Saint Anselm Church
12670 Dunks Ferry Road
Philadelphia, PA 19154
Parish Center School
Phone 215-637-3525 215-632-1133
Fax 215-637-4915 215-632-3264
Parish Website: www.stanselmparish.org
School Website:
http://teacherweb.com/PA/SaintAnelmSchool/SchoolHomePage
PASTORAL STAFF
Rev. Thomas J. Dunleavy Pastor
Rev. David M. Friel Parochial Vicar
Rev. John E. Fitzgerald Resident
Deacon Gerald J. Whartenby Pastoral Associate
Deacon Dennis P. Warner Pastoral Associate
Mrs. Geraldine Murphy Principal - School
Mrs. Diane Leonetti Director of Music
MASS SCHEDULE
Weekend
Saturday Vigil 5:00 PM
Sunday 8:00; 10:00 AM; 12:00 Noon
7:00 PM
Weekday
Monday - Friday
6:30 AM (Chapel) & 8:30 AM
8:00 AM (Saturday)
Christmas Eve
4:00 PM Church
4:00 PM GYM (Youth & Family)
6:30 PM
Midnight
(11:30 PM – Carols & Cantata)
Christmas Day
8:00 AM and 11:00 AM only
No Evening Mass
CONFESSION SCHEDULE
Saturdays 3:30-4:30 PM
Parish Penance Service
Monday, December 19th, 7:00 PM
Visiting Priests will be present to hear confessions.
WEDDINGS
Couples planning to marry are asked to contact a Parish priest to make arrangements for a wedding.
3rd Sunday of Advent
11 December 2011
PARISH CENTER HOURS
Monday thru Thursday 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Saturday 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon
Sunday 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM
DEVOTIONS
Rosary 8:00 AM Daily
6:30 PM Monday
Divine Mercy 3:00 PM Monday (Chapel)
Eucharistic Exposition 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM
Monday - Chapel
Benediction 6:50 PM Monday (Chapel)
Miraculous Medal Novena 8:00 AM Mass Saturday
Legion of Mary 7:00 PM Monday
Charismatic Prayer Mtg. 7:30 PM Tuesday
BAPTISMS
Baptisms are every Sunday at 1:00 PM. Parents are asked to call the Parish Center and speak with the Priest or Deacon who is on call and who will assist them in registering their child for Baptism. The Church assists the parents by offering instruction on the meaning, importance, and responsibilities of the sacrament of Baptism. A Pre-Jordan Baptismal Program for helping parents prepare for the spiritual birth of their child is held on the fourth Sunday of the month in the Spirituality Center following the Noon Mass. The next Pre Jordan is January 22, 2012.
Dear Parishioners,
Come Lord Jesus – Dispel the Darkness
The season of Advent calls us to be aware of how the forces of sin and evil cloud over or dim a light of love and faith within us.
The Good news we celebrate at Christmas is that Jesus comes to rescue and save us from the forces of darkness, evil, and sin that prevent a light of love, faith and hope from radiating in our lives.
During your Advent prayer, identify where and how the forces of darkness are affecting you. Then lift your soul to Jesus and invite him to come to dispel the darkness affecting you.
The Human Heart
The “Light of the World” is a beautiful painting which was created by Holman Hunt. It is a painting of Christ in a garden at midnight. In his left hand, Christ is holding a lantern and with his right hand, he is knocking on a heavily paneled door.
On the day the painting was unveiled, a group of art critics was present. As the curtain was drawn aside, one of them approached the Artist and said: “Mr. Hunt, why haven’t you finished your work.”
“It is finished,” the artist answered.
“But there is no handle on that door,” the critic pointed out. “That,” said the artist, “is the door of the human heart, and it can only be opened from the inside.”
Christmas Lights in the Neighborhood
Christmas lights symbolize our mission as Christians to push back the darkness.
The Lights of Christmas push back the darkness with their special glow. It doesn’t take large and glowing spotlights to make the season so bright. A lot of little lights will accomplish the same purpose: each adding its own luster to the total brilliance.
