Saint Mary Roman Catholic Church
94 Walnut Road, P.O. Box 189, Hamburg, PA 19526-0189
A Parish Blessed by St. John Neumann
Founded 1854
Rev. Donald W. Cieniewicz, Pastor
Mr. Harry G. Gordon, Permanent Deacon
Mrs. Brenda Cordier, Religious Education/PREP
Mrs. Laura Ludovici, Parish Office
Mr. Robert Lesnefsky, Director of Music
Mrs. Marie Dinich, Financial Secretary
Website: www.rc.net/allentown/stmaryhamb
Email
Parish: [email protected]
Pastor: [email protected]
PREP: [email protected]
Office:
94 Walnut Road (Tilden Twp.)
Phone: 610-562-7657
FAX:
610-562-0379
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9:30AM-2:00PM
Rectory: 100 Walnut Rd., P.O. Box 189
610-562-4251
OUR MISSION
To invoke the prayers and intercessions of the Blessed Virgin
Mary, our patroness, as we seek to be drawn ever more deeply
into the Paschal Mystery and the life of her Son, Jesus Christ.
To provide the sacraments, liturgical services, pastoral guidance, and religious education for Catholic Christians in Northern Berks County.
To provide opportunities to parishioners of all ages and abilities to share their time, talents and treasure through religious
and social programs.
To support those in need through prayer, outreach and good
works.
To manage the tangible assets of the parish with prudent administration through the cooperation of the pastor and the
laity.
MASS SCHEDULE:
Saturday Vigil: 4:30PM
Sunday: 8:00AM & 10:45AM
Daily: Tuesday, 7:00PM
Wednesday-Friday, 9:00AM
Eucharistic Devotions: Monday, 7:00 PM
Holydays of Obligation: 7:00 AM & 7:00 PM
Confessions: Saturday 3:45-4:15PM and 15 mins. before
daily Mass or anytime by appointment.
To encourage participation in the inter-faith services and unite
with all persons of good will in matters of faith and moral
living.
“Every year we celebrate the holy season of Advent,
O God. Every year we pray those beautiful prayers
of longing and waiting, and sing those lovely songs
of hope and promise.”
DIOCESAN VICTIM ASSISTANCE COORDINATOR:
Ms. Wendy S. Krisak, M.A., NCC, LPC.
Confidential Telephone: 800-791-9209
—Karl Rahner
To be an asset to the Hamburg and Northern Berks Area and
the Diocese of Allentown.
DIOCESAN SAFE ENVIRONMENT COORDINATOR:
Sister Meg Cole, S.S.J.
Phone: 610-289-8900, ext. 222
FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
December 21, 2014
Our Advent journey is
nearly complete. Today we
heard that the angel Gabriel
greeted the Virgin Mary, and
she accepted the invitation to
become the mother of God's
Son. Just as Mary welcomed
the Son of God in her womb,
so too, are we to welcome Him
into our lives. Mary is our example of pure faith.
Our readings are all about promises made and
fulfilled. In the first reading we heard that the Lord
promised David an heir that would make His kingdom
steadfast. That very promise was fulfilled as the
Blessed Virgin Mary, betrothed to Joseph of the house
of David, said "Yes" to the invitation to be the Mother
of Jesus. Mary's "yes" is to be the model for our "yes"
to God in what is asked of us. God asks so little of us,
dare we respond in any way other than a complete
and heartfelt "yes"?
Let our lives echo the words of today's responsorial psalm, "For ever I will sing the goodness of the
Lord," as we say "Yes" to God!
“For ever I will sing the
goodness of the Lord”
—Psalm 89
MINISTERS OF THE ALTAR, CHRISTMAS, Dec. 24 & 25, 2014
Altar Servers
4:30PM:
E Ludovici, G Cairnie, S Barter, K Herbert
10:00PM:
S Cordier, C Goerner, N Kopp
10:00AM:
Q Bucheit, A Macbeth, V Castellitto
Lector
Eucharistic Ministers
4:30PM: M Cairnie
P Hume, K Kurtz, M Muncy, C Weyer
10:00PM: W Atkinson
S Churgai, C Montes, D Cordier
10:00AM: T Drogalis
D LaMastra, C Dunlap, G Einsel
CHRISTMAS SERVING NOTES: Christmas Eve, 4:30
Mass, Altar Servers should report by 4:00PM!
