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Pastor Emeritus/Administrator Reverend Thomas J. Gaul gdshprd81@good-shepherd-church.org 425-1590 Deacon Deacon Pat Snyder patrickdsnyder@gmail.com 818-0801

PARISH STAFF Office Manager Janice Scott gsccad1@gmail.com 425-1590 ext. 203

Patricia Martin-Kamionka gsccdre@gmail.com 425-5617 ext.200 Office Assistant Maria Rosario gsbulletinedit@gmail.com 425-1590 ext. 202 Plant Manager Rick Underwood ardenunderwood55@gmail.com 425-1590 ext. 201 RCIA Coordinator Camille Grupy alcam116@embarqmail.com 424-6802 Liturgy Coordinator Sheila Franklin sfranklin0131@yahoo.com 260-672-3687 High School Youth Ministers Jeanette Hubbard jeanettehubbard@embarqmail.com 867-5006 Justin Shobe 584-8865 Middle School Youth Ministers Barbara Connor barbaraconnor461@gmail.com 337-378-2237 Ubaldo Herrera ubduhone@yahoo.com 884-5568 Choir Director Phil Provencher ppprovencher@gmail.com 728-8990 Nursery Coordinator Heather Augustine heatheraugustine@yahoo.com 240-418-9033 Council Chairpersons Parish Pastoral Council Ron Macaluso randpmac@yahoo.com 970-443-2883 Finance Council Steve Graybill sgraybill@nc.rr.com 429-9024

Good Shepherd Catholic Church 5050 Oak Street Hope Mills, NC 28348

(910) 425-1590 Fax (844) 270-6440 E-mail: gdshprd81@gmail.com OR

gdshprd81@good-shepherd-church.org www.good-shepherd-church.org

www.facebook.com/GSCatholicChurchHopeMills Office Hours: Monday—Thursday 9:30am-5:30pm;

Friday 9:30am-2:30pm

MASSES

Saturday Vigil………….……….………...……...5:30 pm Sunday………………….…….…….....8:30 and 11:30 am Holy Days……………….…….………12:00 and 6:30 pm Daily Mass: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday……….…......……...9:00 am First Friday/Friday……….…………….………..12:00 pm Wednesday Evening Services 5:00-5:45pm—Confessions 5:50pm—Exposition 6:00pm—Rosary 6:20pm—Evening Prayer 6:40pm—Benediction 6:45pm—Mass Reconciliation: Wednesday—5:00-5:45 pm; Saturday—4:00-5:00 pm Or by appointment.

St. Isidore Mission of Good Shepherd Deacon Nay Henriquez nayhenri@yahoo.com

email: Sanisdro@sccnc.org www.siccnc.org 4733 Macedonia Church Road

Fayetteville, NC 28312 (910) 424-2698

English Mass: 9:00 AM Misa en Espanol: 11:45 AM

Our Mission The People of Good Shepherd are dedicated to Preaching the Word of the Kingdom of God by Service to the Community and Sanctifying the One Family of Faith.

For the week of December 22-December 29, 2018

December 23, 2018

Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

5:30pm 8:30am 11:30am 5:30pm 12:00am 10:00am 9:00am 9:00am 12:00pm 5:30pm

†Sherri Anne Shedlock †Helene Mörscher People of Good Shepherd Parish For the Children †Hien and Hannah Truong †Joaquin L.G. Nauta No Mass/Office Closed No Mass/Office Closed †Gabriel Velazquez †Patrick Colletti

