HOLY FAMILY PARISH Don Bosco Chapel Fortbaan 79 2900 Schoten www.holyfamilyantwerp.org

December 2009/January 2010 Year C

Sunday Mass 10:30am Fr. Francis Peerlinck, Pastor

MESSAGE FROM FATHER: FROM PREPARATION TO CELEBRATION Dear Parishioners! On the last Sunday of November or the first Sunday of December – according to the day of the week on which we celebrate Christmas - the Church begins a new liturgical year. Going through the missalette we see that December and January have great liturgical celebrations: - December 6: we have a Reconciliation Service as our preparation to Christmas. At the beginning of the Mass we shall examine our conscience, feel sorry for our sins, and ask God for his forgiveness. Those among you who prefer a private confession may ask me - before or after mass - for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

- Christmas Eve at 5:30PM we solemnly celebrate Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem, beginning of our redemption through Christ. All children are invited to come somewhat earlier to the sacristy, so they can participate in the procession at the beginning of the Mass. We also need two people who would be happy to be Mary and Joseph and join in the procession. All parishioners, friends and neighbors are heartily invited to come and celebrate Christmas with us. - December 27th: the Liturgy celebrates the Feast of the Holy Family, also the feast of ‘Holy Family Parish’. As I am not going away at Christmas time, we can go on with our Sunday Mass during the Christmas vacation, if enough people will come to our eucharistic celebration. - January 6: the Liturgy celebrates the Feast of Epiphany. It is Christmas for the Eastern Orthodox Churches. In a spirit of Christian Unity we celebrate the Revelation of Christ to the heathen / the whole world. - January 24: we shall have our Ecumenical Service at 10:45 a.m. with The International Protestant Church of Antwerp. We go to the Antwerp International School, as they came to our parish last year. The Ecumenical Service has been - from the beginning of our Parish - a most happy experience. It also is the Sunday in the ‘Week of Prayer for Christian Unity’. Whether you spend Christmas with us or travel abroad, we thank you for joining Holy Family Parish in the past year, and wish you and the whole family - a ‘Merry Christmas’ celebration and a most ‘Happy New Year’. Come back home safely, and join us again. Father Francis Peerlinck

THANKSGIVING CELEBRATION This years Thanksgiving Celebration was a HUGE success. Many thanks go out to Belen and Rowena and all your volunteers from Holy Family and AIPC for all your hard work and dedication. PRIVATE INTENTIONS SAID DURING MASS If you have any prayer or intention that you would like Father to say during Mass, either for your family, someone or something in the Parish, or the community, please give these to Father in writing before Mass. This way, the prayers read aloud are directed to the needs of those present. PRAYERS AND SPECIAL INTENTIONS † for Patrizia’s sister Renata who has multiple mieloma and recently became paralyzed from the waist down.

† Please continue prayers for Carl, Rosanne’s brother who seems to be winning his battle with depression but still has a long way to go. † for Sandra, who is suffering and undergoing tests to find out why. That soon the doctors will know how to help her. † for all the members of our parish who are traveling over the holidays, That they have a wonderful holiday and a safe return trip home.

DEAR PARISHIONERS, The Advent season has arrived and we joyfully start preparing for the great Christmas celebration of receiving our Saviour in our lives through the remembrance of His incarnation in our world. We would like to have a great Christmas Eve celebration and would be very happy if several of you could help make this occasion a very special one though your musical talents, be it singing or playing a musical instrument. Please can you kindly contact us in person after mass if you would like to give this gift to the Lord on the eve of His birthday or any other of the Advent Sundays. Elizabeth has kindly offered to do something special on the 3rd Sunday (Gaudete-Joyful Sunday). Thanks in advance! Blessings, Olga and Eric HFP Music Ministry Coordinators INFLUENZA AND THE CHURCH

- Pray for the sick and those who minister to them. - Be aware of family, friends, and fellow parishioners who may become ill at this time, and do what you can to help with any particular needs they may have. - Follow the basic hygiene precautions in order to help you yourself remain healthy and to avoid spreading illness or disease

to others. - Any guidance issued by the local public health authorities must be followed.

