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November 29, 2020 The First Sunday of Advent
St. Joseph ParishLocated at 864 Chicora Rd.
Chicora, PA 16025724-445-3713
Fax: 724-607-1183 Office Hours by PHONE only:
M. T. Th. - 9:30am-Noon
Mater Dolorosa ParishLocated at 409 North Main St.
Chicora, PA 16025724-445-3713
Office Hours by PHONE only at St. Joe Rectory:
M. T. Th. - 9:30am-Noon
St. Wendelin Parish Located at 210 St. Wendelin Rd.
Butler, PA 16002724-287-0820
www.stwendelinbutler.comOffice Hours:
M. W. F. - 9:00am-Noon
VICARIATE FOUR
GROUPING 438
N. Oakland Chicora
Carbon Center
Why do you let us WANDER O Lord, from your ways...Isaiah 63:16
Page 2 St. Joseph, Mater Dolorosa & St. Wendelin Parishes November 29, 2020
A Message From Fr. Matt ...Dear Brothers and Sisters,Let’s play a game of word association. If I say Advent, you say...? I bet most of you said “calendar” or “wreath” or “candles”. Am I right? The neat thing is, all three serve a similar purpose.As a kid, I loved Advent. I still do, of course. We had an Advent calendar in our house that was a wooden Christmas tree and each day you would hang another ornament on the tree. A wood worker named Shorty in Bethany Beach, Delaware made it for my Mom. I think that most of my brothers and sisters have them now in their homes, too. I loved watching the tree get filled up with ornaments as we got closer to Christmas. The last ornament on the top of the tree is Baby Jesus in the manger! Advent calendars fill us with anticipation.Lighting candles on the Advent wreath is one of the beautiful traditions of the Church. It is exciting to see our progress each week. Each candle gets us another step closer to Christmas! As we prepare for the great celebration of the Birth of Our Lord, the baby in the manger, the candles on the wreath fill us with anticipation.Advent is full of anticipation. But this year is a little different. Or maybe even a lot different. There are some things we won’t be able to do, some traditions that we can’t continue. Trips that won’t be made. Family and friends that maybe we won’t be able to see. It stinks. It is hard. In some ways this Advent doesn’t feel as exciting as in the past. We have to wear masks all over the place and make reservations for church. Did you ever think you’d have to do that? We do that for good reason, but it still stinks. It sure does make it hard to be merry and bright!Do you know who understands how we feel right now? The Prophet Isaiah. The First Reading was written while the people of Israel were in exile in Babylon. Things were going badly for them. They had lost their land, their homes, all of their possessions. They were being held captive far away from their homeland and had been so for decades. They were losing hope. Their lives were dark. They weren’t even sure if God existed. But into this darkness came a small flickering light of hope, in the person of Isaiah. I was going to say that, despite the darkness in their lives, the people of Israel saw this small flickering light. But is that true? I am not asking if it is true that Israel saw the light of Isaiah, we know that is a fact. But was it despite the darkness? I know that God doesn’t want darkness in our lives, but I believe with all my heart that God uses adversity for our good. He sent a solitary man with a message to a nation in exile. Let’s say everything in Israel had been great. Say they traveled where they wanted, visited who they wanted, hugged whomever they wanted, and they didn’t have to wear those dang masks. (I don’t think they really had to back then, but you see where I am going!) If their lives had been untroubled, would they have seen the light that God had sent through Isaiah? Maybe instead of it being despite the darkness, it was because of the darkness that they could see the light! And that light brought them hope, anticipation, and knowledge that God was with them and they were loved.Today we lit the first candle on the Advent wreath. We are on the way. In the Gospel, Jesus tells us to watch. We have just one small light, but it is enough. It means something. It means there is hope. It means God is with us. It means that you are loved. Can you see it? Can you feel it? Try to stop bellyaching about the tough stuff and accept that this is the way it is for now. I can do that, too. If we do, then we can use the darkness to see the light. The small light in the midst of so much. Maybe we need to just thank God that we are who we are, where we are, in a dark place where there is one small light. But it’s a light that brings us hope, that leads to the baby in the manger.This Advent will be different. But, we may be positioned to have the best Advent ever. We have a choice. We could curse the darkness in our lives right now or we could let God use the darkness to help us see the light. Because, there is light! God is with us! You are loved by God! Let God use the darkness, the stuff you can’t do, the things you have to go without this year, the rules, the distance, surrender it to God and let God show you the light that leads to the baby in the manger.Peace and Love,Fr. Matt
holy day of obligationThe Solemnity of
Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
is Tuesday, December 8, and it is a Holy Day
of ObligationRegistration is required
for Mass by calling 724-287-0820 X1 or
email to [email protected]
Masses are:Monday, December 7
7pm at St. JosephTuesday, December 8
10am at St. Wendelin, as of now, this is a school-only Mass
Noon at Mater Dolorosa7pm at St. Wendelin
THE PITTSBURGH CATHOLIC ONLINE
Hard copies of anything are hard to come by these days, including our own Pittsburgh Catholic newspaper. It’s online now and you can access it at https://pittsburghcatholic.org/. Founded in 1844 by the first bishop of Pittsburgh, The Pittsburgh Catholic was published until the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March 2020. It was the oldest Catholic newspaper in continuous publication in the United States. The news operation resumed, online only, in September 2020.The Pittsburgh Catholic is the official source for Catholic news from the Diocese of Pittsburgh.
