Church of the Holy Spirit

149 South Main Street, Gloversville, NY 12078

Phone: (518) 725-3143 ~ Fax (518) 725-7245 Email: HolySpirit.Gloversville@rcda.org

Website: www.HolySpirit12078.org

207 Glebe N.Y.

Phone: (518) 762-2636 ~ Fax: (518) -6

Rectory: 205 Glebe N.Y. 12095

Phone: (518) -

Website: w c c c e

HOURS FOR BOTH PARISHES : Monday-Thursday from 9:00 A.M. to 2:30 P.M.

(Closed 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. for unch Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon

Third Sunday of Advent

Gaudete Sunday derives its name from thee opening prayer of the Mass for this day, where we pray, “Gaudete in Domino

semper” (Rejoice in the Lord always). So in the midst of Advent fasting and devotions, we rejoice because the time we have

been preparing for is almost at hand. You may see rose-colored vestments and additions to the church environment due to this

special Sunday. A day like this is always good to remind us not to take ourselves too seriously. The life of a Christian is not

always easy, but it is one of joy. If we keep our heads bowed too long, no one will be able to see the smiles on our faces. The

New Evangelization calls us to spread the good news with a joy that can be infectious. I remember being at a Eucharistic

Congress one time where there was a booth set up by an order of sisters promoting vocations. I couldn’t help but to take notice

of how much they laughed and how they smiled. I thought, “Who wouldn’t want to see what they are about?” Does our joy in

the Lord serve as an invitation for others to seek out Christ?

May the Joy of the Lord be yours on this Gaudete Sunday! The Lord is coming, soon and very soon!

