St. Nicholas Parish 24252 El Toro Road, Laguna Woods, CA 92637 (949) 837-1090; FAX (949) 837-9510; www.st-nicholaschurch.org School of Religious Education: (949) 837-7676 Our Parish Mission Statement St. Nicholas Parish is a Catholic community, celebrating our faith through the Sacraments, Liturgy, Prayer and Service. We strive to nurture family life and to create one body out of many in the Lord. We share the Good News with people of all ages, cultures and faith backgrounds.

CLERGY BAPTISM

Pastor Rev. George P. Blais Fourth Sunday of the month at 2:00PM. Parochial Vicar Rev. Quyen Truong Arrangements must be made a month in advance. Visiting Priest Rev. Msgr. John Campbell Parents must attend two preparation sessions.

Visiting Priest Rev. Gerald Walker MARRIAGE Visiting Priest Rev. Brendan Hankins Arrangements must begin at least six months in Visiting Priest Rev. Jack Sewell advance with a priest of the parish. Visiting Priest Rev. Chin Dang Deacon Wayne Thompson ANOINTING OF THE SICK Deacon Chau Tran Call Parish Office in an emergency. Deacon Gerardo De Santos Special Service celebrated in fall/spring as announced.

MASS SCHEDULE FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS Saturday Vigil: 4:00PM, 7:00PM in Spanish At the death of a family member, please call the Sunday: 7:30AM, 9:00AM, 10:45AM, 12:30PM, and Parish Office at your earliest convenience to plan 5:00PM in Vietnamese. for the Mass of Christian Burial. Monday through Friday: 7:00AM and 9:00AM Saturday: 9AM DAY

Filipino Mass: 5:30PM, First Saturdays, October-June. 24-hour adoration begins the second Wednesday Holy Days: 4PM Vigil, 7AM, 9AM, 12PM, 6PM and of the month at the 9:00AM Mass.

7:30PM in Vietnamese DEVOTIONS & BENEDICTION

RECONCILIATION (Confession) Wednesday evenings at 7:00PM; Saturday: 9:45AM to 10:15AM and 3:00PM to 3:45PM Vietnamese—2nd Wednesday of the month at 8PM. or by appointment. Recitation of the Holy and Benediction.

Parish Office Hours: Sunday: 8:30 AM—1:30 PM Monday through Friday: 9 AM—12 Noon; 1 PM — 7:00 PM; Saturday: 9 AM—12 Noon December 31, 2017 The Holy Family of , Mary and Joseph

Dear St. Nicholas Parishioners,

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family. We look to Mary, Joseph and Jesus as our example of how we are to live our lives. Mary and Joseph accepted the responsibility of being an example of PLEASE NOTE: God’s love for each other and for their son, Jesus, The Parish Offices will be closed on who is love. We are encouraged to live with this Monday, January 1st, 2018, same spirit of love and gratitude as we bring the in observance of the New Year Holiday. light of Christ into our daily lives.

Tomorrow, we celebrate New Year’s Day and this Special Collection for Santa Rosa Fire gives us the opportunity for a new beginning, a The Bishops have asked that all parishes fresh start. We have this opportunity each and participate in a second collection to be sent to every day of our life; however, it becomes clear as assist those who lost property and possessions in we turn to a new calendar year that we can begin the recent devastation of the Santa Rosa fires. again. As we make New Year’s resolutions, I pray I realize that we now may need to offer some that we may choose things that will improve our assistance to our local communities, so I ask that lives, not only health-wise, but spiritually also. you consider contributing to this

On behalf of all the Parish Staff, I wish everyone a second collection which will be taken up Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year. I pray next weekend, January 6-7. that this year we take every opportunity to become Because of the devastation in Southern closer to God, our families, and all those that we California, we will designate that our meet. contributions will be split between Santa Rosa and our local needs. Fr. George Thank you for your generosity. Fr. George

Knights of Columbus Pasta Dinner

The Knights of Columbus will be serving a Pasta Dinner after the 4pm Mass on Saturday, January 13th.

Dinner will include pasta, sausage, garlic bread, salad, dessert and beverage. Donation: $10 adults, $5 under age 12. World Meeting of Families in Ireland

Family pricing available. The Office of Pastoral Care in the Diocese of Orange is Wine or beer: $5 partnering with Canterbury Pilgrimages & Tours, Inc., to offer Pre-sale tickets, for expedited seating, will be on sale an opportunity to attend the World Meeting of Families in after Masses on January 6th-7th. Ireland, August 20-29, 2018 with Bishop Vann.