LECTORS for ALL 3 Christmas Masses should prepare
the reading from MIDNIGHT MASS.
MINISTERS OF THE ALTAR, Next Week, December 27 & 28, 2014
Altar Servers
4:30PM:
M Reinhart, A Behm
8:00AM:
A Winnick, C Compinski, J Gattone
10:45AM:
V Castellitto, C Goerner, A Macbeth
Lector
Eucharistic Ministers
4:30PM: L Ludovici
M Bachman, C Dunlap, K Kurtz
8:00AM: M Cairnie
T Kleckner, D LaMastra, N Rogers
10:45AM: T Drogalis
R Mucci, P Hume, S Knopf
Mass Intentions for the Week
Monday, December 22
Late Advent Weekday
7:00PM
Devotions & Communion Service
Tuesday, December 23
St. John of Kanty, Priest
7:00PM
+ Mary Jo Gibson
Wednesday, December 24 Christmas Eve
+ Ernest Gibson
4:30PM
10:00PM
Parishioners of St. Mary
Thursday, December 25 Christmas Day/Nativity of
the Lord
10:00AM
+ Stephen Bonkoski
Friday, December 26
St. Stephen, 1st Martyr
9:00AM
+ Holy Souls in Purgatory
Saturday, December 27
St. John, Apostle & Evangelist
Sunday, December 28
Feast of the Holy Family
4:30PM(Vigil)
+ Sharon Miller
8:00AM
+ Albert Rodgers
10:45AM
+ Jean Posusney
READINGS FOR THE WEEK
Monday: 1 Sm 1:24-28; 1 Sm 2:1, 4-8abcd; Lk 1:46-56
Tuesday: Mal 3:1-4, 23-34; Ps 25:4-5ab, 8-10, 14; Lk 1:57-66
Wednesday: 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Ps 89:2-5, 27, 29; Lk 1:67
-79
Thursday: Vigil: Is 62:1-5; Ps 89:4-5, 16-17, 27, 29; Acts 13:16-17,
22-25; Mt 1:1-25 [18-25] Night: Is 9:1-6; Ps 96:1-3, 11-13; Ti 2:11
-14; Lk 2:1-14 Dawn: Is 62:11-12; Ps 97:1, 6, 11-12; Ti 3:4-7; Lk
2:15-20 Day: Is 52:7-10; Ps 98:1-6; Heb 1:1-6; Jn 1:1-18 [1-5, 914]
Friday: Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59; Ps 31:3cd-4, 6, 8ab, 16bc, 17; Mt
10:17-22
Saturday: 1 Jn 1:1-4; Ps 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12; Jn 20:1a, 2-8
Sunday: Sir 3:2-6, 12-14 or Gn 15:1-6; 21:1-3; Ps 128:1-5 or Ps
105:1-6, 8-9; Col 3:12-21 [12-17] or Hb 1:8, 11-12, 17-19; Lk 2:22-40
[22, 39-40]
PARISH CALENDAR
Sunday, December 21—Sunday, December 28
Sunday:
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:
Saturday:
Sunday:
PREP, levels K-Confirmation, 9AM
Blood pressures after all Masses
NO HSIM EXERCISE!
Eucharistic Adoration 6PM
(before Mass)
PARISH OFFICE OPEN, 9:30AM-12NOON
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
NO HSIM EXERCISE!
PARISH OFFICE CLOSED
Youth Meeting, 5:30PM
NO PREP!
FLOWERS before the
Tabernacle
are given in loving memory
of all those enrolled in the
Parish Memorial Fund.
