Remember Eden? God created humans and all creatures in love, for love. The failure of humanity recorded in the book of Genesis is that from the beginning people have tended to desire, not to be like God, but to be gods. Instead of seeing the fingerprint of our creator in others, we tend to see them as competition. Where there is abundance, we see scarcity. We seek the things of this world rather than seeking and finding God’s life and goodness in our midst. The writer of Isaiah paints a far better picture, which Christians have seen as a foretelling of the Christ, the Anointed One of God, Jesus.
THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND
Knowing Jesus as the One for whom the people of God have longed helps us to understand John the Baptist’s strong words to the Pharisees and Sadducees in today’s Gospel passage. They had the responsibility to lead the people toward right relationship with God and others, and instead had failed to produce the fruits of faithful living themselves. John did not prevent them from approaching him for the baptism of repentance, but asked them to turn their lives more faithfully to God and live accordingly. John understood himself as the forerunner of the One for whom the people had been waiting—the one upon whom the spirit of the Lord rests, the spirit of wisdom, understanding, counsel and strength, knowledge and fear of the Lord. In Advent, we prepare our hearts and minds for the coming of the Lord. Not that Jesus has not already come, or that the Lord is not already in our midst; rather, we take this season to appreciate in a new and fuller way that God’s coming as a child in Bethlehem and Christ’s promised return are about the establishment of the Today’s Readings: Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13; kingdom of God—already in our midst and yet not known Romans 15:4-9; Matthew 3:1-12. in its fullness until the Lord returns in glory.
Saint Thomas the Apostle Catholic Parish in Robstown, Texas and Saint Patrick Mission in San Patricio, Texas
DIOCESE OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS • 16602 FM 624 • Robstown, Texas 78380 Phone: 361-387-1312 or 361-387-7842 • Fax: 361-387-9311 Website: www.christon624.com • Email: [email protected] Parish Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Pastor: Rev. Philip J. Panackal Deacon: Bill Cleavelin (361-208-2146) Sacristan: Jerry Knesek Secretary: Ann Clarke DRE: Michele Hoelscher (361-244-2138) Music Director: Vic Benys Bookkeeper: Anna Ramos EDGE: J. T. Tovar Plant Manager: Gary Clarke
Custodians: Andrea Peña, Yolanda Tobòn LIFETEEN: Rachel Unterbrink
Holy Day Vigil @ St. Thomas: 7:00 PM Holy Day Mass @ St. Thomas: 12:05 PM Saturday Vigil Mass @ St. Thomas: 5:30 PM Sunday Masses @ St. Thomas: 8 AM & 11 AM Weekday Masses @ St. Thomas: 12:05 PM Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
Saturday Vigil Mass @ St. Patrick: 4:00 PM Holy Day Mass @ St. Patrick: 8:00 AM First Friday Mass @ St. Patrick: 8:00 AM
Confession: 30 Minutes before Masses or by appointment THE SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT DECEMBER 7 - 8, 2019
LECTORS for DECEMBER 14-15, 2019
“The earth shall be Saturday, 5:30 PM: Ann Clarke filled with knowledge Sunday, 8:00 AM: Cody Barnes of the Lord, as Sunday, 11:00 AM: Paul Silva St. Thomas the Apostle water covers the sea.” EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS for DECEMBER 14-15, 2019 - Isaiah 11 : 9 Saturday, 5:30 PM: Dianne Oliver Sunday, 8:00 AM: Agnes Flores, Rosa Trevino Masses and Intentions for the Week Sunday, 11:00 AM: Jesse & Velma Garcia Javier & Gianna Flores
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2019 ALTAR SERVERS for DECEMBER 14-15, 2019 4:00 PM: Mass @ St. Patrick Mission † Saturday, 5:30 PM: Matthew Cortino Michael McCown by Roy & Sharon Jones Sunday, 8:00 AM: Adan & Andres Trevino, Damian Brown, Casey Gwynn 5:30 PM: Mass @ St. Thomas the Apostle Sunday, 11:00 AM: Shawn Woolf, Catherine Boartright †Kara Knesek by Jerry Knesek
USHERS for DECEMBER 14-15, 2019 SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2019 Mass @ St. Thomas the Apostle