Events include daily Mass, keynote speakers and exhibitions. Remaining days will be spent exploring Dublin, Knock , Galway City, Kylemore Abbey, the Cliffs of Moher and more! Cost: $3,995/person—double occupancy; including round-trip airfare from LAX, hotel for 8-nights, daily breakfast, 6 dinners, motor coach transportation. Contact: Canterbury Pilgrimages & Tours, Inc. at 800-653-0017.

Stewardship of Treasure 2017 2016 52-Weekly Required Budget Due to early Bulletin publishing deadlines, the collection information for December 24 and Christmas will be in a future bulletin. December 31, 2017 The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Parish Calendar This Week

Monday: MONDAY 9AM Violet and Bill Hoffman (d) Masses at 9AM and 11AM—New Year’s Day

11AM For the Parish Tuesday: TUESDAY St. Nicholas Chorale, Small Hall, 7:15PM 7AM Chung Kook Lee (d) 9AM Edward Gill (d) WEDNESDAY Wednesday: Charismatic Prayer Group, Room A, 9:45AM Knights of Columbus, Parish Center, 6PM 7AM Peter Thuy Vu (d) Devotions & Benediction, Church, 7PM 9AM Maria D. C. Galarpe Hispanic Choir, Room C, 7PM Thursday: Filipino Choir, Small Hall, 8PM

7AM Clara M. Sehi (d) THURSDAY 9AM Sr. Mildred Faith Alive-Faith Sharing, Room A, 10AM Friday: Hispanic Council, Room C, 6:30PM 7AM Raymond Biggio RCIA, Parish Center-Room 201, 7PM 9AM Stephen Quintana (d) St. Nicholas Choir, Small Hall, 7:15PM

Saturday: FRIDAY 9AM Funeral for Pastor Nelson Council of Catholic Women Meeting, Parish Center, 9:30AM 4PM Elena Matulaitis (d) -St. Faustina Study, Room C, 9:45AM 7PM Emilio Gomez (d) Hispanic Bible Study, Small Hall, 7PM

Sunday: SATURDAY 7:30AM For the Parish Hospitality Ministry Meeting, Church, 10:30AM 9:00AM Daniel Joseph Knaufer (d) Hispanic Choir, Room C, 4PM

10:45AM Jason Caduff (d) SUNDAY 12:30PM All Souls in Purgatory Library is open.

We Remember Council of Catholic Women

Rufina Pizarro General Meeting on who entered her new and eternal life in Christ. Friday, January 5, 2018

Grant to all our dearly departed, eternal rest, O Lord, and may your light shine on them forever. Social time starts at 9:30am and the meeting begins at 10:10am in the Parish Center. Please bring your donations of pennies for “Water for Life,” can tabs for Ronald McDonald House, pasta/sauce for Catarina’s Club and TODAY’S READINGS

cosmetics for the prison ministry.

First Reading: Genesis 15:1-6; 21:1-3

Those who honor their parents will be greatly blessed and will atone for sins. Wordnet Productions presents

Psalm 105: Blessed are those who fear the Lord and “The Word in the World” — week of December 31: walk in his ways. “Childhelp” — Clare Van Loon, Redlands What can you do when you see a need and Second Reading: Hebrews 11:8, 11-12, 17-19 have the courage to address it with solutions. Be thankful; do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus. TCT (Direct TV-377) - now on Sundays, 4am–-record it!! (TCT is on Channel 205 in Laguna Woods Village.) Gospel: Luke 2:22-40 [22, 39-40] Or go to www.wordnet.tv—Program Archives,

The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. or YouTube: Wordnet Productions Channel.

December 31, 2017 The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

School of Religious Education Check us out on Facebook!

The School of Religion will not have classes during COMING IN JANUARY 2018

the week of December 31st. Tuesday, January 2, we will be going to the Laguna Beach Please note the startup of classes for January 2018: Homeless Facility to prepare and serve dinner to the guests Elementary Classes will resume on Monday, January 8. who frequent the facility. For more information, call Gwen Confirmation I Classes will resume on Tuesday, January 9. at 949-837-7676.

Confirmation II Classes will resume on Tuesday, January 16. Teen/Family Choir Rehearsals: Thursdays,

PLEASE NOTE CHANGE IN SCHEDULE January 11 & 18 at 7:30pm in the Choir Loft. FOR 7/8 GRADE CLASSES: Teen/Family Mass on January 27 at 4pm.

Junior High (7 & 8 Grade classes) will resume on Tuesday, January 23. Bible Study will resume on Tuesday, January 9th, at 6pm in the Youth Ministry room. Join us and Important Notice for all parents of students who will be discover how the Bible can help you NOW—in your receiving their First Reconciliation (Confession). There is a everyday life. mandatory meeting on Monday, January 8, 2018, at 7pm in

Rooms 201-202 in the Parish Center. First Reconciliation is Confirmation II Classes begin on planned for Saturday, January 27 at 10am. Parents and Tuesday, January 16 at 7pm. students, please meet in the Parish Center.

TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION

There’s no more unusual setting to celebrate today’s Feast of the Holy Family than Barcelona, Spain and the towering unfinished sandcastle known officially as the Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia. In 1882, the plan was hatched to build a vast place of worship in reparation for the revolutionary and liberal leanings of the city. The modern artist Antoni Gaudi dedicated his life to the project, living in the building, attending Mass daily, and giving up his personal wealth. When people pressed him to pick up the pace, he responded, “My client is not in a hurry.” (Gaudi’s cause for beatification is moving along, and he could be the first professional artist and architect to be beatified.) The Spanish Civil War, SRE students decorated the Parish Center Christmas tree and a disaster for the in which now will have a 2-week break. Merry Christmas to all!! thousands of priests, brothers, and nuns were murdered, halted work in 1935. In the 1950s work

began anew, speeded up by computers in the 1980s. Prayer for a Blessing on the New Year Still, the final stage of construction is not due to end O sacred and adorable Trinity, hear our prayers on behalf until 2026. If the original methods had stayed in of our Holy Father the , our Bishops, our clergy, and place, it would take several hundred more years to for all that are in authority over us. Bless, we beseech Thee, complete the plan. So far there are eight towers, with during the coming year, the whole Catholic Church; convert four to go. The highest steeple is three feet shorter heretics and unbelievers; soften the hearts of sinners so that than the nearest hill, since the architect didn’t want they may return to Thy friendship; give prosperity to our his work to surpass God’s artistry. The three faces of country and peace among the nations of the world; pour the basilica each have three doors, with the faces named Passion, Nativity, and Grace. The interior is down Thy blessings upon our friends, relatives, and crammed with geometric figures that almost seem to acquaintances, and upon our enemies, if we have any; assist spin, crazy-quilt windows, spiral staircases, and the poor and the sick; have pity on the souls of those whom jumbles of statues and figures. Although inspired by this year has taken from us; and do Thou be merciful to ancient Gothic cathedrals, the style is called those who during the coming year will be summoned before Expressionist, and very little is left unexpressed by Thy judgment seat. May all our actions be preceded by Thy the masonry. If you can’t afford a visit, Sagrada inspirations and carried on by Thy assistance, so that all our Familia maintains a web site, and virtual visits are prayers and works, having begun in Thee, may likewise be free. —Rev. James Field, Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co. ended through Thee. Amen. December 31, 2017 The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Please note early Bulletin deadlines! The Knights of Columbus With holidays and Publisher requirements, articles & The American Red Cross

for our bulletin have EARLY DEADLINES! invite you to a Community Blood Drive on Articles submitted after the required “Due Date” Thursday, January 18—7:45am to 7:45pm will not be published in the bulletin. at St. Nicholas Church in the Parish Center.

Bulletin Date Articles Due By To schedule appointments call: Rod: 949-831-0208, Paul: 949-581-5503, Peggy: 949-500-0826 or January 7th, 2018 December 20th—Past Due Omar: 949-616-8514 Walk-ins are welcome or make an appointment for faster service! The St. Nicholas Library...

You Can Help Your Marriage.

“Retrouvaille” We are closed on Sunday, December 31. Starting January 7th, 2018, the Library will only be open Retrouvaille (pronounced retro-vi) has helped tens of the 1st & 3rd Sundays of the month, 8:45am—12:45pm, and thousands of couples at all stages of disillusionment or we will no longer be open on Wednesday afternoons. misery in their marriage. This program can help you, too. We are located in Room C, behind the Parish Office. For confidential information about, or to register for, the We have a cart of free items: , prayer cards, etc. program beginning with a weekend, January 19-21, 2018, Come visit the Parish Library! call 714-306-6469 or visit the website at www.retrouvaille.org. Registration need by January 16th. Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola Lenten 2018 Session—Beginning: Week of Jan 27—Feb 1 Choice of attending: Sat: 11am, Sun: 1:30pm, Wed: 7:00pm or Thurs: 9:15am

These classes, offered at St. Peter Chanel Church, are given over a 10-week period, will greatly intensify your spiritual life and your desire to go to Heaven.

St. Peter Chanel Church, 12001 E. 214th St., Hawaiian Gardens. Orange Diocesan Council of Catholic Women There is no charge for the program and all materials are provided. Donations accepted. Meetings are 2 to 2.5 hours. General Meeting on Register: www.spcomv.com, or call 562-924-7591. Tuesday, January 16, 2018, here at St. Nicholas Church, Save the Date! in the Parish Center—2nd floor.

