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ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC CHURCH
LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA
December 21, 2014
Fourth Sunday of Advent
Do Not Be Afraid!
Open Wide the Doors to Christ!
Dear People and Friends of St. Joseph’s,
Faithful discipleship has guided us on our journey
through Advent, so that we might be prepared for the Lord
Jesus when he comes, no matter what day or hour. Now
we stand at the threshold of Christmas. The words of the
angel to the Blessed Virgin Mary encourage us as well, “Do
not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.”
Faithful disciples are so focused on the Master that they do
not let fear deter them.
As we enter the final days before Christmas, entering
becomes a key action. The Hispanic custom of Aguinaldos
or Posadas uses nine days to recall the journey and effort
of Mary and Joseph to enter a proper place for the Child
to be born. Through hymns, prayers, Scriptures and
sometimes the celebration of the Mass, the Aguinaldos or
Posadas serve as the final efforts to be open to receive the
Lord. As each successive family opens their home so that
their praying guests may enter to receive a hospitable welcome, we are reminded to open our hearts hospitably for
Christ to enter in.
This entering of Christ into our hearts is another
kind of entering that is key at this time of year. Yet, busyness, sin or selfishness can be our way of saying to the
Lord “No room in the inn.” The Sacrament of Confession
assists us in opening our hearts and allowing Christ to enter in. Receiving the Eucharist properly prepared is clearly
another powerful way that we allow Christ to enter our
hearts. However, if we are aware of serious sin, we need
confession first to prepare our hearts to receive him properly. Even if we have not committed any serious sin, confession still helps us root out sin and selfishness so that we
might permit Christ to enter our hearts more deeply than
before.
The monastic tradition provides another avenue by
which to understand this ENTERING. Derived from the ‘O
antiphons of Vespers, the verses of the well-known hymn
“O Come, O Come Emmanuel” celebrate different titles of
Christ who comes with all his graces to make us Whole
and Holy. If we are praying for Christ to come to us, then
we must be willing and ready for him to ENTER.
17th - O Wisdom, O holy Word of God, you govern all
creation with your strong yet tender care. Come and show
your people the way to salvation.
18th - O sacred Lord of ancient Israel, who showed
yourself to Moses in the burning bush, who gave him the
holy law on Sinai mountain: come, stretch out your mighty
hand to set us free.
19th - O Flower of Jesses stem, you have been raised
up as a sign for all peoples; kings stand silent in your presence; the nations bow down in worship before you. Come,
let nothing keep you from coming to our aid.
20th - O Key of David, O royal Power of Israel controlling at your will the gate of Heaven: Come, break down the
prison walls of death for those who dwell in darkness and
the shadow of death; and lead your captive people into
freedom.
21st - O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of
justice: come, shine on those who dwell in darkness and
the shadow of death.
22nd - O King of all the nations, the only joy of every
human heart; O Keystone of the mighty arch of man, come
and save the creature you fashioned from the dust.
23rd - O Emmanuel, king and lawgiver, desire of the
nations, Savior of all people, come and set us free, Lord
our God.
Hearing in the Gospel today that Christ is Emmanuel,
meaning “God with us,” we are encouraged to open wide
the doors of our hearts to receive him. May we all gather at
Christmas Mass with the doors of our hearts wide open
that Christ may find a loving, welcoming place to abide. Be
not afraid, for we have Good News.
