fourth sunday of advent / the nativity of the lord (christmas) · 2015-12-26 · december 20/25,...
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December 20/25, 2015Fourth Sunday of Advent / The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)
CORPUS CHRISTI CATHOLIC CHURCH6300 McKenna Drive, Mobile, Alabama 36608
Email: [email protected] ! Website: www.CorpusChristiParish.com
TELEPHONE NUMBERS
Parish Office: 342-1852 • Fax 342-6313School Office: 342-5474, ext. 1 • Fax 380-0325Rel. Ed. Office: 342-5474, ext. 7 • Fax 380-0325Full-Day Care: 342-2424 • Fax 343-3119Youth Ministry: 342-1852 • Fax 342-6313
PASTORAL STAFF
Very Rev. James F. Zoghby, V.F., PastorRev. John S. Boudreaux, Associate PastorDeacon Arthur W. Robbins, DeaconSr. Donna Cooper, R.S.M., Visitation ChaplainMrs. Joan T. McMullen, School PrincipalMrs. Diane M. Stoyka, Parish Catechetical LeaderMrs. Judi B. Ankiewicz, R.C.I.A. CoordinatorMr. Peter J. Stoyka, Youth Ministry DirectorMr. C. Clinton Doolittle, Music DirectorMr. David F. Walker, Gym Manager
TO REGISTER AS A MEMBER OF THE PARISH
Please fill out a Census Form. Census Forms areavailable in the church vestibule and parish office.
COMMUNITY CENTER RENTALS & SERVICES
For rental information and kitchen services, pleasecall the parish office at 342-1852 or 342-1420.
SUNDAY MASSES
Vigil: 5:30 p.m. SaturdayMorning: 7:00, 9:00 and 11:00 a.m.
WEEKDAY MASSES
6:30 a.m.: Monday through Friday8:15 a.m.: Monday through Saturday
SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION
Saturday: 5:00 p.m. and by request, particularlyafter the 6:30 & 8:15 a.m. weekday Masses.
BAPTISM, MARRIAGE, ANOINTING OF SICK
Please call the parish office (342-1852) or informationand scheduling baptism, marriage, anointing of sick.
ADULT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (R.C.I.A.)
Please see published schedule for specific dates andtimes, or call the parish office (342-1852).
SUNDAY SCHOOL (C.C.D.) Grades K–12, Sundaysduring school year, 10:05-10:55 a.m. in school bldgs.
SCHOOL, SACS-accredited for Grades 3K through 8.Child Care for 6-week-old infants to 2-year olds,Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Please callthe school office, 342-5474, ext. 1 for information.
FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT / THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD (CHRISTMAS)
Christmas Mass Schedule
Christmas Eve, Dec. 24 4:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m.
Christmas Day, Dec. 25
7:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m.
No 6:30 a.m. Mass on Thursday, Dec. 24.
The Octave Day of the Nativity of the Lord: Mary, Holy Mother of God
Holy Day Mass ScheduleThurs, Dec. 31: 5:30 p.m. Vigil MassFriday, Jan. 1: 10:00 a.m. Mass
The Parish Office will be closedDec. 24, 25, 26 and Dec. 31 & Jan. 1.
This Sunday — Dec. 203rd Sunday 5:30 p.m. Mass
During the school year (Sept. to May), we have an extra SundayMass the 3rd Sunday of each month. High School students serve.
Year-Round Baby Showerfor 2B Choices for Women Crisis Pregnancy Center
Diapers of all sizes, especially sizes 3, 4 and 5 are needed. Alsobaby wipes, shampoo, wash, powder, oil and bottles. Please no foodor formula. Please place items in designated box in the vestibule.
ADULT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION & R.C.I.A.Presented by Fr. James F. Zoghby
For Catholic and other AdultsAdult Ed. Room in the Community Center
Classes resume Wednesday, January 6, 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Info: 342-1852 or [email protected].
Be Prepared Apologetics SeriesPresented by Patrick J. Arensberg
Director or the Archdiocesan Office of Religious Education
Wed., Jan. 13, 7-8 p.m. Topic: “Are you saved?”Corpus Christi Community Ctr., Conference Room (2nd Floor)
This series is open to any interested adult in the archdiocese.
Info: http://mobilefaithformation.org/be-prepared-dates.
Society of St. Vincent de Paul“Discover true joy by serving the poor in our community.”
Poor Box, Food, Clothing donations put in the designated places
in the vestibule are distributed by our St. Vincent de Paul Society.“In-Need” Drop Box at the SVDP table in the vestibule. Info will beheld in strict confidence and an SVDP member will contact you.Join the Society of St. Vincent de Paul by attending a meeting.Meetings: 1st & 3rd Wed., 6:30 p.m., Com. Ctr. Conf. Rm. (2nd Flr.)
