“WHO began the good news

of Jesus Christ in your life?”

December 10, 2017

EXCLUSIVE FROM OUR PARISH: Each day during Advent, our website

is featuring a new reading, meditation, and action created by our own

pastoral staff here at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish. Visit

www.steas.net or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Read

online, download, print, or share on social media. Today’s page of our

electronic Advent booklet is reprinted inside. No Internet access? Stop

by the Welcome Desk for a printed copy.

How will you point the way to the

good news in someone else’s

life?

By holding your tongue instead of reacting in the way

that most people would expect?

By going out of your way to provide some practical

help without expectation of any return?

By offering a word of hope to counter the despairing

messages of the world?

See page 3 for information about the online video, Three

Secrets to Sharing the Faith.

No Internet access? Stop by the parish office during

regular hours and we’ll set you up so you can watch here!

IN YOUR CHARITY, please pray for the repose

of the souls of parishioner Charles Fogarty

husband of Rosemarie Fogarty and father of

Colleen Jones; and Serena Kenny, mother of

parishioner Lynn Fry.

8:00 am 1:30 pm 6:00 pm 6:30 pm

Agape Homeschool Caregivers Support Group Agape Homeschool Family Night CCD Grades 1,2,3,5,6

7:30 am 9:00 am 6:00 pm 6:30 pm 7:00 pm 7:00 pm 7:00 pm 7:00 pm

Gospel Reflection Groups That Man Is You! Zumba® Fitness Trail Life Columbiettes (rosary 6:20) Parish Shawl Ministry RCIA Choir Rehearsal

9:30 am 7:00 pm 8:30 pm

Faith Matters Morning Faith Matters Evening Adult Open Gym

9:30 am 11:00 am 6:00 pm 7:00 pm

Parish Shawl Ministry Senior Christmas Luncheon & Movie Zumba® Toning StEAS Communal Penance Service

“Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life”

After Mass American Heritage Girls Sub Sale

Coffee & Donuts after 9:00 am Mass American Heritage Girls Sub Sale

CCD 8:45 am to 10 am—Grade 1 9:00 am to 10 am—3-year-olds to K 10:30 am to 11:45 am—Grades 2-4 10:30 am to noon—Grades 5—8/Edge

10:30 am 10:30 am 12:15 pm 3:00 pm 4:30 pm 6:00 pm 6:00 pm 7:00 pm 8:00 pm

Edge SpiritSword Children’s Christmas Pageant Practice Chaplet of Divine Mercy A Seton Family Concert Kids Open Gym and Legos™ Club Let’s Play Cards! 14+ Basketball 14+ Floor Hockey

this week at StEAS

MON Is 35:1-10; Ps 85:9ab and 10, 11-12, 13-14; Lk 5:17-26

TUE Zec 2:14-17; Jdt 13:18bcde, 19; Lk 1:26-38

WED Is 40:25-31; Ps 103:1-2, 3-4, 8, 10; Mt 11:28-30

THU Is 41:13-20; Ps 145:1 and 9, 10-11, 12-13ab; Mt 11:11-15

FRI Is 48:17-19; Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4, 6; Mt 11:16-19