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Mi 5:1-4a; Ps 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19; Heb 10:5-10; Lk 1:39-45 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Ps 89:2-5, 27, 29; Lk 1:67-79 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 2:15-20Day: Is 52:7-10; Ps 98:1-6; Heb 1:1-6; Jn 1:1-18 [1-5, 9-14] Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59; Ps 31:3cd-4, 6, 8ab, 16bc, 17; Mt 10:17-22 1Jn 1:1-4; Ps 97:1-2, 5-6,11-12; Jn 20:1a, 2-8 1 Jn 1:5 -- 2:2; Ps 124:2-5, 7b-8; Mt 2:13-18 1 Jn 2:3-11; Ps 96:1-3, 5b-6; Lk 2:22-35 Sir 3:2-6, 12-14 or 1 Sm 1:20-22, 24-28; Ps 128:1-5 or Ps 84:2-3, 5-6, 9-10; Col 3:12-21 [12-17] or 1 Jn 3:1-2, 21-24; Lk 2:41-52

READINGS FOR THE WEEK Sunday: Monday: Tuesday: Wednesday: Thursday: Friday: Saturday: Next Sunday:

ALTAR FLOWERS

The altar flowers this weekend are given for the greater glory of God and in Loving Memory of Reynolds and Minnie Colton, given by the Dockery Family.

Saturday, December 22: 9:00am—Knights of Columbus Christmas Baskets 2:00pm—Christmas Pageant Rehearsal, Church 4:00pm—Confessions 5:30pm—Mass Sunday, December 23: 8:30am—Mass 9:45am—RCIA, Room 2 11:30am—Mass 12:45pm—Scapular Rite, Church No Pre-K-12th Grade Classes Monday, December 24: Christmas Eve 3:00pm—Christmas Pageant Rehearsal, Church 5:30pm—Children’s Mass 12:00am—Midnight Mass Tuesday, December 25: Christmas Day OFFICE CLOSED 10:00am—Mass Wednesday, December 26: OFFICE CLOSED NO MASS/NO Evening Services Thursday, December 27: OFFICE CLOSED NO MASS/NO Communion Service Friday, December 28: OFFICE CLOSED 12:00pm—Mass Saturday, December 29: 4:00pm—Confessions 5:30pm—Mass Sunday, December 30: 8:30am—Mass 9:45am—No RCIA, Room 10:45am—Knights of Columbus Rosary, Church 11:30am—Mass No Pre-K-12th Grade Classes

SANCTUARY LIGHT

The Sanctuary Light will illuminate the Blessed Sacrament this week in Loving Memory of Steven Wright, given by Terrie Leafstedt.

To allow the staff to celebrate the Christmas Season”, the office will be closed from Tuesday, December 25th until 9:30am, Wednesday, January 2nd.

Fr. Gaul, Deacon Pat, Parish Council, Finance Council and Staff wish all of you a Happy and safe holiday season.

Bulletin Deadline-If you are planning to submit any information for the bulletin on January 6: Please submit information bulletin NLT Thursday, December 27.

Due to Christmas holiday, the collections for the weekends of December 15/16 and 22/23 will by placed in next bulletin.

For more detailed information on the collections, please contact Steve Graybill, Finance Chair. A new format will be coming soon.

-Thank you for your continued support of our Parish and its mission to serve the people of God.

Monday, December 24: Christmas Eve 5:30pm—Christmas Eve Vigil Children’s Mass 12:00am—Christmas Midnight Mass

Tuesday, December 25: Christmas Day 10:00am—Christmas Day Mass

PRAYER FOR THE RCIA O God, we thank you for implanting the gift of faith in human hearts. We thank you for sending Jesus your Son, as the fullness of your love. May His life and mission lead us to share in Your divine life. We ask You to bless in a special way all inquirers, catechumens, and candidates, who have generously responded to the invitation of Jesus: "Come follow me.” Help them to persevere in their journey of faith despite any difficulties. Bless all those who minister through the RCIA process so that, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, they may lead others to a life of faith in Jesus Christ. Grant that all parishioners will take an active role in bringing new members into the Church. Call us all to a renewal of our faith, and inspire us all to be your light in the world. Amen

Faith Formation Grades Pre-k -12

Sunday, December 23rd and 30th — No Sessions A Very Happy and Holy Christmas! We will resume sessions on Sunday, January 6th.

