Vol. 39, No. 8 December 2014

Quote of the Month

“Let Every Day Be Christmas”

Peace on Earth, good will to men, kind thoughts and words of cheer, The Saint Philip are things we should use often and not just once a year.

~Norman Wesley Brooks Be-News-Zi

12/31: VIGIL – MARY, MOTHER OF GOD Calendar of Events 8:30AM Mass (English) – Normal Weekday Mass December 2014 7:00PM Mass (English/Church) – Vigil Mass 8:30PM Mass (French/Church) – includes

12/3: ARCHDIOCESAN WORLD AIDS DAY MASS (See details in this issue.) JAN. 1, 2015: MARY, MOTHER OF GOD (Holy Day of Obligation) 12/5-6: EUCHARISTIC ADORATION 10:45AM (English/Church) 12:30PM (Spanish/Church) begins the First Friday of every month in the Chapel,

after the 8:30AM Mass and concludes with Benediction at 7:45AM Saturday morning. JAN. 4, 2015: THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD (Regular Sunday Mass Schedule) 12/5: HOLY HOUR FOR VOCATIONS Holy Hour will be held in the Chapel from 4-5PM during First Friday Adoration. Join us as we pray for an increase of vocations to the Priesthood,

Diaconate, and Religious Life.

12/5: PRAISE & WORSHIP ADORATION In conjunction with the 24-hour Eucharistic Adoration

this First Friday, please join us in the church at 8PM for a period of contemporary music, Scripture readings, and reflection before the Blessed Sacrament. All are welcome!

12/6: FEAST OF ST. NICHOLAS – 8:30AM Mass

12/7: SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT Prayer for the Year of

12/8: THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION of Consecrated Life THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY (Holy Day of Obligation) O God, throughout the ages you have called 8:30AM Mass (English/Church) women and men to pursue lives of perfect charity 7:00PM Mass (Spanish/Church) through the evangelical counsels of poverty, 7:00PM Mass (English/Parish Hall) chastity, and obedience. During this Year of 12/12: FEAST OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE Consecrated Life, we give you thanks for these 8:30AM Mass (English/Church) courageous witnesses of Faith and models of (See the weekly Bulletin for a schedule of other inspiration. Their pursuit of holy lives Masses and events surrounding this Feast Day.) teaches us to make a more perfect offering of

12/14: THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT ourselves to you. Continue to enrich your Church by calling forth sons and daughters who, 12/16: ADVENT PENANCE SERVICE – 7PM having found the pearl of great price, treasure the Kingdom of Heaven above all things. 12/21: FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of 12/24: CHRISTMAS EVE MASS SCHEDULE the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. 4:00PM (English/Church) – Children’s Pageant

6:30PM (English/Church) In 2013, Pope Francis declared that a 9:00PM (Bi-lingual/Church) 12 Midnight (Bi-lingual/Church) Year of Consecrated Life (YCL) be celebrated throughout the world. The YCL begins on the 12/25: CHRISTMAS DAY MASS SCHEDULE First Sunday of Advent, November 30, 2014 10:45AM (English/Church) and will close on the World Day of Consecrated Life, 12:30PM (Spanish/Church) February 2, 2016.