Church of the Holy Spirit & Holy Trinity Catholic Church

HOLY TRINITY MASS INTENTIONS

FOR WEEK OF DEC. 13, 2015

HOLY SPIRIT MASS INTENTIONS

FOR WEEK OF DEC. 13, 2015

SAT. 4:00 P.M. SAL LANDRIO (4TH ANN.) REQUESTED BY FAMILY

JOHN HEIMER, JR. REQUESTED BY WIFE & FAMILY

RICHARD RUBSCHA REQUESTED BY WIFE & FAMILY

SUN. 8:30 A.M. WAONA MARTIN REQUESTED BY TONI ROSE BROWN

HARRY LAROWE REQUESTED BY RUSS & MARY BARTER

MASS FOR THE PEOPLE

SUN. 11:00 A.M. JOSEPH NASELLI REQUESTED BY WIFE, GRACE & FAMILY

MARK LOMANTO REQUESTED BY VINCE & JEAN LAPORTA

THERESA AVELLINO REQUESTED BY FAMILY

MON. 8:30 A.M. JULIA FLEISCHUT REQUESTED BY DON & COOKIE

TUES. 8:30 A.M. MARIE LYNCH REQUESTED BY FAMILY

WED. 8:30 A.M. END OF ABORTION REQUESTED BY RESPECT LIFE GROUP

THURS. 8:30 A.M. BEA PAPA REQUESTED BY BARB DALMATA

OWEN FARHART REQUESTED BY FAMILY

FRI. 8:30 A.M. STEPHEN GOLIA REQUESTED BY LISA & DON STANYON

SAT. 4:00 P.M. ANTHONY MALAGISI REQUESTED BY JOHN & ANGIE SAVAGE & FAMILY

GAIL QUINN REQUESTED BY STAN & MARIAN KARPINSKI

JERRY & LENA LANDRIO REQUESTED BY DAUGHTER JERI & FAMILY

SUN. 8:30 A.M. DAVID LAMPEN REQUESTED BY DON & COOKIE FLEISCHUT

JOANNE HERLETT (HEALING) REQUESTED BY FAMILY MASS FOR THE PEOPLE

SUN. 11:00 A.M. DOLORES DIGIACOMO REQUESTED BY HUSBAND, FRANK

MARK LOMANTO REQUESTED BY ALBERT AVELLINO

HARRY LAROWE REQUESTED BY KIERSTY & JOHN PERSON

SAT. 4:30 P.M. AL MAJOR REQUESTED BY HOLY TRINITY STAFF & FAMILY

BARRY KNAPP REQUESTED BY RICHARD & MARJORIE MCGUIRE

MASS FOR THE PEOPLE

SUN. 8:00 A.M. GARTH HILLIER REQUESTED BY PETER O’LUCCI

SOPHIE WILBUR (6TH ANN.) REQUESTED BY CHILDREN

MASS FOR THE PEOPLE

SUN. 10:30 A.M. DOROTHY HANCHAR (1ST ANN.) REQUESTED BY LOVING DAUGHTER, DEBORAH

CARMELLA CHRISTIANO (1ST ANN.) REQUESTED BY CHRIS NUNN

LARRY PODOLEC (HEALING) REQUESTED BY ED & JEANNIE POPP

MON. 8:30 A.M. NO DAILY MASS

TUES. 8:30 A.M. MARK LOMANTO REQUESTED BY BOB & JEAN SCHULTZ

WED. 8:30 A.M. EDWIN QUEENEY III REQUESTED BY SHARON, KEN, KYLE

& ASHLEY BAINES

THURS. 8:30 A.M. LUCILLE NEU REQUESTED BY RON & GINA TOLLNER

FRI. 8:30 A.M. MASS FOR THE PEOPLE

SAT. 4:30 P.M. SPECIAL INTENTION REQUESTED BY GEORGIA GAY

AMY LYNNE STOCK REQUESTED BY BISSET FAMILY

AL MAJOR REQUESTED BY LARRY & MARILYN POITRAS

SUN. 8:00 A.M. ANGELA PRADELSKI (ANN.) REQUESTED BY JOHN, MARY & FAMILY

BARRY KNAPP REQUESTED BY HOLY TRINITY STAFF & FAMILY

KARILYNN BARTLETT MEADOWS

(3RD ANN.) REQUESTED BY MOM & DAD

SUN. 10:30 A.M. EDWIN QUEENEY III REQUESTED BY HOLY TRINITY STAFF & FAMILY

CHARLOTTE DUFFY REQUESTED BY MIKE & LINDA FLEMING

& BETTY BURCHELL

MASS FOR THE PEOPLE

Pray for Joan Rowback, Timothy Sullivan, Marion Garwatoski,

Eleanor Geraghty and all who have gone to their heavenly

reward and all who are sick or recuperating at home or in

nursing homes.

John answered them all, saying, "“I am baptizing you with water, but one

mightier than I, is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his

sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

-- Lk 3:16

December 13 , 2015

FOR THE WEEKEND OF

CHURCH OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

LECTORS EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS OF COMMUNION ALTAR SERVERS

4:00 P.M. Sue Cichy Gwen Raczynski, Barbara Rieth, Ron Zimmerman Kristin, Katie & Mike

Trina Zimmerman

8:30 A.M. Ed Lomanto Sandy Brower, Ann Masala, Ginni Mazur Seamus, Veronica & Ciana

John Mazur

11:00 A.M Mike & Sue Jamin Clemente, Salvina Michel, Benedetta Scarpa Nia & Erin

Shrader

HOLY TRINITY PARISH

LECTOR EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS OF COMMUNION ALTAR SERVERS

4:30 P.M. Amanda Nellis Anne Solar, Joe & Bridget Polidore

8:00 A.M. Rosy Pynadath Peter O’Lucci, Louise O’Lucci, Mary Landrio Julia Airey & Jacob Miller

10:30 A.M. Karen Nellis Bonnie VanWie, Cindy Kollar, John Billa AlyRose & Matthew Salamack

Wells House/Pineview Commons: Bonnie VanWie & Rebecca Weiderman

WEDNESDAY EVENING DEVOTIONS ~ 7:00 P.M.—7:30 P.M. ~ Holy Trinity Church

In December the Wednesday Evening Devotions will be at Holy Trinity with Exposition of the Blessed

Sacrament, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, Prayer to Our Lady Undoer of Knots, Prayer for Vocations,

Benediction, Divine Praises, and concluding Hymn.

Transformative Love: While the commandments are necessary, accepting Christ’s love in a personal way is truly

life-changing.

Question: Our priest recently said that love does away with the law. I am sick of all this mushy talk about love and relationship with

God. We were taught the commandments, and it is time to get back to them.

Answer: Since the fuller context of the sermon is not here, it is difficult to know what he means. There are people today who

substitute a vague “love” for any parameters or rules, and this is incorrect and a form of self-deception. Love does have parameters.

