24252 El Toro Road, Laguna Woods, CA 92637 (949) 837-1090; FAX (949) 837-9510; www.st-nicholaschurch.org

School of Religious Education: (949) 837-7676

Our Parish Mission Statement St. Nicholas Parish is a Catholic community, celebrating our faith

through the Sacraments, Liturgy, Prayer and Service. We strive to nurture family life and to create one body out of many in the Lord.

We share the Good News with people of all ages, cultures and faith backgrounds.

BAPTISM Fourth Sunday of the month at 2:00PM. Arrangements must be made a month in advance. Parents must attend two preparation sessions.

MARRIAGE Arrangements must begin at least six months in advance with a priest of the parish.

ANOINTING OF THE SICK Call Parish Office in an emergency. Special Service celebrated in fall/spring as announced.

FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS At the death of a family member, please call the Parish Office at your earliest convenience to plan for the Mass of Christian Burial.

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION DAY 24-hour adoration begins the second Wednesday of the month at the 9:00AM Mass.

DEVOTIONS & BENEDICTION Wednesday evenings at 7:00PM; Vietnamese—2nd Wednesday of the month at 8PM. Recitation of the Holy Rosary and Benediction.

CLERGY

Pastor Rev. George P. Blais Parochial Vicar Rev. Quyen Truong Visiting Priest Rev. Msgr. John Campbell Visiting Priest Rev. Gerald Walker Visiting Priest Rev. Brendan Hankins Visiting Priest Rev. Jack Sewell Visiting Priest Rev. Chin Dang Deacon Wayne Thompson Deacon Chau Tran Deacon Gerardo De Santos

MASS SCHEDULE Saturday Vigil: 4:00PM, 7:00PM in Spanish Sunday: 7:30AM, 9:00AM, 10:45AM, 12:30PM, and 5:00PM in Vietnamese. Monday through Friday: 7:00AM and 9:00AM Saturday: 9AM

Filipino Mass: 5:30PM, First Saturdays, October-June. Holy Days: 4PM Vigil, 7AM, 9AM, 12PM, 6PM and 7:30PM in Vietnamese

RECONCILIATION (Confession) Saturday: 9:45AM to 10:15AM and 3:00PM to 3:45PM or by appointment.

Parish Office Hours: Sunday: 8:30 AM—1:30 PM Monday through Friday: 9 AM—12 Noon; 1 PM — 7:00 PM;

Saturday: 9 AM—12 Noon

St. Nicholas Parish

November 12, 2017 Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Stewardship of Treasure 2017 2016 52-Weekly Required Budget

Due to early bulletin deadlines, collection information for November 5th and the

National Needs Collection, will be available in a future bulletin.

On this Veterans Day weekend, we give thanks to God for having given our Veterans the courage to say, “Yes,” to serving our country and providing the freedom that we enjoy. We give thanks to all of these men and women who sacrificed their lives and time away from their families to defend our nation’s freedom, and helped to promote freedom and justice around the world.

This week’s readings and those of the next few weeks will help us to reflect on our need to prepare for the Lord’s coming. As we come to the end of another Liturgical Year, we hear about “End Times,” however, we must remember that Jesus tells us that no one knows the day nor the hour when He will come again. Yes, we must always be ready, but not so preoccupied with worry that we live in fear. The best way to prepare for His coming is to live the great commandment to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength, and love our neighbor as ourselves.

Fr. George

WISDOM We consider wisdom today. The first reading from the book of Wisdom presents this precious gift as a feminine spirit, a very desirable virtue sought by many and graciously present to all who seek her. In today's Gospel, Jesus tells a parable to illustrate wisdom in a practical, measurable way. The wise will conserve their resources, use them prudently, and mark the passing of time. The foolish, on the other hand, not planning ahead, will be in the dark. Both of these readings tell us how accessible wisdom is to all who simply and honestly seek it. Paul's words to the Thessalonians are not about wisdom, but describe one result of true wisdom: To the wise person of faith even death holds no terror. Our faith in Jesus' resurrection tells us we will all one day rise to new life in Christ. Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co., Inc.

The Hispanic Group invites all parishioners to attend a discussion on humility, directed by Fr. Jorge Mateos, in Spanish, on Monday, November 13th, at 7PM-9PM in the Church.

VOLUNTEERS WANTED! We will be cleaning the Church on Tuesday, November 14, after the 9am Mass. If you can assist, it would be much appreciated!

Call: Phoebe at 949-855-9263 with any questions.

Ensure your Loved Ones’ Future is Secure

The Orange Catholic Foundation will be at St. Nicholas to provide a free Special Needs Trust Seminar

on Saturday, November 18, from 9:30am to 11:30am.

The SNT sessions will provide answers to these questions: What can a SNT be used for? When to establish a SNT?