12/28: THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY & http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/vocations/ (Regular Sunday Mass Schedule) consecrated-life/year-of-consecrated-life/index.cfm JOSEPH December 2014 Like most families, the Friars of Atlanta gathered to share a special Thanksgiving meal last month. There were eight of us that day and we had a great time. Psalm 133 de- Dear Parishioners, clares: “Oh how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to live together in harmony!” I have found this to be very, Last year, Pope Francis designated 2015 as “The Year of very true. Consecrated Life”. The “Year” began on the first Sunday of Advent (November 30, 2014) and will end on February We Friars THANK YOU for supporting our life of fraternity. 2, 2016, the “World Day of Consecrated Life”. The year Thank you for providing us with a comfortable Friary, food th marks the 50 anniversary of “Perfectae Caritatis”, a de- and other necessities that make our life possible. Most cree on religious life, and “Lumen Gentium”, the Second especially, thank you for sharing your lives with us, for ac- Vatican Council’s Dogmatic Constitution on the Church. cepting and loving us as brothers, and for praying for us. The purpose of the year-long celebration, according to a We are truly blessed and for that we are grateful to God Vatican statement, is to “make a grateful remembrance of and to you! the recent past” while embracing “the future with hope”. The “Year” is meant to deepen the understanding of the During this “Year of Consecrated Life”, we will try to find laity about the nature of religious life and the gift it is to the ways to share with you the value and joy of consecrated Church and to the world. life. Please help us promote our way of life by praying for vocations to the Franciscan Order and other religious com- I have fond memories of the Friars’ arrival at St. Philip munities. I know that there are young men and women out Benizi Parish in August of 1991 (24 years ago!). Many there who are being called by God to religious life. En- parishioners were not familiar with or religious courage them, support them, and pray for them. life. Some felt that the Archdiocese had “abandoned” St. Philip’s by sending Franciscans! Soon, they came to know On behalf of the Friars and our wonderful Parish Staff, us and these feelings dissipated. Those were exciting Merry Christmas! May you be touched deeply by the pres- days. I recall how welcoming and helpful everyone was. ence of Christ as you celebrate His nativity with family and The Knights of Columbus and their wives helped us friends! spruce up the Rectory and turn it into a Friary. Some la- dies from our Mission Church (St. Gabriel’s) dropped off Love and Peace! meals for us (anyone else remember the “Gabriel Girls”?). Fr. John During that first year, we conducted 32 neighborhood meetings to get to know people and to listen to their hopes and dreams for St. Philip’s and St. Gabriel’s. Those meet- ings also provided us with an opportunity to share a little bit about our Franciscan charism and what Franciscan life is all about. It was a wonderful time. I have always re- ferred to those first years here as “our Camelot”!

When people ask me why I became a Friar, my first re- sponse is that “God called me”. My second answer is, “fraternity”. I was and am drawn to the life of fraternity.

For me, living a fraternal life of prayer, community and ser- vice with other like-minded men is a true blessing and makes my life fulfilling and happy. For over thirty years, I have been blessed to live with holy and good brothers who have supported and loved me. They have nurtured my vocation and have been there for me during the joyful and Mary, Mother and Model of Vocations the sorrowful times in my life. “Every aspect of priestly formation can be In 1988, at the reception after my Ordination to the Priest- referred to Mary, the human being who has hood, my sister Sara said to me with tears in her eyes, “I always worried that you would have a lonely life as a Friar, responded better than any other to God’s call. but now I see how happy you are and how the Friars are Mary became both the servant and the disciple your family, and they love you and you them.” This is so of the Word to the point of conceiving, in her heart true! I can’t imagine a more joyful and fulfilled life. and in her flesh, the Word made man, so as to give

The Friars place a very high value on fraternal life. We him to mankind. Mary was called to educate live together as brothers. We pray together each day, the one Eternal Priest, who became docile and share a meal most days, and recreate together most eve- subject to her motherly authority. With her example nings. Each month, we meet “in Chapter” to share spiritu- and intercession, the Blessed Virgin keeps ally and to discuss our common life. We gather with the local Friars from time to time and, a couple of times a year, vigilant watch over the growth of vocations we meet with larger groups of Friars for “Friars’ Days”, and priestly life in the Church.” retreats and other fraternal events. (~Pope John Paul II, I Will Give You Shepherds, 1992) “May this Advent season be a time for As we celebrate bringing hope, transformation and our Savior’s coming into our world, fulfillment into the Advent of our lives.” may our actions of living out our 2014 Parish Goal, “Walking United as Faithful Disciples of Jesus Christ”, be a joyful gift to Jesus.

