SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT – December 10, 2023

RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.

TODAY’S MASS INTENTIONS:

9AM: Parishioners of St. Emeric Parish

11AM: Ildikó Krompecher, by Jancsik Family

MASS SCHEDULE & INTENTIONS FOR THE COMING WEEK:

FROM THE DESK OF FR. BONA: (1) Even though every Advent season has four Sundays, not every Advent has the same length. Depending on when the Solemnity of Christmas falls, we may not have a full fourth week of Advent. Last year we had the longest possible Season of Advent (with a full fourth week) and this year we have the shortest possible Advent (only three weeks + one day) because Christmas Eve begins in the evening of the fourth Sunday of Advent.

(2) Because Christmas overlaps a little with the Fourth Sunday of Advent, a common question is whether one can just attend one Mass and fulfill both the Sunday and Christmas obligation. The answer is, no. There are two obligations, Sunday and Christmas, and they need to be fulfilled with two separate Masses. Please, note this and make plans accordingly. Just a catechetical reminder, missing the Mass on Sunday or Holy Day of Obligation is a mortal sin and we must first repent of it and go to confession before we can receive Holy Communion.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH for the birthday cake for me (and Fr. Mezei) at the last agapé. I truly appreciate your thoughtfulness, best wishes and most importantly your prayers. I keep you all always in my prayers. May St. Emeric intercede for us!

THE BLESSING OF THE BAMBINELLI was first instituted by St. John Paul II. On an Advent Sunday the children of Rome are encouraged to bring the baby Jesus (Bambinelli) from each of their Nativity sets to St. Peter’s Square. Following the Sunday Angelus address, the Pope blesses the figurines. This custom has spread throughout the world. We will celebrate this blessing next week, on the Third Sunday of Advent after the Mass. All (not only children) are encouraged to bring baby Jesus from their home Nativity sets to the church for this special blessing.

DECORATING CHURCH: Since we have a short Advent, we will be setting up the Christmas trees after the Sunday Mass next week (12/17). If some of you are able to help carry some Christmas decorations into the church, that would be greatly appreciated.

MASS SCHEDULE FOR CHRISTMAS – NEW YEAR

St. Emeric Parish

December 24:   5:00 PM Mass – English

December 24:   10:30 PM Christmas Carrols – Hungarian

December 24:   11:00 PM Mass – Hungarian

December 25:   9:00 AM Mass – English

December 25:   11:00 AM Mass – Hungarian

December 31:   9:00 AM – English

December 31:   11:00 AM – Hungarian

January 1:         9:00 AM – English

January 1:         11:00 AM – Hungarian

CONFESSIONS: to prepare ourselves well for Christmas, beside the usual confession times, I will hear confessions also on Thursday, December 21. First opportunity will be after the 9AM morning Mass and then in the evening from 6-7PM. For the evening session, Fr. Peter Boksay will be available as well. Whether here or at another church, let us take advantage of the great Sacrament of Confession. Let us unburden ourselves and remove any hindrances to the coming of Jesus Christ to us in the Eucharist.

LAST WEEKEND’S COLLECTION: Collection: $2,118; in loving memory of Kamilla Szabó: $33; maintenance: $250; special donation: $440. May God reward your generosity in supporting the church. Thank you for sending in your donations by mail or using our website https://stemeric.com/donations/.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SICK, especially for Bev Kimar, Teréz Kalász, Lajos Boday, Márta Takács, Zsuzsanna Hunyadi, Albert Kovács, Kathy Szabó, Dorothy Fromhercz, Alex Szaday, Virginia Kachmar, Victor and Margaret Falk, Mária Hokky, and Phil Lucchese.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE DECEASED. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.

THIS SUNDAY the 11:00 AM Mass from St. Emeric church will be livestreamed at https://www.facebook.com/saintemeric/ and https://stemeric.com/

LET US PRAY THREE HAIL MARYS FOR OUR PARISH EVERY DAY!

Ez a bejegyzés olvasható Hungarian nyelven is.