Rev. Nicholas Bozza, Pastor 375 Main Street, P.O. Box 730, Chester, New Jersey 07930

Coordinators of Religious Education: Carla Fuscaldo, Dorothy Kudron, Terry Leing

Cynthia Vittitow— Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Brian Flanagan — Confirmation

Kathleen Galdi — DRE Music Minister: Joseph P. Tamburro Youth Minister: Brian Flanagan Mercy Minister: Cindy Zeis

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN: Gr. K-4 & CGS 1: Sun. 9:00-10:45 am Gr. 1-8: Thurs. 4:30-5:45 pm

Gr. 5-8: Sun. 4:30-5:45 pm OR Mon. 7:00-8:15 pm Gr. 9-10: Sun. 5:40-8:00 pm

ADULT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: RCIA: Sundays (September-Easter)

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: Saturday: 4:00-4:45 pm, Monday: 6:30-7:00 pm & on request.

SACRAMENT OF THE SICK: Please call the Parish Office anytime for communion calls or visitation of the sick and elderly. Keep us informed so that we can be attentive to those who are ill at home or in the hospital.

Parish Email: parish@stlchester.org

Parish Web Site: www.stlchester.org

Web Master: Joanne Franklin (908-879-6222)

Welcome Janet Villafane (908) 879-3032 Haiti Twinning Program Christine Colannino (201) 314-9824

Bereavement Don Martone (908) 879-7957 Lectors John Kennington (908) 872-0575

Good Samaritans Patsy Soden (908) 879-3374 Eucharistic Ministers Loretta Stewart (973) 222-7492

Grocery Cards Jean Ward (908) 334-3442 Ushers Bob Holl (908) 876-3488

Moms & Tots Melissa Altieri (908) 797-0676 Music Minister Joe Tamburro (908) 453-3302

Arimathaea Arlene McDonald (973) 584-7319 Spanish Ministry Louis Villafane (908) 879-3032

Liturgical Environment Joanne Carr (908) 879-5543 Youth Minister Brian Flanagan (973) 946-8770

Women’s Cornerstone Judy Irwin (201) 400-7847 Altar Servers Chuck Feller (908) 768-2838

Men’s Cornerstone Marc McFeely (973) 222-9739 Evangelization Bob Holl (908) 876-3488

Pastoral Adv. Board Jerry Frech (908) 377-2900 RCIA Jan Richards (908) 975-3555

Rosary Society Marie Holl (908) 876-3488 Respect Life Connie Wieczorek (908) 879-6453

Media Ministry Jeanne McCormick (908) 879-6884 Barn Ministry Ed Wieczorek (908) 300-0098

Mary’s Moonflowers Karen Jones (973) 479-5271

Rev. Rolands Uribe, Parochial Vicar

Deacon William DeVizio, Permanent Deacon

Trustees: Phil Guidone, Jeanne McCormick

Parish Secretary: Karen Jaworski

Accountant: Sharon McCann Business Manager: Bill McCormick

MASSES: Saturday: 5:00 pm Sunday: 7:30 am, 9:00 am, 11:00 am, 12:30 pm (Spanish), 6:00 pm Daily Mass: Mon.-Fri. 8:00 am & 9:00 am, Sat. 9:00 am Holy Day Vigil: 7:00 pm Holy Day: 8:00 am, 4:30 pm, 7:00 pm (bi-lingual)

Healing Mass: 7:00 pm every 3rd Tuesday of month. Rosary at 6:30 pm

BAPTISMS: Baptism Preparation Class: Please call the Parish Office to schedule.

Baptisms: Please call the Parish Office to schedule.

SPANISH BAPTISMS: Baptism Preparation Class: Please call the Parish Office to schedule.

Baptisms: Please call the Parish Office to schedule.

MARRIAGES: Please contact the Priest/Deacon whom you wish to officiate at your wedding one year in advance to arrange for Marriage Preparation Sessions.

PARISH MEMBERSHIP: Every family moving into the parish is requested to register. If you move to another parish or change your address, please notify the Parish Office.

