December 13, 2009

Third Sunday of Advent

Isaiah 61:1-2a, 10-11; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24;

John 1:6-8, 19-28 [8B]

BULLETIN CONNECTION

“Sing joyfully!” and “Shout for joy!”proclaims the prophet Zephaniah. Don’t bediscouraged he announces to the people. Hiswords of hope can resonate just as boldly todayas they did in the land of Israel so long ago. Theseare words we not only need to hear, but also needto share with others. Our Christian hope comesfrom the fact that our Savior has come and hasfreed us from the ancient enemy, the powers ofsin and death. Our hope is rooted in Jesus Christ,who does not erase difficulties and problems, butwho sees us through them. He is always with us,indeed, as Paul writes, he is near! The promise ofGod is to be with us every day and always. In justa few short days we will celebrate the Christmasfestival that hails Emmanuel—God with us. Inhim is all our hope.

November 27, 2009
Dear Father McGuire,
On behalf of the men who come to the Holy Name Centre for Homeless Men in need of clothing, please thank your parishioners for their extraordinary generosity. Please also thank the Social Justice Committee for all of their hard work in organizing the clothing drive and helping to transport the clothes to the Centre. Through your leadership and example, the men at the Centre have greatly benefited from your parish’s thoughtfulness and charity. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Patrick Wynne
Program Director
Holy Name Centre
The collection for December 6 was $7,085.
We encourage you to enroll via the ParishPay website and click on the St JosephWestVillage link. Use the paperless way to help our ministry.

There will be a second collection this weekend for Retired Religious.

ADVENT EVENING OF RENEWAL 2009
“Fra Angelico – Preacher of Grace”

Fra Angelico “The Annunciation”
The Spirituality Committee is pleased to invite you to our annual Advent Evening of Renewal to be held on Thursday, December 17th, at 6:30 p.m., in the Parish House. Light refreshments will be served.
We are especially pleased to announce the speaker for the evening is one of our own, Fr. Vincent DeLucia, who will address the Early Renaissance painter and Dominican Fra Angelico through words and pictures. Biographer Vasari said of him: “It is impossible to bestow too much praise on this holy father …so humble and modest… whose pictures were painted with such facility and piety.”
For more information, please pick up a flyer on the table in the Narthex. Admission is free.
Dear Parishioners - PLEASE TAKE AN ORNAMENT FROM THE GIVING TREE, which stands in the rear of the Church. On the back of each ornament is a simple Christmas gift suggestion for a woman or man. This year your gifts will be given to residents of The Greenwich Village Nursing Home, which continues to serve so many members from our community. Gifts will also go to The Gift of Love on Washington St. These residents are cared for by the Missionary Sisters of Charity, founded by Mother Theresa. The Sisters also prepare meals for about 100 homebound women and men in the surrounding community, which are delivered by volunteers.
Again this year we have a Wish List of suggested items for animals at Bide-A-Wee Animal Shelter on 38 Street. Whatever you can do is appreciated.
Please return your brightly decorated Christmas Gift for a Woman, Man, or Shelter Animal no later than Sunday, December 20th and place it in the designated basket on each side of the Giving Tree. This will ensure gifts arrive by Christmas Day. Thank you for your amazing generosity.
Christmas Mass Schedule
December 24
5:00 PM / Mass of Christmasand Children’s Pageant
Choir and Brass
8:30 PM / Christmas Concert
9:00 PM / Mass of Christmas
Choir and Brass
December 25
Mass of Christmas Day
Choir and Brass
There will not be a 9:00 AM or a 6:00 PM Christmas Day Mass.

Soap Sale from the Dominican Nuns. Next Weekend!

Soaps from Dominican Nuns on Sale after all Masses the weekend of December 19, 20. Hand-made soaps from the Dominican Nuns will be on sale in Narthex on Saturday and Sunday, Dec 20-21 weekend. These products are a new cottage industry endeavor to support the nuns, and will make a wonderful stocking stuffer.

St. Joseph's Christmas Gift-Wrapping Paper Sale!
These specially designed wrapping papers bear images and the name of St. Joseph’s. The wrapping paper and order forms will be available in the Narthex after each Mass.

The Russian Chamber Chorus of New York @ St. Joseph’s

Sunday, Dec. 13 @ 3:00PM

Tickets: $25 at the door, $15 students and seniors

Music at St. VincentFerrerChurch

869 Lexington @ 66th Street

Advent & Christmas Servicer of Lessons and Carols (Free admission)

Sunday, Dec. 13 @ 3:00PM

Carol and anthems for the Advent and Christmas seasons, including works by Praetorius, Woodward, Mathias, and Rutter, as well as festive Christmas carols for congregation.

Christmas Decorating

Volunteers are needed to decorate the church for the Christmas season. Meet Tuesday, Dec. 22, after 5:30PM Mass.

Celebrating Christmas Even in Washington Square with songs

The Washington Square Association will sing yuletide carols around the 45-ft Christmas tree under the Arch on Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24 at 5PM. It is the traditional time to celebrate the holiday with carols. The words are in songbooks distributed compliments of the Washington Square Association.

FEAST DAYS, SCRIPTURE CITATIONS

AND SPECIAL INTENTIONS FOR THIS WEEK

SATURDAY, December 12, Our Lady of Guadalupe

Zec 2:14-17 or Rv 11:19a; 12:1-6a,10ab/Lk1:26-38 or 1:39-47

12:10 PM Charlie Martin (living)

5:30 PM Anna & Patrick Foley

SUNDAY, December 13

9:00 AM Rita Cea

11:30 AM Jim Quinamin

6:00 PM

MONDAY,December 14, John of the Cross, priest & doctor

Nm 24:2-7, 15-17a/Mt 21:23-27

12:10 PM Monroe D. Hammond

5:30 PM Patricia Gehring

TUESDAY, December 15

Zep 3:1-2, 9-13/Mt 21:28-32

12:10 PM Walter Morris

5:30 PM Stephen & Peter Cossu

WEDNESDAY, December 16

Is 45:6b-8, 18, 21b-25/Lk 7:18b-23

12:10 PM Bricca Family

5:30 PM Nelson Hill

TURSDAY,December 17

Gn 49:2, 8-10/Mt 1:1-17

12:10PM

5:30 PM Stephen & Peter Cossu

FRIDAY, December 18

Jer 23:5-8/Mt 1:18-2

12:10 PM William Mazza

5:30 PM Monica Killoran

SATURDAY, December 19

Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25a/Lk 1:5-25

12:10 PM

5:30 PM Monica Birchman

MONTHLY PARISH ACTIVITIES

Sunday
10:00 AM / Children’s Religious Studies / Casserly
10:00 AM / Sunday Scripture Discussion / Library
2:30 PM / Roman Forum Lectures / Casserly
7:00 PM / Grad Law / Casserly/Rectory
Monday
6:30 PM / Centering Prayer / Church
6:30 PM / YACHT Club for Young Adults / Casserly/Library
6:30 PM 1st /mo / Pax Christi Bd Mtg / PCYMNY
Tuesday
7:00 PM / Aquinas Circle of Undergraduates / Casserly/Library
Wednesday
6:30 PM / Korean Catholic Students / Casserly/Library
7:00 PM 2nd /mo / Altar Rosary / Library
Thursday
7:00 PM / Newman Club / Casserly/Library
Friday
6:00 PM 1st/mo / Novena/ Sacred Heart
6:15 PM / St. Egidio Prayer / Church
Saturday
10:00-3:00 PM / Soup Kitchen / Casserly
12:30 PM 1st/mo / Blessing of the Sick / Church
6:00 PM / Alcoholics Anonymous / Casserly