Saint Michael Parish December 27, 2015

Rev. Arturo Chagala, Parochial Administrator

Ms. Grace Galaschewski, Office Manager Sr. Jennie Catanese, M.S.B.T., Receptionist

The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph Saint Michael Parish has been a viable part of Fishtown/Northern Liberties for 182 years.

We continue creating a community where all God’s children are treated with dignity & respect and where faith, hope and love/charity are abound.

We welcome all new immigrants and visitors to our parish. La parroquia de Santo Michael ha sido una parte viable de Fishtown/Northern Liberties por 182

años. Continuamos creando una comunidad donde tratamos con dignidad y respeto los niños y donde la fe, la esperanza y el amor/la caridad es abundante.

Damos la bienvenida a todos los nuevos inmigrantes y visitantes a nuestra parroquia. 1

Saint Michael Church Founded 1831

1445 North Second Street Philadelphia, PA 19122

215-739-2358 Fax: 215-739-5766

http://stmichaelsphilly.org E-mail 1saintmichaelchurch@comcast.net

Immaculate Conception Church Front & Allen Streets

Office hours at Saint Michael Monday-Thursday 9 -4:00 p.m.

Friday 9 - 1:00 p.m.

MASS /MISA Sunday

Vigil (Saturday) 5:00 p.m. 8:30 a.m., 10:00 a.m. (IC)

11:30 a.m. (español)

Daily Mass Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m.

Holy Days Noon at

Immaculate Conception (IC) 7:00 p.m. at

Saint Michael (bilingual)

CONFESSIONS Saturday 4:15 p.m. to 4:50 p.m.

& by request

12/27 The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph 5:00 PM vigil Andrew & Catherine O’Connor r/o O’Connor Family 8:30 AM Elizabeth Mahoney & Danielle Calhoun-Lopez r/o Joseph Calhoun 10:00 AM Charles Watson r/o Grace Galaschewski 11:30 AM The Families of St. Michael’s Parish

12/28 Monday The Holy Innocents, Martyrs 8:00 AM

12/29 Tuesday St. Thomas Beckett, Bishop & Martyr 8:00 AM

12/30 Wednesday 6th Day within the Octave 8:00 AM

12/31 New Year’s Eve (St. Sylvester I, Pope) 5:00 PM vigil For the People of the Parish

1/1 Solemnity of Mary, The Holy Mother of God ( New Year’s Day) 10:00 AM (I.C.) For the People of the Parish 11:30 AM (St.M.) For the People of the Parish 1/3 The Epiphany of the Lord 5:00 PM vigil Joan McDevitt r/o Geri McTear 8:30 AM In Honor of St. Michael r/o Ralph Berarducci 10:00 AM John Olender Sr., 2nd Anniversary r/o Helen Olender 11:30 AM Felicita Rivera Bonaparte r/o Antonio Bonaparte

SANCTUARY LIGHTS will burn in the Churches this week for a Special

Intention at the request of Sis & Lee Clemens

SUNDAY COLLECTIONS: Dec. 13, 2015 1st Collection $ 1,760.00 Block Collection (to date) $ 798.00 Christmas Flowers (to date) $ 569.00 Christmas Offering (to date) $ 127.00 Immaculate Conception (to date) $ 356.00 Retirement Fund (to date) $ 321.00 Solemnity of Mary (to date) $ 30.00 =====================================================

LITURGICAL MINISTERS January 3, 2016 5:00 PM Lector & Euch. Min.: As Available 8:30 AM Lector: Walt Daskaluk Euch. Min.: Cass Micenec 10:00 AM Lector: Abraham Amit Euch. Min.: Grace Galaschewski 11:30 AM Lectors: Mercedes Sanchez/Nelly Cintron Euch. Min.: As Available ====================================================================================

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR SICK: Sis Clemens, Ralph Berarducci, Barbara Schindle, Maria Rivera, Osealdo Rodriguez, Joseph Galdo,

Isabella Lederer, Bianca Mercado, Joanne Sherman, Mary Zarowski, Dorothy Schill, Rosita Renta,

Millie Adair, Olga Espada, Hilda Rodriguez, Pat Regler, Maria Cruz, Freddie Nagle, our benefactors,

those who have asked for our prayers & those who have no one to pray for them. Remember also to pray for all

our deceased relatives and friends.

