Wednesday, December 7, 2011 7:30pm

Christmas Eve

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Family Liturgy 4:30pm

Music & Carol Prelude 9:30pm

Liturgy 10PM

Christmas Day

Sunday, December 25, 2011

10:00am & 12noon (Family Liturgy)

(No Sunday 5:00pm Mass)

Solemnity of Mary [...]]]> 2011-2012

CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR’S SCHEDULE

COMMUNAL PENANCE SERVICE WITH INDIVIDUAL CONFESSION

Wednesday, December 7, 2011 7:30pm

CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE

Christmas Eve

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Family Liturgy 4:30pm

Music & Carol Prelude 9:30pm

Liturgy 10PM

Christmas Day

Sunday, December 25, 2011

10:00am & 12noon (Family Liturgy)

(No Sunday 5:00pm Mass)

Solemnity of Mary (New Year’s Day)

Vigil Mass, Saturday, December 31, 2011 – 5:00PM

Sunday, January 1, 2012 – 10:00am & 12noon

(No Sunday 5:00pm Mass)

Faith Connection December 4, 2011 – Download Now

Today’s word of God abounds with a message of hope. The focus of that hope, of course, is the promise of God’s action to save his people. The prophet Isaiah speaks to people who have lived in exile in Babylon, people who have endured the [...]]]>

Faith Connection December 4, 2011 – Download Now

Today’s word of God abounds with a message of hope. The focus of that hope, of course, is the promise of God’s action to save his people. The prophet Isaiah speaks to people who have lived in exile in Babylon, people who have endured the hardship of separation from their homeland and familiar surroundings. To dispirited exiles, Isaiah proclaims a message of hope that God’s power will work for their restoration.

To people anxious for the glorious second coming of the Lord Jesus and the full arrival of the Kingdom of God, the second letter of Peter speaks a word of hope. On the day of the Lord by God’s power, fire will dissolve the old world and make way for new heavens and a new earth.

Finally, John the Baptist stirs the hope of people in his time, a hope centered on the coming of the Messiah-Savior. God’s promises, John says, will find fulfillment in the one who will baptize not only in water but who will pour out his Holy Spirit.

The steady beat of hope that marks the words of Isaiah, Peter, and John the Baptist is accompanied by another rhythm. These readings speak not only of hope, they also call people to responsibility. Isaiah says that the people to whom hope has been proclaimed must also “prepare a way” for the Lord’s coming. John the Baptist echoes this imperative. The letter of Peter summons people to repentance and a purification of mind and heart that will leave them without spot or blemish, so they can fully embrace God’s promise. Are you ready?

Faith Connection December 4, 2011 – Download Now

We offer the following strong suggestions. We hope you will take the time to seriously [...]]]> Even though we can get turned off by the “too early” decoration and the commercialism of the upcoming Advent/Christmas season, we can prepare ourselves early to celebrate this hopeful time of year by reclaiming the feast for us Christians.

We offer the following strong suggestions. We hope you will take the time to seriously contemplate them…

1. Celebrate the great feast of Thanksgiving first. Please wait until after November 27^th to put up Christmas decorations. Wait at least until one week before Christmas to put up the Christmas tree and KEEP the tree and decorations up through the Christian Christmas season until at least January 8, 2012, the Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord. Do not shop on Thanksgiving; let’s have respect for those workers who would like to stay home with their families.
2. Remember the spiritual sense of what we are about. DO NOT give into the secular word “HOLIDAY”.  We believe that Christmas is the feast in which we remember the birth of Jesus Christ, the savior of the human family. Say Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah to your Jewish friends. DO NOT be ashamed of who you are. DO Not allow the secular society to rob us of our identity.
3. We all bemoan the excessive commercialism of our culture. We do not have to give in. How often we fret that we give gifts to one another of things we do not really need or will ever use. Why not share the love of Christ at Christmas in replacing material gifts with a contribution in memory of a loved one(s) to those who live in poverty in the name of a loved one. The following are 2 excellent ideas in which we can make a difference with our Christmas gifts and perhaps encourage others to do the same. The following two organizations are legitimate and well respected for their effectiveness. Both MERCY CORPS and HEIFER INTERNATIONAL provide the means to people in poor areas of the Third World to raise their own food and start their own businesses. Theses contributions are not “Hand-Outs” but “Hands-Ups” to empower people to move beyond despair.

MERCY CORPS www.mercycorps.org
Dept. W 3015 SW First Ave
Portland, OR 97201

 HEIFER INTERNATIONAL www.heifer.org
P.O. Box 6021
Albert Lea, Minn. 56007-6621 (800)-422-0755

Be sure to send Christmas greeting with a spiritual dimension. Since it is difficult to find religious Christmas cards in store today here are 3 suggestions.

 The Printery House Conception Abbey
Conception Missouri  www.printeryhouse.org 
37112 State Highway VV, P.O. Box 12 Conception, Missouri 64433 (800) 322-2737

Abbey Press
www.abbeypress.com
St. Meinrad Abbey
St. Meinrad, Indiana (800) 962-4760

And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, approached, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it.

