Christmas 2017

St. Ann Parish 502 South Main Street ~ Phoenixville, PA 19460

610-933-3732 www.churchofsaintann.org

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FROM THE PASTOR

THE FORCE – is with us once again as the latest installment in the Star

Wars series has come into our world.

SPEAKING OF FORCE – I heard someone say, “The Grand Canyon is

happening! The Grand Canyon ain’t done yet.” Heck, people keep finding

fish fossils on mountain tops and all this got me reflecting on the force at

work not only in nature but also in the cosmos.

The universe we are able to observe is about 15 billion years old. If the 4.6 billion years of the

Earth’s existence were expressed by way of the 12 hours on the face of a clock, then....

the first 2 hours and 51 minutes would be obscure;

at 2:52 the first rocks would appear;

at 4:00 the first life forms (bacteria & algae) would appear;

at 10:30 the first invertebrate life forms would appear in the seas;

at 11:25 dinosaurs would wander the land;

at 11:50 the dinosaurs would be extinct, and birds and mammals

would appear;

at 11:59:30 hominids would appear;

the last tenth of a second would cover the entire history of human

civilization on earth.

FORCES SCHMORCES - What does it all mean? Is there any sense or purpose or

goal for all this movement, for all of these “happenings”?

THE FORCE HAS A FACE – Today we are celebrating not only that the Force that creates

and sustains the universe is at work, but that this Force has a Face

and a Name. This Person is not the Last Jedi but Jesus the last

Messiah: THE MESSIAH who has been sent into creation to do

God’s will on earth as God’s will is done in heaven. In doing God’s will

the Messiah has established God’s Kingdom in its finality. Now He

invites us to share in His mission of establishing God’s Kingdom in its fullness when at the end

of time He will be “all in all” and there will be a new heaven and a new earth.

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We are happy that you have chosen to

worship with us this Christmas.

Father Heim, Father Ellis, Deacon Giblin, Deacon Szewczak, Sister Marie Rose Gibson, RSM

and I wish a “Merry Christmas” to each parishioner and to our visitors. We pray that each of

us will be able to receive the Grace God wants to give us as we celebrate the birth of Jesus,

the Christ of God.

A SEASON & A SERIES

In our culture we have to work to remember that Christmas is a SEASON offering us this year

15 days to take in and to be taken up into the Mystery of the Incarnation.

CHRISTMAS OCTAVE

The initial eight days (octave) of the Christmas Season are especially solemn and grace-filled.

We’ll be marking the difference of these days by celebrating daily Mass in a different location

(Chapel) with a different schedule (9:00 AM) from December 26 through December 31. We

hope you can join us in exploring the Christmas Mystery more deeply and devoutly through

participation in daily Mass.

OFFICE CLOSED – Our Parish Business Office will be closed this Monday

and Tuesday December 25 and 26 and Monday, January 1. If you need a

priest, please phone the Parish Office and the pastor will get back to you as

he is able.

NO CONFESSIONS – Next Saturday, December 30.

May you have the spirit of Christmas which is Peace, the gladness of Christmas which is Hope, and the Heart of

Christmas which is Love. St. Ann Parish Staff

If you are already a member of

another church or parish, please take the

greetings of the people of St. Ann’s back

home with you.

If you are not a member of any church

or parish, and if you would like to

learn more about St. Ann’s, please

call 610-933-3732.

The next parish registration is

Sunday, January 7 in the Parish Office

at 502 S. Main Street after the 11:30

Mass.

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THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 24, 2017 FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24 Fourth Sunday of Advent

7:30 AM Mass in Chapel 9:30 AM Mass in Chapel

9:30 AM Spanish Mass in Church 11:30 AM Mass in Church

No Children’s Liturgy, Sunday School

and no 6:00 PM Mass. Aid for Friends will continue as usual.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24

Christmas Eve

4:00 PM Mass in CHURCH 4:00 PM Mass in Chapel

7:30 PM Spanish Mass in CHURCH 7:30 PM Mass in Chapel

8:30 PM Christmas Meal in Church Hall 9:30 PM Carols & Concert in Chapel

10:00 PM Mass in Chapel

MONDAY, DECEMBER 25 Christmas Day

7:30 AM Mass in Chapel 9:30 AM Mass in Chapel 11:30 AM Mass in Chapel

2:00 PM Vietnamese Mass in Church

TUESDAY 2nd Day in the Octave of Christmas

Feast of St. Stephen, First Martyr

9:00 AM Mass in St. Ann Chapel

2:30 PM - Mass at Nursing Home

THIS WEEK’S SCRIPTURES

Sun: 2 Sm 7:1-5,8b-12,14a,16/Rom 16:25-27/ Lk 1:26-38 Mon: See Readings for Christmas Masses Tue: Acts 6:8-10;7:54-59/Mt 10:17-22 Wed: 1 Jn 1:1-4/Jn 20:1a,2-8

