17 December 2023 - "GAUDETE SUNDAY"
DAILY MASS SCHEDULE: 9:00AM MASS MON-SAT THIS WEEK
Monday, 18 December, Ferial Day
/Intention: Frances Tirona (rx/Tirona Family) ........................................................ 9:00am
Tuesday, 19 December, Ferial Day
/Intention: Carlos Jauridez (rx/C. Jauridez) ........................................................... 9:00am
Wednesday, 20 December, Vigil of St. Thomas EMBER DAY (Fast)
/Intention: In Thanksgiving (rx/Ivan Family) .......................................................... 9:00am
Decorate the Chapel ................................................................................ Following Mass
Thursday, 21 December, ST. THOMAS, APOSTLE
/Intention: +Merle Fridley (rx/S. Alves) .................................................................. 9:00am
Friday, 22 December, ST. FRANCES CABRINI, VIRGIN EMBER DAY (Fast)
/Intention: +Robert Edwin Zapp (rx/Family) .......................................................... 9:00am
Saturday, 23 December, Ferial Day EMBER DAY (Fast)
/Intention: Kathryn Ostrosky (rx/C. Ostrosky) ....................................................... 9:00am
Perpetual Help Devotions ........................................................................ Following Mass
CHRISTMAS MASS FOR MARTINEZ & MODESTO CHAPELS: HOLYDAY OF OBLIGATION
Monday, 25 Dec. --- MIDNIGHT HIGH MASS
Monday, 25 Dec. --- 08:00am
Monday, 25 Dec. --- 10:00am
CONFESSIONS:
Monday thru Saturday ............................ 20 minutes before Mass; following Saturday Novena
Sunday ................................................. 07:30-07:50am; 09:20-09:50am; following each Mass
NOVENA TO OUR MOTHER OF PERPETUAL HELP ------- will take place Saturday morning, after 9:00am Mass. Whether your petitions be spiritual or temporal, Our Lady never fails to answer them through the means of this powerful Novena!
APPOINTMENTS: for Baptisms, Marriages, Sick Calls, etc., can be made by seeing one of the priests after Mass. IN CASE OF EMERGENCY please call: Fr. Zapp (925) 586-7924 or Fr. Larabee (513) 390-3070.
SANCTUARY LAMP is currently burning IN MEMORY OF: LUCY GRAMLICH.
If you would like to sponsor the Sanctuary Candle for one week ($15) or two weeks ($25), "In Memory of n.n._______," or "For the Intentions of _____," etc., please fill out the envelope in vestibule and place in collection or candle box.
CHURCH CLEANING: (23 DEC) J. Mahoney & Z. Oczkos
IN YOUR CHARITY -- please pray for all the sick of parishes, especially: Sergio Polanco, Jean Villanueva, Marin Ivan, Thao Nguyen, Kelly Nowrouz and Ramona Prado.
CHILDREN'S CATECHISM: is scheduled for 1st & 3rd Saturday of each month. Children of the parish, grades 1 thru 12, who are NOT attending a TRADITIONAL HOME SCHOOL PROGRAM, must attend this twice-monthly class. Instruction begins at 10am, for two hours. NEXT CLASS: TBA
SECOND COLLECTION: ... TODAY for the SUPPORT OF THE SEMINARY.
2024 ROMAN CATHOLIC CALENDARS ---have arrived and are available in the parish bookstore. They are a must for every Catholic home and workplace and they make excellent gifts! (Price per Calendar: $15)
VOLUNTEERS ...will be needed for the decorating of the Chapel for Christmas on Wednesday, Dec. 20 after morning Mass.
PURGATORIAN SOCIETY: ... there is a monthly REQUIEM MASS (High Mass, if possible) offered in Martinez, for the repose of the souls of all who have been enrolled in the PURGATORIAN SOCIETY. (Members are also remembered at every Daily Mass). Enroll your loved ones (Catholics only), living or deceased, for a one-time stipend of $35 per person. For an additional $7, a Memorial Presentation Folder can be sent on your behalf.
CHRISTMAS PRAYER OF ST. ANDREW..... a traditional prayer during Advent, is to be recited 15 times every day, from the Feast of St. Andrew (30 NOV) to Christmas Eve, for any intention. Copies of the prayer are to be found in the vestibule.
EMBER DAYS THIS WEEK ...Wednesday, Friday and Saturday are days of FAST & ABSTINENCE (Wed & Sat -- partial; Fri -- complete) from meat. (Ember days are special days of prayer and fasting coming at the beginning of the four seasons of the year. Their purpose is to dedicate the seasons to God and to petition His blessing upon the crops and fruits, in joyful thankgiving for the blessings received during the harvest, to do penance for past sins, and to pray for worthy priests).
THE SEASON OF ADVENT
The four weeks of Advent correspond to the 4,000 years of yearning and preparing (through prayer & penance) by the human race for the Messias. Therefore, it should be for us a time of preparation (through prayer & penance) for the coming of our Blessed Saviour at Christmas time. The "world" celebrates "Happy Holidays" from Thanksgiving to New Years Day, but the good Catholic prepares for the birthday of Christ during Advent, and celebrates that wonderful event from Dec. 25th to Feb. 2nd. We should give Our Lord the best of all presents for His Birthday --A PURE SOUL-- acquired by prayer and mortification (self-denial) during these 4 weeks; ESPECIALLY, BY MAKING A GOOD CONFESSION. (Parents, see to it that your children go to confession for Christmas)!
DECEMBER IS THE MONTH OF
THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION