THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT – December 17, 2023

RESPONSORIAL PSALM: My soul rejoices in my God.

TODAY’S MASS INTENTIONS:

9AM: Parishioners of St. Emeric Parish

11AM: Attila Balogh, by the Balogh Family

MASS SCHEDULE & INTENTIONS FOR THE COMING WEEK:

FROM THE DESK OF FR. BONA: This Sunday of Advent is called “Gaudete Sunday.” Gaudete means rejoice in Latin and this is the first word in the entrance antiphon for this Mass (Gaudete in Domino, cf. Phil 4:4-6). The theme of rejoicing however is carried throughout the Mass in both the Mass texts and readings. Additionally, Mass may be said in rose color this day. This day, the Holy Mother Church wants to encourage us and nurture our hope in our faithful waiting for our Lord Jesus Christ by focusing on joy.

The source of joy is none other than this, “The Lord is near.” The joy of the presence of the Lord brings us tranquility, cheerful confidence, peace of heart, and serenity. This will keep and preserve us from many troubles and dangers of the world in our own great Advent of life, up until the day of Christ’s coming. We can truly comprehend the love of God only if we realize that it is the Lord of the whole universe who has come to our salvation. Let us continue to remain vigilant as we await with prayer the approaching Christmas!

 PLEASE NOTE: No 9AM Mass next Sunday (12/24)!!!

 TODAY: THE BLESSING OF THE BAMBINELLI: after the Mass, please come forward with the baby Jesus from your home Nativity set for this special blessing.

DECORATING CHURCH: If some of you are able to help carry some Christmas decorations into the church after the Sunday 11AM Mass that would be greatly appreciated.

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.

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

TWO OBLIGATIONS: 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.

LAST WEEKEND’S COLLECTION: Collection: $2,003; Solemnity of Immaculate Conception: $175. in loving memory of Joseph Lipovits: $100; special donation: $125. 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, Margaret Falk, Mária Hokky, and Phil Lucchese.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE DECEASED, especially for Victor Falk.

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.