FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT, NOVEMBER 30, 2014
Random thoughts...
The early church lived during a critical
transition from expecting the imminent
return of Jesus to a more long-haul
understanding of God’s plan in history.
Today’s Gospel is one of many passages
that describe the church as a household
keeping watch for its master’s return.
Members are to be alert but also busy
doing their assigned tasks. Paul’s early
letters caution against idleness or
inactivity. Jesus will hold everyone
accountable, so stay awake and at your
posts, for the Lord might come at any
moment.
As it became clear that a delayed
Second Coming meant the mission of
Jesus had become the life of the church
for generations to come, the call to stay
alert did not diminish. Watchfulness went
to the heart of Christian faith. We are to
pray always, watch for signs of the Lord’s
presence and activity in the world. The
work of redemption is not a single
culminating harvest at the end of time, but
the gradual work of sowing God’s word,
cultivating communities of quality,
peacemaking and reconciliation in the
name of Jesus.
Advent reminds us that we are
gatekeepers and watchers, household
servants who keep the lamps trimmed and
the fires burning as a way of life, a
spirituality of mindfulness and vigilance.
Parents who leave a light on in the hall for
a son or daughter coming in late know the
anxious edge of watchfulness. Anyone
who has lost a loved one or must live with
lingering crisis knows the burden of
longing for resolution. We learn to pray
without ceasing when we want something
with all our hearts. Seniors find their
vocation to worry the lost sheep home as
they count the watches of the night,
fingering their beads, sitting up or in their
restless beds. This is Advent faith.
Pray the Rosary
What makes Advent joyful is that at the
end of our watchfulness is good news, a
birth announcement, new life and fresh
hope for a tired, anxious world. Jesus’
birth 2,000 years ago revealed that God is
with us, one of us. The Incarnation is a
continuous process of transformation, new
creation within the shell of the old. We are
part of the divine plan. We watch and pray
so as to be ready at all times to welcome
God’s grace in our lives, for ourselves and
for one another.
Advent spirituality can see in the dark,
can find hope when mere optimism is not
enough, interprets breakdown as
breakthrough and hears bad news as a
chance to show compassion, to
accompany others as they search for God
in suffering.
Advent people demonstrate that patience
and faith are better than anger and
cynicism in times of trouble. One leads to
wisdom, the other to burnout. They say:
Wait and see what God can make out of a
bad situation, how love over time turns
hearts of stone into hearts of flesh, how
even a small light can overcome the
darkest night.
The Christmas story we celebrate with
colored lights and pageantry forgets the
original terror of an out-of-town couple at
the 11th hour desperate to find a place to
give birth to their firstborn. This story is full
of the sound of hoof-beats and the clatter
of swords, the murder of children, the
flight into Egypt, a life of rejection and
misunderstanding.
Watch and pray. Don’t fall asleep. God
may appear at any time. Blessings flow
during the odd hours, the unexpected
moments when “nothing” happens or we
are distracted by false lights and empty
promises, absorbed and bored in shadow
and shallow, the blur of stimulation for its
own sake. Advent signals us to be ready.
Something wonderful is about to happen.
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READINGS FOR THE WEEK
Monday, December 1: Isaiah 2:1-5; Matthew
8:5-11
Tuesday, December 2: Isaiah 11:1-10; Luke
10:21-24
Wednesday, December 3: Isaiah 25:6-10;
Matthew 15:29-37
Thursday, December 4: Isaiah 26:1-6; Matthew
7:21,24-27
Friday, December 5: Isaiah 29:17-24; Matthew
9:27-31
Saturday, December 6: Isaiah 30:19-21,23-26;
Matthew 9:35-10:1,5,6-8
Sunday, December 7: Isaiah 40:1-5,9-11; 2
Peter 3:8-14; Mark 1:1-8
LECTURAS DE LA SEMANA
Lunes, Diciembre 1: Isaías 2:1-5; Mateo 8:5-11
Martes, Diciembre 2: Isaías 11:1-10; Lucas 10:
21-24
Miércoles Diciembre 3: Isaías 25:6-10; Mateo
15:29-37
Jueves, Diciembre 4: Isaías 26:1-6; Mateo
7:21,24-27
Viernes, Diciembre 5: Isaías 29:17-24; Mateo
9:27-31
Sabado, Diciembre 6: Isaías 30:19-21,23-26;
Mateo 9:35-10:1,5,6-8
Domingo, Diciembre 7: Isaías 40:1-5,9-11; 2
Peter 3:8-14; Marcos 1:1-8
COLLECTION
COLECTAS SEMANALES
COLLECTION-LA COLECTA DE LA
SEMANA PASADA FUE
$5,406.00
Consistent Giver: $323.66
TOTAL COLLECTION: $5,729.66
WEEKLY SUNDAY PLATE BUDGET: $6,635.00
SECOND COLLECTION SEGUNDA COLECCIÓN
$1,521.50
Last Week—Semana Pasada: Capital Development
This Week—Esta Semana: Faith Community
Shelter (special collection)
Next Week—Próxima Semana: for Christmas flowers
and decorations
Gracias por su generosidad ahora y durante todo el
año. We thank everyone for their generosity, now and
throughout the year.
