C O S . M

CHURCH OF ST. MONICA
413 EAST 79 STREET, NEW YORK, N.Y. 10075
RECTORY: 212-288-6250
WEBSITE: WWW.CHURCHOFSTMONICA.ORG
ASSOCIATES
REV. JOE A. FRANCIS
REV. THOMAS MANKAMTHANATH
IN RESIDENCE:
REV. APOLINARI J. NGIRWA
IN SUNDAY SERVICE
REV. RICHARD AROLD
ORGANIST &
DIRECTOR OF MUSIC
MR. DAVID SCHAEFER
CANTOR &
LEADER OF SONG
MR. JOSEPH NEAL
PASTOR:
REV. MSGR. THOMAS A. MODUGNO
SUNDAY MASSES
SATURDAY: 5:30 PM
SUNDAY 7:30, 9:00, 10:30,
12:00 PRINCIPAL LITURGY
WEEKDAYS & FIRST FRIDAYS
7:30, 9:00, 12:00 NOON
BAPTISMS & MARRIAGES:
BY APPOINTMENT.
PLEASE CONTACT A MEMBER
OF THE PARISH STAFF
WELL IN ADVANCE.
SACRAMENT
OF RECONCILIATION:
CONFESSIONS ARE HEARD
AT 5:00 ON SATURDAY
AND ANYTIME BY
APPOINTMENT.
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THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT
DECEMBER 13, 2009
TODAY’S READINGS …
First Reading — Shout for joy! Sing joyfully! Be glad and exult! The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior
(Zephaniah 3:14-18a).
Psalm — Cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel (Isaiah 12).
Second Reading — Rejoice! The Lord is near. Make your requests known to God (Philippians 4:4-7).
Gospel — John tells his hearers to share their possessions with the needy; be honest; do not threaten or accuse others falsely (Luke
3:10-18).
READINGS FOR THE WEEK …
Monday:
Nm 24:2-7, 15-17a; Mt 21:23-27
Tuesday:
Zep 3:1-2, 9-13; Mt 21:28-32
Wednesday: Is 45:6b-8, 18, 21b-25; Lk 7:18b-23
Thursday:
Gn 49:2, 8-10; Mt 1:1-17
Friday:
Jer 23:5-8; Mt 1:18-25
Saturday:
Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25a; Lk 1:5-25
Sunday:
Mi 5:1-4a; Ps 80; Heb 10:5-10; Lk 1:39-45
SATURDAY: VIGIL
5:30
Ronald Pisicchio
SUNDAY: THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT
7:30 Robert Geibler
9:00 Debbi Burdett (living)
10:30 Caroline and Peter Armetta
12:00 St. Monica Parishioners
MONDAY: ST. JOHN OF THE CROSS
7:30 Suguna Samuel
9:00 Theresa Burns
12:00 St. Agata
TUESDAY: ADVENT WEEKDAY
7:30 Elizabeth and Laszlo Huscar
9:00 Alicia Bouzon-Cordon
12:00 Holy Souls
WEDNESDAY: ADVENT WEEKDAY
7:30 Annie Zangalia
9:00 Terry and Ed Hogan (living)
12:00 Caroline Armetta
THURSDAY: LATE ADVENT WEEKDAY
7:30 Edi Martinez
9:00 Frances Marzek (15th anniversary)
12:00 Saxon Hall
FRIDAY: LATE ADVENT WEEKDAY
7:30 Linda Gill (living)
9:00 Gordon Findlay
12:00 Gerda Traber
SATURDAY: LATE ADVENT WEEKDAY
9:00 Vincent Gigante
REJOICE!
Today, the Third Sunday of Advent, is traditionally referred to as Gaudete Sunday. This is the Advent Sunday of joy.
Today’s first reading, responsorial psalm, and second reading call us to express joy in three ways. We are summoned to
“shout for joy” (Zephaniah 3:14), to “cry out with joy” (Isaiah 12:6), and to “rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians
4:4). Expressing Christian joy is quite distinct from the kind of joy we express, for instance, when our favorite sports team
wins an important game. That kind of joy is fleeting. Christian joy is an inner peace and spiritual happiness that is
developed throughout our lives and sustains us even when we struggle. It is the kind of joy that is infectious. Others can
tell that there is simply something different about us. Let us rejoice this day, for to us shall come Emmanuel.