“Now I am coming to You, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have My joy completed in them.” (John 17:13)

Nick’s Notes By Nick Dragone, Director of Music & Liturgy

I hate waiting. I do not think that I have ever met a person who sincerely enjoys waiting. Yet, we spend a great deal of our lives waiting. Much of that time is spent waiting for mundane things like traffic, doctor’s appointments, laundry, or food. Sometimes the waiting is more precious: waiting for a job interview, a test result, a family member or friend to arrive, a baby to be born. Every day we make choices on things that are worth waiting for, and things that are not worth the wait. The Advent season is a liturgical season of waiting…of joyful expectation. It is really an odd sort of waiting. In a sense, we are waiting for something that we already have. Historically, Jesus Christ is already born. He subse- quently suffered, died, and rose more than 2000 years ago. Yet, Advent is a time where we await His birth. Advent is also a time where we wait for the second coming of Jesus Christ, the eschatological arrival of Jesus Christ at the end of time. We hang somewhere between ‘already’ and ‘not yet’.

Gift of Finest Wheat is a song well known in the Roman Catholic, liturgical music repertoire of the United States. Omer Westendorf, the author of the text, wrote something very profound in verse four of the song: “The myst’ry of your pres- ence Lord, no mortal tongue can tell: whom all the world cannot contain comes in our hearts to dwell”. Read that again. The text elucidates the very marrow of the Incarnation – God was made flesh in the person of Jesus. God continues to fulfill His promise of salvation through the Eucharist when we consume Jesus Christ in word and sacrament. This is the ultimate gift that keeps on giving – God gave his Son out of love for us, and Jesus promised to be with us always. And so, He is with us whenever we gather, when we read and listen to the Word of God, when we break the bread and drink the cup, when we pause and pray to acknowledge His presence.

During every Mass, the Presider prays the embolism after the “Our Father”. It reads: “Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil; graciously grant peace in our days, that, by the help of your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.” This embolism (from a Greek word meaning insert) summarizes the prayer that just came before it. The new translation changed the words “joyful hope” to “blessed hope”. It is difficult to wait with blessed hope, or even joyful hope (isn’t it?), especially when we are so busy! Often, we find it hard to wait – we divide our minds, hands, and hearts with so many tasks, emotions, thoughts, and actions, that we cannot possibly wait for one more thing. Yet, God asks us to pause and wait.

The Advent season is a time to stop and wait and to prepare – to organize the clutter, to make room in our hearts for Jesus to come and dwell. We do not wait alone, however; we wait together as the Body of Christ. Strengthened by our communal prayer and our presence around the table of the Lord, we wait for that day when there is no more suffering or pain, when at last heaven is fully wedded to earth. We wait in faith, knowing that Jesus Christ was born, that Jesus suf- fered, died and rose for us, and that there has never been a moment – EVER – that God hasn’t been with us. While we wait, we are called to go out to the ends of the earth and share the Good News. So, this Advent season, let’s make time to wait together; make time to recognize the longing in our hearts for Jesus, and, with blessed hope, make room in our hearts for Jesus Christ to dwell. Celebrating Advent Opportunities to be