St. Lawrence the Martyr Church SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2017

MISSION STATEMENT St. Lawrence the Martyr Church is a community of Catholic Christians who gather

together to celebrate the Eucharist, their love of Jesus Christ and their love of one another

as children of Christ. We are a diverse community focused on creating an enthusiasm for our faith and enriching the lives for all who come to worship in our parish. Inviting and

welcoming liturgies, multiple youth and young adult activities and adult enrichment

programs all help make the Word of Christ a living reality at St. Lawrence.

Parish Office: 908-879-5371 Priests’ Home: 908-879-1901 Religious Ed.: 908-879-6714 Youth Minister: 973-946-8770 Fax: 908-879-7701

Parish Ministries and Ministry Facilitators

Page Two SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2017 - FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

BECOMING ONE OF US

THE MYSTERY OF THE INCARNATION I studied for a few months in Rome as a part of a sab-

batical year in the fall of 1998. One of my fellow stu-

dents in the sabbatical program was a Maryknoll priest,

Father Timothy Kilgallen, who was studying the Chi-

nese language and culture in addition to the studies in

Christian archeology and liturgy and general theology

that we all were taking together at the North American

College. Father Tim was preparing to go into mainland

China to ostensibly be an English teacher, but also to

share the life-giving gift of faith if the opportunity appeared for him. His plan and effort to enter a completely

new world in order to save souls inspired me very much.

Father Tim’s story reminds me of the story of the incarnation of the Son of God. The Son would leave a beau-

tiful world that He had helped create, the Kingdom of Heaven, in order to enter the visible created world that

had been darkened and tainted by the sin of Adam. The Son would be given the name, “Jesus”, as the Father

had directed He be called and as the Angel had explained to both Mary and Joseph during his visits to them.

What a great love Father Tim displayed as he worked to become one with the Chinese people. What a great

love the Son of God displayed as He took on human flesh and “became like us in all things except sin.” The

life and death of Jesus has had a saving and healing effect on all of the visible created world.

With gratitude in our hearts, we will gather with Christians from around the world to celebrate the birthday of

our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ!

LEARNING ABOUT LIFE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Service Committee of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal sponsors a monthly prayer meeting at St. Paul

Inside of the Walls in Madison. The meeting provides an opportunity to praise God together in word and

song, to listen to a teaching on Life in the Holy Spirit, to petition God together, to give witness to God’s action

in and around us and to socialize with others who are living the life in the Holy Spirit. The meetings take

place on the second Monday of the month. The next meeting is set for January 8 at 7:30 pm.

THE MARCH FOR LIFE IN WASHINGTON, DC

JANUARY 19, 2018

I just received word from Andrew Schlafly, the organizer of the bus ride to Washington, DC, that he has re-

served a bus for all those interested in taking part in the March for Life in Washington on January 19. The de-

tails for the trip will be publicized shortly. I have attended the March a number of times and I can highly rec-

ommend taking part in the day. It affords an opportunity to be with and support the hundreds of thousands of

people who wish to change the law that legalizes the killing of children in the womb. Children are priceless

and so is God’s gift of life. Please consider taking off from work or school to join us for the March on January

19. We go to demonstrate and pray for the safety of the children in the womb.

God bless.

Father Nick

FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK

Page Three SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2017 - FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION THIS WEEK

Sunday

• No classes

Monday

• No classes

Thursday

• No classes

Sunday

• No classes

MEETINGS / EVENTS THIS WEEK

Wednesday

• ESL - 7:30 pm

Friday

• Divine Mercy Chaplet - 3:00 pm

TRAVELING MARY Our “Traveling Mary” is a statue of Our

Lady of Fatima which will spend the

week in your home. We are asking that

families/individuals say the rosary dur-ing that week. Along with the statue are

some pamphlets on how to say the Ro-

sary, a DVD for younger children and some rosary beads for you to use. Let’s

keep “Mary” traveling throughout the

parish! Please contact the Faith For-mation Office (908-879-6714) if you are

interested.

WE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR THE SICK . . .