© Copyright, J. S. Paluch Co.
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3rd Sunday of Advent (C)
STEWARDSHIP …
Welcome to St. Monica's!
The music for today's Eucharist can be found
in our hymnal on the following pages:
Entrance Hymn
O Come, Divine Messiah
196
Penitential Rite
112
Responsorial Psalm
Cry out with joy and gladness:
for among you is the great and
Holy One of Israel.
485
Gospel Acclamation
The spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring glad tidings to the poor.
114
Offertory Hymn
Creator of the Stars of Night
195
Sanctus
103
Memorial Acclamation
104
Great Amen
105
The Lord's Prayer
120
Lamb of God
188
Communion Hymn
I Am the Bread of Life
449
Recessional Hymn
On Jordan’s Bank
194
Gratitude Is Contagious
I used to volunteer at a food line. Each Friday morning, I
helped pack 250 brown-bag lunches for people who lined
up humbly in the alley behind a magnificent Gothic
cathedral. It didn’t take a lot of talent. We volunteers filled
sacks with sandwiches, a piece of fruit, a piece of string
cheese, candy or cookies, a carton of milk, and some soul
food – that is, a slip of paper printed with a Scripture
verse.
At 10:30 am., we opened the doors, prayed a blessing and
passed out lunches. My first day, I was astonished by the
poverty of the people, mostly men, mostly mentally ill,
mostly homeless. Most greeted me politely. Many thanked
me. Several said, “God bless you,” as they accepted their
food. Most did not make eye contact with me, but some
smiled. And in their smiles I thought I caught a glimpse of
the smile of Jesus Christ, who in no uncertain terms called
us to care for the poor. After a few weeks, I began to
recognize many of the faces in the food lines, and I learned
some of their names, their stories. Of course, I had
contributed money to my parish and to charitable
organizations before, but I had never felt the dirty but
warm hand of a man who slept winter nights beneath the
bumper of a car. I had never looked at the holes in the toes
of an elderly woman’s boots as she shuffled through snow.
At first, I was afraid I might be incapable of connecting
with people who were unwashed, smelly, disheveled,
sometimes drunk or drugged. But I quickly realized that
these people are more like me than different. The guys like
Peanut M&Ms in their sack lunches. A couple of them
were accompanied by their beloved dogs. They have
dreams, frustrations, and, despite their plight, a sense of
humor.
One subzero February day, for example, I shivered in the
alley talking with a middle-aged man who had survived on
the streets for years. “Cold,” I commented, trying to make
conversation, my teeth chattering. “Ma’am,” he said, “it’s
colder than a brass toilet seat on the shady side of an
iceberg.” Together, we laughed. Then he showed me the
ski mitten he had received as a Christmas gift from a
parish Jesse tree. “Somebody out there cares for me,” he
said. In that instant, I wished the person who had
contributed those mittens understood the hope they had
given. We often don’t know how deeply our good works
touch people. Volunteering one’s time permits this sort of
touching insight into the plight of people in need. When
we give of our time, we draw near the community and
become insiders in ways we can’t achieve from a distance.
Volunteering one’s time permits this sort of touching
insight into the plight of people in need. When we give of
our time, we draw near the community and become
insiders in ways we can’t achieve from a distance.
Last Week’s Collection: $ 4,398.00
Last Year’s Collection: $ 6,271.00
PLEASE REMEMBER…
Both in life and in death, we belong to the Lord.
- Romans 14
Please remember St. Monica’s Church in your will.
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SAINT JOHN OF THE CROSS (c. 1542-1591) …
AN ADVENT PRAYER …
December 14
How beautiful the experience of love for God and
neighbor, a fire deep within! How disheartening when love
suddenly cools; and our souls grow dark, our prayer arid.