CELEBRATIONS OF ADVENT
AND CHRISTMAS:
ADVENT TUESDAYS: 6PM
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament; 7PM Mass
ADVENT RECONCILIATIONevery Saturday from 3:45 until
4:15PM; Advent Sundays from 7:30
until 7:45AM; before each daily Mass in the pastor's office; anytime by appointment.
CHRISTMAS MASSES: Think 4:30, 10 & 10! CHRISTMAS EVE special children's liturgy at 4:30PM. (Children's
choir begins at 4PM.) Christmas Eve Mass will be offered
at 10PM (choir selections at 9:30PM). CHRISTMAS morning Mass will be offered at 10AM.
(Please note: there is no 8AM Mass at Christmas.)
CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR CHILDREN: Children are
invited to bring a new unwrapped gift for an infant or
child from a needy family to the Christmas Masses. These
gifts will be distributed through pro-life organizations
Mary's Shelter and Lifeline of Berks.
NEW YEAR’S MASSES for the Solemnity of Mary:
Think 4:30PM (on the Eve) & 10AM (in the morn)!
THANKS to the Burkey & Driscoll Funeral Home for
sponsoring the parish calendars for 2015. Calendars are
available in the church lobby.
BULLETIN INFORMATION DEADLINE: Information for
the January 4 bulletin is due by December 22.
BVM PILGRIM STATUE: Dec 20-27: S Walley; Dec 27-Jan
3: A&J Barter; Jan 3-10: C Bewley. Please call the next
host family on the schedule as a courtesy reminder.
PRAY FOR DECEASED PRIESTS: Dec 21: Rev. Francis
Donnelly (1974); Dec 22: Rev. Charles Walsh (1969); Dec
27: Rev. Michael Sverchek (1997)
WOMEN'S GUILD and HOLY NAME ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP DRIVES are underway by way of the dues envelope
included in the January envelope packet. Your membership and support of these organizations benefits the parish in many ways. If you do not receive envelopes, you
may forward your $5 membership dues to the parish office.
Want to keep Christ in Christmas?
•
Feed the hungry
•
Clothe the naked
•
Forgive the guilty
•
Welcome the stranger and the unwanted child
•
Care for the ill
•
Love your enemies
•
And go to Mass!
OCTAVE OF CHRISTMAS: The octave includes a celebration of eight
days- the day of Christmas and
seven more days. The message is too
important to restrict to a one-day
celebration. The octave concludes on
the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of
God, on New Year’s Day. The days of
the Octave include:
December 26: St. Stephen, the First Martyr
December 27: St John the Apostle and Evangelist
December 28: Feast of the Holy Family
December 29: Fifth Day of the Octave
December 30: Sixth Day of the Octave
December 31: Seventh Day of the Octave
January 1: Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God and
World Day of Peace
LIFE THOUGHT - The rapid approach of Christmas beckons us to
reflect on the Incarnation. Christmas is not only the Feast of Christ’s
birth, but the celebration of the entire mystery of God taking on a human nature – beginning with the event narrated in today’s Gospel of Christ
being conceived in Mary’s womb. God even became an
unborn child. Human life was already sacred because it
always was and is God’s creation, made in love. This affects all who share human nature, even the children still
in the womb. That is why Evangelium Vitae makes the
following assertion: “Life, especially human life, belongs
only to God: for this reason whoever attacks human life, in
some way attacks God Himself.”
The fact that Mary was not expecting to carry a
child, and was troubled at the greeting, also leads us to
reflect on the Providence of God. No unexpected pregnancy has ever affected history so profoundly. Respect all
life. "Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us."
YOUNG ADULTS GATHERING: City Lights Comedy Night
will take place at St. Joseph the Worker Parish Center,
1879 Applewood Drive, Orefield, from 8 - 11PM on Saturday, January 10, 2015. Join in an evening of food and fun,
an opportunity to meet Bishop Barres, and music and
laughter provided by comedy duo Dave & Brian. The
event is $10/person, which includes appetizers and nonalcoholic beverages (cash bar available, please bring
valid ID). The attire is classy casual (no jeans, t-shirts, or
sneakers). Pre-registration is required by visiting allentowndiocese.org/citylights. Any questions, contact The
Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry at [email protected].
