Mass Schedule ♦ First Saturday Mass 8:30 a.m.

♦ Saturday Vigil 5 p.m. ♦ Sunday 8 a.m., 10 a.m.,

Noon & 6 p.m. ♦ Mon. - Fri. 7 a.m. & 8:30 a.m.

Pastoral Center Monday-Friday

8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Closed Noon - 1:00 p.m.

(Mask must be worn & social distancing is encouraged.)

Phone: 504-347-2203 Emergency Line: 504-341-7609

Fax: 504-347-2223 Website: www.vol.org

Parishioners who are ill

or shut-in Contact the Pastoral Center for home

visits or Holy Communion

Sacrament of Penance

Saturdays 4-5pm and 30 minutes before each Sunday Mass or by

appointment.

Sacrament of the Sick (Anointing) By appointment only.

Contact the Pastoral Center.

Sacrament of Marriage Couples should make an appointment

with one of the parish priests 6 to 8 months in advance.

Religious Education

Director of Religious Education Miss Emily Oncale

CCD Classes begin in September RCIA Classes (Adults)

begin in August Phone: 504-341-8477

Pastoral Center Staff Rev. Colin Braud

Pastor

Rev. Jude Emunemu Parochial Vicar

Deacon James Rooney Deacon Jim Venturella

Mrs. Christie Bourg Director of Ministries

Mrs. Kelli Bourgeois

Parish Secretary

Visitation School Principal

Mrs. Carolyn Levet, M.Ed. 3520 Ames Blvd.

Phone: 504-347-3377 Grades Pre K-2 through 7th

Visitation of Our Lady Church 3500 Ames Blvd. Marrero, La.

December 13, 2020

This week, in addition to the first two purple candles, we light the pink (rose) candle. The pink candle is known as the shepherds’ candle. The third week of Advent means “Joy.” From Jesus Christ we have received so much love, beauty and joy for the simple things in life. This week let us be reminded of the simple things in life that don’t cost money. Let’s share special family time together.

Third Sunday of Advent

December 13, 2020 Third Sunday of Advent 2

3rd Sunday of Advent, Year B

We celebrate the 3rd Sunday of Advent this weekend, commonly referred to as Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete in Latin means “rejoice.” This is taken from the Entrance Antiphon of this Mass.

This is also the Sunday when something changes, that is, rose vestments are worn. As an aside, every year there is a back and forth between priests and parishioners. Everyone says that the color is pink, but the priest insists its rose. Why is this? It is because the Roman Missal, the book used during Mass, indicates what the priest must say and do in the Liturgy. It calls the color rose. This means that rose is a liturgical color, while pink is not. On this point purple is not a liturgical color, but violet is. I’ll just leave that right there.

So what is this Sunday about? Why rose and why rejoice when we are still in Advent? Basically the Church is communicating to us that we’ve turned the corner, we’re at the top of the hill, there is light at the end of the tunnel. We can be slightly joyful today because Christmas is almost here. The joy and celebration of that day is almost upon us, and so we change the liturgical color for Mass.

The fact that this happens reveals the humanity of the Church. The Church is our mother, and like all mothers, she knows the psyche of her children. We have been undergoing preparation these last couple of weeks, and so are allowed to have a pre-celebration celebration. This is only something a mother would do. A father would not do this. He would say his children can celebrate after they have finished, which in this case means after the weeks of Advent are complete. To be sure, I am not saying one approach is better than the other, as we need both. Sometimes we need motherly treatment, and other times the fatherly. I am pointing this out merely to show the humanity of the Church is really seen here. Sometimes our view of the Church can be so abstract that it becomes unrelatable. Viewing the Church as mother brings it down to earth and connects it to the human experience.

We are almost to the Christmas joy, but not yet. Let us all stay the course, persevering in this spiritual journey, so that we will experience a true joy when we celebrate the birth of Christ.