Jesus calls each of us to “let your light shine.” Small, perhaps, our influence as the world judges but, as each of us glows with God’s love, the light can become larger and brighter and the darkness driven back even further.
As a faith community, let us do our part through our daily struggle, laughter, and tears to scatter the darkness that seems to overwhelm.
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The Grace of Reconciliation
At Christmas, Jesus offers his grace of reconciliation to dispel, to forgive, and to remove the darkness caused by sin. To all who invite Jesus to come into their souls, Jesus will heal, restore, and rekindle whatever light of love has been dimmed within a person by sin.
Please spend some quiet time in prayer to be aware of how sin has caused darkness in your life, preventing love, goodness, patience, etc. from radiating from within you.
A Good Christmas Confession
A good preparation for Christmas includes a good confession. In the sacrament of Reconciliation, Jesus is at work forgiving, healing, restoring, and making right whatever sin has adversely affected people from within. Open the door to Jesus in the sacrament of Reconciliation and allow him to rekindle love, peace, and joy within you.
The scheduled times for Confessions before Christmas are:
Saturday, December 17th 3:30 – 4:30 PM
Monday, December 19th 7:00 PM
Please note that confessions are not scheduled to be heard on Christmas Eve.
Advent Penance Service
Monday, December 19th
7:00 PM
On Monday evening, December 19th, there will be a Parish Penance Service during which individual confessions will be heard. Visiting priests will be present to hear confessions. Jesus will be present in the sacrament of reconciliation dispelling, forgiving, restoring, rekindling. . . .
Christmas Mass Schedule
The Mass schedule for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day is printed on the front cover of this bulletin. Please note that although there are 4 Masses on Christmas Eve there are only 2 Masses on Christmas Day: 8:00 AM & 11:00 AM.
Christmas Eve Youth and Family Mass
Our 4:00 PM Christmas Eve Mass in Our Lady of Victory Hall (Gym) will be a Youth and Family Mass .
Christmas Mass Intentions
All Masses on Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day will be celebrated for those people (living and deceased) whose name we receive. On the tables with the bulletins are envelopes for you to use to submit the name(s). Please use the small envelope for a deceased person and a large envelope for the living.
50th Anniversary – Saint Anselm Church
1962 – 2012
Upcoming Event
Live Nativity
Sunday, December 18th
5:00 – 7:00 PM
Front Lawn – Saint Anselm School
Many people remember the Live Nativity Tableaus that were a tradition here at Saint Anselm Parish. In the “old days”, there was a novena (9 days) of Live Nativity Tableaus which were staged in front of the Church.
In Memory of the Live Nativity Tableaus of the past + in celebration of our 50th Anniversary year, the Live Nativity will return (for 1 Night only) as part of our Jubilee Year celebration.
7th Grade students in Saint Anselm School will fill the role of the Characters in the Nativity. Live animals will be part of the Tableau.
Caroling, Hot Chocolate, Cookies will add their magic touch. The only thing else that is needed is you.
Reserve the date: Sunday, December 18th 5:00 – 7:00 PM. There will be three 40 minute tableau scenes: 5:00 – 5:40 PM; 5:40 – 6:20 PM; 6:20 – 7:00 PM.
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Our Jubilee Year Christmas
Our celebration of Christmas in this Jubilee Year celebrating our 50th Anniversary provides us with an opportunity to give praise and thanks to God for sending his Son, Jesus, to dwell among us since our Parish Community was founded 50 years ago.
At Christmas we celebrate Jesus Christ as the true Light of the World. Many years ago the Church decided that Christmas should be celebrated during the Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere which is the darkest and coldest time of the year. Christmas comes to us during the winter season when nature becomes quiet, dark, and cold.
The physical darkness of this time of year serves to remind us how we need Jesus to be the light that dispels the darkness caused by the forces of sin, evil, disappointment, death, etc.
The physical coldness of this time of year serves to remind us how we need Jesus to warm our hearts and souls and to thaw the ice and hardness that has formed because of a lack of love.
Stars
By definition, a star is a fixed point of light in the night sky. A star reflects the light of the sun.