OFFICE HOURS FOR DECEMBER 26: The parish office
will be closed on Friday, December 26.
CEREAL COLLECTION continues...in
support of the Northern Berks Food Pantry, we continue to collect cereal, any
kind, any brand!
YOUTH GATHERING: The next youth event
(Confirmation prep through high school) will
be held on Saturday, December 27, following
the 4:30PM Mass.
CHRISTMAS WAFERS (OPLATKI) are available after
weekend Masses at the $CRIP card table and at the parish office throughout the week. The wafers are broken
and shared on Christmas Eve at the family meal, which
traditionally begins at the light of the first star in the
night sky on this most holy and joyous eve.
FOR FUN: Wives, beware! Some men volunteered at
church to set up the outdoor Nativity scene of the
Blessed Mother, St. Joseph and the Christ Child. The pastor was happy for the help in preparing for such a busy
time of the year. Soon thereafter, the pastor noticed an
unusual setting of the figures.
Usually, the Christ Child is set in the center, between Mary and Joseph. Much to the pastor’s surprise, he
found poor Baby Jesus isolated off to one side and Mary
and Joseph off to the other side with their backs to each
other. The scene made it look like poor Baby Jesus was
left to Himself as Mary and Joseph were at odds with
each other.
After a good laugh and switch of the figures to
the traditional adoring setting of the Christ Child surrounded by His loving Mother Mary and St. Joseph, it can
be reported that everyone in the Holy Family is now getting along.
Wives, be careful what you ask you husbands to
do as you prepare for Christmas…
PORK & SAUERKRAUT DINNER: New Year’s Day, January 1, 2015, at St. John Lutheran Church, Hamburg,
11:30AM – 2:30PM. Adults $8.50, children under 12 $4.
For info call June 610-562-4440.
LIFE AD: The Berks Deanery is planning its 20th
annual Life Ad to be published in the Reading
Eagle on January 22, 2015. Sponsors are asked to
contribute $6 for individuals or $12 for couples
or families (or more if your means allow). Your name will
be displayed in the ad under our parish name. Proceeds
beyond the cost of the ad go to support Mary's Shelter
and Mary's Home, which provide pro-life outreach to
pregnant women in need of housing and care. The deadline for sign-up is Sunday, January 4. To participate forward your donation (payable to St. Mary Church) to the
parish office or collection along with your name clearly
printed, as it is to appear in the ad. Last year 1,083
names were included and over $10,500 was raised.
SPONSOR OF THE WEEK:
We thank H & M Well Drilling, Inc.
610-488-9300
$CRIP: Don’t forget about the many $crip cards we carry
that make fantastic gifts! We can always order many others that we don’t carry in the box! Please see the $crip
card volunteers for a listing either before or after Masses,
or call the office. The listing of all cards available from
the Great Lakes Scrip Co. is located on the lobby kiosk, or
you can find it online on their website:
www.glscrip.com
RCIA- Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults:
An intense version of a course of study of the
Catholic faith will be offered over a threemonth period, beginning on January 6, 2015.
The course will involve participants watching
two faith sessions on the Internet and a weekly meeting
to discuss the material. A serious commitment to the program is needed, since the time for preparation is limited.
Weekly gatherings will take place each Tuesday evening
at 7:30PM. An information session will be held on Tuesday, December 30 at 7:30PM to discuss the procedures,
the schedule and resources to be used for the course.
This condensed process will be appropriate for
adults considering a profession of faith in the Catholic
Church. Catholics seeking to enrich or renew their faith
are also welcome to partake. Those interested in attending should notify Father Don as soon as possible so adequate preparations can be made. The faith information
program culminates with the celebration of the Easter
Vigil Mass.
SUPER BOWL TV RAFFLE: The Holy Name Society is sponsoring the raffle of two TVs (50 inch
and 32 inch LED) and three gift card prizes in
time for Super Bowl weekend. Tickets returns
should be made as soon as possible. Additional
tickets are available at the parish office. The winners will
be chosen on January 25. Thanks to Crossroad Technologies for sponsoring the prizes.