New Parishioners/Nuevos Feligreses Welcome. Please call the rectory and make an appointment to register as soon as possible.

Bienvenidos. Favor de llamar la rectoría y haga una cita para inscribirse lo mas antes posible. Change of Address/Cambio de Direccion

Please notify the parish secretary if you plan to move. Favor de notificar la secretaria de la parroquia si planificas mudarse.

Collection Envelopes/Sobres para la colecta Every working person should support the parish by regularly using their envelopes - they can be obtained by

calling the rectory or filling out one of the “welcome” envelopes at the entrance of the church. Cada persona de trabajo debe habitualmente apoyar la parroquia usando los sobres—puedes obtenerlos

llamando la rectoría o llenando unos de los sobres maracados “bienvenidos” en entrada de la iglesia. 214-2

December 27, 2015 The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Family life is rooted in the unconditional love of God

as witnessed by the Holy Family.

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December 27, 2015 The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph The Feast of the Holy Family.

The Holy Family is the name given to the fam-ily unit of Jesus, The Divine Son of God, his mother the Virgin Mary, and his foster-father Joseph. The feast is usually celebrated on the first Sunday after Christ-mas.

Scripture tells us practically nothing about the first years and the boyhood of the Child Jesus. All we know are the facts of the sojourn in Egypt, the return to Nazareth, and the incidents that occurred when the twelve-year-old boy accompanied his parents to Jerusa-lem. In her liturgy, the Church hurries over this period of Christ’s life with equal brevity. The general breakdown of the family, however, at the end of the past century and at the beginning of our own, prompted the popes, especially the far-sighted Leo XIII, to promote the observance of this feast with the hope that it might instill into Christian families something of the faithful love and the devoted attach-ment that characterize the family of Nazareth. The pri-mary purpose of the Church in instituting and promot-ing this feast is to present the Holy Family as the mod-el and exemplar of all Christian families.

Prayer to the Holy Family

JESUS, Son of God and Son of Mary, bless our fami-ly. Graciously inspire in us the unity, peace, and mutual love that you found in your own family in the little town of Nazareth.

MARY, Mother of Jesus and Our Mother, nourish our family with your faith and your love. Keep us close to your Son, Jesus, in all our sorrows and joys.

JOSEPH, Foster-father to Jesus, guardian and spouse of Mary, keep our family safe from harm. Help us in all times of discouragement or anxiety.

HOLY FAMILY OF NAZARETH, make our family one with you. Help us to be instruments of peace. Grant that love, strengthened by grace, may prove mightier than all the weaknesses and trials through which our families sometimes pass. May we always have God at the center of our hearts and homes until we are all one family, happy and at peace in our true home with you. Amen.

This week on Monday, December 28, 2015, we celebrate The Feast of the Holy Innocents.

Herod “the Great”, king of Judea, was unpopular with his people because of his connections with the Ro-mans and his religious indifference. Hence he was inse-cure and fearful of any threat to his throne. He was a master politician and a tyrant capable of extreme brutality. Matthew 2:1-18 tells this story: Herod was great-ly troubled when astrologers from the east came asking the whereabouts of “the newborn king of the Jews”, whose star they had seen. They were told that the Jewish Scriptures named Bethlehem as the place where the Mes-siah would be born. Herod cunningly told them to report back to him so that he could also “do him homage”. They found Jesus, offered him their gifts and, warned by an angel, avoided Herod on their way home. Jesus escaped to Egypt. Herod became furious and “ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under.” Bethlehem was a small town and the estimat-ed number of boys two years old and under would have been about 20. Herod’s massacre is not recorded in his-torical documents, but the relatively small number makes the story all the more plausible. The horror of the massacre and the devastation of the mothers and fathers led Matthew to quote Jeremiah: “A voice was heard in Ramah, sobbing and loud lamenta-tion; Rachel weeping for her children…” (Rachel was the wife of Jacob/Israel. She is pictured weeping at the place where the Israelites were herded together by the conquer-ing Assyrians for their march into captivity.) These young, innocent boys were martyrs for Christ. Mary and Joseph would have known the families of these children. One can only guess their feelings when they later heard about this.

