The Pastor's Corner - The Cathedral Church of St. Catharine of Siena

The Pastor’s Corner:
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Fourth Sunday
Of Advent
December 21, 2014
Sunday, December 21; Fourth Sunday of Advent
2 Sm 7:1-5, 8 -12, 14, 16 / Rom 16:25-27 / Lk 1:26-38
4:15 PM
7:30
9:00
10:30
12:00 Noon
Cody Scheetz (Saturday)
Robert (Dec’d) & Carol (Living) Yeager
61st Wedding Anniversary
The People of the Parish
Albert Janowiak
Franz Muhl
Monday, December 22; Late Advent Weekday
1 Sm 1:24-28 / Lk 1:46-56
6:30
Harold Carter
8:00
Lee Brahm, 19th Anniversary
Tuesday, December 23; Late Advent Weekday
Mal 3:1-4, 23-24; Lk 1:57-66
6:30
Irene Madea
8:00
Walter J. Werner
9:00
Thomas J. Baker, Jr.
(School Mass)
Wednesday, December 24; Late Advent Weekday
Vigil: Is 62:1-5, Acts 13:16-17, 22-2, Mt 1:1-25 or
1:18-25 / Night: Is 9:16, Ti 2:11-14, Lk 2:1-14
9:00 AM
Joseph Kusko
4:15 PM Up Intentions of the Celebrant
4:15 PM PAC Intentions of the Celebrant
6:00 PM UP Intentions of the Celebrant
6:00 PM PAC Intentions of the Celebrant
12:00 Midnight Intentions of the Celebrant
Thursday, December 25; Nativity of the Lord
Dawn Is 62:11-12, Ti 3:4-7, Lk 2:15-20 / Day Is 52:7-10,
Heb 1:1-6, Jn 1:1-18 OR 1:1-5, 9-14
7:30
Intentions of the Celebrant
9:00
Intentions of the Celebrant
10:30
Intentions of the Celebrant
Friday, December 26; Saint Stephen, The First Martyr
Acts 6:8-10, 7:54-59 / Mt 10:17-22
9:00
The Borgmann Family, Living
Saturday, December 27; Saint John Apostle and
Evangelist
1 Jn 1:1-4 / Jn 20:1, 2-8
8:00
Dr. Pasquale Colarusso
Sunday, December 28; The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary
and Joseph
Sir 3:2-6, 12-14 or Gn 15:10-6, 21:1-3, Col 3:12-21 or
3:12-17 or Hb 11:8, 11-12, 17-19
4:15 PM
George Molchany,
(Saturday)
24th Anniversary
7:30
Dec’d Members of the Erich Family
9:00
The People of the Parish
10:30
Henry Steffens
12:00 Noon
Luis Esteban Perez Olivaries
One of the most beautiful Christmas traditions is the manger
scene or crèche. In the Church we will soon put out a
beautiful crèche which Bishop McShea gave to the
Cathedral and reminds us of the humility of our God who
became man for the sake of our salvation.
The origin of the Christmas crèche comes from the life of
St. Francis of Assisi. Three years before he died St. Francis
wanted to celebrate Christmas is a special way. In the town
of Grecio, Italy, Francis prepared a manger and brought
hay, an ox and a donkey. He stood before the scene and
chanted with Gospel “bathed in tears and radiant with joy,”
as St. Bonaventure writes. St. Francis then preached to the
people of the town and called Jesus the “Babe of
Bethlehem.” An eye witness said he saw St. Francis
embracing an infant who miraculously appeared in his arms.
Some people set up the crèche over a period of weeks as a
way to live interiorly the unfolding events of our salvation.
The animals are in the stable at the beginning and then the
shepherds come. Mary and Joseph arriving on the scene
near the time of Christmas Day and the Christ child put in
the manger only then. The Magi arrive a few weeks later.
No matter how big or small your Christmas manger scene
is, may it be a concrete sign of the great love God has for
you and inspire you to keep Christ in Christmas as we
prepare for the day of His birth.
In Christ,
Monsignor Baker
Sacrificial Giving—WE ARE A STEWARDSHIP PARISH
Upcoming Collections
Sunday December 20 / 21 – Two Collections
Regular Sunday Offering / Debt Reduction
Fuel Offering
Thursday December 25 – One Collection
Christmas Offering
Sunday December 27 / 28 – One Collection
Regular Sunday Offering
Saturday January 1 – One Collection
Solemnity of Mary
Note: If you are making a payment on your Campaign Pledge,
please MAKE SURE YOU PLACE YOUR CONTRIBUTION
IN THE BLUE CAMPAIGN ENVELOPE—NOT THE
DEBT ENVELOPE.
