November 20, 2016

Thank you to the good stewards who support our parish with your time, talent and treasure.

St. Theodore’s Church

168 Spencerport Road Rochester, New York 14606

Parish Office: 429-6811, Fax: 429-7726

Faith Formation Office: 429-5650 e-mail: Gsttheod@dor.org

http://sttheodoreschurch.com

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I’VE BEEN THINKING

CHRIST OUR KING

“The Bible calls Jesus a king only in parables and in the passion story. In the discourse about the judgment of the world Jesus compares himself with the king who says to the sheep, ‘Come you blessed of my Father, take as your heritage the kingdom which has been destined for you since the creation of the world’ (Matthew 25:34). On the cross above his head ‘an inscription was attached indicating the charge against him: “This is Jesus, the king of the Jews”’ (Matthew 27:37). The people mocked him as king: ‘If you are the king of the Jews, then help yourself’ (Luke 23:37). For the Romans the title king is the reason for executing Jesus; for the Jews it’s the occasion for mocking him. Jesus doesn't correspond to their image of king. The cross puts in question their understanding of what a king is. Jesus isn’t the king that the Jews expected. John shows us in his Gospel how Jesus understands himself as king. When interrogating Jesus, Pilate puts to him the clear question, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?” (John 18:33). Jesus answered: ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If it was of this world, my people would fight so that I was not handed over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not of this world’ (John 18:36). With these words Jesus interprets his kingship in a completely new way. Jesus is a royal personage. But his kingdom isn’t of this world. Jesus has his kingly dignity from God. So no one can dispute his kingship. What Jesus says of himself here is a promise for every Christian. I too can say of myself, ‘My kingdom is not of this world.’ There is a sphere in me over which the world has no power. There is a kingly dignity in me which no one can take from me, ‘my inner kingdom’. Where I am completely myself I am invulnera-ble. For there Christ is in me with his royal power. The paradox is that it is in his suffering that Jesus speaks of his kingdom. At the very point where Jesus has been condemned, scourged and nailed to the cross, he is king. So despite all the outward humiliation and hurt Jesus strides through this passion in a sovereign way. That means that the reality of my own inner kingdom also continues on my way of the cross. At the very point where I am judged and condemned by others, where I am misunderstood, where I am scourged, insulted, made to look ridiculous, there is something in me that no one can hurt. Where I fail, there is something in me that can-not be broken. Even in dying the divine dignity cannot be taken from me. The knowledge of my kingdom which is not of this world continues to work in this world’s freedom, as confidence, as calmness and inner strength which no one can break.” (from Images of Jesus by Anselm Grum) Peace & Love,

Page Two St. Theodore’s Church, Rochester, New York

S O S Daily Cash Raffle Winners

11/07 Ruth Jaworski $25 11/08 David Souva $25 11/09 Dan & Rita Ammon $25 11/10 Michael DeRue $25 11/11 Shirley Donaldson $25 11/12 Suzanne VanHove $50 11/13 Linda D’Ambrosio $50

The sanctuary lamp will burn in the Eucha-ristic Chapel this week for:

Bob & Jane Anderson

req. Family

WEDDING BANNS

Nora Burleigh and Giovanni LaMartina

—————————— COUNCIL CORNER ——————————

The Parish Council would like you to know that if you have any suggestions, com-ments, or concerns you are encouraged to bring them to a council member. There are members that attend each Mass and they should be wearing a name tag. There is also a photo board of all the members in the vestibule so you can easily identify them. Parish Coun-cil meetings are open to the public and are usually held on the second Tuesday of the month. Date and time appear in the bulletin if you would like to attend.

If you would like to address the council please contact our secretary, Marina Barigelli, by phone at 426-7079 or by email at mustbesweet@gmail.com to be added to the agenda ahead of time.

CHILDREN'S CHRISTMAS PAGEANT AND CHOIR

Our Children's Christmas Pageant will be this year on Sunday, December 18. Our Children's Choir will be at the 3:30 p.m. Mass on Christmas Eve along with the Nativity Play. Registration forms need to be returned to the Faith Formation Office

by Monday, November 21. Extra forms can be picked up in the Faith Formation or receptionist offices. The pag-eant, choir and Nativity play are open to children in kin-dergarten through ninth grade. If you have questions re-garding the pageant on December 18 or the children's choir for Christmas Eve, please contact Kathy Douglas at kdouglas0617@gmail.com or at 474-9640. If you have questions regarding the Nativity play on Christmas Eve, please contact Maureen Piehler at 429-5650 or mpieh-ler@dor.org.

KIDS HELPING OTHERS As a service project, the students in our Faith Formation Program are collecting new hats, mit-tens and gloves in a variety of sizes and colors to be included in the Christmas gift baskets giv-en out by our Food Cupboard. We will be col-lecting these items between November 21 and

December 12. Thank you for your support and sharing the true meaning of Christmas with others.

