ST. JOHN THE APOSTLE CATHOLIC CHURCH TERRELL, TEXAS DECEMBER 20, 2015

Christmas Eve & Christmas Day Mass Schedule

Christmas Eve Masses (Dec. 24th)

Children’s Mass: 4:00 PM Church Doors Open: 7:30 PM Christmas Carols: 8:00 PM Christmas Eve Mass: 8:30 PM Christmas Day Masses (Dec. 25th) Mass in English: 9:00 AM Mass in Spanish: 11:00 AM ************************************************* Christmas Confession Schedule Monday, December 21 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM Tuesday, December 22 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM Wednesday, December 23 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM _________________________________________________

A Christmas Prayer

Child of Bethlehem, grant that we may share in this profound mystery of Christmas. Put into our hearts this peace for which we sometimes seek so desperately and which you alone can give us. Reveal to us also your beauty, holiness, and purity. Awaken in our hearts love and gratitude for your infinite goodness. Join us all together

in your love, and give us your heavenly peace. Amen. St. John XXIII

Joyous Tidings The Church Offices will be closed Thursday, December 24th, and Friday, December 25th in observance of the Christmas holidays. _________________________________________________ Coffee and Catechism You are invited to coffee in the Religious Education office on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings from 6pm to 6:25pm followed by an hour helping in one of the Religious Education classrooms or monitoring a hallway during class time.

We have excellent Catechists, but we are often short of the required 2nd screened adult in the classroom. This is not difficult work and most of the adults comment that they really learn a lot and enjoy helping.

At this time there are no inside hall monitors or outdoor monitors on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. We really need your help so that all of our children can have a memorable and safe experience as they study the Catholic faith.

If you have a little free time to help, please contact Susan Warner in the Religious Education office, send an e-mail to susanwarner0309@sbcglobal.net, or text 469-471-4395 for details. Thank you. *************************************************

Richard Collier Nick Morales, Sr. Richard Lozano Sr. Jack Sikors Mike Gonzales Raul Rivera Amalia Ibarra Brenda Newburn Ma. Mercedes Sanchez Henry Taft Kenneth Elliott Martha Kasper Rebecca Elliott Edgar Reyes Odilia Vargas Mason Gumler Patricia Reyes Felipa Garcia Frank Kasper Joe Wages Paul Gumler Donna Lain Jimmy Blasingame Margarito Soto Rosario Rodríguez William Mellon Cindy Kinkaid Laurie Rangel Rosann Kinkaid Olivia Nicole Yates Mayra Anguiano Erica Vargas Michelle Elliott Margaret Wages John “Sonny” Jones Lee Wilde Bill Blankenship Elaine Kasper Patti Sikors Garrett Sheila Wages Yamileth Martinez Jerry Lain Warren Terry George Lyon

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT/CUARTO DOMINGO DE ADVIENTO

Monday, December 21 8:00 AM Daily Mass 8:30-10 AM Christmas Confessions 1:00 PM NO Crochet meeting 7:00 PM Grupo de Oración – Casa St. John 6:30-7:30 PM Christmas Confessions

Tuesday, December 22 8:00 AM Daily Mass 11:30 AM-12:30 PM Christmas Confessions 6:30 -7:30 PM Christmas Confessions

Wednesday, December 23 8:30-10 AM Christmas Confessions 6:30-7:30 PM Christmas Confessions

Thursday, December 24 (Christmas Vigil) 4:00 PM Children’s Mass 8:00 PM Christmas Carols 8:30 PM Christmas Eve Mass

Friday, December 25 (Christmas Day) 9:00 AM Christmas Mass 11:00 AM Misa Navideña _________________________________________________

Last Week’s Collection: 5,539.18 Diocesan Coll. (Retirement Fund): 484.00 Immaculate Conception: 784.00 Our Lady of Guadalupe: 943.00 FY’15-16 Budgeted Average: 6,400.00 FY’15-16 Average Sunday Coll. thru 11/30/15: 6,108.95 Attendance: 974 _________________________________________________

Ministry Schedule for the Weekend of

December 26/27 Lectors: Sat. 4:00pm Cathy Burton/Debbie Patterson Sun. 8:00am Robert Moreno/Sherri Moreno Sun.10:30am Tammy Guerra/Karie Hammond Ushers: Sat. 4:00pm Gary Whalin*/Debbie P./Sherry G./Paul M. Sun. 8:00am Cindy Kelley*/Conrado A./Jack N./Abby H. Sun. 10:30am Calvin Hammond*/Richard Jr./Kevin P./Eric R. Extraordinary Ministers Sat. 4:00pm Deacon Jim/Michael Gumler/Rod Kinkaid Sun. 8:00am Paul Willy/Trisha Willy Sun. 10:30am Argie Benavidez/Shelilah Dean/Tammy Guerra Bud McClure/Lou Roberts/Donna Roberts

Saturday, December 19 4:00 PM †Wayne Kretler – In Memory of his 7th

Anniversary of Death by Terry Kretler

Sunday, December 20 8:00 AM Pro Populo 10:30 AM †Alicia Morales by Maria Carmona &

Family 12:15 PM †Dolores Valencia – En Memorial de su

Aniversario de Fallecimiento Int. de Estela Valencia

Monday, December 21 8:00 AM †Wilfred Kasper by Martha Kasper

Tuesday, December 22 8:00 AM For an end to abortion and a greater respect

for Human Life at all Stages by Sherry Goelden & Lucy Krouskop

Thursday, December 24 (Christmas Vigil) 4:00 PM Special Intention 8:30 PM For the Parishioners

Friday, December 25 (Christmas Day) 9:00 AM Special Intention 11:00 AM Intención Especial

