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St. Church 23 Half Mile Road Norwalk, CT 06851 203-847-5349 SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT DECEMBER 7, 2014 MISSION STATEMENT Parish Staff We the people of St. Jerome Parish, a Roman Catholic community, proclaim PASTORAL STAFF our belief in the message and mission of 203-847-5349 Christ. As disciples of Jesus we are Rev. Blanchfield, Pastor called to proclaim the Kingdom of God Rev. Palacino, Parochial Vicar Rev. Hoag, S.J., Sunday Assistant and to work for its values in the local Deacon Dean Finch • 203-246-3501 community and beyond. We are com- [email protected] mitted to: worship, religious education, shared faith and service. We welcome PARISH OFFICE all people with respect, acceptance and 203-847-5349 Mrs. Pat Florio, Secretary support. Office Hours, Mon-Fri 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (REACH) SABBATH MASSES 203-846-2111 Saturday 4:00 PM E.S.T. & 4:30 PM D.S.T. Mrs. Kathy Coyne, DRE Sunday 8:00 AM Mrs. Anne Groener 9:15 AM Young Childrenʼs Mass Mrs. Natalie Raduazzo 11:00 AM Mrs. Kathy Rohr 6:00 PM Teen Mass Facebook (REACH St.Jerome) Twitter (@REACHstjerome) DAYS OF OBLIGATION Vigil 7:00 PM YOUTH MINISTRY (TOTAL) Holy Day 9:00 AM, 7:00 PM Joe and Daniela OʼCallaghan 203-847-0321 WEEKDAY MASSES [email protected] Mon-Sat 9:00 AM [email protected]

HOW TO FIND US…… MUSIC MINISTRY Parish Website: 203-847-5349 www.stjeromenorwalk.org Mr. Donald Nelson Mrs. Joan McFarland Parish Email: [email protected] PARISH COUNCIL CHAIRPERSON

REACH email: Dan Loch • 203-846-3980 [email protected] FINANCE COUNCIL Facebook: St. Jerome Norwalk Jerry Holdridge • 203-966-3658

Twitter: @StJeromeNorwalk ALL CATHOLIC SCHOOL REACH & TOTAL Facebook: 203-847-3881 REACH St.Jerome 139 West Rocks Road REACH & TOTAL Twitter: Norwalk, CT 06851 @REACHstjerome Mrs. Linda Dunn, Principal MASS INTENTIONS 2014-2015

****There are many available times for Mass intentions. Please drop by or call the Parish Office.

Altar Flowers Altar Flowers may be memorialized for a donation of $50. Please call the Parish Office several months prior to your desired date. 12/6 9:00 am Betty Whalen (1st Ann.) (Rogalski Family) Adoration & Silent Prayer Every day VIGIL FOR SUNDAY between 4:00PM and 5:00PM. 4:00 pm Anthony DeSantis (the Family) Contemplative Prayer Wednesday evening SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT 12/7 8:00 am Timothy Fitzgerald at 7:00 PM and Friday morning at 7:00 AM. (Bob & Judi Dennehy) Come spend some quiet time with the Lord. 9:15 am Ileane Glica (Chuba Family) Perpetual Novena Our Lady of the 11:00 am Vincenzo Iannone, Jr. Miraculous Medal takes place each Monday (the Family) following morning Mass 6:00 pm Francesco Balestriere (the Family) & Prayers Monday through Saturday after daily Mass FEAST OF THE IMMACUALTE CONCEPTION 12/8 9:00 am Donnie Hollohan Baptisms Every fourth Sunday at 12:15. (Margie Gallivan) Please call the parish office to schedule. 7:00 pm for the People

Required Pre-Baptism Please contact 12/9 9:00 am Eugenio Pace Deacon Dean Finch at 203-246-3501 to arrange. (DiCostanzo Family) Class is required for the first child baptized at 12/10 9:00 am Lorraine Vassallo St. Jerome. (Nilda Canevari)

12/11 9:00 am Mr. & Mrs. A. Camini (DiCostanzo Family) Reconciliation One hour before vigil on 12/12 9:00 am Giacomo Florio Saturday. Also Anytime by appointment (Giovanna Veccia) Marriages Please contact the Rectory at least 12/13 9:00 am Angela Ferrone 6 months in advance. (Lee Kuczo) VIGIL FOR SUNDAY Anointing of the Sick takes place on the first 4:00 pm Anthony & Theresa Finelli Wednesday of each month, immediately following (Grandson, Mark Delgado) the 9:00 AM Mass, in the sanctuary. Anyone THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT with an ongoing medical condition or who is 12/14 8:00 am Christopher Somers seriously ill, anticipating a medical procedure or (Richard & Jacqueline Ivanko) operation, is welcome to come. 9:15 am Gaetano & Carmela Palumbo (daughter) 11:00 am James Ferrone (Lee Kuczo) 6:00 pm Allen Doppke (the Family)