To obtain assistance, call 432-5173 and leave name & phone no.
CORPUS CHRISTI SCHOOL
Op e n Ho u s eSunday, Jan. 10, 2016, 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 21, 2016, 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
SACS-accredited for Grades 3K through 8.
Child Care for 6-week-old infants to 2-year olds,
Tours of our school are available by request.Info: 342-5474, ext. 1 or [email protected]
Widowed Persons’ Support GroupFor information call parishioner Glen Porter at 666-8977.
Sunday Morning Bible StudyNo meetings Dec. 20 & 27. Meetings resume Jan. 3.
8:45 a.m. breakfast; 9:30 a.m. study. Info: Ken Crowley, 423-6921.
Tuesday Women’s Bible Study9:45 to 11:15 a.m. in Room 3 (2nd Floor of the Community Center)
Info: Judi Ankiewicz, 553-7882.
Tuesday Night Bible StudyTuesdays at 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Parish House
(except on 2nd Tuesday of the month, meet in the school library)Info: Dave Burchette, 367-6660.
Thursday Women’s Bible StudyThursdays from 9:15 to 10:45 a.m.
in the Conference Room (2nd Floor of the Community Center)Info: Joanne Donaghey 554-6753 [email protected].
Receive Emails from the ParishPlease send your email to [email protected].
Partners in Education – RecognitionStudents recognized at the Dec. 15th School Mass for outstanding
performance in the prior month, and the businesses that recognized them:
Caleb Morris, Kindergarten – Knights of ColumbusParis Rodgers, 4th Grade – Donaghey Orthodontics
Taliyah Benard-Thomas, 8th Grade – Prof. Estimating Services
To join the Partners in Education group, call School PrincipalJoan McMullen, 342-5474, ext. 1, or Richard March, 401-0466.
Corpus Christi ChoirChoir Practice: Wednesdays, 7:00 to 8:15 p.m. in Room 4 (2nd floorof community center). Info: Clint Doolittle, 377-8675.
CORPUS CHRISTI CHURCH, MOBILE, ALABAMA DECEMBER 20/25, 2015
Catholic Social Services
Special Service AnnouncementCatholic Social Services of Mobile will host over 35 seminarians fromSt. John Vianney Seminary in late January, 2016 who will providevolunteer services in Mobile County. They are particularly interestedin serving homeowners who need painting, siding, caulking, patching,door and window repairs, and yard clean-up. Those interested inreceiving these services free of charge will be visited by John Wilson,Disaster Services Program Manager, to make a need assessment. Allmaterials and labor will be free of charge to the homeowner. Skilledconstruction supervisors will be working with the seminarians. Toschedule an assessment or for further information, please contact,John P. Wilson, at Catholic Social Services, 251-895-8417.
Wednesday Night Dinner5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Banquet Hall
$9.00 for Adults ! $4.00 for Children (Age 12 & under)
Dec. 23: No Wednesday Night Dinner [Christmas Holiday]Dec. 30: No Wednesday Night Dinner [New Year Holiday]
Must RSVP no later than TUESDAY EVENINGSReturn an RSVP Card, or call 342-1852 or email
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUSK of C Meeting: 2nd Tues., Jan. 12, 7 p.m., the Parish House
Contact: Grand Knight, Cosmo Comiskey, 508-0547.
Jr. High Youth GroupSunday, Dec. 20: Dirty Santa! We will gather upstairs in the community centerfrom 4 to 5:20 p.m. Everyone, please buy and wrap a gift from the Dollar Treestore. Be creative! It can be anything from the toy aisle to a bag of cheese puffs.But it can’t cost more than $1! We will also enjoy some holiday snacks andChristmas music. Invite your friends! Then, at 5:30 p.m., all youth and theirfamilies are invited to attend our special 5:30 p.m. Sunday Mass. Thank you toall who are participating in the choir. You all sound awesome! Contact PeterStoyka at [email protected] if you want to be added to the email list.
High School Youth MinistryIce Skating in Mobile! Wear your "tackiest" Christmas sweater! Prizes for firstand second place winners. Info: Peter Stoyka, for more details TBA.Sunday, Dec. 20: 5:30 p.m. Youth Mass and 6:30-8 p.m. Gathering upstairs inthe community center. We will have dinner and play Dirty Santa! Please bring a$1 item from the Dollar Tree store, and have it wrapped. Fr. Zoghby and Fr.Boudreaux will join us. Invite your friends! All alums are also invited.