The Christmas season is almost upon us. We have displayed relative adult and children ‘s items in our Library. Please stop in your Library and check them out. Maybe you will find a book to borrow!

The library is located in the first room on the left as you enter the administrative wing.

Liturgy of the Word for Children

We invite children ages 4-6 to attend the Liturgy of the Word for Children during the 11:30 Mass each Sunday.

Please Note: No Dismissal on Sunday,

The Good Shepherd Knights of Columbus Council are selling State Raffle Tickets for $5 each and can be purchased from members of the K of C. They are easily identified by their BLUE NAMETAG.

Thank you in advance for always supporting our Programs.

New Year – new Bible Study!

This January and February we will study and discuss the Books of St. James, St. Jude and St. Peter (1 & 2).

Evening Bible Study will begin on Thursday, January 10, and meet weekly from 6:30– 7:30pm.

Facilitator will be Trish Kamionka.

Please use the sign-up sheet on the Welcome Table to register.

Praying the Rosary

The Knights of Columbus will pray the Rosary on Sunday, December 31st, 10:45 am in the Church. We will honor our Parish Families on the Feast of the Holy Family. Please join us in praying for our Parish families as we begin our new year!

The Knights of Columbus Council, #8857, wish Good Shepherd Parish Parishioners and Staff a joyous Holiday Season and a Happy New Year 2019.

Christmas Baskets Thank you to everyone who donated food for our Christmas Baskets. Your generosity enabled many children and adults to enjoy a Merry Christmas.

May God Bless you.

The Knights of Columbus Council will present the children of the parish with a small gift after the Children’s Mass on Christmas Eve.

This will take the place of the Children’s Christmas Party which will not be held this year.

Christmas Pageant Rehearsal dates and times: Monday, December 24th,3:00pm followed by the Children’s Mass.

For more information contact Rayanne Herrera, 910-354-5131 r ubduhone@yahoo.com with “ATTN: Christmas Pageant” on the Subject line.

As you enter the drive to the church, you will notice a life size Nativity Scene. The Nativity Scene is 27 years old and was made by Marlene and the late Tom Kovasckitz.

Thank you to our parishioners who take the time to assemble and care for the flock throughout the year.

For Christmas you will receive the book “The Biggest Lie in the History of Christianity”, a Christmas gift from the parish to you! We hope it empowers you to live life to the fullest. Look for the Dynamic Catholic sign on the Welcome Table, December 24/25 for a copy.

Welcome to PARISH INFORMATION NEW PARISHIONERS

Welcome to our Community!

We invite you to register at the Church Office during office hours, pick up a Welcome Packet on the Welcome Table in the Gathering Area or online at: www.good-shepherd-church.org. Though a rather simple act, registration is a sign of one’s commitment and responsibility to the parish and allows the parish to know how many families live in the parish. It also provides an official record of your Active membership and is essential for participation in parish programs and sacraments. What is an Active Membership: three points determine active membership: • Registration in the parish for a sufficient period

of time and use of the envelope system in support of the parish; • Faithful attendance at Mass on Sundays and Holy Days; • Volunteer and participate in Parish activities

with time, talent, and treasure as means permit. Please note the Facilities and Services of Good Shepherd Church are available to active members. Emergencies: In cases of emergency, please contact the Parish Office during regular business hours. After hours, please call Deacon Pat at (910) 818-0801. SACRAMENTS Anointing of the Sick: Call the Church Office (910) 425-1590. Marriage: Couples are asked not to set a date for their wedding until an initial meeting with the Pastor or Deacon. Diocesan requirements mandate a minimum six-month period of preparation. Baptism: Parental participation in a program to prepare parents is required. Contact Trisha Martin-Kamionka, 910-425-5617, in the Faith Formation Office at least 3 months in advance of your desired baptismal date to make the proper arrangements. Sick and Homebound/Hospitalized: Please notify the Parish Office when someone is ill and unable to attend Mass for any significant length of time and would like to receive Holy Communion.