This year, the Season of Advent began on November 30th “Someone Special” and will end December 24th. Advent is a time to prepare so that we can celebrate more deeply the coming of our Savior When you think back on your school age years, did you at Christmas. Here are some ideas and activities for your ever have any difficulty in learning a concept? Perhaps family and friends to better celebrate this season of joy and reading was a challenge, or subtraction and division were anticipation! hard to understand. Was there “someone special” who took an interest in you and helped you to be a better learner?  Traditions: It might be fun to start your own tradition for How would you like to be that “someone special” in a child’s the Advent season, or learn some from other countries. life today? The Advent Wreath is a familiar tradition we keep in Church and in our homes. Pope Francis calls us to reach out to impoverished people. At St. Philip Benizi Church, we act on that call in numerous  Advent Calendars can be purchased or you can make ways. Two years ago, we began supporting an after-school one of your own. Look online for great ideas! tutoring program at the Riverwood Townhouses complex that is located by the parish grounds. We plan to continue  Advent is a wonderful time to Pray. Each person can this outreach project. Beginning on January 13 and continu- take a turn saying a special Advent prayer of their own ing through May 12, we will meet at the Riverwood Office to or from a booklet. work with children who are in need of extra support. Are  A Jesse Tree would be a great way to learn about Je- you able to join us each Tuesday (or twice a month) from 2- sus’ Family Tree. During each day of Advent, add a 5PM for Tuesday Tutoring? symbol and read in the Bible about our ancestors in If you work during the week and cannot tutor in the after- faith. Learn about the Jesse Tree and how to make school program, are you able to devote a few hours on des- one at: http://www.crivoice.org/jesse.html. ignated Saturdays? On January 31, February 21, and  Give the gift of yourself. Take homemade ornaments March 14, we will offer Saturday School Support to K-12 or baked goods to shut-ins or the elderly; do a small students from our parish, St. Vincent de Paul clients, and good deed every day; write a letter to someone who is Riverwood Townhouses. We will meet from 2-4PM in a sick, or write a special “thank you” to a friend or family classroom at St. Philip’s to assist children with their home- member. work.

 Even if you were not blessed with a singing voice, Car- Please contact Lois Wolfe at: [email protected] or call her at oling is always a great way to give joy. Get a group (404-545-0157), if you are able to assist in the Tuesday together and go to a Nursing Home. Tutoring or Saturday School Support projects. Parishioners who provided educational support to children during the  Slow down! Let us take time to prepare our hearts for past two years will tell you they “received” much more than the greatest gift of Christmas – Jesus! they gave.

Mary, on the day she received the announcement of the Angel, was in deep recollection and at the same time, open to listening to God. In her there was no obstacle, no screen, nothing that separated her from God. This is the meaning of her being without original sin: her relation with God was free from even the slightest flaw; there is no separation, there is not a shadow of selfishness, but perfect harmony; her small, human heart is per- fectly “centered” in the great heart of God. So it is, dear brothers and sisters...God’s voice is not recognized in noise and bustle; his plan for our personal and social life is not perceived by remaining on the surface but, rather, by descending to a deeper level, where the active power is not economic or political but moral and spiritual. There, Mary invites us to come down and to put ourselves in tune with God’s action.

Mary is called “full of grace” (Lk 1:28) and with her specific identity, she reminds us of God’s primacy in our life and in the history of the world; she reminds us that the power of God’s love is stronger than evil…. Mary Immaculate…speaks of joy – that authentic joy which spreads in hearts freed from sin. Mary’s joy is complete, for in her heart there is not a shadow of sin. This joy coincides with the presence of Jesus in her life: Jesus con- ceived and carried in her womb, then as a child entrusted to her motherly care...as an adolescent, a young man and an adult. Jesus is Mary’s joy and He is the joy of the Church...of us all.

In this Season of Advent, Mary Immaculate teaches us to listen to the voice of God who speaks in silence; to welcome his Grace that sets us free from sin and from all selfish- ness in order, thereby, to taste true joy. Mary, full of grace, pray for us!

(Excerpt: ADDRESS OF POPE BENEDICT XVI/ Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary/December 8, 2012) Respect Life Ministry Each of Us is a Masterpiece of God’s Creation

The photo (above left) was taken on October 5th, Respect Life Sunday, during the Life Chain Silent Prayer Vigil, held on N. Main Street in Jonesboro, GA. Also, in support of October as Pro-Life Month, members and wives of the Knights of Columbus Tara Council 6352 led a group of parishioners on October 6th to pray outside the Feminist Women’s Health Center on Cliff Valley Road in Atlanta during the “40 Days for Life Campaign”, organized by the Archdiocese of Atlanta. “40 Days for Life” is a national Prayer Campaign that was held in the fall from September 24 – November 2 and will be held again in the spring. A silent Prayer Vigil was held daily from 6AM – 10PM at the Feminist Women’s Health Center. Pictured above right are: Bill & Clare Evon, Kathy Edwards, and Carolyn & Bob Kula.

