Church Address: 941 Lexington St., Santa Clara, CA 95050 Office Address: 725 Washington St., Santa Clara, CA 95050

Office: (408) 248-7786 ~ Fax: (408) 248-8150 E-mail: stclareparish@dsj.org Web-site: www.stclareparish.org

December 2nd, 2018 ~ First Sunday Of Advent

~ Mass Schedule ~

WEEKDAYS - Rectory Chapel: Mon, Wed, Fri, & Sat 8:00 am ~ Tue & Thu 5:30 pm SATURDAY: Reconciliation 4:15-4:45 pm ~ Vigil Mass 5:00 pm

SUNDAY: 7:45 am (English) ~ 9:00 am (English - Family) ~ 10:30 am (Portuguese) ~ 12:00 pm (Spanish) ~ 1:30 pm (Cantonese) ~ 3:00 pm (Mandarin) ~ 5:30 pm (English)

Pastoral Staff: (408) 248-7786 Pastor’s Notes Pastor: Rev. Tadeusz Terembula, x104, tterembula@dsj.org Parochial Vicar: Rev. Prosper Molengi, x105, pmolengi@dsj.org Office Manager: Joanna Ayllon, x106 Religious Education Coordinator and Hispanic Ministry Coordinator: Paty Rascon, x102, lpadillaDeRascon@dsj.org Facility Emergencies: Matt Dutra (408) 904-9181 Saint Clare School: Principal - Cecile Mantecon (408) 246-6797, www.drexel.dsj.org/stclareschool RCIA: Diane Madruga, camponeses6@gmail.com Music Ministry: Christopher Wemp, cmwemp@gmail.com Community & Service Webmaster: Perig Vennetier, perigv@gmail.com Pastoral Council: Jasmine Vu, jass.vu@gmail.com Finance Council: Jerome Alabado, jerome.alabado@gmail.com Serra Club of Santa Clara: Tom Bommarito (408) 243-4647 St. Vincent de Paul: Mick Gonzales (408) 645-0506 Facilities: Matt Dutra, mattdutra74@gmail.com Knights Of Columbus: Tony Colombo, a_colombo1726@comcast.net Young Ladies Institute (YLI): Dolores Wriglesworth, doloresandlee@sbcglobal.net Social Justice Committee: Anne McMahon, mcmahonam@sbcglobal.net Italian Catholic Federation: Janet Glaubke (408) 225-0743 Hispanic Committee: Elania Tablada (408) 984-3519 Portuguese Community: Filomena Bettencourt (408) 221-5236 Mandarin Community: Contact: Rev. Carlos A. Olivera, aolivera@dsj.org Cantonese Community: Contact: Tony Lau, tonylau2000@gmail.com

Dear Parishioners, As we hear today’s readings, two temptations so easily appear: first, we might presume that since we have been waiting so long for the return of Christ, that it won’t be anytime soon and so we

will have lots of time to prepare. The other is, we may assume that his return is any mo-ment now, so that we live in fear of that great day – frozen and unable to hope or to embrace life’s adventure. Neither of these temptations is worth embracing. In-stead, we look for-ward to his return, and

as we wait, we use the time to grow in our relationship with the Lord, while understanding that this world is not our ultimate home. Today’s Gospel can seem very sobering. Jesus doesn’t mince his words – there is going to be a reckoning, a judgment – and we do not know when. But we know it is coming, and therefore we need to be vigilant, prayerful and ready. This is not a pious platitude, but a tenet of faith that we profess in our creed. The judgment will be a real one; the review of our life with its many choices and options will be laid out before us in the bright light of God’s revelation and mer-cy. But there are also two other themes in this Gospel passage that we need in order to have the full picture. First, as Christians, we are encouraged to stand tall in the knowledge that our Redeemer is at hand, and to hold fast to the hope that our faith gives us even in times of trial and tribulation. We know the final outcome in the great battle between good and evil – Christ’s triumph over death. Our task is to ensure that we are on that winning side by living lives worthy of him. We cannot take it for granted, but instead daily renew our commitment to fulfill the hope that is within us – and live our lives in the sure and certain knowledge that our redemption is at hand. Second, as Christians we are called to be realistic, to face up to the fact that our world is broken and in need of healing, and yet we are never hopeless. Indeed, the Christian view is to see imper-fection not as a lost cause but as an opportunity for healing and re-demption.