In observance of the Christmas Holiday, the
Rectory office will be closed on Tuesday, December
24th, Wednesday, December 25th and Thursday,
December 26th. There will be only one Mass at
9 AM on Thursday, December 26th.
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December 21, 2014
Prepare “room” in the “inn” of your
heart for Him.
"Do you want to become saints? Here is
the secret: confession is the lock; confidence in your
confessor is the key. This is how you open heaven’s
gates."
St. John Bosco
In Observance of Epiphany
Blessing of Chalk and Holy Water
for Home Blessing
Saturday, January 3, 2015
4:15 Vigil Mass
Sunday, January 4, 2015
7:30, 9:00, 10:30 A.M. 12:00 Noon
Confessions will be heard
Monday, December 22 3:15 - 4:00 pm
Tuesday, December 23 7:00 - 8:00 pm
It is our hope that the parishioners of the Cathedral will use
this as an opportunity to better prepare themselves for the
coming of Christ at Christmas.
St. Lucy Eyeglasses Collection
This December, Fr. Ezaki and the Youth
In Observance of the Feast of the Holy Family of
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, special blessings of
families will take place after each Mass next
weekend, December 27th and December 28th.
Group are taking up a collection of
eyeglasses in honor of St. Lucy, patron
saint of the blind (Feast Day December 13). Place
unwanted eyeglasses (prescription glasses, sunglasses,
reading glasses, etc.) in the large box in the church
vestibule. Glasses (along with cases) will be donated
to New Eyes for the Needy, Short Hills, NJ.
Ecumenical Soup Kitchen
Our next soup kitchen duty is
Saturday, December 27th. Give a
special gift this year by volunteering to
bake casseroles, bake cookies, help
serve, or by making a monetary donation to the
soup kitchen. To volunteer, please call Heather
Schweizer (610) 709-0801. Thank you!
Taco Bake: 1 lb. elbow macaroni, 2lbs. ground beef, 1
package dry taco seasoning mix, 2-11 oz. cans
Campbell's cheddar cheese soup, 1 - 16 oz. can
chopped tomatoes, 1 cup milk. Brown beef and drain.
Add taco seasoning, cheese soup, chopped tomatoes
with juice, and milk. Stir and add cooked macaroni.
Place in foil casserole and bake for 30 minutes at 350
degrees. Very simple.
The CatholicTV Network, America’s Catholic
Television Network®, is now available to cable and
satellite providers in our area. Please help provide this
upbeat, youthful and exciting Catholic network and a
powerful resource to the people of our area and the
entire nation.
To help, simply visit GetCatholicTV.com as an
easy way to petition your cable or satellite provider. If
you are unable to access the internet please follow up
with a postcard or letter to your provider.
Remember the address: GetCatholicTV.com
Baskets of Cheer
The 4th Degree Assembly of the Cathedral’s Knights
of Columbus will be selling tickets for the 5 Baskets
of Cheer that will be chanced off on January 17,
2015 at their annual formal dinner. Tickets sales are
ending today, December 21st.
Upon this Rock,
a young adult
speaker series sponsored by the Office of
Youth and Young Adults Ministry,
invites you to its next event! “What God
Has Joined: Equality & The Redefinition of
Marriage” will be held Friday, January 16, 2015,
from 6:30 to 8:30 PM at the Queenship of Mary
Parish Gathering Place (1324 Newport Avenue,
Northampton). Sara Hulse, Instructor of Theology at
Desales University, will present on the topic followed
by open discussion. The event is free of charge and
light refreshments will be provided. For more
information, visit www.allentowndiocese.org/
youngadults or email Alexa Doncsecz at
www.allentowndiocese.org/youngadults.
2014 Contribution Statements
To have any donations credited on 2014 contribution
statements, checks must be received no later
than December 31, 2014.
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 Religious benefits some 35,000 senior
sisters, brothers, and religious order priests. May God bless
you for your generosity!
Pa
PRAY FOR VOCATIONS
NEWS
Cathedral Cash makes great
stocking stuffers
From The Center for Religious Education
And helps your parish!
