Stained Glass

Fourth Sunday of Advent - December 20-21, 2008

From the Pastor’s Pen...

The Catechism teaches "When God reveals Himself and calls him, man cannot fully respond to the divine love by his own power. He must hope that God will give him the capacity to love Him in return and to act in conformity with the commandments of charity."

In Advent we telescope the centuries-long wait of Israel for its Messiah into a single month as we prepare for Christmas. The ability to wait patiently in hope for the coming of God into our lives is itself a gift from God -- a gift many people seem to refuse or for which they are indifferent. There is no telling how many guests we will have at St. Victor's during our Christmas Masses that are here out of habit, out of guilt, out of desperation caused by personal or economic problems, or by some other motive. No matter what reason the guests crowd the pews for Christmas, may they see in us, the parishioners of St. Victor's, a people of hope, living by faith in Christ, and full of Christian charity toward all. May our example be a light that will cause them to more-closely investigate our Catholic Faith, a gift that is more precious than anything found under a Christmas tree. Fr. Michael Hendrickson

A BLESSING FOR YOUR MANGER...God of all creation, as we look upon this holy manger, fill us with wonder and awe. May these figures help us to reflect on the wonder of Christ’s birth that silent night in Bethlehem. God of miracles and mystery, fill us with the faith of Joseph and Mary, with the wonder of the shepherds, and the generosity of the three kings. Bless this manger, may it be for us a sign of peace, of joy and of Your gentle love. We ask this in the name of Christ, Your Son and our Brother. Amen.

SECOND COLLECTION TODAY

The second collection today is for the poor and needy. These funds will be distributed to several outreach programs.

Thank you for your help.

Christmas/Solemnity of Mary Schedule of Services

All Parish Offices will close at noon on Wednesday, December 24^th, and will be closed all day on Christmas Day.

Wednesday, December 24^th, Christmas Eve

Masses at 5:00 P.M. (Children’s Liturgy) and Midnight

(Choir – Carol Service begins at 11:00 P.M.)

Thursday, December 25^th, Christmas Day

Regular Sunday Mass Schedule except NO evening Mass

7:00, 8:00, 9:15, 10:45 A.M. and 12:15 P.M.

(If the Church is full, please check for an overflow Mass in the parish hall.)

CONFESSIONS WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 27^TH, FROM 3:30-4:30 P.M.

All Parish Offices will close at noon on Wednesday, December 31^st, and will be closed all day on New Year’s Day.

Wednesday, December 31^st, Eve of the Solemnity of Mary, New Year’s Eve

Mass will be celebrated at 8:00 A.M. and 7:30 P.M.

Thursday, January 1, 2009, Solemnity of Mary, New Year’s Day

Masses will be celebrated at 8:00 and 9:30 A.M.

NO evening Mass today.

PLEASE MAKE PLANS FOR YOUR CONFESSION AND MASS TIMES EARLY.

THERE WILL BE NO 5:00 P.M. MASS ON CHRISTMAS DAY, NEW YEAR’S EVE OR NEW YEAR’S DAY.

Extra Christmas Offering Envelopes are available in the pews.

SCRIPTURE READINGS: DECEMBER 27-28, 2008 (FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY)

GENESIS 15:1-6, 21:1-3; HEBREWS 11:8, 11-12, 17-19; LUKE 2:22-40

SIMBANG GABI (Mass at dawn to the Blessed Mother) – MISA DE GALLO (Mass to welcome the birth of our Savior) – ADVENT NOVENA – Sunday, December 21^st, at 5:30 A.M. and Monday through Wednesday, December 22^nd-24^th, at 6:00 A.M. Everyone is invited to join us for these Novena Masses, which will be held in the Church.

Bradley James will be selling his CD’s after Masses this weekend. He will also be singing next weekend after Communion at the Saturday 5:00 P.M. Mass, the Sunday 9:15 A.M. and 12:15 and 5:00 P.M. Masses.

$CRIP gift certificates will be available after Masses (except Sunday 7:00 & 8:00 A.M.) this weekend, December 20^th & 21^st, for all of your last minute holiday shopping, dining and gift-giving needs. This is the last $CRIP availability before Christmas.