In the Joy of our Lord’s Coming,
Fr. Allan F. Wolfe
ADVENT PENANCE SERVICES
Sunday, December 21 - Assumption BVM Church 6:30pm
Monday, December 22 - St. Anthony of Padua 7:00pm
(Open Confessions - Not a Penance Service)
Additional times for Confession:
Tuesday, December 23 - 10:00-11:00am and 7:00-8:00pm;
Wednesday, December 24 - 10:00-11:00 am
CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR’S MASS SCHEDULE
Christmas Eve, December 24
Children’s Liturgy - 5:00pm
Family Liturgy - 8:00pm
Carols and Blessing of Crib - 11:30pm
Solemn Candlelight Mass at Midnight
Christmas Day, December 25
Mass - 9:00am
New Year’s Eve, Wednesday, December 31
Vigil Mass 5:00pm
Father Allan F. Wolfe
Saint Joseph Catholic Church
New Year’s Day, January 1
Masses 8:00am and 10:30am
ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC CHURCH
LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA
CONSIDER A BEQUEST TO ST. JOSEPH’S
Sunday, December 21 - Fourth Sunday of Advent
8:00 am Mass - People of the Parish
9:15 am CCD - Education Building
9:15 am Focus on Faith - Tipitina’s
10:30 am Mass - Intention of Bob & Bonnie Schlager (JMR)
Monday, December 22
6:30 am Mass - Francis & Dolores Fox (Joan Hauck)
8:15 am Mass - Joseph & Gertrude Gardner (Mary Ellen & Margaret
Gardner)
9:00 am Legion of Mary - Good Shepherd Rm
5:30 pm Basketball - Msgr. Thomas H. Smith Social Hall
7:00 pm Scouts - Scout Rm
Tuesday, December 23 - St. John of Kanty, Priest
6:30 am Mass - Norman Kneisley (Pat & Jim Slagel)
8:00 am Morning Prayer
8:15 am Mass - Michael Farbo (Mauro Bucci)
5:00 pm Basketball - Msgr. Thomas H. Smith Social Hall
Wednesday, December 24
6:30 am Mass Anna Mary Doersom (Jean Robertson)
8:15 am Mass - Magdalen Duffy (Mary Ellen & Margaret Gardner)
5:00 pm Children’s Mass - Parishioners, Friends and Benefactors
8:00 pm Family Mass - Parishioners, Friends and Benefactors
11:30 pm Carols and Blessing of the Crib
followed by Solemn Midnight Mass - Parishioners, Friends
and Benefactors
Thursday, December 25 - The Nativity of the Lord
Parish Office Closed
9:00 am Mass - Parishioners, Friends and Benefactors
Friday, December 26 - St. Stephen, The First Martyr
Parish Office Closed
6:30 am No Mass
8:00 am Morning Prayer
8:15 am Mass - Esther Souders & Deceased Members of the Chester
Souders Family (Joanne Bauer)
Saturday, December 27 - St. John, Apostle & Evangelist
8:15 am Mass - Greg Crnkovich (Perpetual Adoration Committee)
9:00 am Baseball - Monsignor Thomas H. Smith Social Hall
10:30 am Nuestra Clinica - Tipitina’s, St. Joseph Rm, Nursery
4:00 pm Confessions
5:00 pm Mass - James R. Kirchner, Sr. (Helen Kirchner)
Sunday, December 28 - The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph
8:00 am Mass - People of the Parish
9:15 am No CCD
9:15 am Focus on Faith - Tipitina’s
10:30 am Mass - Eva Calusic (Gary & Teri Bright)
PLEASE NOTE:
There will be no 6:30am Mass on December 26, 2014
The Parish Office will be closed
Thursday, December 25, 2014
Friday, December 26,2014
and Thursday, January 1, 2015.
December 21, 2014
TIME TALENT and TREASURE
A Way of Life at Saint Joseph
December 14, 2014
In Pew Collection
$7,222.57
Electronic Giving
3,904.00
Total Regular Collection
$11,126.57
School Endowment Debt Reduction
130.00
Vigils
186.32
Retirement Fund for Religious
2,860.75
Immaculate Conception
719.80
Christmas
410.00
Solemnity of Mary
110.00
Actual
12/14/2014
Budget
Difference
$11,126.57 $12,500.00 ($1,373.43)
MASS ATTENDANCE: December 14: 5:00pm - 185; 8:00am 150; 10:30am - 232; Nursery - 5 = 572 Total Attendance.
