MASSES FOR THE WEEK Saturday: December 23, 2017-5:30pm

†Manuel C. Garza

De parte de Imelda C. Garza y familia

†Ricky Vasquez

De parte de su familia

†Juan Rodriguez y Teresa Martinez

De parte de su hija Virginia y familia

†Noel Pena Jr.

De parte de Bobbie Nix

†Gilberto Cortez (29th Ann.)

De parte de su familia

†Teresa San Miguel (7th Ann)

De parte de su familia

†Guadalupe, Manuel Sr, Manuel Jr. Rodriguez

De parte de Hilda G. Garza

†Manuel Carrillo

De parte de Mr & Mrs Vern Carillo

†Elva Rodriguez

De parte de Rudy & Diana Calderon

†Ted Byington

De parte de Mr & Mrs Pedro Hernandez

†Elva G. Rodriguez

De parte del club Gardenia

†Alberto Garza Jr.

Requested by Mr & Mrs Pedro Hernandez

†Carlos Zapata

Requested by Mr & Mrs Beto Cavazos

Sunday: December 24, 2017 – 7:30am

†Arnoldo Perez

De parte de la familia Perez, Guevara y Garza

†Maria Olga Sanchez

De parte de Sr. y Sra. Amadeo Ramos

SUNDAY: December 24, 2017 – 10:00am

†Albert Garza

Requested by Tom & Mary Ann Colin

Sunday: December 24, 2017 – 12:00 Noon

†Nicolasa Q. Garcia

Requested by Rebeca Munoz Cortez

†Salvador Barrera Sr. (47th Ann.)

Requested by his Family

†Filemon Esquivel Sr.

Requested by his wife Rosie Esquivel & Family

†Plutarco Cantu Jr.

Requested by the Cantu Family

†Sovieda Garza & Natalia Alvarez

Requested by their cousin, Alma Flores

†Martin Hinojosa (Birthday Remembrance), Rita Hinojosa

(Anniversary) & Rodolfo Hinojosa (Merry Christmas in Heaven)

Requested by their Family

Monday: December 25, 2017, 2017 CHRISTMAS (Holy Day of

Obligation)

12:00 Midnight

For the People of the Parish

10:00am

†Gilberto S. & Maria A. Garcia & Larry G. Garcia

Requested by Dr. Gilbert S. Garcia Jr.

†Homero P. Garza

Requested by the Family

†Lucia & Antonio Zuniga

Requested by the Sanchez Family

†Ted Byington

Requested by Dora Byington

†Deacon Arturo Flores

Requested by Mary Flores & Family

†Joel T. Garcia

Requested by Deacon Butcho & Norma Garcia

†Carlos G. Zapata (Ann.)

Requested by the Family

†Maria Olga Sanchez

Requested by the Benavidez Family

†Nico Garcia

Requested by Tom Herrera

†Pedro Jaramillo

Requested by Joseph Villarreal

In remembrance of the wedding anniversary of Juan & Soila

Lozano

Requested by Juan Lozano & Family

Tuesday: December 26, 2017, 2017 – 6:30am

For those who are grieving

Wednesday: December 27, 2017 - 6:30am

†Pedro Montalvo

Requested by Mrs.Tila Silguero & Family

†Manuel Carrillo

Requested by David Mata

†Ted Rosales (10th Anniversary)

Requested by Family

Thursday: December 28, 2017 6:30am

†Ofelia & Fortunato Vera

Requested by Mary Flores & Family

Friday: December 29, 2017-6:30am

†Manuel Carrillo

Requested by David Mata

†Felix D. Rodriguez (Birthday Remembrance)

Requested by Wife & Sons, Estela, C.D. & Steven

Saturday: December 30, 2017

No Morning Mass

Fourth Sunday of Advent

December 24, 2017 The child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.—Luke 1:35

Last week offering:

Loose: $2,606.70

Envelope: $1,883.25

Total: $4,489.95

0

++

Prayers for the sick We pray for the following who need

healing: Roberto Ramos, Tana Torres,

Matilde Mayorga, Lou Ann Reyes, Vangie

Longoria, Elva G. Rodriguez, Maria Nury

Zapata, Edna Morales, Grace Morales,

Robert Morales, Nilda G. Loera, America

Crouse, Sarita Mendietta, Lela Guzman,

Carmen Rios, Cissy Cortez, Joey M. Rios,

Alex Olivarez, Mary Castro, Irma Zamora,

Mary Lou Garza, Consuelo Perez, Joe Garza,

Petrolino Esquivel, Clarissa De La Paz,

Marcus Alonzo Castilla, Annette Galvan

Espinoza, Omelia Tijerina. Yolanda De La

Paz. Joel Salazar, Israel Mendietta, Martina

Constante, Daniel Cavazos Jr. & Carolina

Ruiz, Audelia Vargas, Carmen Arredondo, Al

Luera, Toni Garcia, George Perez, Max

Arriaga, Juan Trejo Sr., Emma Garza,

Adelmo Luera Jr, Adelmo Luera, Diana

Serna, Margarito Olivarez, Middy Munoz,

Adan Munoz Jr, Hector & Maria Trevino,

Norma Gonzalez, Sylvia Muniz, Horacio R.

