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HOLY FAMILY PARISH
Don Bosco Chapel Fortbaan 79 2900 Schoten www.holyfamilyantwerp.org
December 2017/January 2018 Year B Sunday Mass 10:30am
Fr. Francis Peerlinck, Pastor
MESSAGE FROM FATHER: OUR LITURGICAL CALENDER FOR DEC. & JAN. Dear Parishioners!
A new liturgical year lies ahead of us. We shall follow the liturgical year B, and the
evangelist Mark will be our guide through this new church year. Mark is the first and
oldest gospel we have, and he has a special attention for the acts of Jesus.
December and January ask our attention for the following special celebrations:
- December 10: We celebrate our Penitential Service as our preparation to Christmas.
At the beginning of the Mass we look back on the past months, and see what could
be otherwise or better in our life. We shall feel sorry for our shortcomings, and ask
God for his forgiveness and help in our daily life.
- December 24: No Sunday mass at 10:30 a.m. We celebrate Christmas Eve at 5:30
p.m. All children are invited to come to the sacristy and participate in the procession
at the beginning of the Mass. We also need two people who represent Mary and
Joseph and join the Entrance procession. All parishioners, their families, friends and
neighbors are heartily invited to celebrate Christmas with us.
- December 25: Solemnity of Christmas. No English mass in our chapel. If you like,
you can go and participate in a solemn Flemish Christmas’ celebration in one of the
local churches, and visit the wonderful Christmas cribs with the children.
-December 31: Feast of the Holy Family of Nazareth. At 10:30 a.m. we celebrate our
usual English Sunday mass. We thank God for all the benefits of the past year. We
wish every family a nice evening celebration of the old year, together with a good
beginning of the New Year 2018!
- January 7: Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord: After Jesus had revealed himself
at Christmas to the Jews, he now revealed himself to the non-Jews / the heathen
peoples. We celebrates our first Mass in the New Year, asking God for a happy New
Year.
– January 18-25: Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Together with all Churches we
pray that Jesus' words may become true: “That all may be one, as You, Father in
Me, and I in You; that all may be one in us, so that the world believes that you send
me.”
Whether you celebrate Christmas with us or you are traveling abroad, we thank you
for joining Holy Family Parish in the past year, and wish you and the whole family a
'Merry Christmas' and a most 'Happy New Year.' Return home safely, and join us
again.
Father Francis Peerlinck
PRAYERS AND SPECIAL INTENTIONS
† For parishioners, past and present, who are going through difficult times with work, relationships, health and/or life in general. May God wrap them in Peace and Love this Christmas Season and bring them peace and contentment in the knowledge they will get through and be OK. † For all the members of our parish who are traveling over the holidays, that they have a wonderful holiday and a safe return trip home. † May we take time to thank God for all his
blessings, for our family and friends, our work and our homes and for all who have blessed us with friendship throughout the years.
REMINDER: We have a book for our Prayer Intentions which can be found on the back table. During Mass, this book will be on the altar with Father and will be included in our general prayer intentions. ANNOUNCEMENT: Every Saturday night, at 5:00PM there is a mass said in English at the Antwerp Cathedral. Something to keep in mind for when we break for summer.
PRAYERS FOR GOD’S BLESSING ON MY FAMILY THIS CHRISTMAS
(for all to share) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ALAN
Lord, I ask your blessing and your favor in a
special way on me and my family at this
Christmas time.
I ask you with confidence, knowing that you love
my family as much as I do myself, just as you
love everyone in this world, good and bad alike.
For this very reason you came to dwell with us
that first Christmas night.
Bless all my loved ones. Bless them with the gift
of peace, your precious gift, a gift the world
cannot give, A present money cannot buy.
Bless their going and coming. Keep them safe on the roads, keep them safe in
their homes. Keep them under your protection. Keep them from harm’s way.
Bless and guide their actions and decisions about work and school. If any have
strayed away from You, Lord, I ask you give them your help, so that they can
come back to you with joy.
Bless them in all that they do, in work and play, so that their lives can be filled
with goodness.
Bless them with health and strength. May your healing presence bring them joy
and happiness. Where there is sickness, or stress or worry, send the healing
power of your love to their homes.
Bless them with all the courage and hope when things are hard, and the going
gets tough for them.
