Sunday Mass Schedule Office Bulletin Saturday 5:30 p.m. Vigil Mass Monday - Friday The bulletin deadline is Sunday 9:00 a.m. & 12:00 p.m. 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. 12:00 p.m. Friday one week 540-277-2943 before publication. Weekday Mass Schedule [email protected] Monday & Tuesday 12:00 p.m. Stbridgetberryville.org Religious Education Wednesday 9:00 a.m. 540-277-2948 Thursday & Friday 12:00 p.m. [email protected] Saturday 9:00 a.m. Contact parish office for Religious Education classes are information. held from the Sunday following Holy Days Labor Day until the first 12:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m. Marriage Sunday in May. Classes are Contact parish priest at least Sundays from 10:15 a.m. to Confessions six (6) months to 11:30 a.m. Mondays 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. proposed date of the wedding. Saturdays 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Knights of Columbus Rosary Council 16938 First Friday The Rosary is prayed after the Michael Murrow, Grand Knight Adoration following 12:00 p.m. Mass on First Friday [email protected] 12:00 p.m. Mass each month. For more information please Rosary & visit KofCberryville.org. Divine Mercy Chaplet Hospitalized & Homebound Contact the parish office so that Men’s Club Eucharistic Adoration hospitalized and homebound George Darnell Mondays during Confessions parishioners may receive [email protected] from 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. pastoral care. Meetings are the first Saturday of each month at 10:00 a.m. in Father Paul Grankauskas FISH of Clarke County Hobert Hall. Breakfast is served Pastor Food donations may be left following 9:00 a.m. Mass. in the narthex on the second John Sengewalt Sunday each month. Women’s Group Religious Education Ruth Hayes E-Giving [email protected] Stacy Sefton Our e-giving partner is Faith Meetings are the first Tuesday Music Program Direct. Our church code each month following VA605. 12:00 p.m. Mass. Jenny Sorenson

Organist Veritas Young Adults Group

Laurel Morris

JoAn Drake [email protected] EMHC & Lectors For adults in their 20s and 30s. Join us for faith, service and Becky Jackson fellowship!

Prayer List, Sacristan

December 13, 2020

The one who calls you is faithful, and he will also accomplish it. Entrance Antiphon Thanks be to God. Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice. Gospel Acclamation Indeed, the Lord is near. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has First Reading Isaiah 61:1-2a, 10-11 anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the Gospel John 1:6-8, 19-28 LORD has anointed me; he has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to A man named John was sent from God. He came for proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might prisoners, to announce a year of favor from the believe through him. He was not the light, but came LORD and a day of vindication by our God. to testify to the light. I rejoice heartily in the LORD, in my God is the joy And this is the testimony of John. When the Jews of my soul; for he has clothed me with a robe of from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him to ask and wrapped me in a mantle of justice, him, “Who are you?” He admitted and did not deny like a bridegroom adorned with a diadem, like a it, but admitted, “I am not the Christ.” So they asked bride bedecked with her jewels. As the earth brings him, “What are you then? Are you Elijah?” And he forth its plants, and a garden makes its growth spring said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He up, so will the Lord GOD make justice and praise answered, “No.” So they said to him, “Who are you, spring up before all the nations. so we can give an answer to those who sent us? What do you have to say for yourself?” He said: Thanks be to God. “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, Responsorial Psalm Luke 1 ‘make straight the way of the Lord,’” as Isaiah the My soul rejoices in my God. prophet said.” Some Pharisees were also sent. They asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you

are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?” John My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; answered them, “I baptize with water; but there is my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, one among you whom you do not recognize, the one for he has looked upon his lowly servant. who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not From this day all generations will call me blessed: R. worthy to untie.” This happened in Bethany across The Almighty has done great things for me, the Jordan, where John was baptizing. and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. in every generation. R. Communion Antiphon He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. Say to the faint of heart: Be strong and do not fear. He has come to the help of his servant Israel Behold, our God will come, and he will save us. for he has remembered his promise of mercy, R. Excerpts from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second Second Reading 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 typical edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be reproduced by any Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all means without permission in writing from the copyright owner. circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophetic utterances. Test everything; retain what is good. Refrain from every kind of evil. May the God of peace make you perfectly holy and may you entirely, spirit, soul, and body, be preserved blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

