CHURCH OF ST. MONICA 413 EAST 79 STREET, NEW YORK, N.Y. 10075 RECTORY: 212-288-6250 WEBSITE: WWW.CHURCHOFSTMONICA.ORG ASSOCIATES REV. JOE A. FRANCIS REV. THOMAS MANKAMTHANATH IN RESIDENCE: REV. APOLINARI J. NGIRWA IN SUNDAY SERVICE REV. RICHARD AROLD ORGANIST & DIRECTOR OF MUSIC MR. DAVID SCHAEFER CANTOR & LEADER OF SONG MR. JOSEPH NEAL PASTOR: REV. MSGR. THOMAS A. MODUGNO SUNDAY MASSES SATURDAY: 5:30 PM SUNDAY 7:30, 9:00, 10:30, 12:00 PRINCIPAL LITURGY WEEKDAYS & FIRST FRIDAYS 7:30, 9:00, 12:00 NOON BAPTISMS & MARRIAGES: BY APPOINTMENT. PLEASE CONTACT A MEMBER OF THE PARISH STAFF WELL IN ADVANCE. SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: CONFESSIONS ARE HEARD AT 5:00 ON SATURDAY AND ANYTIME BY APPOINTMENT. Page Two THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT DECEMBER 13, 2009 TODAY’S READINGS … First Reading — Shout for joy! Sing joyfully! Be glad and exult! The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior (Zephaniah 3:14-18a). Psalm — Cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel (Isaiah 12). Second Reading — Rejoice! The Lord is near. Make your requests known to God (Philippians 4:4-7). Gospel — John tells his hearers to share their possessions with the needy; be honest; do not threaten or accuse others falsely (Luke 3:10-18). READINGS FOR THE WEEK … Monday: Nm 24:2-7, 15-17a; Mt 21:23-27 Tuesday: Zep 3:1-2, 9-13; Mt 21:28-32 Wednesday: Is 45:6b-8, 18, 21b-25; Lk 7:18b-23 Thursday: Gn 49:2, 8-10; Mt 1:1-17 Friday: Jer 23:5-8; Mt 1:18-25 Saturday: Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25a; Lk 1:5-25 Sunday: Mi 5:1-4a; Ps 80; Heb 10:5-10; Lk 1:39-45 SATURDAY: VIGIL 5:30 Ronald Pisicchio SUNDAY: THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT 7:30 Robert Geibler 9:00 Debbi Burdett (living) 10:30 Caroline and Peter Armetta 12:00 St. Monica Parishioners MONDAY: ST. JOHN OF THE CROSS 7:30 Suguna Samuel 9:00 Theresa Burns 12:00 St. Agata TUESDAY: ADVENT WEEKDAY 7:30 Elizabeth and Laszlo Huscar 9:00 Alicia Bouzon-Cordon 12:00 Holy Souls WEDNESDAY: ADVENT WEEKDAY 7:30 Annie Zangalia 9:00 Terry and Ed Hogan (living) 12:00 Caroline Armetta THURSDAY: LATE ADVENT WEEKDAY 7:30 Edi Martinez 9:00 Frances Marzek (15th anniversary) 12:00 Saxon Hall FRIDAY: LATE ADVENT WEEKDAY 7:30 Linda Gill (living) 9:00 Gordon Findlay 12:00 Gerda Traber SATURDAY: LATE ADVENT WEEKDAY 9:00 Vincent Gigante REJOICE! Today, the Third Sunday of Advent, is traditionally referred to as Gaudete Sunday. This is the Advent Sunday of joy. Today’s first reading, responsorial psalm, and second reading call us to express joy in three ways. We are summoned to “shout for joy” (Zephaniah 3:14), to “cry out with joy” (Isaiah 12:6), and to “rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4). Expressing Christian joy is quite distinct from the kind of joy we express, for instance, when our favorite sports team wins an important game. That kind of joy is fleeting. Christian joy is an inner peace and spiritual happiness that is developed throughout our lives and sustains us even when we struggle. It is the kind of joy that is infectious. Others can tell that there is simply something different about us. Let us rejoice this day, for to us shall come Emmanuel. © Copyright, J. S. Paluch Co. Page Three 3rd Sunday of Advent (C) STEWARDSHIP … Welcome to St. Monica's! The music for today's Eucharist can be found in our hymnal on the following pages: Entrance Hymn O Come, Divine Messiah 196 Penitential Rite 112 Responsorial Psalm Cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel. 485 Gospel Acclamation The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. 114 Offertory Hymn Creator of the Stars of Night 195 Sanctus 103 Memorial Acclamation 104 Great Amen 105 The Lord's Prayer 120 Lamb of God 188 Communion Hymn I Am the Bread of Life 449 Recessional Hymn On Jordan’s Bank 194 Gratitude Is Contagious I used to volunteer at a food line. Each Friday morning, I helped pack 250 brown-bag lunches for people who lined up humbly in the alley behind a magnificent Gothic cathedral. It didn’t take a lot of talent. We volunteers filled sacks with sandwiches, a piece of fruit, a piece of string cheese, candy or cookies, a carton of milk, and some soul food – that is, a slip of paper printed with a Scripture verse. At 10:30 am., we opened the doors, prayed a blessing and passed out lunches. My first day, I was astonished by the poverty of the people, mostly men, mostly mentally ill, mostly homeless. Most greeted me politely. Many thanked me. Several said, “God bless you,” as they accepted their food. Most did not make eye contact with me, but some smiled. And in their smiles I thought I caught a glimpse of the smile of Jesus Christ, who in no uncertain terms called us to care for the poor. After a few weeks, I began to recognize many of the faces in the food lines, and I learned some of their names, their stories. Of course, I had contributed money to my parish and to charitable organizations before, but I had never felt the dirty but warm hand of a man who slept winter nights beneath the bumper of a car. I had never looked at the holes in the toes of an elderly woman’s boots as she shuffled through snow. At first, I was afraid I might be incapable of connecting with people who were unwashed, smelly, disheveled, sometimes drunk or drugged. But I quickly realized that these people are more like me than different. The guys like Peanut M&Ms in their sack lunches. A couple of them were accompanied by their beloved dogs. They have dreams, frustrations, and, despite their