St . John Cant ius Par i sh T h e C a t h o l i c C o m m u n i t y o f B r i d e s b u r g

Today's readings are as familiar to most of us as the carols we sing and the commercials that overwhelm this holiday season. Often Christmas finds us tired, struggling with preparations and expectations. What we really want to feel is joy and peace. The stress of preparation, of waiting, is reflected in both Isaiah and Paul's letter to Titus. Luke tells us of the exhaustion that Mary and Joseph felt: a young pregnant wife and her husband, forced to travel just as she is about to give birth, unable even to find a room to stay in. It must have been miserable. They must have been afraid. In the midst of this exhaustion, misery, and fear, a child is born, a Son is given. The world is then filled with light and hope, joy and peace. In that moment they, and we, know what all the waiting has been for. WAITING IN THE DARK Isaiah writes powerfully of the darkness and the gloom, the burden and the sacrifices that the Jews have been living with for years and years. Their waiting, their misery is deep and prolonged. Yet they continue to wait. In Paul's letter to Titus, the Christian community is also waiting, not for the birth of the Savior, but for the return of that Savior. Paul reminds us of the "blessed hope" that sustains our wait. In Luke we hear the familiar story of Mary and Joseph, the pregnancy and birth, the baby, the Son. This is the one for whom all have been waiting. His coming, long awaited, much anticipated, is real. The only reaction we are told about is that of the shepherds, and they are afraid. But they are reassured with the same words spoken to Mary by the angel who announced that she would give birth to a son, "Do not be afraid."

4415 Almond Street ~ Philadelphia, PA 19137

Rectory Phone 215-535-6667 Rectory Fax: 215-535-7107 Parish Email sjc4415@comcast.net Parish Website www.stjohncantiusparish.org Rectory Hours Monday - Friday, 9:00 A.M. - 4:30 P.M. Evenings by appointment only, Saturday & Sunday Closed REV. JOSEPH J. ZINGARO Pastor REV. KONSTANTY PRUSZYNSKI Parochial Vicar MRS. THERESA DOMBKOSKI Director of Parish Services EMAIL sjcparishservices@comcast.net MRS. LISA MARIE REMILLARD Parish Secretary Mass Schedule SATURDAY MASSES: 5:00 P.M. (English) SUNDAY MASSES: 8:00 A.M., 10:00 A.M. (English) 11:30 A.M. (Polish) HOLY DAY MASSES Vigil Mass 7:00 P.M. (English) 9:00 A.M. (English) 7:00 P.M. (Polish) DAILY MASSES: 8:00 A.M. Mon./Wed./Fri. (English) 8:00 A.M.Tues./Thur. & Sat (Polish) CONFESSIONS Saturday 3:30P.M. - 4:15 P.M. BLESSED TRINITY REGIONAL CATHOLIC SCHOOL Ms. Linda Milewski Principal 215-338-9797

December 25, 2016 The Nativity of the Lord

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December 25, 2016 The Nativity of the Lord

MONDAY – Dec 26th

St. Stephen 8AM(E) Elizabeth Hatalski urodziny TUESDAY – DEC 27th

St. John 8AM(P)Adam Hatalski WEDNESDAY – DEC 28th

The Holy Innocents, Martyrs 8AM(E) Thaddeus J. Bartkowski I req. Roselle & Family THURSDAY – DEC 29th

St. Thomas Becket, Bishop & Martyr 8AM(P) For the People of St. John Cantius FRIDAY - DEC 30th

The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph 8AM(E) Robert Stabene req. St. John Cantius Golden Age Club SATURDAY – DEC 31st

St. Sylvester I, Pope 8AM(P) Christmas Mass Remembrance 5PM (E) Edward Mizia req. Mr. & Mrs. Walter Gasiewski SUNDAY – JAN 1st

8AM(E) John Whittle req. Family 10AM(E) Living & Deceased Members of the Holy Rosary Society 11:30(P) Dziekczynna za tych co pomogli i wsparli chora Anielke

The candle in the Church burns for John & Betty Jastrzemski from loving daughter, Elaine. The candle in the Church burns for

William E. Hunt Sr. from loving wife, Anne. The candle in the Chapel burns for Helen V. Mosczynska from loving daughter, Franny T. Alice. (Happy Birthday in Heaven) The candle in the Chapel burns for Lisa Self from Diana Sowinski. The St. John Cantius Lamp burns In loving memory of Mary & Tony Golembiewski from son, Anthony J. Golebiewski Jr. The Second Collection today is for Weekly Offering 12/25. Next week’s is for New Year 1/1. *************************************************** The Nativity of the Lord December 25, 2016 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. — John 1:5

LECTORS JAN 1 5PM Tom Crouthers 8AM Jason Cook 10AM Barbara Jurgelewicz

EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS JAN 1 5PM Fran & Tony Coppola , Tom Crouthers & Phyllis Rooney 10AM Kathy Lisiewski , Joseph & Donna Slabinski

FLAME OF LOVE Flame of Love Cenacles

Wednesday, 8:30 AM, 2PM & 3:30PM in

St. Joseph’s Hall.

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Letter From Pastor

Fr. Konstanty, the entire Rectory Staff and I wish all of you a most Blessed Christmas. We also thank you for all the Christmas cards, gifts and greetings – and for remembering us during this most holy of days as we celebrate the Lord’s birth. Enjoy this celebration of our Lord’s birthday. Keep Him present in your celebration, and remember – He is the greatest Gift of all. In two of the Gospel readings for Christmas Day, the shepherds figure prominently. Why? Nothing is said to indicate they were outstandingly good men or that they were leaders in the Bethlehem community. Thomas Aquinas wondered whether it was fitting that these shepherds got the announcement of Jesus’ birth first. He concluded that it was because the shepherds represented the Jewish people and the magi the Gentile world. But still, why shepherds? Recently some have reasoned that shepherds were fitting recipients because they were so ecologically correct, close to nature and all that. But could it have been for a much simpler reason? The shepherds were just there, in the right place and the right time. Who else would be awake at midnight? Who else would be out on the hillside beneath the arc of the mighty sky? More relevant to us is their reaction to the news brought by the angelic host. The shepherds should inspire us to ask ourselves: what is my reaction to the news? Isaiah says the reaction should be “abundant joy and great rejoicing.” Paul tells us that it gives us the opportunity to live “temperately, justly, and devoutly.” The angels’ message invites us to rejoice because Christ is born again in our hearts. The angels sing—but their song only makes sense to those waiting, hoping, and believing. Why shepherds? Why not? They cluster around the crib to remind us that Christmas belongs to the simple people who hear, accept, and come to this amazing scene. Because they were at the nativity scene, the shepherds have become an integral part of Christmas. They returned to their lonely hillside but they told what had happened. They glorified and praised God for what they had heard and seen. Shouldn’t that be our reaction to Christmas? God’s word and grace come to us—to each of us in our own place. When we hear the news of Christmas, should we not come to see what has taken place? Like the shepherds, we are exhorted to get up and see, to make Christmas an integral part of our lives. The Rectory Office will be closed this week, so the staff may enjoy the Christmas celebration with their families. The office will reopen on Tuesday, January 3rd. REMEMBER: Our Mass schedule for next Sunday is as follows:

Saturday, December 31st, 5:00 P.M. (English) Sunday, January 1st: 8:00 (English), 10:00 (English), 11:30 A.M. (Polish) A MOST BLESSED AND MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF YOU!!!! OUR DYNAMIC CATHOLIC THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: “Jesus is here. Jesus is with you. Sometimes we may think we are waiting for him, but that is never true. God is always waiting on us. Maybe things haven’t gone as you planned this Advent. Do not get discouraged. He knows your heart, and he is waiting for you with open arms.”

Remember the Four Signs of a Dynamic Catholic:

PRAYER

STUDY

GENEROSITY

EVANGELIZATION

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Wraz z Ks. Konstantym i całym zespołem personelu na Plebanii, życzymy Wam wszystkim Najbardziej Błogosławionych Świąt Bożego Narodzenia. Dziękujemy również za wszystkie kartki świąteczne, prezenty i życzenia – i za pamięć o nas podczas tych najświętszych dni świętowania urodzin Dzieciątka. Ciesz się ta uroczystością naszego Pana. Trzymajcie Jego obecność w uroczystościach, i pamiętajcie - On jest największym darem dla wszystkich.