Thu: 1 Jn 1:5—2:2/Mt 2:13-18 Fri 1 Jn 2:3-11/Lk 2:22-35 Sat: 1 Jn 2:12-17/Lk 2:36-40 Next Gn 15:1-6;21:1-3/Heb 11:8,11-12,17-19/ Sun: Lk 2:22-40

READINGS FOR CHRISTMAS MASSES

The Vigil Mass (4:00 & 7:30 PM) Isaiah 62:1-5/Acts 13:16-17,22-25,29/Matthew 1:1-25

The Mass During the Night (10:00 PM ) Isaiah 9:1-6/Titus 2:11-14/Luke 2:1-14

The Mass at Dawn (7:30 AM) Isaiah 62:11-12/Titus 3:4-7/Luke 2:15-20

The Mass During the Day (9:30 & 11:30 AM) Isaiah 52:7-10/Hebrews 1:1-6/John 1:1-18

Table Fellowship for the WEEK OF DECEMBER 24

St. Peter’s Church, 121 Church St.

Lunch - Monday - Thursday Noon to 1:00 PM

Saturday (12/30) Breakfast– 8:45 - 10:30 AM

Pantry - 9:00 - 11:00 AM

WEDNESDAY 3rd Day in the Octave of Christmas

Feast of St. John, Apostle and Evangelist

9:00 AM Mass in St. Ann Chapel

7:00 PM - Charismatic Prayer (Church Hall 2) 7:30 PM - ESL Classes (Church Hall, 1, 3 and 4)

THURSDAY

4th Day in the Octave of Christmas Feast of the Holy Innocents, Martyrs

9:00 AM Mass in St. Ann Chapel

FRIDAY

5th Day in the Octave of Christmas Memorial of St. Thomas Becket, Martyr

9:00 AM Mass in St. Ann Chapel

SATURDAY

6th Day in the Octave of Christmas

9:00 AM Mass in St. Ann Chapel

7:00 AM - Men’s Bible Study (Church Hall)

Vigil of Solemnity of The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

5:00 PM Mass in Sacred Heart Church

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HOPE CAPTAINS

Dec. 16 - 31: MaryAnn Fennell at 610-933-1058 January 1 - 15: Sally Freed at 610-933-7660 January 16 - 31: Caroll Daly at 610-933-5291

AID FOR FRIENDS Drop off times at 602 S. Main Street:

Sunday 8:00 AM - 12:30 PM and 5:30 - 7:00 PM

BOOK CLUB FEB/MARCH SELECTION

Leonardo da Vinci

by Walter Isaacson

“To read this magnificent biography of

Leonardo da Vinci is to take a tour

through the life and works of one of the

most extraordinary human beings of all

time and in the company of the most

engaging, informed, and insightful guide

imaginable. Walter Isaacson is at once a true scholar

and a spellbinding writer. And what a wealth of

lessons there are to be learned in these

pages.” (David McCullough, Pulitzer Prize-winning author )

Since this book has over 600 pages, we will discuss

the first half of the book (chapters 1-16) on Saturday,

February 3, and the second half of the book

(chapters 17-33) on Saturday, March 10. Book club

will meet in the Parish Office from 9:00 - 10:30 AM.

To register, please contact Madelyn O’Hara at

stannadulted@gmail.com or 484-302-5705.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 31 The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

7:30 AM Mass in St. Ann Chapel 9:30 AM Mass in St. Ann Chapel

9:30 AM Spanish Mass in St. Ann Church 11:30 AM Mass in St. Ann Chapel

No Children’s Liturgy, Sunday School Aid for Friends will continue as usual.

6:00 PM MASS in Chapel will be the Vigil Mass of the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God. Please note that this year there is no obligation for Catholics to participate in Mass for this Feast.

MONDAY, JANUARY 1 Mary, Mother of God

Not a Holy Day of Obligation

9:30 AM 11:30 AM

(Both in Chapel)

HELP WANTED

A volunteer/s to water the poinsettias in

the Church, Chapel and Sacred Heart

Church. You may choose one of the three churches

or take care of the plants in all three worship sites.

Whichever is convenient for you is fine. A green

thumb is not required. If you’re interested in

volunteering, please contact Madelyn O’Hara at

484-302-5705 or stannadulted@gmail.com.

As we celebrate this great day of Salvation, we are reminded that many of our loved ones share in that unending joy of heaven—the reason for the birth of Jesus. Born into our humanity, he needed to eat, sleep, learn, laugh, weep and die. And though he shared our limits and vulnerabilities, he was not confined by them. Fully human and fully divine, he thus transfigured our bodies and spirits into so much more. This is the message embedded deep within the joy of the

Christmas birth. As we are fully engaged in our present lives, we are reminded that Christ’s birth is about dying into the joy of eternal beauty. For those who have lost loved ones we know this to be true—a painful truth at this time of year. And for people of faith, we know it to be our Christmas hope.