However, there are very reputable theologians who would agree that moral theology over the past 500 years has become too solely

focused on obligations, laws and rules and, as such, has become disconnected with grace and the moral renewal that is offered to us

through relationship with Jesus Christ. The biblical, patristic and scholastic tradition all emphasized that the heart of the Gospel was

a transformative union with Christ that liberated us from sin and death. Therefore, the moral dimension of the Christian life flows

from this transformative union. As such, the moral vision of the Sermon on the Mount, and the epistles and early Church discipline

were describing (not merely prescribing) what the transformed human person is like, if they have met Jesus Christ and received the

healing power of his saving grace. How does a moral vision flow from relationship? Consider that we have all met people who have

changed our life. Maybe it was a teacher who inspired us and who opened new ways of thinking for us or showed us gifts we didn’t

know we had. Maybe it was someone who hired us or opened career paths for us we never imagined. Maybe it was a spouse who has

helped complete us. The rules of disciplines of the new things they showed us were not first—the relationship is first, and then we

gladly moved forward in the new paths they opened. If mere human beings can have this effect on us, why not the Lord? Yet sadly,

today, many are not presented the Gospel in this manner. In terms of moral theology, most people hear “rules” and “obligations” and

not a powerfully inspiring and transformative relationship with the Lord who loves them, died for them and can now raise them out

of the slavery to sin to glorious freedom of the children of God. Rules and laws are important because they describe for us what this

new life is like. It is a life increasingly free from idolatry of things and people, from greed, lust, anger, resentments, lies and

perversions and so forth. As to the concern that returning to a relational model will minimize the Christians life or make it vague,

actually, and properly understood, it is the opposite. Consider that a man who loves his wife surely follows the Fifth Commandment

not to murder her. But he does far more: he loves and cherishes her and does not wish to be rid of her. Thus, law points to what is

minimally required but love asks, “What more can I do?” Jesus’ moral vision in the Sermon on the Mount is far more vigorous that

the Law of Moses. For example, Jesus says it is not enough to refrain from the act of adultery of illicit sexual union; even our

thoughts are summoned to purity. Thus the love of God, rooted in the transformative relationship with Jesus, requires more not less,

and grace will accomplish it if we actually walk with Christ.

Third Sunday in Advent

CHURCH OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

FAITH FORMATION NEWS:

Karen Hoose, Director of Faith Formation email: khoose@frontiernet.net

HOLY TRINITY PARISH

FAITH FORMATION NEWS:

Cindy Kollar, Faith Formation Coordinator email: ckollar@holytrinityjohnstown.com

MOTHER TERESA’S CLOSET: We are currently in need of the following

items: household cleaner, deodorant, toilet

paper, shampoo & conditioner, paper towels,

laundry detergent, bar soap, kleenex, diapers-

size 4, 5, & 6, and wipes. Thank you once

again for your support.

—The Outreach Committee

BINGO WORKERS: The four th team,

Tony & Gene Reppenhagen & Mike

Ponticello are scheduled for 12/19. Sue &

Chas Delilli will be in the kitchen.

3rd Sunday of Advent:

Today we pray for Hope.

How do we show God we are sorry?

Does my repentance lead to any real

changes in my life? Is there someone I

should be treating with more fairness or

generosity?

The children in grades 2-6 will be presenting a Christmas

Pageant at the 10:30 A.M. Mass on Sunday,

December 20, 2015. The next rehearsal will be

during their Faith Formation Class on

December 13th. It is very important that they

attend this rehearsal. We appreciate your

support and cooperation. Thank you to those

who have donated sheets. We are still in need of

a few more clean twin sheets (they do not have to be new).

If you are able to donate any, please drop them off at the

office.

We are in need of Christmas cookies for our reception after

Mass on December 20th. If you are willing to bake, please

contact the Pastoral Office at 762-2636. Thank you.

Faith Formation Classes – Week of December 13

Grades 6-10 Teen Mass 6:00 P.M.-7:15 P.M. in the

Church.

Elementary and First Communion– Grades K-5

Carols and Cookies in the gym 9:45 A.M.-10:45A.M.

all are welcome to attend.

Children’s Choir: Sam & Jessica

Zimmerman, who are part of our Music

Ministry, are once again going to be

leading a Children’s Choir to sing at the

4:00 P.M. Mass on Christmas Eve.

They will sing before mass starts while

people are congregating. Ages 5

thru 11 are invited to sing and there will be a rehearsal on

Sunday, Dec 20 from 10:00 A.M. – 10:45 A.M. in the

church. This has become a beautiful part of our liturgy in the

last few years. Taking part in the Christmas Liturgy is

something that your child will never forget. Contact Karen

Hoose at 773-8590 if you have any questions.

A “teen” mass will be celebrated this evening Sunday,

December 13 at 6:00 P.M. here at Holy Spirit Church for

Grades 6-10. This mass will be held in collaboration with all

the churches in Fulton County and their Youth Ministry

students will attend also. Paul Whitney and some of our

teens will be providing music and serving in all of the

ministries for this mass. Those wishing to sing with Paul

should be in the church by 4:30 P.M. There will also be a

special Christmas “gift” presented after mass. As always this

is a regular parish mass and ALL are welcome!