December
Filling Christmas stockings? Use Cathedral Cash
gift cards!
The parish buys these cards at a 5% discounted rate
and sells them to you at face value. Cathedral Cash
gift cards can make your shopping easier and you
help the parish with a 5% donation, at no extra cost
to you. Use the gift cards for your purchases at the
store or give the gift cards to someone special.
As a reminder this weekend is the last selling date
prior to Christmas. Cathedral Cash will NOT be
sold on Thursday, December 25th as the rectory
will be closed.
Make Cathedral Cash your one stop shopping place
for those gift cards that everyone likes to receive.
Give the priceless gift
evangelization this Christmas!
of
Visit our Resource Center at the back of the Church to find
meaningful gifts to grow faith! Plant a seed for Baby Jesus
to “find room” in the hearts of your relatives and friends by
selecting from the many CD’s, DVD’s, brochures and
books covering a wide range of topics such as relationships,
family, spiritual growth and prayer. These dynamically
orthodox authors and presenters include: Scott Hahn, Jason
Evert, Colleen Carroll Campbell, Fr. Robert Barron, Chris
Stefanick, and many more. These life-changing materials
have assisted many parishes in planting the seeds of the
Gospel of Jesus Christ in many souls.
Baptismal Bib
Sewing help needed! It’s time to make
baptismal bibs! We are in need of volunteers
to help layout, cut, and sew the bibs. If you
like to sew or do crafts this is a great way to help the
parish. Contact Deanna at 610-434-9048.
2015 Church Calendars
2015 Church Calendars are available in the
vestibule by the generosity of the Robert C. Weir
Funeral Home.
P.R.E.P. Calendar
21 NO classes
Happy and Blessed Christmas!
January 2015
4 Classes—Epiphany
Miss Shankweiler is looking for an
individual to teach 3rd Grade P.R.E.P. on
Sunday mornings from 10:10 – 11:45 AM.
If you are interested,
please contact Miss Shankweiler at 610-432-7655
or [email protected].
Save the Date!
Vacation Bible School 2015 is scheduled for
June 22-26 from 9 am - 12 pm. This year’s
theme: “Nazareth, Where Jesus was a Kid.”
Registration will be open to children in PreSchool through 4th Grade. Current 7th Graders
may use this opportunity to earn service hours
for Confirmation!
Knights of Columbus Pennsylvania State Scholarship
Thanks to the support of the parish in buying COAL
(Chance of a Lifetime) raffle tickets from Knights of
Columbus Council 14397, children of Brother Knights of
our council who are currently high school seniors are
eligible to apply for a $3,000 four year college scholarship.
The deadline to apply is December 31, 2014.
For more information go to www.pakofc.us/index.php/state
-programs/youth/scholarships or call Alan Shannon-Breslin
at 610-740-0122.
Lottery Calendar
Try your luck at the newest Women’s
Alliance fundraiser: Lottery Calendar.
Only 1,000 to be sold and over 150 chances to win!
Choose your favorite 3 digit numbers and get your 6
month calendars today. Purchase from any Women’s
Alliance Board member or in the vestibule on select
Sundays through the end of the year. $20 each with
the 5th one free.
Holy Father’s Prayer Intention for December
That parents may be true evangelizers, passing on
their children the precious gift of faith.
Page 3 - 226
December 21, 2014
"Interested in what happens at a Catholic
seminary? Want to know what our future priests are
like and what they think about proclaiming Christ in
the world today? Want to help spread the Gospel?
Check out the new official blog of St. Charles Borromeo
Seminary entitled Seminarian Casual, which can be found
atwww.semcasual.org. St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in
Philadelphia is where the seminarians of the Diocese of
Allentown go to receive their education and formation for
the priesthood. The seminarians (from the Allentown
diocese and others around the country) write on a whole host
of topics including movies, seminary life, morality, sports,
popular culture, current events, theology, philosophy, etc.
St. John Vianney Regional School
In faith - celebrating today, embracing tomorrow.
To the parishioners who support
our school every week,
we at Saint John Vianney offer our most sincere
gratitude. Please know that you are in our prayers.
Saint John Vianney Regional School Catholic education at its best!
Visit us and see why.
Prayer for the Families of Our Military
In the Holy Name of Jesus, I lift up to You, Father, the
families of our military. I pray that all will feel Your love
and mercy while they are concerned for their loved ones
who are away serving our great nation. May they know
abundance, being well provided for and well taken care of
until their loved ones return home safely. May the peace
that passes understanding sustain them in season of
separation. Comfort them with your Word, that they might
have faith to see their sons, daughters, husbands, and wives
returned to them in wholeness and safety. Amen
Bustrip to Mt. Airy to see Tributeto“PatsyCline” on
Tuesday, February 24. Cost is $65. Includes
transportation from St. Joseph the Worker parking lot,
Show,Buffetand$20slotplay.Busleave11:30AMand
back about 7:30PM. Please make check payable to St.
Joseph’s Women’s Guild drop off at church or mail to Sue
Mueller, 5211 Wagon Wheel Dr., Schnecksville, PA 18078.
(610) 392-2957. Bus fare is reimbursed if cancelled due
toweather.
Time of Grace Pilgrimage to
Fatima, Lourdes, Madrid, and Avila
A Note From the Lehigh Conference of Churches:
6th & Chew Winter Shelter
Pope Francis has declared October 25, 2014 to
October 15, 2015 the Terestian Jubilee year to celebrate
the 500th birthday anniversary of St. Teresa of Avila.
Come join others from around our Diocese as we visit
these world famous shrines. 11 day pilgrimage departs
May 22nd.
Trip presentation will be given at 7 pm January 8th
at St. Joseph the Worker Parish Center, 1879 Applewood
Drive, Orefield , PA 18069.
Cost is $3,798. Bus transportation is to and from airport
and we will pick up at St. Joe’s and a location in
Bethlehem, PA. TBA. Call Deacon Campanell for flyer
information at 610-395-0868.
Last winter, the very harsh weather showed us that the
community needed a bigger and better-equipped facility to
ensure that our homeless population would not only have a
place to sleep out of the inclement weather but also to
ensure that they had the services needed to help them get off
the streets into permanent housing.
The Emergency Winter Shelter at 6th and Chew Streets is
a community response to the need for more space than what
is available through our established year-round shelter
programs. The Lehigh Conference of Churches is the
operating agency for the 6th and Chew Winter Shelter, open
from 7PM to 7AM every night from November 1st through
April 30th. Guests are provided cots and blankets and
access to assistance for their medical and housing needs.
Supervisory staff are on duty to assure the safety and well
being of all guests. In our first three weeks the shelter has
seen over 100 different individuals. We expect that number
to only increase as winter approaches.
Thank you to our community, churches, partner agencies,
donors, friends and staff for their commitment. It is only
through your efforts that we make a difference in the lives
of our neighbors. Volunteers and donations continue to be a
need. Please email us at [email protected] or
contact us at 610-433-6421 to learn more about how you
can become a part of the 6th & Chew Winter Shelter.
Some Special Gifts - Source Unknown
Here are a few suggestions for special gifts:
A firm handshake to a shaky soul
A kind word to a lonely person
A warm smile to the disheartened
A sincere concern for someone troubled
A feeling of compassion for the neglected
As they were stoning Stephen, he called out, ‘Lord Jesus,
receive my spirit.’ Then he fell to his knees and cried out in
a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them’; and
when he said this, he fell asleep.”
(Acts of the Apostles, 7:55-60)
HOLY SAVIOUR CEMETERY/610-866-2372
RESURRECTION CEMETERY/610-395-3819
To arrange for a Christian Burial
Page 4 - 226
December 21, 2014
Altar Servers
Cathedral Happenings
December 22, 2014 through December 28, 2014
(Please remember to sign in when you arrive)
Weekday Masses
Monday, December 22
8:00 AM
C. Pauls/A. Filipos
Tuesday, December 23
8:00 AM
B. R. DeJesus/S. Veloza
Wednesday, December 24
9:00 AM
T. Fontanez/N. Santos
Thursday, December 25
4:15 PM Up
C. Leighton/C. Durishin/
G. Grim/A. Filipos
4:15 PM Down M. Gunkle/N. Gunkle/I. Craig/B. Craig
6:00 PM Up
A. Pryblick/B. Christ/C. Christ/M. Dano
6:00 PM Down D. Ganchoso/D. Ganchoso/
J. Ganchoso/B. R. DeJesus
12:00 AM
Bishop’s Team
7:30 AM
C. Pauls/H. Garcon/R.M. Tomy
9:00 AM
N. O’Neill/S. O’Neill/
B. O’Keefe/B. Schweizer
Friday, December 26
9:00 AM C. Anderson/S. Anderson (note time
change)
Saturday, December 27
8:00 AM
M. Melchoir/L. Koons
Weekend Masses
Saturday, December 27
4:15 PM
J. Santos/N. Santos/
F. Cinamella/T. Cinamella
Sunday, December 28
7:30 AM
M. Gunkle/N. Gunkle/T. Fontanez
9:00 AM
A. Wursta/D. Ganchos/
D. Ganchoso/J. Ganchoso
10:30 AM
C. Carbonetto/B. Carbonetto/
R. M. Tomy/M. Michalak
12:00 PM
E. Ward/S. Ntunbane/
T. Ingabire/D.-D. Dushime
OUR PARISH BULLETIN
NEEDS YOUR HELP
It is provided free of charge to our Parish
and provides important revenues!
