f St. John of God Catholic Church, Norwalk

First Sunday of Advent | December 3, 2017

Email: frontoffice@sjogparish.org

MARIAN MISSIONARIES OF THE HOLY CROSS PASTORAL TEAM Rev. Raymond Vicente Ma. Decipeda, MMHC Pastor Rev. Pius Noel Ma. Pareja, MMHC, Associate Pastor Rev. Matthew Fernandez, MMHC, Associate Priest Deacons Salvador Ramirez - RCIA Coordinator Rene Garcia Frank Gonzalez– Liturgist PARISH OFFICE STAFF Aleida Alvarez, Parish Administrator Laura Montion, Administrative Secretary Elizabeth Bañuelos, Director of Religious Education Carolann Doyal, Confirmation & Youth Ministry Coordinator

RECTORY OFFICE HOURS

Monday to Friday: 9:00 a.m. - 9:30 p.m. Saturday & Sunday : 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Closed for lunch 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.)

MASS SCHEDULES HORARIO DE MISAS

ENGLISH MASSES Sunday: 6:30am, 9:45am, 11:15am, 5:00pm Saturday: 7:30am & 5:00pm (Vigil Mass) Daily: 7:30am (Except Friday) & 5:00pm *Friday Morning Mass is at 8:00am SPANISH MASSES Domingo: 8:00 a.m., 12:45 p.m. & 7:00 p.m. Miércoles: 7:00 p.m.

TAGALOG MASS Every 4th Saturday at 7:00pm Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Wednesdays: 5:30 p.m. (after 5pm Mass)

CONFESSIONS / CONFESIONES

Friday/Viernes: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday/Sábado: 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. & 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. ( or by appointment ).

ST. JOHN OF GOD CATHOLIC SCHOOL Elizabeth Mendez, School Principal Phone: (562) 863-5722 Website: www.sjogschool.com

CATHOLIC CHURCH

St John of God

13819 S. Pioneer Norwalk, CA 90650 | Phone: (562) 863– 5721, Fax: (562) 406-3927 | www.sjogparish.org

O M[ry, ]on]_iv_^ without sin, pr[y for us who h[v_ r_]ours_ to th__.

Weekly Collection—Colecta Semanal

First Sunday of Advent| Primer Domingo de Adviento

TODAY’S READINGS

First Reading Isaiah 63:16b-17, 19b; 64:2-7 We are the clay and you, O LORD, are the potter: we are

the work of your hands.

Psalm Psalm 80 Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall

be saved.

Second Reading 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 God is faithful; by God you were called to fellowship with

the Son.

Gospel Mark 13:33-37 Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time

will come.