How painful when misunderstanding, even rejection,
comes our way, sometimes from those we least expect. For
all such “seasons of the soul,” an inspiring fellow-pilgrim
is the poet and mystic, John of the Cross. As a young
Carmelite, he was recruited by Teresa of Avila for her
Discalced (“barefoot,” evangelical poverty) Carmelite
reform, striving to renew the Church from within after the
Protestant Reformation had led countless religious away.
John suffered unspeakably harsh abuse, even
imprisonment, from friars who rejected this reform. Yet
during these times of deepest suffering, John composed
spiritual masterpieces that still guide souls to God, their
titles reflecting his own painful yet ultimately victorious
journey: from The Dark Night of the Soul, through The
Ascent of Mount Carmel, to his Spiritual Canticle and The
Living Flame of Love. John summarized his spirituality
simply: “Put love where there is no love, and you will find
love.” —Peter Scagnelli, © Copyright, J. S. Paluch Co.
May the God of peace make us
completely holy.
May God keep us blameless in
spirit, soul and body, for the
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Forever faithful is the One who
calls us—God our Father!
Expectant, let us live in joyful hope
for the revelation of the glory
of our God and Savior, Christ Jesus!
To him be glory forever!
Come, Lord Jesus! Your grace be with us all.
—From Come, Lord Jesus by Lucien Deiss, CSSp, copyright
CHRISTMAS FLOWERS …
All registered parishioners will be receiving a flowers
offering envelope with the December mailing. Your
generosity will help to defray the cost of beautifying our
church during this blessed season. Envelopes can be place
in the special offertory box near the baptismal font.
CHURCH DECORATING …
Church decorating for Christmas will take
place on Sunday, December 20th, 2009 at
1:30pm. Help will be needed, please see
Msgr. Modugno to sign up.
1976, 1981, Lucien Deiss. Published by World Library
Publications. p. 127
BIBLE CLASSES …
To celebrate Advent, Father Joe Francis is conducting
Bible Study classes on Tuesdays from 7:00pm to 8:00pm.
The final two classes on “The Coming of Christ” will be
held on December 15 and 22. All are welcome.
SPIRITUAL BOUQUET …
Christmas Spiritual Bouquet cards are on the tables in the
rear of the church. The intention envelope can be filled out
and placed in the offertory box near the Baptismal Font.
Your intentions will be remembered in the Christmas Day
Masses celebrated here at St. Monica’s.
RETIRED SISTERS AND BROTHERS …
The Annual Collection for the retired Sisters and Brothers
of the Archdiocese will be taken up in every parish on
December 12 & 13, 2009. The proceeds will help defray
the cost of providing good care for the Sisters and Brothers
who have devoted their lives to the care of others.
CATHOLIC CHARITIES …
CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE
PENANCE SERVICE
Individual confessions
Wednesday, December 23rd @ 7:30 pm
MASSES
Thursday, December 24th - Christmas Eve
Vigil Mass @ 5:30pm
Lessons and Carols @ 11:00pm
Concelebrated Midnight Mass
Friday, December 25th - Christmas Day
7:30am, 9:00am, 10:30am and 12Noon
Thursday, December 31st - New Year’s Eve
Vigil Mass @ 5:30pm
Friday, January 1st - New Year’s Day
7:30am, 9:00am, and 12Noon
Feeding the Hungary and Sheltering the Homeless.
Emergency food programs serve more than 5 million
meals a year throughout the New York metropolitan area.
Moe than 3,000 families and individuals were helped to
avoid evictions and stay in their homes, emergency shelter
was provided 1,500 individuals and (transitional and
permanent) apartments for more than 2,000 households. To
learn more: www.cathoiccharitiesny.org
2010 CHURCH CALENDARS…
We are grateful to John Krtil Funeral Home for their
donation of calendars for the year 2010. The calendars will
be available in the back of the church
SPECIAL DEVOTIONS
Rosary: Weekdays after the Noon Mass
Holy Hour: First Friday of each month after the Noon Mass
Devotions: Miraculous Medal on Mondays after each Mass
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