Random Thoughts Scripture Corner

The three biblical stars of Advent are: John You will be reading this on the sec- the Baptist, the Prophet, and Mary the ond Sunday of Advent. The season began with mother of Jesus. Each of them shines into the a wonderful event downstairs in the hall. Dan darkness awaiting a Savior. and Florence Loch along with Jen Mottolese Isaiah of Jerusalem lived between 742. B.C. and Pam Hickey, assisted by Tom and Lorraine E. and 689 B.C.E. The book that carries his Larkin ran an Advent workshop after the name, however, spans two centuries and was 9:15am Mass. The hall was full and each family written by a “school” of followers of the prophet got to make their own Advent wreath as well as who took his message and adapted it to their ornaments for the tree. age. The Second section of the work (chapters You will also notice that there are still some 40-55) is known as the Book of Consolation and Advent booklets available for your prayer time was written around 540 B.C.E. The third section this Advent. The key to the season is a few mo- (chapters 56-66) was written after the return ments of quiet time each day. The booklets from exile and so it dates between 520-515 have a short one page reflection to get you B.C.E. This is important because the Biblical started. They include those done by some fa- tradition was able to adapt to new circum- mous spiritual writers including John Shea, C.S. stances and challenges. The needs to be Lewis, Henri Nouwen and new for this year, reinterpreted for every age. Ron Rolheiser. Each of them is superb and, if This Sunday’s first reading has special sig- followed, will make your Advent richer. nificance for me. It is the beginning of the Book Also, make sure to mark your calendars for of Consolation (Second Isaiah). It is addressed two upcoming events. On Friday night, Decem- th to Jews in exile in Babylon, and starts out with ber 12 , we will have our second annual night the words “Comfort, give comfort to your people of Lessons and Carols. This is a wonderful tra- says the Lord.” dition made famous by the Choir of Kings Col- About five years into my first assignment as lege in England. Every Christmas day their a , I was 43 years old and burned out by a ceremony is heard all over the world. Ours will very active parish. I had just been the spiritual be simpler, but I know you will enjoy it. The director of an Emmaus weekend and was ex- ceremony begins at 7pm that night. Last year hausted. I was up until 2am every night and up we had a respectable turnout. This year I am again at 6am. When I got back to the rectory, I hoping for more! discovered that no one had signed up for the th Finally, on the Saturday of the 4 Sunday of Monday 7am Mass. (In those days we played a th Advent, December 20 at 12 noon, we will have form of ecclesiastical chicken- three Masses a communal celebration of the Sacrament of need to be said each day and no one was as- Reconciliation. That evening, at the 4pm Vigil signed, you just chose according to your sched- Mass, we will also have a communal anointing ule.) I, therefore, had to say the 7am Mass. In of the sick. Here at St. Jerome, we have an those days, I am embarrassed to say, the priest anointing service once a month, but having it at read the readings at daily Mass. When I started the last Advent vigil Mass will assure an oppor- to read those words “comfort, give comfort to tunity for more people to receive this beautiful my people”, it was as if Isaiah was speaking Sacrament that is meant for anyone who is ill or them to me and I broke into tears--very embar- struggling with any physical or psychological rassing, but also a powerful experience of condition. It is also for people preparing for op- God’s love for me. erations or procedures or for those who are So, look for comfort in the Book of Consola- frail. Please consider coming that night! tion (Second Isaiah:40-55).