PLEASE PRAY FOR ALL OUR PARISHIONERS AND FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE SICK AND IN

NEED OF PRAYERS

GUNTER LIU, SAMMY LARA, ROSA RUIZ, ALICIA ESPARSA, PAULA RAMIREZ, NATHAN J. MAYA, MARIA GALVAN, DEANA LOWELL, PAULA RAMIREZ, ARTURO FARFAN,DEANA LOWELL, HENRY MO-RALES, RAUL GONZALES, JUANITA BRAMMER, ORALIA GALINDO, FITO PENALBER MELEDEZ, ANTONIA LUGO, ROSARIO VALA DEZ, BESSIE GROOM, ALICIA GONZALEZ, ALEX Y LUPE REYES, ISIDRO LUNA, ROBERT GORDILLO, EDGAR VELASQUEZ, ZURAMA GOMEZ, ESTELA VELIZ, ROBERTO GUADERRAMA, FRANK GARCIA, CHAR-LOTTE CLAY, CHRISTINA DAY,RENE FRANCISCO, RECINOS SUA-REZ, RAUL VALERO,CECILIA MENDEZ, JOSE LUIS TERRONES, SAL-VADOR GUIZAR, DANNY FERNANDEZ, MICHELLE CABEZAS, DANNY LEIVA, PAULINE SANDOVAL, JOANNA CASTILLO, TERESA PEÑA, EMILY AIDELLES, JOE MARTINEZ, ROSE MARIE DECKER, MA-RIA ERLINDA FERRER & EFREN FRANCO, DANIEL GARCIA, JANIRA GARCIA, RUDY ZARRAGOZA, ROSMARY GISLER, HORTENCIA RUIZ, FAMILIA ESQUIVEL, FAMILIA REYES, LINDA BONILLA , CRISTINA Y JESUS MORENO, LAURA DE CASAS, CORAZÓN GUTIERREZ, MART-HA CABRERA, TERESA Y EFREN ESQUIVEL & FERNANDO GUILLEN, CARINA RIOS, DAISY RIOS, ESTHER LUCAS, CHRISTIAN HERNAN-DEZ, HILDA NAVARRO, JENNIFER MONTOYA, JOSE & TILLIE PON-CE, FILEMON MEJIA MIRIAM ROSALES, SERGIO REYNOSO, RAMONA LEAL, JOEL RIVERA, ELVIA RAMOS, AMADA ZAMORA, NATALIE TORRES, MARIA CLEMENTINA VILLEGAS, MARIA ELENA ROMAN SUSTAITA, BARTOLO & MARIA GARZA, LETICIA VILLEGAS, JUVEN-TINO ALBEZAR, ZAKARIA EL FATHIHI, MARIA SALAZAR, CLEMENTI-NA Y ELENA SUSTAITA, MARIELA NEDEL & ALEJANDRO ROMERO.

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Legend:

FR– Fr. Raymond , FP– Fr. Pius, FM - Fr. Matthew † - R.I.P , T – Thanksgiving, BD– Birthday, B– Blessings

Ann.- Wedding Anniversary, H- Health

RCIA CLASS SCHEDULE The following Topics will be taught on the given dates. If you are not part of the RCIA program but would like to come to listen in on the class, you are welcome to do so.

PROGRAMA DE CLASSES DE RICA Los siguientes temas se estaran impartiendo en los dias asignados. Si no es usted parte de las clases de RICA pero quiere escuchar la

December 04, 2017 04 de Deciembre

December 11, 2017 11 de Deciembre

December 18, 2017 18 de Deciembre

Grace Gracia

Freedom & Happiness Libertad y Felicidad

The Moral Virtues Las Virtudes Morales

Class begins at 7pm , La Clase comienza a las 7pm

MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK

7:30am Jeslyn Mathai † FR

5:00pm Nelson de Lara (B) FM

7:30am Brent Stoner † FR

5:00pm Socorro Nuñez Vasquez † FP

7:30am Frank Striker † FP 5:00pm Jocelyn Hernandez (T) FM

7:00pm Refugio y Maria de Jesus Villa † FR

7:30am Bernice Guzman † FM 5:00pm Edwin Marroquin (T) FP

8:00am Ralph Posoncuy † FM 12:15pm Gomez Family (T) FP

5:00pm Petra Ollero † FR 7:00pm Clementina y Elena Sustaita (H) FP

7:30am Isaiah Nugas (H) FM

5:00pm Maria Herrera † FP

6:30am For our Parishioners FR

8:00am Gilberto Ibarra † FR 9:45am Marion Anderson † FM

11:15am Victor and Barbara Gallegos † FP 12:45pm Lourdes Elvia Fabian (BD) FP

5:00 pm Efren Navarro † FM

7:00 pm Maria Luz Castro † FM

MON, Dec. 04

TUES, Dec. 05

WED, Dec. 06

THURS, Dec. 07

FRI, Dec. 08

SAT, Dec. 09

SUN, Dec. 10

In order to maintain our services, meet our expenses, and re-store savings, the parish needs an average of $22,000.00 in its weekly collection. Thank you for sharing what God has given you with our parish.