The volunteers who commit to praying outside the clinic are required by law to keep a certain distance from the building. The law varies by state. However, pregnant women arriving for appointments may approach those who are praying. The Feminist Women’s Health Center is known to draw women from other states seeking late-term abortions. In spite of laws restricting access to the women arriving at the clinic, 528 babies nationally were saved from abortion during the fall Prayer Campaign. Thanks be to God!

Knights of Columbus Hold Public Safety Appreciation Event (Submitted by Bob Kula)

On October 15th, Knights of Columbus Tara Council 6352 held its 42nd annual Clayton County Public Safety Officer recogni- tion day. At the event, all public safety officers (law enforcement, firefighters, EMT’s, dispatchers and administrative person- nel) were treated to lunch, provided by Chick-fil-A. Almost 100 Public Safety Persons, Mayors and County Commissioners were able to attend. Clayton County Commission Chairman Jeff Turner read a proclamation by the County Commissioners, making October “Public Safety Officer Month”.

All Clayton County Public Safety Departments and Agencies, as well as each municipality, were invited to nominate one of their members as Public Safety Officer of the Year. We received 12 nominations for the award. Each nominee received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Knights. Grand Knight Greg Edwards presented a plaque to Lieutenant David Hemmings (from the Clayton County Fire & Emergency Services), the Safety Officer of the Year for 2014. Greg thanked Lieutenant Hemming, all the candidates and all the safety officers that were not able to attend, for their mostly unrecognized dedication to the well-being of all citizens.

An integral part of the Public Safety Appreciation Luncheon is the announcement of the Public Safety Essay winner. Each year, the Knights ask the students of Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School to participate in an Essay Contest in conjunc- tion with the Public Safety Appreciation Day. The theme of this year’s essay was “Texting and Driving in Clayton County”. The winner was Ben Stout, a junior at OLM. Ben read his essay to all those gathered in the Knights’ Hall and re- ceived a standing ovation for his good work. He also received a cash award from the Council for his winning entry. At the end of the evening, Greg Edwards thanked everyone for coming and offered special thanks to Rick Schulze as the Knight who organized this event and made it a great success.

Left-Right: Jeff Turner (Clayton County Com- mission Chairman) & Grand Knight Greg Edwards; Lieutenant David Hemmings (2014 Clayton County Safety Officer, CC Fire & Rescue) & Grand Knight Greg Edwards; and Ben Stout, OLM High School Essay Winner. 6th Annual Nigerian Day Celebration

St. Philip Benizi’s Nigerian Community marked the anniversary of their independence from the United Kingdom with a lively celebration on October 5, 2014, during the 10:45AM Mass which featured the Nigerian Choir. The cultural celebration was an expression of sincere gratitude for God’s many blessings. Atlanta Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory presided; Fr. John, Fr. Paul and Fr. Santo concelebrated; and Deacon Leonard Chambliss assisted. Fol- lowing the Mass, a reception took place in the Parish Hall which included Nigerian cuisine, a performance by two of the Nigerian dance troupes, and lively music and dancing for all to enjoy. We thank Basil Odusanya (President of the Nigerian Committee) and other officers, the wonderful cooks, and all who were involved in planning and implementing this joyful cele- bration. Some of the highlights are pictured below.

Left: Dee Eluma and Henry Ohaya (not pictured) proclaimed the 1st and 2nd Readings.