DO YOU SUPPORT OUR GROCERY GIFT CARD AND
SCRIP PROGRAMS? Grocery gift cards for Weis Markets,
Giant, John Herr’s, Stauffer’s, Darrenkamp’s, and Sheetz
and Turkey Hill gas cards are available Monday through
Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm at the rectory office and scrip
for many stores and restaurants can be ordered weekly for
pick-up the following weekend. Grocery gift card sales for
the weekend of December 14th of $2,500.00 earned a profit
of $142.50. Scrip sales were $550.00 with profit of $14.26.
Twenty-one children offered their time, talent and
treasure to God December 7th and
Their contributions to the Missionary Childhood
Association totaled $20.87.
A Memorial is an Expression of Love and Thanksgiving.
Why Not Consider Sponsoring an Organ Pipe to remember a loved one, honor a friend, or give yourself a gift this
Christmas? Sponsor a pipe ($250) for family, friends, or yourself and include them in our Memorial and Gift Book. We will
also prepare a certificate for you (see sample at the stand by
the donor wall). Sponsor a rank of pipes ($5,000), Swell
($15,000), or Pedal ($15,000) for family, friends, or yourself
and include them on our donor wall, and receive a certificate
also. Contributions received are for maintenance and future
repairs of our historic organ. Those wishing to contribute will
find the brochure and envelopes in the vestibule by the memorial stand. We plan to update our Memorial and Gift Book
and donor wall in January 2015. Thank you, again, to all who
have helped preserve the treasure we have received.
ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC CHURCH
LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA
SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR DECEMBER 28, 2014 - The
Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph: First Reading: Sirach 3:2-6,12-14; Second Reading: Colossians 3:12-21; Gospel: Luke 2:22-40.
PLEASE NOTE: BULLETIN SUBMISSION DEADLINE:
December 22 for January 4, 2015.
PLEASE REMEMBER IN PRAYER: Those who are ill: Miriam Axe, Mary Pichler, Esther Schustrich, James Schustrich,
John Skabo and Katrina Short.
DEATH: Please pray for the repose of the soul of Jay Wayde.
May he rest in glory with the Lord.
Those in nursing homes, those presently or recently in
the hospital and those listed in our Book of the Sick.
PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR SEMINARIANS: Stephen Logue,
Joshua Weaver, Tyler Mentzer, Michael Metzgar, Samuel
Miller, Matthew Morelli, Bradley Fischer, Peter Quach and
Richard Lyons.
PERPETUAL ADORATION: Open hours: Sunday
8:00-9:00pm; Monday 6:00-7:00am, 9:00-10:00am
and 1:00-2:00pm; Wednesday 4:00-5:00pm;
Thursday
12:00-1:00am,
5:00-6:00am,
and
11:00pm-Midnight; and Friday 6:00-7:00pm, 9:0010:00pm and 11:00pm-Midnight. If you can help or
are interested in being a substitute on a regular or occasional
basis, please call Oliver 560-2873 or Vonnie 397-4300.
Please notify Oliver if you change your phone number so that
he can contact you if Adoration is cancelled. The Blessed
Sacrament will be reposed from 4:00pm on December
24th until 9:00am on Friday, December 26 th and from
4:45pm on New Year’s Eve until 9:00am on Friday, January 2nd, 2015.
ADORATION HOUR FOR CHILDREN: Tuesday, December
23rd from 4:00-5:00pm; Adoration Chapel, lower level. All ages and abilities welcome; handicap accessible. “Give the gift
only you can give to Jesus, your time.” For more information
call catechist Patricia Wang at 396-0635.
ADVENT CALENDAR on FACEBOOK: Progress through
Advent inspired by the beauty of churches. Find a new Advent church each day of Advent by following Fr. Wolfe on FACEBOOK on his public page - Father Allan F. Wolfe. You
don’t even need to be part of FACEBOOK to enjoy these
beautiful images; just ‘Google’ Father Allan F. Wolfe and follow the link.
FLOWERS FOR CHURCH: Altar Flowers for the main altar
(2 vases) or the Blessed Mother or St. Joseph side altars can
be ordered to celebrate a happy occasion, in thanksgiving, for
a special intention or to remember a loved one who has died.