High School Confirmation SchedulesInfo: Diane Stoyka, [email protected] or 342-5474, ext. 7.
Class of 2018: Sat., Jan. 30, 2016: Confirmation Retreat,Visitation Monastery, 10:00-4:30, Lessons 2,3 & 4.Sun., Aug. 2016: Spirit Day 11:00-3:00, Lesson 8.
Class of 2019: Sunday Feb. 21, 2016: Spirit Day, Lessons 5 & 7.
AA — Alanon — OA — CODAAA: Sun., 7 p.m., and Wed., 7 p.m., Cougar Den.
Alanon: Sun., 7 p.m., and Wed., 7 p.m., Arts & Sciences Bldg.OA: Sat., 9 a.m., Arts & Sciences Bldg.
CODA: Tues., 6:45 p.m., Arts & Sciences Bldg.
Welcome New ParishionersLouis Harushimana
Victor Lett, Jr.Jeff & Melanie Thornton and their sons, Zach and Luke
REST IN PEACEWilliam Lafayette “Billy” Jones
FlowersThe flowers before the altar this weekend
have been placed in memory ofGeorge Fadalla
on the 10th anniversary of his death.Given his family.
FlowersThe flowers before the pulpit this weekend
have been placed in memory ofLois Neno
on the 2nd anniversary of her death.Given by Alan and Laura Sherman.
FIRST COLLECTION TODAY: Tithing Offerings.SECOND COLLECTION TODAY: Christmas Flowers.
RETIRED RELIGIOUS COLLECTION: $3,628.00DEC. 13TH BUILDING FUND ONLINE & COLLECTION: $15,843.75DEC. 13TH TITHING ONLINE & COLLECTION: $31,575.64
Thank You and God Bless YouGod bless all who tithe and contribute to support God's work here atCorpus Christi, and those who make a special bequest in their will forCorpus Christi Church. For info, or to transfer shares of stock toCorpus Christi Church, contact your stockbroker, or call SteveSetterstrom at Citigroup Global Mkts. at 470-1060.
Offering EnvelopesIf you wish to use Offering Envelopes, just notify the parish office (342-1852). An initial set will be sent toyou right away, and then, every two months, you willreceive a two-month’s supply of envelopes.
Online GivingWith Online Giving make a one-time contribution or setup a recurring automatic withdrawal from a checking orsaving or credit card account: Use a computer, tablet orsmartphone to go to www.CorpusChristiParish.com; click
“Church”; then click the green Online Giving icon on the side left ofthe church’s homepage. Follow the instructions to contribute to thetithing or building fund or special collections. For assistance, call 1-800-348-2886, ext 4, or the parish office, 342-1852.
Reports of ContributionsAnnual reports of contributions for 2015 will be mailed in earlyJanuary 2016. Reports of Contributions as well as detailed /itemized reports can always be obtained by contacting theparish office at 342-1852 or [email protected].
The Gift of Christmas
L~O~V~EDear Padre,Can you give me a simple explanation of thereal meaning of Christmas?
Aimee
Dear Aimee The feast of Christmas is a feast of love! Itcommemorates the birth of Jesus: Emmanuel, God-with-us, the Word of God made flesh. Its surpassing messagecaptures our hearts: See how much God loved us! “TheWord became flesh and made his dwelling among us,and we have seen his glory: the glory of an only Soncoming from the Father, filled with enduring love” (Jn1:14). Nothing is more important for us to grasp than howmuch God loves us. It makes all the difference in ourlives. The awareness of God’s love warms us when ourhearts are cold and dreary, strengthens us when we areweak and wavering, holds us up when we feel likefalling down. We cannot be faithful disciples of Jesusunless we recognize God’s love for us. When we dorecognize it, we can become saints!
The Qualities of God’s Love When we speak of God and his love, we speak ofgreat mysteries. Even though we cannot understandeverything about God and his dealings with us, we CANunderstand some things.
1. God’s love for us is gratuitous, free. Sometimeswe are given the impression that God loves us becausewe perform good deeds, because we live a good morallife. The Scriptures tell us that such is not the case. “But when the kindness and love of God our Saviorappeared, he saved us; not because of any righteousdeeds we had done, but because of his mercy.”
Titus 3:4-5
2. God’s love for us is unconditional. Conditionallove is partial love. “I love you because you are smartor beautiful or humorous.” The implication is that Iwon’t love you if you somehow become dumb or uglyor grumpy. It is not so with God. Not even sin canmake God stop loving you, although sin may stop youfrom responding to God’s love. As someone put it:“God says, I want to love you. That is all. I just wantto love you. If you choose to leave me, I will not stopyou. I will leave you free, but I will always love you. There may be a time when you will put somethingbetween our love for each other. There may be thattime in your life when you separate yourself from mylove, but never believe that you have lost my love. You can refuse, but you can never lose my love.”
