Second Sunday of AdventDecember 10, 2017

Prepare the way of the Lord,make straight his paths.

— Mark 1:3

NEWS OF COMFORTIn a time of preparation, much of it having to do

with material things, it is good to hear the words of Isaiah, “Comfort, give comfort to my people, / says your God” (Isaiah 40:1). In a time of such stress and rush, when our usual burdens are augmented by piles of Christmas preparations, we can choose to slow down, take some time to heal, and appreciate the enormous gift we are about to receive. Christ, the Son of God, has become one of us, and knows our human limitations. Yet God, even now, is freeing us from the burdens that our inattentiveness to our God and to our deepest inner longings have heaped upon us. The Lord comes, not as a king with mighty armies, but as a shepherd leading the flocks with care and tenderness. Isaiah prophesies good news: our oppression is over, our sins forgiven. The savior we have awaited is coming, not the first time, but in the end times, as our salvation.

Question of the WeekIn what ways do I feel parched, spiritually or

emotionally? How can Jesus’ presence satisfy my thirst? How can I prepare myself for Christ’s

presence?

SPECIAL OBSERVANCES WEEKLY READINGS AND MASS INTENTIONS

12/9 Saturday Readings: Is 30:19-21, 23-26; Ps 147:1-6; Mt 9:35 — 10:1, 5a, 6-8Mass Intentions: 4:00pm (M) Joseph Chimente (BD) 4:00pm (AR) 7:00pm (AC) Alma de Bebe Melquidez

12/10 Sunday: Second Sunday of AdventReadings: Is 40:1-5, 9-11; Ps 85:9-14; 2 Pt 3:8-14;Mk 1:1-8Mass Intentions: 830am (M) 830am (C) Matt & Debbie Miller (SI) 10:00am (AR) +Anna Donovan 10:15am (AC) Parish

12/11 Monday: St. Damasus I Readings: Is 35:1-10; Ps 85:9ab, 10-14; Lk 5:17-26Mass Intentions: 10:30am (AC) Fr. Rolly’s Ordination

12/12 Tues: Our Lady of GuadalupeReadings: Zec 2:14-17 or Rv 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab; Jdt 13:18bcde, 19; Lk 1:26-38 or Lk 1:39- 47, or any readings from the Common of The Blessed Virgin Mary, nos. 707-712Mass Intentions 5am Mananita mass 6:30am Mass 8:00am (AC) Our Lady of Guadalupe

12/13 Wednesday: St. LucyReadings: Is 40:25-31; Ps 103:1-4, 8, 10; Mt 11:28-30Mass Intention: 8:30am (M)

12/14 Thursday: St. John of the Cross Readings: Is 41:13-20; Ps 145:1, 9-13ab; Mt 11:11-15Mass Intentions 8:00am (AC)

12/15 Friday: Readings: Is 48:17-19; Ps 1:1-4, 6; Mt 11:16-19Mass Intentions: 8:00am (AC) +Roy R. Cervantes

12/16 Saturday Las Posadas beginsReadings: Sir 48:1-4, 9-11; Ps 80:2ac, 3b, 15-16, 18-19;

Mt 17:9a, 10-13Mass Intentions: 4:00pm (M) 4:00pm (AR) 7:00pm (AC) +Alfonso Alba Loera

12/17 Sunday: Readings: Is 61:1-2a, 10-11; Lk 1:46-50, 53-54;

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

WEEKLY SCHEDULESUNDAY9:00 – 10:15am Children’s Faith Formation, K-8, Angels Camp (Sept.-May)

MONDAY 1:00 - 3:00pm St. Patrick’s Helping Hands Distribution, Angels Camp 4:00 - 5:30pm Children’s Faith Formation, Murphys (Sept.-May) 5:00 - 6:30pm High School Confirmation, Angels Camp

TUESDAY 8:30 -12:00pm St. Patrick’s Preschool, Angels Camp (Sept.–May) 9:00 -10:00am OLS Helping Hands Distribution, AR 10:00 - 11:00am Perpetual Novena, Arnold 10:00 - 1:00pm Seniors Meeting, Angels Camp