Saturday, December 26 4:00 PM †Adelle & †Henry Snapka by David &

Dolores Nemec & Frank Nemec

Sunday, December 27 8:00 AM †Angela McBride by Theresa & Libby Lyon 10:30 AM Pro Populo 12:15 PM †Alberta Contreras – En Memorial de su

Undecimo año de su fallecimiento (12-21-04) Int. de la Familia Guel

Sound Catholic practice encourages us to offer the Mass for the departed and for those in any need. To request a Mass to be offered, please visit the parish office or return to the office a completed Mass intention card. Available cards are located in the foyer of the church. _________________________________________________

Anointing of the Sick

Because of the Privacy Act, hospitals and nursing homes are no longer able to provide a list of the Catholic patients/residents for the Churches use in

order to visit and administer the Sacraments of Holy Communion or Anointing of the Sick. Therefore, I need your assistance when you have a family member who is hospitalized or in a nursing home. Please call Fr. Orosco at the Church Office at (972) 563-3643 so that I may be of assistance.

ST. JOHN THE APOSTLE CATHOLIC CHURCH TERRELL, TEXAS DECEMBER 20, 2015

A very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all the students and everyone on the Religious Education team. The Religious Education classes are on Christmas break and there will be no classes until after the New Year. Sunday classes resume January 3rd, Tuesday classes, January 5th, and Wednesday classes, January 6th. _________________________________________________ Children’s Christmas Eve Mass and Pageant

Please join us for the annual Children’s Christmas Pageant, “O’ Come Let Us Adore Him, ” followed immediately by the Children’s Christmas Eve Mass, December 24, 2015 at 4:00pm. _________________________________________________

Fourth Week of Advent The Fourth Sunday of Advent begins the last week of Advent, which takes us to Christmas on Friday. The reading from Micah reminds us that of the seemingly unimportant town of Bethlehem, "from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel." Luke's gospel offers again the story of Mary's going to visit her cousin. Elizabeth understands immediately Mary's situation and praises God saying, "How does this happen to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy."

Luke's Gospel is our guide this week. On the 21st, we repeat Luke's story of the Visitation. The story continues on the 22nd with Mary's beautiful response, "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord." On the 23rd is the naming of John by Zechariah. On the 24th, during the day, is Zechariah's prayer of praise after being allowed to speak again. The scenes and canticles, or songs, which are part of the story, are so well known to us that we can miss hearing them with an open heart. If we celebrate the Vigil of Christmas on Christmas Eve, Matthew's Gospel (though any of the gospels for Christmas may be used at any of the Christmas liturgies) offers the history of Jesus' family. The first celebration of The Nativity of the Lord is the Mass at Midnight. The first reading is from Isaiah: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone.” This powerful reading deserves a slow contemplation. The Gospel is from Luke: the journey to Bethlehem, the birth, the angels announce the birth to the shepherds. The second celebration of The Nativity of the Lord is the Mass at Dawn. The Gospel is from Luke: the shepherds visit the newborn child. “And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.” The third celebration of The Nativity of the Lord is the Mass during the Day. Here the Gospel is from the beginning of John's Gospel: “And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth.” December 26th celebrates St. Stephen, the first martyr.

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT/CUARTO DOMINGO DE ADVIENTO

Las oficinas de la Iglesia estarán cerradas el jueves, 24 de diciembre y el viernes, 25 de diciembre en observación de las fiestas navideñas. _________________________________________________ Horario de Misas de Vigilia y Navidad

Misas de Vigilia – 24 de diciembre: Misa de Niños (Ingles): 4:00 PM Las puertas de la Iglesia se abren: 7:30 PM Villancicos: 8:00 PM Misa de Vigilia (Ingles): 8:30 PM Misas – Día de Navidad – 25 de diciembre Misa en Ingles: 9:00 AM Misa en Español: 11:00 AM

************************************************ Horario de Confesiones Navideña:

Lunes, 21 de diciembre 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM 6:30 PM – 7:00 PM

Martes, 22 de diciembre 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM

Miércoles, 23 de diciembre 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM _________________________________________________ Clases de Pre-Bautismales

Tendremos clases Pre-Bautismales comenzando en el mes de enero y después cada primer sábado de cada mes a las 6:00pm en el Salón Parroquial. Para más información llamar a la oficina (972) 563-3643.

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Navidad

Celebramos el Tiempo de Navidad desde la víspera del 25 de diciembre hasta la fiesta del Bautismo del Señor, posterior a la Epifanía. Celebramos la venida del Señor y sus primeras manifestaciones: a los pastores, a los sabios de oriente, y la del bautismo en el Jordán. Y lo intentamos vivir siempre en espera de la manifestación definitiva al final de los tiempos. La Navidad es un sacramento por el cual la gracia del nacimiento del Hijo de Dios se hace presente y se nos comunica en la celebración de esta solemnidad. No se trata solo de un recuerdo pedagógico del acontecimiento de Belén. Es actualización y nueva presencia del misterio salvador de Dios que se ha hecho de nuestra familia. De alguna manera nos hacemos contemporáneos del nacimiento de Cristo y de su manifestación. Entre el ayer de Belén y el mañana de la Parusía está el hoy de cada Navidad, el Dios-con-nosotros que nos quiere comunicar su vida, su luz y su alegría. Navidad y Epifanía celebran el mismo misterio. La Navidad acentúa el nacimiento: Dios se ha hecho nuestro hermano. La Epifanía enfatiza la manifestación de su divinidad. _________________________________________________

Noticias de la Doctrina Para todos los estudiantes, padres y voluntarios en el programa de la Doctrina:

No tenemos clases de Doctrina hasta después del Año Nuevo. _________________________________________________

Usted y su familia están invitados a la Misa de los Niños el jueves, 24 de diciembre a las 4:00pm.