3. God’s love for us is everlasting. In a tenderanalogy, easily appreciated by almost everyone, theScriptures compare God’s love for us to the love amother has for her child. “Can a mother forget herinfant, be without tenderness for the child of herwomb? Even should she forget, I will never forgetyou (Is 49:15). St. Paul writes that neither death norlife, neither angels nor principalities, neither thepresent nor the future, nor powers, nor height nordepth nor any other creature, will be able to separateus from the love of God that comes to us in ChristJesus, our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39
The way we think about God, the image we haveof him, is very important for our moral life. If wethink of God in a negative way, then our response tohim will be minimal and joyless. If we believe thatGod’s love and goodness are dependent on our owngood actions, then we will easily doubt his love andgoodness. If, on the other hand, we really believe inGod’s free, unconditional, and everlasting love for us,then we will be eager and willing to live a life of lovein response.
The Padre, Fr. Dan Lowery, C.SS.R.
“What a beautiful truth offaith this is for our lives:The Mercy of God!”
“God’s love for us is sogreat, so deep. It is anunfailing love, one whichalways takes us by thehand and supports us, liftsus up and leads us on.
“Brothers and Sisters, letus never lose trust in thepatience and mercy ofGod!
“God is not impatient like us, who often wanteverything all at once, even in our dealings withother people. God is patient with us because heloves us, and those who love are able tounderstand, to hope, to inspire confidence. Theydo not give up, they do not burn bridges, theyare able to forgive.
“God’s patience has to call forth in us thecourage to return to him, however manymistakes and sins there may be in our life.
“We hear many offers from the world around us,but let us take up God’s offer instead: his is acaress of love — even if we are sinners, we arewhat is closest to his heart.
“Let’s say this prayer: Lord, I believe in yourlove. And we open our hearts so that this lovecomes to us, fills us and pushes us to love others.
“Let us make an act of faith today: Lord, Ibelieve. I believe in your love. I believe that yourlove has saved me. I believe that your love hasgiven me that dignity that I did not have. Ibelieve that your love gives me hope and thepromise of eternal joy.”
Merry Christmas!The Christian Community of Corpus Christi Catholic Churchrejoices that we have the opportunity to celebrate Christmaswith all who are gathered here. If you’re not a Catholic andwould like more information about the Catholic Church, or ifyou are a Catholic who has been away from the Church becauseof past hurts or difficulties, please contact of the priests at 342-1852 or [email protected].
We give thanks to God for everyone at Corpus Christi Parishand for the opportunity to serve all the members of our parishfamily as we continue to grow as the Body of Christ.
May God bless you, your loved ones and all the world with thepeace only God can give. Merry Christmas!
Gratefully in Christ,
Fr. James F. Zoghby Fr. John S. Boudreaux Dn. Arthur W. Robbins
I will be God’s own Joy to the Worldto all I meet this Christmas season.
I will be God’s own Joy to the Worldto the family I love and live with.
I will be God’s own Joy to the Worldto the strangers I meet this wondrous season.
I will be God’s own Joy to the Worldto the church where I gather this blessed season.
I will be God’s own Joy to the World.
History of Christmas At Christmas, we celebrate the Incarnation: God becomingone of us. “The Word became flesh and made his dwellingamong us, and we have seen his glory: The glory of an onlySon coming from the Father, filled with enduring love” (John1:14). But the early Church did not celebrate Christmas atall. In those first centuries, Jesus’ death and resurrection werethe central experience of Christianity – especially whileChristians themselves were being persecuted and put to deathfor their beliefs. In the 300s, Christianity was finally allowedto flourish, and then the Church found room for more light-hearted feasts. No one knew on what day Jesus had actuallybeen born. In those early days of the Church, there weredifferent ways of reckoning time, and no centralized calendar. In various areas, the Nativity of Jesus was celebrated onJanuary 6, February 2, March 25, April 19, May 20, andNovember 17! Finally, in the middle of the 300s (349 A.D.), Pope Julius Isettled on December 25. Prior to the celebration of Christmas,December 25 was already a widely-celebrated day in theRoman World. On that date citizens celebrated the Wintersolstice with an ancient pagan feast, familiar to many convertsto Christianity. It was the feast of “The Birthday of the
Unconquered Sun” at the time of the winter solstice according to the Julian calendar. Pope Julius thus replaced thatpagan feast with a feast to celebrate the birthday of Jesus, the SON of God. Many modern Christmas customs, such as decorating a house with greenery, exchanging gifts and enjoying festivemeals, originated with the earlier pagan feast. Christmas itself didn’t come to be called “Christmas” until much later. Some of the early names for this feast wereEpiphany (“manifestation”), Natale (“birth”), and Adventus (“the coming”). The word “Christmas” has been used inEnglish-speaking countries since the Middle Ages. The word was derived from the Old English Cristes Maesse, or“Christ’s Mass.” By the 400s, the December 25 date of the Feast of the Nativity marked the beginning of the Church year. Later,when the preparation season of Advent received a definite shape after the 900s, it replaced Christmas as the beginningof the Church year.