Mass Collection Nov. 18/19

5pm- Vigil $ 1,601.00

6:30 am $ 2,011.00

8:00 am $ 2,127.00

9:45 am $ 2,400.00

11:15 am $ 1,659.00

12:45 pm $ 1,293.00

5:00 pm $ 1,519.00

7:00 pm $ 1,119.00

Coin $ 243.17 Building &

Mainte-nance

$ 1,912.88

Grand Total

$ 15,885.05

Collection Nov. 25/26

$ 1,232.00

$ 1,957.00

$ 2,125.00

$ 2,161.50

$ 1,772.00

$ 1,508.00

$ 1,564.00

$ 1,250.00

$ 146.79

$ 2,567.50

$ 16,283.79

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Weekly Reflection Rev. Matthew Frederick Fernandez MMHC - Associate Pastor FEAST OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

December 3rd, 2017

On December 8, we will be celebrating the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. The Immaculate Con-

ception does not refer to the conception of Christ by the Virgin Mary. Instead, it refers to the conception of Mary in such a way that she was preserved free from all stain of original sin and that she was, in fact, sinless. The official statement of the doctrine reads, “The blessed Virgin Mary to have been, from the first instant of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of Almighty God, in view of the merits of Christ Je-sus the Savior of Mankind, preserved free from all stain of original sin” (Pope Pius IX, Ineffabilis Deus, December 1854).

There are those who have issues regarding this Catholic dog-ma since Scripture does not directly teach the Immaculate Conception. The Roman Catholic Church argues that the Immaculate Conception is necessary because, without it, Jesus would have received His flesh from one who was herself a slave to the devil, whose works Jesus came to destroy (1 John 3:8). Mary, as the mother of the Redeemer, needed to be free from the power of sin, and God gave her that privilege. From her time in the womb, Mary was sanctified because of her special role in bringing the Son of God incarnate into the world.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that she was "redeemed in a more exalted fashion, by reason of the merits of her Son" (CCC 492). She has more reason to call God her Savior than we do, because he saved her in an even more glorious manner! She was redeemed by the grace of Christ, but in a special way—by anticipation.

Consider an analogy: Suppose a man falls into a deep pit and someone reaches down to pull him out. The man has been "saved" from the pit. Now imagine a woman walking along, and she too is about to topple into the pit, but at the very moment that she is to fall in, someone holds her back and prevents her. She too has been saved from the pit, but in an even better way: She was not simply taken out of the pit, she was prevented from getting stained by the mud in the first place. This is the illustration Christians have used for a thousand years to explain how Mary was saved by Christ. By receiving Christ’s grace at her concep-tion, she had his grace applied to her before she was able to become mired in original sin and its stain.

The National Catholic Reporter posted an article by Melissa Musick Nussbaum which says that God gave Mary the gift she would need to bear and raise the Christ. But the gift Mary is given is not so different from the gift we are all offered in baptism. Look at the rite of baptism for children: We are freed from sin and brought to new life. We are anointed with the chrism of salvation, so that, united with God's people, we may remain forever a member of Christ, who is Priest, Prophet, and King. We are clothed in Christ. We are called always to walk as children of the light, the flame of faith alive in our hearts.

Let us ask our Blessed Mother to guide us to have an intimate relationship with God that we may acknowledge the gift given us during our baptism and to cooperate with the grace that goes with the sacra-ment. We ask too the courage to confess our sins and renew our com-mitment to God that we may continue the work of Christ in our midst and to keep the fire of Christ burning.

Fiesta de la Inmaculada Concepción de María

El 8 de Diciembre, celebraremos la Fiesta de la Inmaculada Concepción. La Inmaculada Concepción no se refiere a la concepción de Cristo por la Virgen María. En cambio, se refiere a la concepción de María de tal manera que fue conservada libre de toda mancha de peca-do original y que ella, de hecho, no tenía pecado. La declaración oficial de la doctrina dice: "La Santísima Virgen María ha sido, desde el primer instante de su concepción, por una singular gracia y privilegio de Dios Todopoderoso, en vista de los méritos de Cristo Jesús, el Salvador de la Humanidad, preservada libre de todas las manchas del pecado origi-nal "(Papa Pío IX, Ineffabilis Deus, Diciembre de 1854).