Kirsten Mumma, William Ware, Julio Carrera, Sebastian

Quinn, Ralph Bozza, Sister Eucharia, Bishop Frank Rodimer,

Father Rolands Uribe, Father Eugene Romano, Father Paul

Knauer, Father Rafael Perez, Msgr. Martin Rauscher, Msgr. Richard Rusconi, Msgr. Peter McBride, Patrick John Moran,

Ann Kelly, Lloyd Matsamoto, Helen Crowe, Jane Alt, Pat-

rick Pronio, Allison Spina, Lesley Pawar, Tom Walsh, Steve

Briggs, Brian Graham, Colleen Saito, William Kelly, Mary

Norwood, Mary Lanzara, Rocco Colantuono, Diane Verge,

Cade Feitel, Christine Ambrosino, Carole Stessl, Kathy Boll-

work, Dick Goodwin, Nicholas Brown, Jane Rufino, Kevin

Callahan, Judith Stampone, Jeanette Mahoney, Paul Fitzger-

ald, Charlotte Poth, Colleen Looby, George Serafin, Charlie

Romano, Salman Javed, Joe Cillo, Jerry Green, Mary Con-

stantinople, Dan McGuigan, Patricia Gilvey, Daisy Hallock,

Robert Snow, Ryan Menzel, Vincent & Giuliana Petane, Betty Macaluso, Dorothy Powers, Ellie Cowie, Wesley

Snawder, Jeanne McCormick, Tom Murray, Eidelia Jimenez

Martinez, Mila Balicki, Timothy Gearty, Karen Curley, Con-

siglia Erdenberger, Arnold Family, Connie Dziomba, Bonnie

Lieberworth, Barbara Drive, Jack Ratti, Finn Michael, Olivia

Gill, Maureen Diana, Teresa Smith, Linda Colligan, Frances

Ferreri, Katelin Riggs, Teresa Colamonaco, Baby Gianni

Mazza, Carol Mattone, Anna Birsilli Garich

ALTAR SERVER SCHEDULE

December 30-31

5:00 pm

CB – Evan Tusa.

S1 – Kath-leen Tusa S2 – Sean Bodnar

7:30 am

CB Sinclair Stevens

S1 – Blake Stevens S2 –

9:00 am

CB – Daniel Kudron

S1 – Patrick Kudron S2 –

11:00 am

CB – Ann Hoye

S1 – Beth Hoye S2 – Mere-dith Hoye

6:00 pm

CB – Ali Wallace

S1 – An-drew Guido S2 –

GIVING TREE THANK YOU

The Good Samaritans would like to extend their appreci-ation for the generous donations to the Annual Giving

Tree. A special thanks to all who participated by donating

gifts and to those who gave of their time in helping to make this annual project a success again this year. Your

generosity will enable many families to experience the

joy of the Christmas!

CALENDARS FOR NEXT YEAR

Calendars for 2018 are now available.

Be sure to pick one up after Mass.

MASS BOOK 2018 Just a reminder that the Mass Book for 2018 is open for

your Mass intentions. Please call or visit the Parish Of-

fice to schedule your desired dates and Mass times.

ST. LAWRENCE CHURCH OFFICES

WILL CLOSE FOR HOLIDAYS

The Parish Office and Faith Formation Office will be

closed from December 26 - January 1. Office hours will

resume on Tuesday, January 2.

HOMEBOUND OR HOSPITALIZED Please notify our priests if you know of someone who is

homebound or hospitalized. Many would appreciate a

visit and the opportunity to receive Communion.

ALTAR SERVERS NEEDED If you are in the 4th grade or older,

consider becoming an altar server!

Training will be provided. If interest-

ed, please call Chuck Feller, our altar server coordinator, at 908-768-2838

or email cnfeller@att.net.