Bulletin Deadline: Requests are due by 12 noon on the Monday prior to the weekend the announcement is to be published. E-mail your request to: gsbulletinedit@gmail.com.

Special Needs: Handicapped accessible doors are located on the left side of the Gathering Area. Wheelchair seating is available in the front row of chairs in the Church. Cars must display a valid handicap sticker or placard to park in the reserved handicap spaces in the Church parking lot.

Moving or PCS’ing? Please come by the Parish Office to receive a free gift for safe travels.

2019 Calendars are available on a Table in the Gathering Area.

Please be sure to take one.

Vocations Chalice This weekend, Jolinda Swartout will take the Vocations Chalice home. She will place the Chalice on her table and pray the Vocations Prayer with the Chalice every day and return it next weekend.

Please help pray the Vocations Prayer that is prayed with the Chalice below.

The Prayer for Vocations: Heavenly Father, Bless your Church with an abundance of holy and zealous priests, deacons, brothers and sisters. Give those you have called to the married state and those you have chosen to live as single persons in the world, the special graces that their lives require. Help those who have embraced the consecrated life to live up to their promises. Form us all in the likeness of your Son so that in Him, with Him and through Him we may love you more deeply and serve you more faithfully, always and everywhere. With Mary we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Would your family like a chance to take the Vocations Chalice home for a week? A sign-up sheet is available on the Welcome Table.

Anointing of the Sick Are you baptized and getting ready to have surgery? Just diagnosed with a short term, long term or serious illness? Ask to be anointed. If you would like to be anointed, call Janice Scott in the Office, 425-1590. If you have been anointed by Fr. Gaul either before, during or after Mass in the past, please notify Janice in the Office with name and date of anointing as she will need to record your information in the Sick Call Register. Thank you.

Parish Fasting- For the Life and Healing of the Parish, Father Gaul has asked us to Fast each Wednesday of

the week. Please remember that you can do a full fast, a partial fast or other type of self-denial. Parish Healing- Would you like to help build the parish and allow us to heal? Help the parish grow by inviting someone you know who has fallen away from the church to come to Mass with you one weekend. Or invite someone new who is not Catholic. God is always calling new people to him and asking us to live out our baptismal call. What better time since we hear so much negative publicity about God and church? We might not be able to bring God and prayer back into school and our government, but we can bring people into the church. Prayer for Our Parish- Heavenly Father, you have chosen the parish as the place where you encounter us in our daily lives. The parish is the assembly in which your Word is proclaimed, your Eucharist is celebrated, your people are united in a local community, and gathered into various ministries, so that they may become the agent of change for the renewal of the whole Church. Make our parishioners aware of the many opportunities and responsibilities that are theirs to grow as disciples of Jesus and as witnesses of you to our friends and neighbors. Keep us open to our need of your love and fellowship. Let both clergy and laity work together in harmony to serve you in others. We fervently ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

CHRISTMAS POINSETTIAS

During the Christmas Season, many parishioners like to assist with the cost of flowers to decorate the church by making a donation in “honor of” or “memory of” your loved ones. If you would like

to make such a donation, please use your envelope locat-ed in your envelope mailing. Extra envelopes are available on the Welcome Table. Names may be placed on the front and back of your envelope and may be placed either in the offertory basket or the basket located on the table by this Sunday, December 23rd.

List will be posted in the December 29/30 bulletin.

A disabled parishioner is in need of a dependable, drivable vehicle. If you have a vehicle that you would like to donate, please contact Janice Scott, 910-425-1590.

Song Sheets Song sheets are available in the holder located at the back of the Church. Information on the song sheets will show weekend Mass intentions, songs for the Mass and other pertinent information. Please feel free to take one and return to the holder after Mass. Thank you.

Nursery Reminder Don’t forget we have a nursery available dur-ing the Sunday Masses, for children 3 years old and younger. The nursery is also available in between the Sunday Masses for parents who are attending classes, RCIA or meetings.