Hay quienes tienen problemas con respecto a este dogma Católico ya que las Escrituras no enseñan directamente la Inmaculada Concepción. La Iglesia Católica Romana argumenta que la Inmaculada Concepción es necesaria porque, sin ella, Jesús habría recibido su carne de alguien que era ella misma esclava del diablo, cuyas obras Jesús vino a destruir (1 Juan 3:8). María, como madre del Redentor, necesitaba estar libre del poder del pecado, y Dios le dio ese privilegio. Desde su tiempo en el útero, María fue santificada debido a su papel especial en traer al Hijo de Dios al mundo.

El Catecismo de la Iglesia Católica declara que ella fue "redimida de una manera más exaltada, por los méritos de su Hi-jo" (CCC 492). Ella tiene más razones para llamar a Dios su Salvador que nosotros, ¡porque la salvó de una manera aún más gloriosa! Ella fue redimida por la gracia de Cristo, pero de una manera especial, por anticipación.

Considere una analogía: supongamos que un hombre cae en un pozo profundo y alguien se agacha para sacarlo. El hombre ha sido "salvado" del pozo. Ahora, imagine a una mujer caminando, y ella tam-bién está a punto de caerse al pozo, pero en el momento en que ella se cae, alguien la detiene y la previene. Ella también ha sido salvada del pozo, pero de una manera aún mejor: no la sacaron del pozo, sino que le impidió mancharse con el barro en primer lugar. Esta es la ilustración que los cristianos han usado durante mil años para explicar cómo María fue salvada por Cristo. Al recibir la gracia de Cristo en su concepción, se le aplicó su gracia antes de que ella pudiera enlodarse en el pecado original y en su mancha.

El National Catholic Reporter publicó un artículo de Melissa Musick Nussbaum que dice que Dios le dio a María el regalo que nece-sitaría para cargar y criar a Cristo. El regalo que se le da a María no es tan diferente del regalo que se nos ofrece en el bautismo. Mire el rito del bautismo para niños: Somos liberados del pecado y llevados a una nueva vida. Somos ungidos con el crisma de la salvación, para que, unidos al pueblo de Dios, podamos permanecer para siempre como miembros de Cristo, que es Sacerdote, Profeta y Rey. Estamos vesti-dos en Cristo. Estamos llamados a caminar siempre como hijos de la luz, la llama de la fe viva en nuestros corazones.

Pidamos a nuestra Santísima Madre que nos guíe para tener una relación íntima con Dios para que podamos reconocer el regalo que se nos ha dado durante nuestro bautismo y cooperar con la gracia que acompaña el sacramento. También pedimos valor para confesar nuestros pecados y renovar nuestro compromiso con Dios para que podamos continuar la obra de Cristo en medio de nosotros y mantener encendido el fuego de Cristo.

Matachinez Danza Huichkora

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HAVE YOU REMEMBERED ST. JOHN OF GOD PARISH OR SCHOOL IN YOUR WILL OR TRUST?

Please consider placing your second home and what has been a refuge for many, St. John of God, in your trust. Help us contin-ue to aide the generations to come in our mission of evangeliza-tion through Children's Catechism, RCIA, Adult Formation, Youth Ministry, etc.

