November 30th - Weekly Newsletter

BCAP Food Pantry is RESTOCKED, December 8th Holy Day Mass Schedule and more ...

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Come after me, says the Lord, and I will make you fishers of men. Dear Friends,  Happy Wednesday everyone, hope you had a good Thanksgiving! We have a lot of news to get to this week, so let's get right to it ... BCAP Food Pantry - The Parish Food Pantry, located at SJB, has been RESTOCKED and ready to distribute food to those in need. Please spread the word ... you do NOT have be a parishioner to receive food. Blue Books & Liturgical Calendar - The Parish has purchased a couple items to aid you in your Advent and Christmas Journey. They are again available after Mass this weekend for you to take home! Immaculate Conception Mass Schedule - NEXT Thursday, December 8th, is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. It is a Holy Day of Obligation, see the Mass schedule below. Being Catholic - Did you know?! - Many of us grew up attending Catholic School, or CCD classes, etc ..., and knew "about" things, but we didn't really remember what they're called or knew the meaning behind a word/phrase. In this weekly newsletter, we will feature a "Did you know?!" It will sometimes be a word, or a place, or an object related to our Catholic Faith. So, did you know ... ? Our Lady of Guadalupe - All are welcome to attend the upcoming Our Lady of Guadalupe celebrations, see the schedule below.   Feast of St. Andrew - Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Andrew, an Apostle. Read all about him and his life below. Parish Forms on the Website - https://www.carloacutisparish.org/parish-forms.html Did you know that many of our forms and requests are on our website? Inquiring about a Baptism ... Need a copy of your Baptismal Certificate ... Want to schedule your wedding? It's all on our website! Simply fill out the form and we'll get back to ya. Mass Intentions - All parishioners and friends are invited to request Mass intentions for those who have died, for loved ones on their birthdays or anniversaries, or for any other occasion or concern. As the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is the most powerful prayer of the Church, this is a very effective way to honor the living or pray for the dead. The suggested donation for these Masses is $10 per Mass. In order to ensure availability of your preferred day and time, please submit an electronic request on our website, or call the Parish Office at least two weeks in advance. Prayers for the Sick - Both in the Sunday Bulletin, and here in the Weekly Newsletter, we list the names of those who are in sick and in need of our prayers. If you would like to add you someone's name to the sick list, please email the Parish Office. Please also email us when it's ok to remove them from the sick list. This helps to ensure our list is up to date. MASKS are OPTIONAL - Use your best judgement when it comes to your own safety and the safety of others, and do not come to church if you are feeling ill. As always, be kind and respectful to one another if the person choses or not to wear a mask. Remember, we're all in this together! We hope to see you at one of the Masses this weekend, wear a mask or not, and don't forget to bring a friend or two!!    God Bless, see you in Church on Sunday! Michael White, Director of Music and Liturgy AND Weekly Newsletter Editor Blessed Carlo Acutis Parish Mission Statement   We are a multicultural, intergenerational Catholic parish community of people who through the help of the Eucharist, are on the journey to learning about, celebrating, serving and proclaiming our faith in the Risen Jesus.   A mission statement says who we are and what we do. Please take a few minutes and reflect and pray on this mission statement. Does this mission statement describe our parish? As we continue to grow together, we can add to this statement.   Vision Statement Our vision is transforming spirits, hearts and minds. A vision statement suggests how we need to grow. It is short, specific and memorable. Please take a few minutes and reflect and pray on this vision statement. Does this vision statement describe our parish? As we grow in our relationship with Jesus Christ through our participation in Blessed Carlo Acutis Parish, we want to nourish our spirits, hearts and minds.   Core Values   We are welcoming, learning, believing, serving, celebrating, understanding, sharing, diverse, community and focused on quality.   Core values are what we see as most important in our community. Do these values describe our parish? Goals 1). To have vibrant, welcoming liturgies. 2). To be an evangelizing community. 3). To reach out to youth. 4). To provide social justice education and outreach to the poor.   Goals help us to focus on what needs to be done in the year ahead. Do these goals describe our parish? Your input is welcome.    Your input is welcome. Please send suggestions to Father Paul Sims, C.R. at pasims@ameritech.net. To aid you in your Advent and Christmas journey, the parish has purchased “The Little Blue Book” for you. This Little blue book contains six-minute reflections on the First Readings for daily Mass during the Advent & Christmas Season. Also available for you, is a small colorful poster of the Liturgical Year. These resources are available for you to pick up on your way out of church. Para ayudarlo en su viaje de Adviento y Navidad, la parroquia ha comprado “El pequeño libro azul” para usted. Este librito azul contiene reflexiones de seis minutos sobre las Primeras Lecturas de la Misa diaria durante las temporadas de Adviento y Navidad. También está disponible para usted un pequeño cartel colorido del Año Litúrgico. Estos recursos están disponibles para que los recoja cuando salga de la iglesia. Being Catholic, Did you know? The Advent Wreath   Advent traditions reflect a spirit of expectation and, therefore, unfold gradually. Probably the most popular tradition today is the lighting of candles on an Advent Wreath in both churches and homes. This custom originated among Lutherans in German in the 16th century and quickly became popular in other areas. Along with the Christmas tree, it is probably an example of Christianizing practices popular from per-Christian times. There had always been a festival of