The nursery is the last door on the left in the restroom hallway.

Mass Intentions for 2019 Dedication of Masses are limited to two weekend and two Wednesday evening Masses per member. Daily Masses are also available. If you would like to dedicate a Mass in “Memory”

or in “Honor” of a loved one, please call the Church Office, 910-425-1590. Whatever moves you to become part of this Mass is what you can donate.

The Weekly Flower Sheet for 2019 Flowers is available on the Flower Sign-up Board located in the Kitchen airlock. Cost of flowers: $50.00

Sanctuary Light If you wish to have the Sanctuary Lamp burning for two weeks in memory or honor of a loved one, to honor a special occasion, or a special intention, make arrangements with the Parish Office, Janice Scott or Maria Rosario, 425-1590.

The cost of the candle is $20.00.

The Brown Scapular Rite and Blessing A Brown Scapular Rite and Blessing will take place this Sunday, December 23,12:45pm, Church.

Need a Scapular? We sell them in the Religious Articles Closet for $8.50.

Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Tuesday, January 1, 2019 we will celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, Holy Mother of God.

The Mass will be celebrated at 12:00pm.

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

First Friday in January, January 4, we will offer Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament beginning at 6:00pm and end with the Benediction on Saturday, January 5, 8:00am. This is a peaceful and prayerful time and is open to everyone.

Sign–ups are available on the board beside the Welcome Table in one hour increments. For safety, we ask one Male be present for each hour.

Urgent need for Sick and Homebound Ministers

The Eucharist is the source and the summit of every Catholic's life of faith. It is in partaking of Holy Communion that Catholics receive the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ. It is important that Catholics not be deprived of the opportunity to receive the Blessed Sacrament due to illness, age, or confinement. When you visit a Parishioner, you share in prayer, read the Gospel and distribute the Eucharist.

For more information or to join our team, contact Deacon Pat, 910-818-0801, or Ellen Johnston, 910-920-2267.

Caring Contact Ministry

This ministry contacts parishioners who have not attended Mass in a few weeks and are in need of Disciples.

If you are interested in helping by making phone calls, or you know someone who is sick and not able to attend Mass, please contact Dina Simcox, 910-728-3910.

Widow's Watch, a support group for widows, meets Friday, January 4th at 10:30am in Room 2. Please join us for fellowship, liturgy and lunch.

Contact: Camille, alcam116@embarqmail.com or 424-6802, for more information.

Parish Council Suggestion Box Have a Suggestion for the Parish? If so, use the Parish Pastoral Council Suggestion box located on the Welcome Table. If you have a Suggestion, fill out the form located on the side of the box and place in the slot. The Suggestion Form can also be found on the website. Click on the Ministries tab and scroll down to the Parish Council tab. Anonymous suggestions will not be answered.

We express our heartfelt prayers and condolences to Julien Barnes and family, on the loss of Alice Barnes.

May the soul of Alice rest in eternal peace of the risen Lord.

Prayer Request List

In order to keep our “Pray for the Sick” list as current as possible, we will clear the sick list of all names on January 6, 2019. If you would like to remain on the list, please contact Janice Scott in the Office, 425-1590. Thank you.

Deacon’s Den For 2019

Have a Catholic question? Need counseling? The Deacon’s Den is available during the month on certain Friday’s from 3:00pm-7:00pm in 1 hour increments. Call Maria Rosario, 425-1590, to set an appointment.

Parish App-The Diocese of Raleigh has provided a Parish App for Android and IOS devices for each parish. The app includes

important information from our parish along with Diocesan information, to include Mass times, daily readings, group information, messages, etc.

If you would like to download the app yourself, text App to 88202, click install, follow instructions and choose ‘Good Shepherd 5050 Oak Street’ for your Church. You may Create an Account to join a Group under the Groups button.

Parish App cards are available on the Welcome Table.