plight, a sense of humor. One subzero February day, for example, I shivered in the alley talking with a middle-aged man who had survived on the streets for years. “Cold,” I commented, trying to make conversation, my teeth chattering. “Ma’am,” he said, “it’s colder than a brass toilet seat on the shady side of an iceberg.” Together, we laughed. Then he showed me the ski mitten he had received as a Christmas gift from a parish Jesse tree. “Somebody out there cares for me,” he said. In that instant, I wished the person who had contributed those mittens understood the hope they had given. We often don’t know how deeply our good works touch people. Volunteering one’s time permits this sort of touching insight into the plight of people in need. When we give of our time, we draw near the community and become insiders in ways we can’t achieve from a distance. Volunteering one’s time permits this sort of touching insight into the plight of people in need. When we give of our time, we draw near the community and become insiders in ways we can’t achieve from a distance. Last Week’s Collection: $ 4,398.00 Last Year’s Collection: $ 6,271.00 PLEASE REMEMBER… Both in life and in death, we belong to the Lord. - Romans 14 Please remember St. Monica’s Church in your will. Page Four SAINT JOHN OF THE CROSS (c. 1542-1591) … AN ADVENT PRAYER … December 14 How beautiful the experience of love for God and neighbor, a fire deep within! How disheartening when love suddenly cools; and our souls grow dark, our prayer arid. How painful when misunderstanding, even rejection, comes our way, sometimes from those we least expect. For all such “seasons of the soul,” an inspiring fellow-pilgrim is the poet and mystic, John of the Cross. As a young Carmelite, he was recruited by Teresa of Avila for her Discalced (“barefoot,” evangelical poverty) Carmelite reform, striving to renew the Church from within after the Protestant Reformation had led countless religious away. John suffered unspeakably harsh abuse, even imprisonment, from friars who rejected this reform. Yet during these times of deepest suffering, John composed spiritual masterpieces that still guide souls to God, their titles reflecting his own painful yet ultimately victorious journey: from The Dark Night of the Soul, through The Ascent of Mount Carmel, to his Spiritual Canticle and The Living Flame of Love. John summarized his spirituality simply: “Put love where there is no love, and you will find love.” —Peter Scagnelli, © Copyright, J. S. Paluch Co. May the God of peace make us completely holy. May God keep us blameless in spirit, soul and body, for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Forever faithful is the One who calls us—God our Father! Expectant, let us live in joyful hope for the revelation of the glory of our God and Savior, Christ Jesus! To him be glory forever! Come, Lord Jesus! Your grace be with us all. —From Come, Lord Jesus by Lucien Deiss, CSSp, copyright CHRISTMAS FLOWERS … All registered parishioners will be receiving a flowers offering envelope with the December mailing. Your generosity will help to defray the cost of beautifying our church during this blessed season. Envelopes can be place in the special offertory box near the baptismal font. CHURCH DECORATING … Church decorating for Christmas will take place on Sunday, December 20th, 2009 at 1:30pm. Help will be needed, please see Msgr. Modugno to sign up. 1976, 1981, Lucien Deiss. Published by World Library Publications. p. 127 BIBLE CLASSES … To celebrate Advent, Father Joe Francis is conducting Bible Study classes on Tuesdays from 7:00pm to 8:00pm. The final two classes on “The Coming of Christ” will be held on December 15 and 22. All are welcome. SPIRITUAL BOUQUET … Christmas Spiritual Bouquet cards are on the tables in the rear of the church. The intention envelope can be filled out and placed in the offertory box near the Baptismal Font. Your intentions will be remembered in the Christmas Day Masses celebrated here at St. Monica’s. RETIRED SISTERS AND BROTHERS … The Annual Collection for the retired Sisters and Brothers of the Archdiocese will be taken up in every parish on December 12 & 13, 2009. The proceeds will help defray the cost of providing good care for the Sisters and Brothers who have devoted their lives to the care of others. CATHOLIC CHARITIES … CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE PENANCE SERVICE Individual confessions Wednesday, December 23rd @ 7:30 pm MASSES Thursday, December 24th - Christmas Eve Vigil Mass @ 5:30pm Lessons and Carols @ 11:00pm Concelebrated Midnight Mass Friday, December 25th - Christmas Day 7:30am, 9:00am, 10:30am and 12Noon Thursday, December 31st - New Year’s Eve Vigil Mass @ 5:30pm Friday, January 1st - New Year’s Day 7:30am, 9:00am, and 12Noon Feeding the Hungary and Sheltering the Homeless. Emergency food programs serve more than 5 million meals a year throughout the New York metropolitan area. Moe than 3,000 families and individuals were helped to avoid evictions and stay in their homes, emergency shelter was provided 1,500 individuals and (transitional and permanent) apartments for more than 2,000 households. To learn more: www.cathoiccharitiesny.org 2010 CHURCH CALENDARS… We are grateful to John Krtil Funeral Home for their donation of calendars for the year 2010. The calendars will be available in the back of the church SPECIAL DEVOTIONS Rosary: Weekdays after the Noon Mass Holy Hour: First Friday of each month after the Noon Mass Devotions: Miraculous Medal on Mondays after each Mass Page Five