Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church

Sunday, December 24, 2017– Fourth Sunday of Advent

Address 708 First Street, South Birmingham, AL 35205

Contact Information Rectory: (205) 322-1205

Fax: (205) 714-5056 Email: olf@josephite.com

Website: olfbirmingham.org

Sacraments Baptism: Parents desiring Baptism for their children are encouraged to contact the Rectory to arrange for the required preparation class for parents and Godparents Funeral: Please contact the Rectory for Funeral Arrangements. Funerals are not permitted on Sundays or Holy Days of Obligation. Anointing of the Sick: If you or a family member is Sick or Shut-in, please inform the Rectory so that we may arrange to bring the Sacraments to your home, hospital or nursing home. Marriage: For Marriage Arrangements, please contact the Rectory at least 6 months before intended marriage date. Confessions: 30 minutes before weekend Masses or by appointment.

Mass Schedule Weekends Saturday Vigil 6:00 P.M. Sunday 7:00 A.M. & 11:00 A.M. Weekdays Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 7:00 A.M. Holy Days of Obligation: As announced Eucharistic Adoration: 1st Monday of the month 6-7 P.M.

Parish Ministries Parish Council

Valerie Johnson (205) 856-4662

Finance Council Melanie McNary (205) 908-4885

Eucharistic Ministers Bertha Randall (205) 202-5143

Lectors Melanie McNary (205) 908-4885

CCD Theresa Nalls (205) 567-3123

Altar Servers Greta Chapman (205) 902-0429

Ushers Keith Boykin (205) 222-2011

Music Ministry Erma Hinton (205) 620-0787 Rubie Moore (205) 821-2370

Tanisha Jones (205) 936-0048 Jillian Johnson-Rogers 205-531-1641

Grounds & Maintenance Garry Cauthen (205) 901-9792

Church Membership There are levels of Church

Membership. Anyone living within the boundaries of our Parish for at least 6 months is

automatically a member. Those who live inside or outside our

boundaries and choose to “register” are members.

“Contributing members” are those who choose to use the

envelopes on a regular basis and are entitled to regular financial

reports from the Rectory.

Parish Ministries Season Stars {Seniors Club} Constance Smith (205) 591-4087

Bereavement Lenora Bolling (205) 251-3903

Bettye Kelly (205) 942-2576

Ladies Sodality Juanita Harris (205) 856-0515

Photographer George Mauldin, Sr. (205) 566-3349

Bible Study Doug Coutee (Men) to (205) 352-3533 Susan Nolan (Women) (205) 541-7277

Knights of Peter Claver John Bolling

KPC Ladies Auxiliaries Lenora Bolling

RCIA Rev. Mr. Douglass Moorer

Liturgical Dance Louise Purdue (205) 821-4362

Pastor Father Godwin Ani, SSJ

Deacon Rev. Mr. Douglass Moorer, (205) 427-7885

Mission Statement

Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church is committed to proclaiming our belief in the

Message and Mission of Jesus Christ. Also, the members are committed to sharing our time, talent, and treasure

through Sacramental, Educational and Pastoral ministry, Service to those in need and working for Social

Justice.

Does the proclamation of the Gospel message fill you with joy and hope? When the Lord comes to redeem his people he fills us with his Holy Spirit, the source of our joy and hope in the promises of God When God made a covenant with David as King over Israel he made a promise to David and to his descendants that David's dynasty would endure forever through the coming of the Messiah King. This King would establish an everlasting kingdom of peace and security for his people. We often think of peace as the absence of trouble. The peace which the Messiah brings cancels the debt of sin and restores our broken relationship with God our heavenly Father. The new era of salvation begins with the conception and birth of Jesus We see the fulfillment of God's unfolding plan of redemption in the events leading up to the Incarnation, the birth of the Messiah King. The new era of salvation begins with the miraculous conception of Jesus in the womb of Mary. This child to be born is conceived by the gracious action

