December 27, 2015

Solemnity of the

Holy Family of Jesus,

Joseph & Mary

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MASS INTENTIONS:

Saturday, December 26th:

Mass for the People

Sunday, December 27th:

For all families

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TODAY’S READINGS

First Reading:

Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14

Responsorial Psalm:

Blessed are those who fear the

Lord, and walk in His ways.

(Psalm 128:1-5)

Second Reading:

Colossians 3:12-21

Gospel Acclamation:

Let the peace of Christ control

your hearts; let the word of Christ

dwell in you richly.

(Colossians 3:15a, 16a)

Gospel:

Luke 12:41-52

St. John the Baptist Catholic Church

9810 Indiana Ave

Suite 150, Mailbox #4

Lubbock, TX 79423

Phone: 806-771-2673

Fax: 806-771-2674

Website:

www.stjohnbaptistlbk.org

Email:

stjohnbaptistlbk@gmail.com

Pastor: Msgr. David R. Cruz

Business Admin. & Parish Secretary: Evangeline Jimenez

Masses: Sat., 5:00pm (English) & Sun., 10:00am (English)

Confessions by Appointment

Office Hours: Mon., Wed. & Fri., 9:00am - 1:00pm

Tues. & Thurs., 1:00pm - 5:00pm

Rectory (Fr. David’s Home):

3323 86th Street, Lubbock, TX 79423

HOLIDAY SCHEDULE:

YOUTH FAITH FORMATION

CLASSES

Youth Faith Formation Classes

(CCE) will not meet

on December 30th. Classes

will resume on January 6th.

MASS SCHEDULE

New Year’s Eve Mass

Thurs., Dec. 31st @ 5:30pm

Join us for Mass as we celebrate the coming of

a New Year and the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary,

Mother of God.

Please note that there will be NO NEW YEAR’S DAY MASS on

Friday, January 1st.

The normal Mass schedule will resume on Saturday, January

2nd & Sunday, January 3rd.

MASS INTENTION

If you would like to dedicate

a Mass for a special intention,

please contact the parish office

to check availability.

A donation will be requested to

reserve the Mass.

HOLIDAY OFFICE HOURS

The parish office will also be

closed Wed., Dec. 30th -

Fri., Jan. 1st in observance of

the New Year Holiday.

OFFERTORY GIFT

PRESENTERS

If you and your family are

interested in presenting the

offertory gifts to the altar

during Mass, please visit with

the Ushers before or after

Mass to sign up.

OFFERTORY ENVELOPES

Offertory envelopes are

available for weekly Mass

donations at the parish office

during the week and after

Masses.

We wish you & your loved ones

a very blessed & peaceful

Christmas season!

~ Fr. David & Evangeline

PRAYER INTENTION LIST

From Week of December 20, 2015

Healing & Good Health

-Juan Contreras -Jakob Neuber

-Maxine Abeyta -Yajara Marin

-Joe Porras -Sal Bernal

-Michelle Olivarez -Ortiz Family

-Gonzalez Family -Nancy Sanchez

-Mary Eva Laque -Larry McCall

-Martha Salazar -Jason Mata

-Andrea Garcia -Mary Salazar

-Martha Oyervidez

General

-Maria Saucedo -Sylvia Ortiz

-Cary Huff -Eloisa Landin

-Jose Luis Treviño Jr.

-Jennifer & Abel Barron

Eternal Rest

-All the faithful departed +

Dear Friends of St. John the Baptist,

Long after the Christmas celebration has come to an end, and we

have put away our Christmas lights, trees, ornaments, and stockings,

and all the wrapping paper and tinsel are stored in the closet until

the celebration of next Christmas, I invite you to consider how you

might preserve the spirit of Christmas throughout the coming new

year. Just because we pack the Christmas sweaters and put away the

Christmas CDs, doesn’t mean that we have to pack away the true

meaning of Christmas, which should last throughout the whole year.

Sometimes we reduce the meaning of Christmas to all of the ex-

ternal things we do this time of year, such as decorating, attending

social gatherings, and buying presents. Not that these things aren’t

good, but Christmas is about so much more than the externals.

Christmas is about the internal disposition that we hold in our hearts.

Things like generosity, peace, good will, joy, friendship, and hope

represent the true meaning of the season. So, while we might pack

up and store the Christmas lights, we should never pack and put

away the light of the Christ child that wants to burn brightly in our

hearts.

If Christmas created in you a greater desire to smile, to be more

forgiving and giving to those in need, then, by all means, continue to

allow these beautiful acts to pour out from you. Don’t discard the joy

that comes from Christmas along with the holly and mistletoe. In-

stead, in all your interactions, friendships and relationships, continue

to bring the joy of Christmas to others. More than ever, our world

that is often filled with darkness needs the light of Christ to shine

forth. There is a great expression that says, “No amount of darkness

can extinguish the light of a single candle.” So, don’t just curse the

darkness, light a candle. Better yet, be a light.

In closing, I would like to take the opportunity to wish you and

yours a very blessed Christmas season filled with good health, peace,

and joy. I’m very grateful for the many ways that you contribute to

the well-being and growth of St. John the Baptist. Your generosity

has helped us come a long way in just a little over four months. On

behalf of Evangeline and myself, may the Lord bless you and keep

you. May the Lord let his face shine upon you, and be gracious unto

you. May the Lord grant you peace. Merry Christmas and have a

Happy New Year!

Sincerely in Christ,

Fr. David

PRAYER TO THE HOLY FAMILY

JESUS, bless our family. Graciously

inspire in us the unity, peace, and

mutual love that you found in your

own family with Mary and Joseph.

MARY, nourish our family with

your faith and your love. Keep us

close to your Son, Jesus, in all our

sorrows and joys.

JOSEPH, Foster-father to Jesus,

guardian and spouse of Mary, keep

our family safe from harm. Help us

in all times of discouragement or

anxiety.

HOLY FAMILY OF NAZARETH,

make our family one with you. Help

us to be instruments of peace.

Grant that love, strengthened by

grace, may prove mightier than all

the weaknesses and trials through

which our families sometimes pass.

May we always have God at the

center of our hearts and homes un-

til we are all one family, happy and

at peace in our true home with you.

Amen.