Telephone: 253-859-0444

Pastor/ Párroco: Bishop Eusebio Elizondo

Administration: Brenda Fincher: ext. 214 Ministerio Hispano: Guadalupe Madrid: ext. 229

Liturgy/Music & RCIA/Infant Baptism Preparation: Catholic Cemeteries Holly Renz: ext. 215 Children’s Sacramental Preparation and Youth Ministry: Lisa Pozzi: ext. 212 Homebound Ministry: Martha Ryland: 253-859-0444 Jail Ministry: Miguel Chavez: 206-696-8788 Accountant: Kristi Vasquez: ext. 221

The Nativity of the Lord ()

NATIVITY SCENE IS REMINDER OF HOPE AMID SUFFERING, SAYS December 11, 2020 Written by Junno Arocho Esteves, Catholic News Service — The image of baby nes- tled in the manger is a much-needed reminder during the pandemic that God gives the world the gift of hope in troubled times, said. Meeting with delegations from Castelli in ’s Abruzzo region and from Kocevje, Slovenia — The is pictured in St. Peter’s Square after a Christmas responsible, respectively, for the Nativity scene lighting ceremony at the Vatican December 11. The statues are and in St. Peter’s Square — the part of a 54-statue collection created by students and teachers of pope said that Christmas “reminds us that Jesus Castelli’s “F.A. Grue” Art Institute between 1965 and 1975. Photo: is our peace, our joy, our strength, our comfort.”

CNS/Paul Haring “But, to receive these gifts of grace, we need to feel small, poor and humble like the characters of the Nativity scene. Even in this Christmas, amid the suffering of the pandemic, Jesus — small and defenseless — is the ‘sign’ that God gives to the world,” he said December 11. The delegations were at the Vatican for the evening ceremony to light the Vatican Christmas tree and unveil the Nativity scene. Presiding over the ceremony were Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello, president of the commission governing Vatican City State, and Bishop Fernando Vergez Alzaga, secretary general of the commission. The Nativity scene featured several life-sized ceramic statues in a contemporary art that “has its roots in the tradi- tional working of Castelli’s ceramics,” said a statement from the commission. The statues in St. Peter’s Square are “only a few pieces” of a 54-statue collection created by students and teachers of Castelli’s “F.A. Grue” Art Institute between 1965 and 1975 and included sculptural representations of the Magi and an angel placed above ceramic statues of the Holy Family. The cylindrical ceramic statues surrounding Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus included a bagpiper, a shepherdess holding a jug and even an astronaut, meant to reference the history of ancient art and scientific achievements in the world. The Christmas tree in St. Peter’s Square was a 98-foot-tall red spruce tree, which hails from one of the “most intact” forest reserves in Slovenia, the statement added. Thanking the delegations for their gifts, the pope said that “this year, more than ever, they are a sign of hope for the Roman people and for those pilgrims who will have the opportunity to come and admire them.” Both the tree and the Nativity scene, Pope Francis said, create “a favorable Christmas atmosphere” that helps Christians “live the mystery of the Redeemer’s birth with faith.” “In the creche, everything speaks of the ‘good’ poverty, the evangelical poverty, that makes us blessed,” he said. “By contemplating the Holy Family and the various characters, we are attracted by their disarming humility.” http://www.nwcatholic.org/news/international-news/nativity-scene-is-reminder-of-hope-amid-suffering-pope-says.html

The Christmas tree decorates St. Peter’s Square after a lighting ceremony at the Vatican December 11. Photo: CNS /Paul Haring

2 HOLY SPIRIT PARISH / PARROQUIA DEL ESPÍRITU SANTO

We Ask You to Pray for All Who Are Ill Especially Robert Comacho,Se’Vera Dowe,Griff Fincher, Ken Gannaw, Dave Leitchner,Kathy Lemke, Grantley Martelly, A very blessed and merry Antonia Morfin, Marian Oliver, Richard Robles, Christmas from your parish staff John Scanlon, Marina Serena, Les Thomas, Blaine at Holy Spirit Parish. Please pray for everyone in the military both at home and abroad, men and women who put themselves in harm’s way to protect us. And, let us pray for their families. If you would like a name added, returned to or removed from the prayer list, please contact the parish office at 253-859-0444 ext. 214 or [email protected] . There are many depictions of the Nativity that you may not have seen. You can see several of them in this issue.

January 1st Mass 10:30am Bilingual

Mass will be live streamed on our parish FaceBook page

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