Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church 10th and Maddox

Parroquia Católica de San Pedro y San Pablo Email: stspeterandpaul@hotmail.com

Facebook: Sts Peter and Paul Catholic Church Dumas Website: sppdumas.org

Welcome to Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church. It is our hope that you feel at home and among friends here. If you are a visitor for a day, we pray God’s speed on your journey. If you are looking for a parish community, we would be delighted to welcome you into our parish family. Please introduce yourselves. To register in our parish, please contact our office located to the north of our church building or call 935-5002. Bienvenido a la Iglesia de San Pedro y San Pablo. Es nuestra esperanza que usted se sienta como en casa y entre amigos. Si esta aquí de vista por un día oramos a Dios que bendiga su viaje. Si usted esta buscando una comunidad parroquial estaríamos encantados de darle la bienvenida a nuestra familia parroquial. Por favor preséntese. Para registrarse en nuestra parroquia, por favor póngase en contacto con nuestra oficina ubicada al norte de la iglesia o llame al 935-5002.

DIOCESE OF AMARILL0 Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic

Church 10th & Maddox P. O. Box 503

Dumas, Texas 79029 Office: 806-935-5002

Fax: 806-934-3382 Parish Hall: 806-934-4882

Fr. Gabriel Garcia Pastor

Office Staff:

Carol Valdez Mary Swartz

Custodian/Janitor:

Manuel Velasco Martina Sandoval

Finally, all of you, be of one mind, sympathetic,

loving toward one another, compassionate,

humble.

Tengan todo unos mismos sentimientos,

sean compasivos, ámense como hermanos, sean

misericordiosos y humildes. 1 Peter 3:8

And let the peace of Christ control your

hearts, the peace into which you were also

called in one body. And be thankful.

Que la paz de Cristo

reine en sus corazones: esa paz a la que han sido

llamados, porque formamos un solo

Cuerpo l Col 3:15

Second Sunday of Advent December 10, 2017

Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.

-- Mark 1:3

Segundo Domingo de Adviento 10 de diciembre de 2017

Preparen el camino del Señor, enderecen sus senderos.

-- Marcos 1:3

Knights of Columbus Council 5061 2015-2016 Officers Grand Knight………………..……….……….……….………..Miguel Nevarez Deputy Grand Knight…….……………................................................Ron Pray Recorder………………………………….……….………………..Gilbert Salinas Financial Secretary………………….…………...….…..…..……..…...Jim Elzner Treasurer………………………………….……...……....…….....Edwin Wilhelm Chancellor……………………………..….……..…………..….Johnny Mendoza Lecturer………………………............................................................ Jose Barraza Chaplain…………………………………………………....Father Gabriel Garcia Advocate…………………………………….…….……...…………. Mark Hatley Warden…………………………………..……........................Fernando Guevara Inside Guard……………………..………….……..…...…...………..Eloy Gomez Outside Guard……………………………….….….…..…................Isaac Gomez Trustee 3……………………………..……….……..…..…...……..Coby Schacher Trustee 2……………………………..…….………..…............... Ricky DeLaRosa Trustee 1……………………………………....……..……….........David Guevara If you have any questions regarding the Knights of Columbus, please ask any Knight.

Ministries Communion to the Sick and Homebound…………….....Doug Pack & Herb Wethington Comunion a Enfermos………………Esperanza Barraza, Cruz Vasquez, Adela Mendoza Jail Ministry……………………………………... Prison Ministry…………………………………. Finance Council/Consejo de Finanzas………………………..Joe Rahija……….....934-2485 Pastoral CouncilConsejo de Pastor………………….. Director of Religious Education………………………....Ofelia Garbalena…….….570-9656 Adult RCIA………………………………….….……....Lisa Hatley…………….......930-8737 Altar servers/servidores del altar………….…....Ricky DeLaRosa…………….......935-9071 Lectors/communion ministers…………...….Lisa Hatley English………………....930-8737 Martha Sandoval Espanol………………....717-3403 Caring hearts…………………………………...……....Dora Reyna………………....935-3620 Youth Group/jovenes………………….…Sue Stout/Dorothy Schwertner, Leticia Borunda Cursillistas………………………………..….…...Marcos Marquez………………....930-9635 Marriage Prep……………………………Miguel & Carol Nevarez…… Choice Wine (Marriage Enrichment),,,,,,,,,,,Miguel & Carol…… Vocations Ministry...…………………… Food Pantry…………………………………..Joyce Wethington Hospitality……………………………………..Joyce Wethington Hospital Ministry……………………….