Replacing or “Christianizing” What Was Pagan It may seem strange that a feast such as Christmas should be substituted for a feast honoring a pagan god. But theChurch in those days often had a much different attitude toward things pagan than we might assume. In the year 601, for example, Pope Gregory the Great, in his instructions to St. Augustine of Canterbury and othermissionaries to England, told them that under no circumstances should temples to idols be destroyed. They shouldbe sprinkled with holy water, and altars should be set up in them. Seeing their temples are not destroyed, he said, thepeople may be more ready to return to them “to know and adore the true God.” Since they have a custom of sacrificingoxen to demons, he added, “let some other solemnity like the dedication of the church or a martyr’s feast be substitutedon the same day.” They can decorate the temples as they did before, he instructed, even kill and use the animals as food, not in sacrifice,but as a way of giving thanks to the Giver of all gifts. (Letter of Gregory to Abbot Mellitus and Augustine of Canterbury)
Rather than considering it a danger or scandal, they saw in this sort of “ecumenism” a help to spreading the Gospeland in making their faith attractive to the people they were hoping to convert. More feasts and other Christiantraditions than most of us realize are traceable to this strategy of our Christian forebears.
Fr. John J. Dietzen
History of the Nativity Scene and Christmas Songs St. Francis of Assisi, in the 13th century,believed strongly that the message of theGospel should be proclaimed everywhere andto everyone, and he found ways to proclaimthe Good News of Jesus to the simplest ofpeople. Francis was deeply devoted to the Child ofBethlehem. Three years before he died, hedecided to give the people of Assisi a specialChristmas gift. On Christmas Eve, he led thetownspeople in procession to a cave on ahillside outside the town of Greccic. There,Francis had constructed a replica of the stableof Bethlehem, complete with animals. Onlythe manger was empty. There, by torchlights, Mass wascelebrated. Francis, as a deacon, proclaimedthe Gospel and preached. His words were somoving that many in the crowd believed they saw the child Jesus in the empty manger. As a culmination to theservice, Francis taught the people to sing what tradition tells us were the first popular Christmas carols: Christmaswords set to folk tunes. Both customs spread rapidly. In churches and homes all over Italy, families constructed replicas of the stable andsang Christmas songs. Now there are nativity scenes and Christmas carols that reflect the culture of every nation onearth where Christians gather to wait in hope. When we help our children place tiny figures of the Holy Family,shepherds and sheep in the nativity scene, or gather to sing carols, we are in touch with roots of Advent that stretchback to the 13th century.
The poinsettiawith its scarletleaves, now ofm a n y h u e s ,c a m e f r o mMexico where itgrows as as h r u b . I tb l o o m s a tChristmastime,and Mexicanscalled it “Flowerof the HolyNight.” It was
brought to the United States by the first U.S.ambassador to Mexico, Dr. Joel Roberts Poinsett (1779-1851) who had them grown in his greenhouse in SouthCarolina. Eventually, they were named after him. Onlysince 1920 have they become potted plants. Poinsettiasare now associated as much with Christmas as lilies arewith Easter.
Do We X-out Christ?In Greek type or script, the letter ×(“Chi”) looks like the letter X in ourEnglish print or type. The Greek ×(Chi) has been used as an abbreviationfor Christ or Christos since the
beginning of Christianity. Therefore, “Xmas” is simplyan abbreviation for “Christmas.”“Christmas” is itself an abbreviation of “Christ Mass”.
THE CHI RHO. In Greek thefirst two letters of the title“Christ are Chi (×) and Rho(Ñ), an early abbreviation of“CHRist”. The Chi (×) wasoften superimposed on the Rho(Ñ) as a monogram for“Christ.” Sometimes, the Chi(×) was turned or rotated toline up with the vertical line of
the Rho (Ñ), forming a cross.