Mass Intentions for the Week

Monday December 22 8:00 A.M. Josephine Cronk

Tuesday December 23 8:00 A.M. Edward & Olive Olivera

Wednesday December 24 8:00 A.M. Manuel Ferreira & Clint Ignacio

5:00 P.M. Deceased Members of the Latendresse Family

Midnight Delfina Lepe Jones

Thursday December 25 7:00 A.M. For the Parishioners of St. Victor’s Parish

8:00 A.M. Olive Olivera

10:45 A.M. Frank Azevedo

12:15 P.M. Torres Family Members

Friday December 26 8:00 A.M. Josephine Barreras

Saturday December 27 8:00 A.M. Edilberto & Elena T. Cababaro

5:00 P.M. Manuel & Evelyn De Bem

Sunday December 28 9:15 A.M. Nicolasa M. Rivas

10:45 A.M. Jennifer Chow

5:00 P.M. Tony & Rose Coelho

Banns of Marriage

Peter Nguyen & Chau Nguyen III

Our Condolences

St. Victor’s Parish Community would like to extend their sympathy and prayers to the family and friends of Consolacion Glass, who recently passed away.

PLANNED GIVING NOTES

Life Insurance Gifts

It is easy to turn an old life insurance policy into a nice gift to St. Victor’s Parish, and a possible tax deduction. Simply transfer it to, “The Roman Catholic Bishop, a California Corporate Sole, for the benefit of St. Victor’s Parish.” It is even easier to add the parish as a beneficiary to a policy. Because you can always change this, there is no tax deduction for including the Church as a beneficiary.

If you want to know more about this, the Diocese can provide free assistance. Call Robert Serventi @ 983-0168, or write to him at: 900 Lafayette St., Suite 301, Santa Clara, CA 95050.

Christmas Altar Flower Donations Needed

Donations for the Altar Society Flowers may be made in our CHRISTMAS FLOWERS envelopes located on the table in the vestibule of the Church. Your contribution will help defray some of the expenses used for beautifying the Church at this special time of the year. Please make checks payable to St. Victor’s Altar Society and place these envelopes in the collection basket or take them to the Rectory Office. Thank you.

SCHOOL APPLICATIONS AND OPEN HOUSE – Applications for St. Victor’s School for the 2009-10 school year will be available beginning Monday, January 5^th, from 8:00 A.M.-3:30 P.M. and online @ www.school.stvictor.org . Please join us at Open House on Sunday, January 25^th, from 10:00 A.M.-1:30 P.M.

SOCIAL JUSTICE NOTES...

St. Victor’s St. Vincent de Paul Society would like to THANK our parishioners for their generous response to the GIVING TREE this year. They are able to assist 55 families during this holiday season with gifts and food. THANKS to our ushers for helping to collect the gifts and placing them in safekeeping before distribution. Our volunteers send a HEARTFELT THANKS to our parishioners for their generosity throughout the year of 2008.

U.n.I. LORD TEENS WINTER SERVICE PROJECT. If you have clean, gently used coats (men’s sizes most needed), clean blankets or towels, they can certainly be put to good use. The U.n.I. Lord Teen Group will be accepting your clean donations for shelters throughout this winter. New socks are needed too. Please drop off your donation at the CM or Rectory Office between 8:00 A.M.–4:00 P.M., Monday through Friday. God bless you for your consideration to the needy of our community.

NEEDY FAMILIES. Our St. Vincent de Paul Society volunteers are working with several families in our parish community in need of a several dressers, a clothes dryer, a woman’s bicycle and ladies warm coat size 13. If you are able to help, please call the Rectory Office @ 251-7055. THANKS to the parishioner who donated a crib for a family in need.

EASTSIDE F.I.S.H. food collection is this weekend. Please bring your non-perishable food donations (peanut butter, tuna, canned vegetables & fruit, macaroni & cheese, etc.) and place them in the wooden box in the vestibule of the Church.

EASTSIDE F.I.S.H. HOLIDAY NEEDS. EASTSIDE F.I.S.H. will again be accepting your donations of turkeys, chickens and hams. Call the Rectory Office @ 251-7055 to arrange delivery/pick-up. Please DO NOT leave any perishable foods in the FISH box in the Church vestibule. We wish to THANK our supporters for their donations throughout the year. Our clients directly benefit from your generosity.

CATHOLIC CHARITIES PROGRAM. The Refugee Resettlement Program welcomes refugees all year long. If you’d like to be a volunteer with this program or would like more information, please call Ellen Dumesnil @ 325-5170.

Catechetical Ministry classes will resume January 5th. Please check your handbooks for individual class information.

THERE WILL BE A SECOND COLLECTION NEXT WEEKEND FOR ST. VICTOR’S ST. VINCENT de PAUL SOCIETY.

Thank You to our Bulletin advertisers. They make our Sunday Bulletin possible.