8:00 AM: Parishioners Saturday, 5:30 PM: Weldon Riebschleager, Danny Kurtz, Owen Cerny, 11:00 AM: Collective Mass John Freeman, Tony Arredondo, Randy Jendrzey †Mildred Phillipp by Karen Vaughan Sunday, 8:00 AM: Michael Rektorik, Ruben Mendiola, †Glen Dawson by Tom Dawson Benjamin Gwynn, Tom Schumacher †Mary Dawson by Tom Dawson Sunday, 11:00 AM: Sandra Knezek, Rosario Gonzalez, Thalia Martinez (Birthday) by Yolanda Peña Darrell Dusek, David Custer †Johnny Guerra Jr. by Sandra Garcia 10 THINGS THAT MAKE FOR A GREAT CATHOLIC FAMILY MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2019 — NO MASS
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2019 Mass @ St. Thomas the Apostle Today’s families come in all shapes and sizes. Amid all 12:05 PM: †John Bowman II by John & Chi Bowman those differences, one thing is certain: maintaining a strong
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2019 Mass @ St. Thomas the Apostle family takes a lot of time, energy and work—oh, and a 12:05 PM: †Herman Morales by Yolanda Peña and Family good dose of prayer! Looking at who we are through the 7:00 PM: ADORATION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT eyes of our faith, we see that, although we may not be the
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2019 Mass @ St. Thomas the Apostle image of the perfect family every day, we are holier, indeed 12:05 PM: †Sylvester Vo by John & Chi Bowman “greater,” than we think.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2019 Mass @ St. Thomas the Apostle 12:05 PM: Mass @ St. Thomas the Apostle Great Catholic Families †Ismael Pena Sr. (AOB) (AOD) by Yolanda Peña #2 – “Give Thanks”
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2019 In today’s “grass is always greener” world, it is easy to look 4:00 PM: Mass @ St. Patrick Mission †Michael McCown by Roy & Sharon Jones over the fence at our neighbors (or at our favorite television 5:30 PM: Mass @ St. Thomas the Apostle show where all of life’s problems can be solved in 22 †Jim and †Pat Juranek by the Cortino Family minutes) and long for what they have. But we have found
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2019 Mass @ St. Thomas the Apostle that the key to a happy family is taking stock of what we 8:00 AM: Parishioners have been given. It is important to remember (and to 11:00 AM: Collective Mass remind our children) that everything comes from God—our For All the Intentions on the CDA Christmas Tree material goods, our friends and family, our gifts and talents.
As American politician Frank A. Clark once said, “If a fellow O ST. THOMAS THE APOSTLE isn’t grateful for what he’s got, he isn’t likely to be grateful F 11/23-24 Regular Collection: $7,333.64 (91 Env. & 28 Loose Cks.) 2nd Collection (Catholic Campaign for Human Development): $611.00 for what he’s going to get.” Great Catholic families celebrate F their gifts, no matter how meager they may seem. That E 11/30-12/1 Regular Collection: $9,012.18 (89 Env. & 17 Loose Cks.) 12/9 Money Counters: Connie Pilarczyk and Josie Blevins ! means giving thanks even in times of struggle, but especially u R Yo ST. PATRICK MISSION nk I ha being mindful (and grateful) when times are good. 11/23 Regular Collection: $353.00 (8 Env. & 4 Loose Cks.) T From the Desk of Fr. Philip Our Sunday Visitor N 2nd Collection (Catholic Campaign for Human Development): $32.00 G 11/30 Regular Collection: $388.00 (7 Env. & 1 Loose Ck.) ADVENT S 12/9 Money Counter: Rose Polk CONFESSION AND RECONCILIATION SERVICE SECOND COLLECTION - DECEMBER 7-8, 2019 Monday, December 23, 2019, 7:00 p.m.
The second collection is for the Retirement Fund for PARISH CHRISTMAS PARTY Religious. Your gift helps religious communities provide medications, nursing care and more for the elderly religious The Parish Christmas Party is Sunday, December 15, 2019 sisters, brothers and religious order priests in have served after the 11:00 a.m. Mass. Please join me in the I. C. Hall. the people tirelessly. Please be generous. Diocese of Corpus Christi Pastor THE SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT DECEMBER 7 - 8, 2019
LITURGY OF THE DAY INFORMATION CORNER
INTRODUCTION Altar Flowers: Call the parish office to donate flowers for the altar.
