3625 HIGHWAY 75 ST. GABRIEL, LOUISIANA 70776 Phone: 225-642-8441 Fax: 225-642-8491 stgabrielcatholi@bellsouth.net

OFFICE HOURS: Monday-Thursday, 8am–3pm (closed 12– 1pm for lunch) Friday, 8am–12pm

PASTOR: Reverend Charles R. Landry DEACON: Kirk Duplantis SECRETARIES: Myra G. Tircuit Barbara V. Hornstein

CONFESSION First Saturday, 3:15pm.& by appointment VIGIL MASS Saturday, 4pm. SUNDAY MASS Sunday, 8am & 10am Presently no mass @ Carville DAILY MASS Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, 8am HOLY DAY MASSES 8am & 7pm

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT 12/13/2020 VOL. 38, NO. 16

STEWARDSHIP OF FINANCE

WEEKLY ATTENDANCE 213

WEEKLY BUDGET $7,975.66

AMOUNT COLLECTED $6,777.00

NUMBER OF DONATIONS 77 There will be 2 envelopes on 12/12-13, reg. & Ret. Fund for

Religious. Your weekly donations help meet our immediate needs,

repairs and improvements. We thank all who give of their time,

talent and treasure to our parish community. We always

appreciate your generosity.

This Sunday’s Gospel invites us to

continue our reflection on the person and mission

of John the Baptist. Today we depart from the Gospel of

Mark and read a selection from the Gospel of John.

The Gospel for today combines a brief passage from the

prologue to John’s Gospel with a report about John the

Baptist. As in Mark’s Gospel, the Gospel of John

contains no birth narrative. Instead, John’s Gospel

begins with a theological reflection that has come to be

called the “prologue.” This prologue places the story of

Jesus in its cosmological framework. It

speaks of Jesus’ existence with God since the

beginning of time. In John’s Gospel, Jesus is

presented as the fulfillment of the Old

Testament and the culmination of the Word,

the light that is coming into the world’s

darkness.

Following this prologue, John reports on the ministry of

John the Baptist. We learn about the attention that

John the Baptist received from the Jewish authorities.

Messengers from the Jewish priests, the Levites and the

Pharisees question John about his identity and the

meaning of the baptisms that he is performing. John’s

Gospel uses these questions to establish the relationship

between Jesus and John the Baptist. John the Baptist is

not the Messiah, nor is he Elijah or the Prophet. In

John’s denials, we hear echoes of the kind of messianic

expectations that were common in first-century

Palestine.

The only affirmative response that John the Baptist

gives is when he quotes the prophet Isaiah. Upon

answering the next question, John announces that the

savior they seek is already among them, but as yet

unrecognized. John’s response highlights for us an

important Advent theme: Jesus has already come into

the world as our savior. During Advent, we pray that we

will be able to recognize Jesus’ presence in our midst.

Advent also reminds us that Jesus will come again to

fulfill the promise of salvation. We pray that we will

continue to be watchful as we anticipate that great day.

The third Sunday of Advent is also called Gaudete

Sunday. Gaudete, a Latin word which means “rejoice,”

is taken from the entrance antiphon for Sunday’s Mass.

This theme is echoed in today’s second

reading from the first Letter to the

Thessalonians. It is a reminder that Advent

is a season of joy because our salvation is

already at hand.

BISHOP’S ANNUAL APPEAL

This has been a challenging year for many,

certainly for those who have experienced the

difficult stress and strain of loss. To those for

whom that is true, please know we continue to pray

for you and for God’s blessing in your lives. To

those who are able to extend support to the

important work of the BAA, please do your part

and help to address the needs of all those who look

to the Bishop’s Annual Appeal for assistance. As

St. Paul expressed to those he loved, we “rejoice in

the Lord always,” believing “the One who began a

good work…will continue to complete it.” We have

an opportunity to play our part when we contribute.

Please read the material available to you, and

consider what you might give. Please support the

BAA.

If you would like to receive the Sacrament of

Reconciliation, please contact Fr. Charlie

for an appointment.

In good times and bad, senior Catholic sisters,

brothers and religious order priests have served

our Church and world. Today, they

pray for a world that is hurting.

Yet hundreds of religious

communities do not have enough

retirement savings and struggle to

provide for aging members. Your gift to today’s

Retirement Fund for Religious collection helps

probide medications, nursing care, and more.

Please be generous.

There are many changes this year for Christmas

Eve and Christmas Day masses. Due to the surge

in COVID-19, the changes will challenge

attendance and times of masses will be changed.

Please take note of these dates and times and watch

for pertinent information attachments. There is a

schedule attached in this bulletin.

'Tis the season to be jolly? Not necessarily. For many

people the holiday season, which kicks off with

Thanksgiving and spans through New Year's, is

anything but blissful. In fact, this time of year may

trigger a bout of the blues or perhaps ignite a

depression that has been smoldering under the surface

for months. Holiday blues are a pretty common

problem despite the fact that as a society, we see the

holidays as a joyous time.

Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 08/02/2020 VOL. 37, NO. 37

Fellow Parishioners:

Recently I have been noticing that some trucks with extended beds, and some with

trailer hitches have been backing up into the parking areas in front

of the church. I am asking that this please stop. Parking in this

way often blocks the walk way and presents a danger of one hitting

their shin on the hitches and hurting themselves. Thank you for

your consideration.

Christmas is fast approaching and I am glad to see that we are signing up

for specific mass times. This process is making it more convenient to

attend Eucharist in a reasonable and safe manner. Thank you for your

understanding, your cooperation and your patience.