ST. MARY TECHNOLOGY: The parish is
already listed on Facebook. For those who
are into social media, feel free to join us for
information and news.
NEW ST. MARY APP for your phone: We
now have a PARISH APP for your phone.
The app includes features to help enrich your faith. It
includes: Parish Info (schedules, events, updates, etc.),
Pope Francis' tweets, Daily Faith info with daily readings
and saint of the day, Catholic Talk Radio broadcasts, Mass
Times Finder, Calendar, Family Profile and Directory
(secure and optional), and a parish Donate option.
The OneParish app can be downloaded immediately
via the App Store, Google Play, or by visiting
www.OneParish.com. If you wish assistance, a team will
be available to help you access and download the app
directly onto your phone after all Masses on the weekend
of January 27 and 28.
If you have questions, please contact Father Don or
Eddie Burns.
Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon
Epiphany Sunday
January 4, 2015
Ave Maria Hall at 12 Noon
All volunteers and members
of parish organizations are welcome!
Please RSVP by returning the
coupon below, or by emailing the
Parish Office at [email protected]
so that we can properly prepare for everyone.
VOLUNTEER APPECIATION LUNCHEON
Sunday, January 4 at 12Noon
NAME: _______________________________________________________________
Number Attending:
Adults: ______________ Children: _______________
KATHERINE
RIGHTMYER O’BRIEN
THOMAS J. O’BRIEN
H & M Well Drilling, Inc.
FUNERAL HOME INC.
ATTORNEYS AT LAW
400 S. 4TH STREET
HAMBURG, PA 19526
Steven C. Burkey
TEL (610) 562-2191
John Driscoll Has Been a St. Mar y Parishioner Since 1980
Director
John C. Driscoll
Supervisor
Phone: 610-562-2955 Fax: 610-562-9505
40 South Four th St., Hamburg, PA 19526
334 Bloody Spring Road
Bernville, PA 19506
Well Drilling & Repair
Pump & Tank Installations
Free Estimates
Quality, Honest & Affordable
Auto Repair Since 1969!
400 Kohler Hill Road
(610) 488-9300
Hamburg, PA 19526
610.562.4332
www.HermansadersGarage.net
Hamburg, PA
610-488-1025
Birthright
International
we love them both! ™
800-550-4900
• Free pregnancy testing
• Completely confidential help
• Non-judgemental & caring advice
• Friendship & emotional support
• Legal, medical & educational referrals
• Prenatal info • Maternity & baby clothes
• Housing referrals • Social agency referrals
• Info on other community services
• Adoption info
Come Sail Away on a 7-night Catholic Exotic Cruise
starting as low as $1045 per couple. Daily Mass and
Rosary offered. Deposit of only $100 per person
will reserve your cabin.
DENTAL OFFICE
THEODORE E.
DANDO, D.M.D.
Space is limited. Thanks and God Bless,
Office Hours By Appointment
443 State St. * Hamburg
(610) 562-7615
(610) 562-2642
Attorneys at Law
64 North Fourth St.
Hamburg, PA 19526
Tel 610-562-2000
www.mtviewsupply.com
RICHARD L.
ACE Hardware, Craftsman Tools, Red
GESCHWINDT
Wing shoes, Weber Grills,
Berks County: Ph: 610-779-6432/800-300-3007
Stihl Power Equipment
Schuylkill County: Ph: 570-385-5522/800-726-8761
ATTORNEY AT LAW
Full Rental Center - From
203 E. NOBLE AVENUE
Website: www.covenanthc.org
The Leading Faith-Based Home
Moonbounces, Chairs, Tables to Mini SHOEMAKERSVILLE, PA 19555
Health & Hospice Agency
Excavators, Lifts and Trailers
Phone: 610-562-7125
COVENANT HOME CARE
Brian or Sally, coordinators 860.399.1785
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For further information,
please call the Parish Office.
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