Luke 2:11 ©2005 John Patrick Publishing Nativity of the Lord December 25, 2013

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Our Lady of Lourdes 455 Hunter Avenue West Islip, NY 11795 631-661-3224 Msgr. Brian McNamara, Pastor Website: ollchurch.org Rev. Robert Scheckenback, Associate Pastor

Solemnity of Mary

The Parish Family of Our Lady of Lourdes will gather on Tuesday, December 31 and Wednesday, 1 to celebrate the Solemnity of Mary.

We will celebrate the Solemnity of Mary on... Tuesday, December 31 at 5 PM (vigil) Wednesday, January 1 at 8 AM, and 12:10 PM. Please come and pray with us!

Welcome... to Our Lady of Lourdes!

Christmas is a time for family. We are glad you decided to celebrate with our Parish Family during this Holy Season. We hope you will return often. If you would like to become a registered member of our Parish, please fill in the information below and place this form in the collection basket or send it to the Parish Office.

Family Name______First Names: Head of Household______Spouse______Children (please include ages, grades, and sacraments received) ______Address______City______Zip______Phone______E-Mail Address______

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Treasures from our Tradition

The Seven Fishes Many of our treasured traditions link the liturgy of the church with the hearth of the home. The food on the table at certain feasts and fasts helps to extend the mystery of God into everyday life.

On Eve, for example, many families of Italian heritage, especially with links to southern , will celebrate “La Vigilia” (the Vigil), the “Feast of the Seven Fishes”. An old Italian saying states: “Natale con I tuui; Pasqua conchi vuoi”: “Christmas with your family; Easter with whomever you wish”. Seven different fish are served, some say one for each day of Mary and Joseph’s journey to ; others say one for each sacrament; still others, one or each day of creation. Whatever the reason, mangia bene!

The First The origin of the display of the Nativity dates back to the time of St. Francis of Assisi. St. Francis was concerned that people did not appreciate the gift of Christ’s birth. St. Francis wanted to celebrate the Incarnation (God becoming a man) in a special way. He wanted to do something that would help people to remember the and how was born in Bethlehem.

On , in the year 1223A.D., at the proper time, St. Francis and his Franciscan brothers created a new Bethlehem. People, young and old, came to see this new sight. They carried torches to light up the sky as they approached the manger. Once again, shepherds came from the fields to come and adore the King. All were filled with joy over the mystery of the Incarnation. And a beautiful tradition was started.

As you look upon your own family Nativity set, may you remember and celebrate again God’s love for His creation. In order to show His abundant love, mercy, and forgiveness for us, God became one like us. That is what the crèche ultimately symbolizes.

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Did You Know… In 1895, President Cleveland displayed the first lit In an effort to raise money to pay for a charity Christ- in the White House. In the early mas dinner, a large crabpot was set down on a San 1900’s lighted trees were very expensive—upward Francisco street, becoming the first Salvation Army of $300, which in today’s economy translates to collection kettle. more than $2000! General Electric sold lights for at-home trees in 1903, still expensive at $12 a In his efforts to gain our independence from England, strand—equivalent to about $80 today. George Washington spent Christmas night of 1776 crossing the Delaware River in dreadful weather. He The pointsettia originated in Mexico where it was didn’t do much better in 1777 when he spent Christ- called the “Flower of the Holy Night”. It was first mas at Valley Forge, celebrating with a dinner of fowl brought to America by Joel Poinsett in 1829. cooked in a broth of turnips, cabbage and potatoes.

In 1836, Alabama was the first state to declare Animal Crackers are cookies imported from England Christmas a legal holiday. Oklahoma was the last in the late 1800’s. The circus-like boxes were de- state to do so making Christmas a legal holiday in signed with a string handle so they could be hung on a the state in 1907. Christmas tree.

The popular , , was Wreaths were used from the earliest time as a symbol originally written for Thanksgiving. It was of victory. In the 17th century, wreaths with holly, red composed by James Pierpont in 1857 and was berries and other decorations appeared. Holly, with its originally called One Horse Open Sleigh. sharply pointed leaves, symbolized the thorns in Christ’ s crown-of-thorns. Red berries symbolized the About 37 million fresh Christmas trees are sold drops of Christ’s blood. A wreath of Christmas every year. marked a home that celebrated the birth of Jesus.