His appearance was like lightning [...]]]>

After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.

And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, approached, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it.

His appearance was like lightning and his clothing was white as snow.

The guards were shaken with fear of him and became like dead men.

Then the angel said to the women in reply, “Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified.

He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.

Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ Behold, I have told you.”

Then they went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce 5 this to his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them. They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage.

Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

While they were going, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had happened.

They assembled with the elders and took counsel; then they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers,telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him while we were asleep. And if this gets to the ears of the governor, we will satisfy (him) and keep you out of trouble.”

The soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has circulated among the Jews to the present (day).The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them.

When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted.

Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”

As Catholics on Holy Thursday Evening we enter into the Triduum, the three day celebration of the passion, death and resurrection of our savior Jesus Christ which comes to its glorious conclusion at the Easter Vigil. It is the most solemn period of the liturgical year for [...]]]>

Holy Thursday, April 21, 2011

As Catholics on Holy Thursday Evening we enter into the Triduum, the three day celebration of the passion, death and resurrection of our savior Jesus Christ which comes to its glorious conclusion at the Easter Vigil. It is the most solemn period of the liturgical year for Christians.

The Triduum is filled with passion, the richness of God’s Word and powerful symbolic gestures that touch our hearts.

Holy Thursday celebrates the institution of the Eucharist, the establishment of the priesthood and the call to humble service mandated by our baptism. The gesture of the washing of the feet by the celebrant is called the “mandatum” (mandate), the call for all of us to wash the feet of others, to lay down our lives in service. The washing of the feet, which remembers Jesus’ deep love for His disciples, is not so much a “reenactment” as it is a call to service for all of us. A number of people of various ages and backgrounds in our parish community will be asked to participant in having their feet washed at the liturgy. This is both an honor and challenge to be asked. If asked to participate, please respond in the affirmative.

We will likewise be inviting people to spend time in prayer and adoration before the Blessed Sacrament in the church until midnight on that evening. Please be sure to sign up for one hour in prayer for that evening.

Good Friday, April 22, 2011

The Triduum continues into Good Friday with the Liturgy of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ at 3 PM. This liturgy consists of Scripture, prayers for all of God’s people, the Veneration of the Cross and the reception of the Eucharist consecrated the night before at the Liturgy of Holy Thursday.

The Liturgy opens in silence as the priest and deacon prostrate themselves in silence before the altar. All kneel in union with the celebrants to express our sorrow and humble submission before our Lord.

At the veneration of the cross we all are invited to come forth to show our reverence to the cross of Jesus Christ upon which our salvation was won and God’s love was poured out. The custom is to genuflect and kiss the cross or make a bow. From the earliest of times the ritual included the priest celebrant removing his chasuble, removing his shoes and coming forth to reverence the cross. One is reminded of the word of God to Moses as he approached, encountering God in the burning bush as he was told to remove his sandals, for he is standing on holy ground.  As we approach the cross we are surely touching holy ground.

In many parishes today the people are following the lead of the priest celebrant and removing their shoes as well. This is a striking gesture to acknowledge our encountering holy ground.

At St. Matthew’s this year we would like to encourage everyone to approach the holy ground of the cross by removing their shoes for the Veneration of the Cross.

Easter Vigil, Saturday, April 23, 2010 8PM

The Triduum ends with the most important and glorious of all Catholic liturgical celebrations, the Easter Vigil.

The Vigil consists of the lighting of the Easter fire outside and the lighting and procession of the Easter candle, an extended Liturgy of the Word.

This is the quintessential Liturgy and the model of all Sunday Eucharist throughout the year.

We encourage all RCIA “alumni” to participate as well as all adults and older children. The liturgy does last over two hours so it is not recommended for infants or very small children. It is a liturgy that will truly touch your heart and deepen your faith.

Fasting is to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday by all Catholics who are 18 years of age but not yet 59. Those who are bound by this [...]]]> Abstinence from meat is to be observed by all Catholics 14 years and older on Ash Wednesday and on all the Fridays of Lent.

Fasting is to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday by all Catholics who are 18 years of age but not yet 59. Those who are bound by this may fast on one full meal. Two smaller meals are permitted if necessary to maintain strength according to one’s needs, but eating solid foods between meals is not permitted.

GOOD FRIDAY April 22, 2011 Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion 3PM Living Stations 12 noon & 8PM

HOLY SATURDAY Apri123, 2011 Blessing of food: 12 noon Vigil Mass: 8PM

Fasting is to observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday by all Catholics who are 18 years of age but not yet 59. Those who are bound by this may take only [...]]]> Abstinence from meat is to be observed by all Catholics 14 years and older on Ash Wednesday and all Fridays of Lent.

Fasting is to observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday by all Catholics who are 18 years of age but not yet 59. Those who are bound by this may take only one full meal. Two smaller meals are permitted only if necessary to maintain strength according to one’s needs, but eating solid foods between meals is not permitted.