WEDNESDAY 8:30 – 12:00pm St. Patrick’s Preschool, Angels Camp (Sept.–May) 6:00 - 8:00pm Youth Group, Angels Camp (2nd and 4th)

THURSDAY 8:30 -12:00pm St. Patrick’s Preschool, Angels Camp (Sept.–May)FRIDAY 8:30 - 4:00pm Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

MONTHLY PARISH ACTIVITIESANGELS ALTAR SOCIETY: 2nd Monday, 10am, Library, Angels Camp

ARNOLD WOMEN’S CLUB: 1st Friday after 11am Rosary, Arnold Hall

ARNOLD MEN’S CLUB: 4th Thursday, 7pm Arnold

BINGO: 3rd Saturday, 2pm Angels Camp Hall

FINANCE COUNCIL: 4th Friday, 5:00pm, Parish Office

FIRST SATURDAY MASS: 9am Chapel Angels Camp

ITALIAN CATHOLIC FEDERATION: 4th Sunday after 10:15am Mass Angels Camp Hall

LAY CARMELITES: 1st Saturday, 9am Chapel, Angels Camp. Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament Lay Carmelite Community meets each month immediately following Mass.

LITURGY BOARD: 1st Monday, 6:00pm Angels Camp Classroom

MURPHYS ALTAR SOCIETY: 2nd Thursday 10am Murphys Hall

MURPHYS MEN’S CLUB: 2nd Thurs 5pm Murphys Hall PARISH COUNCIL: 2nd Monday, 6pm Angels Camp Hall

ST. PATRICK’S ANGELS CAMP/MURPHYS HELPING HANDS: 1st Monday 11:00am Helping Hands Bldg. Angels Camp

ST. PATRICK’S PRESCHOOL PARENTS ADVISORY MEETING: 2nd Tuesday 6pm- Confirmation Room, Angels Camp

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY – 3rd Monday 6pm Classroom, Angels Camp

Victor and Bernice Jeworski, Denni Oravec, Ray Auger, Suzanne Lee, Darren Schuler, Joshua Lordan, Lori Oneto Detrick, Jose Garcia, Scott Kelly, Carol Carbajal, Ramon Gordils, Cedilia Gordils, Joel Rivera, Jeannette Bennett, Carol Otis, Pete Rodriguez, Diane Sullivan, Anthony Baptista-Alcaide, Helen Ayupan, Giovanie Baptista-Alcaide, Chuck Walker, Sylvia Cass, Debbie Raffetto, Johnny Johnson, Michael Davis, Nancy Davis, Amelia Vlaovich, Danica Woodbury, Kimberly Jones, Jeffery Harwell, Robin Hilmanofski, Carol Klocke, Aiden Hunt, Kim Jones, Randy Johnson, Steve Thompson, , Janis Fraizer, Millie Navarro, Joanne Weatherman, Jack & Lola HoltonMary Vera, Larry Allen, Shawn Serra, Julie Smith, Patty Grant, Chase Kelly, Nancy Peterson, Kraig Clifton, Jacob Silva, Michelle Tsutsui, Joshua Hegal, Ann Perez, Donelia Dooley, Julie Diedrick, Jim Ramsayer, Joe Symkowick, Michelle & Dave Elam, Cecilia Hegel, Amelia Orlonzit, Trevor Stotka, Sondra Clifford, Timothy Dahl, Anne Adams Helms, Lisa Lee, Sandra Juarez, Pat Stuth, Baby Alli Ybarra, Ellen Wiederlight, Cheyenne Jones, Theone Innes, Karan Newman, Joel Rivera, Taylor Lowell, Tim Murray, Stephanie Dunn, Randy McNurlin, Aurelia Meier, Amanda Soukup, Michelle Baker, Dave Finn, Karin Evans, Theresa Cummins, Peggy Rourke-Nichols, Siri Porovich, Leann Murray, Patty Chesnut, Norman Boydston, Ben Quick, John Wade, Clell & Mary Grimes, Louise Larro, Mike Larro, Michael Abeyta, Robbie Petterson, Eric Parker, Misha Larro, Kristine Camozzi, Peter Bailey, Karl Christensen, Mary Frances Kelly, Jack Setzer, Velma Laver, David Wells, Justin Bates, Sonny Abalos, Al Arieta, Flo Vlnaty, Josh Kavanagh, Troy Williams, Aleida Robinson, Roman Maldonado, Jean Marie Peters, Grover M. Inks, Bradley J. Howard, Kelly Bloom, Nolan Hicks, Joshua and Colin Muilenburg and individuals on 12-step programs.

