24252 El Toro Road, Laguna Woods, CA 92637 (949) 837-1090; FAX (949) 837-9510; www.st-nicholaschurch.org

School of Religious Education: (949) 837-7676

Our Parish Mission Statement St. Nicholas Parish is a Catholic community, celebrating our faith

through the Sacraments, Liturgy, Prayer and Service. We strive to nurture family life and to create one body out of many in the Lord.

We share the Good News with people of all ages, cultures and faith backgrounds.

BAPTISM Fourth Sunday of the month at 2:00PM. Arrangements must be made a month in advance. Parents must attend two preparation sessions.

MARRIAGE Arrangements must begin at least six months in advance with a priest of the parish.

ANOINTING OF THE SICK Call Parish Office in an emergency. Special Service celebrated in fall/spring as announced.

FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS At the death of a family member, please call the Parish Office at your earliest convenience to plan for the Mass of Christian Burial.

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION DAY 24-hour adoration begins the second Wednesday of the month at the 9:00AM Mass.

DEVOTIONS & BENEDICTION Wednesday evenings at 7:00PM; Vietnamese—2nd Wednesday of the month at 8PM. Recitation of the Holy Rosary and Benediction.

CLERGY

Parish Administrator Rev. George P. Blais Parochial Vicar Rev. Raphael Nguyen Parochial Vicar Rev. Quyen Truong Visiting Priest Rev. Msgr. John Campbell Visiting Priest Rev. Gerald Walker Visiting Priest Rev. Brendan Hankins Deacon Wayne Thompson Deacon Chau Tran Deacon Gerardo De Santos

MASS SCHEDULE Saturday Vigil: 4:00PM, 7:00PM in Spanish Sunday: 7:30AM, 9:00AM, 10:45AM, 12:30PM, and 5:00PM in Vietnamese. Monday through Friday: 7:00AM and 9:00AM Saturday: 9AM

Filipino Mass: 5:30PM, First Saturdays, October-June. Holy Days: 4PM Vigil, 7AM, 9AM, 12PM, 6PM and 7:30PM in Vietnamese

RECONCILIATION (Confession) Saturday: 9:45AM to 10:15AM and 3:00PM to 3:45PM or by appointment.

Parish Office Hours: Sunday: 8:30 AM—1:30 PM Monday through Friday: 9 AM—12 Noon; 1 PM — 4:30 PM; 6 PM - 8 PM

Saturday: 9 AM—12 Noon

St. Nicholas Parish

December 11, 2016 Third Sunday of Advent

Stewardship of Treasure

2016 2015 52-Weekly Required Budget

December 4th $29,249.06 $25,111.02 $22,987

Commitment Card

Thank you to those who have already returned their “Commitment” card, which was sent to all Parishioners along with the Parish’s Annual Report. If you have not already done so, we appreciate your prayerful consideration, and request that you return the card as soon as possible. This information allows us to effectively plan for our Parish needs.

Retirement Fund for Religious Collection This weekend-December 10-11

Your gift in the collection offers needed assistance for prescription medications, nursing care, and also helps the congregations implement long- term retirement strategies to ensure quality eldercare for thousands of elderly religious sisters, brothers, and religious order priests who worked for many years for little, if any, pay.

Please be generous. THANK YOU!

Fr. Quyen demonstrates the proper way to hold the hands to receive the Eucharist.

A SEASON OF HOPE

Today we can bask in the imagery that the Mass readings offer us. In particular, Isaiah’s vision of a parched land that blooms with abundant flowers holds a message for each of us. Too often we are just like that parched land. We can allow ourselves to become absorbed in the waves of consumerism that grip so many. We look for fulfillment in the things that money can buy. Unfortunately, this leaves us like parched land, thirsting for something that money can’t buy. This holy season has much to offer to quench our thirsts. In a word, this season offers hope. We are told that those who are ransomed by God will know joy and gladness. For them, sorrow and mourning will be no more. Let us place our hope in these promises. Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co., Inc.

How to Properly Receive the Eucharist

Sometimes, it is important to remind ourselves of what occurs when we receive the Eucharist and how we should receive the Eucharist. When we approach the Lord’s table we need to come humbly, with devotion, and with great reverence and respect. Here are some additional things to remember:

1. Communicants should walk straight forward and face the Priest or Eucharistic Minister and not be too far away making it difficult for them to reach.