The Holy Innocents are few, in comparison to the genocide and abortion of our day. But even if there had been only one, we recognize the greatest treasure God put on the earth—a human person, destined for eternity and graced by Jesus’ death and resurrection. Today, we remember to pray for all the innocents who have perished through abortion, abuse, starvation, and war. ========================================

********************* A Little Bit of Wisdom Those who can’t forget

are worse off than those who can’t remember.

***************

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December 27, 2015 The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Domingo Escritura Reflexions

Primera Lectura Eclesiastico 3:2-6,12-14

Ya sea que tengamos cinco, quince o treinta y cinco años, el Señor expresa que respetemos a nues-tros padres. Los padres comparten el trabajo de Dios de enseñar, guiar y cuidarnos. Honramos a nuestros padres y los que nos cuidan obedeciéndolos en todo lo que sea razonable y cuidándole a ellos cuando estén en necesidad. Los que honran a sus padres tendrán una gran recompensa.

Segunda Lectura Colosenses 3:12-21

¿Como pueden las familias y las comunidades cristianas vivir en paz? La carta a los colosenses ofre-ce un buen consejo. Mostrando compasión y bondad. Debemos estar dispuestos a perdonar sin importar cuantas veces un padre o hermano nos ofenda, igual que como el Señor nos perdona sin limite.

Ponemos el amor sobre todas las virtudes. Cuando nos permitimos amar verdaderamente, la grati-tud y el gozo fluyen en nuestras vidas.

Evangelio Lucas 2:41-52

¿Te puedes identificar con Jesús en este mara-villoso pasaje del Evangelio de Lucas? Jesús, a la edad de doce años, está cerca de convertirse en hombre en la sociedad judía de su tiempo. El y sus padres viajaron a Jerusalén para celebrar la Pascua. Después de la fiesta, María y José se marcharon, Jesús se quedo atrás en el Templo. Ahí sorprendió a los maestros religiosos con su sabiduría e inteligencia.

Cuando los padres de Jesús se dieron cuenta de que no iba con ellos, se preocuparon. Jesús les explicó la importancia de poner a Dios primero en sus vidas. Cuando hacemos esto, todo lo demás en la vida parece ponerse en su lugar.

Sunday Scripture Reflections

Reading 1 Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14

Whether we are five, or fifteen, or thirty-five years old, the Lord expects us to show respect for our parents. A mother or father shares in God’s work of teaching, guiding, and caring for us. We honor our mothers and fathers and guardians by obeying them in all reasonable ways, and by comforting and caring for them when they are in need. Those who honor their parents will be richly rewarded.

Reading 2 Colossians 3:12-21

How can families and Christian communities live together in peace? The letter to the Colossians today offers helpful advice. We should “put on” in compassion and kindness. We must be willing to for-give, no matter how many times a parent or brother or sister offends us, just as the Lord forgives us without limit.

Over all other virtues we “put on love.” When we allow ourselves to be truly loving, gratitude and joy overflow in our lives.

Gospel Luke 2:41-52

Can you identify with Jesus in this wonderful story from Luke’s Gospel? Jesus at the age of twelve is on the verge of becoming a man in the Jewish soci-ety of his day. He and his parents have traveled to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. After the depar-ture of Mary and Joseph, Jesus remains behind in the Temple There he amazes the religious teacher with his wisdom and intelligence.