The “Little Blue Book” is filled with the wisdom of dreams. The message for December 13 reads: “The Christmas season is not a time of unmixed joy. There is also sadness, pain. It will be lonely for those who have just lost someone….I don’t have to resist the mixture. It’s already there in the feast itself.” And on Christmas, it speaks of memories of our loved ones. Cherish whatever memories may surface. Hold them close to your heart; drift into a dream about them. Grant them entrance; they are already with you. Allow the mix of tears and laughter to flow. It is healing. May you experience their presence as a Christmas gift to you.

“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him… announcing salvation.” Is. 52: 7-10

The Emmaus Bereavement Ministers

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“WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR?” During Advent and Christmas Season all funds

received via our Parish Poor Boxes will be designated for the Code Blue Ministry here in Phoenixville.

2017 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS If you would like to receive a statement for tax

purposes contact the Parish Office at

610-933-3732 or email ginnyn@comcast.net

after December 31.

Year End Giving

You might want to donate

appreciated stock or mutual fund

shares. Such gifts may qualify for a

Federal Income Tax Deduction, and you also may

avoid capital gains tax on the appreciation. If you want

to make the gift of appreciated securities to the parish,

please contact the Office for Investment Services at

215-587-3969. Please note that parishes will receive

the full sale price of donated securities processed

through the Archdiocesan brokerage account.

Sister Delores Joseph Bozzelli

IHM, Superior of Camilla Hall

Nursing Home, wishes on behalf of

the nuns residing at Camilla Hall to

extend their heartfelt gratitude to

the parishioners of St. Ann Parish for their continuing

generous support of the giving tree each year. It is

truly appreciated. God Bless

REMEMBER OUR SICK Alicia Andrews, Peter Benevento, Gene Bernat, Chad Berish, Beth Booth, Carolyn Boring, Ashley Rose Bukay, Ed Cain, Eleanor and John Calvecchio, Leroy Campbell, Dave Cocci, Angeline Costello, John Daly, Al DeMola, Isabella DeSimone, Michael DiArcangelo, Lida Dickinson, Lucille Dickson, Loan Doan, Dan Fennell, Daniel Flores, Sally Freed, Ryan Gerhold, Joe Gibson, Gordon Gladden, Jennifer Pacifico Golaszewski, Christine Greger, Jim Havrilla, Jean Hoffman, Angela Hogan, Ann Hovanec, Michael Hudak, Jeanette Jelus, Ann Johnson, Maren Kaniewski, Irene King, Larry Kirk, Jack Klenk, Patrick Koch, Irene Layden, Denise Long, Ray Long, Claire Maestrale, Steve & Joanne Mardi, Marie Marosek, Thomas Mastrangelo, Heather McCann, John McKenzie, Michele Mellon, Ron Motzer, Tom Moyer, Karen Nesspor, Jacob Nichols, Georgene O’Donnell, Marcelo Opiela, Steve Pannella, Cindy Patton, Joan Pendergast, Glen Philips, Abigail Pilcicki, Dianne Litishin Ponzio, Ann Racey, Christine Radoiss, Katherine Raggazino, Jerry Ratchford, John Riegel, Kris Roberts, Kathryn Rocky, Pat Scott, Ken Shackleton, Keith Sheridan, Patrick Sheridan, Eustachia Shtohryn, Margaret Sim, James Smith, Renee Smith, Jennifer Spencer, Evelyn Spitz, Christine Kulp Springer, Bob Stancavage, Marc Stevenson, Sherri Stover, Julie Szewczak, Ethel Thomas, Glenn Thomas, Don Troncelliti, Helen Twargoski, Doris Valerio, Jeff Vance, Joe Vargo, Paul G. Weaver, Charles Wertz, Ann Wolff, Talan Wolstenholme, our homebound, parishioners in Nursing Homes, Hospitals & all serving in the Armed Forces.

We love having you as part of our flock! Let’s keep in touch!

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We want to thank all those who contributed so generously to our parish collections. Due to the publishing company’s schedule for transmittal of our bulletin over the holiday, the

normal breakdown of the collections will appear in future bulletins.

FORMED is loaded with religious material for people of all ages. Log onto www.FORMED.org and enter our Parish Code: W2HQ93.

Announcement for December 23/24 Some suggestions to get you started.

Mystery of Christmas: With humor, compassion, and clarity, Fr. Larry gets to the heart of the true meaning of Christmas and helps us to better appreciate the

immensity of God's love for us as His children. Listen while driving with the family! In LISTEN: Talks/Advent & Christmas O Holy Night: What Christmas is About: Celebrate the wonder and joy of Christmas with your children and Brother Francis in this heartwarming presentation of the birth of God’s Son! Witness the

moving submission of Mary, Joseph, and others as they make way for our Savior. In WATCH: Youth/Brother Francis