OUR LADY OF LORETTO CATHOLIC CHURCH

1806 Novato Blvd., Novato, CA 94947 415-897-2171 FAX 415-897-8251

Parish Office Hours Monday-Friday 9am to 5pm

Third Sunday of Advent December 17, 2017

OUR LADY OF LORETTO PARISH “Empowered by the Spirit of God we celebrate Jesus’ presence in Prayer,

Liturgy, Sacrament and Service”

Brothers and sisters: Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. 1 THES 5:16-18

Please pray for our parishioners who are sick and suffering that they may know the embrace of Christ’s healing love.

Avinia Family, May Barnett, Don and Darlene Belluomini, Elaine Benson,

Louis Boscacci, Louise Caldwell, John Cullen, Karen Davis, Bonnie de Rutte, Anette Diaz, Delmida Edwards, Jesse Fuette, Claudia Gitson, Anne G. Graham, Pat Grant, John Gross, Berth Guantes, Margaret Hamlett, Alice Horn, Eleanora LaCarrubba,

Benita Lopez, Jesse Mendoza, Marybeth Miller, Paola Tirado Moreda, Dalton O’Sulli-van Family, Ray Ostertag, Lorraine Priolo, Phil Rappaport, Kerry Rodriguez, Arthur

Ruiz, Tearah Parker, Allen Schwoob, Kenric Silva, David Wilson

Our 2017 MASS BOOK IS FULL

VISIT THE RECTORY IF YOU WISH TO HAVE A MASS SAID IN 2018

May all our deceased

Parishioners rest in the loving arms

of Christ

Mass Intentions December 16 through December 24

Day Time Intentions

Priest

Saturday 12/16 9:00am 5:00pm 7:00pm

Alice and Bill Maider + Augie Hoth + Jessica Limeta (L) 21st Birthday

BC BC JML

Sunday 12/17 8:00am 10:00am 12:30pm

OLL Parishioners John Coffman + Carlos and Elizabeth Sanchez (L) Anniversary

BC BC JML

Monday 12/18 9:00am

Bill and Jean Gross (L) BC

Tuesday 12/19 9:00am

Richard McGoldrick + BC

Wednesday 12/20 9:00am

Alice and Bill Maider + JML

Thursday 12/21

9:00am Stasiowski Family (L) JML

Friday 12/22 9:00am

Bill and Jean Gross (L) BC

Saturday 12/23 9:00am 5:00pm 7:00pm

Richard McGoldrick + Joseph Silveira +

BC BC JML

Sunday 12/24 8:00am 10:00am 12:30pm 5:00pm 7:00pm 9:00pm

OLL Parishioners Al Olivier + Deceased Members of the Costello and Smith Families + Pieter and Marian Keesmaat + Joaquin S. and Marianna Brazil +

BC BC JML BC BC JML

BC: Fr. Brian Costello JML: Fr. Juan Manuel Lopez MR: Fr. M. Raimondi

Rev. Brian Costello frbrian@ollnovato.org Ext.227

Pastor

Rev. Juan Manuel Lopez Parochial Vicar ext. 221

Church of the Assumption Parish 1-707-878-2208

Patrick Reeder EXT. 234 Parish Manager

Office Staff Erin Troy EXT. 222

Allen Shirley EXT. 236

Our Lady of Loretto School Mrs. Kathleen Kraft, Principal

415-892-8621

Parish Religious Education

Amy Bjorklund Reeder, Dir. Grades 1-6 and Co-Director of Adult Faith Formation

Kathleen Pitti

415-897-6714

Sandro Garcia Grades 1-3 en Espanol

415-897-2171 ext.225

Annie Troy, Dir. Youth Ministry and Confirmation

Co-Director of Adult Faith Formation 415-897-2171 ext.277

Mr. Richard Elliott, Choir Director

1-925-997-5041 willowsth@aol.com

PRIEST EMERGENCY NUMBER

415-301-0514 EMERGENCIES ONLY PLEASE

Mass Times

Monday—Friday 9:00 am

Saturday 9:00am 5:00 pm (Vigil Mass)

7pm Spanish Vigil Mass

Sunday 8:00 am, 10:00 am, 12:30pm Spanish Mass

Eucharistic Adoration

Every Friday 9:30am-5:00 pm and

4th Wednesday of the Month 6pm—8pm

Sacrament of Reconciliation Saturday3:00pm-4:00pm

Rosary

Monday—Thursday after 9am Mass and 5:30pm

Friday after 9am Mass and at 5pm Sunday at 3:00pm

Baptisms

Please contact the Rectory- Catechesis Required

Pre– Baptismal Classes in English are held the second Saturday of each month at 10am.

