December 21, 2014 - Saint Frances Cabrini

St. Frances Cabrini Parish
115 Trinity Drive
www.sfcabrini.us
•
Center Township
•
Aliquippa, PA 15001
724
775--3848 fax
724--775
775--6363 voice / 724
724--775
Fourth Sunday of Advent
December 21, 2014
[email protected]
Religious Education
Contact: Deanna Stacho 724-774-4888/[email protected]
Office Hours - The office will be closed December 22, 2014
through January 2, 2015. and will reopen Monday, January 5,
2015 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.
All Families - classes will not be in session from December 21
until January 3, 2015. Classes resume January 4, 2015.
8th Grade Families - complete all Confirmation information
for sponsors and reports and deliver or mail to the office
ASAP. Letters and emails were sent this past week concerning
the date of Confirmation and other pertinent information
Have a blessed and Merry Christmas - see you in 2015!
Youth Ministry
Contact: Joseph Matlak, 724-775-6363/[email protected]
Youth Group Meeting - will be held this Sunday, December
21 from 7-8:30 p.m. in the Parish House Meeting Room.
Please enter through the garage. We’ll enjoy some snacks, do
some Bible study on the Sunday readings, watch and discuss
Tom Brokaw’s remarks on The Candy Bomber. ALL high
school teens are welcome; invite a friend. Rose Mary Fix,
724-494-7743, has information.
Preschool
Contact: Gayle Piroli, 724-774-4888/[email protected]
St. Frances Cabrini Preschool will be accepting registrations
for September 2015. Any child registering must be 3, 4, or 5
years of age before September 1, 2015. The following items
are needed when registering: Child’s birth certificate (new
students only); recent immunization records (new students
only); and a $25 non refundable registration fee (all students)
A check is preferred, payable to St. Frances Cabrini Preschool.
All preschool registrations must be made by the parent(s)
or the legal guardian only! No registrations taken by phone.
Monday, January 12 (8 a.m. - 2 p.m.) & Tuesday, January 13
(9 a. m. - 2 p.m.) registration is open to current preschool
students and their siblings.
January 14 through January 16 (9 a.m. - 2 p.m. or by
appointment) registration is open for children whose parent(s)
are registered members of St. Frances Cabrini Parish. 
Tuesday, January 20 registration is open to the community
until enrolment is filled. Wait listing will be available for
sessions after this point. Registration hours are Monday
through Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. or by appointment. All
classes will be filled on a first come, first served basis. For
additional information please call the preschool office.
Parish News
Second Collection - On Christmas Day there will be a second
collection taken up at all Masses for the support of Children
and Youth, an annual diocesan collection. This worthwhile
collection benefits the following programs and organizations
of the diocese: adolescent formation and youth ministry
programs; Department for Religious Education/CCD;
elementary education; various programs related to youth
including the Department of Persons with Disabilities and the
Ozanan Cultural Center. Besides benefiting the above
programs and organizations, this collection also benefits St.
Frances Cabrini Parish in that contributions to this second
collection will be credited to our Parish Share Assessment for
2014. As you know, all the monies received over and above
our Parish Share Assessment stays within our parish and is not
taxable income by the diocese in the following year.
Girls Night Out was a great success. Nearly 200 ladies of the
Parish thoroughly enjoyed themselves with a festive dinner
and wonderful entertainment. Thanks to the GNO Committee
for putting such a nice event together and to the men who did
the dishes without a single casualty.
Oplatki (Christmas Wafers) - are now available at the Parish
Office during regular business hours (Monday through Friday,
9 a.m. to 1 p.m and 2-5 p.m.). The cost is $2 per package of
three (one pink and two white) wafers.
Help Needed - Can you donate a few hours of your time once
a month to help clean the altar as a Handmaid of the Altar? If
you can volunteer, please call Sandy at 724-371-0123.
New Year's Eve Party - Tickets are still on sale at the Parish
Office and after the Saturday evening, 10 a.m., and Noon
Masses. The cost is $10/per person plus an entrée, side, or
salad indicative of your nationality!! Beer, pop, coffee, and
light refreshments will be provided as well as music from our
very own DJ, Cory Bates! Gift cards and door prizes as well as
a 50/50 drawing. To reserve a table or for more info, contact
Rochelle Barness at 724-774-7974 or [email protected].
Proceeds benefit our St. Vincent De Paul Society.
Thank You –The 5th grade 10:30 a.m. CCD class would like
to thank Father Martin, Mrs. Stacho and everyone who participated in our coat drive last Sunday. It was a huge success.
One does not have to walk on water to perform a miracle, as
over 100 children/adults who did not have coats a week ago,
will have coats this Christmas. Thank you all very much!
Epiphany Appreciation Reception - Saturday, January 3,
after the 4 p.m. Mass. Table hors d’oeuvres, soft drinks, beer
and wine will be available. All those who volunteer IN ANY
CAPAPCITY in Service to the Parish are invited to attend. If
you volunteer at the Parish, this is your personal invitation to
attend! Let us express our gratitude for your efforts and enjoy
some fellowship with parishioners during the holiday season.