2. Those giving or receiving Communion should never be in a hurry. The Eucharist should not be received “on the run,” as you walk back to your place. The Host must be consumed before you leave the area in front of the altar.

3. There are two ways in which to receive Communion. You may receive on the tongue or in the hand. The decision on how to receive is up to the Communicant and NOT the person distributing Communion.

4. Communicants need to clearly show how they want to receive Communion. Sometimes, Communicants come up with their hands out, and their mouths open and the Priest or Eucharistic Minister does not know which way to give the Host.

5. If you are going to receive on the tongue, be sure to keep your head up, open your mouth and stick out your tongue—stand still until the Host is put on your tongue.

6. If you are going to receive in the hand, put one hand on top of the other with palms up. It is not appropriate to reach out with the fingers and take the host from the person distributing the Eucharist.

7. If the Eucharist should fall, please indicate it to the Priest or Eucharistic Minister.

8. The Priest or Eucharistic Minister holds up the Host and says, “The Body of Christ.” The Communicant should respond with , “Amen,” which means, “I agree” or “I believe.”

December 11, 2016 Third Sunday of Advent

Monday: 7AM William Bentley (d) 9AM Nicola & Catherine Del Negro (d) Tuesday: 7AM Frank 9AM Lupe Gandara Wednesday: 7AM All Souls 9AM Virginia Corrigan (d) Thursday: 7 AM Fr. Elforo Wanke (d) 9AM Therese Blais (d) Friday: 7 AM Paulino Marquez (d) 9AM Ron Matejka (d) Saturday: 9AM Peter Kim (d) 4PM Eleonore Santini (d) 7PM Jesus Alberto Rozo (d) Sunday: 7:30AM Catherine P. Riccutti (d) 9:00AM Anthony Palmer 10:45AM For the Parish 12:30PM Francisco Toribio (d)

Parish Calendar This Week

MONDAY Sewing Group, Small Hall, 8AM Hispanic Group Guadalupe Reception, Parish Center, 8AM Religious Education for Elementary, Parish Center, 4:15PM Spanish RCIA, Room C, 6PM Spanish Rosary, Church, 6:30PM TUESDAY Religious Education for Elementary, Parish Center, 4:15PM SRE for 7 & 8, Parish Center-downstairs, 7PM SRE Confirmation II, Parish Center-upstairs, 7PM St. Nicholas Chorale, Small Hall, 7:15PM Teen/Family Choir, Church Choir Loft, 7:30PM WEDNESDAY Eucharistic Adoration, Church, begins at 9AM Mass Charismatic Prayer Group, Room A, 9:45AM Religious Education for Elementary, Parish Center, 4:15PM Advent Penance Service, Church, 7PM Hispanic Choir, Room C, 7PM Filipino Choir, Small Hall, 7PM THURSDAY Faith Alive, Room A, 10AM Hispanic Council, Room C, 6:30PM RCIA, Room 201-Parish Center, 7PM St. Nicholas Choir, Small Hall, 7:15PM FRIDAY Little Company of Mary, Small Hall, 10AM Divine Mercy, St. Faustina Study, Room C, 1:45PM Las Posadas, Parish Center, 6:30PM Hispanic Bible Study, Small Hall, 7PM Baptism Preparation-Spanish, Room B, 7PM Baptism Preparation-English, Room C, 7:30PM SATURDAY Library Ministry Meeting, Room C, 9:30AM Baptisms-Spanish, Church, 11AM Spanish Choir, Room C, 5PM SUNDAY Library is open, Room C, 8:45AM Baptisms-English, Church 2PM

TODAY’S READINGS

First Reading: Isaiah 35:1-6a, 10 The barren deserts will rejoice and flower. Tired bodies will receive strength. Aching hearts will be made glad.

Psalm 146: Lord, come and save us.

Second Reading: James 5:7-10 Be patient, for the coming of the Lord is as sure as the rain.

Gospel: Matthew 11:2-11 Tell of what you hear and see: The blind regain their vision, the crippled their movement, the deaf their hearing.

We Remember

Katherine Rogers and Maurice Houten, who entered their new and eternal life in Christ.

Grant to all our dearly departed, eternal rest, O Lord, and may your light shine on them forever.

Christmas Flower Dedications

We will be accepting donations of Poinsettias (preferably red) in memory of your loved ones to help decorate the Church and the Parish Center for Christmas. Please bring the Poinsettias to the Parish Office by Wednesday, December 21st.

