30 Mattingly Avenue, Indian Head, Maryland 20640

The Virgin of Advent

At a crucial time in history, Mary offered

herself, her body and soul, to God as dwelling

place. In her and from her the Son of God took

flesh. !Thus, it is Mary who tells us what Advent is:

going forth to meet the Lord Who comes to

meet us; waiting for Him, listening to Him,

looking at Him.

Homily, December 10, 2006

Pope Benedict XVI

e-mail: stmary-star-sea.md@adwparish.org and email: parish@staroftheseaindianhead.org Web site: www.staroftheseaindianhead.org

Administrator: Rev. Brian A. Coelho

BAPTISMS:

Contact the Rectory Office

COORDINATOR OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION:

Janet Clements 301-753-9177 staroftheseareligion@gmail.com

RECTORY OFFICE:

Parish Secretary: Diana Medel 8:00 to 1:00 Monday through Friday

Office is closed Holidays

Archbishop Neale School LaPlata, MD 20646

301-934-9595

STAR OF THE SEA PANTRY:

Third Saturday Of the Month 301-743-9471

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS:

JFK Council 301-643-6210 Frederick Borrell

NEW MEMBERS WELCOME

LEGION OF MARY:

Meets Fridays in the Church Hall after the 7:30 am Mass

WEEKEND MASSES:

Saturday: 5:00 pm Sunday: 7:30, 9:00, and 11:00 am

WEEKDAY MASSES:

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday: 7:30 am

HOLY DAY MASSES:

As Announced

FIRST FRIDAY:

Adoration from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

FIRST SATURDAY:

7:30 am Mass followed by the Scriptural Rosary

NOVENA TO THE MOTHER OF PERPETUAL HELP:

Wednesday: 3:00 pm

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION:

Saturday: 4:00 to 4:45 pm and by request

MARRIAGE:

6 Months notice

St. Mary, Star of the Sea Indian Head, Maryland

Dec 18 Monday: 7:30 AM Dorothy Regina Bryan Garcia

Daniel W. Garcia Dec 19 Tuesday:

7:30 AM Henry E. Grimes +

Arnoldo V. Galaz +

Dec 20 Wednesday: No Mass Dec 21 Thursday: St. Peter Canisius, Priest and Doctor of the Church

7:30 AM Daniel W. Garcia Dec 22 Friday:

7:30 AM Gloria G. Bryan

Dec 23 Saturday: St. John of Kanty, Priest

5:00 PM Hugh Waters +

Next Sunday: Fourth Sunday of Advent 7:30 AM Pro Populo

9:00 AM Pro Populo

11:00 AM Pro Populo

Mary Gibson, Maria McGuigan, Patricia Mercer, Mary Gladys Mack, Dottie Fuchs, Karri Van Damm, Dorothy Regina Bryan Garcia, Daniel W. Garcia, John Milton Swann, Deloris Marbray, Dorothy and Matthew Krikstan, Donza Milstead, Larry Simmons, Marvin Wagner, Amber Wagner, Kenneth Bowman, Helen and Conrad Vanasse, Walter Ott, Rae Ann Coburn, Margaret Montgomery, Jewel Bragunier, Theresa Dobak, Julie Robinson, Billy Vogelson, Becky and James Gannon, Zigmund Krivitsky, Joseph Kluchinsky, Mary Thomas, Rev. Robert S. Pittman, Gerry Barberan, Audrey Rye, Melvin Smith, Rick Iekel, Juanita A. Galaz, Arnoldo A. Galaz, and Eugene C. Johnson

Please pray for those who have long term illnesses and their caregivers.

Do you have a change of name, address or telephone number? Please call the rectory office to make changes or corrections 301-753-9177 or 301-743-5770.

Reflection

3nd

Sunday of Advent:

"There is one ... coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not

worthy to untie." Untying sandal straps was no prestigious job.

In the days of John the Baptist, those straps would have been

especially unpleasant to deal with. Besides the usual odors that

accompany sockless leather footwear, there would have been

the grime and dirt from the sandy roads and paths that swirled

around the people who went everywhere on foot. Taking off

someone's shoes upon their arrival was the task of the lowly

servants. So when John says he's unworthy of doing this task

for the "one who is coming after me," he is putting himself in

a very humble position. And rightly so.

John realizes that the Christ-the Anointed One, the Messiah-is

so far above him, so far above any of us, that we are truly

unworthy of him. Indeed, the Son of God is not just the

greatest of men; he is God-made-man and in his presence we

most appropriately should bow in humble homage. Yet this

God chose to stoop down to our human level and walk among

us. He chose to get his sandals dirty. And still today he

chooses to allow us to encounter him as a friend and

companion.