Finance Council Members: Joe Rahija Becky Gomez Arnie Stork

Parish Council Members: Joyce Wethington Stella Tan Jim Elzner Carol Nevarez Lisa Hatley

Quinceañeras: Debe llamar por lo menos 6-8 meses antes. Los requisitos son: Asistir a misa regularmente los domingos, asistir a clases de formación religiosa y catecismo antes de la Celebración. Deben tener todos los sacramentos: Bautizo, Primera Comunión y Confirmación estar asistiendo grupo de jóvenes y asistir platicas de Quinceañera y el retiro. Call at least 6-8 months in advance. Expectations are: regular attendance at Sunday Mass, faith for-mation classes and appropriate catechesis before celebration.. The young lady should be baptized, have received Communion and been Confirmed. There are classes and a retreat that must be attended before the celebration.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN K-5: Sunday, 9:45-11:00 AM 6-8: Wednesday, 6:15-8:30 PM SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION For those children who did not prepare for or have not received sacraments as scheduled in our parish: 9-12: Sunday, 9:45-11:00 2-6: Monday, 6:00-7:15 PM 7-8: Wednesday, 6:15-8:30 PM BAPTISM Parents must come to the parish office for information MARRIAGE Couples must contact a priest at least 6 months before the proposed wedding date and couples of child bearing age must attend the Marriage Preparation and Natural Family Planning courses as offered and required by the diocese. In the event of a death, please contact the parish office or priest, as soon as possible

DOCTRINA PARA NIÑOS Grados K-5, domingo, 9:45-11:00 AM Grados 6 – 8, miércoles, 6:15-8:30 PM PREPARACION DE LOS SACRAMENTOS Para los niños/niñas que no están preparados o que no han recibido los sacramentos como está programado en nuestra parroquia. Grados 9-12: domingo, 9:45-11:00 AM Grados 2-6 : lunes 6:00 PM - 7:15 PM, Grados 7-8: miércoles 6:15-8:30 PM PREPARACION PREBAUTISMAL Por favor llame a la oficina , 935-5002 MATRIMONIO Por favor llame al párroco seis meses antes de poner la fecha de la boda. Cuando un ser querido fallezca favor de llamar a la oficina parroquial

Schedule of Masses/Horario de Misas Daily Mass/Misa de la Semana: Tuesday/martes; Spanish/Español: 6:00 PM Wednesday/miércoles; English/Inglés: 6:15 PM Thursday/jueves; English/Inglés: 7:30 AM Friday/viernes; English/Inglés 7:30 AM Weekend Masses/Misa de fin de Semana: Saturday/sabado English/Inglés 5:00 PM Sunday/domingo English/Inglés 8:30 AM Sunday/domingo Spanish/Español 11:00 AM & 1:00 PM Confession/Confesión: Saturday/sabado 4:00-4:45 PM Eucharistic Adoration/Adoración Eucaristia: Thursday/ jueves 8:00 AM-6:45 PM

Tuesday Rosary: 5:10 PM English Parish Council: 6:45 PM Third Tuesday Parish Office Cursillistas: 7:00 PM Salón

Wednesday Rosarió: 7:30 PM Español Cambio de ubicación Holy Hour for Vocations: 7:00 PM One Wed. a month

Thursday Finance Council: Second Thursday 6:00 PM Office Grupo de Oración 7:00 PM Salon

Friday Rosario: 2:30 PM Español Iglesia

READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: Is 35:1-10; Ps 85:9ab, 10-14; Lk 5:17-26 Tuesday: Zec 2:14-17 or Rv 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab; Jdt 13:18bcde, 19; Lk 1:26-38 or Lk 1:39-47, or any readings from the Common of The Blessed Virgin Mary, nos. 707-712 Wednesday: Is 40:25-31; Ps 103:1-4, 8, 10; Mt 11:28-30 Thursday: Is 41:13-20; Ps 145:1, 9-13ab; Mt 11:11-15 Friday: Is 48:17-19; Ps 1:1-4, 6; Mt 11:16-19 Saturday: Sir 48:1-4, 9-11; Ps 80:2ac, 3b, 15-16, 18-19; Mt 17:9a, 10-13 Sunday: Is 61:1-2a, 10-11; Lk 1:46-50, 53-54; 1 Thes 5:16-24; Jn 1:6-8, 19-28

I don’t want to spend my life praying! Priests and sisters do not pray all day. They keep very busy serving the Church—counseling people, serving the poor, and running parishes and schools. However because they love God, they want to spend me with Him in prayer!! (As should we all!!) All priests, brothers, sisters and deacons promise to pray the Liturgy of the Hours, which is the official prayer of the Church.