Sunday Missals Have Arrived!

If you ordered a Sunday Missal, they have arrived and you can pick them up in the Parish Office. If you would still like to purchase a missal, the cost is $5.00 while supplies last!

December 11, 2016 Third Sunday of Advent

School of Religious Education

Check us out on Facebook!

Bible Study—This Tuesday, Dec. 13th at 6pm in the Youth Room. We will then resume again in January. (NOTE: If you have missed a Confirmation I or II Class, you may attend a Bible Study to make up for your absence.)

Coffee and Donuts is TODAY Sunday, Dec. 11th, from 9:30am to 12:45pm.

Go to the Parish Center (kitchen) and check-in with Betty Farrell.

Santa Claus will be visiting C & D!

Teen/Family Choir will be Christmas Caroling on Saturday, Dec. 18th. Please meet in the parking lot (by the Parish Office) at 12:30PM. We will carpool to the retirement home that we are visiting.

Teen/Family Mass is on Christmas Eve, December 24 at 4pm. We are looking for volunteers to participate in the Christmas Eve Pageant, which will start at 3:30pm. Your teachers will be asking you to signup. There are NO speaking parts!

Elementary Classes will meet Monday—Wednesday, Dec. 12, 13, 14, at 4:15pm.

Junior High Classes will meet on Tuesday, Dec. 13 at 7pm downstairs in the Parish Center.

Confirmation II Classes will meet on Tuesday, Dec. 13 at 7pm upstairs in the Parish Center.

Santa Claus is visiting Coffee and Donuts today, Sunday, Dec. 11th. All children (from ages 1 to 99+) are invited to the Parish Center to wish him a Merry Christmas! Youth Group and Confirmation Students will be hosting that morning!

All SRE Classes (elementary, junior high and Confirmation I & II) will be on Christmas break from

Dec. 19 through Jan. 9. A 2017 class schedule will be mailed during the break; please watch the bulletin and your

mail. Remember the SRE Family Mass on Saturday, Dec. 24th. The Christmas Pageant will begin

at 3:30pm and Mass at 4pm.

May your family and loved ones be blessed with the love and peace that is Christmas!

The Angel Tree

We thank everyone who participated in this year’s Angel Tree.

Your generous gifts will brighten the day for a child or adult in need.

If you did pick an angel, please bring your gift to the Parish Office

no later than Monday, December 12th.

This allows sufficient time to distribute the gifts. Donated items are given to South County Outreach,

Obria Medical Clinics, and Micah’s Way. Thank you for your generosity!

2017 Calendars Calendars for 2017 will be in the Church Vestibule. Supplies are limited, so please be mindful that others would also like a

Calendar and take just ONE per household. We once again thank

O’Connor Mortuary for their generous gift of calendars to the

Parishioners of St. Nicholas!

HELP WANTED! More volunteers are needed to help in the cleaning of the Church. We meet every other Tuesday after the 9AM Mass.

Call: Phoebe at 949-855-9263.

A PRAYER FOR ADVENT

Look on us Jesus, and let all the darkness of our souls disappear before the beams of your brightness. Fill us with your holy love, and open to us the treasures of your wisdom. You know all our desires, so bring to perfection what you have started, and what the Holy Spirit has wakened us to ask in prayer. We see your face, turn your face to us and show us your glory. Then our longing will be satisfied and our peace will be perfect. Amen. —St. Augustine

OneLife LA Walk—SAVE the Date!

The St. Nicholas Knights of Columbus will have a bus for the OneLife LA Walk for Life on Saturday, January 21, 2017.

Contact: William White—949-859-6203. Plan to join thousands of people from dioceses throughout

Southern California to walk one mile to promote the beauty and dignity of every human life from conception to natural death. There will be speakers, vendors selling food, entertainment —

bring a blanket to sit on (no chairs allowed)!

December 11, 2016 Third Sunday of Advent

Hispanic Group Events

All Parishioners are invited to these Hispanic Group events:

Monday, December 12—Our Lady of Guadalupe: 6AM Procession from the Parish Center 6:30AM Mananitas 7AM Mass 8AM Reception in the Parish Center following Mass

Friday, December 16—Las Posadas 6:30PM in the Parish Center—everyone is invited to join us!

Masses and events are in Spanish.