When Jesus’ parents discover him missing, they are upset. Jesus explains the importance of put-ting God first in our lives. When we do this, every-thing else in life will fall into place.

Baptism/Bautismos Call the Rectory to make arrangements. Parents and sponsors must attend an instruction class.

Llame la rectoría para hacer arreglos. Padres y padrinos deben asistir clases de instrucción.

Marriage/Matrimonio Arrangements must be made six months in advance in order to fulfill Diocesan requirements.

Debe hacer arreglos seis meses de antemano para cumplir los requisitos diocesanos.

Care for the Sick/Cuido para los enfermos In the occasion of an emergency call the rectory immediately. Call the rectory for visits at home to the elderly and infirm or when someone enters the hospital and wishes a visit from the parish priest.

En caso de una emergencia llame la rectoría inmediatamente. Para visitas en casa de las personas mayores y enfermas o cuando alguien este en el hospital y desee una visita del sacerdote lla-me la rectoría.

December 27, The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

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Friday, January 1, 2016-

The Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God This solemnity is celebrated on New Year’s Day, the octave day of Christmas. It is designated a “solemnity”, the highest rank of liturgical celebration, higher than feast days or memorials; the oldest feast of Mary celebrated by the Catholic Church and a holy day of obligation for U.S. Catholics. This feast is a celebration of Mary’s motherhood of Jesus. On this day, we are reminded of the role that the Blessed Virgin played in the plan of our salvation. Through the Holy Spirit, God the Father prepared Mary to be the dwelling place where His Son and His Spirit could dwell among men. Christ’s birth was made possible by Mary’s fiat, or sanctioning of God’s plan with her words. “Be it done to me according to thy word”. Calling Mary “Mother of God” is the highest honor we can give to her. *********************************

Today is also World Peace Day and Mary is often referred to as Our Lady Queen of Peace. Over the years, several popes have stressed the importance of this title. At the time of the Marian apparitions in Fatima (during which Mary, the mother of the Prince of Peace, asked the world to pray for peace), Benedict XV was pope. On May 5, 1917, in the devastating wake of World War I, Benedict added the invocation, “Queen of Peace, pray for us,” to the Litany of Loreto. On October 31, 1942, Pope Pius XII called for a prayer crusade to the Queen of Peace. Many recent papal encyclicals also ask Mary to intercede for peace. The first World Day of Peace was celebrated on January 1, 1968. In his message on the first observance of this day, Pope Paul VI expressed hope that the day would be celebrated every year “as a hope and as a promise, at the beginning of the calendar… that peace with its just and be-neficent equilibrium may dominate the development of the events to come.” =========================================

Prayer to the Queen of Peace O Mary, Mother of God we salute and honor you as Queen of Peace. We pray that your intercession may pro-tect us and all people from hate and discord, and direct our hearts into ways of peace and justice which your Son taught and exemplified. We ask your maternal care for our Holy Father who works to reconcile the nations in peace and seek your guidance for all leaders and heads of states as they strive for world peace. Glorious Queen of Peace, grant us peace in our hearts and in our world. We ask you, as patroness of our beloved country, to watch over us and protect us with your motherly love. Amen.

Thursday December 31, 2015 -

“The Church teaches us to end the year and also our days with an examination of con-science, through which we review what has happened: we thank the Lord for every good we have received and have been able to do and, at the same time, we think again of our failings and our sins—to be grateful and to ask for forgiveness.” Pope Francis

An examination of conscience is usually associated with a listing one’s sins to prepare for confession. But it can be used on a daily basis, especially at the end of each day. In this examination: • Ask God to help you understand more fully the mo-

tives—good & bad—behind your actions. • Take a close look at how you lived the last 24 hrs.

Recall each event, the context of your actions, the people involved, what you wanted to happen, your hesitations. Where did you act freely? Or not?

• Talk to the Lord about it. Give thanks for the ways the Lord helped you. Express sorrow and ask for-giveness for the things that went wrong.

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