We share this ministry with St. Anthony’s Parish. Please call the rectory office to

schedule your class.

Pre– Baptismal classes in Spanish are held on the third Thursday of each month at 6pm in the School Library. Please contact Sandro

Garcia for more information.

Marriages Please contact the Rectory at least

6 months in advance

Our Lady of Loretto St. Vincent de Paul Society

415-497-5090

Visit us on the Web www.ollnovato.org E-mail us:

church@ollnovato.org

FROM OLL CONFIRMATION AND YOUTH MINISTRY

MONDAY 12/18: Middle School classes meet in the convent, 7-8:30. THURSDAY, 12/21: NO HIGH SCHOOL CLASSES.

SIMBANG GABI

Simbang Gabi in North Bay, a Filipino religious tradition of Advent Masses, rosary prayers, in prep-aration for Christmas December 16 - 20, 2017 6:30 PM - Reconciliation 6:30 PM - Holy Rosary 7:00 PM - Mass Refreshments will follow after each Mass at the vestibule.

St. Isabella’s Church 1 Trinity Way San Rafael, CA Christmas Fiesta Celebration and Potluck will be on Dec. 20th at St. Isabella’s Parish Hall.

PROPER UNDERTAKING Never undertake anything for which you wouldn't have the courage to ask the blessings of heaven. --Georg C. Lichtenberg

RCIA/Adult Education Our Lady of Loretto RCIA Program meets at 7:30 p.m. each Wednesday, upstairs in the Con-vent. The topic on December 20 is: The Coming of Christ: The Incarnation. All adults are invited to participate.

December Calendar

December 17th: Sacrament of the Sick after all Sunday Masses RCIA Rite of Acceptance 10am Knights of Columbus “Breakfast With St. Nicholas” from 8AM to 10:30AM OLL Christmas Choir Christmas Concert 4pm & 7:30pm in the Church December 20th: OLL School Christmas Concert at 6:30pm OLL Church December 22nd —January 1st Rectory Offices Closed December 24th: Fourth Sunday of Advent Masses 8am, 10am, 12:30pm December 24th: Christmas Eve Vigil Masses 5pm (Children’s Mass) and 7pm in English and 9pm Spanish Carols will begin at 4:30pm and 6:30pm December 25th: Christmas Day Masses: 8am & 10am in English and 12:30pm Spanish December 31st: Eucharistic Adoration 9:00pm to 12 Midnight January 1st: Mary, Mother of God Mass at 10am in English Since this Solemnity falls on a Monday the precept to attend Mass is dispensed. January 2nd: Father Brian leaves on Sabbatical. Rome January—March Holy Week in Jerusalem, Continuing studies from April—June in Jerusalem. Return to OLL in early July. Rectory offices open at 9am.

WELCOME IN THE NEW YEAR WITH JESUS

Our Lady of Loretto will have Eu-charistic Adoration on Sunday evening, December 31 beginning at 9:00pm and ending at 12:01am. Jesus showed His great love for us

by His crucifixion on the cross to pay for our sins and give us eternal life. Can we not give Jesus a few minutes of love and adoration in return? Through adoration we strengthen our personal relationship with God and give witness to our belief that god is truly dwelling within all of us. Every hour you spend time with Jesus on earth will leave your soul everlastingly more beautiful and glorious in heaven. What a great way to start the New Year!! Please join us.

READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: Jer 23:5-8; Ps 72:1-2, 12-13, 18-19; Mt 1:18-25 Tuesday: Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25a; Ps 71:3-4a, 5-6ab, 16-17; Lk 1:5-25 Wednesday: Is 7:10-14; Ps 24:1-4ab, 5-6; Lk 1:26-38 Thursday: Sg 2:8-14 or Zep 3:14-18a; Ps 33:2-3, 11-12, 20-21; Lk 1:39-45 Friday: 1 Sm 1:24-28; 1 Sm 2:1, 4-8abcd; Lk 1:46-56 Saturday: Mal 3:1-4, 23-24; Ps 25:4-5ab, 8-10, 14; Lk 1:57-66 Sunday: 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Ps 89:2-5, 27, 29; Rom 16:25-27; Lk 1:26-38

From OLL Adult Faith Formation Next up will be "Orthodoxy" by G. K. Chesterton for discus-sion on Wednesday, January 10.

