St. Laurence Parish 225 Jewett St. Elgin, IL 60123 Parish Office: 565 Standish St. 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM Monday - Friday P - 847-468-6900 F - 847-468-6904 After Hours - 847-531-6203

EUCHARISTIC CELEBRATION Saturday - 4:00 PM, Spanish - 6:00PM Sundays - 7:15, Bi-lingual 9:00, 11:00 AM Daily Mass - 8:00 AM Monday - Friday SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION Wednesday 5:00 - 7:00 PM Saturday 3:00 - 3:45 PM Special times upon request. SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE & BAPTISM Check our website for more information. Stlaurencechurchelgin.com/parish-information

Rectory: 226 Orchard St.

PASTORAL STAFF Pastor - Fr. Andrew Mulcahey pastor@stlaurencechurchelgin.com Fr. Robert Camacho - Priest in Residence Secretary - Belinda Bermea office@stlaurencechurchelgin.com Bookkeeper - Agnes Mozdzen accounting@stlaurencechurchelgin.com Religious Education Coordinators - Mike & Toni Kmiecik religioused@stlaurencechurchelgin.com Deacons - Robert Plazewski, Joe Bermea deaconjoe@stlaurencechurchelgin.com Finance Council - Joe Malas, Chairman Education Commission - Ron Szopa, President SCHOOL http://stlaurenceschool.com Principal - Wendy Kelly wkelly@stlaurenceschool.com

Secretary - Kathy Laudont office@stlaurenceschool.com

P - 847.468.6100 F - 847.468.6104

http://stlaurencechurchelgin.com

We still have open dates to remember your loved ones with altar flow-ers. Please check the binder at the back of the church.

December 21 - Dee Reinhardt

Stewardship Collection

Monday Gn 49:2, 8-10; Ps 72:1-4ab, 7-8, 17; Mt 1:1-17

Tuesday Jer 23:5-8; Ps 72:1-2, 12-13, 18-19; Mt 1:18-25

Wednesday Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25a; Ps 71:3-4a, 5-6ab, 16-17; Lk 1:5-25

Thursday Is 7:10-14; Ps 24:1-6; Lk 1:26-38

Friday Sg 2:8-14 or Zep 3:14-18a; Ps 33:2-3, 11-12, 20-21; Lk 1:39-45

Saturday 1 Sm 1:24-28; 1 Sm 2:1, 4-8abcd; Lk 1:46-56

Sunday Mi 5:1-4a; Ps 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19; Heb 10:5-10; Lk 1:39-45

Readings for the Week

Hospital Minister

Altar Flowers

4:00 PM

Lector - Belinda Bermea Eucharistic Ministers - Kay Gotter, Daniela Sandoval, Greg Soohov, Debbie Wever Altar Servers - Noah Cisneros, Nora Cisneros

6:00 PM

Lector - Margarita Pantoja Ministro Eucarístico - Servidor del Altar - Karen Perez, Natalia Ramos

7:15 AM

Lector - Korbin Arnold Eucharistic Ministers - Vicky Giuliano, Marlene Gurley, Wendy Mann, Loretta Revesz Altar Servers - Alejandra Arambula, Natalie Arambula

9:00 AM

Lector - Rosey Valencia, Benjamin Gonzalez Eucharistic Ministers - Mary Ann Bruneman, Bob Jones, Kathy Jones, William Misek Altar Servers - Malakai Mortensen, Adrian Rodriguez

11:00 AM

Lector - Allie Lock Eucharistic Ministers - Veronica Betz, Gail Essary, Natalie Koessl, James Kararo Altar Servers - Robert Boydston, Stephanie Popovich

Altar Ministry December 22-23

Dec 8/9

Total Giving This Week $ 8,092.03

Weekly Budget Amount Needed $ 7,900.00

Happenings

El Señor sera el rey de Israel en medio de ti y ya no temerás ningún mal. -- Sofonías 3:15b

“He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Take time for your marriage by attending a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend on Jan 25-27 in Brookfield, WI; Feb 15-17 in Geneva, IL or March 15-17 in Madison, WI. Visit our website at: alifetimeoflove.org or call (888) 574-5653. Para un fin de semana en Espanol por favor llamen a Candelario y Emilia al 815-375-4250. Las fechas son Feb. 8-10, April 26-28 and August 9-11.

Please join us in decorating the church for Christ-mas on December 23 after the 11:00 Mass.

For Family Celebrations

By the Camacho Family

We are collecting used stamps for the Sisters of the Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary in Batavia, Illi-nois. Please drop your used stamps in the mailbox by the north entrance.