All is never lost until that moment of final judgment. This is what we celebrate in the Advent season – a time of prep-aration and anticipation. We look forward to the coming of Christ, and as we look forward we strive to be vigilant, prayerful and worthy to stand before him when he comes in glory. I wish all of you that the Advent time be a spiritual time for you. Don’t get lost in your busyness and shopping for Christmas. Start with preparing your heart and your soul first and all other preparations will go well because the Lord will bless you.

Fr. Tad

zamos por estar alertas, en oración y dignos de pre-sentarnos ante él cuando venga en toda su gloria. Les deseo a todos que el tiempo de Adviento sea un tiempo espiritual para ustedes. No se pierdan en sus ocupaciones y las compras para la Navidad. Comiencen primero con la preparación de su corazón y su alma y todos los demás preparativos irán bien porque el Señor les bendecirá. Padre Tadeo

Mass Intentions December 1st ~ December 8th, 2018

————— Monday ~ December 3rd ————— ♦ Open

————— Tuesday ~ December 4th ————— ♦ Open

————— Wednesday ~ December 5th ———— ♦ Spanish Charismatic Prayer Group, 7:00 pm, Lower Church

————— Thursday ~ December 6th ————— ♦ Bible Study, 7:00 pm, Rectory Dining Room

————— Friday ~ December 7th ————— ♦ Open

Sat 5:00 pm

Sun 7:45 am

9:00 am

10:30 am

12:00 pm

5:30 pm

Mon 8:00 am

Tue 5:30 pm

Wed 8:00 am

Thu 5:30 pm

Fri 8:00 am

Sat 8:00 am

Jose B. Monteiro + Affonso Family +

Alfonso & Rose Borges + Joseph & Anna Vierra +

St. Clare Parishioners

Jose Arias + Joao Sousa Silva + Manuel Jeronimo +

Urbano Amaya + Alfredo Garcia Rodriguez + Monica Yadira Garcia Gonzalez + Jose Luis Gonzalez + Karen Prissila Gonzaga +

Antonio & Ephegenia Rodrigues and Family

Maria Mancebo +

Open

Aida Augusta +

Open

Carmen Ignacio + Beatriz & Alberto Botero – Health

Joe Amarante +

Calendar of Events

Notas del Párroco Queridos feligreses, Al escuchar las lecturas de hoy, dos tentaciones aparecen fácilmente: la primera, es que podemos asumir que como he-mos estado esperando el regreso de Cristo por tanto tiem-po, esto no sucederá pronto, por lo cual tendremos mu-

cho tiempo para preparar-nos. La otra es, que podemos asumir que su regreso pue-de ocurrir ahora, en cual-quier momento, y por lo tanto vivir con temor a ese gran día – paralizados e incapaces de sentir espe-ranza o de tomar la aventu-ra de la vida. No vale la pe-na escoger ninguna de estas tentaciones. En lugar de ello, esperamos su regreso, y mientras esperamos, usa-mos el tiempo para crecer en nuestra relación con el Señor, y entendemos que este mundo no es nuestra última morada. El Evangelio de hoy puede parecer muy serio. Jesús no