The Holy Trinity Outreach Committee will be providing

for needy families this Christmas. If you

know of a family that is in need please

either call the Pastoral Office at 762-2636

or place the name of the family in a sealed

envelope and place it in the offertory

basket at any mass. We will need gender,

age and size of the children and hobbies or

likes. If you would like to provide for a

family, please call the office and we will

supply you with the needed information. All information is

kept completely confidential. Thank you for your continued

generosity. A Blood Drive will be held at the Church

of the Holy Spirit on Wed., Dec. 16th from

1:00 P.M.-6:00 P.M. in the gym. Please call

1-800-Red-Cross or visit redcrossblood.org

to schedule your appointment. The need is

constant. The gratification is instant.

FREE BUS TO WASHINGTON, D.C.

We are offering a free bus to the Youth Rally and

March for Life in Washington, D.C. on January 22nd for the

young people in Fulton and Montgomery Counties. If you

are interested in attending, contact Cindy Kollar @762-2636

or Karen Hoose a@ 725-3143. Adults are welcome too!

December 13, 2015

The Church of the Holy Spirit

Collection information for the week of:

December 6, 2015

Holy Trinity Parish

Collection information for the week of:

December 6, 2015

Sunday: Zep 3:14-18a/Is 12:2-6/Phil 4:4-7/Lk 3:10-18

Monday: Nm 24:2-7, 15-17a/Ps 25:4-9/Mt 21:23-27

Tuesday: Zep 3:1-2, 9-13/Ps 34:2-3, 6-7, 17-19, 23

Mt 21:28-32

Wednesday: Is 45:6b-8, 18, 21b-25/Ps 85:9-14/Lk 7:18b-23

Thursday: Gn 49:2, 8-10/Ps 72:1-4, 7-8, 17/Mt 1:1-17

Friday: Jer 23:5-8/Ps 72:1-2, 12-13, 18-19/Mt 1:18-25

Saturday: Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25a/Ps 71:3-6, 16-17/Lk 1:5-25

Next Sunday: Mi 5:1-4a/Ps 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19

Heb 10:5-10/Lk 1:39-45

READINGS FOR THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 13, 2015

Adoration of Our Lord

“Our God will be made manifest; He will not

come in silence.”

Visit Him during Eucharistic Adoration.

Perpetual Adoration Fulton Montgomery

Deanery. Look for us on Facebook.

This week deals with

“John Preaches Good News.”

Please take a few minutes to share the

activities with your children. These

bulletins are available at the entrances

of Holy Trinity Church.

Regular Collection 12/6/15 $5,692.00

Envelopes $4,758.00

Loose $532.00

Online $402.00

Christmas Flowers $1,392.00

Attendance 414

4:00 P.M. 154

8:30 A.M. 128

11:00 A.M. 132

Regular Collection 12/6/15 $4,845.05

Envelopes $3,897.00

Loose $299.05

Christmas Flowers $435.00

Christmas $97.00

Other $117.00

Attendance 380

4:00 P.M. 112

8:00 A.M. 115

10:30 A.M. 153

OPLATKY: The oplatky wafers are available at the

entrances of Holy Trinity Church or in the Parish office.

Donation is $1.00 per package.

CHRISTMAS FLOWERS/

DECORATION DONATION

If you would like to donate toward our

fund, please do so by using an envelope

clearly marked “Christmas Flower

Booklet” or use the flower envelope in

your parish envelope packet. Please

include your name and the name of the person/s the donation

is in memory of. We will publish the booklet of names

during the Christmas season. The deadline to appear in the

flower booklet is Monday, December 14th.

WINE & HOSTS at Holy Spir it. We have openings for

2016. The cost is $50.00 for each. If interested, please call the

Parish Office at 725-3143.

CHRISTMAS FLOWERS: If you would

like to donate toward the Christmas

flowers at Holy Spirit, please do so by

Dec. 21st. Please note that the money

collected from the Christmas and Easter

donations is also used for environment in

the church throughout the year.

Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers are asked to sign up for the Christmas and Solemnity of Mary

liturgies at Holy Trinity and Holy Spirit Churches. Thank you.

There will be a Communal Penance Service on Tuesday, December 15th at 7:00 P.M. at Holy Spirit.

Congratulations to Knights of Columbus Council

265 in Gloversville. Council 265 was

awarded triple star council for the

2014-2015 Fraternal Year. The triple star

council award recognizes the top 1 percent

rated councils in the Knights of Columbus.

In New York State there are 530 active

Councils. For the 2014-2015 Fraternal Year

Gloversville Council 265 is 1 of only 7

Councils in the entire State to be awarded

Triple Star Council Award. Congratulations to Council 265

on earning this award!