Solis, Lisa Munoz, Joel Rivera, Angie

Moreno, Elvira Molina, Rosa Moya,

Ambrosio Salazar, Teresa Zapata .

We pray for all those who are sick on our

list and for those whose names are written

on the heart of Our Lord Jesus.

Sanctuary Candle Donated in memory of

Armando C. Jaimes

From his family &

In memory of

Juan, Maria, Lupita, Anita &

Manuel Carrillo &

Santiago & Ascension Garcia

December 23rd & 24th

Lectors & Commentators: 5:30pm Mary Ann Colin & Emma Ramos 7:30am Maria Teresa Torres

10:00am Audrey Lambert

Noon Felipe & Irma Leal

Altar Servers

5:30pm Mateo, John Michael

7:30am Bianca, Veronica

10:00am Victoria, Domanick, Lily

Noon Emily, Aidan

Extra-Ordinary Minsters

5:30pm Victor Montez, Sister

7:30am Mary Delbosque

10:00am Joe & Dawn Mireles

Noon Ben Merino

Ushers/Hospitality

5:30pm Adolfo Silva

7:30am Mon Aguilar, Roque Loera, Frank Najera, Alejandro Deleon

10:00am Diana Ochoa, Eddie Ochoa & Youth

Noon Patsy Rios

December 30th & 31st

Lectors & Commentators 5:30pm TBA 7:30am Manuel Ramirez

10:00am Greg Hopper

Noon Felipe & Irma Leal

Altar Servers

5:30pm Christian, Diego

7:30am Danielle, Debra

10:00am Jordan, Jacob, Jason

Noon Diane, Sofia, Joey

Extra-Ordinary Minsters

5:30pm Emma Ramos, Sister

7:30am Griselda Trevino, Benita Sanchez

10:00am Connie Herrera, Carmela Alvarez

Noon Carmen Mayorga

Ushers/Hospitality

5:30pm Adolfo Silva

7:30am Mon Aguilar, Roque Loera, Frank Najera, Alejandro Deleon

10:00am Diana Ochoa, Eddie Ochoa & Youth

Noon Patsy Rios & Youth Group Members

We thank all our Ministries for Loving God, Growing in Grace and Serving His People!

Tuesday:Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59; Ps

31:3cd-4, 6, 8ab, 16bc, 17; Mt

10:17-22

Wednesday:1 Jn 1:1-4; Ps 97:1-2,

5-6, 11-12; Jn 20:1a, 2-8

Thursday:1 Jn 1:5 — 2:2; Ps 124:2-

5, 7cd-8; Mt 2:13-18

Friday:1 Jn 2:3-11; Ps 96:1-3, 5b-

6; Lk 2:22-35

Saturday:1 Jn 2:12-17; Ps 96:7-

10; Lk 2:36-40

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 11:8, 11-12, 17-19; Lk 2:22-40 [22, 39-40]

SPENDING TIME WITH GOD WEEKLY & DAILY DEVOTIONS AT ST. MARTIN

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION

EVERY THURSDAY

6:00PM IN THE CHAPEL

PARISH OFFICE

WILL BE CLOSED

FOR THE

CHRISTMAS

HOLIDAYS

WILL OPEN

ON THURSDAY

DECEMBER 28

CHAPLET OF DIVINE MERCY

EVERY DAY

3:00PM IN THE CHURCH

†

JMJ

THE BIRTH OF CHRIST, OUR SAVIOR

The Birth of Christ is the great manifestation of the love that God, the Father has for us, His sons

and daughters. In His love we can appreciate two aspects that are especially important.

The first aspect is the mercy that the Father manifests to us in sending His Son to encounter the torn

humanity, living in shadows of death, to heal and to make them recognize Him as their Savior.