But as John reminds us by his example, this encounter with

the Lord is not the result of our own merits or

accomplishments. We are sinners who stand in need of

Christ's help. But thanks be to God, he is always willing to

extend this help to us. As St. Paul says in today's epistle, "May

the God of peace make you perfectly holy." Indeed it is God

who does the perfecting, not us by our own power. So let us

approach the Lord this Advent season with a spirit of hopeful

humility, trusting that God alone can make us worthy of

welcoming his Son.

WEEKLY READINGS: Week of December 17, 2017

Sunday: Is 61:1-2a, 10-11/Lk 1:46-48, 49-50, 53-54 [Is 61:10b]/1

Thes 5:16-24/Jn 1:6-8, 19-28

Monday: Jer 23:5-8/Ps 72:1-2, 12-13, 18-19 [cf. 7]/Mt 1:18-25

Tuesday: Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25a/Ps 71:3-4a, 5-6ab, 16-17 [cf. 8]/Lk

1:5-25

Wednesday: Is 7:10-14/Ps 24:1-2, 3-4ab, 5-6 [cf. 7c and 10b]/Lk

1:26-38

Thursday: Sg 2:8-14 or Zep 3:14-18a/Ps 33:2-3, 11-12, 20-21

[1a; 3a]/Lk 1:39-45

Friday: 1 Sm 1:24-28/1 Sm 2:1, 4-5, 6-7, 8abcd [cf. 1a]/Lk 1:46-

56

Saturday: Mal 3:1-4, 23-24/Ps 25:4-5ab, 8-9, 10 and 14 [cf. Lk

21:28]/Lk 1:57-66

Next Sunday: 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16/Ps 89:2-3, 4-5, 27, 29

[2a]/Rom 16:25-27/Lk 1:26-38

Third Sunday of Advent December 17, 2017

CCD: Class meets in the Church Hall Thursday’s 5:30 - 6:45 p.m. Contact Janet Clements at email: staroftheseareligion@gmail.com or

301-751-3360,

• Jan. 4 Family Bingo 5:00 - 6:45 p.m.

• Jan. 7 Next Family Mass (Epiphany) 11 O’clock. • Jan. 15 Parent Meeting for children receiving

sacraments in Church Hall 7:00 p.m. Gospel Choir: Looking for an organist or pianist. New members welcomed to join in singing during the 9:00 am mass. For more information please contact Conchita Walls at 301-542-2054.

Home Visits: Would you like a visit from the Pastor?

Fr Brian makes his visits on Monday. Please call the

Rectory Office to schedule a visit 301-753-9177.

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

ADVENT TREE “Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say

Rejoice!” What better a prayer to begin

today’s liturgy? Today all packages will be

delivered! Please have your wrapped gifts at

the Hall by 12:00 Noon today. At that time

all gifts will be sorted, inventoried and

prepared for delivery. If you would like to

help deliver gifts, please be at the Hall at

2:00 PM. Come with an empty trunk and a full heart! Many

thanks and blessings to all who have helped with this our

parish “Miracle Project” for truly, this day sees many miracles.

Altar Flowers: To request altar flower for

any occasion Please call Helen Boone at

301-743-3336 or the Rectory Office at 301

-753-9177.

******* CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR ******** MASS SCHEDULE

Dec. 24 Christmas Eve Vigil Mass - 5:00 PM Midnight Mass - 12:00 PM Dec. 25 Christmas Day Mass - 10:00 AM Dec. 31 New Year’s Eve Mass - 7:00 PM Jan. 01 New Year’s Day Mass - 10:00 AM

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

JOIN US FOR CHRISTMAS CAROL REHERSALS Thursday, December 14th at 6:45 pm in the Church. All are invited.

Caroling Locations: Dec 21 Mattingly Avenue - Meet in the church parking lot at 5:00 p.m.

Dec 22 Riverside Run - Meet in the church parking lot at 5:00 pm.

Dec 24 Vigil Mass - Meet in the church at 4:30 p.m.

Dec 24 Midnight Mass - Meet in the church at 11:00 p.m.

ADW: Cardinal Donald Wuerl stated, “To remind people of the big picture of how much God loves us – the reason for the season - and to help us make room in our hearts for the little Child of Bethlehem, the archdiocese is presenting once again its “Find the Perfect Gift” campaign with radio spots, social media engagement, holy cards and more. In particular, the website FindThePerfectGift.org offers touching videos, reflections, and Advent calendar and other resources to help visitors Find the perfect gift of Jesus that God has for us. Discover traditions to prepare the way of the Lord, and Learn ways to Give this holy season.”

Find the Perfect Gift “As people of faith, we recognize that we have already found - and received - the perfect gift: No one has so changed history and lives as has Jesus, God who has become one of us, who came to Liberate us from the limitations of human failure and who seeks a living, personal relationship with each one of us. People today continue to need a Savior. No amount of worldly goods that we might buy from a store and place under the tree can ever really satisfy the longings of the human heart. But through the Mass and through our own gift of self in faith, manifesting Jesus’ life within us, we present an encounter with the love of Christ, the perfect gift.”

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