Reservations are required! Please fill out the reservation
form available at the front church entrance, clip and drop into
the collection basket, or return it to the Parish Office by
Monday, December 29, 2014. Your reservation form will
serve as your ticket for a chance to win a $100, $50 and $25
Discover Card gift card. Winner must be present at the
6 p.m. drawing to win.
50 Plus Next Meeting - January 8, 2015. Merry Christmas &
Happy New Year!
Around the Diocese
Beaver County Theology On Tap - Wednesday, January 7,
7-9 p.m. at Beaver Brewing Co., 1820 7th Ave., Beaver Falls.
Join us for a testimony by Mark Joseph, Executive Director for
the Christian Outreach Office at Franciscan University of
Steubenville, about how the Holy Spirit has worked in his heart
and life. He will share how he went from being totally engaged in
the material world, building a multi-million dollar business only
to lose it all, and his family’s significant person-al tragedy that led
him to lose control, fall to his knees, and give his life to God. For
questions, please call Mary Ann Schweitzer 724-846-7540, email
[email protected] or go to our website
www.theologyontapbc.org. We are also on Facebook & Twitter!
Masses for the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord
Wednesday, December 24 - 4 p.m. (Church) (Fr. Martin, OSB)
Wednesday, December 24 - 4 p.m. (Hall) (Fr. Philip Kanfush, OSB/Deacon Joe Basko)
Wednesday, December 24 - 8 p.m. (Fr. Regis)
Wednesday, December 24 - Midnight (Fr. Martin/Deacon Joe Basko)
Thursday, December 25 - 9 a.m. (Fr. Kleppner/Deacon Joe Basko)
Thursday, December 25 - 11 a.m. (Fr. Martin, OSB)
NO EVENING MASS on CHRISTMAS DAY
Masses for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
Wednesday, December 31 - 4 p.m.
Thursday, January 1 - 8 a.m., 10 a.m., and Noon
NO EVENING MASS
The Lord’s Laughter
A joyful heart is a good medicine, but a broken spirit
dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22
__________________________________________________________________________________________
As a bagpiper, I play many gigs. I was asked by a funeral
director to play at a graveside service for a homeless man. He
had no family or friends, so the service was to be at a pauper's cemetery in the Nova Scotia back country. As I was not
familiar with the backwoods, I got lost and, being a typical
man, I didn't stop for directions. I finally arrived an hour late
and saw the undertaker had evidently left and the hearse was
nowhere in sight. There were only the diggers and crew left
and they were eating lunch. I felt badly and apologized to the
men for being late. I went to the side of the grave and looked
down and the vault lid was already in place. I didn't know
what else to do, so I started to play. The workers put down
their lunches and began to gather around. I played my heart
and soul out for this man with no family and friends. I played
like I've never played before. As I played Amazing Grace, the
workers began to weep. They wept, I wept, we all wept together. When I finished, I packed up my bagpipes and
started for my car. Though my head was hung low, my heart
was full. As I opened the door to my car, I heard one of the
workers say, "I never seen anything like that before, and I've
been putting in septic tanks for twenty years."
Financial Stewardship
Fiscal Year 7/1/14 - 6/30/15
Report for December 14, 2014
425 envelopes used; 1,306 mailed (33%)
Weekly Offertory ....................................... $ 10,213
Weekly Off. Online (67 donors) ............... $
948
Food Bank..................................................... $
168
Parish Share 2014 ........................................ $ 2,667
Total Collection ............................................ $ 13,996
Over/(Under) Weekly Off. Budget…………... $
(474)
Over/(Under) Annual Off. Budget to Date… $ (12,849)
Second Sunday of December 2013 ............... $
9,787
Parish Share 2014 Year-to-date ................... $ 189,524
The Mass in Slow Motion: by Msgr. Charles Pope
(a series on the Mass explaining its meaning and history)
History of the cycle of readings.
(Continued from last week) According to the testimony of the
Fathers of the Church, the service
of readings stressed reading the
books of Holy Scripture straight
through in the form of a Lectio
continua.(That is to say, the passage this week picks up right
where we left off last week.) However, strict adherence to this
setup was not exacting. Just as is the case today, this system
was often broken into by feast days whose occasion demanded
a special and appropriate passage. These feast days tended to
multiply and thus break up the continuous reading. Likewise,
liturgical seasons played a role in shaping the lectio continua.
Thus, through the centuries this strict lectio continua was
eroded and became less recognizable although it still existed
to some extent. Today, it has been restored to some extent.
This is particularly true with regard to the Gospels. However,
the first reading is chosen to back the theme of the Gospel and
hence its selection is “arbitrary.” The epistles have returned to
a rather strict lectio continua both on Sundays and weekdays.
Today, the lectionary provides for a three year cycle for the
Sunday readings and a two year cycle for weekdays. The first
reading comes from the Old Testament and is chosen to parallel the Gospel passage. The second reading is taken from the
epistles of the New Testament and sometimes from the book
of Revelation. The Third reading of course is taken from the
Gospels. Each cycle relies especially on one of the Gospels.
