Newsletter | December 12, 2023

FEAST OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE

We want to honor and give our respects to our lovely mother, and celebrate her on this special day. Please join us for:

• Our Lady of Guadalupe Procession at 4:00pm
• Bilingual Rosary (English and Spanish) at 4:30pm
• Our Lady of Guadalupe Mass celebrated by Fr. Vu at 5:00pm

After Mass there will be a potluck reception. If you would like to participate and bring something to share it would be a blessing.

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Saturday at 5:00pm - Simbang Gabi Mass

Sunday at 9:00am

Sunday at 11:00am

READINGS FOR THE THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT

PRACTICE OF HOPE

On the Third Sunday of Advent our joy at what God has done for us bursts forth. We rejoice because our celebration of Jesus' birth is simultaneously a celebration of all that God has promised and will accomplish through his Son.

• St. Paul thus urges us to rejoice always and give thanks (1 Thessalonians 5:16, 18). Think of times your heart overflowed with joy. Give thanks for such moments.
• Pray for those who have lost hope and are filled with sorrow, such as those who have fled their homeland or been unjustly imprisoned.
• When John the Baptist urged people to hope in Jesus, he directed attention away from himself. Thank someone in your community who works quietly and diligently to help others without seeking attention or recognition?

We are doing our best to continue to provide a safe space to worship for everyone. Click here to see current COVID safety measures.

Live Stream Mass

SIMBANG GABI

This Saturday, December 16 at 5:00pm Mass

Join us for the Filipino tradition of Simbang Gabi, a novena of Masses leading up to Christmas. It will be a festive, colorful, and prayerful Advent celebration! Reception to follow.

STEWARDSHIP

We are very grateful to the many parishioners who have returned a Stewardship pledge card to the parish. If you have not yet, please do so. If you are not changing your pledge from previous years, we would still appreciate having a pledge form returned. Your pledge helps us to sustain the many ministries at our parish. May you have a blessed Advent season.

Please fill out a pledge form today using the button below.

ADVENT & CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE

PREPARE THE WAY

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

• Tuesday, December 12
• Procession at 4:00pm
• Rosary at 4:30pm
• Mass at 5:00pm followed by Reception

Third Sunday of Advent

• Saturday, December 16 at 5:00pm - Simbang Gabi Mass followed by Reception
• Sunday, December 17 at 9:00am and 11:00am

Fourth Sunday of Advent

• Saturday, December 23 at 5:00pm
• Sunday, December 24 at 10:00am

The Nativity of the Lord - Christmas

• Sunday, December 24 at 4:00pm (with Pageant) and 9:00pm
• Monday, December 25 at 10:00am

The church will be closed December 26-29

Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus

• Saturday, December 30 at 5:00pm
• Sunday, December 31 at 9:00am and 11:00am

Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God

• Monday, January 1 at 9:00am

The Epiphany of the Lord

• Saturday, January 6 at 5:00pm
• Sunday, January 7 at 9:00am and 11:00am

CKCC BLESSING BAGS

Special thanks to everyone who donated items to CKCC for our blessing bags! Blessing bags help meet immediate needs for those who visit shelters by providing them with basic supplies. We couldn't have put them together without you! Thanks!

REST IN PEACE

The Memorial Service for Ruth Warmuth will be on Thursday, December 21 at 11:00am.

Salad and dessert donations for the reception are appreciated. Please bring food donations to the Parish Office before 4:30pm the day before or by 10:30am the day of. Thank you for your ministry to bury the dead.

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL CHRISTMAS BASKETS

THE SVdP FOOD DRIVE IS UNDERWAY

The SJV St. Vincent de Paul society will be assembling and distributing food baskets again this year for families in great need. Last year we helped 77 families, distributing over 245 boxes of food! Of course, we would not be able to do this without your help. Over the next several months, we will be collecting non-perishable food items. When you do your own shopping, please consider purchasing some of the items on the food drive schedule for our pantry. Checks (payable to SJV St. Vincent de Paul) or cash donations are always welcome and may be dropped off in the parish office. Thank you for making stewardship a way of life.

Dec 9-13: Canned Fruit, Frosting, Pancake Mix, Pancake Syrup, Cooking Oil, Jam/Jelly, Canned Vegetables, Spaghetti Sauces, Pasta, Cake Mix, Brownie Mix, Stove Top Stuffing Mix, 5 LB Flour, 4 LB Sugar, Canned Stew

NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL'S CHRISTMAS TREE FOR FAMILIES IN NEED

Gift cards can now be turned in to the SJV office until December 16

Your help is greatly needed supplying gift cards for all the families in need this Christmas. Please donate cards from any of the following stores: Amazon, Fred Meyer, Target, Safeway, and QFC. $25 or $50 denominations requested; please write the amount clearly on the card. Gift cards should be turned in to the SJV office by Saturday, December 16. We are so grateful for your support.

