2nd Sunday of Advent December 8, 2019

THIS WEEK’S REFLECTION

 Humility Prepares the Way for Christ

 “A voice of one crying out in the desert.  ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.’”  Matthew 3:3 (Year A)

 On this, the Second Sunday of Advent, we are given the person of St. John the Baptist to ponder.  What a gift he is!  Jesus Himself stated that “among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist” (Matthew 11:11).  What a compliment!

 What is it that made John so great?  We can point to two things in particular.  The first has to do with his calling and the second has to do with his virtue.

 First of all, John was great because he was the transition from the Old Testament Prophets to the New Testament.  He was the bridge that prepared for the new life to come.  His unique mission makes him truly great.

 But John was great not only because of his unique calling, he was also great because of the virtue he had in his life.  And it is this gift that is worth pondering for our own inspiration more than any other.

 The particular virtue that John had was that of humility.  He saw himself as nothing other than a “voice of one crying out in the desert.”  And the Word he spoke was Jesus. 

 John acknowledged that he was not even worthy to stoop down and untie the sandal straps of Jesus (Mark 1:7).  He was praised by many and followed by many and yet he continuously said of Jesus that “He must increase and I must decrease” (John 3:30).  John was not in it for praise and honor; rather, his mission was to point everyone to the Savior of the world.  He could have sought the honor and praise of many and he would have certainly received it.  They may have even made him king.  But John was more than willing to fulfill his mission and then submit himself to the cruel sword of his executioner.  His humility was such that he was focused only on Jesus and desired only to point to Him.

 Reflect, today, upon this humility in your own life.  Do you tend to point to yourself or to Christ?  Do you seek the praise of others or do you humbly point all praise and glory to God?  Humility is the path that St. John the Baptist took and it’s the path we must strive for each and every day.

 SISTA CIRCLE HOLIDAY TEA

The St. Ann’s Sista Circle presents “She Shall Wear A Crown, for their 16th Annual Holiday Tea this Saturday, December 14, 2019 at St. Matthew’s Church, 5401 Loch Raven Blvd. 1 pm – 5 pm. Tickets are $45 and can be purchased from members of the Sista Circle or contact Rachel Carrenard at 410-343-0037. There will be Door Prizes, a 50/50 Raffle, Vendors and Live Entertainment.

 There will be a Sista Circle Meeting this Tuesday, December 10th, 6 pm in the Anchorage as they plan for final preparations for the Holiday Tea.

 BREAKFAST WITH SANTA

A Breakfast with Santa for our Pastorate will be held on Saturday, December 14th from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at St. Francis Xavier Church Hall 1501 E. Oliver Street. Tickets are $7 and are available to obtain from Antoinette Shannon of St. Wenceslaus Church. If you are interested in attending, please notify the parish office. Each child 12 years and younger will receive a gift from Santa and everyone will enjoy a full breakfast, songs, games, etc. Tickets are limited and will not be sold at the door.  

MOTHER SETON ACADEMY

Mother Seton Academy invites us to join them next Sunday, December 15, 2019 2:00 pm as Bishop Denis Madden Dedicates their Newly Constructed Gymnasium located behind the school’s courtyard on Boone Street. The new Gymnasium will give students “a place where they can play and enjoy themselves, a learning garden to show them the wonder and beauty of our world and a music room with plenty of space for unique and exciting instruments for the children to play.”

Sr. Peggy Juskelis, SSND,

President Mother Seton Academy

RETIRED RELIGIOUS COLLECTION

Next Sunday, December 15 is the date for the annual collection for the retirement needs of religious sisters, brothers, and priests. These dedicated religious served our parishes for generations with little compensation. Now, with so many retired and so few active members, they need our help. Please be generous in your support. Donation envelopes are available in the back of the church.

 THANK YOU

A thank you to all who donate items toward our Thanksgiving Food Pantry Outreach this year. A special thank you also to members of the St. Ann’s Outreach Committee for their work in helping to prepare items to be distributed.

We also send a special thank you to Mr. Ron Dent for his donation of turkeys and alsoMr. Thomas and Mrs. Gloria Kearson and the Staff and Volunteers of the Friends and Family Organization for their assistance and donations of bags of food and chickens toward our Thanksgiving Outreach initiative this year. They were able to supply 50 bags for 50 families in the community and We are grateful to all of our volunteers and contributors.

 OUTREACH

Members of our Outreach Committee will conduct our monthly Food Pantry next Tuesday, December 17, 10 am – 12 pm just a head of Christmas to help assist those in the neighborhood who are in most need.

 CHRISTMAS FLOWERS

Memorial flowers will soon be available to place on the altar at Christmas to honor a loved one, living or deceased. The suggested offering is $10.

 MOTHER MARY LANGE AWARDS

The 23rd Annual Mother Mary Lange Awards sponsored by the Office of Black Catholics to honor members of our Black Catholic parishes forLeadership,Service, and Youth Activities is now accepting nominations. If you know of someone within our parish who has shown these qualities and would like to nominate that person, please complete the nomination form located at the back of the church and return it to the church office by December 22nd for consideration

CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE

Our Christmas Eve Celebration Mass will be Tuesday evening, December 24 at 8:00 pm. Caroling with the Choir will begin at 7:30 pm prior to the evening Mass. The Christmas Mass schedule for the Pastorate is listed below:

·         Christmas Eve

§  St. Francis Xavier – 5 pm & Midnight

§  St. Wenceslaus – 6 pm

§  St. Ann – 8:00 pm (Caroling at 7:30)

 ·         Christmas Day

§  There will only be one Mass for the Pastorate at St. Wenceslaus, 10:30 am

PRAYER REQUESTS

Please also continue to pray for all of our sick and homebound, especially Florence Barber, Kathleen Beckhardt, Roberta Louise Brown, James Butts, Sandra Canty, Joshua & Elaine Cousin, Elaine Edmonds, Gregory Epps, John Frederick, Pat Haley, Rita Hardy, Eric & Harriette Lowery, Tina Lutz, Tom Lutz, Nelson Outlaw, Penny Palmer, Larry Sewell, Bernadette Wallace, Rita Watkins and Vincent Watkins and ask that God grant them strength, comfort and healing.

DECEMBER

Sun., Dec.8           2nd Sunday of Advent   11 am Mass, St. Ann’s

                              Sunday School 9:30am    Anchorage, 2nd floor youth room

                              Adult Bible Study, after Mass  Anchorage Dining Room 

Mon., Dec.9          Feast of the Immaculate

                  Conception of Mary

Tues., Dec.10       Sista Circle Meeting,    Anchorage, 6 pm

Thurs., Dec.12     Evening Mass, 7pm

                              Bible Study after Mass,

                              Anchorage Chapel

READINGS FOR NEXT SUNDAY

1st Reading                                       Isaiah 35:1-6, 10       

2nd Reading                                          James 5:7-10

GospelMatthew 11:2-11