St. Bridget of Ireland Parish • Berryville, VA Third Sunday of Advent

Please remember the following people in your prayers: † For the repose of the soul Jim Willis Pat Fales Matthew Lewis Carmela Rao Daily Readings Mass Intentions Jack Cameron Pat O’Boyle John Caroselli Gwen Hales Numbers 24:2-7, 15-17a Monday, December 14 Fred Curtis Dianne Seaver Psalm 25 John of the Cross Tony Tringale Doris Layden Matthew 21:23-27 12:00 p.m. David Smith Betty Price Reverend Eric Shafer Jim Lewandowski Courtney & Trisha Connie Guevremont Dabney Zephaniah 3:1-2, 9-13 Tuesday, December 15 Victoria White Psalm 34 Matthew 21:28-32 12:00 p.m. Also pray for the repose of the soul of Betty † David W. Odiorne, Jr.

Houck. May her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, Isaiah 45:6c-8, 18, 21b-25 Wednesday, December 16 rest in peace. Amen. Psalm 85 Luke 7:18b-23 9:00 a.m. Holy Souls in Purgatory

CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE 2020 Genesis 49:2, 8-10 Thursday, December 17 CONFESSIONS Psalm 72 Matthew 1:1-17 12:00 p.m. Saturday, December 19 • 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. † Harry E. Stover Sunday, December 20 • 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday, December 21 • 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Jeremiah 23:5-8 Friday, December 18 Psalm 72 MASSES Matthew 1:18-25 12:00 p.m. † Michael Paul Griffin The Nativity of The Lord Judges 13:2-7, 24-25a Saturday, December 19 December 24 Psalm 71 Luke 1:5-25 9:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. Family Vigil Mass Benjamin and Lynnette 5:30 p.m. Mass in Hobert Hall † 8:00 p.m. Solemn Mass of Christmas Walters 5:30 p.m. December 25 † Ruth Sondecker Griffin

9:00 a.m. Mass 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, Sunday, December 20 11:00 a.m. Mass 14a, 16 Fourth Sunday of Advent

Psalm 89 9:00 a.m. The Solemnity of Mary, Romans 16:25-27 Reverend John Kelly Mother of God Luke 1:26-38 12:00 p.m. Parish Family December 31

11:00 p.m. Vigil Mass

January 1 The Second Collection for December 20 is for Christmas Flowers 10:00 a.m. Mass

For more parish information • www.stbridgetberryville.org December 13, 2020

Let us sing alleluia here on earth, while we still live in anxiety, so that we may sing it one day in heaven in full security. Why do we now live in anxiety? Can you expect me not to feel anxious when I read: Is not man’s life on earth a time of trial? Can you expect me not to feel anxious when the words still ring in my ears: Watch and pray that you will not be put to the test? Can you expect me not to feel anxious when there are so many temptations here below that prayer itself reminds us of them, when we say: Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us? Every day we make our petitions, every day we sin. Do you want me to feel secure when I am daily asking pardon for my sins, and requesting help in time of trial? Because of my past sins I pray: Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and then, because of the perils still before me, I immediately go on to add: Lead us not into temptation. How can all be well with people who are crying out with me: Deliver us from evil? And yet, brothers, while we are still in the midst of this evil, let us sing alleluia to the good God who delivers us from evil. Even here amidst trials and temptations let us, let all men, sing alleluia. God is faithful, says holy Scripture, and he will not allow you to be tried beyond your strength. So let us sing alleluia, even here on earth. Man is still a debtor, but God is faithful. Scripture does not say that he will not allow you to be tried, but that he will not allow you to be tried beyond your strength. Whatever the trial, he will see you through it safely, and so enable you to endure. You have entered upon a time of trial but you will come to no harm—God’s help will bring you through it safely. You are like a piece of pottery, shaped by instruction, fired by tribulation. When you are put into the oven therefore, keep your thoughts on the time when you will be taken out again; for God is faithful, and he will guard both your going in and your coming out. But in the next life, when this body of ours has become immortal and incorruptible, then all trials will be over. Your body is indeed dead, and why? Because of sin. Nevertheless, your spirit lives, because you have been justified. Are we to leave our dead bodies behind then? By no means. Listen to the words of holy Scripture: If the Spirit of him who raised Christ from the dead dwells within you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your own mortal bodies. At present your body receives its life from the soul, but then it will receive it from the Spirit. O the happiness of the heavenly alleluia, sung in security, in fear of no adversity! We shall have no enemies in heaven, we shall never lose a friend. God’s praises are sung both there and here, but here they are sung by those destined to die, there, by those destined to live for ever; here they are sung in hope, there, in hope’s fulfillment; here they are sung by wayfarers, there, by those living in their own country.