For further information, please contact the rectory or H. Rich-ard Closson, Director, Trust and Estate Programs at (213) 637-

7472 or e-mail at HRClosson@la-archdiocese.org www.estateplanning.com/trustsacc Our correct legal title is:

The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Los Angeles, A Corpora-tion Sol For the benefit of: ST. JOHN OF GOD PARISH OR

ST. JOHN OF GOD SCHOOL

Food Pantry/ Comida Para Dispensas

Si tienes ese sueño de venerar a nuestra

Madre María, Madre de Dios a través de la

danza, únete al grupo Matachinez Danza

Huichkora. —————————— Para mas informes

Llámale al Sr. Remigio Godínez al

(562)964-0474.

Giving Back

Nativity Contest

The following are items needed to restore our food pantry: -Jello -Pudding -Peanut butter -Jam / jelly -Baking Mixes : cookies, cake, brownie, pankcakes -Pasta (all types) -Instant Oatmeal -Canned: beans, tuna, salmon, spam, chicken, soup, fruit, milk, spaghetti sauce, tomato sauce, evaporated milk, etc. -Small bags of rice -Yams / sweet potatoes in cans only - Stuffing mix

Grupo Seguidores de Cristo y Maria

Te Invita a Nuestra Comunidad

Todo los Viernes a las 7pm en el Salon Grande y Lunes a las 7pm en el Salon Chico.

Tenemos Alabanzas, Reflexión de La Palabra, Te-

mas, Oracion, Ministerio de Ninos y mucho más!!!!

“Vengan a mi todos los que van cansados, llevando cargas pe-sadas, y Yo los alleviare” - Mateo 11:28

1. The Nativity must be built on a 4x8 feet of plywood (provided by you) and must cover the entire area of the plywood. 2. Nativity Scene must be portable. The winning scenes will have to be moved to the church by the owner/team. 3. The teams could be made up of groups of families or organizations. There is no limit to the amount of people on a team. 4. Please document the process with pictures. The win-ning nativities will be able to show their pictures near the nativity.

PRIZES: 1st - $500.00 & Your Nativity is displayed in the front of the sanctuary in the church 2nd - $300.00 & Your Nativity is displayed in the vestibule 3rd - $100.00 & Your Nativity is displayed in the vestibule

Contest Rules

Lo siguiente son cosas que nos ayudarían a reponer la dispensa: -Gelatina -Pudin -Crema de cacahuate -Jalea -Mezclas para hornear: galletas, pasteles, pankcakes -Pastas (todo tipos) -Avena instantánea -Enlatados: frijoles, atún, salmón, spam, pollo, sopa, fruta, leche, salsa de espagueti, salsa de to-mate, leche evaporada, etc. -Pequeñas bolsas de arroz -Yams / sweet potatoes in cans only - Stuffing mix

Christmas Basket Call-Dispensa Navideña The Following items are need-ed by December 12th to com-plete our Family Christmas Baskets. Please call to the par-ish office at 562-863-5721 if you can donate. Thank you! Items needed: 1. 100 pounds of potatoes 2. 50/ 1lb bags of carrots 3. 50 pounds of onions 4. 50 bunches of celery

***We greatly appreciate all you do for our brothers and sisters less fortunate.

Los siguientes productos de verdura se estan necesitando antes del 12 de Diciembre para completar nuestras can-astas navideñas para la dis-pensa. Si puede donar, por favor llame a la oficina de la parroquia al 562-863-5721. ¡Gracias! Productos necesarios: 1. 100 libras de papas 2. 50 libras de zanahorias 3. 50 libras de cebolla 4. 50 libras de apio

School REGISTRATIONS for New Preschool (3 year olds) to

8th grade students.