The Knights of Columbus will again be sponsoring Registration at 8:30am, Mass at 9am, Meeting at 9:45am a FREE bus ride to the 2018 March for Life in LA Donation: $18/person on Saturday, January 20th, 2018. Includes Continental breakfast and lunch.

All those interested in attending should contact Presentation: Bless Others: A Work of Mercy Bill White, KOC, at 949-859-6203, to reserve a seat. Presented by: Dr. Ida Pennella, Carole Petrie and The bus will leave the Church parking lot at approximately the Service Commission Team. 9:45am, the morning of January 20th. For more information, see posters available in the Church and This will be a time of information and opportunity for all Parish Center, or contact Bill White. to pray for others, listen to others, words of encouragement and the message of “Give of your treasure and give of your time and talent to others.”

A hearing-assisted device is The presentation will be informational, enlightening available from the Sacristy. Parishioners and a blessing to all. may pick up the device prior to Mass. You can bring your own headphones/ear buds Reservations required by Friday, January 12, to use with this device or use the over-the-ear piece that we Call Pat Martin: 714-892-5219 or 714-866-0633 or can provide. First come, first served! email [email protected].

Mass Schedule for Monday, January 1, 2018 Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God: Masses at 9:00am and 11:00am. (Not a Holy Day of Obligation in Diocese of Orange.)

Knights of Columbus Tootsie Roll Drive St. Nicholas Parish Presents The St. Nicholas Knights of Columbus will be Two Catholic Bible Studies

distributing Tootsie Rolls and accepting donations outside the Church, for Starting, Thursday, January 11 from 10am to 11:30am, intellectually disabled individuals “A Bible Walk Through the Mass,” after all Masses the weekend of is a ten-week bible study class, meeting once a week, in the Parish Center, to include live classroom teaching, study of the January 13th-14th. biblical texts, and learning about the scriptural roots of the Supporting and assisting people with intellectual Catholic Mass. Learn the origins and reasons for the prayers, disabilities has been an ongoing program supported by the hymns and rituals of the liturgies with Knights of Columbus. Jesus teaches us, “Whatever you emphasis on the Eucharist. All teaching is in accordance did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for with the of the Catholic Church. me.” (Matthew 25:40) Thanks for your support! Starting Monday, January 15 from 7pm to 8:30pm, “The Synoptic Gospels: Matthew, Mark and Luke,” READINGS FOR THE WEEK is a ten-week bible study class, meeting once a week in the Monday: Nm 6:22-27; Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8; Gal 4:4-7; Parish Center, to include live classroom teaching and study of Lk 2:16-21 the biblical texts. All teaching is in accordance with the Tuesday: 1 Jn 2:22-28; Ps 98:1-4; Jn 1:19-28 Magisterium of the Catholic Church.

Wednesday: 1 Jn 2:29 — 3:6; Ps 98:1, 3cd-6; Jn 1:29-34 For more information: Al Guevara at 714-848-1624 Thursday: 1 Jn 3:7-10; Ps 98:1, 7-9; Jn 1:35-42 Friday: 1 Jn 3:11-21; Ps 100:1b-5; Jn 1:43-51

Saturday: 1 Jn 5:5-13; Ps 147:12-15, 19-20; Mk 1:7-11 or Lk 3:23-28 [23, 31-34, 36, 38] A Prayer —For the Nation Sunday: Is 60:1-6; Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-13; (Adapted from the Book of Common Prayer) Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6; Mt 2:1-12

Almighty God, you have given us this good land for our heritage.

St. Vincent de Paul Society We humbly ask you that we may always prove Second Collection ourselves a people mindful of your favor and glad to do your will. THIS WEEKEND Bless our land with honorable endeavor, sound learning, and pure manners.

There will be a second collection this weekend, Save us from violence, discord, and confusion, from December 30-31, for the St. Vincent de Paul Society, pride and arrogance, and from every evil way.

which supports the most needy in our community Defend our liberties and fashion into one united with rents, utilities and other urgent necessities. people the multitude brought here out of many Thank you for your generosity! nations and tongues.

Endow with the Spirit of wisdom those to whom, in your name, we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that through obedience to your law we may show Christmas Flower Dedications forth your praise among the nations of earth.

We deeply appreciate the many donations In time of prosperity fill our hearts with thankfulness, of Poinsettias in memory of your loved ones and in the day of trouble do not allow our trust in you which decorated the Church and to fail.

the Parish Center for Christmas. We ask all of this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.