se anda con rodeos con sus palabras – va a haber un ajuste de cuentas, un juicio – y no sabemos cuándo. Pero sabe-mos que vendrá, y por lo tanto necesitamos estar atentos, pre-parados y en oración. Esto no es una banalidad religiosa, sino un principio de fe que profesamos en nuestro credo. El juicio será real; la revisión de nuestra vida con todas sus opciones y alternativas será puesta ante nosotros en la clara luz de la revelación y misericordia de Dios. Pero también hay otros dos temas en este pasaje del Evange-lio que necesitamos a fin de tener un panorama completo. El primero es que, como cristianos, somos alentados a man-tenernos firmes en el conocimiento de que nuestro Re-dentor está al alcance de la mano, y nos aferrarnos a la esperanza que nuestra fe nos da aún en tiempos de prue-ba y tribulación. Sabemos el resultado final de la gran ba-talla entre el bien y el mal – El triunfo de Cristo sobre la muerte. Nuestra tarea es asegurarnos de que estamos en el lado ganador al vivir vidas dignas de él. No podemos darlo por hecho, sino renovar diariamente nuestro compromiso de cumplir la esperanza que está dentro de nosotros – y vivir nuestras vidas en el conocimiento seguro y cierto de que nuestra redención está a nuestro alcance. El segundo es que, como cristianos somos llamados a ser realistas, para enfrentarnos al hecho de que nuestro mundo está quebrantado y necesitado de sanación y sin embargo nunca estamos desesperanzados. De hecho, la visión cris-tiana es ver la imperfección no como una causa perdida sino co-mo una oportunidad para la sanación y redención. Nunca se pierde nada hasta ese momento del juicio final. Esto es lo que celebramos en la temporada de Adviento – un tiempo de preparación y anticipación. Esperamos la venida de Cristo, y mientras lo hacemos, nos esfor-

ST. CLARE SCHOOL St. Clare School News

2 December 2018

ADVENT COMES TO ST. CLARE SCHOOL This week, our families received Advent calendars in order that they can anticipate the days of the season leading up to the Nativity as a family in their own homes. In addition, we launched our School Advent Giving by adopt-ing families of women served by the Learning and Loving Education Center in Morgan Hill through their Christmas An-gels Program. St. Clare School has long partnered with Direc-tor Christa Hanson to provide support to this mission of the Sisters of the Presentation. Each class and/or Faith Family Groups provides the children at least one new toy and/or book; new article(s) of clothing from the wish list the Center pro-vides. In addition, the parent(s) get new clothing as well as an item from the wish list. The family is also provided a gift card/certificate for groceries for a holiday meal, a gift card for the item or items on the family’s need list (sometimes it’s for a toaster or microwave oven or an iron). The families are so grateful to receive these “presents” from Christmas Angels. This past week, we also began our Advent focus on scripture using the faith formation program BUILD.PLANT.GROW from the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University. On Friday, December 14, our students in grades 3-8 will be participating in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. On Tuesday, December 19, our community will gather in the church to sing traditional carols during our Christmas Program to usher in the holidays. After mass during Advent, you will also find St. Clare School representatives selling poinsettias to decorate the church or take home for your holiday decorating. We are gearing up for the Season of Hope! SUPPORT US Contact the school office if you would like to buy SCRIP, sup-port our school and classroom outreach or make a donation towards the support of our school programs. Mrs. Cecile Mantecón, Principal www.stclareschool.org | 725 Washington Street, Santa Clara CA 95050 | 408-246-6797 Educating hearts and minds since 1856

SCHOOL HAPPENINGS

Rite of Chris an Ini a on for Adults Are you an adult seeking Bap sm? Or were you bap zed Catholic, but have not celebrated the Sacraments of Confir-ma on and Eucharist? We meet on Tuesday evenings from 7:00–9:00pm in the St. Clare Rectory. Classes started on Sep-tember 18, so please sign up ASAP, only a few more weeks le to register in order to complete your Sacraments at the 2019 Easter Vigil. For more informa on please contact:

Diane Madruga at camponeses6@gmail.com Cathy Parshall at catpars@comcast.net

St. Clare Rectory at 408-248-7786

Sunday Children’s Program “Finding God”

Continuous Faith Formation Program

“Faith Formation is more than a subject to be taught, it is an invitation to a way of life” Joe

Paprocki.