SAT Sir 48:1-4, 9-11; Ps 80:2ac, 3b, 15-16, 18-19; Mt 17:9a, 10-13

SUN Is 61:1-2a, 10-11; Lk 1:46-48, 49-50, 53-54; 1 Thes 5:16-

24; Jn 1:6-8, 19-28

MON

11

TUE

12

THU

14

WED

13

SUN

17

SAT

16

SATURDAY DECEMBER 9

VIGIL, SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT

5:00 pm Bob Rice

SUNDAY DECEMBER 10

SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT

7:30 am People of the Parish

*9:00 am Denise Brekosky

11:00 am Tyler Mangus

MONDAY DECEMBER 11

MONDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF ADVENT

NO MASS

TUESDAY DECEMBER 12

FEAST OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE

6:45 am Morning Prayer

7:00 am Jim Kelly

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 13

MEMORIAL OF SAINT LUCY, VIRGIN AND MARTYR

8:30 am Rosary

9:00 am Shirely Melodini

THURSDAY DECEMBER 14

MEMORIAL OF SAINT JOHN OF THE CROSS, PRIEST AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH

8:30 am Morning Prayer

9:00 am Intentions and Health of Alan Boyer

FRIDAY DECEMBER 15

FRIDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF ADVENT

8:30 am Rosary

9:00 am Mary Ann Malatesta

SATURDAY DECEMBER 16

3:00 pm Confessions

VIGIL, SATURDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF ADVENT

5:00 pm Margaret Sandburg

SUNDAY DECEMBER 17

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT

7:30 am People of the Parish

*9:00 am Dale Mortiz, Tyler & Gail

11:00 am Lucy and Paul Magaro

* A

du

lt Ch

oir

FRI

15

COMMUNAL PENANCE SERVICE HERE THIS WEEK

Prepare the way of the Lord through the blessings and

healing of the sacrament of Reconciliation, this

Thursday, December 14, at 7 pm.

CHECK OUR CALENDAR on page 2, titled this week at StEAS, for lots more

activities. That calendar is intended as the main reference for all of our

activities and organizations in the bulletin. We don’t want you to miss Shawl

Ministry, Caregivers Support Group, Adult Open Gym, and more!

YOU ARE NEEDED! There is a need for 2 new permanent ushers for the 9 am

Mass on Sundays. Anyone who is willing to assist at this Mass should contact

Bob Gaumer, 717- 766-2396. Men and women are invited to serve in this

important ministry.

CHAPLET OF DIVINE MERCY “Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal

One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.” Come Sunday, December 17,

for a Holy Hour at 3 pm, with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament,

Benediction, and praying of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.

SUPPORT OUR YOUTH MINISTRIES! American Heritage Girls and Trail Life

troops will be selling pretzel sandwiches—$5 each or 3 for $12—after all

Masses the weekend of December 17-18. Look for them in Menitti Hall!

CHILDREN’S LITURGY OF THE WORD is held during the 9 am and 11 am

Masses each Sunday during Advent for all children ages 4 years through

grade 4. (Younger ones are welcome with parents.)

SENIOR CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON & MOVIE is Thursday, December 14, at 11

am. This month’s movie is The Christmas Candle. A pastor in a town that

believes in a Christmas miracle candle strives to abolish the belief. Please sign

up by Monday noon with Colleen, 717-766-2396, or Jeannie, 717-737-8600.

SPIRITSWORD On December 17, we continue the series Reasons to Believe,

with Dr. Scott Hahn and Mike Aquilina. This presentation considers the close

relationship between The Bible and the Mass. Please join us in the Office

Conference Room on Sundays from 10:30 am to noon. Contacts: Chris and

Denny Rowe, fx77fxe@gmail.com; Amy Rogers, amycdid@yahoo.com.

FAITH MATTERS MORNING JOIN US! On Wednesday, December 13, at

9:30 am, we meet in the Bayley Room to study Saint John’s gospel. Jesus

reacts to lies and insults with patience and blessings in Abraham, and the

Man Born Blind. We’ll learn about Satan and examine Catholic teaching

about lies as profanity, failures of justice, and acts of violence by deception.

Jesus' encounter with the man born blind teaches about the sacraments,

suffering, and the progression of faith, and reassures us when we are rejected

for speaking the truth. Contact: Mel Lee, melmolee@reagan.com.

FAITH MATTERS EVENING Seven angels, seven plagues, seven bowls of

God's fury, and Babylon the Great—frightening images, but meant to help us

understand God more deeply. Join Deacon Hall Wednesday, December 13, at

7 pm in the Bayley Room for Revelation 15-17. Contact: Deacon David L. Hall,

717-471-3388, deaconhall@steas.net.

YOUR CHRISTMAS GIFT TO YOUR CHURCH May God bless you for your

giving in this special season. Christmas schedules and offering envelopes have

been mailed to all parishioners; extras at the back of the church.

SPONSOR OF THE WEEK We wish to thank WESTY BEER DISTRIBUTOR, INC.

for sponsoring an ad in our weekly bulletin.

GET OUR PARISH NEWSLETTER

www.steas.net/parish-e-newsletter-signup

or email communications@steas.net

THIS SUNDAY, starting in the church with Saint

Nicholas, then food, crafts, games in Menniti

Hall, plus a special visitor! See you there!

COME ENJOY THE MUSICAL TALENT of fellow

parishioners, and join in congregational singing.

If you would like to share your musical gifts in

this program, contact Music Director Scott

Crowne, scrowne@steas.net, or after Mass.