PRAYER INTENTIONS~
ORACIONES PARA LOS ENFERMOS
Recuerde en sus oraciones—Please pray for those
who are unable to join us:
Andrea Trucco
Annie McGuire
Betsy Nicholson
Freddy Herrera
Chris Kelly
Rita Mockus
Cesar Groyon, Sr.
Linda Mauregard
John Rodriquez
Robert Borges
Elena Aspromonte
Ardith Campbell
Ed Lesnowicz
Virgina Cooper
Susie Shelton
Wilbert Patten
Gloria Patten
Matt Iden
Gino Panelli
Patty Machado
Jackie Ryan
Deanne Knapp
Erma Dalbesio
Debbie Wilson
Angelo Ross
Pedro Jose Lahoz
Richard Knapp
Lynda Sue McMath
Rance Johnson, Sr.
Ryan Brown family
Richard DePuy
Kelli DePuy
If you know someone who is in need of prayers or if
someone should be taken off the list, please call the
office at 423-4182.
INTENCIONES DE MISA + MASS INTENTIONS
Saturday, November 29
5: Catherine Bogner
Sunday, November 30
7: Byrne family
8:30: Jesse Seligman, Catherine Bogner,
Margarita Ibanez
10:30: Dolores & Leo Esposito, Seely Sumpf
12:30: Alex Acevedo, Mercedes Acevedo
Monday, December 1
8:30: Patricia Byrne
Tuesday, December 2
8:30: Connie Hanson
Wednesday, December 3
8:30: William & Nancy Graham, Bill Stuve
Thursday, December 4
8:30: Joseph & Winifred Byrne, Peter David
Doran III
Friday, December 5
8:30: John Sharp
Saturday, December 6
5: Tim & Ona Lau, int. of Rita Sullivan
Sunday, December 7
7: Byrne family, int. of Gino Panelli
8:30: Stan Prolo, Joe Frizza, Evangelina
Escobar, int. of Juanita & Mauricio Zamora
10:30: Joseph Hanich, int. of Phil & Janice
Allegri
12:30: Maria Guadalupe Ruiz, Jose y Samuel de
la Torre
DIRECTORY - DIRECTORIO
Rev. Joseph L. Occhiuto, K.H.S.: Pastor/Párroco
(423-4182 )
Deacon Hugo Patiño: Pastoral Associate/Asciado
Pastoral (423-4182)
Dan McNamara: Office Manager, Secretary,
Director de la Oficina, Secretario
(423-4182)
Lynette de Lara: Administrative Assistant and Bulletin Editor/Asistente Administrativo y Boletín Editor
(423-4182)
Kimberly Cheng: Principal, Holy Cross School (PS8 Coed), 150 Emmet St., Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(423-4447)
Sr. Barbara Ann Long, O.P., L.H.S.: Liturgy and
Music/Liturgia y Música (423-4973)
Sr. Liza Raphael, I.M.: Faith Formation, Baptism,
and Sacramental Preparation/Formación en la Fe y
la Preparación Sacramental (458-3041)
Elizabeth Borges: High School Youth Ministry/High
School Ministerio de Jóvenes (423-4182)
Frank Benko: Junior High Youth Ministry/Junior
High Ministerio de Jóvenes de Secundaria
(458-3041)
Crissy Roubal: Director, Holy Cross Preschool
(425-1782)
Toni Giovannoni: Business and Facilities Manager/
Contender y Administrador de Instalaciones
(469-3560)
Sr. Betty Pedrazzi, I.H.M.: Missión Galeria, Mission
Museum and Shop/Museo y Tienda de la Mision
(426-5686)
Newman Center: UCSC & Cabrillo College Ministry/
Ministerio Universitario-285 Meder St., Santa Cruz
(423-9400)
St. Francis Soup Kitchen: 205 Mora St. (459-6712)
Siena House Maternity Home: 108 High St.