OLIVE WOOD FROM BETHLEHEM

The Olive Wood sales had to be cancelled last weekend due to illness. We are looking to reschedule in the new year. If you are interested in donating to the Christian families in the Holy Land, here is a link: holychildbethlehem.org. In the note section please say that Issa Jaraysa referred you.

DID YOU KNOW???

THE EUCHARISTIC PRAYER AND COMMUNION RITE

Catholics call the Eucharist by many names: we call it Eucharist (Greek for thanksgiving"), "Breaking of the Bread," "Lord's Supper," "Holy Sacrifice," "sacrifice of praise" (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1328-32). The many names reflect the many different dimensions of this great mystery. We will never plumb its depths or understand it fully.

What does it mean to call the Mass a sacrifice? Jesus died on the cross, once, for all; that sacrifice cannot be not repeated. But the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross cannot be contained, either. In the Mass, we are not simply remembering a past event; the mystery of Christ's dying and rising is made present to us. Thus the Eucharist we celebrate and the sacrifice of Christ on the cross are not different things, but one single sacrifice.

Without the cross, there would be no Mass. But in a sense, the reverse is also true. Pope Francis has written: "If we had not had the Last Supper, that is to say, if we had not had the ritual anticipation of his death, we would never have been able to grasp how the carrying out of his being condemned to death could have been in fact the act of perfect worship, pleasing to the Father, the only true act of worship, the only true liturgy" (DD, 7). This ritual remembrance is what reveals the meaning of the cross to us.

In the Mass, the Church's offering is united with Christ's sacrifice. Thus, as we pray the Mass, we can offer our lives, our praise, our suffering, our prayer, our work, to be united with Christ's self-offering, and they gain new value (CCC, 1368). Thus we can say that the Mass is Christ's sacrifice and the Church's sacrifice, too.

Our liturgical remembering of Christ's sacrifice comes to life in our own lives when we imitate Christ's self-emptying and self-sacrificing love. We participate in the life of Christ by dying to self, so that we can live the sacrificial sacrament in which we share.

NEXT TWO WEEKS

SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE

Tomorrow - Wednesday, December 13 at 7:00pm via Zoom

“To all people of good will who are working for social justice: never tire of working for a more just world.” (Pope Francis)

All are welcome to join our group the second Wednesday of each month at 7:00pm via Zoom as we work for social justice. Please contact Susan for the link to our next meeting.

CHURCH CHRISTMAS DECORATING

Sunday, December 17 after the 11:00am Mass

It’s almost time to deck the halls! Help get the church ready for Christmas. Everyone is welcome. Many hands make LIGHT work! 

REMINDERS

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS NEEDED

If you feel called to serve in this special way while you are at Mass, please contact the parish office for a training.

HIGH SCHOOL ESPERANZA MISSION TREK CHRISTMAS TREES

It's not too late to get a tree. All proceeds support their trek to Tijuana.

CHRISTMAS PAGEANT

Kids 4 years old and up! Be part of the Christmas Pageant, which will be during the 4:00pm Christmas Eve Mass! Rehearsal will be Saturday, December 23 at 10:00am and dress rehearsal at 3:00pm, right before the Mass. Sign up by emailing Laura. 

END OF YEAR GIVING

SJV will be closed December 26-29. All monetary donations for 2023 need to be in the parish office or postmarked by December 31 in order to be applied to this calendar year. Learn about ways to give beyond cash.

WOMEN'S BOOK GROUP

See you January 2 at 7:00pm in the parish office for wine, chocolate and great discussion. Learn more

CATHOLIC KIDS' CATECHISM CLUB

CKCC resumes January 7 and 8. New members and volunteers are welcome any time. Learn more

YOUTH GROUP

We are on break until January 7. Middle School and High School youth are always invited. Learn more

RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION FOR ADULTS

Classes have begun. Contact the parish office if you are interested in receiving the Sacraments of Initiation this Easter. Learn more

SJV VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

How can you best use your gifts?

Learn more

ARCHDIOCESE OF SEATTLE'S FAITH RETRIEVER PODCAST

Listen to the Faith Retriever podcast to learn about free resources, reflections, traditions and more to strengthen your family experience of Advent. Click here to listen.