Welcome to Gianna Parish St. Brigid Church St. Church St. Brigid St. Augustine Partnership School

December 22, 2019 Fourth Sunday of Advent Reverend Devine, Pastor Reverend Tuan Anh “Andy” Mai, Pastor, St. Andrew Dung-Lac Reverend Joseph Pullikattil, Parochial Vicar Deacon Robert J. Hilliard St. Brigid Church St. Mark the Evangelist Church Administrative Center: 1088 New Britain Avenue 467 Quaker Lane South West Hartford, CT 06110 Elmwood, CT 06110 Phone: 860 236-5965 Website: Fax 860 233-8016 saintgiannaparish.org Karla Dalley, Administrative Officer Email: Barbara Judycki, Administrative Assistant [email protected] Office hours: 8:00 am-4:00 pm Mon.--Thurs. [email protected] 9:00-4:00 Friday

Website: Religious Education saintgiannaparish.org Email: Sandra Lee Everett [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] (860) 236-3545

Religious Education Donna Wolcott, Coordinator Music Ministry (860) 543-2607 Greg Flower, Director of Music www.stbrigidCCD.com Jennifer Gadaree, Cantor Chelsea Lorraine, Cantor Music Ministry Natasha Ulyanovsky, Music Director Boudreaux, Cantor St. Brigid St Augustine School Kelly Boudreaux, Cantor See inside the Bulletin for details The Celebration of the Grace of God Through The Sacraments Baptism: Please call the parish Administrative Center in advance to make arrangements. Reconciliation: By appointment, or on Saturday St. Brigid 3-3:30; St. Mark 3:15-4:00. Communion: For parishioners who are homebound or hospitalized, contact the Administrative Center. Marriage: Please call the Administrative Center six months in advance of proposed marriage date to make arrangements. Holy Orders: Please call the Office of Vocations (860) 242-5573 or www.hartfordpriest.org. You may also speak to a parish priest or call the Administrative Center for more information.

Saturday, December 21, 2019 4:00 PM Joseph, Frances, and Dr. Joseph Formeister by Their Family—SB 4:30 PM Anne Crombie by Carol Crombie—SM

Sunday, December 22, 2019 8:30 AM Armando Serrano by His Parents—SB 8:30 AM Vietnamese Mass—SM 10:30 AM For the People of St. Gianna Parish—SM 11:00 AM Francisco Nunes by His Wife and Family—SB 11:45 AM Syro-Malabar Mass—SH 2:30 PM Vietnamese Mass—SM

Monday, December 23, 2019 8:30 AM Lou Judycki, Happy Birthday, by His Wife—SB 9:00 AM Joseph and Agnes, Happy Anniversary, by Their Family—SM

Tuesday, December 24, 2019—Christmas Eve 8:00 AM No Daily Mass this Morning—SB 4:00 PM Theresa and Bart Roncaioli and Richard Cipolla—SB 4:30 PM Mario Reyes by His Wife and Kids—SM 8:00 PM Vietnamese Mass—SM

Wednesday, December 25, 2019—Christmas Day 12:00 Midnight SB 8:30 AM Vietnamese Mass—SM 10:30 AM SM 11:00 AM SB

Thursday, December 26, 2019 8:30 AM Angela Mancini, 33rd Anniversary, by Angela Mancini and Donna Wolcott—SB 9:00 AM Anthony and Cecelia Leesha and Hifa Saad by Maryann Leesha —SM 6:00 PM Vietnamese Mass—SM

Friday, December 27, 2019 9:00 AM Gerard Charron by His Daughter—SM

Saturday, December 28, 2019 8:30 AM —SB 8:30 AM Syro-Malabar Mass—SH 4:00 PM Jerry Nardi, Sr., by His Wife and Family—SB 4:30 PM Vincent Quinn by His Family—SM