About Advent Wreaths- USCCB Advent wreaths are constructed of a circle of evergreen branches into which four candles are inserted, repre-senting the four weeks of Advent. Ideally, three candles are purple, and one is rose, but white candles can also be used. The purple candles in particular symbolize the prayer, penance, and preparatory sacrifices and goods works undertaken at this time. The rose candle is lit on the third Sunday, Gaudete Sunday, when the priest also wears rose vestments at Mass; Gaudete Sunday is the Sunday of rejoicing, because the faithful have arrived at the midpoint of Advent, when their preparation is now half over, and they are close to Christmas. The progressive lighting of the candles symbolizes the expectation and hope surrounding our Lord’s first com-ing into the world and the anticipation of his second coming to judge the living and the dead. Rediscover Christmas We prepare for everything we consider important in life and this includes Christmas. We make the gifts list and shop them, bake cookies, decorate our houses, and visit family and friends until we’re exhausted. This year, slow down and focus on what matters the most and rediscover the real meaning of Christmas. Dynamic Catholic offers a free, lifechanging email pro-grams called Best Advent Ever. You’ll receive short inspirational video, practical tips & free Christmas music. Your experience of Christmas will be unlike any you've experienced before! Are you ready for the best Advent ever? To sign up, visit BestAdventEver.com Please keep in your prayers our children and youth as they prepare to receive the Sacraments of First Reconciliation, First Communion and Confirmation.

Saint Clare of Assisi pray for us! Paty Rascon, Catechetical Office 408.248.7786 X 102 lpadilladerascon@dsj.org Office hours: Tue-Thu 9:00am-12:00pm

2:00pm-5:00pm

The church is like a great ship being pound-ed by the waves of life’s different stresses. Our duty is not to abandon ship, but to keep her on her course. ~ St. Boniface

K N I G H T S C O R N E R If Snapple is right and a lemon has more sugar than a strawberry, why does California have a

lemon law? Come join the Knights and together we can make sugar free lemonade at our next

pancake breakfast.

Contact email: a_colombo1726@comcast.net

sought to be baptized. Since adults always prepared for baptism by fasting, folks counted back a few weeks for a kind of retreat. Before too long, bishops were advising everyone to attend church frequently beginning on De-cember 17. Soon, artists were imagining ways of ex-pressing the Advent mystery, and in Italy this gave rise to beautiful mosaics of empty thrones awaiting the arri-val of the Lord of all creation. Advent as we know it develops on two separate tracks: the first having to do with our spiritual prepara-tion for celebrating the Christmas feast, and the second having to do with the way this is organized and ex-pressed in the liturgical readings and prayers every day of the season. —James Field, Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.

Fair Trade Sale, December 1-2 After all Masses on December 1-2, the Peace and Justice Committee (formerly the Social Justice Com-mittee) at St. Clare Parish will host a Fair Trade sale, where coffee and handcrafts from artisans around the world will be available for sale. Items for purchase in-clude jewelry, accessories, housewares, coffee choco-late, and Christmas items from SERRV International (http://www.serrv.org/), which partners with Catholic Relief Services Ethical Trade Program. This is a great time to do some Christmas shopping and support mar-ginalized artisans from more than 30 countries who are trying to make a better living for themselves, their fami-lies and their communities. A member of the Peace and Justice Committee will be on hand to give a brief announcement

What is Fair Trade? Fair Trade builds right relationships between buy-ers and sellers that are rooted in the principles of hu-man dignity and solidarity. Fair trade also contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading con-ditions to and securing the rights of marginalized pro-ducers and workers. By participating in the Catholic Relief Services Fair Trade Program, we can bring core values of our faith to bear on the choices we make as consumers. Learn more about fair trade at http://www.crsfairtrade.org/. “There is no worse material poverty…than the poverty which prevents people from earning their bread and deprives them of the dignity of work.” – Pope Fran-cis

Fair Trade Sale Details: What: Fair Trade Sale

When: December 1-2, after all Masses Where: Breezeway by the Parking Lot, St. Clare Parish

Payment by cash or checks only.

TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION Occasionally, someone raises a surprised complaint that while Christmas arrives on Santa’s sleigh at the Macy’s parade on Thanksgiving Day, the Church doesn’t catch on too fast. They may even say that Ad-vent is a new fangled idea. Not so. To trace its begin-nings, we have to go back to the fourth or fifth century in France (then Gaul), when Epiphany was the favored day, next to Easter, for baptism. The old pagan struc-tures of Rome were collapsing then, and many people

Tradiciones de Nuestra Fe Es más que justo empezar el tiempo litúrgico de Advien-to con la Virgen María. Esta semana celebramos la So-lemnidad de la Inmaculada Concepción de María. Esta es una fiesta especial para varios países latinoamerica-nos como Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay y los Estados Unidos que tienen como patrona nacional a la Madre de Jesús bajo este título. Esta creencia tiene siglos de ser discutida por teólogos cristianos como Ambrosio, Agustín, Buenaventura y To-más de Aquino, pero fue solo con la Constitución Ineffa-bilis Deus del Papa Pío IX en 1854 que pasó a ser doc-trina oficial de la Iglesia. La enseñanza de la Inmaculada Concepción de la Madre de Jesús insiste que María na-ció y permaneció sin pecado. Según el teólogo francis-cano Juan Duns Escoto, María fue salvada del pecado desde el vientre de su madre Ana. De esta manera Je-sús pudo salvarla no después de haber pecado como ha hecho con nosotros, sino antes de que ella hubiera pe-cado. La Inmaculada Concepción se hizo en vista de la venida de Jesús quien nos puede hacer inmaculados gracias al perdón y la gracia que nos ofrece. —Fray Gilberto Cavazos-Glz, OFM, Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co., Inc. Eventos y Fechas Importantes Celebración Virgen de Guadalupe: Domingo 9 diciem-bre, durante el horario normal de misa -12:00 del medio-día - Recepción después de la misa.

Misa Nochebuena: lunes 24 de diciembre. 4 pm inglés 6 pm español: Misa de Gallo 10 pm portugués

Navidad - martes 25 de diciembre: 9:00am: en inglés. Coronas de Adviento- USCCB Las coronas de advenimiento son construidas con un círculo de ramas de hojas perennes en las cuales se ponen cuatro velas, que representan las cuatro semanas del Adviento. Idealmente, tres velas son moradas, y una es color rosa, pero también pueden ser usadas velas blancas. Las velas moradas simbolizan la oración, la penitencia y los sacrificios preparatorios y las buenas obras empren-didas en esta temporada. La vela rosa se enciende el tercer domingo, llamado Domingo Gaudete. Este es el domingo de la alegría, porque los fieles han llegado al punto medio del Adviento y están más cerca de la Navi-dad. El sacerdote también puede llevar vestiduras con el color rosa para la Misa. El encendido progresivo de las velas simboliza la expec-tativa y la esperanza que rodean la primera venida del Señor al mundo y la anticipación de su segunda venida para juzgar a vivos y muertos. “Yo haré nacer del tronco de David un vástago san-to, que ejercerá la justicia y el derecho en la tierra.” — Jeremías 33:15

Boletim Paroquial Português Boletín Parroquial Español

Reflexão por: João Pereira Arruda

Neste primeiro Domingo do Advento iniciamos o novo Ano litúrgico do ciclo C. Neste ano a maioria dos Evangelhos serão de S. Lucas e começamos neste Domingo com a segunda vinda de Cristo o fim do mundo. Deste modo iniciamos o ano com o final dos tempos donde Cristo virá para atrair a Si aqueles que Ele salvou com a Sua primeira vinda. A primeira vinda aconteceu na pobreza, na humildade e alegria de Belém. Ao longo deste Tempo do Advento; tempo favorável para uma preparação de uma mentalidade com a sua base na verdade e auten cidade do que é a verdadeira celebração do Natal de Jesus Cristo que desde Menino desafiou as mentalidades humanas de viverem no fugaz, no engano, na atração ao exterior mas vazio por dentro. O objec vo de Jesus era preparar o Povo de Deus a aceitar a salvação dada pelo Pai através do Seu Unigénico Filho. Como pode a salvação chegar á Humanidade se desde o começo da vinda do Messias- Salvador essa mesma Humanidade tudo fez para contrariar os planos de salvação de Deus: Quando Jesus nasceu nào havia lugar em nehuma hospedaria e consequentemente nasceu entre animais numa mangedoura. Teve que imigrar para o Egípto para fugir a ser assacinado por Herodes. Nasceu de um casal humilde de um pai adp vo que era carpinteiro e de uma mãe que pelo seu sim ao plano de Amor de Deus facilitou a vinda do Salvador que veio cimentar a úl ma Aliança de Deus com a Humanidade. Façamos esforços neste Tempo de Advento de estar-mos preparados para “o fim dos tempos” e de estarmos de coração limpo para receber a vinda do Filho de Deus, o Messias, o Salvador. Que não nos espalhemos a celebrar-lo só nas luzes nos comes e bebes e nos presente mas reber-Lo no nosso coração.