Soon and very soon, we hope to begin work on the extension of the

parking lot and drainage here at St. Gabriel. This project has

been long in coming. Many factors held us up, especially with the

ban against digging due to the height of the water in

the river. God willing and “if the creek does not rise,”

we should begin to see some activity. When we extend

the parking lot we will also be concentrating on

updating and adding new handicapped parking spaces. Our goal is to

make them more accessible and easier.

May God continue to bless us as we continue our Advent

journey.

Sat. 12 4:00 p.m. VIGIL

3rd

Sunday of Advent, Cycle B

Sun. 13 8:00 a.m. MASS

10:00 a.m. MASS

5:00 p.m. Youth Group

Mon. 14 8:00 a.m. No Mass

6:30 p.m. Rel Ed Online

Tues. 15 7:00 a.m. Men’s Reflection

8:00 a.m. Daily Mass

8:30 a.m. NO Adoration

6:00 p.m. Sacrament 1st Reconciliation

Wed. 16 8:00 a.m. Daily Mass

8:30 a.m. Adoration in Church

5:00 p.m. Staff Meeting

Thurs. 17 8:00 a.m. Daily Mass

Fri. 18 8:00 a.m. Daily Mass

Sat. 19 4:00 p.m. VIGIL

4th

Sunday of Advent, Cycle B

Sun. 20 8:00 a.m. MASS

10:00 a.m. MASS

Mon. 21 8:00 a.m. No Mass

Tues. 22 7:00 a.m. Men’s Reflection

8:00 a.m. Daily Mass

8:30 a.m. Adoration

Wed. 23 8:00 a.m. Daily Mass

CHRISTMAS EVE

Thurs. 24 8:00 a.m. Office Closed

2:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Vigil

4:00 p.m. Vigil Mass – Christmas Eve

4:00 p.m. Vigil Mass – Carville

8:00 p.m. Vigil Mass – Midnight Mass

CHRISTMAS DAY

Fri. 25 9:00 a.m. Christmas Day Mass

Sat. 26 4:00 p.m. Vigil Mass

FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY

Sun. 27 8:00 a.m. MASS

10:00 a.m. MASS

5:00 p.m. Youth Group in PAC

DAILY READINGS

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Isaiah 61:1-2a, 10-11; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24;

John 1:6-8, 19-28

Monday, December 14 Daily Readings

Numbers 24:2-7, 15-17a; Matthew

21:23-27

Tuesday, December 15 Daily Readings

Zephaniah 3:1-2, 9-13; Matthew 21:28-32

Wednesday, December 16 Daily Readings

Isaiah 45:6c-8, 18, 21b-25; Luke 7:18b-23

Thursday, December 17 Daily Readings

Genesis 49:2, 8-10; Matthew 1:1-17

Friday, December 18 Daily Readings

Jeremiah 23:5-8; Matthew 1:18-25

Saturday, December 19 Daily Readings

Judges 13:2-7, 24-25a; Luke 1:5-25

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Romans 16:25-27

Luke 1:26-38

Pray for our Sick and

Homebounds: Frank Banta, Sr., Betty

Jean Barbay, Phyllis Babin, Joan

Chapman, Melissa Conrad, Joyce

Crochet, Ruby Edmonston, Lily

Fairchild, Eunice Fairchild, Carolyn

Harelson, Michael & Carolyn (Punkin) Landaiche, Genie

LaPlace, Anthony & Bessie Pizzolato, Flory Reynolds, and

Louise Thibodeaux. Include in your prayers all of the sick &

suffering in our families especially those living in nursing

homes. Also, pray for peace in the world, & for all men and

women in our armed forces.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR NAME REMOVED FROM

THIS LIST, PLEASE CONTACT THE PARISH OFFICE.

WEEKLY MASS INTENTIONS

12/14 8:00 a.m. No Mass 12/15 8:00 a.m. John & Jeanne Johnson; Brennan Rube; Andy King 12/16 8:00 a.m. M/M John Mire Landry; Dewey Hymel Fly. & Betty 12/17 8:00 a.m. James A. Tubre; Betty Bonin Dugas; Howatt-Melancon Families 12/18 8:00 a.m. Carl & Jared LaPlace; Sheldon-Spedale Families; Cambre;Babin; Emily Ramos; Merino Families 12/19 4:00 p.m. For the Parish 12/20 8:00 a.m. Marion & Albert Bourgeois, Jr. & III 10:00 a.m. Eugene LeBlanc, Jr.; Comeaux-Barbay Families 12/21 8:00 a.m. No Mass

2020CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY SCHEDULE

Saturday, December 19 - Fourth Sunday of Advent

Vigil Mass, 4:00 p.m.

Sunday, December 20 - Fourth Sunday of Advent

Mass, 7:00 a.m., 8:30 Carville, and 10:15 a.m.

Thursday, December 24 - Nativity of the Lord

Parishioners please be sure to sign up for these masses.

2:00 p.m. Vigil Mass – St. Gabriel

4:00 p.m. Vigil Mass – St. Gabriel

4:00 pm. Vigil Mass - Carville

8:00 p.m. Evening Mass – St. Gabriel

Wednesday, December 25 - Nativity of the Lord

Mass, 9:00 a.m., St. Gabriel

Saturday, December 26 - Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

4:00 p.m. Vigil Mass

Sunday, December 27 - Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Mass, 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.

Thursday, December 31 - Solemnity of Mary

6:00 p.m. Vigil Mass St. Gabriel

Wednesday, January 01 - Feast of the Solemnity of Mary

Mass @ 9:00 a.m.

Saturday, January 02 - The Epiphany of our Lord

4:00 p.m. Vigil Mass

Sunday, January 03 - The Epiphany of our Lord

Mass, 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.

After Sunday, January 03 all masses resume as normal.