Sunday, December 29, 2019 8:30 AM Armando Serrano by His Parents—SB 8:30 AM Vietnamese Mass—SM 10:30 AM Vincent Quinn, 14th Anniversary, by His Family—SM 11:00 AM For the People of St. Gianna Parish—SB 11:45 AM Syro-Malabar Mass—SH 2:30 PM Vietnamese Mass—SM SB=St. Brigid; SH=St. Helena; SM=St. Mark the Evangelist BULLETIN SUBMISSION DEADLINES Just a reminder, please: regular bulletin submissions are due by 2:00 p.m. on Fridays. December early bulletin deadlines are as follows: Monday December 23 for the Bulletin of January 4/5 (Epiphany) Thank you all so much for your patience! ————————————————————————————————————————————————————— ST. GIANNA CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE Christmas Vigil (December 24) St. Brigid: 4:00 p.m. Christmas Music 4:10 p.m. (SM) St. Mark: 4:30 p.m.

Christmas Day December 25 Christmas Concert 11:30 p.m. (SB) St. Brigid: 12:00 Midnight and 11:00 a.m. St. Mark: 10:30 a.m.

Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God December 31 January 1 St. Brigid: 4:00 p.m. St. Brigid: 11:00 a.m. St. Mark: 4:30 p.m. St. Mark: 9:00 a.m. ————————————————————————————————————————————————————— from Fr. Devine…

(continued from last week…an 8 year old’s view of God)

But...you shouldn't just always think of what God can do for you. I figure God put me here and he can take me back anytime he pleases.

And...that's why I believe in God

1. If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. 2. If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it. 3. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning. 4. Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen. 5. He could live anywhere in the universe, and he chose your heart. 6. What about the Christmas gift He sent you in Bethlehem; not to mention that Friday on .

Face it, he's crazy about you.

EPIPHANY VESPER LESSONS AND CAROLS Sunday, 5 January (SB) 5:00-6:00 p.m. Come join us to sing farewell to the Christmas days!

St. Gianna Parish Events THE GREAT COOKIE DEAL – DECEMBER SOUNDS OF THE SEASON! 21 & 22 Prepaid cookie orders will be available for pickup ST. MARK CAROL SING TO PRECEDE THE following all Masses this weekend in McMahon VIGIL MASS Hall and St. Mark’s Church. If you didn’t order Join us at St. Mark at 4:10 p.m.—just before our cookies but would like to purchase a pound of our 4:30 p.m. Christmas Vigil Mass. We’ll sing some Ladies Guild Best, extra one pound packages are carols to usher in the joyous Nativity of our Lord’s available this weekend for only $7.00 per package. Birth. Join us—and sing with us!

COME LISTEN TO THE HOLY MUSIC OF CHRISTMAS FLOWER INSERT THE SEASON St. Gianna’s Flower Insert is Join us before our Midnight Mass. Our St Brigid available in our churches on our choir will be perform a short concert of reading tables this weekend, traditional sacred music in celebration of this holy December 21/22. If you have time of year. offered intentions, please take an

Insert. Please excuse our typographical errors—they are ours, SAVE THE DATE! and we offer apologies in advance! Epiphany Vesper Lessons and Carols, Sunday 5 Thank you. January at 5:00 p.m. at St. Brigid!

JOIN US FOR OUR WEEKLY HOLY HOUR Friday January 3rd at St. Mark the GIVE IN THANKSGIVING Evangelist Church “The nuns left a lasting impression on me,” writes Welcome the new year by spending one donor. “I shall always be grateful for my time with our Lord. Visit after our Catholic education.” Please join in thanking the 9:00 a.m. Mass on Friday thousands of senior Catholic sisters, brothers and January 3rd. This is a wonderful way religious order priests who worked tirelessly to to begin a new year. educate the young and serve those in need. Next week’s second collection is for the Retirement Fund for Religious which helps hundreds of religious communities care for aging members. Please give generously.

