St. John Baptist de la salle december 6th 2020

www.stjohnsfamilyoffaith.com second Sunday of advent

MONDAY, Dec. 7 – St. Ambrose 4:00 p.m. Karl Pfeiffenberger, Jr. TUESDAY, Dec. 8 – Immaculate Conception 9:00 a.m. People of the Parish 7:00 p.m. Walter & Eleanor Schuler WEDNESDAY, Dec. 9 – Advent Weekday/St. Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin 8:00 a.m. Thomas A. Caraman THURSDAY, Dec. 10 – Advent Weekday 7:00 p.m. Mary Anne Bushinski FRIDAY, Dec. 11 – Advent Weekday/ St. Damasus, I 8:00 a.m. Ron Giesen

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT SATURDAY, DEC. 12 4:00 p.m. David & Barbara Klusewitz SUNDAY, DEC. 13 8:30 a.m. People of the Parish 10:30 a.m. Karl Pfeiffenberger, Sr.

Please direct all bulletin and website inquiries to the Parish Communications Coordinator, Sarah Capato at 610.850.4978 or sarah@stjohnsfamilyoffaith.com.

Bulletin submissions are due Thursday, ten days prior to the Sunday of publication.

SATURDAY, DEC. 12 – 4:00PM Lector: Maria Biancone EM: Cliff Brahmstadt, Hedy Oldham. Renee Premici, Ber-nadette Yohn SUNDAY, DEC. 13 – 8:30AM Lector: Paul Berthinet EM: Christ Boland, Billie & Mike Resch, Mary Stadelmeyer SUNDAY, DEC. 13 – 10:30AM Lector: Trevor Schoenen EM: Cindy Trygar, Betty Wells, Kathy Mihalik, Susan Artz

Sanctuary Candle for the Week of 12/6-12 in loving memory of Mary Anne Bushinski

(requested by Robert Bushinski)

Weekly stewardship SUNDAY:11/22: $6,982.00 SUNDAY: 11/29: $8,077.50

Altar Bread for the month of December: In loving memory of Marlin Rautzhan

(requested by Gere Rautzhan)

Mass intentions for the week

Upcoming liturgical ministers

First Reading: Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11 Isaiah emphasizes that from the desert to the mountains, all people must prepare for “the glory of the Lord to be revealed.” Rather than looking only at God’s power, Isai-ah focuses on God’s kindness, comparing it to a shep-herd who feeds and cares for his flock. Second Reading: 2 Peter 3:8-14 For those who are impatient for the Second Coming, Pe-ter explains that time is different to God than to people. He reminds them that they should be grateful for the ex-tra time to prepare, and concentrate on striving to be-come all that God would want them to be. Gospel: Mark 1:1-8 In this passage, John the Baptist stressed the importance of the coming of the Messiah. He acknowledged that he was only the messenger, and unfit to “stoop and untie his sandal straps.” John urged them to prepare for one far holier than he, who would walk among them.

Todays readings

Catholic Bishop Abuse Reporting Service If you have an allegation of abuse against a bishop, please con-tact the Catholic Bishop Abuse Reporting Service at www.ReportBishopAbuse.org or by calling 800.276.1562.

DIOCESAN OFFICE OF SAFE ENVIRONMENT Pamela J. Russo, M.S.W, M.S. Secretary, Youth Protection and Catholic Human Services P.O. Box F, Allentown, PA 18105-1538 610.871.5200 ext. 2204 or prusso@allentowndiocese.org

VICTIM ASSISTANCE COORDINATOR Mrs. Wendy S. Krisak Kalamar DIRECT LINE: 1.800.791.9209

Parish Safe Environment Coordinator: Bernadette Yohn 610.777.1697 or st.jbdls@verizon.net

Please take note of Masses for Feast of the Immaculate Conception. There is NO 8 AM Mass on Monday the 7th – the 4 PM is the Vigil for the Feast Day.

Masses on the Dec. 8th are 9 AM & 7 PM.

Dear Family of Faith,

As was mentioned at the weekend masses Nov. 7 & 8, there will be a revised Christmas Mass schedule. The Masses will be as follows: Christmas Vigil Masses - 2:00, 4:00 and 7:00. The Mass on Christmas Day will be celebrated at 9:00am. Because of the required laws brought on by the Covid Pandemic, public facilities such as restaurants and bars, sport sta-diums and even churches, are limited to half of the seating capacity of the building. Our church seats 750 people, that means only 375 are allowed occupancy at any given Mass. Seating must be in every other pew and there cannot be people gathered in the vestibules or around the inside perimeter of the church.

Needless to say, Christmas tends to bring the crowds out, and under any oth-er circumstances - I would welcome a packed church. But that can’t happen in this pandem-ic. Therefore, there must be reservations for ALL the Masses. Please call the office with the time of Mass that you and your family want to attend, give us your name and the number attending. Once the 375 capacity is reached for that Mass, it will be closed. People will be at the doors with the names of those who made reservations, if your name is not on the list for that Mass, you will not be given entrance to the church. Once Mass begins, the doors will be locked. (Please note: that you can’t be locked in the church, only locked out of the church.) I really hate that it has to be this way, but my hands are tied! So, for the well being and safety of all, this is the only thing that makes sense.

As the old saying goes… “the early bird gets the worm.” Folks, please do not wait till a few days before Christmas to call in your reservation, it may already be too late. For those family members or neighbors who only attend Mass on Christmas and Easter, please forward to them this information… I’d hate to have to disappoint them. The phone number for the Parish Office is: 610.777.1697. The office is open Monday through Friday from 9 AM till 4PM.