Page Four SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2017 - FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR MASS SCHEDULE

Christmas Eve Masses 4 pm, 6 pm, 8 pm (Spanish), 10 pm

Christmas Day Masses

7:30 am, 9 am and 11:00 am

New Year’s Eve Masses

5 pm, 6:30 pm (Spanish)

New Year’s Day Masses

8 am, 11:30 am

TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION Children of the parish are somewhat focused on Santa

Claus these days, who is keeping an eye on who’s naughty

and who’s nice. Santa Claus, with his heavenly patron Saint

Nicholas, has been more or less in charge of gift-giving to American children for a hundred years or so. In other plac-

es, perhaps more attentive to our Christian tradition, there

are different gift-bearers. In Greece, Saint Basil delivers the presents on his feast day, December 31, and makes sure

everyone is sprinkled with holy water. The Baby Jesus is in

charge elsewhere, called the Christkind in Austria and Bel-gium, El Niño Jesús in Columbia, and Le Petit Jesus in

France, where he shares his duties with Père Noël. In the

Czech Republic almost everyone is atheist, but Ježíšek, the

infant Jesus, brings gifts to one and all. In Poland the “Star Man” is said to bring the gifts, although often he turns out

to be the village priest in disguise. Saint Nicholas, not his

Americanized cousin, is the giver in Holland, where he wears a bishop’s miter, and in Russia, where he wears a

bishop’s crown. Soviet Russia tried to dethrone Saint Nich-

olas and promote Grandfather Frost, but no one was much fooled by this attempt to squeeze religion out of Christ’s

birth. One country has a saintly woman in charge of the

gifts, Saint Lucy, honored in Sweden on December 13,

when children serve their parents breakfast in bed, and oth-ers awake to news that they have been nominated for a No-

bel Prize. Some children have a second round of gifts on

Epiphany, when the magi assume the gift-giving duties. In general, the gifts of Christmas are simple pleasures, not

great heaps of treasures. Once upon a time, a new pair of

socks or an orange was enough for us. No matter what gifts

we receive, all of them are to point us to the true gift, and the true giver.

MARCH FOR LIFE

Friday, January 19, 2018

Washington, D.C. Save the date!

Help us be the voice that supports life from conception to natural death.

THE BEACON

Do You Receive The Beacon?

If you receive The Beacon, your support to help under-

write the monthly subscription bill would be greatly ap-preciated. The annual subscription fee is $29.50. A check,

made out to St. Lawrence Church, can be mailed to the

Parish Office or dropped in the collection basket at Mass.

You can also make your donation using the e-giving op-tion by accessing on-line giving on the parish’s home

page. Thank you!

Would You Like to Subscribe or Cancel The Beacon? Please contact Karen at the Parish Office:

908-879-5371 OR parish@stlchester.org.

FLORAL REMEMBRANCE

PROGRAM

Parishioners have the opportunity to spon-

sor a floral arrangement for the church altar

($125), the tabernacle ($75) or the chapel altar ($100) in memory/honor of a loved one. If interest-

ed, call the Parish Office at 908-879-5371 to choose an

available Sunday (other than Easter or Christmas) .

MOVING?

LOCAL ADDRESS CHANGE?

Please notify the parish office by phone

or email if you are moving or if your

address has changed. We appreciate your help in keeping our parish directo-

ry up to date.

ALL I KNOW All I know about Christmas I learned from Jesus:

• The best gift I can give to others is love. It’s free

and lasts forever.

• Joy is sharing & caring.

• Peace on earth begins with me.

• Christmas means that Jesus is born in our hearts.

• Follow Him.

WE WERE ASKED TO ANNOUNCE

Help Needed

Gentleman living in Mendham Area Senior Housing is in

need of a helper for a few hours a day beginning 1-2-18. For more information, please call Joan at 908-391-5942.

Page Five SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2017 - FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK

MONDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2017 (Christmas Day) 7:30 am - Michael Zonfrillo III

9:00 am - Thiago Perin

- Eileen Patricia Cadden

11:00 am - Nicholas Falcone

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2017

8:00 am - Charles Barr, Jr.

9:00 am - Ken Sibon

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2017 8:00 am - Charles Barr, Jr.