Who can establish a SNT for a family member? How many SNT’s does my child need? What is the difference between 1st party and 3rd party SNT’s?

What is a Pooled Trust? RSVP: Roxanna Payton,

Orange Catholic Foundation, at 714-282-3021.

November 12, 2017 Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Monday: 7AM All Souls 9AM Pierce Trombino (d) Tuesday: 7AM All Souls 9AM Nelly Amezcua (d) Wednesday: 7AM All Souls 9AM Rose Granich (d) Thursday: 7AM All Souls 9AM Joseph Nierodzinski (d) Friday: 7AM All Souls 9AM Eileen Anderson (d) Saturday: 9AM Funeral Mass for Nancy Palazzolo 4PM Joe & Cheron Rhodes—50th Wedding Anniversary Sunday: 7:30AM For the Parish 9:00AM Liz Borst (d) 10:45AM Mr. & Mrs. Jose V. Jaro (d) 12:30PM Darrel Boutin (d)

Parish Calendar This Week

MONDAY Sewing Group, Small Hall, 8AM Religious Education for Elementary, Parish Center, 4:15PM Spanish Rosary, Church, 6:30PM Bible Study, Rooms 201-204, 7PM TUESDAY Religious Education for Elementary, Parish Center, 4:15PM Spanish RCIA, Room C, 6PM Thanksgiving Volunteer Meeting, Room B, 7PM SRE Confirmation I, Parish Center-upstairs, 7PM 7 & 8 Grade SRE, Parish Center-downstairs, 7PM Remembering Church, Room C, 7PM St. Nicholas Chorale, Small Hall, 7:15PM WEDNESDAY Charismatic Prayer Group, Room A, 9:45AM Bible Study, Rooms 201-202, 10AM Religious Education for Elementary, Parish Center, 4:15PM Knights of Columbus, Parish Center, 6PM St. Vincent de Paul Ministry, Room A, 6PM Devotions & Benediction, Church, 7PM Liturgy Committee Meeting, Room 201, 7PM Hispanic Choir, Room C, 7PM Hispanic Group, Room B, 7PM Filipino Choir, Small Hall, 8PM THURSDAY Faith Alive-Faith Sharing, Room A, 10AM CCW Executive Committee Meeting, Small Hall, 10AM “Alpha” Leader Training, Parish Center, 6:30PM Hispanic Council, Room C, 6:30PM RCIA, Parish Center-Room 201, 7PM St. Nicholas Choir, Small Hall, 7:15PM Teen/Family Choir, Choir Loft, 7:30PM FRIDAY Divine Mercy-St. Faustina Study, Room C, 9:45AM Little Company of Mary Associates, Small Hall, 10AM Book Study-Rediscover Catholicism, Room 201, 9:45AM Hispanic Bible Study, Small Hall, 7PM Baptism Preparation—Spanish, Room B, 7PM Baptism Preparation—English, Room C, 7:30PM SATURDAY Special Interest Trust Seminar, Rooms 201-204, 9:30AM Baptisms—Spanish, Church, 11AM Hispanic Choir, Room C, 4PM SUNDAY Library is OPEN, Room C, 8:45AM Hispanic Group Tamale Sale, Parish Center, after all Masses

TODAY’S READINGS

First Reading: Wisdom 6:12-16 Wisdom is easily discerned by those who love her.

Psalm 63: My soul is thir sting for you, O Lord my God.

Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 [13-14] Since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died.

Gospel: Matthew 25:1-13 Stay awake! You know neither the day nor the hour.

We Remember

All our Beloved Deceased who entered their new and eternal lives in Christ.

Grant to all our dearly departed, eternal rest, O Lord,

and may your light shine on them forever.

Sunday Missal “Living With Christ”

Sunday Missals for 2017-2018, Cycle B, which begins The First Sunday of Advent on December 3rd, are on sale now in the Parish Office. It contains the Sunday readings, Mass prayers, a short meditation and some questions at the end of each section.

The Missal is $5.00 (shipping /handling costs included), and can be picked up in the Parish Office. Limited supply.

November 12, 2017 Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

School of Religious Education

Check us out on Facebook!

Saturday, Nov 11 and Sunday, Nov 12: We’ll be collecting for “Pennies from Heaven,” after the

Masses. All the monies collected will be donated to the many “Right to Life” organizations in the Orange Diocese.

Teen/Family Choir Rehearsal: Choir Rehearsal on Thursday, Nov 16 at 7:30pm in the Choir Loft. Teen/Family Mass is: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25 AT 4PM.

Sunday, Nov 12: Confirmation and Youth Ministry will be hosting Coffee and Donuts

after the 9am and 10:45am Masses. Please meet Betty Farrell in the Parish Center at 9:30am.

ATTENTION RETREAT LEADERS: Be at the parish center on Friday, Nov 17th at 5pm to help check in the Confirmation Students. Don’t forget your supplies and a flashlight. We will be back by 1pm on Sunday, Nov. 19th.