St. Bridget of Ireland Parish • Berryville, VA Third Sunday of Advent

“The One who calls you is faithful.” Will you be faithful to His call? Listen; God may be inviting you to be a priest, or consecrated religious. Contact Fr. Michael Saint Mary Di Rosa Isenberg, [email protected] (703) 841-2514. Paolina Francesca di Rosa was born November 13, 1813 to a wealthy family of Religious Education: No RE class December 27 or January 3. , Italy. Losing her mother to a DIVINE MERCY SAID: "I remind you, My terminal illness at age eleven, her education daughter, that as often as you hear the clock was entrusted to the Visitation Sisters. At strike the third hour, immerse yourself seventeen Paolina left school to assist in the completely in My mercy, adoring and running of her father’s estate and household. glorifying it; invoke its omnipotence for the To these duties she soon added the care and whole world, and particularly for poor spiritual welfare of the girls working at her sinners; for at that moment mercy was opened wide for every soul. In this hour you can father’s mills and other factories in the obtain everything for yourself and for others city. She also founded a woman’s guild and for the asking; it was the hour of grace for the arranged retreats and special missions. In whole world--mercy triumphed over justice." (St. Faustina Diary, 1840, with Gabriela Bornati, Paolina started 1572) "Used with permission of the Marian Fathers of the of a congregation with the purpose of serving the B.V.M." the ill and suffering in hospitals. Taking the The Keep Christ in Christmas name of Handmaids of Charity, they started poster contest is back! Kids ages 5 with four members and soon grew to number -14 are eligible. $50 prizes in each twenty-two. The name she took upon her age category. Completed entrance profession of religious vows was a synthesis forms must accompany the posters. of her whole life: Maria Crocifissa. As the Entrance forms and complete rules are available on the Knights’ website. Entries must be received by noon on December 20. community expanded, her father, Clemente di Rosa provided a commodious house in Christmas Decorating-Please come to help us decorate the Brescia, and their rule of life was church for Christmas on Sunday, December 20 at 1:30 p.m. provisionally approved by the bishop in Decorating the church for Christmas is a wonderful tradition here 1843. Anticipating Florence Nightingale by at St. Bridget of Ireland parish and all are invited. Please RSVP several years, the Handmaids of Charity to the parish office. ministered to the wounded in the war which Part-time employment opportunity: The Arlington Diocese San ravaged the region in 1848. After a meeting Damiano Spiritual Life Center in White Post is seeking part-time with Blessed Pius IX in 1850, the food services personnel. Hours will primarily be in the evening constitutions of the Handmaids of Charity of and on weekends. Experience in meal preparation preferred, but Brescia were approved. A second cholera not necessary. We will train acceptable candidates. Contact epidemic hit northern Italy and pushed the Deacon Mark Maines at [email protected] or 540-868-9220 for more information or to apply. growing order to its limit. After a flurry of foundations in Spalato, Dalmatia and Verona, Mother Maria collapsed, and was Christmas Gift Card Collection brought home to Brescia to die. She passed St. Bridget of Ireland Women’s Group is sponsoring a away peacefully on December 15, 1855 at collection of gift cards to be used for parish family needs this the age of forty-two. Her Feast Day is year. The gift cards will be collected until December 13. The December 15. needs identified are for food, clothing and to pay bills. Yes, there will be Christmas joy for those giving and receiving. Suggested cards are from Martin’s, Walmart, and Visa cards for paying bills. Please purchase a gift card of your choice with the amount stated on it and place it in a Christmas card addressed to “Christmas Gift Card Collection.” Place the Christmas gifts in the collection basket or deliver to the parish office. May you be blessed with a joyful Christmas.

For more parish information • www.stbridgetberryville.org