NEWS OF COMFORT In a me of prepara on, much of it having to do with material things, it is good to hear the words of Isaiah, "Comfort, give comfort to my people, / says your God" (Isaiah 40:1). In a me of such stress and rush, when our usual burdens are augmented by piles of Christmas prepara ons, we can choose to slow down, take some me to heal, and appreciate the enormous gi we are about to receive. Christ, the Son of God, has become one of us, and knows our human limita ons. Yet God, even now, is freeing us from the burdens that our ina en veness to our God and to our deepest inner longings have heaped upon us. The Lord comes, not as a king with mighty armies, but as a shepherd leading the flocks with care and tenderness. Isaiah prophesies good news: our oppression is over, our sins forgiven. The savior we have awaited is coming, not the first me, but in the end mes, as our salva on. Copyright (c) J. S. Paluch Co., Inc.

NOTICIAS QUE DAN CONSUELO En un empo de preparación, relacionado en gran medida con cosas materiales, es bueno escuchar las palabras de Isaías: "Consuelen, consuelen a mi pueblo, dice nuestro Dios" (Isaías 40:1). En un empo de tanto nerviosismo y prisa, cuando nuestras cargas habituales se duplican a causa de los miles de prepara vos navideños, podemos elegir aminorar la marcha, dedicar un empo a curar las heridas y valorar el enorme regalo que estamos por recibir. Cristo, el Hijo de Dios, se ha conver do en uno de nosotros y conoce nuestras limitaciones humanas. Sin embargo, Dios, incluso ahora, nos está librando de las cargas que se nos amontonan por no prestarle atención a él ni a nuestros anhelos más profundos. El Señor llega, no como un rey con ejércitos poderosos, sino como un pastor que guía a los rebaños con amor y ternura. Isaías anuncia buenas no cias: nuestra servidumbre terminó, nuestros pecados han sido perdonados. El salvador que esperábamos está llegando, no por primera vez, sino al final de los empos, como nuestra salvación. Copyright (c) J. S. Paluch Co., Inc

If you would like to donate flowers for the altar, it is $100 for two candles rings and $75 for the arrangements by the Blessed Mother. The flowers can be in memory of a loved one if you

would like. We would be happy to help you in the office with the ordering.

We do need to know a couple weeks in advance so that we can notify Flowers Etc. of what flowers we would like to have in the arrangements.

LECTURAS DE LA SEMANA Lunes: Is 35:1-10; Sal 85 (84):9ab, 10-14; Lc 5:17-26 Martes: Zac 2:14-17 o Ap 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab; Jdt 13:18bcde, 19; Lc 1:26-38 o Lc 1:39-47, o cualquier lectura del Común de la San sima María Virgen, nos. 707-712 Miércoles: Is 40:25-31; Sal 103 (102):1-4, 8, 10; Mt 11:28-30 Jueves: Is 41:13-20; Sal 145 (144):1, 9-13ab; Mt 11:11-15 Viernes: Is 48:17-19; Sal 1:1-4, 6; Mt 11:16-19 Sábado: Eclo 48:1-4, 9-11; Sal 80 (79):2ac, 3b, 15-16, 18-19; Mt 17:9a, 10-13 Domingo: Is 61:1-2a, 10-11; Lc 1:46-50, 53-54; 1 Tes 5:16-24; Jn 1:6-8, 19-28

SAINTS AND SPECIAL OBSERVANCES Sunday: Second Sunday of Advent; Interna onal Human Rights Day Monday: St. Damasus I Tuesday: Our Lady of Guadalupe; Hanukkah begins at sunset Wednesday: St. Lucy Thursday: St. John of the Cross Saturday: Las Posadas begins

LOS SANTOS Y OTRAS CELEBRACIONES Domingo: Segundo Domingo de Adviento; Día Internacional de los Derechos Humanos Lunes: San Dámaso I Martes: Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe; Januká comienza al atardecer Miércoles: Santa Lucía Jueves: San Juan de la Cruz Sábado: Primer día de las Posadas