The Holy Stitchers would like say “Thank You” to everyone for their support on donations of material, yarn, gift cards, and stuffed animals. We Successfully made 189 quilts which were given to local Nursing Homes with stuffed animals, socks and pajamas. We could not do it without your help. We also send a Thank You to Ann Simoneau for her donations of hats and scarves. Happy Holiday’s. Holy Stitchers

We express our heartfelt prayers and condolences to Patricia Brady and family, on the loss of friend, long time parishioner, husband, father, etc., James Brady.

May the soul of James rest in eternal peace of the risen Lord.

Thank you to everyone that contributed to the Wreaths Across America project sponsored by the Widow's Watch Ministry. A successful event laying wreaths at Sandhills Cemetery on December 15 was possible only through the love and support of each of you. Know that

because of our efforts, as well as other organizations, 4000+ wreaths were distributed and placed on the graves.

For the history of Wreaths Across America, visit their website at www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.

Our parishioner, Laura Lora, wants to Thank You for the donations raised for the Grays Creek High School NJROTC Program. She successfully raised $208.11 and could not have done any of this without your help.

Help Good Shepherd earn funds by Shopping online at Amazon AmazonSmile is the same Amazon you know. Same products, same prices, same service. Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the charitable organization of your choice. Support your charitable organization by starting your shopping at smile.amazon.com Sign In or create an Amazon account. If you would like to participate, once logged in, on the line “OR Pick your own Charitable Organization” type “Good Shepherd Catholic Church, Hope Mills” choose “Select” click “Yes” and Start Shopping.

If you already have a non-profit for Amazon Smile and you change to Good Shepherd Catholic Church, please type “Good Shepherd Catholic Church, Hope Mills”.

Select Good Shepherd Catholic Church, Hope Mills ON AMAZON?

as your smile charity when you shop!

I wonder what that collection’s for?” There are several parish/community-centered 2nd collection envelopes members of the parish will see almost every month, i.e., 1/2 Can a Day/San Isidro Property Debt, Share Sunday, and Parish Capital Improvements. Have you ever wondered what they are for or how the money is distributed? Here is a brief explanation of how the parish allocates these donations. 1/2 Can a Day/San Isidro Property Debt is a once-a-month collection that helps pay the non-interest bearing mortgage payments for the land purchased by Good Shepherd for San Isidro’s new church as part of our daughter parish responsibilities. The money will also be used to defray the cost of needed maintenance for our Church. We ask each family to donate $10.00 a month towards this mortgage payment and new roof fund. Share Sunday is also a once-a-month collection that is distributed to several charities and social organizations within the local area and our own parishioners. The five charities we support are; ALMS House, Hope House, San Isidore Mission, CARE Clinic and St. Ann’s Catholic School. We also support our own parishioners in need. The list of recipients and distribution percentage is reviewed and adjusted by the Parish Council annually. Donations of food and other items are distributed to the ALMS House, Catholic Charities and our own food bank.

The Parish Capital Improvement collection comes almost every month and helps primarily to defray the costs of improvements for our Church, Social Hall and grounds. This includes special targeted donations for specific improvements.

The Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne dedicate their lives as Servants of Relief for Incurable Cancer. The Sisters are offering two Vocation Discernment Weekends for Women ages 19-45 who are interested in this Vocation. Dates: March 8-10, 2019; July 26-28, 2019; Nov. 15-17, 2019 Location: Hawthorne, New York Dates: May 24-26, 2019; September 20-22, 2019 Location: Atlanta, GA

For info or reservations, contact Sister Catherine Marie, (845) 745-1319 or vocationdirector@hawthorne-dominicans.org

News from the Diocese…….. ARE YOU SEPARATED OR DIVORCED?

