SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23

5:00 PM Living and Deceased members of Eigner Family Mary Greco

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24 - 4th Sunday of Advent

9:00 AM Msgr. Richard Steiger 10:30 AM Elena Kissell 12:00 PM NO Mass

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24 - Christmas Eve 4:00 PM, 6:00 PM, 12:00 AM - People of the Parish

MONDAY, DECEMBER 25 - Christmas Day 9:00 AM, 10:30 AM, 12:00 PM - People of the Parish ________________________________________________________________________

DAILY MASS DECEMBER 26-29 at 9:00 AM

TUESDAY August Specht Wilbert C. Imbaratto WEDNESDAY Mary And George Ferraie Emma and Aime Beaulieu THURSDAY Anthony Giliberti Sally Capobianco FRIDAY Doris Frascella Regina Lipert ________________________________________________________________________

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30

5:00 PM Michael Carbonella Frances Henderson

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 31

9:00 AM Donald Jennings 10:30 AM Lillian Bruno Edward Wojciechowski 12:00 PM Kelsey Bederka _________________________________________________________________________

DECEMBER 24, 2017 FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT/VIGIL OF CHRISTMAS

SCRIPTURE READINGS

First Reading: 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16 King David plans to build a temple to honor God. But God tells Nathan the Prophet that instead he will give David rest from his ene-mies, and ensure his house and community will be protected forever. Why is it good for us to remember the blessings God has given to us?

Second Reading: Romans 16:25-27 In this letter of Paul to the Romans, he explains that the gospel reveals the mystery that had been hidden for many ages. Now it has been made known to all, so that they may believe, obey, and give glory through Jesus Christ forever. What was it about Jesus’ teaching and life that made all the difference?

Gospel: Luke 1:26-38 The Virgin Mary is approached by the angel Gabriel, who tells her that she has been chosen to bear the Son of God. Mary is first afraid, yet shows her unquestioning faith when she simply says, “Let it be done to me as you say.” Have you ever encountered Gabriel, messenger of God, in an unexpected situation? How is Mary a model of discipleship?

Mass Intentions for the Week

ADORATION of the BLESSED SACRAMENT

FRIDAY, JANUARY 5 • 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Please sign up on the sheet posted on the bulletin board so all hours are covered.

They Shall Name Him

EMMANUEL Matthew 1:23

VIGIL OF THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD Sunday, December 24 • Christmas Eve

4:00 PM • Fr. Tim • Children’s choir starts singing at 3:30 PM

Our children will be taking an active role in the 4:00 PM Mass.

6:00 PM • Fr. Michal 12:00 midnight • Fr. Michal Adult/Bell choirs start singing/playing at 11:40 PM

THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD (CHRISTMAS) Monday, December 25 • Christmas Day

9:00 AM • Fr. Tim 10:30 AM • Fr. Ed 12:00 noon • Fr. Michal

Please Note: the weekend Masses on Saturday, Dec. 23 and on Sunday morning, Dec. 24 do not fulfill your Christmas obligation.

If you wish to be seated in the Main Church at any of our Christmas Masses, an early arrival is essential.

To accommodate the overflow attendance, we are fortunate to have our CLOSED CIRCUIT TV available in the Parish Hall.

PRAY THE ROSARY with the Knights of Columbus

for the intention of all members of the parish

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 31 following the 9:00 AM Mass

COLLECTION BREAKDOWN LAST WEEK:

Envelopes: $7,900.00 248 families/$31.86 avg. Not using Envelopes: 2,407.00 Regular Collection: $10,307.00 2nd Collection: $2,334.00 (Parish Maintenance)

Our thanks to all of our parishioners who respond each week to the needs of our parish and who make their weekly offering a part of their budget. May God Bless you for your generosity.

Thank you for fulfilling over 400 “Gift” Wishes on the CHRISTMAS GIVING TREE.

In addition to gifts fulfilled, food baskets, Christmas arrangements and supplies were made possible through your generous monetary donations.

After Christmas, please bring in the “fronts” of your Religious Christmas cards to use on the

tree next year. Also any unused Religious cards, “large” white or decorative envelopes.

Band together & drop in the Giving Tree box.

Our heartfelt thanks to the Giving

Tree Committee for all their hard work on this gospel oriented outreach:

Anna-Marie Kelly and Candy Church Coordinators

Ronnie Taliercio, Barbara Racich, Jackie Yarzab, Fran Diffley, Irene Finnan,

Anna Zamora, JoAnne & Don Scheidt, Lorene & Anthony Caroleo, Jim Kelly

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT Today we light the fourth candle on our Advent wreath and our preparation for Christmas is almost finished. The Messiah is coming to manifest Himself, to be addressed in person and to remain with us as Emmanuel.

BISHOP SERRATELLI WILL CELEBRATE 5:00 PM MASS WITH US

SATURDAY, JANUARY 6

Bishop Serratelli will make a pastoral visit to Good Shepherd on the Feast of the Epiphany. The Bishop, along with our parish family will celebrate the revelation of God incarnate as Jesus Christ at Mass on Saturday, January 6th at 5:00 PM. We would like to invite all of you to celebrate this special coming of the Shepherd of the Diocese of Paterson to our church. Let us bow before our King Jesus Christ together with the three Magi.

Special Thanks to all who helped make this year’s Christmas Concert such a special and magical evening:

Dawn Donnelly - Music Director, Grace Schmiedhauser - Accompanist, Jim Hohman - Bell Choir Director and the Adult, Bell and Children’s Choirs. We are so blessed to have so much talent at Good Shepherd and we thank you

all for sharing your gifts and for bringing the Christmas spirit into our hearts.