PLEASE NOTE: SRE Elementary: Monday through Wednesday, Nov. 13—15, in the Parish Center from 4:15pm to 5:30pm.

7th & 8th Grades: Tuesday, Nov. 14, at 7pm to 8:30pm, downstairs in the Parish Center.

Confirmation I: Tuesday, Nov. 14, upstairs in the Parish Center, from 7pm to 8:30pm.

For the safety of our Children — Important Notice: It will now be dark when you come to pick up your children from their classes. Please PARK your car in a designated parking space when picking them up. (First and Second Graders should always be escorted to and from their class.)

CONFIRMATION II RETREAT NOVEMBER 17-19 AT LAZY W RANCH

All students must meet at the Parish Center on Friday, Nov. 17 at 5pm SHARP! Remember to bring your supplies

and a flashlight. We will return on Sunday, Nov. 19 between 12 Noon and 1pm.

Please bring a snack or drinks for 6—8 people to share. If you have questions, please call Gwen

at the SRE Office, 837-7676.

PLEASE NOTE … that the School of Religion will not have classes during the week of November 19th, in order that our catechists, volunteers and students and their families will be able to enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday on

Thursday, November 23rd. Our parish will celebrate one Mass on that day at 9AM.

We wish everyone a blessed and happy Thanksgiving! All classes will resume the week of November 26th.

Student Contest… Last chance! Enter to win!

The St. Nicholas Council of the Knights of Columbus is again sponsoring “A Catholic Citizenship Essay Contest,” open to all 8-12 grade students in public, private or parochial schools who are parishioners of St. Nicholas Parish.

Entry forms and rules are available at the SRE Office and the Parish website: www.st-nicholaschurch.org/.

Essays and entry forms must be returned to the SRE Office no later than MONDAY, November 13th.

PENNIES FROM HEAVEN — NOVEMBER 11-12 The St. Nicholas Youth Ministry Members

and the Confirmation Students will be collecting “pennies” after the Masses on Saturday and Sunday, November 11th—12th.

Your coins and dollars will support local Respect Life Shelters, Clinics and Centers that give immediate and

long-term care to Orange County residents affected by the threats to the life and dignity of the human person and

unborn. We appreciate your generosity!

READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: Wis 1:1-7; Ps 139:1b-10; Lk 17:1-6 Tuesday: Wis 2:23 — 3:9; Ps 34:2-3, 16-19; Lk 17:7-10 Wednesday: Wis 6:1-11; Ps 82:3-4, 6-7; Lk 17:11-19 Thursday: Wis 7:22b — 8:1; Ps 119:89-91, 130, 135, 175; Lk 17:20-25 Friday: Wis 13:1-9; Ps 19:2-5ab; Lk 17:26-37 Saturday: Wis 18:14-16; 19:6-9; Ps 105:2-3, 36-37, 42-43; Lk 18:1-8 or (for the memorial of the Dedication) Acts 28:11-16, 30-31; Ps 98:1-6; Mt 14:22-33 Sunday: Prv 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31; Ps 128:1-5; 1 Thes 5:1-6; Mt 25:14-30 [14-15, 19-21]

November 12, 2017 Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

CRAFT FAIR

St. John Neumann Catholic Church 5101 Alton Parkway, Irvine, CA

Friday, November 17th: 5pm to 9pm Saturday, November 18th: 10am to 7pm

The Diocesan Office of Restorative Justice/Detention Ministry is in need of “Forever” Postage Stamps for our annual “Operation Christmas Spirit.” Each year we collect 7,000 donated postage stamps and Christmas cards to be distributed throughout our local jails and juvenile detention facilities. It gives the incarcerated populations we serve an opportunity to give back to their families and loved ones by sending them a simple Christmas greeting that they could not otherwise do without your generous contribution. We accept Christmas card/postage stamp donations anytime throughout the year. Currently, we are in need of Forever postage stamps for the supply of cards we now have, which must be delivered to the correctional facilities by November. Drop off or mail donation to: 1820 W. Orangewood Av., Suite 101, Orange, CA 92868.

Contact: 714-634-9909 or through our website: www.rcbo.org/restore.

Come to the Parish Library!

The Library is open on Sundays, 8:45am to 12:45pm, and the last Wednesday of the month, 2pm to 4pm.

We have a cart of free items: rosaries, prayer cards, etc.

The Library is located in Room C, behind the Parish Office.

Orange Diocese Council of Catholic Women

“Dancing in the Rain: Showers of Joy,” is the theme of this Annual ODCCW Conference and luncheon to be held at

St. Norbert’s Church, Orange, on Tuesday, November 21. Donation of $25 (before 11/14) or $30 (day of event).

Speaker: Most Rev. Timothy Freyer, Auxiliary Bishop of Orange.

Registration—8am; Mass— 8:30am; Meeting— 9:30am. Reservations: Pat Martin 714-892-5219 or

jimandpatmartin@gmail.com

Wordnet Productions presents “The Word in the World” — week of Nov. 12:

Take Charge: Theresa Gartland, Executive Director, Operation Progress

At-risk kids can become great persons, given a little guidance and a lot of personal support.

TCT (Direct TV-377) - now on Sundays, 4am–-record it!! (TCT is on Channel 205 in Laguna Woods Village.)

Or go to www.wordnet.tv—Program Archives, or YouTube: Wordnet Productions Channel.

Adoption Ministry Information Sunday

Who will be sitting at your table this holiday season?

Have you ever thought about being a resource family for teens in foster care or up for adoption? Find out how you

can make a difference in a child’s life! San Antonio de Padua Catholic Church,

at 5800 East Santa Ana Canyon Rd., Anaheim Hills, is hosting a Foster/Adoption Information Sunday on

November 19th, from 9am to 1:30pm. Various agencies will be represented for you to explore

different ways you can be involved.

For more information, contact Michael and Maryanne Fahey at 714-948-0038 or mjbfahey@pacbell.net.

Home for the Holidays??!! Finding Peace in Times of Chaos.

Tuesday, November 14, from 7pm to 9pm at Emmaus Spiritual Ministries, 434 So. Batavia St., Orange.

Fee: $25 per person; Register: 714-744-3172 or email: Emmaus@csjorange.org.

Presenters: Sr. Eileen McNerney, CSJ and Julie Mussche

While many of us look forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas as blessed family gatherings, for others,

holidays can awaken the pain of past or present family hurts and broken relationships. This reflective workshop is designed to help you find inner peace and to understand

and value your place within your family. We will use meditative Taize Prayer to close the evening, asking for the healing of family pain. Why not prepare for the holidays

by asking a family member to join you?

Emmaus Spiritual Ministries is a Ministry of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange.

THE GAP It’s interesting that there is such a huge gap

between advice and help. —Anonymous

November 12, 2017 Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

PLEASE NOTE!!

The St. Nicholas Parish Office has NEW office hours.

Monday through Friday we are open as follows: 9am to 12pm and 1pm to 7pm.

Anyone who has reserved a room at the parish for ministry events will need to pick up the room key by

6:30pm in the Parish Office.

Parish Office hours for the weekend remain the same: Saturday: 9am—12 Noon Sunday: 8:30am—1:30pm

Please note: EARLY DEADLINES FOR BULLETIN ARTICLES

With holidays and other Publisher requirements, articles for our bulletin have early deadlines.

Please note the following deadlines if you have an article that needs to be in a bulletin for

the dates shown below. Articles submitted after the required “Due Date”

will not be published in the bulletin.

Bulletin Date Articles Due By

November 19 November 8—past due

November 26 November 9—past due

Friendship Service of Thanksgiving All are invited to attend this annual service, to be held this year, at Temple Judea, 24512 Moulton Parkway, on Sunday, November 19 at 3PM.

Our Pastor, Fr. George, will participate along with Rabbi Dennis Linson, and Pastors from Laguna Country Methodist Church. The St. Nicholas Chorale (10:45), will represent our parish with

musical selections. Attendees are asked to bring non-perishable food items to benefit So. County Outreach.

A Reception will follow in the Temple’s social hall.

Interfaith Thanksgiving Prayer Service All are invited to attend this annual Prayer Service hosted by Pastor Leland Lantz and the Lutheran Church of the Cross, (across the street from St. Nicholas Church),

on Tuesday, November 21st at 7PM. Local congregations will be represented by their

clergy and their choirs or music groups. Deacon Wayne will read from Holy Scripture, and

the St. Nicholas Parish Choir (9AM) will open the service with a musical presentation.

A reception will follow the service.

St. Nicholas Parishioners are invited to two exciting Thanksgiving Services!

Prayer before Communion “Your Sacred Table”

Divine Savior, we come to Your sacred table to nourish ourselves, not with bread, but with Yourself, true Bread of

eternal life. Help us daily to make a good and perfect meal of this divine food. Let us be continually refreshed by the perfume of Your kindness and goodness. May the

Holy Spirit fill us with His love. Meanwhile, let us prepare a place for this holy food by emptying our hearts.

Amen. —St. Francis de Sales

St. Nicholas Senior Singles… are gathering for lunch on Friday, November 17th at 12:30pm at Lucille’s Bar B-Q, 23760 El Toro Rd., Lake Forest.

Reservations required; RSVP: Joan at 949-855-8755.

New Members are invited and welcomed!

Friendship with the love of God in our hearts.

The Hispanic Group

is having a Tamale Sale in the Parish Center on

Sunday, November 19th, after all Masses.

—unless they sell out early!