Dear Parishioners,
Today’s readings have a theme of preparation. The prophet Jeremiah speaks for the Lord, telling the Israelites of the days that are coming when the Lord will fulfill the promise [he] made to the house of Israel and Judah. This promise was one that said he would bring forth a savior, born of the house of David. Saint Paul tells the Thessalonians that they should conduct themselves in a way pleasing to God and to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of the Lord Jesus with all his holy ones. And finally, in Luke’s Gospel, Jesus vividly describes what it will be like when the Son of Man comes with power and great glory. He tells his disciples to be vigilant at all times and to be ready to stand before him in judgment.
It is fitting that the Scriptures speak of being prepared, for that is a state of being we ought to maintain – at least spiritually. We know Christ will come again; we just do not know when. And so, as we begin our Advent time in anticipation of celebrating the anniversary of Christ’s birth, we also “wait in joyful hope for the coming [again] of our Savior.”
Each year, on this first Sunday of Advent, the universal Church begins a new liturgical year. We examine, once again and still, the fullness of the Paschal Mystery in all its facets. The Paschal Mystery refers to Christ’s passion, death, resurrection, and glorious Ascension, i.e., the means by which he accomplished our salvation. But our liturgical year is so much more than an annual history lesson on the life of Christ. It is an opportunity to immerse ourselves into all that Jesus did and taught, and to relate it to our own redemption – here and now in 2021.
For “by dying, he has destroyed our death, and by rising, restored our life” (Preface, Easter I).
This Paschal Mystery is at the heart of every liturgy – we celebrate what God has already done for us and we anticipate the fullness of the Kingdom to come. It is in the Lord’s Prayer, as we say, “thy Kingdom come, thy will be done.” It is in the creed we profess, “he will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead.” We have spoken the words of the mystery in liturgies past: “Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.” And we have sung, or recited, or heard others do so, that wonderful verse from the Book of Revelation: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come (Rev 4:8).
As we begin Advent, we welcome the opportunity to grow in faith and in conformity to Christ. May our preparation for the celebration of his birth, and his awaited second coming, be one that draws us ever more into the Paschal Mystery and enables us to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father.
Blessings,
Fr. Tad
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First Friday Adoration Friday, Dec 3 |
Jesus waits for us in this Sacrament of Love. (Pope John Paul II, Dominicae Canae)
Won’t you consider setting aside some time to honor, adore, pray, or simply sit with our Lord during our first Friday Eucharistic adoration?
Mass begins at 6:30 pm on Friday, December 3rd, and Eucharistic exposition follows for twelve hours, concluding with benediction at 7:00 am on Saturday. Everyone is invited to stay for the complimentary coffee and breakfast treats offered by the Adoration Ministry after the benediction. Please visit our website for more information.
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Religious Education, NOVA, and OASIS have all started, but there is still time to register if you haven't already! Don't miss this opportunity to plug into our faith formation and youth ministry programs!
Registration links below
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Christmas Wreath Fundraiser |
OASIS will be selling Christmas wreaths and garlands to fundraise for Youth Ministry. Please feel free to order for your friends, family, and neighbors! Wreaths will be sold on a first come, first serve basis - so act fast!!
Reserve your wreaths today by clicking the button or emailing analisa.fuentes@dsj.org for a direct link to the form.
Alternatively, you can call the office during office hours to place your order. Please note that due to supply chain issues, we are no longer able to offer door swags - we will of course still offer 28" Mixed Evergreen Wreaths, 22" Noble Fir Wreaths, and 10' Cedar Garland.
Thank you so much for your generous support of our youth and their fundraiser!
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Outreach News - Tamale Dinner Boxes
The Outreach Committee is preparing 40 Tamale dinner boxes for families at the St. Joseph Family Center in Gilroy. We are in need of the following items:
Oil Canned vegetables
Salt and pepper Tuna
Sugar Peanut Butter
Flour Jelly/Jam
Cake/Cornbread mix Canned fruit
Jello boxes Bags of Rice and Beans
Non sugary Cereal
Donated items can be brought to the church office or
Vestibule between Nov 14th through Dec 1st.
*Checks will be gratefully accepted and made out to St. Anthony Church with “tamale dinners” in the memo section.
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Outreach News - Christmas Gifts for St. Joseph’s
Due to covid restrictions, St. Joseph’s in Gilroy will not distribute physical Christmas gifts this year. They have requested that St. Anthony parishioners donate gift cards from Target or Walmart.