Monday, November 30Noon Mass at MDFor Bernard “Bean” Callihan By Judy Callihan & FamilyOpen church 11am till Mass startsTuesday, December 18am Mass at SW For Phil Summerville By Hilands Women Golf LeagueOpen church after Mass till 10amWednesday, December 210am School-only Mass at SW For Sue Fallecker Green By Dan & Joyce BurnsBuilding capacity limits non-school attendeesOpen church temporarily suspended
Wednesday, December 2 continued6pm Confessions at MD Open church 6pm till Mass starts at 7pm at MD For Ed Parker By Bob & Norma MillerThursday, December 39am Mass at SW -THANKSGIVINGFor Loretta Geibel M/M Barry PorterOpen church will resume next weekFriday, December 4Noon Mass at SJ For Doris Stephenson By Norberta DuffyOpen church 11am till Mass starts
Saturday, December 511am Confessions at SW and MD and 11:45am at SJ4pm Mass at SWFor Gabby By Larry & Janice HilderbrandSunday, December 68am Mass at MDFor Richard “Dick” Callihan Bob & Hazel Rattigan9:30am Mass at SJFor Parishioners of St. Joseph, Mater Dolorosa & St. Wendelin11am Mass at SWFor Joe Stephenson By Stephenson Family
The First Sunday of Advent Page 3
Monday-Sunday, November 30-December 6 ~ MASSES, CONFESSIONS, OPEN CHURCHES
Due to an early bulletin deadline, Offertory for November 21 & 22, Thanksgiving, and November 28 & 29 will be listed next week.
This Advent, walk thru
the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary
(virtually, no masks needed!)
Joanne Brown,former DRE at SJ/MD,
will lead Zoom sessions on the five Tuesdays
of December: 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
From 6:30-8:00pm
Don’t have Zoom or know how to get it? We can help!
Contact Sue Fraley ASAP for Help or to sign up for Zoom links
Call/text 724-504-3166 or email [email protected]
There is no commitment! Attend one or all five,
each session stands alone!
How Are You Spiritually Preparing for Christmas?
Page 4 St. Joseph, Mater Dolorosa & St. Wendelin Parishes November 29, 2020
Catholic Identity ProgramThis program highlights a variety of virtues and values
through short lessons, prayers, Scripture references, and more.
This Week’s Virtue:GOODNESS
Goodness is recognizing we are made
in the image and likeness of God, and making choices to
demonstrate our love for God and our neighbor.
Faith Formation & St. Wendelin School Information...
This week’s St. Wendelin School Student of the Week is: JOEL MCKISSICK
Joel is in second grade at St. Wendelin School. He is sweet, helpful, and kind. Joel has one brother named Elias, who is 5½ months old. His favorite thing to
learn about is science. In his spare time,
Joel enjoys video games, YouTube, Roblox, cats, and eating.
In the past, Joel has also participated in
soccer and Boy Scouts. When Joel grows up, he would like to be a meteorologist.
Congratulations to this week’s
St. Wendelin School Student of the Week,JOEL MCKISSICK!
A TASTY NEW BOOKSt. Wendelin School PTG is creating a new recipe book from our three Churches of St. Joseph, Mater Dolorosa and St. Wendelin. The book will be under the school and new Parish name. Submit recipes by Friday, December 4 to: 1. PTG email at [email protected] OR 2. Mail to St. Wendelin School, 211 St. Wendelin Rd., Butler, PA 16002 OR 3. Place a hard copy in the school drop box. Forms for submitting a recipe are on the school and Parish websites. Sales start mid-January, 2021. Questions? Email the PTG at the above address.