Ministers for next weekend

Lectors Communion Ministers

Saturday 5:00 pm Lisa Hatley David Valdez Lisa Hatley Mark Hatley Jamie Schacher

Sunday 8:30 am Ricky DeLaRosa Kelly Gerber Chris Gerber Kelly Gerber Margie Clements Ricky DeLaRosa Rosemary DeLaRosa

Ministros para el próximo fin de

semana

Lectores Ministros de la Comunión

Sunday 11:00 AM Syma Mendoza Nallely Piñon Adela Mendoza Silvia Garcia Hugo Morales Voluntario Voluntario

Sunday 1:00 PM Irene Reyes Cris na Mantle Cruz E. Vazquez Jose Garcia Amanda Garcia Lize e Hernandez Martha Sandoval

Weekend Collec on: $8,079.94 Building Fund: $1,624.63

11 de dic. 8:00 PM Para los difuntos Guadalupañas

lunes Req. Andy & Rosa Cas llo

12 de dic. 6:00 PM For Our Parish

martes

Dec. 13 6:15 PM No Mass

Wednesday Father in Perryton for Confession

Dec. 14 7:30 AM For Our Parish

Thursday

Dec. 15 7:30 AM Esperanza Ramirez

Friday Req. Caring Hearts

Dec. 16 5:00 PM Eusebia Gomez

Saturday Req. Carol Valdez

Dec. 17 8:30 AM Madeline Belback

Sunday Req. Jeff & Sue Stout

17 de dic. 11:00 AM Carlos Moreno Jr.

domingo Req. Familia Moreno

Mass Inten ons

17 de dic. 1:00 PM Ofelia Fierro On veros

Domingo Req. Manuel & Ofelia Garbalena

Pope Francis’ prayer inten ons for December The Elderly That the elderly, sustained by families and Chris an communi es, may apply their wisdom and experience to spreading the faith and forming the new genera ons.

Birthdays/Cumpleaños Dec. 11th: Benjamin Chairez, Josue Diaz, Anthony Garcia, Daniela Monzalvo Dec. 12th: Marie Hermosillo, Juan Macias, Margaret Or z, Rafael Ramirez, Audan Rincon, Rigoberto Zubia Dec. 13th: Roberto Cas llo Jr., Lucio DeLaLuz, Manuel Hernandez Jr., Alexis Mar nez, Brenda Mendoza, Brenda Quintana Dec. 14th: Jamie Balderrama, Jessie Frausto, Miguel Garcia, Xavier Gonzalez, Cruz Hernandez, Maria Landeros, Antonio Lara, Carlos Lopez, Guadalupe Maldonado, Victoriano Oliva, Bernice Schwertner Dec. 15th: Adriana Acosta, Val Reyna, Arturo Valdez Dec. 16th: Jocelyn Aguinaga, Maribel Cas llo, Kusondra Garcia, Marcos Gomez, Alvaro Hernandez Jr., Regina Hernandez, Edith Rivera, Sergio Rivera, Leonel Villalba, Xzavian Zamarripa Dec. 17th: Adela Cortez, San ago Gu errez, Jose Alonso Marquez, Mar n Narvaez, Jocelyn Prieto, Eric Rivera, Jose Rodriguez, Jose Manuel Saldaña, Miguel Soto

Saturday, May 5th: First Communion 10:00 AM & 12:00 PM Both Masses will be in English (Please get this on your calendar now)

Envelopes for dona on to our Christmas flower fund are available in the back of the church.

As Catholics, we believe that everything we have has been entrusted to us by God. We are stewards, and good stewardship means using that which has been entrusted to us in ways that reflect the values of the owner, rather than the steward. As we consider all God has entrusted to us—such as our

me, energy, gi s, talents, possessions—we do so in the light of the unmatched generosity of Jesus, who gave up everything for us. We desire to reflect this sacrificial love through our stewardship of God's blessings in our lives, living and giving for the sake of others.

During this me of buying and giving gi s, please be generous with your dona ons to our building fund.

TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION Many people think that Saint Francis originated the Christmas crèche, but its origins go far back. The Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome has housed what is said to be relics of the cradle of Jesus since the seventh century. In me, every year during the Christmas season the reliquary (container for relics) was surrounded by an increasingly grand three-dimensional scene of the place of Jesus' birth. Rocks and trees, houses, streams, figurines of villagers going about their daily tasks were all included. It was a very drama c presenta on. If you've ever seen an elaborate model train installa on, you get the idea. The proper term for this depic on is presepio, from the La n word for "surround" or "hedge." Over the centuries, the custom spread first to churches, and then to aristocra c homes. In Italy, whole chapels are o en set aside for the presepio, and it is not unusual to have hundreds of figures. It can some mes be a challenge to locate the Holy Family amid the crowd, almost like a Where's Waldo? children's book. The oldest surviving presepio is in St. Mary Major and dates from the thirteenth century, although many pieces have been broken or lost. Saint Francis of Assisi took a decidedly crea ve step in 1233 in the village of Greccio, when he directed his followers to fill a manger with hay and tether an ox and ass nearby. He then invited the villagers to a end Mass outdoors near the crib, the worshipers themselves becoming a living presepio. By the seventeenth century, the tradi on was well-established, par cularly in Naples, and had a firm hold in Portugal, Spain, and in the Provence region of France. Today, it is not unusual to find presepios with five hundred figures, a vivid reminder of Emmanuel, God-with-us! --Rev. James Field, Copyright (c) J. S. Paluch Co.

Christmas Decora ng will begin Friday, December 15th at 6:30 PM We will con nue with decora ng on Saturday, December 16th at 10 AM and then on Sunday December 17th from 2:30-5:00 PM All are welcome!!

Our Youth Choir will Perform Saturday, December 23rd

The concert will be free of charge but we ask that you bring some money to bid on the desserts we will be

auc oning off just in me for your holiday enjoyment.

(Ladies of our parish if you have a fancy holiday dessert that you would like to donate to this cause, we would be

happy to have it.) All proceeds from the dessert auc on will go to our

Building Fund.

YOUNG ADULTS – SAVE THE DATE! If you are between the ages of 18 – 35 and you are looking to

meet new people, have fun, and grow in your rela onship with God, all at the same me, then come and join us for the Young

Adult Fellowship Group! Our next mee ng is: Thursday, December 21st (Christmas Party!) in the parish office.

Contact Sr. Raphaelle Marie, DLJC at dumasyoungadults@gmail.com

Nuestra Parroquia de San Pedro y San Pablo le da el más sen do pésame a Aricela Hernández por el fallecimiento de su hijo Jason Hernández. Nuestras oraciones y pensamientos están con su familia.

TRADICIONES DE NUESTRA FE El día 9 de diciembre conmemoramos a san Juan Diego de México. Hace un par de años este indígena mesoamericano fue canonizado por su misión en las apariciones Guadalupanas. Hubo controversia alrededor de su canonización porque había quienes insis an que Juan Diego nunca exis ó. Después de inves gar, el Va cano decidió que no sólo exis ó, sino que fue y es santo, digno de ser modelo e intercesor. Las inves gaciones encontraron que el nombre indígena de Juan Diego era Cuauhtlatoatzin, es decir "Águila que habla". Tal vez por este nombre tan significa vo fue que los franciscanos lo bau zaron Juan Diego. El nombre Juan recuerda al apóstol, quien escribió el evangelio más mís co y cuyo símbolo es el águila. Diego viene del apóstol San ago o san Diego quien evangelizó a los españoles durante el siglo I. De cualquier manera, Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin se convir ó en el "Águila que habla" y anuncia el evangelio mís co según Guadalupe, es "Águila que habla" de amor, paz, consuelo y desa o en una erra conquistada, oprimida y llena de promesa. --Fray Gilberto Cavazos-Glz, OFM, Copyright (c) J. S. Paluch Co., Inc.

El Coro de los Jóvenes va a cantar el sábado 23 de diciembre después de la

Misa de 5:00 PM El concierto será gratuito, pero le

pedimos que traiga algo de dinero para comprar los postres que se subastarán

justo a empo para la Navidad. (Señoras de nuestra parroquia si usted

ene un postre de lujo que le gustaría donar a esta causa, estaríamos

encantados de tenerlo.) Todos los fondos recaudos de la subasta de postres serán para nuestro fondo de

construcción.

Saints Peter and Paul parish would like to offer their sympathy to Ann Easterling and family. Ann’s mother went home to be with her Lord last weekend. Please keep the family in your prayers as they deal with the loss.

PRAYER LINE/LINEA DE ORACIÓN Gaspar Arriaga, Bruno Schwertner, Esther Lerma, Kayla Harkrider, Dorothy Harkrider, Esperanza Rueda Solis, Tony and Efinita Garcia, Linda Paetzold, Jude & Jake Hannemann, Jessie Frausto, Roger Dunn, Inocente Leyva, Keith Good, Joel Huerta, Jose Huerta, Adan Reyes, Lee Sheppard, Joe Beauchamp, Hilario Loya, Adelina Catano, Irma Madrid, Maria Rivera, Amalia Velasco, Jayden Nevarez, Leon Ramirez, Bo Bohannon, David Fetsch, Imelda Quintana, Gabriel Ramirez, Beatrize Ramos, Ty and Nicole Williams, Steve Gauna, Diana Marquez, Gustavo Pena, Socorro Pena, Shasta Espinoza, Sister Dolorene Lopez, Arthur Bohannon, Adelaida Sanchez, Irene Huseman, Mark Humphrey, Willie Weick, George e Perez, Mar na Marquez, Familia DelaLuz-Hernandez, Bernice Schwertner, Chris na Miguel, Efren Lopez, Elizabeth Ragon, Michael Hester, Victor Gonzalez, Larry Garcia, Carlos Herrera, Joe Rahija Sr., Maria Concepcion Ibarra, Roberto Bernal. We know everyone needs prayers and there are many, many people suffering from illnesses. We will keep your family member/friends on the prayer list for 3 months. If a er 3 months your family member is s ll in need of healing prayers, please call for an addi onal 3 months. You can either call Mary at 935-5002 or email stspeterandpaul@hotmail.com Thanks! On January 1st we will start over on this list, if there is someone who needs to remain on here please contact us before then.

WE ARE MESSENGERS OF GOOD NEWS Look at the chaos and sin that are present our world today, God offers us the possibility of a change that brings true salva on, libera on and happiness. * To achieve that, we must, as Saint Teresa of Jesus said, "have a determined determina on": to convert! * We hear false and empty promises of a fake respect for man and crea on, in reality we see many signs of death and self-destruc on. * That is why we are invited to be messengers of the good news that encourage the hope of all. * If we truly trust in the promises of the Lord, we will seek his Kingdom and his jus ce, and we will have a greater commitment to build a world of jus ce, peace and fraternity.

Those bap zed with the Holy Spirit have to go out and announce that the Lord is coming.

Guardians of the Blessed Sacrament commit to spending a quiet hour of prayer in the Real Presence of Christ, once a week. Adora on is on Thursdays, from 8:00 AM-6:45 PM in our parish.

Hay varias horas disponibles para los Guardianes del San simo Sacramento. Si usted está interesado en servir como Guardián por favor póngase en contacto con la oficina tan pronto como sea posible. Los guardianes del San simo Sacramento se comprometen a pasar una hora en oración silenciosa en la presencia real de Cristo, una vez a la semana.

SEAMOS MENSAJEROS DE BUENAS NUEVAS Ante las situaciones de caos y pecado que están presentes en los diversos pueblos de la erra, Dios nos ofrece la posibilidad de un cambio que conlleva salvación, liberación y felicidad verdaderas. • Para alcanzar eso, los hombres debemos tomar en nuestra vida, como decía santa Teresa de Jesús, “una determinada

determinación”: ¡conver rnos! • Se escuchan promesas falsas y estériles de un supuesto respeto por el hombre y la creación , pero en realidad vemos muchos

signos de muerte y autodestrucción. • Por eso estamos invitados a ser mensajeros de buenas nuevas que alienten la esperanza de todos. • Si de verdad confiamos en las promesas del Señor, buscaremos su Reino y su jus cia, y tendremos un mayor empeño por

construir un mundo de jus cia, paz y fraternidad. Los bau zados con el Espíritu Santo tenemos que salir a anunciar que ya viene el Señor.

Saint Peter shows us a characteris c of God that we normally do not think about. He tells us that for God, "a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day" (1 Peter 3:8). Because early Chris ans some mes complained that Jesus' second coming had been delayed, Peter is trying to tell us that what seems like a long me to us is nothing to God. Like the early Chris ans, we may wonder how long it will take for God to answer our prayers. We may be praying for someone who is looking for a job, a sick rela ve, an end to abor on, or world peace. Some prayers require us to change, and we may not be ready. What Peter means is that a thousand years is not too long for God if someone needs that long to repent. God is far more pa ent than we are. God has been "wai ng" over two thousand years for us to preach the gospel to all na ons. God has been wai ng for millennia for people to give up war as a means for solving our problems. God has been wai ng since the beginning of the human race for us to learn how to love our neighbor. We might not be as pa ent as God, but we can help. Saint Peter says that we are not just wai ng for the Lord's return, we are hastening it. When we make a choice that is based on faith rather than selfishness, we make it a li le easier for people to believe in God. Jesus is the light of the world; he asks us to let our light shine, so that people can see Jesus in us. May our light "prepare the way of the Lord" (Mark 1:3). Tom Schmidt, Copyright (c) J. S. Paluch Co.