Our Deepest Longing—Men’s Retreat We spend our time and energy on the necessities of everyday life, which hold so many things that are beyond our control. But what is it that we are longing for in the deepest way? What is our passion in life? This year at , we will explore that deep longing planted in our hearts by God - a longing for peace, for wholeness, and for relationships that give us joy and lift us up. Come away and rest awhile to find and pursue your deepest longing, and by doing so, may you experience how God is longing so deeply for you, too. The retreat begins with a buffet dinner from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday evening January 31, 2020 and concludes Sunday February 2 with the celebration of Mass at 10:45 a.m. followed by a hot brunch at noon. Families of retreatants are most welcome to attend the Sunday Mass and brunch at no extra charge. Offering: $325 Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center – 303 Tunxis Rd – West Hartford, CT. More info and to register: holyfamilyretreat.org/themed-retreats (first century) December 26 “A man filled with faith and the Holy Spirit” (Acts 6:5): thus Luke introduces Stephen, first of seven dea- cons chosen by the community for its ministry of charity, first to lay down his life in witness to . As the church’s first martyr, Stephen’s life and death mirror the preaching and passion of , “the faithful wit- ness” (Greek, martyr) (Revelation 1:5). Like Jesus, Stephen works “great signs and wonders among the peo- ple” (Acts 6:8). Like Jesus, when falsely accused, Stephen’s face radiates angelic serenity (Acts 6:15), though his tongue, like Jesus’, is a two-edged sword. As the dying Jesus forgave his executioners, even making excus- es for them, then commended his spirit into his Father’s hands (:34, 46), so Stephen intercedes for his murderers and begs Jesus to receive his spirit (Acts 7:60, 59). How fruitful both passions! The penitent thief inherits ; Saul, who consented to Stephen’s killing, is transformed into the fearless preacher Paul. Thus Stephen challenges us to bear witness not in words only, but by Christ-like forgiveness toward all. —Peter Scagnelli, Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.

TRUST IN GOD On this final Sunday of Advent our scriptures focus on the historical birth of Jesus, who is son of David and Son of God, child and king, Jesus and Emmanuel. the prophet begs Ahaz to ask for a sign, to allow God to offer him reassurance of the survival of the Davidic dynasty. The king hypocritically refuses to “tempt the L” in that way (Isaiah 7:12), but the proph- et foretells the birth of a son, an heir to the throne, who will prove the Lord’s enduring protection of God’s chosen lineage on the throne of David. The child will be called Emmanuel. Matthew’s reference to this history in his description of the birth of Jesus highlights the contrast between the faithless refusal of trust shown by Ahaz, and the complete trust in God shown by Mary and Joseph in bringing about the birth of Jesus Christ. Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.

ARCHBISHOP’S ANNUAL APPEAL This may be your last chance to help the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal achieve the goal of $10 Million for the 2019 tax year!

Please visit the Appeal website at www.archdioceseofhartford.org and follow the link Sharing the Joy of the for Generations, to learn more and make your gift today. All pledges can be paid through December 31st 2019 towards this year’s Appeal.

All funds contributed to the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal are used exclusively for the purposes outlined in the Appeal literature, which can be found at https://archdioceseofhartford.org/aaa-2019-last-years-appeal-impact/.

No Appeal funds are ever used for legal fees or settlements.

TODAY’S READINGS **Syro Malabar Church Raffle—Last First Reading — You will be given this sign: The weekend** shall conceive and bear a son (Isaiah 7:10- The Syro Malabar Catholic community in the Arch- 14). diocese of Hartford is holding a raffle to raise money Psalm — Let the Lord enter; he is king of glory to purchase the Church of Saint Helena in West (Psalm 24). Hartford. Tickets are available at the Administrative Second Reading — God has called us to belong to Center (St. Brigid Rectory) with Barbara Judycki Jesus Christ (Romans 1:1-7). and at St. Mark Church with Fr. Joseph. Tickets are Gospel — The son born of Mary shall be called $100 each. The drawing will be on 24th December Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins 2019. (Matthew 1:18-24). The first prize is a Toyota Camry LE. Second prize The English translation of the Psalm Responses from is 2 oz. Gold coins; third prize is 2 airline ticket to Lectionary for Mass © 1969, 1981, 1997, International India; and there are 5 consolation prizes of $100 Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved. Amazon gift cards for 5 winners. RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AT ST. MARK

Elementary, Middle School, and Confirmation Prep Classes are on break until January 5th. Please enjoy this family time together as you celebrate this Advent and Christmas Season.