(Notify the Parish Office of any Prayer Listchanges – deaths, return to good health)

The Unlocking the Mystery of the Bible Unlocking the Mystery of the Bible study group at Our Lady of the Sierra Dec. 7, 14, 21, Jan. 4, 11, 18 and Feb. 1. 6:30-7:45pm. Study workbook available at www.ascensionpress.com For additional information call Deacon Jared (209)768-9513

Pastor’s Note 2nd Sunday of Advent, Year B Dec. 9, 2017

A Voice in the Wilderness On this second Sunday of Advent, we hear voice from the desert. Mark introduces a roughhewn, burly and bristly loner we know as John the Baptist. Imagine him. Dressed in camel’s skins, wild as the wind, course as desert dust, he declares God is stepping into history to complete what Abraham, Moses, Isaiah, and thousands of others began. Mark called John God’s “messenger” who appears in the desert preaching repentance and demanding baptism of all who share his vision. God seems to be quite at home in the wilderness, strange! At a time when many of us have taken the holiday decorations out of the attic, set up a tree, spruced up our homes with greenery, lights, candles, and wreaths, God has another idea. What about starting by emptying our spaces of all that is beautiful, turning our homes into huts, our carpeted floors into unfinished planks, our comfortable furnishings into burlap mats. This voice in the wilderness has another take on how we prepare for the coming of the Lord. Why don’t we try just for the sake of change, after all, the lesson for the second Sunday always deal with judgment. This voice in the desert tells us the ugly truth about ourselves. We are lost and without hope until God finds

us in the wilderness and speaks God’s word of comfort. To get to Bethlehem’s manger we must first admit the fact that we are in the wilderness of our own making. We must begin to examin our barrenness, lost-ness, etc. What about looking at our prayer and worship which are fundamentals of our faith. Worship can only begin when we admit to ourselves that we are lost without hope unless God comes to us with generous and forgiving peace. What if we choose to pause for a moment---right now--- and listen to this voice from the wilderness extending the most winsome invitation we will ever hear? What if we turn down the volume of our own importance and, just for these few moments, kept at bay the hubris that suggests by our own efforts we can usher Christmas into our longing midst? What if we admitted the ugly truth about ourselves; that we are lost and will soon die in the wilderness unless we hear and heed the voice that directs our attention to our coming Lord? Let us take the most out of these forty days in the cold desert of our life. Would you try?

TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITIONMany people think that Saint Francis originated

the Christmas crèche, but its origins go far back. The Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome has housed what is said to be relics of the cradle of Jesus since the seventh century. In time, every year during the Christmas season the reliquary (container for relics) was surrounded by an increasingly grand three-dimensional scene of the place of Jesus’ birth. Rocks and trees, houses, streams, figurines of villagers going about their daily tasks were all included. It was a very dramatic presentation. If you’ve ever seen an elaborate model train installation, you get the idea. The proper term for this depiction is presepio, from the Latin word for “surround” or “hedge.”