Reflection by Fr. Braud

♦ Mass Intentions

Saturday, December 12 5:00 p.m. Donald Gaudin, Sam Galley, Nathan Plaisance Family, The Tran Family, Frank Adams, Ann Eslick, Poor Souls in Purgatory, Conversion of Sinners, Tiger Roussell, For All Souls, Elisa Gauthreaux, Isabella Bigger, Jonathan Bigger, Renella Ledet, Pat Morvant, Joe LaPorte, Herman Frank, James Soul, Mary Oncale, James & Blanche Sievers, Dora Cecile, and for All Aborted Babies Sunday, December 13 8:00 a.m. The Tran Family

10:00 a.m. M/M Donnie Dino, Ernie Miguez, The Macloud Family, M/M Clarence Boudreaux, M/M Avie Templet, M/M Herbert Nichols, M/M Philip Arnold, M/M Rodney J. Folse, M/M Earl Galle, Nolan Baudoin, Mr. Lalo Gongora, Paul & Betty Territo, Freddie LeBlanc, Leroy & Pat Morvant, The Betanof Family, M/M Chester Hebert, Sr., John Callaway, Joseph D. Sansoni & Sons, Michael Landeche, For All Aborted Babies, Eunice May Lirette Gambino, Dominick & Rosalie Gulizo & Children, Rene & Cecile Petit, Mary Ann Ramos, Mary Oncale, Francis “Tiger” Roussell, EJ Cortez, Conversion of Sinners, All Souls in Purgatory and John Andrew Andersen

12:00 p.m. The Phillips Family

6:00 p.m. The Visitation of Our Lady Parishioners Monday, December 14 7:00 a.m. Communion Service 8:30 a.m. Communion Service Tuesday, December 15 7:00 a.m. Chetta Russo 8:30 a.m. August “Gus” Cuny Wednesday, December 16 7:00 a.m. Conversion of Sinners 8:30 a.m. Morris Powers, Sr. Thursday, December 17 7:00 a.m. Poor Souls in Purgatory 8:30 a.m. Mary Oncale Friday, December 18 7:00 a.m. Ida Coupel 8:30 a.m. Vivian Miguez

December 13, 2020 Third Sunday of Advent 3

GIVING MADE EASY! TEXT THE WORD

“GIVE” AND THE AMOUNT TO 504-291-1999

AND CLICK SEND!

♦ Financial Report

Sunday, December 6, 2020 Offertory Envelope Collection $7,666.25 Online Giving Nov. 16th - Nov. 29th $3,361.50

Confession Wednesday, December 16th

6:00 p.m.—7:00 p.m. Neighboring churches on the West Bank are also offering confessions that day, however, times may vary. Please come and receive God’s mercy.

Christmas Eve Thursday, December 24th

4 p.m. 6 p.m. 10 p.m.

(We will NOT have midnight Mass this year.)

Christmas Day Friday, December 25th

8 a.m. 10 a.m.

New Year’s Eve ~ Holy Day Vigil

Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020 6 p.m. Vigil

New Year’s Day ~ Holy Day

Solemnity of Mary, Friday, January 1, 2021 8 a.m. 10 a.m.

Visitation of Our Lady Parish Holiday Schedule

CCD Holiday Schedule

CCD classes WILL NOT be held on December 22 & 29, 2020. Classes will resume on Tuesday, January 5, 2021. Have a very Merry CHRISTmas and Blessed New Year. Ms. Emily Oncale Director of Religious Education

December 13, 2020 Third Sunday of Advent 4

Sanctuary Candle

The Sanctuary Candle burns this week in memory of: Paul & Betty Territo

Eucharistic Adoration Eucharistic Adoration

WILL NOT be held in December.

The next Eucharistic Adoration will be held on

Thursday, January 28th, 2021.

ATTENTION BUSINESS OWNERS, PROFESSIONALS, SELF-EMPLOYED AND FAMILIES!

Build your business and help us grow a

vibrant faith community!

The parish bulletin is a main source of communication to everyone in the parish

and is handed out at masses throughout the week – EVERY week of the year.

For more information, please contact J.S. Paluch Co., Inc. 1-800-438-8931

Please consider purchasing an ad, sponsoring a charity, or in memory of a loved one. Your participation makes our bulletin successful, and you attract customers!

Thank you to all our sponsors! We couldn’t do this without your support!!

VOL Cookbooks make great gifts!! Cookbooks are $12 each or $20 for the set. Cookbooks can be purchased in the Pastoral Center during business hours or by contacting a member of the Cajun Fest committee at cajunfest@vol.org.

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