(425-2229)
Anne McGuire: Pastoral Assistance Coordinator,
Diocese of Monterey, Promise to Protect, Pledge to
Heal – Diocesan Victim Abuse Coordinator
(1-800-321-5220)
Holy Cross Food Pantry……an item per week is all
that
RECONCILIACIÓN~ LUNES A 7 P.M.
EN LA CAPILLA CON PADRE MANNY
WELCOME TO HOLY CROSS
We are glad and grateful to have new people celebrate with us. If you would like to register at Holy Cross,
please fill out the form below and place it in the collection
basket, or mail it to the parish office.
BIENVENIDOS A HOLY CROSS
Estamos felices y agradecidos para celebrar con
nuevas personas. Si usted no está registrado, por favor
llene la siguiente forma y regrésela en la canasta de la
colecta o mándela por correo a la oficina.
NAME/
NOMBRE___________________________________
PHONE/
TELÉFONO__________________________________
ADDRESS/
DIRECCIÓN________________________________
City/Ciudad________________________ ZIP_________
{ } New Parishioner/Nuevo Miembro a la Parroquia
{ } New Address/Por Favor Corrijan Mi Dirección
{ } Please Send Me Sunday Envelopes/Envíenme Sobres
Dominicales
I WOULD LIKE TO SERVE HOLY CROSS AS A/QUIERO AYUDAR
EN LA
PARROQUIA COMO___________________________
E-MAIL _______________________________________
ADVENT SCRIPTURE STUDY
Fr. Mike is presenting a Study of St. Paul's Letter to Titus on Wednesday, December 3 and
10, in Holy Cross Hall. Titus is read at the
Christmas Midnight Mass, and this introduction
to Paul's Letter will prepare us for the great
feast of Christmas. Morning and evening sessions will be offered from 9:30 - 11 a.m. and 7 8:30 p.m.
Thursday, DECEMBER 4
Holy Cross Parish Hall
Doors open at 5:30 p.m.
First game is at 6:30 p.m.
Hope to see everyone there!
Some people have asked me for a
copy of the “Murat Clowns’ Prayer”
which a shared in last weekend’s
homily. I am happy to share that
with you.
The “Murat Clowns” are an
organization of businessmen and professionals
who donate their time visiting hospitals and
soliciting donations to hospitals for crippled
children.
The “Murat Clowns” were founded by a retired
physician who, at age eighty-seven began a
new career as a “Working Clown.” Here is a
portion of the “Murat Prayer” ….
Lord, as I stumble through this life
help me to create more laughter than tears,
dispense more happiness than gloom,
spread more cheer that despair.
Never let me grow so big that I will fail
to see the wonder in the eyes of a
child, or the twinkle in the eyes of the aged.
Never let me forget that I am a clown,
that my work is to cheer people up,
to make them happy, and to make them laugh.
And in my final moment, may I hear you
whisper: “WHEN YOU MADE MY PEOPLE
SMILE, YOU MADE ME SMILE!”
AMEN.
PARISH GIVING TREE
The Holy Cross food Pantry will
again hold its annual toy
drive. Watch for the 'Giving Tree'
at the back of the Church
Thanksgiving weekend! You will
again be asked to take a tag and
to return an appropriate toy by
December 15. The toy giveaway will take place in the parish hall on December 20 from 10
a.m. to 3 p.m. Thank you in
advance for your generosity and for all your
help in the past.
Italian Catholic Federation
Christmas Dinner
Santa Cruz ~ Branch 21
Friday, December. 5 Holy Cross Hall
6:00 p.m. Appetizers
7:00 p.m. Dinner
Members are FREE ~ Guests $15 ~ Children 12
and under $5
Menu: Appetizers, Roast Chicken, Rice Pilaf,
Garden Salad, Dessert
Please RSVP by Wednesday, December 3
Norma Wilson at 831-438-8316 or Madeline
Crews 831- 427-1642 or Send an email Roseann
Costabile at [email protected]
Santa Visit ~ Bring your child a gift wrapped
with a name tag for Santa to deliver.
Decorate your holiday table with your own
dishes if you wish. The hall will be open at 10
a.m. for you to set your table.
The parish office is in need of the following
supplies: 11x17 white paper and 8 1/2 x 11
color copy paper - (any color)
Thank You!