THE GOOD NEWS DECEMBER 2019

Dear Parents,

I hope your Thanksgiving was filled with fun, food, family, and friends!

We began our day with a wonderful parish Thanksgiving Mass! Thank you so much to our wonderful Religious Education Students who participated as Readers, Greeters, Altar Preparers, Gift Presenters and Altar Servers: Sigmmond & Nash Antony, Alfina, Penelope, Zarina and Zeke Eull, Ashelyn Tablan, Michael and David Solimondo, Anthony La Firenza, Devyn Rochford, Caitlyn Nicole & Kian Wong, Mary Soto, Brenna Bitcon, Gabby Baluyot, Christopher Foes, Isabella Schwartz, Ariana Henderson, Dean & Nathan Staso, Patrick Babuder, and Anthony and Raymond Biedenbeder. Also, special thanks to our teachers: Barbara Mullen, Jeannie Haworth, Barbara Molina, Robyn Solimando, Yoli Baluyot and Caroline Anthony for all their help at the practice and Mass.

We turn the corner and the Advent/Christmas Season is upon us……

Back by popular demand this year! Last week I sent home, with the oldest child, a Liturgical Calendar for each family. It is identical to the ones that are used in the classroom with the children. You will notice that this is no ordinary calendar. It is not organized by months and weeks and days. Instead, it is a circle of Sundays, seasons, and feasts. Each Sunday is represented by a block that is the color of the liturgical season in which the Sunday falls. Noted in is the Gospel reading for that Sunday. On the back side of the calendar is some information about St. Matthew. There are many ways to use the calendar during the year, some suggestions are in the Family Guide. I hope you enjoy it with your family!

I am pleased to attach the December issue of Partners in Faith. Here are three highlights: + We wish for idyllic family celebrations at Christmas but the frenzy leading up to the feast can rob us of our joy in the holiday. The main article on page one suggests an approach to keep your sanity and your joy during Advent and Christmas. + Simple ways to share love and gratitude can reflect the true joy of bringing God into our world. The main article on page two explains. + One parent explains how she answered when her daughter asked her, “Is Santa real?” + Attached to this newsletter is your Family Advent Calendar with a faith-based activity for every day of this holy and blessed season.

On behalf of all the staff, I wish blessings on you and your family during this wonderful season and a Holy and Peace filled Christmas and New Year!

God Bless You!

DECEMBER/JANUARY CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Dec 6 St. James Christmas Concert 7:30 pm Church

Dec 8 Feast of Immaculate Conception

Dec 17 St. James Parish Penance Service 7:30pm Congratulations to our First Year Students who participated in their Dec 23-Jan 5 Rite of Enrollment on November 18, 2019 Christmas Vacation RE Office Closed Jacob Alvarez, Nicholas Arcuri, Nolan Bitcon, Jove Bothwell, Cataleya Bustamante, Samantha & Vivian Jan 7 Class Resume Grades 1,2,6,7-8

Castellanos, Abygail Cimmento, Gianna Contreras, John Jan 8 Class Resume Grades 1-6 Davis, Mateus Delacruz, Daniela Gallagher, Emma Gurrola, Diego & Mateo Jauregui, Jane Kedrowski, Jan 7 - 8 Empowering God’s Children Andrew & Elizabeth Ketchmere, Elicia & Maya LaBorde, Year 1 and 2 - Parish Center Lillian LaScola, Theodore Leys, Anna Lipan, Riley Ludlow, Breanna Luna, Sierra Martin, Natalie & Sebastian Jan 14-15 Empowering God’s Children Martinez, Colin Meistrell, Psykhe Muñoz, Madison Grades 3 and 4 - Parish Center Murphy, Giada Paras, Julia Reyes, Ian Reyes-Thomas, Devyn Rochford, Sean Schwartz, Elijah Tallackson, Jan 20 Martin Luther King Jr. Marlo Thompson, Florencia Valenzuela, Christopher RE Office Closed Villanueva, Liam Vizgirda, Analucia Woon. Jan 21 Empowering God’s Children Grades 7 and 8 – Room 6 God Bless You! Jan 21-22 Empowering God’s Children Grades 5 and 6 - Parish Center

Jan 27 First Communion Parent Meeting Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation Blessed Virgin Mary 7:00pm Kavanagh Hall

Jan 28 No Classes - (Grades 1,2,6,7-8) Teacher In-Service Training

The Mother of the Lord was prepared by God from the Jan 29 No Classes - (Grades 1-6) very first moment of her life to receive Jesus Christ. Teacher In-Service Training God’s grace preserved Mary from sin from the womb to the end of her life, because of her role in the mystery of salvation as the mother of God. In Mary’s response SUNDAY Children’s Liturgy of the Word…. to the angel, she shows her willingness to place herself fully in God’s hands, even when it promises to be Celebrated on the second and fourth Sunday of difficult and requires great faith and trust. each month at the 10:00a.m. Mass for children ages 6-12. The next Liturgy of the Word will be The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Sunday, December 22nd and Sunday, January Patronal Feastday of the United States of America 12th and 26th. is on December 9, 2019 There is always room for more presiders and/or The St. James Immaculate Conception Liturgical readers. To volunteer, or for more information, Celebration Mass is at 8:00 am and please call the Religious Education Office at (310) 379-3221. Communion Service at 12 Noon Thank you in advance for all your help.

Page 2 Diana Holly—Director/Debora Martins-Secretary THE GOOD NEWS December 2019