ADVENT COMMUNAL PENANCE SERVICES

2 PM—SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10 Saint Katherine Drexel Parish

7 PM—SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10 Saint Theresa Parish

7 PM—TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12 Our Lady of Lourdes Parish

7 PM—THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14 SAINT ELIZABETH ANN SETON PARISH

2 PM—SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17 Saint Joseph Parish

7 PM—WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20 Good Shepherd Parish

MANY THANKS to everyone who took the time

to purchase gifts from our Giving Tree project.

This project benefits children in foster care

through the Bair Foundation and the United

Methodist Home; children served by Saint Francis

of Assisi Parish; children and families served by

New Hope Ministries; area seniors; and families in

our own parish. Know that you have brought

much love and joy to the lives of 358 recipients

during this blessed Christmas season. This project

could not have been accomplished without our

wonderful StEAS staff and all the volunteers who

prepared tags, monitored the tree during

weekend Masses, accepted gifts in the office

during the work week, and sorted and delivered

gifts to agencies. We thank you!

YOU’VE LOGGED

HOW MANY HOURS

WATCHING THE

FOOD NETWORK? Put

some of those recipes

to great use! On

February 3 and 4, our parish will be a sales site for

the 2018 Souper Bowl Sunday Soup Sale in

support of the shelters operated by Catholic

Charities. We are looking for soup makers to

share there homemade soup with others.

Contact Tom Brenner for details, 717-737-7671,

TEB@goldbergkatzman.com.

SILENT NIGHT BASKETBALL

GAME Kindergarten through 8th

grade students in the Trinity Partner

Schools and Parish PREP/CCD

Programs, are invited to cheer on the

Shamrocks as they take on Lancaster Mennonite

School during the Silent Night Basketball Game

on Thursday, December 14, at 7:30 pm. Student

admission is free. Please contact Devon Ban at

717-761-1116 x202, with any questions.

TRINITY INFORMATION & EARLY

REGISTRATION NIGHTS: Stop by

on Tuesday December 12! School

tour begins at 6 pm, presentation

and registration at 7. Contact: Devon Ban, 717-761

-1116, x202, dban@thsrocks.us.

CHRISTMAS MEMORIAL OFFERINGS of $10.00 or more are being accepted for

poinsettias to adorn the altar for Christmas. Names will be published in the bulletin

during the Christmas season. Please make checks payable to

ST. ELIZABETH ANN SETON PARISH.

In Memory of:

Requested by:

(Drop off form in the Parish Office or hand in to Welcome Desk staff on Sundays.)

WE ARE LOOKING

FOR A NURSERY/

CHILD CARE

COORDINATOR to be

responsible for the

operation of the Parish Nursery during the Sunday

9 am Mass, with weekly preparation. This position

requires creativity, organization, and excellent

personal communication skills. The ability to use

computer-based tools necessary. Additional hours

and duties may be available on Sunday and for

other Parish youth events. Must be 21 years of age

or older. Please send cover letter and resume to

Tracy Kovaleski—by email (preferred) at

tkovaleski@steas.net; by mail to Saint Elizabeth

Ann Seton Parish, 310 Hertzler Rd.,

Mechanicsburg, PA 17055; or call (717) 697-2614.

Visit www.steas.net/job-openings/ for a

complete job description.

“WHERE DID THIS COME FROM?” you’re asking

as you admire the manger scene in the narthex,

all ready for its life-transforming Guest on

Christmas Eve. The banner was designed by

Monsignor King to provide greater presence for

the crèche—one of the most beautiful folk

traditions for families and especially children at

Christmastime. Thanks to Saint Francis of Assisi

for promoting this practice!

WHY IS THE ADVENT WREATH IN THE FRONT

OF THE AMBO? You’re used to seeing it higher

and in other locations in the sanctuary, right? Like

the manger scene, the Advent wreath is not really

an ancient Church tradition. Lighting the wreath

began as a lovely family practice, in the dark

winter months, of focusing Advent prayers on the

Light of the World. It’s a wonderful devotion for

families—so appealing that it sort of migrated

into churches (not just Catholic churches), as well.

But it’s always been an option, and there are no

hard and fast rules about how or when it’s to be

lighted, or even where it’s to be located.

JOHN THE BAPTIZER made ready the way of the

Lord. Who will make ready the way today? If God

is calling you, please speak with Monsignor King;

or contact Father Brian Wayne, diocesan director

of vocations, frbwayne@hbgdiocese.org, 717-

657-4804. Check out www.diocesanpriest.com.