ADVENT CANDLE LIGHTING~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ROWENA Advent began November 28th this year. Each Sunday during Advent, we ask a family or group of friends to say the Advent Prayer for the particular Sunday and light the candles on the advent wreath at the beginning of Mass. If you would like to participate in this lighting ceremony any Sunday during Advent, please contact Rowena. Attention AIS Moms!

Do you worry about your children? Come experience how you can replace your anxiety and fear with peace and hope by praying with other moms. Moms In Touch International gathers moms together to pray specifically and scripturally for our children and school. Won’t you join with us in prayer for this next generation? We meet each Wednesday, from 14:20 to 15:20 upstairs in the Kasteel at AIS.

Please contact Kathy May, kathleenmay1@mac.com for information about our local group. For more information about Moms In Touch International, visit www.momsintouch.com

A THOUGHT FOR CHRISTMAS~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ALAN BARNETT Last Christmas I received a Newsletter from “ The Little Sisters of the Poor” in London in which was enclosed the following poem. With the beginning of Advent last week I would like to share it with you. Maybe you would like to include it with your Christmas card greetings.

“ A Part of my very Heart”

I have a list of folks I know, all written in a book, and every year at Christmas time I go and have a look. And that is when I realize that these names are a part Not of the book they’re written in, but of my very heart. For each name stands for someone, whose path touched mine and then Left such a print of friendship, that I wanted to touch again. And while it sounds fantastic for me to make this claim, I really feel I am composed of each remembered name.

So never think my Christmas cards are just a mere routine Of names upon a Christmas list forgotten in between. For when I send a Christmas card that is addressed to you, It’s because you’re on the list of folks I’m indebted to. And every year when Christmas comes I realize anew That the highest gift that life can give, is meeting folks like you. And may the spirit of Christmas that ever and ever endures, Leave it’s richest blessings in the hearts of you and yours. May I take this opportunity of wishing you all a Holy and Blessed Christmas.

WHO’S DOING WHAT IN DEC/ JAN LITURGY READERS 06/12/09 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mary 13/12/09 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Rowena 20/12/09 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Rosanne 24/12/09 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Alan 27/21/09 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Barbara 03/01/10 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Brigitte 10/01/10 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mary 17/01/10 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Alan 24/01/10 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Barbara 31/01/10 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Rowena EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS 06/12/09 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Alan 13/12/09 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kath 20/12/09 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Brigitte 24/12/09 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Barbara 27/21/09 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Leo 03/01/10 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Alan 10/01/10 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kath 17/01/10 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Brigitte 24/01/10 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Leo 31/01/10 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Barbara

Children’s Liturgy and Alter Servers to be announced as available.

CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS AROUND THE WORLD POLAND

The lucky children of Poland receive presents twice. On St. Nicholas' Day, the good saint himself brings presents. On Christmas Day, it is the Star Man. The Star of Bethlehem is the most popular image in the Polish Christmas. It is the first star of Christmas Eve, which marks the end of the Advent fast and ushers in the time of feasting. Though Christmas in Poland is officially known as Bozz Narodzenie, it is most often referred to as Gwiazdka, which means "little star." Once the star appears, a special rice wafer blessed by the parish priest called oplatki, is broken into pieces and shared by all. Finally the meal can begin. The feast consists of twelve courses, one for each Apostle. The table is always set with one extra seat in case a stranger

or the Holy Spirit should appear to share the meal. After supper the Star Man arrives attended by the Star Boys. They are dressed fantastically, as Wise Men or animals or other figures from the nativity. The Star Man examines the children in their catechism and rewards them with small presents if they do well, even if they need a bit of coaching. The Star Boys sing carols and are given a treat for their help. After the fun, all go to Pasterka, the midnight Mass of the Shepherds. AUSTRALIA In Australia, the holiday comes in the middle of summer--it's not unusual for some parts of Australia to hit 100 degrees Farenheit on Christmas day. In Sydney, thousands of families prepare their Christmas dinner and take it to Bondi Beach for a picnic. Australians decorate with Christmas Bushes, plants with little red-flowered leaves that are native to Australia.

ITALY The Christmas season in Italy goes for three weeks, starting 8 days before Christmas known as the Novena. During this period, children go from house to house reciting Christmas poems and singing. In some parts shepherds bring musical instruments into the villages, play and sing Christmas songs. In the week before Christmas children go from house to house dressed as shepherds, playing pipes, singing and reciting Christmas poems. They are given money to buy presents. A strict fast is observed for 24 hours before Christmas Eve, and is followed by a celebration meal, in which a light Milanese cake called panetoni is featured as well as chocolate. Presents and empty boxes, are drawn from the Urn of Fate - lucky dip, which always contains one gift per person. By twilight, candles are lighted around the family crib known as the Presipio, prayers are said, and children recite poems. At noon on Christmas Day the pope gives his blessing to crowds gathered in the huge Vatican square.

In Italy the children wait until Epiphany, January 6, for their presents. According to tradition, the presents are delivered by a kind ugly witch called Befana on a broomstick. It was said that she was told by the three kings that the baby Jesus was born, she was busy and delayed visiting the baby.

She missed the Star lost her way and has been flying around ever since, leaving presents at every house with children in case he is there. She slides down chimneys, and fills stockings and shoes with good things for good children and it is said leaves coal for children who are not so good. From the web

UNITED STATES AND OTHER PLACES

In the US, Santa Claus comes to good little children on Christmas Eve bringing toys and sweets. In the U.K. Father Christmas pays a visit that night. In Belgium and Holland St. Niklaas, or Sinterklaas, has his own special day on December 6. In late November St. Nicklaas, or “Sinterklaas” and his helpers the Zwarte Pieten (Black Peters) come to every city and village. In many places he arrives by boat from Spain and is welcomed by city officials and has a ride through the city on his white horse. The Zwarte Pieten throw candies to

the waiting children. Children write letters to Sinterklaas to remind him that they have been good and offer their lists of things they would like to have. Then on the evening of December 5 the good Saint gets his horse ready and the Zwarte Pieten fill his big bag with toys and gifts. At home children put out their shoes filled with carrots and sugar for Sinterklaas’ horse. Afterwards they go to bed and dream of all the lovely things the good Saint is sure to leave them. Sound familiar? It should do because the American Santa Claus is modeled after Sinterklaas. In the weeks prior to December 6 you will see special cookies in the shops and bakeries and supermarkets. They are called “speculaas”. There are also chocolate figures and almond sweets called “marzipan” in all kinds of shapes and forms. If you are interested in reading more about St. Nicholas, see what the parish library has for you. by Barbara Noels

PARISH COUNCIL 2008/2009 Pastor ..................... Fr. Francis Peerlinck..................... 03 232 2546 ............................... frans.peerlinck@scarlet.be President ................. Kevin Young................................ 03.311.7793 ............................... young.belgium@yahoo.com Vice President .......... Alan Barnett ................................ 03 464 2468 Treasurer………………. Brigitte Preusz...........................…. 014 70.78.28 .............................…..brigitte.preusz@telenet.be Religious Ed. ............ Katie Young .....................................03.311.7793 ................................. young.belgium@yahoo.com Parish Registration...... Paul Van den Bossche.......................03 322.7753 ................................. 44meurope@gmail.com Bulletin.................... Rosanne Pizzella ......................... 03 322 7753 ................................mswazoo@scarlet.be Hospitality................. Sunshine…………………..Vivianne Staplehurst……………………….03 633 0797 ………………………………..viv@verijke.com Liturgy ....................... Rowena Verhees ..............................03 605 4380 ................................. roalex@scarlet.be Advisor ...................... Barbara Noels ..................................03 664 7231 ................................. BNoels@AIS-antwerp.be Music....................... Eric Wouters & Olga Velez UPCOMING EVENTS: December ~~~ 6th Penitential Service 10:30 Mass

24th Christmas Eve Mass 5:30 PM 25th MERRY CHRISTMAS! 27th Feast of the Holy Family of Nazereth and Holy Family Parish. Mass at 10:30AM

January~~~~~ 6th Epiphony or feast of the Three Kings 10:30 Mass 24th Ecumenical Service with AIPC at the International Protestant School 10:45AM

PLEASE SEND ROSANNE ALL SUBMISSIONS FOR THE FEBRUARY BULLETIN BY JANUARY 26TH. THANK YOU!