Join us for a Catholic based divorce healing program at Our Lady of Lourdes Church. Whether you have been separated or divorced, ten days or ten years, this program offers comfort, counsel, and clarity. It also offers valuable insight regarding divorce and Catholic Church teachings. Using the CATHOLIC'S DIVORCE SURVIVAL GUIDE, the 12-week program features a 30-minute DVD each week with discussions to follow. It is confidential and an excellent support during a painful time. Cost is $20 per person for the journal. The program will begin Monday, January 7, 2019 at 7:00pm in the Fallon Center lounge.

Please contact Christine Martin at beanieviola73@aol.com or Melanie Bailie at mbailie@nc.rr.com for a registration form.

LIFE ISSUES FORUM “Good News of Great Joy” December 14, 2018 By: Greg Schleppenbach

As we celebrate the birth of our Lord, the introduction from Pope Saint John Paul II's encyclical Evangelium vitae provides a rich source of reflection on God's love for human life, which He created in His image and likeness:

"At the dawn of salvation, it is the birth of a child which is proclaimed as joyful news: 'I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord' (Lk. 2:10-11). The source of this 'great joy' is the birth of the Savior; but Christmas also reveals the full meaning of every human birth, and the joy which accompanies the birth of the Messiah is thus seen to be the foundation and fulfillment of joy at every child born into the world (cf. Jn. 16:21)." It is amazing to contemplate that the eternal Son of God became man and experienced every stage and aspect of the human condition, except sin. He was conceived in the Virgin Mary and took the form of a human being, beginning life like every human being-as a single-celled embryo. According to Scripture, after the Incarnation of our Lord, Mary went in haste to visit her cousin Elizabeth, who was six months pregnant with John the Baptist. Given that it would have taken two to three days for Mary to reach Elizabeth, it's possible that Jesus had not yet implanted in Mary's womb (implantation occurs 5-7 days after conception) when His presence caused John to stir in Elizabeth's womb: "For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy." (Luke 1:44). C. S. Lewis provides another source of reflection on the sanctity of all human life in The Weight of Glory: "The dullest and most uninteresting person you can talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship.... There are no ordinary people.... Next to the Blessed Sacrament itself, your neighbor is the holiest object presented to your senses." With these thoughts in mind, I cannot imagine a better way to celebrate the birth of our Lord in a humble stable in Bethlehem, and to celebrate the gift of every human life, than to support a local pregnancy help center or maternity home. These centers do extraordinary work and truly represent the heart of the pro-life movement's goal of making abortion unthinkable.

Another way to make a difference is through our prayers and sacrifices. Taking place January 14-22, 2019, 9 Days for Life (www.9daysforlife.com) is an annual period of prayer and action for life. Each day of the novena provides a different intercession, reflection, information item and suggested action. The novena is available in English and Spanish, and can be received in four ways: a free mobile app, text message, email, or social media.

May the good news of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ bring great joy to all-comforting the afflicted, deepening respect for all human life, and strengthening us to share the Gospel of Life. ——————————————————————————————————————————————————–—————— Greg Schleppenbach is the Associate Director of the Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. For more information on how you can join in the bishops' pro-life activities, please visit www.usccb.org/prolife.

“To couples who cannot have children of their own, you are no less loved by God; your love for each other is complete and fruitful when it is open to others.” Pope Saint John Paul II, February 13, 1982 Homily. © 1982 Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Used with permission. www.goo.gl/jLDs4e

Mass for Life and NC Right to Life The Diocese is partnering with NC Right to Life to continue the tradition of taking a stand for the dignity of every human life, from conception to natural death.

The annual Mass for Life will be held at Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral, 11:00am. All the faithful of North Carolina are invited to participate in the NC Rally for Life at 1:00pm and the NC March for Life at 2:00pm on January 12, 2019 at the Halifax Mall in Downtown Raleigh. The keynote speaker will be Dr. George Delgado, a national Catholic Speaker on Pro-Life themes, and is a regular on "Catholic Answers Live". Along with the keynote speaker there will be live music, youth speakers, an invocation from our bishop, local politicians and much more.