W dwóch czytaniach Ewangelii na Boże Narodzenie, pasterze sa opisani w wielkich detalach. Czemu? Nic nie jest napisane wskazując na to, ze byli to wyjątkowo dobrzy ludzie albo, że byli liderami wspólnoty Betlejem. Tomasz z Akwinu zastanawiał się, czy to dobrze, że ci pasterze dostali zapowiedź narodzin Jezusa jako pierwsi. Doszedł on do wniosku, że pasterze reprezentowali Żydów a Mędrcy cały świat pogański. Ale nadal, dlaczego pasterze? Ostatnio niektórzy z nich uznali, że pasterze zostali właściwie powołani na odbiorców, ponieważ byli tak ekologicznie poprawni, blisko natury i to wszystko. Ale mógł być o wiele prostszy powód? Pasterze byli po prostu tam, we właściwym miejscu i we właściwym czasie. Kto jeszcze będzie obudzony o północy? Kto jeszcze będzie na wzgórzu pod łukiem potężnego nieba?

Bardziej istotna dla nas jest ich reakcja na wiadomość przyniesiona przez anielskich posłańców.

Pasterze powinni zainspirować nas do zadania sobie pytania: jaka jest moja reakcja na wiadomość? Izajasz mówi, że reakcja powinna być "obfita radość i wielka radość". Paweł mówi nam, że daje nam ona możliwość życia "umiarkowanie, sprawiedliwie i pobożnie." Przesłanie aniołów "zaprasza nas do radości, ponieważ Chrystus rodzi się na nowo w naszych sercach. Aniołowie śpiewają, ale ich piosenka ma sens tylko dla tych, którzy czekają, mają nadzieję i wiarę. Dlaczego pasterze? Dlaczego nie? Oni skupiają się wokół żłóbka, aby przypomnieć nam, że Boże Narodzenie należy do prostych ludzi, którzy słyszą, akceptują, i przychodzą do tej niezwyklej scenerii.

Ponieważ przyszli do szopki, pasterze stali się integralną częścią świąt Bożego Narodzenia. Wrócili do

swojego samotnego wzgórza, ale opowiedzieli, co się stało. Wielbili i chwalili Boga za to, co słyszeli i widzieli. Czy nie taka powinna być nasza reakcja na Boże Narodzenie? Słowo i łaska Boga przychodzą do nas, do każdego z nas w naszym własnym miejscu. Kiedy słyszymy wiadomości o Bożym Narodzeniu, czy nie powinniśmy przyjść, aby zobaczyć, co się dzieje? Tak jak pasterze, jesteśmy wezwani, aby wstać i zobaczyć, żeby Boże Narodzenie było nieodłączną częścią naszego życia.

Biuro Plebanii będzie nieczynne w tym tygodniu, żeby pracownicy mogli spędzić Święta z rodzinami. Biuro ponownie będzie otwarte w Wtorek, 3 Stycznia. PRZYPOMINAMY Nasz harmonogram na najbliższą niedzielę: Sobota, 31 grudnia, 17:00 (po angielsku) Niedziela, 1 Stycznia: 08:00 (po angielsku), 10:00 (po angielsku), 11:30 (po Polsku) ŻYCZĘ NAJBARDZIEJ BŁOGOSŁAWIONYCH I WESOŁYCH ŚWIĄT DLA WAS WSZYSTKICH !!!! NASZA DYNAMICZNA KATOLICKA MYŚL TYGODNIA: "Jezus jest tutaj. Jezus jest z tobą. Czasami myślimy, że czekasz na Niego, ale to nie jest prawdą. Bóg zawsze czeka na nas. Może sprawy nie poszły zgodnie z planem w czasie Adwentu. Nie zniechęcaj się. On zna twoje serce, i on czeka na Ciebie z otwartymi ramionami."

Pamiętaj Cztery oznaki Dynamicznego Katolika:

MODLITWA – NAUKA – HOJNOŚĆ – EWANGELIZACJA

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The Liturgy of the Word for Children will be celebrated on Sunday, January 8th at the 10:00AM Mass. We invite all children Pre-School to Grade 4 to participate. This is a celebration of the Word at a level which can be understood by children.

CONTINUED FROM COVER PAGE FAMILIARITY BREEDS CONTEMPLATION But how could we not be afraid? A young mother giving birth in a stable. Shepherds seeing angels. We do not need to be afraid because these stories are so familiar. Most of us could tell them almost word for word from memory. They are like the stories our children insist we read to them night after night long after they know every word by heart. They are familiar not just because we hear them repeated every year at Christmas but because they are the stories of our daily preparations, our lifelong waiting, our fear, exhaustion, misery, and our hope and joy. Their very familiarity means we don't have to wonder what the outcome will be. We already know. We know that despite the mean circumstances into which Mary's Son was born, her Son transforms the darkness into light. Her Son brings rejoicing. Her Son brings peace. We know that, despite our exhaustion and our fear, peace awaits us, too.

READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59; Ps 31:3cd-4, 6, 8ab, 16bc, 17; Mt 10:17-22 Tuesday: 1 Jn 1:1-4; Ps 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12; Jn 20:1a, 2-8 Wednesday: 1 Jn 1:5 — 2:2; Ps 124:2-5, 7b-8; Mt 2:13-18 Thursday: 1 Jn 2:3-11; Ps 96:1-3, 5b-6; Lk 2:36-40 Friday: Sir 3:2-6, 12-14 or Col 3:12-21 [12-17]; Ps 128:1-5; Mt 2:13-15, 19-23 Saturday: 1 Jn 2:18-21; Ps 96:1-2, 11-13; Jn 1:1-18 Sunday: Nm 6:22-27; Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8; Gal 4:4-7; Lk 2:16-21

LEARNED AT HOME The mind of Christ is to be learned in the family. Strength of character may be acquired at work, but beauty of character is learned at home.

—Henry Drummond

TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION An old joke asks, “What time is Midnight Mass?” The answer is not really obvious, since Christmas is unique in having several distinct celebrations. The readings and prayers vary greatly from hour to hour. The Vigil Mass hinges on the family heritage of Jesus and his origins. The concept of “midnight” predates clock time, and really has to do with a celebration in the hours of darkness. Years ago, it was not possible to receive Communion without fasting for a full day, so the late hour of this Mass made it possible for the people to receive. The first Mass after sunrise, the Mass at Dawn, was once known as “The Shepherds’ Mass,” and later Masses set aside stories of Jesus’ birth to focus on the key to the day’s celebration: John the Evangelist’s majestic theology of Christ’s identity as the Word made flesh, dwelling among us. One feast, four separate Masses. Only monasteries manage the whole round. Parishioners typically take just one entry point into the mystery. Yet there is much to savor and celebrate in the coming of Christ into the world. Christmas is not a day, but a season. You still have two weeks to send those Christmas cards before you’re officially late! ****************************************** LOVE Let those who never loved before, love now: Let those who always loved, love the more. —Anonymous

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COLLECTION COUNTERS FOR SUNDAY

Dec 25 Lucille Mocarski & Terry Casey Jan 1 Connie Perrault & Maryann Marszalek

LOTTERY TICKETS Lottery tickets will be sold in the back of the Chapel or Church Calendars are now available for distribution. The cost is $5.00 each for the month, based on the evening of the Pennsylvania Lottery drawing. Daily prizes of $50.00 a day and Sundays are $100.00. Plus each month a bonus day! Sellers are needed. Tickets will

be sold before and after each Mass. This will be an on going fundraiser. We ask for you help and support to make this an ongoing success. Thank you for your support of our Parish. DATE NUMBER PRIZE WINNER SELLER Dec 14 000 $50 Kathleen Dec 15 489 $50 Unsold Dec 16 905 $50 Helen Larios Dec 17 335 $50 Unsold Dec 18 653 $100 Unsold Dec 19 239 $50 Unsold Dec 20 701 $50 Mildred Gawlisnki Pasternak Dec 21 342 $50 Kathleen

Collection Count for Dec. 18, 2016

Attn Env Cash Checks Total 5pm 125 74 $648 $940 $1,588 8am 65 47 $329 $738 $1,067 10am 149 64 $791 $862 $1,653 11:30 175 64 $866 $77 $943 Total $2,634 $2,617 $5,251 Mailed In 27 $197 $1,109 $1,306 HS 1 $5 $5 Flowers 235 $1,285 $549 $1,834 Rel. Retire. 4 $13 $13 Grand Total $ 4,134 $4,275 $8,409 Total Deposit $8,409

TO ALL PARISHIONERS AND FRIENDS

You are invited the 2nd Wednesday of every month (Sept-June) at 1:00 pm in the Chapel to pray an English Rosary along with our Rosary Society. This service is brief but beautiful. Come, spend a little extra time once a month and silently add your special intention. We’re sure that it would please our Blessed Mother and Jesus.

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