 11-14; Lk 2: 1-14
Dawn: Is 62: 11-12; Ti 3: 4-7; Lk 2: 15-20
Day: Is 52: 7-10; Heb 1: 1-6; Jn 1: 1-18
4:00(Wed) Living and Deceased Parishioners
4:15(Wed) Living and Deceased Parishioners
6:30(Wed) Living and Deceased Parishioners
Midnight Living and Deceased Parishioners
8:00
Christmas Flowers Intentions
10:00
Living and Deceased Parishioners
Fri. 26 St. Stephen, The First Martyr
Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59; Mt 10:17-22
7:30 Doris Hartman
9:00 No Mass
12:10 Beatrice and Frank Wolcott
Sat. 27 St. John, Apostle and Evangelist
1 Jn 1:1-4; Jn 20: 1a, 2-8
8:00 HGA Memorial Fund Members
Sun. 28 Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
Sir 3: 2-6,12-14; Col 3:12-21; Lk 2: 22-40
(Sat.) 4:15pm June Ann Bastek
6:00pm Christopher, Bernice & Ann Marie Maturi
(Sun.) 7:00
Living & Deceased Parishioners
8:30
Thomas E. Lenich
10:00
John Embriani
12:00
Jeffrey Lorah
The Diocese of Allentown provides assistance to anyone who, as a
minor, was sexually abused by a priest, deacon or employee of the Diocese.
Parents, guardians, children and survivors of sexual abuse are invited and
encouraged to contact the Diocese of Allentown for more information about
this program. The fullness of compassion should be extended to these victims
by the Church. Victims Assistance Coordinator 800-791-9209
[email protected] Please Note: Victim
Abuse Brochures are available in the pamphlet rack in the main vestibule of
the church.
199 Holy Guardian Angels
Ministry Schedule for December 27-28, 2014:
Mass
Lector
Commentator
4:15 p.m.
6:00 p.m.
7:00 a.m.
8:30 a.m.
10:00 a.m.
12:00 noon
TO BE DETERMINED
Mass
4:15 p.m.
6:00 p.m.
7:00 a.m.
8:30 a.m.
10:00 a.m.
12:00noon
Altar Servers
TO BE DETERMINED
Please remember in your prayers the following people
who are ill: Donald Fishburn, Josh Williams, Gene Hill,
Marie Zelano, Joan Hartgen, Vivien Braun, Louise Pacifico,
Derrick Redcay, Daniel Bastek, Rusty Smith, James Braun, Nina
Rundle, Mitch Uczynski, Katie Gajewski, Mary and Charles
Mathews, Louise Coleman, Bryan Otruba, Jane Bender, Ronald
Thompson, David Leonard Quaglia, Gloria Schwab, Rocky
Guidotto, Peter Bennett, Leonard Mayernik, Mary Ann
McLaughlin.
(Names on the prayer list will remain for 4 weeks unless we are
notified of a continuing illness).
SANCTUARY LIGHT INTENTIONS
Week of December 21, 2014
In Memory of Raymond J. Gaspari
Requested by Family.
In Memory of Ronald Moreau
Requested by Wife and Family.
Youth Group News
The HGA Youth Group meets every Sunday
from 6:30– 8:00 p.m. in the school social hall.
All youth in grades 8-12 are welcome to join
us.
St. Vincent DePaul Society Meeting: Wed., Dec. 17th at
7 pm in the school library to discuss the Food Kitchen
which will be held in February and June, 2015.
PLEASE NOTE: The church office will be closed
December 24, 25 and 26 for the Christmas Holiday.
Guardian Angels Gift Certificate (GAGC) Program
--A Successful Parish Fundraiser since 2001-Be a part of the biggest and easiest fundraising effort of our
parish....the GAGC Program!!
The GAGC Program is for EVERYONE!!
• Gift cards sold thru the Program are JUST LIKE CASH
and COST YOU NOTHING EXTRA.
• Gift cards to GIANT, REDNER’S, WEIS and SHEETZ
are sold 7 days a week: Monday thru Friday from 9 a.m. 5 p.m. and before/after every weekend Mass.
• There are also over 150 other participating retailers whose
gift cards may be ordered from the GAGC Order Form.
Please stop by the rectory during business hours (closed daily
12-12:30) or the GAGC table located in the vestibule of church
before or after any weekend Mass to purchase gift cards --- THIS
IS, WITHOUT A DOUBT, THE EASIEST WAY TO RAISE
MONEY FOR OUR PARISH!!!
GAGC NEWS AND NOTES
•
If you would like to order gift cards from the GAGC
Order Form, the next order is scheduled for Sunday,
January 4, 2014. Please drop off your completed order
form and payment by 1 p.m. (Please note : due to the
Christmas/New Year holiday there is a 3 week gap between order
dates)
• Do you have 15 minutes?? Help is always needed selling
GAGC between weekend Masses. If you’re interested in
volunteering to sell GAGC ... please call Claudia
Rudderow...15 minutes before and after Mass is all we
need!!
TUITION/PREP FEE CREDIT? --- YOU SAID IT!!
Start thinking ahead ... do you currently have a child enrolled
in Catholic education or are you considering a Catholic
education for your child for the 2015/16 school year? The
GAGC Program offers a special feature just for you……the
GAGC Tuition/PREP Fee Credit Program … which provides
participating families an opportunity to reduce their Catholic
school tuition or, if attending PREP/RCIC, eliminate enrollment
fees for students in: Pre-School thru 12th grade (at HGA and
Berks Catholic High School), PREP/RCIC (at HGA), Catholic
Universities of our Diocese and the Seminary.
For more information on the GAGC Program, contact Claudia
Rudderow at (610) 916-1874 or
[email protected] , or contact Father Kravatz at the rectory.
