Reverend James Rodia, O. Praem.

Website: www.stpiocatholicschool.org

ST. RICHARD PARISH PHILADELPHIA, PA

Third Sunday of Advent

SUNDAY December 11th

8:00 Peter Barattini requested by family and friends

10:00 HOLY SPIRIT Joseph A. D’Ambrosio requested by

Tom & Florence McGettigan

11:30 Grace Barone requested by Chiliberti family

MONDAY December 12th

8:00 Vincenzia Scicchitano requested by

Maria & Fred Varano

TUESDAY December 13th

8:00 Samuel, Frank, Nick Dabbundo req. by Connie Acello

WEDNESDAY December 14th

8:00 Louis Spike DeLuca requested by the DeLuca family

THURSDAY December 15th

8:00 Charles Dabbundo requested by daughter and family

FRIDAY December 16th

8:00 Jennie Scairato requested by

Ted Scairato Sr. and family

SATURDAY December 17th

8:00 Marilyn’s Aunt Gertrude

Bequest of Gerald J. Ziccardi

4:30pm 6th Anniversary of Les Reinert and Charles Dunn, Jr.

requested by Dunn and Sestini families

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Our SANCTUARY CANDLE will be burning this

week In Memory of .Michael & Carmelo

Calabrese and deceased children

requested by June & Sam ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

VOTIVE CANDLES

IMO Mr. & Mrs. William Cibotti req. by daughter, Anna

IMO John DeSantis requested by daughter, Angela

ILM Rocco Paladino requested by his family

IMO Charles Buemi requested by Caroline and Aida

IMO Carmen & Mae Salmieri req. by Caroline and Aida

IMO Caesar Salmieri requested by Caroline and Aida

IMO Joseph Piniero requested by Colleen McKnight

ILM Julio Falli requested by wife, Ann

FROM MY HOUSE

TO YOURS

Dear Parishioners,

Advent is a season of preparation. It’s not uncommon

to hear the word “preparation” and think of the decorations,

parties and presents. Advent can be a whirlwind of “to do

lists” and events to attend. We may have passing thoughts of

the Incarnation - the birth of Christ. But taking time to really

reflect on the implications of Advent demand that we be inten-

tional about making time for this. We must be attentive to

what the Holy Spirit is revealing in our hearts and minds about

a God who loves us so deeply that he humbled himself to

become one of us born as a baby in Bethlehem.

Today is one of those intentional days. Today we

celebrate Gaudete Sunday - Rejoice Sunday. The pink candle

on our Advent wreath, signifying joy, burns bright as we fill

this sacred space in joyful song because our God draws near.

Both the first reading and the gospel provide us with

the reason for our rejoicing - God is coming to save us. When

Jesus comes, as he said in the gospel, the blind regain their

sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the

dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed

to them. These acts are miraculous not only in their physical

healing, but in their ability to be a healing balm in our deepest

need.

Even if we do not have any of the physical manifesta-

tions Jesus mentions, we are blind, lame, deaf, impoverished

and in need of cleansing in our heart and spirit. These words of

sacred Scripture are talking about our liberation. They are

speaking to each of us - life in Christ is a life lived in libera-

tion from that which is hindering us from being fully alive -

fully aware of God’s grace, mercy and gift of life offered to

each of us every day.

Obviously, our deepest needs are not the perfect pre-

sent or the details of the office Christmas party, but rather can

be summed up in the four candles we light as we progress

through Advent: hope, love, joy and peace.

These needs are attended to as we gather as a commu-

nity of believers - as we offer ours songs, our prayers and our

gifts. These needs are soothed and satisfied as we come

forward to receive Holy Communion, and are nourished and

strengthened by Jesus himself. After being nourished and

strengthened by the Eucharist, we are charged to leave Mass to

“Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.” Ultimately, these

needs are fulfilled when we place our trust, first and foremost,

in Christ. In doing so, we seek guidance and inspiration from

the Holy Spirit, not in our capacity to buy things that we think

will make others happy.

Third Sunday of Advent December11, 2016

Continued

We give presents and celebrate parties because we care about

those in our lives. So consider this year to give gifts that really

speak to the deepest needs of those whom you care about.

Offer the gifts of hope, love, joy or peace in the form of a visit,

a call or a helping hand. And let this Advent season be a time

of dedication and attentiveness. As St. Paul reminds us, make

your hearts firm, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

God Love Ya!

Fr. Reilly

Calling all ALUMNI of ST RICHARD –

HOLY SPIRIT – ST PIO !!! We are building a database of our School’s Alumni in order to keep everyone updated on all of the GREAT things that

are happening at our school. It will only take a minute to complete.

The Alumni form link can be found on the following websites: St. Richard Parish website at http://www.strichardchurch.org/

St. Pio School website at http://www.stpiocatholicschool.org/

Please pass this note on to your family and friends that have moved from the area as we want to reach out to as many of

our former students across the area and country as possible.

Saint Richard Parish Sacrament Schedule

First Holy Communion

Saturday May 6th 10:00 a.m.

Confirmation

Thursday April 27th 6:00 p.m.

(Bishop Senior will be the Celebrant and Confer the

Sacrament to the 6th graders)

If you have a child attending a school other then Saint

Pio Regional School or Saint Richard PREP, please

call Maryellen Carroll at the Rectory. Every child seek-

ing these sacraments needs to be part of the Sacrament

Formation class. Please call ASAP to receive the entire

schedule of activities and requirements.

CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE

LESSONS IN CAROLS

Sunday, December 11th 7pm - St. Richard Church

CONFESSION

Tuesday, December 20th St. Richard Church Parish Advent penance Service at 7PM

CHRISTMAS MASS

Saturday, Christmas Eve, December 24th 4:00 and 7:30 pm @ St. Richard Church

4:00pm @ Holy Spirit Church 7:00pm Carols @ St. Richard Church

Sunday Christmas Day, December 25th 10:00AM @ Holy Spirit Church

8:00 and 11:30 am @ St. Richard Church

NEW YEAR’S MASSES

Saturday, New Year’s Eve , December 31st 4:30PM @ St. Richard Church

Sunday, New Year’s Day, January 1st Masses 8:00and 11:30 AM @ St. Richard Church

10:00 AM @ Holy Spirit Church

Lessons and Carols Sunday, December 11th

7p.m. in St. Richard Church

Please join the St. Pio school children, the St. Richard’s Choir, and other music ministers in preparing our hearts and minds for the coming of the Lord! There will be readings from scripture for your reflection, Advent and Christmas carols for your singing pleasure plus some additional beautiful music by the choir to help put in the true Spirit of the Season! The service will be followed by cake and coffee in St. Pio school hall which will give our parish bakers a chance to show off their arts as well!

Third Sunday of Advent December 11, 2016

Pre-Jordan Classes In preparation for Baptism Pre-Jordan classes

are held Sundays in St. Richard Church after the

11:30 Mass.(Dates are subject to change.)

The parents of the child are required to attend the class;

godparents are also welcome but not required to attend.

Please call the rectory to make arrangements for the

Baptism and to attend the class. After you have attended

the class and acquired certificates of eligibility for

your godparents, you may then call the rectory for an

appointment to book the date of your choosing. The next

scheduled class is:

Sunday, December 18, 2016

May God bless all our Young Parishioners on their reception of First Penance

Gioacchino Benigno

Alessandra Berno

Aubrie Berry

Brielle Brennecke

Santino Capone

Colin Cavalieri

Vanessa Cedrone

Vienna Coccia

Gabriella Crouch

James DeAngelo Jr.

John Michael DeLaurentis

Isabella DeRenzi

Nicholas DiGiacomo,Jr.

May they always seek God’s mercy and forgiveness

and journey with Jesus every day of their lives.

Adam DiGuiseppe

Julianna Dinella

Jason Facenda

Sylvie Ferraro

John Fogarino

Michael Fogarino

Angelo Fumo

Matthew Gargano

Luca Gatta

Kayla Granda

Ava Holbrook

Carly Holbrook

Joslyn King

Andrew Klock

Nadia Lattanzio

Gabrielle Leuzzi

Gia Leuzzi

Talia Messina

Lilyanna Mullan

Michael Myers

Tyler Pellicciotti

Lorenzo Pellico

Alexa Pietrafesa

Mark Pietrafesa

Shane Porchia

Stephen Tomiselli

Steven Vanore

Quinn Wiseley

Advent Week 3—Shepherds Candle On the 3rd week of Advent, light 3 candles (2 purple and 1 pink) on your Advent wreath. Watch the light grow and fill the room with its soft glow. This candle is called the Shepherds candle. It re minds us of what the shepherds did. They listened and obeyed the angels even though they were afraid. They saw Jesus and believed. Most important, they told all what had happened to them. As the Shepherd's candle adds light to the room, think of ways in which you, like the shepherds, can tell others about Jesus. The pink candle signifies the JOY of anticipat-ing the celebration of the Birth of the Prince of Peace. Let us fill our hearts with joy and remember the rea-son for the season is JESUS CHRIST. Let us make straight the path from our heart to the Lord.

Blessing Dear Jesus, help us to know you better, love you more, and follow your rules. When we look at the lights of the Christmas tree, help us to think that you are the true Light of the world. Help us to remember that you are with us to guide us and cheer us. Amen.

Lord, you are patient with me and give me time to correct my faults

and become a better person. Help me to be more patient and

loving toward others.

December 11, 2016

Parish Registration

It is IMPORTANT that all Catholics within

our boundaries be registered and be active

participants of the parish. Circumstances often change

registration status. If you can answer “yes” to any of

these questions, you need to be sure you are registered

correctly in the parish.

• Have you moved away from your parental home

(not just for college)?

• Have you recently changed your marital status?

• Are you living with your parents, are over 18, and

not receiving your own mailings and envelopes?

If you answered yes to any of the above, please call the

rectory office to update your registration status.

If you made your sacraments here at St. Richard/Holy

Spirit or went to school here does NOT automatically

register you in the parish.

In order to receive a Letter of Eligibility from the pastor

to be a godparent or sponsor, you MUST be a regis-

tered and active participant of the parish.

New families moving into the parish…..Welcome! You

can register online at www.strichardchurch.org.

Pre-Jordan Classes In preparation for Baptism Pre-Jordan classes

are held Sundays in St. Richard Church after the

11:30 Mass.(Dates are subject to change.)

The parents of the child are required to attend the class;

godparents are also welcome but not required to attend.

Please call the rectory to make arrangements for the

Baptism and to attend the class. After you have attended

the class and acquired certificates of eligibility for

your godparents, you may then call the rectory for an

appointment to book the date of your choosing. The next

scheduled class is:

Sunday, December 18, 2016

• What attitudes are

you hoping to grow

in your life this Ad-

vent?

• What miracles of

growth has Jesus

provided in your

life?

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