Above Left: During the Reception, Basil Odusanya presented a donation from the Nigerian Community to Alice Sales for the St. Vincent de Paul Society, as well as a donation to Fr. John for parish needs. We thank them for their generosity! (Photos by Yone Daly) “FOR HE’S A JOLLY GOOD FELLOW…”

...and that he definitely is! Although Fr. Abelardo Huanca, OFM Conv. left St. Philip’s on September 1, 2014 for his new as- signment at Holy Cross in Atlanta, parishioners had the opportunity to participate in a farewell Mass and re- ception for him on October 19th. The Mass was presided by Fr. Abelardo and concelebrated by Fr. John Koziol, Pastor, and Fr. Paul Miskiewicz. Deacons Etienne Rodriguez and Julio Martinez assisted. As one of St. Philip’s beloved Parochial Vicars who served both the Spanish and English-speaking communities of our parish for more than nine years, Fr. Abelardo’s humil- ity, spirituality and positive attitude inspired many. We will sorely miss this kind, gentle soul and servant of God.

Before the Final Blessing, Fr. John addressed the congregation and expressed sincere and emotional feelings of gratitude for Fr. Abelardo’s many years of service to St. Philip Benizi Parish, for his friendship and brotherhood as a member of the Franciscan community. Fr. Abelardo received a standing ovation and also spoke to the congregation, thanking the Friars and parishioners of St. Philip’s for their love and support over the years. The reception that followed in the Parish Hall was further indication of the parish’s love and respect for this dedicated priest. Hundreds crowded into the Hall to share in fellowship and a delicious meal, prepared by members of the Spanish-speaking community. Everyone took a few moments to thank Fr. Abelardo for his service and friendship, and to wish him well in his new assignment. Of course, there were plenty of opportunities for “Kodak moments” with Fr. Abelardo— memories to last a lifetime. Many, many thanks go to all who donated food, cooked, helped with set-up and clean-up and made this a very special “send off” for Fr. Abelardo. May God bless you all for your kind generosity! “FOR HE’S A JOLLY GOOD FELLOW…”

(L-R): After Mass, Fr. Abelardo entered the Parish Hall as everyone sang, “For He’s a Jolly Good Fel- low”. Ileana Campos (center) then led the singing in Spanish, which was followed by great applause.

Fr. John then presented Fr. Abe- lardo with a photo book which includes snapshots highlighting some of Fr. Abelardo’s ministry at St. Philip’s. The idea for the photo book was conceived by Nanci Olds; the photos were taken by St. Philip Benizi’s photographers.

Fr. Abelardo, may you always call St. Philip Benizi “home” and remember your time here with great joy. May you and your ministry be as greatly blessed in the future as you have blessed us at St. Philip Benizi Parish. God be with you always!

(Photos by Yone Daly) St. Philip’s Welcomes Founder of “Missionaries of the Poor” By Michelle March (Member, St. Martin de Porres Society)

On Friday, October 24, 2014, St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church and members of the St. Martin de Porres Society were honored to host Father Richard Ho Lung and the Brothers of the “Missionaries of the Poor” of Jamaica. This beautiful Friday evening opened with a Mass at 6:30PM with Fr. Ho Lung as the principal celebrant, assisted by Deacon Leonard Chambliss. The choir was comprised of Fr. Henry, Brothers of the Order, and two of their choir members. A reception followed in the Parish Hall where presentations of Fr. Ho Lung’s work were shown.

As the Founder of the religious Order in 1981, which is recognized by the Vatican, Fr. Ho Lung (pictured at left) dedicated his life to the free service of the poorest in Jamaica and around the world and was aided by the late Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Fr. Ho Lung is often called the “male Mother Teresa”. According to Fr. Ho Lung, “while Mother Teresa visited and opened her in Kingston in 1986, she encouraged us to be the male counterpart of her Order.” Currently, there are over 500 Brothers in this Order worldwide, and the numbers continue to grow in service of the poor. In addition to his ministry with the poor, Fr. Ho Lung is a teacher, author and musician. He and the Brothers were in Atlanta to promote the musical production of “The Messiah – The Greatest Story Ever Told”, at the Gwinnett Performing Arts Center on November 7–9. During the reception, Fr. Ho Lung was surprised with a birthday cake, for he celebrated his 75th birthday in September of this year.