SANTA DRIVE-THRUSanta will visit St. Wendelin School on Saturday, December 5, Noon-3pm. Weather date is the next day, Sunday, December 6, same times. The afternoon includes Basket Raffles, Hot Cocoa and Cookies, Photos with Santa in a Horse Drawn Wagon. Santa’s Official Mailbox will be there for kids to drop off a letter. Be sure to include a return address for Santa to respond!
MEAT RAFFLETickets for the school’s Meat Raffle are online at $5 each. The drawing is Friday, December 18, 6pm.• First Place is $300 worth of your choice
of meat from Welter’s Meat Shop ~ Meat will need to be picked up at Welter’s Meat Shop by the winner.• Second Place is a whole ham from Welter’s Country Market
~ Ham can be picked up at St. Wendelin School.• Third Place is a turkey from Welter’s Country Market
~ Turkey can be picked up at St. Wendelin School.To purchase tickets, use the links below or contact Stephanie Baldauf at 724-991-0953. Credit cards are prohibited. PayPal: https://py.pl/MSiXX Debit Card: https://checkout.square.site/buy/BKHPX7M2QW5VPQLYTYTNHR4Z Sales end Wednesday, December 16 at 11:59pm.
CCD REMINDER All CCD grades that meet at St. Wendelin Church have class next Sunday, December 6.
• Grades 1-5 - 9:30-10:45am• Grades 6-8 - 6:30-8pmGrades 2 & 8 in the Church HallAll other Grades in the School
SWS December FUN-draisers
The First Sunday of Advent Page 5
Parish NotesSJ & MD GIVING TREE
It’s that time of the year again when we collect presents for Quality Life Services, Chicora. Due to covid restrictions, we are unable to place trees with tags in the vestibules of St. Joseph and Mater Dolorosa. Instead, we are utilizing email and phone calls to claim a resident’s name and their wish list. To participate now, email [email protected] or call 724-822-2415. If no answer, leave your name and number for a return call. If you prefer to have Santa’s elves shop for you, send the amount you would like spent to: Attention Giving Tree St. Joseph Administrative Center 864 Chicora Road Chicora, PA 16025A gift will be purchased using your donation, wrapped and delivered. Wrapped and tagged presents are due no later than Thursday, December 17 and are to be placed in the cry room at Mater Dolorosa or in DePaul Hall at St. Joseph during regular Mass times. We look forward to your continued generosity during these difficult times.
SW ANGEL TREEReminder to those who have an Angel from the St. Wendelin Angel Tree, on Monday, December 14, wrapped and tagged gifts are due to SW office. On Tuesday, December 15, phone calls start for gift pick up.
2021 LOTTERY CALENDARSCalendars will be on sale after all Masses the weekend of December 5 and 6. They make great Christmas gifts! Or, purchase them Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9am-Noon in the SW office. $20 each with 1,000 calendars for sale. Winners deter-mined by the three-digit PA Lottery “The Daily Number,” pulled at 7pm. Cash winnings figured by the amount of money on that calendar day. Win-ners paid at the end of the month.
MASS REGISTRATION INFO FORWEEKENDS AND HOLIDAYS
Thank you for registering weekly for Masses that are celebrated at all Churches on the weekends. This process needs to continue for a while longer. For weekend Masses, call
724-287-0820 X1 or email to [email protected] by 3pm on Fridays. At this time, registration is for one week at a time. Check back for reg-istration deadlines for special Masses in December: Immaculate Conception, Christmas, and Solemnity of Mary.
LIVE STREAM MINISTRYWe are looking for a few people inter-ested in volunteering with Mass video programming which happens out of the St. Wendelin Church Live Stream Booth (bird’s eye view of Mass!). All ages are welcome, but you need to be comfortable with computers, cameras, and video and audio equipment. We have a YouTube channel: North East Butler County Parishes. Questions to Adam Murray, Director of Digital Me-dia, at [email protected] or call the St. Wendelin Office.O
TOYS FOR TOTS DONATIONSUntil Wednesday, December 2, St. Wendelin School is collectingfor Toys For Tots Christmas Gift Program sponsored since 1947 by the U.S. Marine Corp. The school makes donations in memory of Carol Mitch, a supporter of the School and Parish and any charity that helped children. SWS adopted an annual toy drive in her memory. Donated toys can be brought to the School or Parish Offices.