of the Holy Spirit upon Mary, who finds favor with God. This child will be "great" and "Son of the Most High" and "King," and his name shall be called "Jesus" which means "the Lord saves." "He will save his people from their sins." The angel repeats to Mary, the daughter of the house of David, the promise made to King David: "The Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there will be no end." Mary is a true hearer of the Word of God How does Mary respond to the word of God delivered by the angel Gabriel? She knows she is hearing something beyond human capability. It will surely take a miracle which surpasses all that God has done previously. Her question, "how shall this be, since I have no husband" is not prompted by doubt or skepticism, but by wonderment! She is a true hearer of the Word and she immediately responds with faith and trust. Mary's prompt response of "yes" to the divine message is a model of faith for all believers. Mary believed God's promises even when they seemed impossible. She was full of grace because she trusted that what God said was true and would be fulfilled. She was willing and eager to do God's will, even if it seemed difficult or costly. Mary is the "mother of God" because God becomes incarnate when he takes on flesh in her womb. When we pray the Nicene Creed we state our confession of faith in this great mystery: "For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven; by the power of the Holy Spirit, he became incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and was made man". God gives us the grace to say "yes" to his will and to his transforming work in our lives What is the key that unlocks the power and grace of God’s kingdom in our personal lives? Faith and obedience for sure! God gives us grace and he expects us to respond with the same willing obedience and heartfelt trust as Mary did. When God commands he also gives the help and means to respond. We can either yield to his grace or resist and go our own way. Do you believe in God's promises and do you yield to his grace?

"Heavenly Father, you offer us abundant grace, mercy, and forgiveness through your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. Help me to live a grace-filled life as Mary did by believing in your promises and by giving

you my unqualified 'yes' to your will and plan for my life."-Amen

Sunday, December 24, 2017

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Stewardship Update Last Week—December 16th & 17th

************** “What shall I give to the Lord for all His bounty to

me?” Psalms 116:12

Serving This Week December 23rd & 24th Saturday 6:00 P.M. Eucharistic Ministers: Pat Ross, Bettye Kelly Lectors: Wilbur & Dolores Johnson Greeters: Linda Jolicouer Sunday 7:00 A..M. Eucharistic Ministers: Lela Flood, Alice Ramsey Lectors: Katie Riggins, Conni Smith Greeters: Alfreda Kincaid Sunday 11:00 A.M. Eucharistic Ministers: Andria Randall, Bertha Randall, Rosalind Crowder, Mary Russell Lectors: Ibelia Johnson, Iris Williams Greeters: Jetaun Murrell, Deborah Poe

Midnight Mass Monday 12:00 A.M. Lectors: Valerie White, Nona Relf

Christmas Day Mass December 25th Monday 9:00 A.M. Lectors: Bettye Kelly, Deborah Poe

Serving Next Week December 30th & 31st Saturday 6:00 P.M. Eucharistic Ministers: Nathan & Bettye Kelly Lectors: Dawn & Brent Patterson Greeters: Dorothy Murphy Sunday 7:00 A..M. Eucharistic Ministers: Liz Arrington & Brenda Browder Lectors: Conni Smith & Rafael Braithwaite Greeters: Wilma Norris Sunday 11:00 A.M. Eucharistic Ministers: Ethel White, Carol Prince Victoria Jackson, Veronica Boykin, Lectors: Nona Relf & Tyrone Webb Greeters: Bertha Randall & Myrna Moline

Daily Readings for the Week Monday: Isaiah 59:7-10

Hebrews 1:1-6 John 1:1-18 Tuesday: Acts 6:8-10, 7:54-59 Matthew 10:17-22 Wednesday: 1 John 1:1-4 John 20:1a, 2-8 Thursday: 1 John 1:5-22 Matthew 2:13-18 Friday: 1John 2:3-11 Luke 2:22-35

Prayers for Sick & Shut-In Lenora Bolling Gwendolyn Brooks, Albert Carson

James Collins, Darron Hunter, Leon Hunter, Mildred Hunter, Anthony Johnson,

Claudette Lewis, Jessie Nelson, Lucille Meeks, Leroy Willis, Katherine Willis, Naulbert Nolan,

Ronald Greene, Yolanda Collins **If you know of anyone who is very ill and confined (at

home, in a nursing home or in the hospital), please contact Father Ani at the Rectory or one of these members who serve

with the Pastoral Care to the Sick Ministry: Bettye Kelly, 205-942-2576, Lela Flood. 205-798-6355, or

Elizabeth Harris, 205-8338412

You are remembered in our prayers!