Helen Fisher, President of the St. Martin de Porres Society, helps Fr. Ho Lung cut the first piece of his birthday cake! If you wish to learn more about the Fr. Ho Lung autographs his book, “Candles “Missionaries of the Poor”, visit their web site: in the Dark”, for Winsome Harvey.

http://www.missionariesofthepoor.org/. (Photos by Susan Douglas) PRE-SCHOOLERS ENJOY HALLOWEEN FUN!

The St. Philip Benizi Pre-Schoolers enjoyed trick-or-treating through the Parish Offices on October 30/31, but maybe the adults enjoyed seeing the costumed characters more! Many got “into the spirit” in a BIG way!!

(1) Business Manager Arlene Richardson brought her “pup”, Scooby-Do, to delight the children! Three friendly witches had no tricks for these youngsters! (L-R): Clare Evon, Sandi Lovett, Mary Santana, and Arlene Richardson. (2) Illustrating a popular children’s story with her costume (“Chicka Chicka Boom Boom”), Pre-school Director Dulcie Armstrong got into the spirit. Year after year, she and her team of teachers do a fantastic job of teaching and caring for our children. Thank you to all! (3-4) Some of the adorable trick-or-treaters!

Above: Donning his “autumn mask”, Fr. Santo and other Staff members helped to fill the children’s bags with lots of treats!

(Photos by Yone Daly) The St. Philip Benizi AIDS MINISTRY Invites you to the Archdiocesan

World AIDS Day Mass

Our prayers and heartfelt sympathy go out to the family of:

 Joseph Jackson, uncle of Almitra Love  Robert Bolia, father of Florence Halloran  Emilio Bruguez, former husband of Marjorie Bruguez  Elizabeth (Lee) Steger, longtime parishioner  Tom Eaton, uncle of Sherry Wilson

“Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.”

The St. Philip Benizi AIDS Ministry will host an Archdioce- san World AIDS Day Mass on Wednesday, December 3rd at 7:00PM in the church. Bishop David Talley will be the The Saint Philip principal celebrant. Please join us for this solemn cele- bration as we remember and pray for those who have died of HIV/AIDS, those affected by the disease, and for Be-News-Zi their families and friends as well. For more information, please contact Carol Gossett (770-472-8182) or John Pat- Monthly Newsletter of terson (770-968-9638). St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church 591 Flint River Road Parish Pastoral Council Update Jonesboro, GA 30238 (770) 478-0178 Christmas Message “Therefore, the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall Fr. John A. Koziol, OFM Conv. name him Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14, NAB). May peace be Pastor/Publisher your gift at Christmas and your blessing all year through.

50th Anniversary Jubilee Celebration Yone Daly, Editor On September 12, 2015, St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church will commemorate its 50th Anniversary as a parish! How- Parish Website: ever, all throughout CY2015, our parish plans to celebrate its past, while continuing to build for the future. In October, www.stphilipbenizi.org the Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) received a lengthy list of potential ideas regarding how the parish might celebrate its Deadline: All articles submitted for publication in the anniversary, both liturgically and socially, and how the par- th Be-News-Zi must be received in writing (preferably ish might memorialize its 50 Anniversary with a permanent th typed) or via e-mail, by the 5 of each month for pub- remembrance. In November, the PPC prioritized these ideas so that it can form “action committees” comprised of lication in the following month’s edition. Each article SPB parishioners who, in turn, will help the parish celebrate submitted for consideration will be published as ap- in style. Please be on the lookout for announcements in proved by the Pastor and on a space-available basis. weekly Bulletins and the monthly Be-News-Zi regarding how you can help the parish celebrate its Jubilee Year. Any questions, comments, suggestions, or articles con- cerning the newsletter may be addressed to the Editor Member of the Month through the Parish Office, or by e-mail:

Our PPC contact for December is Ron Finch. You may contact him by telephone at (678-386-8559) or by e-mail: [email protected] [email protected].