Read, Reap and Rise in Six Short Weeks! Do you want to read and understand the but you don’t know where to begin? Scripture is amazing, inspiring and life-giving, but it can also be intimidating! Join us for a six-week sturdy of the Bible that will give you basic knowledge and confidence as you learn how to find things in the Bible, how to read Scripture more thoughtfully, and how to pray with Scripture. We will pray together, discuss biblical texts and learn interactively. Created by the Archdiocese of Hartford Catholic Biblical School, this course is taught by its four-year graduates. Please join Sandy Everett for a brief informational meeting after the 10:30 Mass on January 5th in the St. Mark’s Church. If you are unable to make this gathering, simply email Sandy at [email protected] for further details.

CHRISTMAS

A young mother, her eyes shining with fatigue, who is arranging her hair; a father who finds himself alone with his pretty wife and baby, straightening the stable to make himself useful in some way; shepherds who bring cheese and perhaps also some curdled milk; sheep who look at their shepherds while bleating; a donkey who is eyeing his manger changed into a cradle; an adorable swaddled baby whom one calls Savior, Christ and Lord: This is the manifestation of the goodness and the tenderness of God. This is the most fantastic birth in the history of humanity, the one which changed the face of the world! This is how far God humbled and compromised himself with us! This is Emmanuel!

—From God’s Word Is Our Joy, Vol. 1 by Lucien Deiss, CSSp, copyright © 1998, World Library Publications. p. 73

SAINTS AND SPECIAL OBSERVANCES READINGS FOR THE WEEK Sunday: Fourth Sunday of Advent Monday: Mal 3:1-4, 23-34; Ps 25:4-5ab, 8-10, 14; Monday: St. John of Kanty; Hanukkah begins Lk 1:57-66 Tuesday: 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Ps 89:2-5, 27, Tuesday: Vigil of Christmas 29; Lk 1:67-79 Wednesday: The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) Wednesday: Vigil: Is 62:1-5; Ps 89:4-5, 16-17, 27, Thursday: St. Stephen; Kwanzaa begins; 29; Acts 13:16-17, 22-25; Mt 1:1-25 Boxing Day (Canada) [18-25] Friday: St. John Night: Is 9:1-6; Ps 96:1-3, 11-13; Ti 2:11- 14; Lk 2:1-14 Saturday: The Holy Innocents Dawn: Is 62:11-12; Ps 97:1, 6, 11-12; Ti 3:4-7; Lk 2:15-20 Day: Is 52:7-10; Ps 98:1-6; Heb 1:1-6; Jn 1:1-18 [1-5, 9-14] Fourth Sunday of Advent Thursday: Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59; Ps 31:3cd-4, 6, December 22, 2019 8ab, 16bc, 17; Mt 10:17-22 They shall name him Emmanuel, Friday: 1 Jn 1:1-4; Ps 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12; Jn 20:1a, 2-8 which means “God is with us.” Saturday: 1 Jn 1:5 — 2:2; Ps 124:2-5, 7cd-8; — Matthew 1:23 Mt 2:13-18 Sunday: Sir 3:2-6, 12-14; Ps 128:1-5; Col 3:12-21 [12-17]; Mt 2:13-15, 19-23 St. Brigid-St. Augustine Partnership School Pre-k thru 8th grade 100 Mayflower St. West Hartford, CT 0110 (860) 561-2130, ext. 106 Growing Together In Faith!

Merry Christmas from all of us at St. Brigid-St. Augustine Partnership School!

ENROLL TODAY! For Students in Pre-k thru 8th-Grade A Good Education is A Necessity not an Option Open House Call For An Appointment "Mở nhà hàng ngày" "Casa Abierta Diario"

SBSAS OFFERS A STRONG ACADEMIC PROGRAM Pre-k Kindergarten Readiness Program Award-Winning Middle School Science Curriculum Advanced Middle School Math & Literature Classes Award-Winning Art Program Tuition Assistance Available Hỗ trợ học phí Becas Disponibles Register Your Stop & Shop Card and SBSAS Gets Paid

WANTED: A Used Riding Lawnmower

For More Info: Call (860) 561-2130, ext. 106 Email: [email protected]

We are on Christmas Break—see you in the New Year! Happy New Year!