Over the centuries, the custom spread first to churches, and then to aristocratic homes. In Italy, whole chapels are often set aside for the presepio, and it is not unusual to have hundreds of figures. It can sometimes be a challenge to locate the Holy Family

amid the crowd, almost like a Where’s Waldo? children’s book. The oldest surviving presepio is in St. Mary Major and dates from the thirteenth century, although many pieces have been broken or lost. Saint Francis of Assisi took a decidedly creative step in 1233 in the village of Greccio, when he directed his followers to fill a manger with hay and tether an ox and ass nearby. He then invited the villagers to attend Mass outdoors near the crib, the worshipers themselves becoming a living presepio. By the seventeenth century, the tradition was well-established, particularly in Naples, and had a firm hold in Portugal, Spain, and in the Provence region of France. Today, it is not unusual to find presepios with five hundred figures, a vivid reminder of Emmanuel, God-with-us!

Our Lady of the Sierra Arnold and St. Patrick’s Murphys Saturday

Masses are at 4pm through March 2018

Save the date! Saturday, January 27, 2018Walk for Life 2018

Registration Forms will be in the back of the church or in the Parish Office. Please make checks payable to St. Patrick’s Church. Mass at 8am, Bus leaving at 8:30am and returning after the day around 7:00pm. Bus tickets are $20.00 for everyone. First come, 46 availbale seats. NO REFUNDS REGISTER EARLY!DEADLINE TO REGISTER FRIDAY 1/12/18

Arnold Helping HandsWe want to thank many parishioners who generously contribute their time, talent and treasure to Our Lady of the Sierra Helping Hands program. We are open every Tuesday (weather permitting) 9:30am to 10:00am. We serve several homeless individuals, many families, and seniors from our food pantry. We also have a closet with clothes for infants, children of all sizes and adults (men and women) of all sizes. We gratefully accept donations of non-perishable foods (especially cereal and peanut butter), personal items, and cleaning products.

HELPING HANDS Angels CampWe are in desperate need of winter clothing and coats for adults and especially children. We could also use packages of new socks and gently used

tennis shoes and boots for adults and children. We can always use sheets, blankets, and towels. You can bring donations to Helping Hands on Mondays between 11 am - 3 pm. We are always looking for volunteers! If you are interested helping, please call Pattie Schuck at 728-8793. Thanks!!!

2nd Collections Dec 10 Retirement Fund for ReligiousDec 25 Christmas OfferingDec 31 Helping Hands Please give generously!!

12/3/17 Last Sunday’s Collections Sunday Collections $ 4398M & R $ 1677Retirement Fund $ 125Christmas $ 115Helping Hands $ 25Online $ 290Weekly Total Collections $ 7215

Thank you for your generosity!!

Christmas Novena MassesBegins December 16 thru December 24

at 8:00 am in Angels CampOur Lady Guadalupe Novena

Begins December 4th thru December 12 at 6:00 pm in Angels Camp

No Wednesday Mass in Murphys on 12/20/17

Our Lady of Guadalupe Tuesday, December 12, 2016 5:00am Mananita 6:30am Mass 8:00am Mass

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

Every Friday 8:30am - 4:00pmEvening Prayer/Benediction 4:00 p.m. "Our communal worship at Mass must go together

with our personal worship of Jesus in Eucharistic adoration in order that our love may be complete."

St. John Paul II

We will have Eucharistic Adoration on Friday, December 22rd and December 29th. Jesus awaits

our visit to bring us His Mercy, Peace & Love.

IMMACULATE CONCEPTIONI am the Immaculate Conception.

SUNDAY MASSES DECEMBER 24th

Copperopolis - 8:30amMurphys - 8:30amArnold -10:00am

Angels Camp – 10:15am

CHRISTMAS EVE VIGIL MASS SUNDAY DECEMBER 24th

St. Patrick’s Angels Camp Spanish– 6:00 pmSt. Patrick’s Angels Camp – 9:00 pm

CHRISTMAS DAY MASSESMONDAY DECEMBER 25th

St. Patrick’s Murphys - 8:30 amSt. Ignatius Copperopolis – 8:30 am

St. Patrick’s Angels Camp - 10:15 am Our Lady of the Sierra Arnold - 11:00 am

No New Year’s Eve Midnight Mass but Regular Monday Mass on New Year’s Day

8:00am Angels Camp