TREASURES from our TRADITION

St. Laurence Church | Jewett & Standish St. | Elgin, IL 60123 | 847-468-6900 | http://stlaurencechurchelgin.com

Monday 8:00 AM Vic Volkening offered by Volkening Family

Tuesday 8:00 AM Faithful Souls Departed

Wednesday 8:00 AM

Arlene Swieca offered by Norm & Karen Boxleitner

Thursday 8:00 AM Dana Olson offered by Friends

Friday 8:00 AM Faithful Souls Departed

Saturday 4:00 PM Sylvia Mitchell offered by Roger O'Donnell & Family

6:00 PM In memory of Jazeel Tinajero, Birthday Wishes for her twin sister Penelope, and Happy 6th Anniversary for Mom and Dad, Yadi and Gonzalo Arreola.

Sunday 7:15 AM Rhett Lundy offered by Family

9:00 AM Faithful Souls Departed

11:00 AM Dana Olson Offered by the Sachaj Family & for the St Laurence Parish Community

Please Pray for:

For the strengthening in faith of all who are afflicted in body, mind or spirit please pray for: Patricia Anderson, Sandra and Herbert Bolding, Sergey Bolotov, Kathleen Camarena, Alexandra Collovati, Kay Hogan, John G. Kolakowski, Guyla Kramer, Gordon Lee, Gary Mahoney, Tim Neal, Juli Novak, Bonnie Penera, Deacon Bob Plazewski, Lisa Rednour, Sharon Walden, and Kimberly Winfree.

Lord, Hear our Prayer.

Remember O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaid-ed. Inspired by this confidence I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

Mass Intentions - Dec 17-23

May God protect our members who serve in the armed forc-es and return them safely to their families: ARMY: Staff Sgt. Jennifer (Clough) Korfmacher, COAST GUARD: Ensign Allison Rychtanek We pray for the repose of the soul of

Marlene Reinert

Eternal rest grant to her, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon him. May her soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Years ago, the trick question on religion quizzes would be to name all the liturgical colors, or the colors of the vestments worn at Mass. Rose is a color seldom seen, used at most two days a year. Today, “Gaudete Sunday,” is one of those days. The name of the day is drawn from an opening verse in the old Latin Mass texts: Gaudete is Latin for “Rejoice!” This year’s Gospel certainly reflects that mood as Elizabeth feels her infant within her leaping for joy at the presence of Mary. Mary’s visit to her aged cousin is an act of compassion between wom-en, as two kinswomen who are bearing children into the world share their joy. Some churches retain the custom of having the priest wear rose vest-ments today, and many will use a rose candle in the Advent wreath. Violet is the official color for Advent and Lent, but many parishes em-ploy different hues for each season, trying to keep them distinct. In medieval times, dye was costly, and poor parishes used unornamented plain cloth for vestments. Dyes were expensive and some colors, par-ticularly purple, difficult to achieve. In England, purple dye was made from mollusks, yielding at best a deep indigo or blue and not the de-sired violet. Thus, the color of Advent in the British Isles has long been a deep blue, reminding many people of Mary’s presence at the heart of the Advent mystery. That theology is largely unplanned: it’s all because of the clams!

Los cristianos latinos tenemos unos cinco siglos en nuestra trayectoria de fe y como todo cristiano aguardamos la segunda venida del Mesías, Jesús. Nuestra espera forma parte de dos milenios de cristianos que buscan verlo llegar en las nubes. Desde el siglo VII la oración oficial de la Iglesia clama el retorno de Cristo con las exclamaciones llamadas las Antífonas Oh . Estas llaman a Jesús pidiéndole que venga bajo los títulos de Emmanuel, Sabiduría celestial, Señor de gran poder, Vara de Isaí, Llave de David, Alba de la luz, y Deseo y Rey de gentes, y algunos más. Estos refranes se usan aún todavía hoy durante los días 17 al 23 de diciembre, y unidas en un acróstico latino forman las palabras ero cras (estaré mañana), como respuesta a la petición cristiana. Eventualmente en el siglo X o XI estas antífonas fueron unidas en el canto gregoriano Veni, veni Emmanuel (Oh ven, oh ven Emmanuel). Este adviento mientras cantamos las antiguas antífonas hay que preguntarnos si de veras estamos listos para el regreso del Hijo del Hombre que viene para juzgar a vivos y muertos.

A child’s life is like a piece of paper on which every passerby leaves a mark. —Ancient Chinese proverb

Our actions are the best witnesses of our thoughts. —Anonymous

Week of 11/27 $100 Charlie Koessl $75 Jose Molina $50 Diane Sarllo

Week of 12/3 $100 Jamie Berry $75 Sandra Elwart $50 Larry Metz

Week of 12/10 $100 John Fanning $75 Martha Cintura $50 Ben Bejarano

Congratulations to Trifecta Winners

Please consider ways that you can be more fully involved in the life of our parish. Below is a listing of areas in which help is needed along with the contact information. LECTORS & EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS Please contact the parish office @ 847-468-6900 or office@stlaurencechurchelgin.com ALTAR SERVERS – Please contact Jo Trisilla @ jtrisilla@stlaurenceschool.com EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS OF CARE – Please contact Dee Reinhardt @ 708-822-2152 We ask that you prayerfully consider your gifts and how you are being called to use them.