We often talk about the great mercy of God, referring to the moment in which Christ died on the Cross:

beaten, humiliated, stripped of his garments; having his body destroyed, for this reason the Prophet

expressed that his aspect was not of a man, but of a worm… But not only on the Cross did Jesus

suffer, but also since His birth: his situation was poverty: his Parents travelled far from their home to

accomplish what was ordered by the Roman Emperor: everybody had to register themselves in the

place that they were born. Mary and Joseph did not find a place in the Inn, in Bethlehem, and she

was to soon give birth… there was no where they could be safe from the cold weather and away from

people of bad behavior.

Where Mary and Joseph went urged for the selfishness of the people that they knew, or some

relatives that did not offer them a little space in their homes, even after seeing them poor, and rejected.

What suffering it must have been for Joseph to take his spouse, Mary, to an abandoned stable, with

animals roaming about… The King of kings that could be born in a palace, chose humility, to identify

Himself with the poor, the ones who had nothing, the ones that were rejected by the society.

What would Joseph do, when they arrived to that dirty stable? Perhaps he would get some

branches of trees, that would serve as a broom to clean a little corner. And start a fire with pieces of

dry bark from trees, that he would find in the place and prepare a manger, putting on it the straw.

(hay) The curtains of the place might have been spider webs, that at the birth of Christ, surely gave

brilliant and splendorous light. Why dear Father from Heaven, did you permit so much stress and

difficulties, so much sacrifice to your Son and his holy parents, Mary and Joseph?

The answer is evident for the ones that have faith: with the humility of Jesus, you wanted to heal

out pride or prepotency, with his poverty, pour ambition of material possessions ; with His incredible

patience and acceptance of the Divine Will, you wanted to heal our rebellions and help us to learn to

live doing the will of the Father in Heaven.

A second important aspect is the transformation of what Jesus “touches.” With Jesus’ Birth, He

made of a stable a place, of the marvelous deeds of God… a Temple of adoration to the true God….

Certainly, as we have said: A stable was the worst place for Jesus to be born, but the ones who went

to see Him and adore Him, as did the Shepherds and wise magi… and let themselves be touched by

Him, his love transformed them.

To many people that meditate on the Baby of the manger and the Messiah-Redeemer, that hung

from the Cross for our love, have transformed them… Our redeemer will do the same with us, if we

let Him transform us in witnesses of his love and mercy.

BLESSED CHRISTMAS IN THESE HOLY DAYS FOR YOU, YOUR FAMILIES, AND ALL OF THE

PEOPLE THAT YOU LOVE!!!

Sister Celia Compoy, MDPVM

SCRIPTURE &

COFFEE 9:00am

Every Thursday

This week at

Hilda Garza’s home

611 E. Aislie Apt E #1

(South Park Apts) All Are Welcome!

December Dates

to Remember

CCD classes are on

holiday break.

Sunday classes

resume on Jan. 7

and Wednesday

classes resume on

Jan. 10.

CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE

December 25 – 12:00 Midnight

December 25 – 10:00am

TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION

Children of the parish are somewhat focused on Santa Claus these days, who is keeping an eye on who’s naughty

and who’s nice. Santa Claus, with his heavenly patron Saint Nicholas, has been more or less in charge of gift-giving to

American children for a hundred years or so. In other places, perhaps more attentive to our Christian tradition, there

are different gift-bearers. In Greece, Saint Basil delivers the presents on his feast day, December 31, and makes sure

everyone is sprinkled with holy water. The Baby Jesus is in charge elsewhere, called the Christkind in Austria and

Belgium, El Niño Jesús in Columbia, and Le Petit Jesus in France, where he shares his duties with Père Noël. In the Czech

Republic almost everyone is atheist, but Ježíšek, the infant Jesus, brings gifts to one and all. In Poland the “Star Man” is

said to bring the gifts, although often he turns out to be the village priest in disguise. Saint Nicholas, not his

Americanized cousin, is the giver in Holland, where he wears a bishop’s miter, and in Russia, where he wears a bishop’s

crown. Soviet Russia tried to dethrone Saint Nicholas and promote Grandfather Frost, but no one was much fooled by

this attempt to squeeze religion out of Christ’s birth. One country has a saintly woman in charge of the gifts, Saint Lucy,

honored in Sweden on December 13, when children serve their parents breakfast in bed, and others awake to news

that they have been nominated for a Nobel Prize. Some children have a second round of gifts on Epiphany, when the

magi assume the gift-giving duties. In general, the gifts of Christmas are simple pleasures, not great heaps of treasures.

Once upon a time, a new pair of socks or an orange was enough for us. No matter what gifts we receive, all of them are

to point us to the true gift, and the true giver.

—Rev. James Field, Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.