THE The Gospel according to St. Matthew (Mt 2:13-15) tells us that on their journey, the Wise Men stopped at the palace of King Herod to ask after the new-born King. Herod asked the Magi to let him know the child’s whereabouts that he too might worship him. In reality, the news of a new king born within his domain infuriated Herod. When the Magi failed to return to him, Herod ordered his army to slay every male child in Bethlehem under the age of two. The Gospel tells us that an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and warned him to take Mary and Jesus and flee to Egypt until the danger passed. And so, Joseph took Mary and the Child and embarked on the long, hard journey to Egypt. The journey was an extremely difficult one across the Sinai desert, a triangular stretch of sun-baked land, full of rocky mountains and barren plateaus with high sand dunes. It is estimated that they would have traveled an average of 20 miles per day and would have reached Egypt in about 10 days. Egypt was a place of refuge in those days. Whenever there was a famine, thousands would leave Israel and seek the life-giving banks of the Nile River. And so Mary and Joseph would have found welcome among the large Jewish community living in Egypt. All the Gospels tell us about this time is that the Holy Family lived in Egypt until told by an angel to return to Israel after the death of Herod. They returned to Galilee, to the town of Nazareth, rather that to Judea which was in the control of Herod’s son, Archelaus, also a power-hungry ruler. We can only guess at the rest of the story of the time the Holy Family spent in Egypt. There’s a Greek Orthodox church in present-day Cairo that houses a cave where it is said Jesus, Mary and Joseph lived during their Egyptian exile. On Sunday, December 29, we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family. #439-OLL-4

Christmas Around the World  “God Jul!” In Sweden , the feast of St. Lucy on December 13 marks the beginning of the celebration of Christmas. The theme of St. Lucia Day is light. The eldest daughter, dressed in a long white gown with a red sash and wearing a crown made of twigs with nine lighted candles, wakes her family and serves them a special breakfast.

 “Merry Christmas!” In Australia, Christmas comes at the height of summer and is often celebrated with barbecues with family at the beach. Australian Christmas carols include “Six White Boomers” and “Santa Never Made it into Darwin.” Schools close the week before Christmas for summer vacation which lasts until the end of January.

 “Kurisumasu Omedeto!” While less than 1% of the Japanese are Christians, they decorate stores and homes with evergreens during Christmas. In Japan, the is key to the celebration of Christmas. Also essential to the Christmas celebration is the daiku of “Great Nine.” It refers to Beetho- ven’s ninth symphony which is sung by huge choruses singing what American sing as “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee.” For the Japanese, Christmas is a day to do nice things for others.

 “Boze Narodzenie!” In Poland, a traditional Christmas food is Oplatek-a piece of bread pressed with a holy picture on it. They share it with family and friends to wish them good things in the coming year and to forgive any hurts from the past year.

 “Joyeaux Noel!” In France, the crèche or Nativity scene is central in each home. The crèche includes little clay figures called santons which often times bear a strong resemblance to local dignitaries and characters. The main Christmas meal is called Le Revillion—the awakening– and is eaten after .

 “Nollaig Shona Dhiut!” In Ireland, lighted red candles decorated with holly are placed in windows on Christmas Eve to guide Joseph and Mary in case they are seeking shelter. Children put out Christmas sacks instead of stockings and to refresh a travel-weary Santa, they leave mince pies and a bottle of Guinness.

 “Buon Natale!” In Italy, children receive their gifts on , the . They are brought by a kind ugly witch called Befana. She rides a broom and is looking for the three Wise Men. It is said that they asked her to come along with them on their journey to visit the Christ child and she refused saying she was too busy. She regretted her decision and has been searching for the Baby ever since, leaving gifts at every house in case He is there.

 “Pozdrevlyayu s prazdnikom Rozhdestva is Novim Godom!” In Russia, Christmas is traditionally cel- ebrated on January 6. Gifts are given by Babushka, a kindly old woman whose story is the same as Ita- ly’s Befana. Russian consists of twelve courses, one course in honor of each of the 12 apostles.

 “Feliz Navidad!” Mexicans attend a midnight mass which is called la Misa Del Gallo or the rooster’s Mass. At that Mass they sing lullabies to Jesus. In Spain, gifts are brought by the three Wise Men on the Feast of the Epiphany, Family Christmas dinner is eaten after Midnight Mass. After dinner, they gather around the Christmas tree and sing Christmas carols until the wee hours of the morning. In Costa Rica, people erect huge models of the stable where Jesus was born. They are often as large as a room to insure that the Baby Jesus is as comfortable as possible.