burning special lights and fire at the end of November and beginning of December in Germanic lands as the darkness of winter becomes more severe. This tradition continued into modern times. In the 1500's, it took on a distinct Christian symbolism as the Advent Wreath, first among Lutherans in eastern Germany and then among all German Protestants and Catholics. This tradition came to America with German immigrants. It was popularized among Catholics with the liturgical movement in the mid-1900s. The Advent Wreath, which may be of any size, is made of evergreens and is placed on a table or suspended from the ceiling. There are four candles, one for each week of Advent. The color of the candles is not an essential factor because the symbolism is primary in the the flame. It is popular, however, that three of them be violet or purple, the traditional color of Advent. One is rose, the traditional color of the Third Sunday of Advent, originally called Gaudete ("Rejoice")  Sunday from the first word of the entrance antiphon for Mass. Wreaths have always been symbolic of victory and glory. The basic symbolism of the Advent Wreath goes beyond this. It lies in the tension between darkness and light. It represents the long time when people lived in spiritual darkness, waiting for the coming of the Messiah, the light of the world. Each year in Advent people wait once again in darkness for the coming of the Lord, his historical coming in the mystery of Bethlehem, his final coming at the end of time, and his special coming in every moment of grace. ~Catholic Customs & Traditions Blessed Carlo Acutis Parish Novenas for Our Lady of Guadalupe will take place at St. John Berchmans beginning this Saturday, December 3rd through December 11 at 7 pm nightly. (There will not be one on Thursday, December 8th)   Our Lady of Guadalupe celebration is on Monday, December 12 at St. Hedwig beginning with Las Mañanitas at 5 AM and Mass that evening at 7 pm.  All are welcome! La Novena de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe se llevara acabo empezando este sábado, 3 de diciembre hasta el 11 de diciembre en San Juan Berchmans  a las 7 pm. (NOTE: el jueves, 8 de diciembre no habrá novena) La celebración de la Virgen de Guadalupe es el lunes 12 de diciembre en Santa Eduviges empezando con Las  Mañanitas a las 5 AM y la Misa a las 7 PM.  Todos son bienvenidos! Saint of the Day Saint Andrew, Apostle (d. 60?) Saint Andrew’s Story Andrew was Saint Peter’s brother, and was called with him. “As [Jesus] was walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is now called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. He said to them, ‘Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.’ At once they left their nets and followed him” (Matthew 4:18-20). John the Evangelist presents Andrew as a disciple of John the Baptist. When Jesus walked by one day, John said, “Behold, the Lamb of God.” Andrew and another disciple followed Jesus. “Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, ‘What are you looking for?’ They said to him, ‘Rabbi (which translated means Teacher), where are you staying?’ He said to them, ‘Come, and you will see.’ So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day” (John 1:38-39a). Little else is said about Andrew in the Gospels. Before the multiplication of the loaves, it was Andrew who spoke up about the boy who had the barley loaves and fishes. When the Gentiles went to see Jesus, they came to Philip, but Philip then had recourse to Andrew. Legend has it that Andrew preached the Good News in what is now modern Greece and Turkey and was crucified at Patras on an X-shaped cross. Reflection As in the case of all the apostles except Peter and John, the Gospels give us little about the holiness of Andrew. He was an apostle. That is enough. He was called personally by Jesus to proclaim the Good News, to heal with Jesus’ power and to share his life and death. Holiness today is no different. It is a gift that includes a call to be concerned about the Kingdom, an outgoing attitude that wants nothing more than to share the riches of Christ with all people. Saint Andrew is the Patron Saint of: Fishermen Greece Russia Scotland ~ Franciscan Media “The only thing we have to ask God for, in prayer, is the desire to be holy.” Pope Francis is cautioning people not to get accustomed to the war in Ukraine, and is calling for the faithful to keep those suffering "this tragic reality" in our hearts and prayers. "The thought of the people of Ukraine, afflicted by war, should remain vivid in our hearts."  Please continue to pray for them. Online Book of Intentions   Praying for each other's intentions is an important part of our parish life. If you would like the parish to pray for your intention, please write the intention in a sentence or two in this Online "Book of Intentions."  These intentions will be remembered in our intercessions at our Sunday masses. Click HERE Please pray for the Sick of our Parish Fr. Paul Reicher, Natividad Galeana, Doreen Maneely, Anna Mann, Nicole Vilches, Karel O’Brien,Angela Rivera, Mary Anne Sedey, Linda Klickmann, Barbara Durbin, Danny Olivero, Junior Burgos, Dolores Kryszak, Joseph Price, Teresa Ellison, Grace Gauss, Tallulah Andresen, Robert Bauer, Antionette Krerowicz, Ana Flores, Apolonio Alarcon, Antonio de Vera, Patricio A. Yanez Guerra, Manglio Bonilla Gail, Jason & Family, Basilisa M. De Guzman, Daniel Brady, Cyndi De Lira, Carolyn S. Duckunue, Transito Alvarez, Frances Alequin, Alejandro Carmona, Sophie Hernan, Eleanor Jura, Monika Kloniecka, Joseph Wyse, Verena Tonnesen, Berenice Sosnowski, Nick Jurado, Jackie Schuman, Terry Brady, Salomea Olszewska, Hertha Runowski, Angie Schuman, John Graff, Joseph Murphy, Linda Riske, Margaret Flisiak, Jazzmyne Aguilar, Hailey Marose, Sarah Ellison, Nancy Idaszak, Sally Cox, Daniel Salas, Eleanor Rylko, Nancy, Brian, Jimmy Denges, & Crystal Mohetano. Please follow us on our Social Media platforms by clicking the links below! View this email in your browser Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved. *|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|* Our mailing address is: *|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|* Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. *|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|*