Available dates are: January 18th, 2015 (High Altar); February
1st, February 8th and February 15th, 2015 (All Altars). The cost
per vase is $40.00. Call Teri or Deacon Marty at the rectory,
397-6921 to make arrangements. (Flowers are not placed on
the altars during Lent, except for Laetare Sunday, March 15th,
2015.)
USHER HELP NEEDED for Christmas and New Year’s liturgies. Please sign up for the Mass/Masses when you can
help. A sign up sheet is posted in the rear of the church.
Questions? Call Glenn at 715-2389.
December 21, 2014
CHURCH CHRISTMAS DECORATING following the 10:30
Mass on December 21st. Adult volunteers please meet after
the 10:30 Mass in the front of the church.
CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS MASS: Practice will be held on
Sunday, December 21st from 2:00 to 3:30 pm.
RETIREMENT FUND FOR THE RELIGIOUS: Thank You!
“We can certainly call you friends because of the way you
care for our retired members,” writes a religious brother.
Your gift to last week’s collection for the Retirement Fund
for the Religious benefits some 35,000 senior sisters,
brothers and religious order priests. May God bless you for
your generosity.
NEW YEAR’S DAY COMMUNITY MEAL OPEN TO ALL:
Plans for the New Year’s Day Community Meal are coming
along great. There has been a lot of response from people
about the meal and it’s possible the number served will be
more than anticipated. The meal is FREE and open to ANYONE. For whatever reason, if you want to come or know
someone who would like to come, bring them or let them
know about it. Besides volunteering to help prepare the
meal, you can contribute a homemade dessert. I will be in
the hall on December 27th from 1:00pm to 5:00pm if you
want to drop one off, or call and we can arrange to have it
picked up. For those thinking of helping with preparation or
serving, the schedule will be to start cooking the pork Friday
night, December 26th. On Saturday, December 27th at
1:00pm, pick the pork, peel the potatoes, receive desserts
from those wishing to donate them and set up the gym. On
New Year’s Day, starting at 8:00am, rewarm the pork, boil
the potatoes, cook the sauerkraut and hot dogs. Be ready to
serve at 12:00 Noon. To find out more and volunteer, call or
email Matt Stewart 717-587-8409, wallaby38@gmail.com.
ST. JOSEPH WOMEN’S CLUB along with several choir
members and young ladies and gentlemen from the youth
group serenaded the patients at Lancaster Rehab hospital
and spread Christmas cheer along the hallways as we
sang. Some patients joined in and many smiled and
clapped from their beds. It was a heartwarming experience.
Pizza and a movie followed back at the church so it was a
tummy warming experience too!!! The Women’s Club will
meet again on January 22nd at 7:00pm. Upcoming events
include our annual Soup and Bake Sale in March. More
details soon. In the meantime, say a prayer for all those
who cannot be home for Christmas, be they in hospital beds
or across the country or across the world. The Women’s
Club wishes you all a blessed Christmas and joyful New
Year.
10 WEEK CLUB TICKETS - St. Joseph Catholic Club now
has tickets on sale for our 10 Week Club Party to be held
May 9th. Proceeds go to our Youth Baseball and Softball
programs. Please help this worthy cause by purchasing a
$25 ticket to our party. Great food, drink and money prizes!
The first weekly drawing, for $100, will be held March 1st.
So, get your tickets now. You could win top prize of $2,000!
For tickets call Gene or Linda Duncan at 299-6940 or Joe at
Certified Carpet 394-3731. More info. at stjosephcatholicclub.com.
ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC CHURCH
LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA
December 21, 2014
Medical Missions Trip to Harmons, Jamaica
Parishioners of St. Joseph,
After asking for your sponsorship at all Masses this
past weekend, your response was overwhelming! I wanted
to THANK YOU! I am SO blessed! Responding to many requests, I will continue to keep the parish updated before and
after my trip! Check out their Facebook page: Won by One
to Jamaica.
Hope Weber
“Be it done unto me according to your word.” Docile
obedience to the Lord’s will is the fruit of humble prayer. If
God is inviting you to a deeper consecration as a priest,
deacon, brother or sister, call Father Raymond LaVoie at
717-657-4804 ext. 282 or email frrlavoie@hbgdiocese.org.