 “Srozhdestvom Kristovym” In the Ukraine, Father Frost visits all the children in a sleigh pulled by only three reindeer. His helper is a little girl named Snowflake Girl. She wears a silver blue costume trimmed with white fur and a crown shaped like a snowflake. #439-OLL-5

Capitena, Hilbert, Evoskevicz and Volpone families Caiati & Angeloro families Mary Harte Matthew & Michelle Kilkelly and

Family ILMO Virginia & Joseph Beno Alice M. Triggs Arthur & Christine Serdock McGuire/Pfeiffer family Lucille Harsch Frank Meyer

William Knoblich Flower Offering Flower Miriam Rugino William A. Basso MacArthur, Meehan, and Vincent & Grace Capanzano England Families Chris Romanello H. Rivera Joseph C. Capo II Joe Jirau Ms. Theresa Schnappauf Carmine & Josephine Barila Lockett & Crowley Families Anthony & Fannie Messina Michael Reilly Andrew L. Velten Critchley-Zucco Families Mrs. Melissa Rogan M/M John E Seylar Dec’d mbrs of Bono and Jim Loretz Amabile Families Thomas & Florence Brady

Christmas Margaret McDevitt M//M Carmine Telesca Mrs. Marie Nappo James McGrade Leonard & Gertrude Parine Thomas G. Brando Kenneth Meyer Rosemary Cox Elvera Vieni Frances Parine Frances Schweitzer Thomas Mingione Eugene & Lois Parine Bunting & Hirt Family Edward, Kathryn and Stan & Stella Armour IMO Walter & Helen Cameron Peter Herger Martha Wills Michael & Ann Schnappauf Michael Dennehy Mary & Vincent Cannillo Michael & Edna Ryan Catherine Woodburn Liberta Brusca Bill Mace Raymond Winslow Raymond Peter Roache Vincent Galbo Marion & Arthur Schwarz Julia & Daniel Colasuonno Joseph Lehman Gordon & Winberry Families Joseph Marrone Mr. Walsh Mr. Daniel Golden Margaret & Joseph Colasuonno Dotti Wilkinson Jennifer Gordon Helen & Rocco Marrone Carol Samawiego John Cardali Homann, Netska Family All member of Mangels and Joseph Argento McCarthy & Sabala Murphy families Piazza, Graci, Timony and Our Parents Florence McLoughlin Meehan Families Leah & Luke MacQuade Jessie & Edward Muller Maryjean Wilkinson Alice Bonacci Catherine & Richard Bermingham Richard M. Devlin, Sr. Carolyn Wissing Charles Cognato Devlin & Peterson Families John & Elizabeth Meditz Anne Frers M/M T. Reges Departed Ferguson Family mbrs Ken Frers DeGuardi/Badamo family mbrs Josephine Sabella

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M/M Joseph Castiglione Carmela & Nicola Gullusci Veronica Kenny Salvatore Castiglione Mary & Matthew Zito Isobel T. Davidson M/M Andrew Nangano Gene Langan Daniel G. Davidson Anthony Nangano M/M Frank Aparo Ms. Rosemary Wells Edward Kelley Phyllis & Matty Santini M/M Kenneth McIlwaine Daniel Flesch Edwin Lucie Alec & Olive Neilson Tori Cohen Eugene Langan David F. O’Connell Evelyn Fontaine John Russo Bernard Kerner John Vollmer Doc & Peggy Thies Eleanor Bruno Mildred, Anthony, Sr. and John Pozsgai Angela M. Lillis Anthony Jr. DeVivo M/M Kevin Murphy M/M Richard Flynn Anthony Borsella Robert Olsen Neil Haffey Maryann Borsella Lodespoto Family Ms Mechelina Geddrie Bill Kuhlwilm Angelone Family John Howrigan, Sr. M/M Patrick Collins M/M Michael Montesanto Rose & Sal Guastella Feliney & Lauria Families M/M Robert Petersen M/M Glenn Denzler Biagio Mingoia Brancato & Mannarino Family Marie & Ed Terribile Catherine & Joseph Lipari Mrs. Jean Stoltenborg Callegari & Baker Family M/M Mark Grabow M/M Robert Punzi F. Harnos Margaret, Robert Morrow Guider/Heartt Family Dec’d mbrs of Cinelli and Castagna Family Kim Ecker LaGiglia Families Scacciaferro Family Oliveri & DiTingo Family Frank Harnos, Jr. Raffaela Martino Thomas & Margaret Burke Mary & Edward Baker Dieter Wegner Joseph Lehmann Mary & Frank Harnos M/M Thomas Livecchi Bill & Philomena Crosby Brian Dobrydney Jack Welch Charles Tibbetts Mr Charles T Waag Larry Krup Danisi Family Lee, Finnegan, McNulty Family Frances Sitone Bob & Mark Petito Dec’d mbrs of Wilson and Vincent Sitone Mrs Carole Civile Kopitsch Families Dec’d mbrs of Allocca and Mr Timothy M/M Michael Kaminski D’Aponte Families Mr John Conzone Robert Beck Brewster T. Gottsch Mrs. A. Marotta, Jr. Barbara Romeo Joseph & Anne Malloy M/M Joseph Yezek M & W Phillips Fr. Joe Lukaszewski Dec’d mbrs of Giuffré and Dec’d mbrs of Colletti and Fr. Bill Shean Pezzuti Families Guarino Families Henry & Josephine Busching Virginia Cruse Casciola Family William & Audrey Chartrand John Cruse Leone Family Rose & Joseph Minenna Edward White M/M William Davies, Jr. M/M Richard Maher Russo & Scorcia Families Flanagan and Reilly Families John McKeefery Frank & Joseph Diamante M/M Thomas Hamilton Celina Pennacchia Norbert J. Kucala Giovanni Andriola DeLeon & Espina Family Mrs Anne Bolin Richard S. Proctor Peter & Anna Mancuso Ciccarello/Sierra Families Polik, Macari, Gunther and Dan & Dick Mancuso Thomas J. Ahern Austin Families Antonio & Josephine Paladino Stephen & Theresa Duggan Ann & John Greenhalgh Fred & John Ardolino Winnie Mikoljon Mary Carbone Joe & Marie Tufaro Edith Monaghan M/M Kevin Kilkelly Baby Christopher Flynn M/M Robert Yagarich M/M William Sheehan Shilletto & Steffenson Families Joseph Bott Mrs Maureen Nyholm Grandparents Ann Keller Delphina Ferreira M/M Joseph Walas Florence Borzell Halagarda/Burke Family