Documents needed for Registration: * Legal copy of Birth Certificate Original Baptismal Certificate (along with a copy) * Immunization Record (up to date) * First Holy Communion Certificate ( if applicable) * Most recent Report Card (if applicable)

*Financial Aid Applications are available at the time of Registration (please inquire) Fees are NON-REFUNDABLE

School Office hours are Mon-Fri Hours: 7:30am-3:30pm Phone: 562-863-5722

Website: http://www.sjogschool.com/

ReligiousEducationOf iceOficina de Educación Religiosa

RegularHours - Horarios Regulares

Sunday&MondayDomingo y Lunes

Tuesday&ThursdayMartes a Jueves

Friday&WednesdayViernes y Miercoles

Saturday

Closed Cerrado

12pm - 9pm 10am - 7pm 9am - 2:30pm

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Saturday: December 23rd & 30th Tuesday: December 26th & Jan. 2nd Thursday: Dec. 28th & Jan. 4th __________________________________ Sábado: Diciembre 23 y 30 Martes: Diciembre 26 y Enero 2 Jueves: Diciembre 28 y Enero 4

Religious Education Christmas & New Years Vacation

The St. John of God Youth Ministry invites you to come visit...

Games, Crafts, and a spe-cial visit from Santa

and his elves!

PRESALE ORDERS FOR CHRISTMAS TAMALES CAN BE MADE TODAY, DEC 3RD AFTER

ALL MASSES.

PICK-UP DAY IS DEC. 10 IN THE LARGE HALL.

Food, sweets, and drinks available

And purchase your Christmas Tamales!

COME JOIN US FOR SOME FUN!

December 10th

WE NEED CATECHISTS Do you hear that? God is calling you! Come make a

difference in the future of our Catholic Church.

We need Confirmation teachers to work with our youth and confirmation ministry. We also need catechists for

our first communion programs.

Requirements: VIRTUS training and Finger Printing. Call the Religious Ed office for more info.

Upcoming Virtus Trainings!

12/16/17 – ENGLISH St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church (Whittier) Protecting God’s Childen for Adults 9:00 am To Register, call: (562) 941-0115

01/07/18 – ENGLISH St. Joseph Catholic Church (Long Beach) Keeping the Promise Alive, Recertification (Only) 2:00 pm Protecting God’s Children for Adults (Jan. 8, 2018) 6:30 pm To Register, contact: Michelle at (562) 598-0519

DID YOU KNOW? Child Advocacy Centers can be a great resource Child Advocacy Centers are a resource for parents and children who have come into contact with sexual abuse. These centers work with children who have been victims of sexual abuse or vio-lence, or who have witnessed traumatic events. Parents and ot-hers may need guidance as to how best to support children who have been victimized – advocacy centers provide guidance, inter-viewing and counseling services to help victims of abuse heal and find justice. For a list of centers in California, visit http://cacc-online.org/find-a-center/.

SABIA USTED? Los Centros de Defensa del Niño pueden ser un gran recurso.

Los Centros de Defensa Infantil son un recurso para padres de familia y niños que han estado en contacto con el abuso sexual. Estos centros trabajan con niños que han sido víctimas de abuso o violencia sexual, o que han presenciado eventos traumáticos. Los padres de familia y otras personas pueden necesitar orienta-ción sobre la mejor manera de apoyar a los niños que han sido víctimas, los centros de defensa ofrecen servicios de orientación, entrevista y asesoramiento para ayudar a las víctimas de abuso a sanar y encontrar justicia. Para obtener una lista de los centros en California, visite http://cacc-online.org/find-a-center/.

PENANCE SERVICES SERVICIOS PENITENCIALES

All services start at 7pm Todos los servicios comienzan a las 7pm

Monday December 4th St. Mariana de Paredes (Pico Rivera)

Tuesday December 5th St. John of God (Norwalk)

Wednesday December 6th Holy Family (Artesia)

Monday December 11th Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Los Nietos)

Wednesday December 13th St. Pius X (Santa Fe Springs)

Thursday December 14th St. Linus (Norwalk)

Monday December 18th St. Gregory (Whittier)

Feast Day of The Immaculate Conception / December 8th Día de La Inmaculada Concepción / 8 de Diciembre

8:00 am - English Mass 12:15pm - English Mass 5:00pm - English Mass 7:00pm - Misa en Español

* Holy Day of Obligation / Día Santo de Obligación*