St. Laurence Church | Jewett & Standish St. | Elgin, IL 60123 | 847-468-6900 | http://stlaurencechurchelgin.com

School News - Wendy Kelly

Kid’s Corner

While patience is the Fruit of the Spirit that we are focusing on this month, it is hard to contain the excitement as we wait for the birth of Jesus! That excitement is evident each day on the faces of our students. In keeping the Fruits of the Spirit on the forefront of our students minds and to help them understand how relatable they are to our lives, our 7th and 8th graders recently examined how they are evident in Christmas songs. They then created a pictorial display of each fruit and tied it to a Christmas song. In addition, they created stockings and shared the story of St. Nicholas with all of the other classes in the building on St. Nicholas day. We always enjoy welcoming visitors into our building. Recently Madeleine from Gail Borden Library visited to

share Christmas stories and games with our preschool class. They then joined their 7th grade buddies to make Christmas cards for their families. Thank you to everyone who organized and supported our Ugly Christmas Sweater Bingo event last weekend! It is always a fun-filled evening for every-one! Next week, I will share pictures from our 2nd Annual Polar Express night for our Parish and school children. It is such a magical time of year! I hope everyone has a blessed week in which you steal moments from the hectic holiday season to look around and soak in the smiles and love that is your life! God bless you!

St. Laurence Church | Jewett & Standish St. | Elgin, IL 60123 | 847-468-6900 | http://stlaurencechurchelgin.com

Ministry Meetings - Dec 16-22

Sunday 9:30 AM Confirmation Class Noon Youth Choir Practice - Cafeteria Noon Discussion Group - Sacristy

Tuesday 6:30 PM Education Commission - Sacristy 6:30 PM Scouts - Cafeterial

Thursday 1:00 PM Women’s Cursillo Group - Sacristy 7:00 PM Men’s Cursillo - Sacristy

Friday 5:30 PM Women’s Cursillo Group - Sacristy 6:00 PM Youth Choir Practice/Pizza Party - Cafeteria/ Church 6:30 PM Bilingual Choir Practice - Church

Saturday 9:00 AM Youth Choir Practice - Cafeteria

Monday 5:00 PM Women’s Spanish Cursillo - Library 7:00 PM Women of “E” -Cafeteria

Wednesday No Adoration - Cancelled 6:00 PM RE Classes - School/Cafeteria

Submission deadline for bulletin entries is Monday at Noon. Send all entries to: office@stlaurencechurchelgin.com for approval. You can also call 847-468-6900

Attention: All additions, cancelations, or changes to meetings/events MUST be coordinated through the church office 847-468-6900

office@stlaurencechurchelgin.com

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Vocations Corner- Fr. Kyle Manno

It is Gaudete Sunday! What does that fancy word mean? It is a Latin word that means joy! Therefore, we call this Joy Sunday and we mark this special Advent Sunday by lighting a rose colored candle rather than a purple one, as we do on all the other Sundays on Advent. We do this because we are called to celebrate with joy the fact that Christ is on His way! In celebration, I would encourage you to spend some time in prayer today asking God to give you an increase of joy and an ap-preciation for the fact that He has called you to something great! Even though you might not yet know exactly what that ‘something great’ is, you can be positive that greatness does indeed lie ahead. So give thanks and praise that He breathed your life into existence and desires beautiful, wondrous, redemptive things for you.

Over the following weeks, we will be including information about our beautiful stained glass windows including images. We will begin with some historical information. In the fall of 1954 St. Laurence Church celebrated the Silver Jubilee of the parish. Through the united efforts of priests and people the church was redecorated, new vestments and furnishings obtained and stained glass windows installed. We appreci-ate those who so generously and devotedly provided the means for enriching the House of God, our parish church. Our stained glass windows were made by Conrad Pichel Studio in Waukesha, Wisconsin. In working out the subject matter and symbol-ism for the windows the artist wanted to beautify the church and to show eternal truths to the eyes of the faithful. This is what religious art should do: Lead through beauty to God. The seven main windows beautifully portray symbols of the seven Sac-raments - Christ's gifts to men. Beginning at the southeast window the most important events in the Life of Christ are chronologically depicted. The large center section of each window presents figures of those dif-ferent nationalities, ages and classes who have attained sanctity in their lives. In our series, we will share who donated the windows and wish for you to continue to remember them in your prayers.

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