14th Annual Walk for Life West Coast

Saturday January 27, 2018

We have secured a bus and are accepting reservations. Please contact Erin at the rectory for more information and to reserve your space.

Dear Friends, I have good news for you. Father Andrew Spyrow, the Parochial Vicar at St. Raphael’s, will be taking my place here at OLL as Administrator while I’m gone on Sabbatical. I couldn’t be happier. I have known Father Andrew for a number of years and he will make a nice fit.

Besides knowing a little Spanish, he is Chaplain for the San Raphael Police Department. Father Andrew told me his Mom died on December 9th and he is busy with her funeral. He also told me his Dad is in the process of dying. Please keep Father Andrew and the Spyrow family in your prayers during this difficult time. Welcome aboard, Father Andrew. I hope you will be happy here during these next six months. I hope you come to know the people here and fall in love with them as I have.

Have a great Advent week! Father Brian

REJOICE Isaiah pro-claims truly good news to us! God's coming brings not sadness, guilt, fear, wrath, or condemna-tion. No, God's com-ing is a source of

comfort and joy. Saying it once is not enough, for today's readings are full of joy. Mary's Magnificat substitutes for our psalm today, and our second reading encourages us to rejoice, to give thanks and praise. This is the root meaning of the Greek word for eu-charist. We are urged to rejoice and give thanks, because the coming of the Lord brings joy, healing, liberty, release, vindica-tion. It makes the very earth spring up with new life! Good tidings!

TODAY'S READINGS First Reading -- As a garden makes its growth spring up, so will GOD make justice spring up before all the nations (Isaiah 61:1-2a, 10-11). Psalm -- My soul rejoices in my God (Luke 1:46-50, 53-54). Second Reading -- Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophetic utterances. Test everything; retain what is good (1 Thessalonians 5:16-24). Gospel -- I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, make straight the way of the Lord (John 1:6-8, 19-28). The English translation of the Psalm Responses from Lectionary for Mass (c) 1969, 1981, 1997, International Commis-sion on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.

This Week at OLL December 17 - December 24 Sun. Third Sunday of advent Mon. Tue. Perpetual Help Prayer Group—6pm—Chapel Al-Anon/Alateen—Convent –7:15pm Wed. Our Lady’s Prayer Group—Church—7:30pm Thurs. Choir Practice—Church— 7pm Fri. Adoration—Chapel—9:30am to 5:00pm Sat. Cenacle—Chapel –9:30am Sun. Fourth Sunday of Advent See calendar article for more details on

upcoming events

Esta semana en OLL 17 Diciembre — 24 Diciembre

Domingo: Trecer Domingo de Adviento Martes: Helping Hands Grupo de Oración por la Iglesia-1pm JPC Discipulados—Capilla del Convento –7pm Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro-Chapel-6pm Al-Anon-Convento - 7:15 pm Miércoles: Nuestra Señora Grupo de Oración- Capilla– 7:30pm Ensavo del Coro-Espanol—Iglesia—7pm Jueves: Viernes: Adoration—Chapel—9:30am to 5pm Sab: Cenacle—Chapel—9:30am Domingo: Cuarto Domingo de Adviento

TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION Last week, we looked at a form of nativity scene called a presip-io, characterized by framing the crèche of Jesus with a vast array of personalities and a rich geo-graphical context. The tradition

was carried to the New World, and finds very rich expression in Latin America today. While in Europe the presepio was reserved mostly to the homes of wealthy nobles and great churches, in Latin America it was claimed by the poor and expressed the skills of native artisans. In Mexico, you can still find clay figures in every village market. In a way, the native people took the religion of Spanish rule and baptized it with their Indian culture by surrounding the crib of Jesus with local geography and people. In Brazil, where Christmas falls in summer, the figure of the baby Jesus is wrapped in gold and gems, and set on a hillside surrounded by flowers and animals of all kinds. Sometimes there is a double presepio, present-ing both Nativity and Crucifixion. In some places in Latin America, even non-religious people take care to have a presepio in the home, sometimes dedicating one whole room in the house or apartment to the scene. Some cities have markets where people from the countryside sell plants and figurines. In Cuzco, churches and families provide hot chocolate for the children of the poor who come down to help create the nativity scenes. In Paraguay, the baby Jesus grows--the small infant who arrives on Christmas Eve is replaced at New Year with a toddler Jesus who holds in one hand the globe and in the other a cross. Few Christmas traditions have the vitality and variety of presepios and crèches honor-ing the Nativity.