No cias Convívio de Natal: O CPP leva a efeito o convívio anual do Natal da nossa comunidade no Sábado dia 22 de Dezembro próximo. O programa para este ano será: as portas do Salão paroquial abre ás 5:30 pm e o espectáculo começa ás 6 pm. Parte do espectáculo incluiu os coros de adultos e crianças, poesias e uma peça pequena de teatro. Depois do espctáculo haverá o jantar po pot – luck com a par cipação das famílias da nossa comunidade o que se sugere para que as mesmas contactem os membros do CPP para a coordenação do mesmo. Este convívio consiste em juntar a nossa comunidade num convívio de famílias celebrando o Natal adentro da nossa cultura. Já temos um número considerável de crianças mas´á sempre lugar para mais desde que venham aos ensaios que serão feitos nas sextas feiras ás 7:00 pm nas seguintes datas: 7, 14 e 21. Para o registo das crianças contactem com João Arruda. Programa do Tempo de Advento: Na secção em inglês do bole m paroquial está o plano de ac vidades para todos os paroquianos da nossa paróquia. Para o efeito pede-se que levem os bole ns para casa para assim poderem par cipar e colaborar nos mesmos.

Um Santo e Alegre Domingo para todos!!

Baptism Contact the Parish office to arrange for Baptismal preparation, and to sign up for Baptismal Class. Spanish Prep Class: 1st Monday at 7:00 pm;

Baptism: 3rd Saturday at 10:00 am English Prep Class: 2nd Monday at 7:00 pm;

Baptism: 4th Saturday at 10:00 am

Stand And Be Counted Registering in a parish is a declaration of your desire to be part of a Catholic community and a commitment in

all its dimensions brings you advantages, recognition, and responsibili-ties of many kinds. Being a registered parishioner makes things much

easier when it is time for infant Baptism, weddings, when asked to be a Baptismal or Confirmation Sponsor and even funerals.

We are often asked to provide affidavits for Baptismal and Confirmation Sponsors. We can only do this if a person is a registered, active and

contributing member.

So, are you a registered parishioner? If not please consider registering. Registration forms are available in the

Parish Office and in the Church vestibules.

Baptism & Registration

NOVEMBER 17-18 Sat 5:00PM: $649.00

Sun 7:45AM: $1,155.00 Sun 9:00AM: $1,350.77 Sun 10:30AM: $655.00 Sun 12:00PM: $970.22 Sun 5:30PM: $645.00

Total: $5,424.99

Upcoming Second Offerings:

12/8 Immaculate Concep on

12/9 Re rement Fund for Religious

Stewardship is a way of life, a conversion of heart and mind. It recognizes that all we have is really a gi from God, who asks us to return a por on to sup-port God’s work on earth. It is about developing a need to give rather than merely giving to a need. Please become a good steward of St. Clare Parish and know that if you give only a small amount or fail to contrib-ute at all, our parish will suffer.

NOVEMBER 24-25 Sat 5:00PM: $452.40

Sun 7:45AM: $1,134.00 Sun 9:00AM: $1,061.65 Sun 10:30AM: $722.90 Sun 12:00PM: $771.61 Sun 5:30PM: $778.39

Total: $4,920.95