I make this request to you Lord, with all the faith, all the hope and all the love I
can bring to you at this moment. AMEN
Father Patrick Sayles – The Prayer Trust
SINTERKLAAS IS COMING ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ BARBARA
Children in Belgium and Holland are anxiously awaiting the coming of St. Nicholas,
or “Sinterklaas” on December 6, his own special day.
In late November Sinterklaas and his helper, Zwarte Piet (Black Peter), arrive from
Spain in every city and village. In many places he comes by boat from Spain and
is welcomed by city officials and is offered a horse on which to ride through the
city. Zwarte Piet throws candy to the waiting children. There are many legends
regarding the origins of this saint. Probably the only sure fact is that he was a
Christian bishop and through his kind deeds he became the patron of children.
Nowadays Sinterklaas brings
toys and candies to the
children who have been good
during the year. In the weeks
before December 6 children
write letters to the good
Saint to remind him that they
have been good and offer
their list of things they would
like to have. Then on the
evening of December 5 the good Saint gets his horse, “Slecht Weer Vandaag”,
ready and the Zwarte Piets fill his bags with toys. At home children put out carrots
and sugar for Sinterklaas’ horse. Afterwards they go to bed dreaming of all the
lovely things they will find the next morning. Special cookies called “speculaas”
and beautifully decorated marzipan figures are sold in bakeries and shops in honor
of Sinterklaas.
Does a lot of this sound familiar to you even though you are not Dutch or Flemish? It should, because Sinterklaas was brought to North America by the Dutch settlers in the 17th century. The English Pilgrims also had spent many years in Holland before leaving on the Mayflower for the New World. They surely knew Sinterklaas too.
GIVING TREE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ VIVIANNE Our Advent Giving Tree is a way to connect with needy children in the Antwerp community at holiday time. The Giving Tree will be on the altar from the start of Advent. Feel free to take a tag or two from the tree and purchase a gift or a couple small gifts worth no more than 10 to 12 Euros. For babies (0-3 months): all baby clothes, also jackets, hats, fleece blankets, hood towels, baby bottles. Children: gloves, tights, trousers, socks, underwear and fleece blankets are welcome. Please no toys. Gifts should not be wrapped, but rather placed in a plastic or gift bag so they can be distributed to families evenly. If you have any questions or would like more information please contact Vivianne at:
Home: 03 6330797 Mobile: 0475 759303
E-Mail: [email protected]
ADVENT CANDLE LIGHTING THE ADVENT WREATH is a simple way to honor Advent. By using the symbolic
power of candles within the four weeks of Advent, we illustrate that Advent is a time of solemn preparation, that during this time, we are awaiting the Light of the Word and the Dawning of Hope. Advent is a penitential season, just like Lent. We are called to fast, to pray, and to perform good works to prepare ourselves for the great Feast of Christmas.
The liturgical color of violet, or purple, symbolizes humility and penitence. This is why the candles of the Advent Wreath are purple, with the exception of the third candle, which is rose, or pink. On the Third Sunday of Advent, the 'mood' lifts as the Church begins to look forward to the Coming of the Christ Child, and this joyful waiting is represented by the lighter color of the candle and vestments. Christ came to bring us Eternal Life. He promised that "the gates of Hell would not prevail against His Church" and "whatever was bound on Earth would be bound also in Heaven." This is why we use a circle of greenery for the Advent Wreath, the circle symbolizes eternity and the greenery symbolizes new life and our evergreen, ever growing, ever living faith.
WHO’S DOING WHAT IN DEC AND JAN
LITURGY READERS 03/12/17 ~~~~~~~~~ Alan 10/12/17 ~~~~~~~~~ Rosanne 17/12/17 ~~~~~~~~~ Barbara 24/12/17 ~~~~~~~~~ Graeme 31/12/17 ~~~~~~~~~ Rosanne 07/01/18 ~~~~~~~~~ Graeme 14/01/18 ~~~~~~~~~ Barbara 21/02/18 ~~~~~~~~~ Rosanne 28/01/18 ~~~~~~~~~ Alan 04/02/18 ~~~~~~~~~ Graeme EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS: ( IF YOU SEE FATHER NEEDS HELP, FEEL FREE TO JOIN HIM GIVING COMMUNION )
AFTER MASS BAKERS 03/12/17 ~~~~~~~~~ Alan & Marie 10/12/17 ~~~~~~~~~ Renée 17/12/17 ~~~~~~~~~ Rosanne 24/12/17 ~~~~~~~~~ Christmas Eve 31/12/17 ~~~~~~~~~ Rosanne 07/01/18 ~~~~~~~~~ Volunteers? 14/01/18 ~~~~~~~~~ Barbara 21/02/18 ~~~~~~~~~ Eszter 28/01/18 ~~~~~~~~~ Volunteers? 04/02/18 ~~~~~~~~~ Renée
MONTHLY PRAYER CONNECTION
The Int. Christian Women’s Club invites you to the special Advent / Christmas prayer connection which will be held on Tuesday December 5, 2017 at the home of Mamy Philip, Guyotdreef 13, Brasschaat. You are welcome from 10 o’clock in the morning. Prayer time and songs start at 10.30h. As this is the last prayer connection of this year there will be a light lunch served afterwards, so we can have a time to chat and relax before the busy days of Christmas preparations begin. If you are unable to come and have a prayer request, please let one of us know. Please make a note of the following date : January 9th, 2018 – prayer connection – at the home of Marie-Louise. We praise You, O Lord – with words, with song and with our lives. We offer You our hearts in response to Your great power, loving provision and constant care. Lord Jesus, we find hope and strength in knowing that Your light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. Blessings, Sharmini (03-354 01 43) Marie-Louise (03-605 71 88)
DESPERATELY SEEKING NEW TALENT ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ROSANNE If you are even a little familiar with Microsoft Word or any other document program and are looking to expand your experience then you are the one I’m looking for. I am looking for someone who is looking for a way to serve the parish in a creative and, I must say, very appreciated job. How often do you get to do something that MANY people appreciate? With the start of this year I have been doing the bulletin now for 12 years! As I said, it’s a job that takes commitment but the rewards are innumerable. I will be leaving Belgium by the end of next year and will no longer be able to
fulfill this commitment but if someone is interested, we can use the time I have left here to get you trained and comfortable. Please think about it. I will be happy to teach you all I know about putting the monthly bulletin together. I will run this add in every bulletin between now and when someone accepts the challenge. ;)
SOME FAVORITE CHRISTMAS MOVIE SUGGESTIONS
With Christmas break fast approaching and the kids home from school, the weather getting colder outside and who knows, maybe a bit of snow, after making a snowman and maybe a snow angel or two, it’s always nice to come inside, make a warm cup of hot cocoa with maybe a marshmallow or two floating on top, and watch a fun Christmas season movie. I have a few suggestions of some of my favorites. Movies I watch at least once every year while baking cookies, decorating the tree or just relaxing under a warm blanket. These are in no particular order as they are all great movies: It’s a Wonderful Life National Lampoon’s A Christmas Story Christmas Vacation
The Polar Express Home Alone Miracle on 34th Street
PARISH COUNCIL 2017/2018 Pastor Fr. Francis Peerlinck .................. 03 232 2546 [email protected] President Graeme Stephan ....................... 03 366 6749 [email protected] Vice President VACANT Treasurer Eszter Bakosné Sájer ................. 0492 84 28 03 [email protected] Religious Ed. Marta Krzyskow ........................ 0485 56 88 80 [email protected] Parish Registration Paul Van den Bossche ................ 03 322 7753 [email protected] Bulletin Rosanne Pizzella ...................... 03 322 7753 [email protected] Sunshine Vivianne Staplehurst .................. 03 633 0797 [email protected] Hospitality Liturgy Rosanne Pizzella ...................... 03 322 7753 [email protected] Advisor Barbara Noels ........................... 03 664 7231 [email protected] Music EricWouters&OlgaVelez ............. ---------------- [email protected] UPCOMING EVENTS:
December ~~~ 03 First Sunday of Advent 10 Advent Penitential Service
24 Christmas Eve Mass 5:30 PM 25 MERRY CHRISTMAS! 31 Mass? At 10:30am Celebration of the Holy Family
January ~~~~ 07 First mass of 2015 18-25: Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
PLEASE SEND ROSANNE ALL SUBMISSIONS FOR THE FEBRUARY BULLETIN BY JANUARY 30TH . THANK YOU!