THIS WEEK AT COLLECTION FOR ST. JEROME…. NOTRE DAME CONVALESCENT HOME Sun., 12/7 REACH grades K-6 after 9:15 Mass The Women’s Guild will be Confirmation 2:00 PM collecting Christmas gifts for Notre Dame Conva- Mon., 12/8 Women’s Scripture &Prayer 9:30 AM lescent Home. Most of the clients are elderly, so please, no candy, jewelry, or perfumes. Sug- Tues., 12/9 gested items include: night wear, robes, slippers, Wed., 12/10 Contemplative Prayer 7:00 PM sweaters, lap robes, and socks. If you are able to Women’s Scripture & Prayer 7:35 PM donate an item, we will appreciate it, we are sure the residents at Notre Dame will also. Donations Thurs.,12/11 REACH Singers Rehearsal 7:30 PM may be left in the boxes will be at the church en- trances. Fri., 12/12 Contemplative Prayer 7:00 AM Christmas Pageant Angels & Shepherds Sat., 12/13 Men’s Ministry 7:00 AM Save the Date—The Christmas Pageant takes place at 6:00PM WEEKLY OFFERTORY SUMMARY Mass on Christmas Eve. All chil- November 30, 2014 $4,285 dren age 4 and up are invited to be angels and December offertory budget $67,250 shepherds. (including Christmas) Rehearsals will be held on the two Sunday’s prior: The November 30th collection was counted and • Dec. 14 at 11:30 in the Hall (just after deposited on December 1st. The offertory money REACH). deposited in November 2014 was within $1,000 of • Our ONLY Full Rehearsal will be Sunday, our November offertory goal of $47,250. As al- Dec. 22. ways, thank you for your generous support of our GIVING TREE THANKS parish. In this season of Advent, we are continuously pre- Your response to selecting gift tags for paring ourselves for the celebration of Christ's Person To Person families and Julie’s birth into this world. Why not help our own parish Kinds of Education and Hope is truly prepare for the coming new year by signing up amazing to watch. Your generosity will with Faith Direct? By supporting St. Jerome Par- provide 3 Christmas gifts each for 52 of ish through Faith Direct, both you and our parish Person To Person’s children here in can more easily project your future contributions. Norwalk and 2 Christmas gifts each for You can sign up online at www.faithdirect.net us- approximately 140 of Julie’s Kids in ing our church code: CT46, or by mailing a paper Guatemala. We also appreciate the monetary enrollment form available in the parish office. donations provided by parishioners used to complete purchasing of these gifts. May you all enjoy the blessings of special time of Christ’s The Knights of Columbus Museum’s 10th birth. annual Christmas crèche exhibition, Buon Natale: Crèches of Italy, features two dozen Italian inspired CHRISTMAS SIGN UPS FOR Nativity scenes on display from Dec. 1, 2014 until EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS & LECTORS Feb. 1, 2015. In addition, the 14th annual Christ- We ask our Eucharistic Ministers and Lectors to mas Tree Festival, featuring 24 trees decorated with sign up for the Masses on Christmas Eve, Christ- handmade ornaments and trim by Connecticut mas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Years Day. schoolchildren, opens with a celebration Dec. 6, Sign up sheets are located in the sacristy 2014. A Christmastime Family Day is scheduled for Dec. 28, 2014 and a wood carving demonstration Tweet of the Week” by leading artist Antonio Caruso is planned for Jan. FRANCIS @Pontifex 10, 2015. The museum is located at 1 State St. in “When we meet a person truly in need, New Haven. More info www.kofcmuseum.org. do we see the face of God?” TOTAL NEWS FOOD DRIVE On November 22nd, the NEXT WEEK TOTAL teens (and their DECEMBER 13-14 friends) participated in our second annual Night in A During Advent, please con- Box. 25 of our kids spent the day serving others by sider the needs of our Norwalk neighbors who raking leaves, baking for our senior parishioners, struggle to put food on their tables. The “basic” returning bottles and cans, and helped cook a meal food that we often take for granted are luxuries for at the Open Door Shelter. They also listened to a hungry families. Volunteers will be selling fruit, guest speaker who was once homeless himself, ate oatmeal or cereal, soup, and fruit juice for $5.00, a simple soup kitchen supper and spent the night in cardboard shelters they constructed while taking on which will be added to our donations to Person-2- the persona of a homeless person. Person in South Norwalk. Other items always in Our kids expressed how grateful they are for need include: beef ravioli, tuna, peanut butter their families, their homes, their schools, their op- and 18-oz. jars of jelly, pasta and pasta sauce. portunities, and their parents. Sometimes we have Also, fresh produce – potatoes, carrots, apples, to walk a little bit in someone else's shoes to really onions, oranges – are always appreciated. Thank appreciate how blessed we are. you for your spirit of giving. No donation is too The teens who participated are Ryan Williams, small. A.J. Hall, Allison Hall, Riley Williams, Christina Ronzitti, Erin Vallerie, Catherine Robinson, Hailey Lessons Agostino, Emily Dougherty, Billy Dougherty, Chris and Carols Cunningham, Miles Cooper, Brendan Brown, Please join us this Friday, Teague Whalen, Alexa Chiappetta, Alyssa December 12th, at 7:00 PM Perschino, Madeline Hefferan, Allison Pitasi, for St. Jerome’s second an- Samantha Troetti, Kathleen McElaney, James Mul- nual Lessons and Carols. downey, Seamus Carbin and Laney Lessons and Carols is an English tradition first cele- Morenberg. brated on Christmas Eve in 1918. In the midst of the REACH NEWS suffering of World War I, it was believed that the English people needed hope and prayer. The ser- • Today, December 7th vice celebrates the coming of Christmas by the Grades K-6 meet at the singing of nine traditional carols and reading nine 9:15 Mass then class. biblical stories. Grade 7-8 No class. It is a beautiful service that allows us to slow down • Next [email protected] 14th in the middle of this very hectic season and to turn Grades 1-6 meet at the 9:15 Mass then class. our attention to prayer and the celebration of Jesus’ Grade 7-8 meet at the 6:00 Mass then class. coming into the world to pierce the darkness. We • Volunteers needed each week for REACH to hope to see you there!! function—please check out our easy volun- Refreshments following in the church hall. teer sign up at: http:// stjerome.ivolunteer.com/ PARISH UPDATE Book Sale to NAME______Benefit St. ADDRESS______Jerome CITY ______You remember [email protected] paper things with the hard covers? if you’re looking to help St. Jerome PHONE ______AND pick up a gift for a child on your list, you can EMAIL______do both in the Church Hallway on December 13-14. ς New Registration We’ll be selling discounted religious children’s ς Change of Address books and tween devotionals after Mass on those dates, so stop, and have a look. Titles such ς Want Envelopes as ’s Notebook, The Beauty of Believing, ς Moving Out of Parish Psalms and Prayers for Little Ones, and The Lord’s Please drop in the Collection Basket or mail to the Prayer for Little Ones, will be among the group. office.