Cycle A relies on Matthew. Cycle B on Mark. Cycle C on
Luke. All three of the cycles also draw on St. John’s Gospel.
The weekdays draw from all the Gospels and Books of the
Bible giving special emphasis to passages not covered on Sundays. The lectionary presents a broad sweep of the Scriptures.
The Sundays readings alone present to the Catholic over 7000
verses of scripture over three years. Nearly the whole of the
New Testament is covered in the Lectionary as well as the
most significant portions of the Old Testament. In the next
post, we’ll talk about the responsorial psalm.
Mass Intentions
Sunday, December 21 - Fourth Sunday of Advent
2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Rom 16:25-27: Lk 1:26-38 (11)
RA/JB 8 a.m.
MB 10 a.m.
+John Nairn, Sr. (Wife Joann and Family)
+Helen & Joseph Alisesky
(Joyce & Ken Ott and Sons)
MB 12 n. +Elsie Prosper (Family)
MB 6 p.m. Pro populo (for Parishioners)
Monday, December 22 - Late Advent Weekday
1 Sm 1:24-28; Lk 1:46-56 (198)
8:30 a.m. +Betty Kallen (Husband)
Tuesday, December 23 - Late Advent Weekday/Saint John
Mal 3:1-4, 23-24; Lk 1:57-66 (199)
8:30 a.m. +Camilla Ross (Family)
7 p.m. +Pasquale Coluccio (Wife, Rosa)
Wednesday, December 24 - Late Advent Weekday
2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Lk 1:67-79 (200)
8:30 a.m. +Angeline Mano (Husband, daughters & family)
Wednesday, December 24 - Vigil: The Nativity of the Lord
Is 62:1-5/Acts 13:16-17, 22-25; Mtt 1:1-25 or 1:18-25 (13)
4 p.m. Hall
4 p.m. Church
8 p.m.
12 Midnight
+John Gaydosh (Wife, Elizabeth)
+Mary Chapes (Tony D’Alfonso Family)
Pro populo (for Parishioners)
+Italia & Gilbert Cianfaglione (Family)
Thursday, December 25 - The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)
Is 9:1-6/Ti 2:11-14/Lk 2:1-14 (14)
9 a.m.
11 a.m.
+Raymond Thomas (Family)
+Nellie Yacopino (Beverly Durkin)
No evening Mass
Friday, December 26 - Saint Stephen
Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59: Mt 10:17-22 (696)
8:30 a.m. +Carmella Ross (Family)
Saturday, December 27 - Vigil: Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
Sir 3:2-6, 12-14 or Gn 15:1-6, 21:1-3; Col 3:12-21 or 3:12-17 or Hb
11:8, 11-12, 17-19; Lk 2:22-40 or 2:22, 39-40 (17)
MB 4 p.m. +Joseph Letteri (Anne Jurcic)
Sunday, December 28 - Holy Family of Jesus, Mary &Joseph
MB 8 a.m.
MB 10 a.m.
MB 12 n.
RA 6 p.m.
+Jean Flanigan (Colleen & Tom Gulish)
+ Leana & Paul Beatrice (Paul, Rena & Tony)
+Mildred Muoio (Joe David & Family)
Pro populo (for Parishioners)
——————————
Not long ago, I
received a Daily
Devotional
email that
changed the
way I pray. It
was entitled An
Honest Prayer and was written by Lillian Daniel.
A seminary intern was offering the pastoral prayers one Sunday and received a request to pray for a woman who had a
last name he found very difficult to pronounce. It was a name
from a country whose language most of us did not speak,
Polish, and it sounded nothing like it was spelled. But in the
intimacy of congregational life, we had learned how to pronounce it over the years.
So it was particularly painful to listen to the young man as he
prayed out loud and kept stumbling over the name as he tried
to get it right. He would make one attempt to say it, stop himself, try to say it another time, then stop again, wincing, and
then butcher the name all over again. It was like it would
never end.
Finally he let out an exasperated sigh that the whole congregation was relieved to hear, since it meant he would finally
stop. Continuing with the prayer, he looked up to the heavens
and said, "Oh God, you know what her name is!"
It was an honest prayer. And the honesty was not just in his
frustrated comment, but in his sigh to the heavens as well. He
was being honest in his emotions in the middle of a prayer,
and trusting that God could take care of the details.
Sometimes we pray to God with so much specificity, it
sounds like we are lecturing a sloppy subordinate at work
about when and where to show up for the key event, complete with last names, details about the hospital room number
and the exact diagnosis. When what God really desires is an
honest emotion, straight from the heart.
Martha Gropp, Treasurer
of the 50+ group that
meets weekly at St. Frances Cabrini, presents Fr.
Martin with a check for
$175 for the Parish Food
Bank. They raised the
funds at their Christmas
luncheon on December 11.
Thanks, folks. Photo by
Dorothy Petronchak.

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