PLEASE HELP SUPPORT HGA PARISH -- SIMPLY
SHOP USING OUR GIFT CARDS.
* * * *
Dear Friends in Christ, As the Founder/Director of Clare of
Assisi House, I Thank you so much for your PRAYERS,
SUPPORT, and YOUR GENEROUS CONTRUBITION in the
October second collection. You have enabled Clare of Assisi
House to offer shelter and healing to many. Most of all Thank
You for helping us to make a difference in the lives of women
coming out of prison. As we build community and establish a
home for women coming out of prison, each of you has provided
us with Hope, and the women of the Clare of Assisi House will
benefit from this Hope. Blessings to all of you! Robin Ball.
LEAVE A LASTING LEGACY- REMEMBER HGA IN YOUR
WILL.
199 Holy Guardian Angels
Knights Knotes
Holy Guardian Angels Council 14847
Upcoming Events
TODAY – Sunday December 21st
Christmas Set-up of Church @ 2:30 p.m.
The Knights of Columbus asks that you
respectfully keep Christ in Christmas
Next Council meeting: Wednesday January 7th at 7 p.m.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Dec. 20 & 21 Confessions one-half hour before all Masses.
Dec. 22 7:00 p.m. Confessions – at least 4 priests available.
Dec. 24 Masses: 4:00 pm with overflow in school at 4:15pm,
6:30 p.m. and Midnight Mass with selections
by our choir preceding the Mass.
Dec. 25 Masses: 8:00 and 10:00 a.m. No Mass at Noon.
Dec. 31 Mass for New Year’s Eve – 5:00 p.m.
Jan 1, 2015 Masses for New Year’s Day: 8:00, 10:00 and
12:00 noon.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
OPLATKI - Blessed Christmas Wafers – are available in
the Rectory Office. A $2.00 donation per envelope is asked.
HGA Choir News
The HGA Choir will perform a
Midnight Mass prelude of beautiful
and inspirational Christmas music beginning at
11:30 p.m. Come early and enjoy the sights and
sounds as we celebrate our Savior’s birth.
Young Adults: City Lights Comedy Night will take place
at St. Joseph the Worker Parish Center, 1879 Applewood Dr.,
Orefield, from 8 – 11pm on Sat., Jan. 10, 2015. Join us for an
evening of food, fun, music and laughter. There will be an
opportunity to meet Bishop Barres. Entertainment by
comedy duo Dave & Brian. The event is $10 a person which
includes appetizers and non-alcoholic beverages (cash bar
available, please bring valid ID). Attire is classy casual (no
jeans, t-shirts or sneakers).
Christmas Brunch with the Ringgold Band Sunday,
December 21st at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Wyomissing;
come anytime between 11 am and 1 pm. Please see the flyer
in the vestibule for more information.
Thank You! “ We can certainly call you friends
because of the way you care for our retired members,“
writes a religious brother. Your gift to last week’s
collection for the Retirement Fund for Religious
benefits some 35,000 senior sisters, brothers, and
religious order priests.
May God bless you for your generosity!
Your Priest is somebody’s son; your son could
be somebody’s Priest.
Update on Boiler/Cooling Systems
The installations have been completed. The cost was $83,827
and parishioners have generously contributed $49,172.33,
which leaves us with a balance of $34,654.67. Donations are
still trickling in and I am grateful to all. If you have not yet
been able to contribute, please assist us with your prayers.
Thank you all. Msgr. Hartgen.
The Missionary Sisters of the Precious Blood are looking
for someone who loves people and good family-style food
to organize the Kitchen and Dining Room for Mariawald
Renewal Center at 1094 Welsh Rd., Rdg.. We see this
position as a vital part of our Christian Ministry of
Welcome and Hospitality. For more info. please contact
Sister Christa Mary Jones, email [email protected] ;
cellphone: 484-336-6193.
There will be no HGA Women’s Group Meeting
in December.
Saint Catharine of Siena School is seeking a certified
teacher for the following position:
Full-time Teaching Position for Grade 6 – Homeroom,
Grade 6 Religion plus Science Grades 5 – 8. The
salary is based on Diocesan Scale.
If interested, please send a resume to Sister Teresa
Ballisty, IHM, Principal at [email protected] or
mail to Saint Catharine of Siena School, 2330 Perkiomen
Avenue, Reading, PA 19606.
BULLETIN ADVERTISERS
The businesses and services listed in our weekly bulletin are
the wonderful people who pay for the cost of this publication.
We thank them in the name of HGA Parish for this kindness.
When in need of services, please call our sponsors first.
Rittenhouse Senior Living of Reading
24 Hour Care * Homemade Meals * Respite Care
2900 Lawn Terrace, Rdg.19605
610-208-8890
Prayer Shawl Ministry: Anyone who would like to make prayer
shawls can pick up yarn and directions at the rectory. If you know
someone in the parish who is seriously or chronically ill, having
surgery, diagnosed with cancer or on hospice, please call the
rectory to ask for a prayer shawl.
Berks Visiting Nurse Assoc. of Wyomissing is looking for
hospice volunteers. Please call Donna Kaisoglus 610-3780481 x3153 or email [email protected] to
volunteer your time. Training will be provided. Hospice
volunteers provide companionship and respite for clients and
their caregivers, they do not provide personal care.
Emily LeVan, a member of HGA and the Girl Scouts, is doing
her Gold Award Project. Emily’s project is with Easter Seals
“Camp Lily”. The major building at the camp collapsed and
they lost everything inside. She needs the parish’s help by
donating items that are greatly needed to help the camp.
There are donation lists and boxes at all the exits. Any
donations will be greatly appreciated.
199 Holy Guardian Angels

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