Louanne Altonjy Tom Altonjy Bogdan Bienko Matthew Butler Vickie D’Alessio Ed Denmead Maria Denmead Jim Di Carlo

Sylvia Dunlap Danielle Grant Kathy Gratacos Suzanne Hannon Kenneth Hansen

Regina Hansen Tom Hart Frank Hinchy

Kathryn Livesey Gary Maciak Jane Maciak Marie Margiotti Jerry McDavit Missy Miller Katrina Mulvihill Chris Oelkers Kiara Oelkers

Nancy Hinchy Dan Hodgkins Susan Hodgkins Jim Hohman Darcy Jensen Jim Kelly Carol Lesnieski Holly Livesey

Adult Choir and Bell Choir as indicated

Mindy Oosten Julia Polyak Mary Ross

Megan Schmiedhauser

Lyn Seidler Robert Shelton, Jr. Janet Sullivan Cindy Wooldridge Rosalie Zabita

Jennifer Ahmad Mary Ann McDavit

Mindy Oosten

Avery Brennan Cailin Brennan

Eliana Calamusa Geraldine Collison

Children’s Choir

additional Bell Choir

Brodie Donnelly Sadie Donnelly

Gracie Nagle Hailey Phillips

Eden Ekhelar Riley Mills

Shanela Collison Hayden Denmead

The Pot Luck Supper that followed the Christmas Concert last Sunday was organized by the Confirmation students under the supervision of Phyllis Haarmann and Allison Holdt - we thank them and all of the parish-ioners who shared their “special dishes” to help make this evening so enjoyable. With over 180 people in attendance, a wonderful evening was had by all.

Bereavement Ministry meetings resume January 7.

FAITH FORMATION NOTES

On Saturday at the 5:00pm Mass, Mrs. Pierson’s 2nd

grade class joined in the celebration of the Eucharist by

lighting the Advent wreath, acting as lectors, reading

the petitions and bringing up the gifts. Congratulations

to Brady, Sammy, Summer, Juliet, Michael, Dylan and

Eden (l to r). Well done!

With appreciation to our Confirmation

students who assisted with the Christmas

Concert Pot Luck Dinner on Sunday:

Conner, Ian, Kevin, Jon, Meaghan. Ashley

Arianna, Michelle and Samantha.

Wishes for a blessed Christmas to all our

families and children.

CHRISTMAS TABLE PRAYER

God of all gifts, we thank you for the many ways you have blessed us this glorious day.

We are grateful for each of those gathered around this table.

We ask you to bless us and our food and bless those we love who are not with us.

In our gratitude and love, we are thankful for the true gift of Christmas, your Son.

In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

USHERS: WOMEN and MEN

STILL NEEDED FOR ALL CHRISTMAS MASSES

If you are willing to serve as an USHER at any of our Christmas Masses - Eve on Sunday or Day on Monday,

or already serve as an Usher, please sign up on the sheet posted on the bulletin board so all our Masses are covered.

A WARM WELCOME to Good Shepherd Church

Thank you for joining us today as we celebrate the Eucharist and await the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

We are happy that you have gathered here with us. Our prayer is that you will find the nourishment

of your faith and the Joy of Christmas as we worship together in this house of God.

“Do not fear, Mary. You have found favor with God. You shall conceive and bear a son, and give Him the name Jesus. Great will be His dignity and He will be called Son of the Most High.”

This great moment in the history of salvation, began with the visit of the angel Gabriel and the invitation to Mary to be the mother of Jesus.

The celebration of the Bethlehem event tonight, allows us not just to recall what happened, but to imitate Mary and permit the Lord to touch our lives in a truly special way. Our traditions and customs are rich as we relive Jesus’ entering our lives again.

We have been praying ‘Come Lord Jesus’ for the four weeks of Advent. At the Christmas Vigil and on Christmas Day, we will welcome Him with great joy.

As we celebrate this special time, may we be ready to open our door not just to Joseph and Mary, but Christ who comes to us. (Source: His Word Today, Bon Venture Services)

A Christmas Blessing

May your Christmas be filled With beautiful hours

And memories lovely to hold, To enhance and embellish

The days of your years, like angel wings sprinkled with gold.

For all gathered and for those traveling to be with family and friends,

we wish you a safe journey and that your reunions reflect the

joy and peace of this holy season.

Wishing everyone a Blessed Christmas and a New Year filled with faith,

hope and good will to all . . .

Fr. Tim, Fr. Michal and Pastoral Staff

May Christmas spirit, In all of its Joy, touch the depths

of your soul with delight, And may Blessings in bushels,

Abundant and rich, Light every path of your life.

~ Frankie Davis Oviatt

PRAY FOR OUR MILITARY

Pray for our military men and women serving throughout the world and for the recovery of those wounded in battle.

Pray for an awareness of Christ in the lives of our military.

Pray for our military families dealing with the separation of their loved ones, especially at this time of year and for those whose loved ones paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

PRAY FOR PEACE AT HOME AND ABROAD

Please note: • The Parish Offices will be CLOSED Dec. 25-26 & Jan. 1

• SCRIPTURE REFLECTION next meets on Tues., Jan. 23

CHRISTMAS WAFERS (Opłatki)

The Christmas wafers blessed today are available after Mass to share with your family on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Instructions are on the back of each package. We invite you to begin or continue this Christmas tradition in your own home.