A star also refers to a person who excels or performs brilliantly. A person who is a star is one who takes a leading role.
Stars are used in artistic renderings of Mary, the Mother of Jesus. As a star, Mary reflects the light of her son, Jesus. As a star, Mary is a light whose goodness and faith shines brightly in the darkness of our world. As a star, Mary is a person who excelled at living life with faith and love.
Our Parish’s 50th Anniversary Christmas Tree
A Christmas Tree celebrating our Parish’s 50th Anniversary Year has been placed in the back of the Church.
This tree with be decorated with stars and red ribbons. The stars recognize and celebrate parishioners who for 50 years have reflected the light of Jesus Christ by how they have lived their lives in the spirit of Jesus. For 50 years, parishioners have welcomed Jesus to be born and to dwell within them. For 50 years, parishioners have been manifestations of Christ’s love, compassion, wisdom, mercy, and goodness. For 50 years, Jesus has been seen in parishioners who have lived life in his spirit and in accord with his Gospel.
For 50 years, the light of Jesus has radiated from within the faith community of Saint Anselm. Like a star that reflects the light of the sun, Saint Anselm Parish has reflected the light of God’s Son.
Our 50th Anniversary Christmas calls us to be a Star
Christmas calls us to welcome Jesus anew to dwell in our hearts so that we may be manifestations of the light of Christ in our world.
You are cordially invited to renew your commitment to be a Saint Anselm parishioner who will seek to continue to reflect the light of Christ in your life. By doing so, you will enable Saint Anselm Parish to continue to reflect the light of Jesus.
You are invited to ritualize your commitment by writing your name on a red ribbon which is attached to a star and then hanging the star on the Christmas Tree.
Note that by being a star – by reflecting the light of God’s Son, Jesus, in your life, you will help Saint Anselm Parish be a place where a spirit of Faith, Hope, and Love is ever-green, ever-fresh, ever-alive.
Holiday Outreach to those in need
The present state of the economy has caused unemployment and financial need among our parish families. Anyone wishing to make a monetary contribution to help them, please place your contribution in an envelope and mark it “Holiday Outreach.”
God bless you,
Father Dunleavy
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Saint Anselm All Star
Katie Chmelko
Katie Chmelko is among our young adults in whom we take great pride.
Katie is the daughter of Michael and Marianne Chmelko; the granddaughter of Joyce and Ed Erwin; and the brother of Patrick.
Katie graduated from Saint Anselm School in 2001. She credits Saint Anselm School for giving her a good foundation in the Catholic faith. Katie says that Saint Anselm School challenged her academically in ways that prepared her to embrace the education she received at Nazareth Academy from where she graduated in 2005. Katie majored in music at Saint Mary’s University.
Katie is blessed with musical talent. Katie plays several musical instruments and also has a good singing voice. She has used her talents to enhance our Liturgies enabling us to lift our hearts and voices in praise and thanks to God.
Katie speaks highly of the inspiration she was given by Mrs. Diane Leonetti whose support, direction, and encouragement helped to develop her musical skills.
Beginning when she was a student in Saint Anselm School and continuing ever since, Katie has given of her time and talent to enhance the musical programs of our Church and School.
Presently, Katie is the Assistant Choral Director at Nazareth Academy where she also teaches piano and voice. She is a member of the Archdiocesan Chorus and the Mendelssohn’s Chorus Club.
Katie often volunteers to play the organ for Mass in Saint Anselm Church. She regularly serves as a Cantor. Her playing and singing are conducive for prayer and meditation. Katie was among the “Friends of Father Chylinski” who joined him during his concerts.
Katie envisions a Church with energy, excitement, and enthusiasm made so by more youth and young Adults becoming involved and participating. In Katie and her involvement, we can see what she envisions.
Thank you, Katie, for your involvement and participation in our liturgy and in our Parish. You are a blessing to us.
Week III Prayer
Leader: The Lord be with you
All: And with your spirit.
Leader: As we bring fire to this wick, making it glow with light, may we also bring the fire of love to this time of prayer.