Area Advent Penance Services

Wednesday, December 14 at 7PM at St. Nicholas Monday, December 19 at 7PM at Santiago de Compostela

Tuesday, December 20 at 7PM at San Francisco Solano Wednesday, December 21 at 7PM at St. Kilian

PARISH OFFICE STAFF

Parish Liturgical Secretary: Cate Wolski Business Manager: Irma Contreras Receptionist/Records: Karen Falagrady Ministry to Sick & Homebound: Barbara Price Director, Youth Ministry: Gwen Wieser Director, Religious Education: Gwen Wieser SRE Secretary/Admin Assistant: Alfonso Lopez Music Ministry: Emett Loera Plant Supervisor: Steve Burton

SCHOOL OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: (949) 837-7676 VIETNAMESE MINISTRIES: (949) 837-1090, Ext. 116 Sr. Maria Loan Tran, LHC: (949) 837-1090, Ext 137

FOOD BOXES for Senior Citizens over 60 years

Community Action Partnership of Orange County is collaborating with St. Nicholas and local churches to provide

monthly food boxes for Seniors over age 60. Following are income guidelines:

Family Size Monthly Income 1 $1,287.00 2 $1,736.00 3 $2,184.00 4 $2,633.00 5 $3,081.00

Registration and distribution of the boxes will occur: Friday, December 16th, 9:30am—11:30am

(Bring Photo ID!) Lutheran Church of the Cross

24231 El Toro Rd., Laguna Woods (in the back parking lot).

If you are interested, call 949-837-4673 by December 13th, to add your name to the list.

PLEASE NOTE: Bulletin Articles Deadlines!

Due to the holidays, the Bulletin publishing company has required that our bulletin information be submitted much earlier

than normal. If you have an article you need in the bulletin, please note the following deadlines:

Bulletin Date Articles due to the Parish Office

December 25 December 12th by 9AM

January 1st December 19th by 9AM

Any articles submitted past due dates will not be published!

Library Hours: The library is open every Sunday, 8:45am to 12:45pm and the last Wednesday of the month, 2pm-4pm.

We are located in Room C—behind the Parish Office. Freebie cart with books, DVDs, rosaries, etc.

Mrs. Santa Claus and her merry Elves handed out Christmas presents to those attending the Council of Catholic Women

Christmas Luncheon on Friday, December 2nd.

Memorial Mass for Rev. Msgr. Lawrence Gibson

All parishioners are invited to attend the Memorial Mass for Msgr. Lawrence Gibson on Wednesday, Dec. 14th at 10:30am at St. Kilian Church 26872 Estanciero Dr., Mission Viejo.

In June 2015, on his 60th Anniversary as a priest, Msgr. Gibson (left) received a certificate from Bishop Vann.

A resident of Laguna Woods, Msgr. Gibson had often celebrated weekday Masses at St. Nicholas Church.

St. Nicholas Advent Penance Service—12 Priests Wednesday, December 14th at 7:00PM

Sacrament of Reconciliation here at St. Nicholas Saturday, December 17th at 9:45AM and 3:00PM

Wednesday, December 21st at 9:45AM Saturday, December 24th at 9:45AM

Christmas/New Year’s Mass Schedule

Saturday, December 24th—Christmas Eve Daily Mass at 9AM

Solemnity of the vigil of the Nativity of the Lord:

4:00PM, (English), SRE Family Mass with Teen/Family Choir Note: 3:30PM Christmas Pageant and Christmas Carols.

6PM, (English), with St. Nicholas Parish Choir and String Quartet (Prelude at 5:40PM)

8PM, Vietnamese Mass in the Church 8PM, Spanish Mass in the Parish Center

10:30PM, with St. Nicholas Chorale and oboe & flute (Prelude at 10:10PM)

Sunday, December 25th—Christmas Day 7:30AM, with Cantor and Piano 9:00AM, with Cantor and Organ

10:45AM, with St. Nicholas Chorale 12:30PM, with Cantor and Organ

5:00PM, Vietnamese Mass

Monday, December 26th—Day after Christmas Regular Weekday Mass Schedule: 7AM and 9AM

Saturday, December 31st—New Year’s Eve Regular Schedule of Masses: 9AM, 4PM and 7PM (Spanish)

Sunday, January 1st—New Year’s Day Solemnity of Mary, Holy Mother of God

Regular Sunday Mass Schedule: 7:30AM, 9:00AM, 10:45AM, 12:30PM and 5:00PM (Vietnamese)

If possible, please carpool to alleviate parking and traffic problems at holiday Masses.