Please consider having your business, service, or
professional practice recommended to all our
Parish families.
Please call Jim Finnen this week.
Cell: 610-653-2145
Home: 610-838-2238
This is one of the few inexpensive, local
advertising opportunities left in our area
and our Parish thanks you!
Use QR code for more info. about our parish.
Page 5 - 226
Sunday, December 21
Vestibule
All Masses—WA Lottery Calendar Sales
Parish Activity Center /Kitchen
8:30 - 10:00 AM – Set-up PREP Christmas Party
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM – PREP Christmas Party
Monday, December 22
Msgr. Ott Room
7:30 - 9:30 PM – Knights of Columbus Council #14397
Faculty Lounge
6:30 - 8:00 PM - Girl Scouts Cadette Troop 6783
Tuesday, December 23
Church
10:00 - 11:00 AM – SJVRS Christmas Concert
Parish Activity Center
7:00 - 9:00 PM - Boy Scout Troop 74
Msgr. Ott Room
7:00 - 9:00 PM - RCIA
Wednesday, December 24
Parish Activity Center
7:00 - 8:00 PM - Cub Scouts
Thursday, December 25 – Christmas Day—Closed
Friday, December 26—Closed
Saturday, December 27
Vestibule—WA Lottery Calendar Sales
Sunday, December 28
Parish Activity Center / Kitchen
4:00 - 9:00 PM – K o C #14397 Holiday Potluck
Vestibule—All Masses—WA Lottery Calendar Sales
Let Us Continue to Pray for those who are
sick in our parish community James
Lawrence, Julie Domonkos, Natalie Schuelz,
Jean Sheaks, Ethel Thomas, Gordon L. Gladden,
Harriet Jones, The Hentz Family, Joseph Kochan, Katie
Hines, Joseph Fryzol, Steve Becsey, Gabriella Snyder,
Edward Hillanbrand, Filomena Bachman, Dominic Scotto,
Nick Sorrentino, Joyce Clause, Sharon James and family,
Mary Altieri, Elizabeth Benko, Michael Skrypczak, Patricia
Schuessler, Michelle Gimbert, Anna Janowiak, Veronica
Stelzman, Albert Griech, Barbara Vulgaris, Nathan
Goodson-Gregg, Mary Cashmore, Rose Frisch, Joseph
Kwiatek, Irene Beckwith, Teo Moya, Helen and Frederick
Galle, Jennifer Miller, Sharon C., James Nagy, Barbara
Lewis, Ned Squires, Fred Jerant, Elizabeth Oranczak,
Carmen Rodriguez, Lillian and Walter Cress, Linda Ports,
Liberio Obeid, Dan Jones, Bernard Klotz, Johnathan Jones,
Joan Holzman, Robert Koch, Martha Cluin, Connie Trach,
Larry Wassil, C. June MacNamara, Alex Saavedra, Mae
Fredericks, Kara Sorrentino, Maryava Hobin, Dorothy
Blose, Judy Eberhard, Susan Schlegel, Glenn Fretz, Mary
Iannelli, Stephen Pollack, Felicity Sorrentino, Mae Squires,
James O’Donnell, Ruby Richard, Mary Eagan, Randy
Krause, Michele, Daniel Heist, Sue Heist, Dr. Joseph
Barchini, JoAnn Falatko, Barrie Perilla and Marie Haberern.
Please let us know when your loved one is better. Thank
you.