Birthday Wishes!!!! Willie Brown, Sr. 12/14

Willie Brown, Jr. 12/26 Melanie Brown 12/4 Sharon Bryant 12/23 Tracey Burns 12/31

Andria Caldwell 12/28 Shunna Cannon 12/28

Rosemarie Coleman 12/14 Delores Germany 12/5

Johnita Hall 12/21 Gwen Hall 12/23 Ryan Hall 12/29

Juanita Harris 12/23 Teresa Hawkins 12/27 Deloris Johnson 12/25 Louise Kelker 12/14

Andrew Lewis, III 12/12 Jerald Norris 12/10 Roderick Palmer 12/31 Cherrye Parker 12/26 Crystal Roberson 12/13 Moses Roberson 12/3

Tina Simpson 12/9 Constance Smith 12/1 Iris Williams 12/21

Anniversaries for December

Tom & Susan Ford married on 12/19 William & Debra Hill married on 12/30

Roderick & Debra Hilson Married on 12/28 Hernandez & Valerie Johnson married on 12/19

Bernard & Alfreda Kincaid married on 12/31 Trenton & Margaret Leonard married on 12/27 David & Carolyn Montgomery married on 12/8

Naulbert & Susan Nolan married on 12/28 Tyrone & Hattie Webb married on 12/17

Special Dates for December • First Sunday of Advent, December 3, 2017 • Second Sunday of Advent, December 10, 2017 • Third Sunday of Advent, December 17, 2017

• First day of winter, December 21, 2017 • Fourth Sunday of Advent, December 24, 2017

• Christmas Eve/Midnight Mass December 24, 2017 12:00 A.M. • Christmas Day Mass, December 25, 2017 9:00 A.M.

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General Announcements & Church Updates

Please join us for the next Magnificat meal on Saturday, January 27, 2018 at 11 A.M.-2 P.M. At St. Elias Parish Hall, 836 8th Street South, Birmingham, AL 35205. Our guest speaker and witness is Sylvia Bresowar. Tickets are $15.00 and are available online, at Alpha Church Supply and Gifts and from Melanie McNary, 205-908-4885. No tickets will be sold at the door. Flyers for the meal are available in our lobby. The Rosary will be prayed at 10 A.M. Magnificat, Women of Faith Chapter, is a ministry to Catholic Women.

Congratulations to Alyssa Mariah Parnell who received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance degree, on Sunday, December 17, 2017, from The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. Alyssa participated in the Liturgical Dance Ministry at Our Lady of Fatima before going off to college. Alyssa is the daughter of John and Clara Parnell.

Security Ministry. It was decided in the Parish Council meeting that instead of risking any one's safety, that Our Lady of Fatima will hire police officers for the various weekend masses or any special event in the future. We'd like to thank all those who signed up for this ministry in an effort to keep our membership safe.

We are in need of more donations for altar flowers. Please consider donating flowers in honor or memory of a loved one. Donation Request Forms are located in the lobby. Cost for flowers is $110.00.

The 2018 Martin Luther King Jr., Prayer Breakfast will be on Saturday, January 13, at 10:00 am at the Cathedral of Saint Paul Family Life Center. The Speaker this year will be His Excellency Fernand Cheri, III (An African-American Bishop) from the Archdiocese of New Orleans, LA. On Friday, January 12, 2018 at 11:30 A.M., Very Rev. Vernon F. Huguley (Vicar for Black Catholic Ministry, Diocese of Birmingham, AL.) will host Bishop Cheri with a meet and greet luncheon at Our Lady Queen of the Universe Parish Hall.