PLEASE NOTE: The December issue of the parish newsletter indicated that beginning with the March issue, you can
receive your copy by email, rather than having it mailed to
your home. We just learned that the cost of bulk mailing to
176.. zip codes will be double the current rate. The majority
of our parishioners fall in these zip code areas. We ask all
parishioners to consider receiving your copy by email. Please
send your email address to mgardner@stjosephslanc.com.
Thank you for your consideration.
WEB RESOURCES FOR ADVENT: A list of Parish Penance Services in the Diocese along with daily suggestions
for prayer, reflection, action and blessing that can be used
during the Advent season is available online at
www.hbgdiocese.org/advent. There is a variety of content
from Diocesan offices as well as the US Bishops’ Conference including a recommended list of 20 Christmas movies
from Catholic News Service.
SOCIAL JUSTICE MEAT COLLECTION: As offers of free/
reduced price ham, turkey or turkey breast become available
please keep our committee in mind. We are always able to
use any offers that you do not need. Your generous support
in the past has made it possible for us to serve the last two
community meals with no cost to our committee funds.
Thanks to all who have supported our meat collections in the
past. Contact Bill Stewart at 394-3427 to pick up hams/
coupons, cash may be placed in the collection basket with
your purpose stated on the envelope. Our next community
meal at St. Mary’s is scheduled for January 30, 2015.
ADULT EDUCATION COURSES OFFERED: Diocesan
Institute 2015 Winter/Spring Course listings are now available. If you are an adult interested in continuing to learn
about your faith, go to the Diocesan web site at
www.hbgdiocese.org/Institute. You can also click on the
Diocesan Institute icon on the right side of the Home Page.
A variety of courses are offered at the Diocesan Center and
at various parishes this Winter and Spring. Many courses
are presented as Webinars and may be accessed from
home. Questions, please contact Ryan Bolster at rbolster@hbgdiocese.org or (717) 657-4804 ext. 225.
RESURRECTION
CATHOLIC
SCHOOL
NEWS: During this season of giving, Resurrection Catholic School thanks you for your
support during the year through your gifts of
time, talent and treasure. We will pray for you
at our Christmas Mass and we wish you all a joyous and
peaceful season.
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS: Those 3rd Degree
Knights wishing to advance to 4th Degree should
contact us immediately. We also invite all Catholic men 18 years or older interested in becoming
a Knight to their first degree on Tuesday, January
13, 2015. Membership dues notices will be sent out shortly.
We apologize for the confusion with last year’s dues collection. All issues have been corrected. Our Financial Secretary
will be managing the dues collection for both the Knights and
Columbus Association. We encourage you to include your
email address with your dues payment. The Club is closed for
Christmas on Friday, December 26. Bingo every Monday
and Thursday 6:30pm. Multiple jackpots. Interested in becoming a new member? Call Chuck Yost 394-5064.
THE ANNUAL WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY will be celebrated from January 18-25, 2015. The annual LARC (Lutheran-Anglican-Roman Catholic) Vespers will
be held on Sunday, January 25 at 7:00pm at Saint Paul the
Apostle Church, 125 South Spruce Street, Annville. Bishop
Ronald W. Gainer will preside and will be joined by the
Bishops of the Lutheran and Episcopal communities of
Central Pennsylvania.
HERSHEY BEARS HOCKEY: All are invited to celebrate
Catholic Schools Week with the Hershey Bears Hockey
team at the Giant Center in Hershey, Saturday, January 31,
2015 at 7:00pm. For tickets get an order form from your
school or parish office or contact Janet Dise jdise@HersheyPA.com. Forms are also available for download at www.hbgdiocese.org/schools. The deadline for orders is Monday, January 26, 2015.
Thank you to our Bulletin Sponsor of the Week
Quality Digital Office Solutions
2192 Embassy Dr., Lancaster, PA
717-293-1950
You can read the bulletin online at our parish website: www.stjosephslanc.com.