St. Joseph’s will be distributing gift cards to over 1000 families in need, and they have told us that St. Anthony Church is one of their largest supporters. Please give generously, and help to make this a very Merry Christmas for a child in need.
We are suggesting a $25 gift card. You may purchase your own gift card, or you may give us a check, and Outreach will purchase the gift cards. Make out checks to St. Anthony Outreach, and write St. Joseph’s on the memo line at the bottom of the check. A member of Outreach will be available to take your gift cards or checks after each mass on Saturday and Sunday, December 4-5, and December 11-12. You may also drop off checks and gift cards in the parish office no later December 13.
May the Lord bless each of you and your families for your continued generosity,
and may you have a very Merry Christmas!
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Outreach Coat Drive
December 5th
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"Help a homeless neighbor with a coat"
The Outreach Committee will be collecting gently used coats and jackets to be distributed via Dignity on Wheels' mobile shower unit.
Please bring your coats and jackets for donation to Mass on Sunday Dec. 5th.
Thank you for helping our homeless neighbors in need.
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The Stanford Blood Center will be in the Big Church parking lot on Saturday, December 11, 2021, from 8:30-12:30pm. The Blood Center has taken steps to insure the safety of it’s personnel and their donors during the donation process. The worldwide pandemic has not lessened the need for blood products but it has greatly effected the amount of people willing to donate. After mass sign ups will be held on the weekend of Nov 20-21.
Don’t want to wait sign up online at stanfordbloodcenter.org, or contact
Corinne Jarrett (408) 892-3152 or grammycmj@gmail.com to schedule an appointment. Thank you for your continued support of such a worthy cause.
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Calling all Musicians and Singers |
The 8:30 AM and 10:30 AM choirs are looking to recruit more singers and musicians. We are especially looking for another pianist to help at our Masses. Please consider sharing your talent and joining us in praising God through music.
Rehearsals for the 8:30 AM Mass are on Tuesdays at 7:00 PM and Sundays before Mass at 7:30 AM.
Rehearsals for the 10:30 AM Mass (The Band Fearless) are on Sundays at 9:30 AM and after Mass from 11:30 AM-12:30 PM Rehearsal in preparation for the following week.
For more information, contact
speak to a choir member after Mass.
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CALLING TO BECOME AN ALTAR SERVER
It’s slowly becoming the time to call upon our children to come back to church and to be engaged in the life of the parish by becoming an Altar Server. We would like to call upon boys and girls who have already received the 1st Holy Communion to register for this program. Parents, please, help your children to do so if they express such a desire to become an Altar Server. You can submit the name of your child to the Parish Office by email.
We are aspiring for a life giving and vibrant liturgy! Your kids will have an important role in it.
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Thank you St Anthony Pastoral Care ministry and Choir for helping to make the Mass of Consolation possible. It was a beautiful and comforting evening full of prayer and fellowship.
Fr. Tad
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Sunday Mass is an important part of our Catholic faith. The unexpected spread of the COVID-19 virus has challenged the way we experience the Eucharist. After needing to shelter in place, we prepare to reinstate the obligation of attending mass as cases begin to drop and the vaccination rates increase. Let us reflect on the sacrifices that were made throughout the pandemic and ask the Holy Spirit to ignite and guide us back into the house of our Father. We are invited by God to gather as a community at Holy Mass: “Participation in the communal celebration of the Sunday Eucharist is a testimony of belonging and of being faithful to Christ and to His Church. The faithful give witness by this to their communion in faith and charity. Together they testify to God’s holiness and their hope of salvation. They strengthen one another under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.” (Catechism 2182) This weekly Holy Day is a gift to our spiritual nourishment, happiness, and eternal salvation. Let us once again stand and celebrate with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
THE IMPORTANCE OF ATTENDING MASS
- We encounter the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist
- Jesus gives himself to us in the Eucharist as spiritual nourishment because He loves us
- There are many graces we receive from the Mass
- Encountering Christ in the Eucharist is life-changing
- We connect with our faith-based community
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Santa Clara County and Diocese of San Jose requires
everyone to wear a mask indoors
Mask required for indoor Mass to protect you and your community
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Saturday, November 27 at 4 p.m.
Indoor Mass at Little Church
Bertram Rd.
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Sunday Mass, November 28
Big Church McKean Rd
Livestream
10:30 a.m. Indoor Mass
Weekday Mass :
Tuesday - Friday
8:00 a.m.
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Visit the parish website for updates and other news |
Office Line: 408-997-4800
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Masks are required indoors regardless of vaccination status |
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