Thanks and God bless!

Fr. Rich

Empty My Hands: An Advent Time of Prayer with Christine Eberle at the Jesuit Center for Spiritual Growth In-Person and Virtual Options Available. In-Person: Wednesday, December 9, 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM. Virtual: Over two evenings, Tuesday, December 8 and Thursday, December 10, from 7:00 – 8:30 PM, via Zoom. The season of Advent calls us to radical hospitali-ty: creating space for the coming Christ in our hearts and in our lives. At a time of year dominated by pres-sure around gifts and festivities, Advent whispers a dif-ferent message. It beckons us to sit in the darkness and empty our hands so that we may become more recep-tive and responsive to the presence of God. During our time together, we will consider the call to emptiness and ponder the response of various Biblical figures to God’s startling invitations. Carving out a bit of stillness in the midst of the frenzy, we will imagine how to “choose the better part” in this brief and beautiful liturgical season. Contact Melinda Leonowitz for more info and registra-tion at mleonowitz@jesuitcenter.org or 610.670.3642

PLEASE NOTE- When receiving your Christmas offering envelope/schedule by mail, please disregard the Mass schedule

that is displayed. These pamphlets were printed prior to the

Dioceses addition of our Mass schedule and are not correct. Again the

Christmas Mass schedule is as follows:

Thursday, December 24th Vigil Masses 2PM, 4PM & 7PM

Friday, December 25th Christmas Day 9AM

mailto:mleonowitz@jesuitcenter.org

Away from home? Find a mass wherever you are by visiting www.masstimes.org

Prayer against Coronavirus

Lord Jesus Christ, our Divine Physician we ask You to

guard and protect us from Coronavirus COVID-19 and

all serious illness. For all that have died from it, have mer-

cy; for those that are ill now, bring healing. For those

searching for a remedy, enlighten them; for medical

caregivers helping the sick, strengthen and shield them.

For those working to contain the spread, grant them suc-

cess; for those afraid, grant peace. May Your Precious

Blood be our defense and salvation. By Your grace, may

you turn the evil of disease into moments of consolation

and hope. May we always fear the contagion of sin more

than any illness. We abandon ourselves to Your infinite

mercy. Amen.

Pedro de la Cruz

THE ANNUAL LIFELINE GIVING TREE is filled with Snowflake Ornaments for you to choose from. Snowflake Ornaments are also available on both the Fr. Lyons and St. Joseph side exits. Our Church Family is asked to share in the Spirit of Giving that Christmas brings to help Lifeline of Berks County replenish their Pantry of Supplies which serves babies,

mothers and their families this Christmas and throughout the new year. Please choose an orna-ment from the TREE which will have a label affixed containing a needed baby item. Bring the NEW UNWRAPPED gift to the Fr. Lyons Room and place it in the BLUE TUB marked Lifeline Giving Tree Gifts. We ask that you return the snowflake orna-ment with your gift so we can reuse it next year. If you wish to write a check, please make it out to Lifeline of Berks County and place it in the collection basket in a sealed envelope marked Lifeline Donation. For more information, please call Bob Peters at 610.775.8965. Thank You!!

2020 St. John Paul II Christmas Raffle—While our

Christmas program will be different this year, we

are continuing the popular tradition of our JPII

Christmas raffle. This year you can buy online tick-

ets for our fabulous packages and baskets ranging

from delicious chocolates, beautiful holiday décor,

gifts for the whole family and much more. Purchase

online tickets from November 23 through Decem-

ber 14 at https://jpiichristmasraffle.maxgiving.bid .

Tickets are $1 each, pick the item you’d like to win,

buy as many tickets as you like! Winners will be

announced December 16! Check our Facebook

page and website for winners! All ticket sales ben-

efit John Paul II Center. Thank you for your sup-

port! Items can be picked up at school between

9am and 4pm on Dec. 17-18 and 21-22.

www.johnpauliicenter.org. 1092 Welsh Road,

Shillington PA 19607. 610.777.0605

The Mifflin Community Food Ministry is consid-ered "essential", therefore it will continue to operate. The next date of distribution is Saturday, December 19 2020, from 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. The Mif-flin Community Food Ministry is accepting donations of food on the porch of 54 Chestnut St. in Mohnton, Pa. There is no contact, just a drop off. The food ministry is currently preparing for Christmas distributions. They are currently in need of: 100% juice , rice a roni, muffin mix, brownie mix, jello, spaghetti, elbow macaroni, pasta in a can (ravioli, beef a roni, etc), canned peas, corn, green beans, gravy mix, cranberry sauce (canned), soup, toothpaste, deodorant, mouthwash, dental floss, bar soap, body wash/men's toiletries. For those that are writing a check, please make check out to: Mif-flin Community Food Ministry Please mail check to: Zion Evangelical Church at 57 N Church St. Mohnton, Pa. 19540. Thank You once again for your continued generosi-ty! Stay safe! If you have any questions or concerns please let me know, Kate Roche' 610.777.4792

DIVORCE SUPPORT GROUP —A program for

divorced Catholics to navigate their way through a

difficult situation will meet Mondays from 7:00-8:00

pm. For more information contact Joe Boylan at

610.781.6415.

Part-Time Staff Position Berks Catholic is in need of a PT Custodian (later afternoon/early evening-25 hours per week) for the 2020-2021 school year. If interested please contact Mrs. Einolf at aeinolf@berkscatholic.org

mailto:aeinolf@berkscatholic.org