“Repent,” John the Baptist cried out, “the kingdom of Altar Servers: Please contact Paul Silva (361-726-6374) if you would heaven is at hand.” He told the people of Judea that to prove like to be an altar server and need information and/or have questions. their sincerity, they should produce good fruit. We should A.P.O.S.T.L.E.: Scripture Discussion Class meets on Sundays from heed his call. To prepare ourselves for Jesus’ coming, we 9:15-10:30 AM in the K.C. Building. can begin with an examination of conscience. Let us see when and how we have failed to produce good fruit and Baptism Class: Call the parish office to register for this class. All paperwork must be completed before attending class or scheduling commit to bearing good fruit in the future. Baptism. See website for more information. Peace and harmony. Last Sunday, Isaiah inspired us Bulletin: Bulletin announcements are due on Monday by 1:00 PM. with a vision of peace, when swords are beaten into plowshares. Today, Isaiah speaks of a state of harmony, CDA Court #2290: Meet on December 9, 2019 at 6:30 PM in the Hall. when a lamb can lie down with a wolf. Paul encourages KC #9318: Meet on January 6, 2019 at 6:30 PM in the K.C. Bldg. the Romans to think in harmony with one another. John the SALT Youth Music Ministry: Meet on Sunday before Mass. Baptist calls for repentance, so that all may bear good fruit. Practice every Tuesday from 7:30-9:00 PM in the Church. As we listen to scripture, let us imagine the harmony we can create when all of us ready ourselves for Jesus’ coming. Walking with Purpose: Meet on scheduled Fridays in the I.C. Hall or foyer from 9:30-11:30 AM. REFLECTION Divine Mercy: Every Friday at 11:45 a.m. before noon Mass. Isaiah pairs a lot of incompatible animals in his vision of the future kingdom, from wolves with lambs to cows with Rosary: Every Thursday at 11:40 a.m. before noon Mass. bears, culminating with the child and the snake. The idyllic setting recalls Eden before the fall of humanity. It PARISH OFFICE HOURS: Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. is doubtful that Isaiah expected that a future Son of David PILGRIMAGE TO THE HOLY LAND could actually bring about such a world, but it was an imaginative ideal of perfect harmony. Note that Isaiah did Father Philip will be leading a 14-day pilgrimage to not imagine that all creatures would get along because the Holy Land from October 12-25, 2020. Places that they became alike; rather, they became unaggressive in will be visited are: order to coexist. The lion now eats hay rather than other Egypt, Jordan and Israel animals. The cobra no longer needs to guard its den with poison. All are able to live together harmoniously. The pilgrimage will depart from Houston on October 12, Paul echoes this thought when hoping that the Romans 2020 and return to Houston on October 25, 2020. The will “think in harmony with one another” (Romans 15:5). He cost per person is $3,750.00 and includes flights, draws people to the church from all backgrounds, from all transportation, hotel accommodations, breakfast, dinner cultures, and from all nations, so he does not expect that and tour guide. Please contact the parish office they all think alike or behave the same way. But he prays immediately at 361-387-1312 for registration and for that all may think, act, and work in harmony so that they more information if you are interested in going on this all may be one in Jesus. Many backgrounds, one accord. pilgrimage. Limited spaces are available. Many languages, one voice. Fr. Philip, Pastor John the Baptist does not invoke idyllic scenes when speaking to the Pharisees and Sadducees, instead accusing CDA CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT SALE them of insincerity and presumption. He called them to repentance, demanding that they “produce good fruit as The Catholic Daughters Court #2290 of St. Thomas the evidence” (Matthew 3:8). This would be a good lesson for Apostle will have Christmas ornaments available after the all of us. Repentance means nothing if we do nothing. weekend Masses in December. You can include a name “in We are called to bear fruit—in our workplaces, our honor of ” or “in memory of ” on the ornament. Ornaments will communities, and our world—to bring about the kingdom be placed on a Christmas Tree and set on the altar and a John so eagerly anticipates. special Mass will be celebrated for all the intentions at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, December 15, 2019. The ornaments then can QUESTION OF THE WEEK: be picked up after the Christmas season. The funds raised What can I do to bring harmony to my family, my from the sale of ornaments support the different ministries and neighborhood, the world? charities of the Catholic Daughters. The CDAs invite you to From the Desk of Fr. Philip stop by our table and purchase our beautiful ornaments for a
$5.00 donation. We thank you for your continued support of St. Thomas the Apostle/St. Patrick Mission Website: www.christon624.com our CDA ministry. Jean Chapman (Ornament Chairperson) Hannelore Schleicher SAWYER-GEORGE CharterBank ABR, GRI, SRES FUNERAL HOME “Celebrating 50 Years of Great Realtor “Our Family Serving Your Family” Community Banking” Your 361-813-5152 Leopard at McKinzie (361) 242-3205 241-7681 ad [email protected] 801 Navigation 12497 Leopard St. Member www.Corpus-Christi-Real-Estate-and-Homes.com 884-7681 FDIC could be in this space!
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