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Jane Keegan M/M Peter Rooney Ed & Dot Solomonik Margaret Dugan Lazarich & Ruth Families Madeline Hopper Mrs. Corazon A Smith M/M Michael Flaherty Ludwig Bruno Peter V. Mirabella Gene Langan M/M Filippo Olivieri M/M John Giambrone Dave Hannigan, Sr. M/M Michael Frias M/M Robert Watts Richard Wilson M/M James Ivers M/M Noel Mac Dermott Winifred Hanrahan Helen & Dan McMahon M/M Mark Spencer Barbara PoPo Felicia & Joe Poveromo Mr. Barry Caputo Novello Gallina Family M/M James Wood Ms. Mary Hesdo Juliette & Stephen M/M Francesco Merollo M/M Steven Diamond Birger Fredriksen Oma & Opa Gries Edward Filippone M/M Michael Lamb Mrs Nannette Proscia O’Rourke & Muldoon Family Ms. Dolores Beckerman M/M Eddie Shaffer George Jorgensen Ruth Boucher M/M Nicholas Papocchia Michael & Catherine Maneri M/M Peter M Magliocco M/M Domenic D’Achille M/M John Maier M/M Richard Corso M/M John Rickey M/M Thomas McLoughlin M/M Dominick Nocera M/M Rolando Castro Michele White Joseph Campisi M/M Stephen Frias Richard Heithaus Jack & Laura Dawson M/M Jose F. Taveras Daniel Smyth Nicholas and James Macario Mrs. Rita Dillon Martin Klein Rick Munkwitz Ms. Joan Meyer Christina Grossi James Totans Harry & Joseph Rizzo Josephine Grossi Dick & Steph Garcia Carl Argila Dec’d mbrs of Bovasso and Lydia Argila Kane Family M/M Steven Troiano Maria & Robert Rosenheimz M/M Frank Barone Cecil Thorton, Sr. & Jr. Ellen Finn Roberta Prestwood M/M Daniel Abraham Mylo Manno Mr Thomas Pesik Torre/Podhay Mary & James Randazzo Beatrice Mattel M/M James Dobson Umberto J. Anglisano Pasquale & Clara Strocchia Tina Anglisano Anne Catalano Neil Mattel Dec’d Severino Family Joanne Anglisano M/M James Clifford Carmela & Daniel Joseph DiMola III M/M Anthony Lipari John & Mary Cunniffe M/M Rolando V. Razon Pat Cafferty M/M James F. Tobin M/M Louis Rosati Eppers & Sapraicone Walter & Grace Okuska M/M Janusz Wlodkowski Robert J. Bautista, Sr. M/M Gary Siano Ralph & Joey Tattaro M/M Paul Alotta M/M Sal Petriaso Ponzio Family M/M Charles Jannace M/M Zbigniew Musial M/M Sal DiPietro M/M Joseph Staniszewski M/M David Viola M/M Thomas P. Fenlon, Jr. M/M Raymond Mascolo Eleanor Esposito Patricia Salegna-Maqueda Rose Fodera Genna Anthony M. Rao M/M Howard Swicord M/M John Bochicchio Robert Govier, Sr.

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