TRADICIONES DE NUESTRA FE

El día 16 de diciembre comienza la Novena de Aguinaldos en Colombia y otras

partes de Latinoamérica. La novena consiste en 9 partes que se repiten por 9 noches: 1- Oración inicial 4- Reflexión del día 2- Oración Mariana 5- Gozos 3- Oración de José 6- Oración al Niño Jesús 7- Un Salmo 8- Invocación final 9- Villancicos (cantos navideños) Los participantes buscan aguinaldo (regalo). Para esto los colombianos tienen la costum-bre de jugar "pajita en boca" buscando quien no trae una pajita en boca. La persona que no pueda mostrar que trae pajita en boca tiene que dar un regalo a quien lo descubrió. Los aguinaldos son recuerdo del regalo que nos dio Dios en su Hijo Jesús, prenda de su amor. Y si Dios nos da un aguinaldo tan grande es porque Dios no tiene pajita en boca cuando nos dice que nos ama. En el corazón de la Novena está el refrán de Gozos: Dulce Jesús mío / mi niño adorado ven a nuestras almas / ven no tardes tanto. Muy buen mensaje para el Adviento. --Fray Gilberto Cavazos-Glz, OFM, Copy-

¡ALÉGRATE! ¡Isaías realmente nos proclama una buena nueva! La venida del Señor no trae tristeza, culpa, miedo, ira ni condena. No, la venida del Señor es fuente de júbilo y consuelo. No basta con decirlo una vez, las lecturas de hoy están llenas de júbilo. El Magníficat de María reemplaza a nuestro salmo hoy y nuestra segunda lectura nos anima a alegrarnos, dar gracia y rendir alabanza. Éste es el significado principal de la palabra griega para eucaristía. Se nos insta a alegrarnos y dar gracias, porque la venida del Señor trae júbilo, curación, libertad, perdón y vindi-cación. ¡Hace que la tierra eche brotes de vida nueva! ¡Buenas no-ticias! Copyright (c) J. S. Paluch Co., Inc.

Queridos amigos, Tengo buenas noticias para ti. El Padre Andrew Spyrow, el Vicario Parroquial en St. Raphael's, tomará mi lugar aquí en OLL como Administrador mientras estoy en Sabbatical. No podría estar más feliz. Conozco al padre Andrew desde hace varios años y me sentará muy bien.

Además de saber un poco de español, es capellán del departamento de policía de San Rafael. El padre Andrew me dijo que su madre murió el 9 de diciembre y que él está ocupado con su funeral. También me dijo que su papá está en proceso de muerte. Por favor, mantenga al Padre Andrew y a la familia Spyrow en sus oraciones durante este momento difícil. Bienvenido a bordo, padre Andrew. Espero que sean felices aquí durante los próximos seis meses. Espero que conozcas a la gente aquí y te enamores de ellos como yo. ¡Que tengas una gran semana de Adviento! Padre Brian

LECTURAS DE HOY Primera lectura -- Regocíjense en el Espíritu del Señor que nos trae buenas noticias (Isaías 61:1-2a, 10-11). Salmo -- Se alegra mi espíritu en Dios mi Salvador (Lc 1:46-50, 53-54). Segunda lectura -- ¡Alégrense! Conserven su integri-dad en el Espíritu y guárdense sin mancha hasta la veni-da del Señor (1 Tesalo-nicenses 5:16-24). Evangelio -- Cuando preguntan a Juan Bau-tista quien es, dice, "Soy la voz que grita en el desierto" (Juan 1:6-8, 19-28). Salmo responsorial: Leccionario Hispanoamericano Dominical (c) 1970, Comisión Episcopal Española. Usado con permiso. Todos los derechos reser-vados.

LECTURAS DE LA SEMANA Lunes: Jer 23:5-8; Sal 72 (71):1-2, 12-13, 18-19; Mt 1:18-25 Martes: Jue 13:2-7, 24-25a; Sal 71 (70):3-4a, 5-6ab, 16-17; Lc 1:5-25 Miércoles: Is 7:10-14; Sal 24 (23):1-4ab, 5-6; Lc 1:26-38 Jueves: Cant 2:8-14 o Sof 3:14-18a; Sal 33 (32):2-3, 11-12, 20-21; Lc 1:39-45 Viernes: 1 Sm 1:24-28; 1 Sm 2:1, 4-8abcd; Lc 1:46-56 Sábado: Mal 3:1-4, 23-24; Sal 25 (24):4-5ab, 8-10, 14; Lc 1:57-66 Domingo: 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Sal 89 (88):2-5, 27, 29; Rom 16:25-27; Lc 1:26-38