2021 BAPTISM CLASSESParents are required to take a Bap-tismal Class prior to having their first child baptized, or if it has been a few years between children. Online Zoom classes are being scheduled on four Mondays throughout 2021, at 6:30pm. Dates are: February 1, May 3, August 2 and November 1. To register for a Zoom session or to schedule a bap-tism, contact Barb at 724-445-3713 x4
MASS INTENTIONS REMINDERWithout knowing when our temporary Mass schedule will end, scheduling Mass Intentions for 2021 has been placed on hold. Watch for details as we learn them.O
ONLINE OFFERTORYOnline offertory is an option if you are unable to get to Mass or Parish Offices. All Churches have a portal on the grouping website https://www.stwendelinbutler.com/
Monday:Rom 10:9-18; Ps 19:8-11; Mt 4:18-22
Tuesday: Is 11:1-10; Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17;
Lk 10:21-24Wednesday:
Is 25:6-10a; Ps 23:1-6; Mt 15:29-37Thursday:
Is 26:1-6; Ps 118:1, 8-9, 19-21, 25-27;Mt 7:21, 24-27
Friday: Is 29:17-24; Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14;
Mt 9:27-31Saturday:
Is 30:19-21, 23-26; Ps 147:1-6;Mt 9:35- 0:1, 5a, 6-8
Sunday: Is 40:1-5, 9-11; Ps 85:9-14;
2 Pt 3:8-14; Mk 1:1-8
Nov. 30thruDec. 6
Mary Louise O’Donnellwhose Funeral Mass was November 21, 2020
at St. Joseph ChurchEternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her.
May she rest in peace.
Sympathy is extended to the families of:
John V. Clousewhose Funeral Mass was November 23, 2020
at St. Wendelin ChurchEternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.
May he rest in peace.
Page 6 St. Joseph, Mater Dolorosa & St. Wendelin Parishes November 29, 2020
ABOUT ADVENT WREATHSTraditionally, Advent wreaths are constructed of a circle of ever-green branches into which four candles are inserted, representing the four weeks of Advent. Idealy-ly, three candles are purple and one is rose, but white candles can also be used. The purple candles in particular symbolize the prayer, penance, and preparatory sacrifi-ces and goods works undertaken at this time. The rose candle is lit on the third Sunday, Gaudete Sunday, when the priest also wears rose vestments at Mass. Gaudete Sunday is the Sunday of rejoicing, because the faithful have arrived at the midpoint of Advent, when their preparation is now half over and they are close to Christmas.
The progressive lighting of the candles symbolizes the expectation and hope surrounding our Lord’s first coming into the world and the anticipation of his second coming to judge the living and the dead.
THE ANTICIPATION OF CHRISTMAS DURING THE ADVENT SEASON
BLESSING YOUR HOME ADVENT WREATH ON THE FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
The use of the Advent Wreath is a traditional practice which has found its place in the Church as well as in the home. The blessing of an Advent Wreath takes place on the First Sunday of Advent or on the evening before the First Sunday of Advent. When the blessing of the Advent Wreath is celebrated in the home, it is appropriate that it be blessed by a parent or another member of the family.
All make the sign of the cross as the leader says: Our help is in the name of the Lord.All Respond: Who made heaven and earth.There are several Scriptures from Isaiah that are appropriate for the Blessing. Here is Isaiah 9:1-2, 5-6 Reader: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Upon those who lived in a land of gloom a light has shone.You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing;They rejoice before you as people rejoice at harvest, as they exult when dividing the spoils.For a child is born to us, a son is given to us; upon his shoulder dominion rests.They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.His dominion is vast and forever peaceful,Upon David’s throne, and over his kingdom, which he confirms and sustains
By judgment and justice, both now and forever.The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.The Word of the Lord.All Respond: Thanks be to God.With hands joined, the leader says:Lord our God, we praise you for your Son, Jesus Christ, he is Emmanuel, the hope of the peoples,he is the wisdom that teaches and guides us,he is the Savior of every nation.Lord God, let your blessing come upon usas we light the candles of this wreath.May the wreath and its lightbe a sign of Christ’s promise to bring us salvation.May he come quickly and not delay.We ask this through Christ our Lord.All Respond: Amen.The blessing may conclude with a favorite hymnsuch as “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”~ From USCCB Catholic Household Blessings & Prayers ~
Week 1, PurpleThe Candle of HopePurple is the primary color associated with Advent. Within the Catholic Church it symbolizes penance, preparation, and sacrifice. During the first week of Advent, we look forward to Jesus’ coming with hope.
Week 2, PurpleThe Candle of PeaceDuring this second week of Advent, we reflect on our lives and work on becoming at peace with ourselves and others in preparation for Jesus’ coming.
Week 3, PinkThe Candle of JoyThe third candle is pink, symbolizing anticipation and rejoicing. During the third week of Advent, we are filled with joy for the near arrival of Jesus on Christmas day.
Week 4, PurpleThe Candle of LoveDuring this final week of Advent we rejoice in the endless love that God has for us, which is made apparent in the birth of his Son.