9:00 am - William Donohue

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2017 8:00 am - Judy Tully

9:00 am - Gus & Basia Jaworski

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2017 8:00 am - Jennifer Casey

9:00 am - Teresa Gaffney

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2017

9:00 am - Conrad & Anna Spring - Stephen & Olga Farbanish

5:00 pm - Caroline Bozza

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2017 (New Year’s Eve) 7:30 am - Jan Jarosz

- Charles Comerford

9:00 am - Jennifer Casey

11:00 am - Ramona Sabina Masco

12:30 pm - Theodore Wenz

5:00 pm - For the People of the Parish

6:30 pm - Joseph Stockage

REJOICE! May the timeless message of Christmas fill your heart

and home with joy now and throughout the coming year.

Merry Christmas!

Fr. Nick, Fr. Rolands, Deacon Bill, and the Parish Staff

GOD’S PROMISE The lengthy passage from Samuel is a wonderful exposi-

tion of God’s promise to the house of David: that his

throne would forever be gloriously occupied by his de-

scendants. Hidden in the mystery of the prophecy is the promise of the Savior, the Messiah, Son of God and Son

of David. The prophet Nathan, speaking in God’s name,

poetically turns around David’s plan to build a house for God, and announces God’s plan to build a “house,” that

is, a dynasty for David. From this house of David will

come the Messiah, the Christ, not in kingly splendor as David ruled, but as a humble man, destined to rule forev-

er and over all. When God gives a gift, it’s amazing what

we are given—so different from what we ever could

have imagined.

TODAY’S READINGS First Reading — I will fix a place for my people. I will

plant them so that they may dwell in their place without

further disturbance (2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16).

Psalm — For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord (Psalm 89).

Second Reading — To the only wise God, through Jesus

Christ, be glory forever and ever (Romans 16:25-27). Gospel — Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it

be done to me according to your word (Luke 1:26-38).

MASS READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: Vigil: Is 62:1-5; Ps 89:4-5, 16-17, 27-29;

Acts 13:16-17, 22-25; Mt 1:1-25 [18-25]

During the Night: Is 9:1-6; Ps 96:1-3, 11-13;

Ti 2:11-14; Lk 2:1-14 Dawn: Is 62:11-12; Ps 97:1, 6, 11-12;

Ti 3:4-7; Lk 2:15-20

Day: Is 52:7-10; Ps 98:1-6; Heb 1:1-6; Jn 1:1-18 [1-5, 9-14]

Tuesday: Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59;

Ps 31:3cd-4, 6, 8ab, 16bc, 17; Mt 10:17-22 Wednesday: 1 Jn 1:1-4; Ps 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12; Jn 20:1a, 2-8

Thursday: 1 Jn 1:5 — 2:2; Ps 124:2-5, 7cd-8; Mt 2:13-18

Friday: 1 Jn 2:3-11; Ps 96:1-3, 5b-6; Lk 2:22-35

Saturday: 1 Jn 2:12-17; Ps 96:7-10; Lk 2:36-40 Sunday: Sir 3:2-6, 12-14 or Gn 15:1-6; 21:1-3; Ps 128: 1-5 or Ps 105:1-6, 8-9; Col 3:12-21 [12-17] or Hb 11:8, 11-12, 17-19; Lk 2:22-40 [22, 39-40]

NEXT HEALING MASS

Tuesday, January 16

Rosary at 6:30 pm followed by Mass at 7:00 pm

All are welcome!

Tithing: God’s Plan for Giving.

Tithing Income December 17, 2017 $13, 060.00

Tithing Income December 18, 2016 $13,285.50

FROM THE PASTOR: “I sincerely thank you for the

sacrifices that you make to support God’s work in our

parish. May God bless you! We believe that God will not be outdone in generosity. If we are generous with

Him, He will be even more generous with us.”

FROM A MEMBER OF ST. TITUS CHURCH IN

EAST NORRITON TWP., PA: “When I think of eve-

rything that the parish does to help us all get along in life

with God and each other, I want to be a part of it. Tithing

makes sure that something of ‘me’ is part of the parish’s

work.”