December 20th during their regular class me there will be a mee ng for the 8th grade students and their parents.

Rosary for the Immaculate Concep on and Our Lady of Guadalupe: Monday, December 11th: Rosary at 7:00 PM, Mass at 8:00 PM, followed by Manañitas. Tuesday, December 12th: Rosary at 6:00 PM, Mass at 6:30 PM We will be using our bilingual rosary booklets from last year. It allows us to all pray together in our own language and not have to “set out” for part of it. We alternate beginning the prayer in English and finish in Spanish/beginning the prayer in Spanish and finishing in English. We may not be quite “polished” at it yet but with prac ce we will improve!!!

The weekend of December 9th and 10th the Santa Maria Choir will be selling red and green tamales a er all the weekend Masses.

December 23rd a er the 5:00 PM Mass we will have a concert featuring out youth choir and an auc on of fancy desserts for your families Christmas enjoyment.

All proceeds go to our Building Fund

Almighty and merciful God, may no earthly undertaking hinder those who set out in haste to meet your Son, but may our learning of heavenly wisdom gain us admi ance to his compa-ny. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

We have received the designs and prices from the carpenter for the furnishings for our new daily Mass and Adora on chapel. These items are all hand cra ed by a local ar san. They are made from oak. Deacon Joe Schwertner’s memorial fund will purchase the altar as planned and in addi on to that it will also purchase the Presider’s Chair, the Deacon’s Chair and the Presider’s Table. All of these things will be in memory of Deacon Joe. In addi on to these items there are a few other items to pay for: The Credence Table: $875.00 The Ambo:$1,850.00 The Sta ons of the Cross: $80.00 each (14 of these) If you would like more informa on or to look at the designs, please stop by the parish office. If you want an example of the ar san’s work, he did the wood base for our new bap smal font.

Parents: At 7:45 AM on Wednesdays at both the intermediate school and the junior high school there will be a gathering of students to pray a short prayer for their own well being and that of our community. Please encourage your child to a end. It is a short prayer and will be led by the students themselves. All students are welcome to come and pray at the flag pole.

Christmas Schedule Saturday, December 23rd: 5:00 PM Mass (English) Fourth Sunday of Advent Domingo 24 de diciembre: 11:00 AM Misa (español) Cuarto Domingo de Adviento Sunday, December 24th: 6:00 PM Mass (English) Vigil Mass for Christmas Domingo 24 de diciembre: 8:00 PM (español) Vigilia de Navidad Monday, December 25th: 11:00 AM Mass/Misa (Bilingual) Christmas Day Mass/Misa de Navidad New Year Schedule Saturday, December 30th: Mass 5:00 PM (English) Feast of the Holy Family Domingo, 31 de diciembre: 11:00 AM Misa (español) Fiesta de la Sagrada Familia Sunday, December 31st: Mass 6:00 PM Solemnity of the Blessed Mother Domingo, 31 de diciembre: 8:00 PM Misa (español) Solemnidad de Santa Maria, Madre de Dios Monday January 1st: 11:00 AM Mass/Misa (Bilingual) Solemnity of the Blessed Mother

What’s Happening???

Second Sunday of Advent Jesus referred to John as "My messenger" who prepared the "way". John now wanted his disciples to realize that they, too, must follow Christ in this "way". Only through the same Jesus Christ, the long expected Savior, will the "blind" of soul "see;" the "lame' of character "walk;" the "lepers" of sin be-come "cleansed;" the "poor" become rich with a new Gospel.

Parish Advent Reconcilia on Service: Thursday, December 14th at 6:00 PM

Que nuestras responsabilidades terrenas no no impidan, Señor, prepararnos a la venida de tu Hijo, y que la sabiduría que viene del cielo, nos disponga a recibirlo y a par cipar de su propia vida. Por nuestro Señor Jesucristo, tu Hijo, que vive y reina con go en la unidad de Espíritu Santo y es Dios por los siglos de los siglos. Amen

2nd Sunday of Advent