Dear Holy Spirit,

“Are you ready?” Often that is a question asked as we approach the season of Christmas. I remember staying at a hotel in Los Angeles as the fall season started and as I looked out from my window, there was a billboard with Santa’s face on it with the caption, “Ready?” It was huge - you could not miss it. But ready for what? Advent, the season we begin this weekend tells us that we prepare for the “three comings” of Christ – His First coming (Christmas), His Second coming (end of time) and His Coming in the daily events of our lives (Now). But if we look at our preparations, they are all geared towards Christmas. We neglect the other two important facets of Advent. The question is how do we get ready?

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Parish Financial Report

The revised parish financial report for fiscal year 2022-23 is now available on the parish website. Click here to view it.

Second Collection – Dec. 9-10, 2023

Next weekend, there will be a second collection for the Retirement Fund for Religious. Your gift will provide essential care for nearly 25,000 senior sisters, brothers and religious order priests who have dedicated their lives to serving others. To donate, please visit our online giving page by clicking here. Select "second offerings" under funds and then "National Retirement Fund for Religious" under sub funds.

Join us for an evening of reflection, music and prayer on Dec. 11th at 7pm. Diana Macalintal will facilitate the evening.

Holiday Wellness:

An Evening of Self-Care

Looking to manage your mental health this holiday season? Come and spend a peaceful, restorative evening focusing on maintaining mental well-being during the holidays using expressive art and prayer meditation! This event will take place on Thursday, Dec 7^th 6:00-8:30 in the Quiet Room in Parish Hall.

Please sign up by Dec. 4^th by clicking here or email RSVP to hsmentalwellness@gmail.com.  

Prayer for the Holiday Season

The holidays can be rushed, busy and stressful. Use this prayer as a way to center yourself this holiday season.

Dear God,

We know you are a God that blesses the good times and the hard times. No matter

what we are feeling this season, remind us of your goodness.

Remind us that we are the light of the world regardless of what the enemy throws at us.

Be our song of hope. Be our song of redemption.This is our humble prayer as we get together with others, that you will turn everything for your glory. Merciful God, we thank you for your gift of love.

Amen.

Altar Server Social & Incense Training

Sunday, Dec 3, 1-3:30 pm @ Holy Spirit Church. Join us for training, followed by pizza, refreshments and ice breakers with Row David

Bringing Holiday Cheer: One Toy at a Time

We will be having our annual Toy Drive for Sacred Heart the first two weekends in December. Please bring an unwrapped toy for a boy or girl, and drop them off in our bins which will be located in front of the church doors during the weekends of December 2-3 and December 9-10.

This is a HUGE EVENT at Sacred Heart that impacts thousands of families. Your donations enable parents to be able to shop for toys that they can give to their children at Christmas.

You can also give through Sacred Heart’s Amazon wish list. Click here to access it. When you choose a toy, it will go directly to Sacred Heart.Thank you for bringing a smile to the face of the many children we are privileged to serve during this holiday season!

Volunteer Opportunities

At SACRED HEART COMMUNITY SERVICE

Open your hearts during the holidays and help out at Sacred Heart Community Service’s Holiday Programs.

Your hands are needed to fill food boxes with ingredients for Christmas dinners, stack food boxes, and to help distribute food to customers for the upcoming holidays.

Signups are now open for food packing and distribution. Remember, it is one spot per person and you must sign up every person who is participating. If a sign up date is full and you want to still volunteer, please contact Mary Jane Vitkovich at mjvitkovich@hotmail.com.

To sign up for food packing on December 16th, please click here.

To sign up for food distribution on December 19th, please click here.

Gifts of Opportunity

Holy Spirit Church is once again excited to offer our community the opportunity to give the gift of lasting change! This Christmas, we invite you to share joy by giving opportunity in rural Nicaragua by gifting in your name, your loved ones, friends, co-worker, or company. Your generosity and support will bless a child, family, or an entire community. Whether it’s the health of a family, their economic development, or education, your support will have a lasting impact.

Over the past 10+ years, hundreds of Holy Spirit community volunteers and missionaries work alongside Amigos For Christ staff in Nicaragua. Last year’s trip was a huge success and we are starting to plan for next year’s service trip scheduled for June 22-29th. Check out our website for more details.

This year, gifts are being offered in three areas: Education, Water & Healthy Living and Economic Development. Choose from sponsoring a scholarship student for a year, building clean-air kitchens to eliminate a major source of respiratory issues, funding microloans for families to create sustainable sources of income, and many more options.

Amigos for Christ 2024 Goals include providing for:

1,200 families with clean water = 6 water systems

200 bathrooms

200 clean air kitchens

70 students with direct sponsors

175 small business support

These incredible projects are made possible by YOUR COMPASSION and GENEROSITY! Your donations help break the cycle of poverty and transform life in Nicaragua.

HOW IT WORKS:

1. You purchase Gifts of Opportunity on behalf of your friends and family members by either:

• Stopping by the Gifts of Opportunity table outside of church after any mass between 12/2 – 12/17 and meet some of our incredible volunteers who will share their stories, and tell you firsthand how your gift will MAKE A DIFFERENCE this Christmas!

• Visiting http://amigosforchrist.org/gohs/

2. Your loved ones receive a beautiful card and keepsake ornament that explains the impact of their gift.

3. Families or communities in Nicaragua receive opportunities that will change their lives forever.

Winter Blood Drive

Stanford Blood Center will be on site on Sunday, December 17th. Appointment times are 8:30am-1:30pm – walk-ins accepted. If you are able to donate blood, please consider doing so to help alleviate shortages during the cold winter months. Appointments can be made online by clicking here. For any assistance, contact Row David – row.david@dsj.org

3sixty High School Ministry

The next 3sixty youth night is this Sunday, December 3rd. Special guest speaker Chris Mardesich will be joining us for an Advent reflection. Chris is a former youth minister from Holy Family and current campus minister at Cristo Rey. All high school youth are welcome to attend this special night.

Confirmation Year 1

The December session is scheduled for Wednesday, December 6th at 6:30pm.

Texas Mission Trip 2024

Registrations are now open! The Texas Mission Trip is scheduled for February 18-24, 2024. The trip marks its 10th anniversary of our National Mission trip, the 8th in San Augustine, Texas. Adults and youth as early as the 6th grade can serve. It is a great way to put faith into action. For more information, visit our website or contact Row David – row.david@dsj.org. Click here to register.

RCIA

December 4th - Children will meet at 5:15pm, adults at 6:30pm.

Rite of Acceptance and Welcome

Dec 10th, 9:30am mass.

Baptisms

The next Baptism Prep class will be on Wednesday December 6^th, 7pm in the church.