“CHRISTMAS FUN” FAMILY PANCAKE

BREAKFAST AND ACTIVITIES

Date: Saturday, December 10 Place: Parish Hall Time: Pancake breakfast served from 9 - 9:45 a.m. followed by family activities Cost: $5 per person; children 2 and under are free

Join us for breakfast and a fun time of crafts, Christmas

caroling and a visit from Santa. Bring your camera to take

a picture of your child with Santa. Families are asked to

bring a non-perishable food item to donate to our

food cupboard. Registration forms are available in

the church entrance, parish office and faith formation of-

fice. Registration deadline: Thursday, December 1.

Your family needs to be registered prior to this event; NO

registration will be accepted that day. Your family will

receive an admittance ticket at the door. If you have

any questions or need assistance with the fee, call

Maureen Piehler at 429-5650.

Teens in grades 7– college are needed to help with

this event; if you are interested, please call

Mrs. Piehler.

YOUTH MINISTRY WISH LIST One of the rooms we use for our youth gatherings is in need of two couches. The two we have now are old and falling apart. If you have a clean couch in good condi-tion that you are willing to donate to our youth ministry program, please contact Maureen at 429-5650 or mpiehler@dor.org.

PLEASE PLAN AHEAD… A PARISH ADVENT RETREAT

Father Simeon Gallagher will be with us for a Retreat this December 4 – 8. He will preach at the liturgies December 3 and 4 and the Adult Retreat will be Monday – Thursday at 7 PM. Following the 8:30 AM Mass, a shorter version of the 7 PM evening presentation will be given. Come and bring a friend! I know that we have really enjoyed Father Gallagher in the past and that a large number of people have attended.

~ Father Steve

Page Three St. Theodore’s Church, Rochester, New York November 20, 2016

FOOD CUPBOARD NEWS We are grateful for your continued and faithful support as we try to help meet some of the needs of the hungry in our community. Thank you for your donations you bring each weekend to share!

NEEDED ITEM OF THE WEEK “Ramen Noodles”

ALSO WE ARE ALSO IN NEED OF:

Plastic Grocery Bags and Brown Paper Grocery Bags

BAPTISM Declan Michael Candileri Child of Kaitlyn & Michael

PARISH OFFICE CLOSED The parish office will close at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 23, and will reopen on Monday, November, 28, in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.

St. Theodore’s Church

Fourth Annual “Lights of Love” Tree

Light the season by purchasing a light(s) on our “Lights of Love” Tree to remember or honor our loved ones, both living and deceased. A contribution of $5 per dedi-cation will illuminate one of the lights on the “Lights of Love” Tree, that will be lo-cated outside the main entrance to church. The lights will shine brightly every night through-out the Advent and Christmas Season, December 12 until January 8, as a symbol of love. Our special tree lighting ceremony will be held on Monday, December 12 at 7 PM beginning in church and proceeding outside for the bless-ing and lighting of the tree. Following the ceremony there will be a cookie reception in the library. Please join us for this very special evening of reflection and remembrance. Forms are available in the back of church. All forms need to be in by MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21 to be included in the program. All proceeds will go towards the purchase of a new gas stove for the parish hall kitchen.

SAVES OURSELVES DAILY CASH RAFFLE

We are pleased to announce the continuation of our new Daily Cash Raffle which runs from

December 1, 2016 to March 31, 2017. The raffle features over $4000 in cash prizes. Winners to be determined by random drawing.

You have 121 chances to win! Weekday prize - $25.

Saturday and Sunday prize - $50. FOUR special drawings of $125 each,

on December 15, January 15, February 15, and March 15, 2017.

No limit on how many times you can win. Winning tickets are placed back in the tumbler for

more chances. $20 per raffle ticket.

Must be 18 or older to play. Return your tickets soon.

Remember, these raffle tickets make nice gifts. Keep in mind there is no obligation to participate, but your

contributions will be so beneficial to the important ministries of St. Theodore’s

(and maybe a great addition to your wallet or purse). Additional tickets available.

CHRISTMAS ANGELS FOR THE FOOD CUPBOARD

Our annual Christmas Angel drive for the Food Cupboard has begun! The baskets at each church entrance have paper angels with requests for items for our monthly households, con-sisting of almost 140 people. Our “Back to Basics” theme for toiletries and $10 grocery store gift cards (as well as other inexpensive gift items) will help our clients to buy more food for their families. With this being Thanksgiving week, please give thanks for your good fortune and help make Christmas brighter for those who have less. Please Note: A special wooden box is on the Food Cupboard table to the right of the main entrance to church for gift cards and postage stamps. All items should be returned (unwrapped) with the angels attached no later than Monday, December 12. Please “be an angel and take an angel.”

FOOD CUPBOARD THANK YOU!!!

Our parish Food Cupboard volunteers are so grateful to

all who donated food for the Thanksgiving Food Drive.

Your response was overwhelming! Your contributions will

help many families in our community to have a Happy

Thanksgiving. God bless you and Happy Thanksgiving to all.

CHRISTMAS CHOIR 2016 The music ministry is in need of singers for our Christmas Eve Masses on December 24 at 5:30 and 10:30. We especially need bass, tenor & alto voices. Rehearsals will be on Wednesday evenings from 8:00 to 9:00 on November 30, December 14, & 21 and on Sunday, December 4, at 1:00 p.m. Practice CDs will be available to aid in learning the music. Please contact Rita Manners at 429-6811 or manners@dor.org.

THANKSGIVING DAY MASS

We will be having our Mass at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 24. Please join us in giving thanks for all the blessings in our lives.

9:00 Mass

MASSES FOR THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 21 MONDAY Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

8:30 A.M. Antonio Ciccarelli req. Family

TUESDAY Saint Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr 8:30 A.M. James Mancuso req. Ron & Jeanette Donato

WEDNESDAY Weekday in Ordinary Time

8:30 A.M. Sam Russo req. Ann Russo

THURSDAY Thanksgiving Day 9:00 A.M. Salvatrice & Giuseppe Sampognaro req. Lisa Abbate

FRIDAY Weekday in Ordinary Time

8:30 A.M. Anna Zona req. Tony & Amy

WEEKEND MASSES First Sunday of Advent SATURDAY

4:30 P.M. Anthony & Carmel Dailey req. Family

4:30 P.M. Angela & Les Blay req. Family

SUNDAY 9:00 A.M. The People of St. Theodore’s Parish 11:00 A.M. Jerry Abruzzese req. Saraceni Family 11:00 A.M. Frank & Rose DiCesare req. Children &

Grandchildren

Bible readings for next Sunday: Is 2:1-5; Rom 13:11-14; Mr 24:37-44(1)

Page Four

FINANCES FOR WEEK OF NOVEMBER 6

Weekly Needed Collection $9,615.38

Amount Received $12,025.97

Amount towards our deficit $2,410.59

Attendance 882

Number of Envelopes 448

Children’s Envelopes $36,00

Capital Maintenance Fund $1,138.00

All Saints/All Souls $2,164.50

FINANCES FOR WEEK OF NOVEMBER 13

Amount Received $11,523.36

Amount towards our deficit $1,907.98

Attendance 761

Number of Envelopes 445

Children’s Envelopes $44.36

Capital Maintenance Fund $217.00

Fiscal Year Sunday Collection Budget $503,000

Fiscal Year-To-Date Actual $194,209

Parish Staff: Rev. Steve Kraus, Pastor Angelo Coccia, Deacon Laurence Feasel, Deacon Craig Stratton, Deacon Sr. Catherine Pfleger, RSM, Pastoral Associate

(Worship) Rita Manners, Music Director Maureen Piehler, Faith Formation Coordinator/

Youth Minister Leigh Ann Lester, Business Manager Maria Discavage, Faith Formation Secretary John Hammerle, Parish Council Chair Food Cupboard: 429-5360

Interpreted for hearing im-paired 9:00

9:00 A.M. Hearing Loop

Page Five

Eucharistic Chapel Open 24 Hours

SUNDAY 9:00 AM RCIC 9:00 PM Rock of Faith 9:00 AM 5th Grade Mass 9:00 AM Knights of Columbus Pancake Breakfast Rosary Altar Society Cookie Sale after all Masses MONDAY 5:00 PM Faith Formation Classes for Grades 1-5 7:00 PM Faith Formation Classes for Grades 6-8 7:00 PM Adult Bell Choir Rehearsal TUESDAY 9:00 AM-10:00 PM Solemn Adoration 7:00 PM Choir Rehearsal WEDNESDAY 9:00 AM-10:00 PM Solemn Adoration 3:00 PM Parish Office Closes Early THURSDAY NO Bible Study Parish Office is Closed FRIDAY Parish Office is Closed SATURDAY 3:30 PM Sacrament of Reconciliation Catholic University Collection SUNDAY 9:00 AM RCIC Catholic University Collection

PARISH OFFICE HOURS Monday—Thursday 9:00 a.m.—4:30 p.m.

Friday 9:00 a.m.—12:00 p.m.

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Church Name: ST. THEODORE’S CHURCH City, State: ROCHESTER, NY File Name: 06-0160 Phone: 585-429-5650 Contact: Maria Discavage Comments: