Barb via File Sharing Proofing Request To: Please note changes or corrections by either using red, colored ink or highlighter or post-its where needed. When you have finished the whole issue, please return to me for final editing. Proofing Guidelines Please review all pages checking that dates are not prior to bulletin date. If any discrepancies, please note them accordingly >Verify dates and times to the Parish Online Calendar (p14) REMOVED >Verify name spelling for Mass Intentions to the Mass Book (p4) >Proof pages - checking for grammar, spelling, current dates. >Fr. Lou’s Line (p2) - if included in proof copy! >Page 3 may not be completed. Thank You! SAINT JULIE BILLIART CATHOLIC CHURCH 7399 West 159th Street Tinley Park, Illinois 60477 708.429.6767 www.stjulie.org BEING DISCIPLES OF JESUS A MESSAGE FROM down. In the ancient Aztec world, all of their gods OUR PASTOR were depicted as looking straight ahead. The fact HAPPY ADVENT!!! that Guadalupe looks downward is a telltale sign that she herself is not a goddess nor should she be During the season of Advent, worshiped as one. This is further emphasized by the the Virgin Mary is oftentimes fact that her hands are also folded in prayer. If she given a high place of honor. were a goddess, she would have no need to pray. Whether that was intentional or not, it still is the case that there Interestingly, though, the image of Guadalupe also Fr. Tirso Villaverde are several celebrations in her points to the fact that the Virgin Mary is still greater Pastor honor during this time of than all of creation. The sun and the moon were anticipation and waiting. Perhaps, it is appropriate among two deities that were worshiped by the that we wait with the Virgin Mary remembering that people of ancient Mexico. Yet, in the image of she gave birth to our Savior. Guadalupe, Mary stands in front of the sun and the moon is at her feet. This was a powerful symbol that First, we have the celebration of Immaculate pointed to the truth that the people were practicing a Conception on December 8 which, this year, is not a false religion. If she, as a human being, was still Holy Day of Obligation for reasons of the pandemic. greater than the sun and the moon which were Every year on December 8th, the Church honors considered to be great gods, Mary herself points to Mary who was conceived without stain of Original the true God. Sin in the womb of her own mother whom tradition has known as St. Ann. The Virgin Mary under her In the image of Guadalupe, Mary is pregnant. This title of Immaculate Conception is the patroness of is indicated by the maternity belt that can be seen the USA. just under her hands. She makes it known that the true God chose to make a home in her womb for Mary is believed to have received a singular grace nine months. Through her, the True and Only God given only to her because she was chosen by God to has entered the world and it is that God alone who is be the Mother of His Son. In order to prepare her for worthy of peoples’ worship. this huge honor, God applied the redemptive power of His Son’s resurrection and allowed the Virgin Towards the end of the Advent season, the Virgin Mary to be left untouched by the stain of Original Mary takes a place “center stage” in various ways. Sin. This may seem confusing especially since the For one, the readings in the final days of Advent conception of Mary in the womb of St. Ann took oftentimes highlight the Virgin Mary as she accepts place years before the birth of Jesus. In some ways, the role of being the Mother of the Son of God. But, we can call it a sort of “preemptive act” on God’s there is also a tradition that Filipino Catholics have part since He knew that a pure vessel would be come to share in this and other parts of the world. It needed through which God himself could become is the novena known as Simbang Gabi (aka—Misa de flesh. Gallo or Misa de Aguinaldo). Then, on December 12, the Church honors the Virgin When missionaries brought the Catholic faith to the Mary under her title of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Philippines over 400 years ago, they struggled with Under this title, the Virgin Mary has been named as attempts at catechizing and evangelizing the people patroness of all the Americas—North, Central, and of the islands. The missionaries—who were mostly South. She is also the protector of the unborn since from Spain—decided to adapt a novena from their in the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe the Virgin homeland. They wanted to hold a novena during Mary is pregnant. In the image of Our Lady of the last nine days of Advent which lead up to Guadalupe, there are so many symbols by which Christmas. They petitioned Rome for permission Mary actually teaches us how we are properly to and it was granted. From that began the custom that understand her role in our lives. For one, as we look Filipino Catholics all over the world have observed at the face of Our Lady of Guadalupe, she looks every year for the last 400 years. 2 | SAINT JULIE BILLIART CATHOLIC CHURCH The novena of Masses were scheduled at about 4:00 a.m. each day. This was to accommodate the Letters from farmers who would go out to the fields at dawn as St. Julie Billiart well as the fishermen who would be returning from sea at about the same time. People would also I have great fashion lanterns in the shape of a star that were confidence that in used to light up the dark streets leading people to this holy time of the church where the Novena of Masses were to be Advent, you are celebrated. going to work Permission from Rome was necessary for this hard at your novena because the Masses during the novena were growth in holiness. envisioned to be celebrations outside the context of ~Julie, Advent. In other words, even though the novena L 231 took place in the last nine days of Advent, specific readings were chosen for each day even though there were already assigned readings for those Advent days. White vestments were to be worn even though Advent called for the use of purple. Safety Information for Attending Mass Finally, the Gloria was to be sung at each of the Dispensation from the Sunday obligation remains in place Masses that were part of the novena even though indefinitely. If feeling ill, please stay home. Those most the Gloria was not to be sung during Advent. vulnerable by virtue of age or medical condition, are encouraged to stay home also and participate via Facebook The reason for all of this was simple. The novena of (9:30a livestream) then on www.stjulie.org (click on View Simbang Gabi was and still is a series of nine Weekend Mass at the top left of our home page). Masses in honor of the Virgin Mary. The WEEKEND MASS (Sat. 4:30p / Sunday 9:30a/11:30a/6:00p) missionaries believed that it would be appropriate ●Seating is limited, registration is required and opens up for them to turn the people’s attention to the Virgin on Friday morning. Difficulties registering online? Please Mary in the final days of Advent reminding them call Sheila (708.429.6767 x232) leave your name, phone that through her the Savior was to be born who number, mass time and number in your party attending. would bring salvation to the whole world. No call back will be made unless there is an issue. This year at St. Julie Billiart parish, you may have ●Plan on arriving no sooner than 30 minutes prior to Mass. noticed that there is a unique statue of the Virgin ●Facemasks are mandatory and must be worn properly Mary in our worship space. It is a statue of Mary over the nose and mouth the entire time inside church. that clearly depicts her as a pregnant woman. I ●Once inside a greeter will provide sanitizer and ushers found this statue many years ago and decided to will guide folks to their seating. purchase this unique image. We oftentimes forget ●Communion: Follow directions of the ushers; stay 6 feet that Mary—as a woman like all other women—was apart, sanitize your hands; after receiving communion in pregnant for nine months and her belly would have your hands, take 2 steps to the side, partially remove shown her pregnant state. I have brought her out in your facemask, consume the Body of Christ, put your every assignment I have been at as a way to remind facemask back on and return to your pew. us again that just as Mary helped to bring God’s ●Dismissal: Ushers will instruct when and how to exit. presence into the world, we are still called to do the Please do not congregate in the Narthex nor parking lot. same. DAILY MASS (8am Monday-Friday in the church) Peace, Livestreamed on St. Julie Billiart Facebook page. ROSARY/DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET (Mon.-Fri after 8am Mass) ADORATION (Thursdays following 8am Mass until 11am) No reservations required for Daily Mass, Rosary, Divine Mercy Fr. Tirso Chaplet nor Adoration, but names taken for contact tracing. DECEMBER 6, 2020 - SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT | 3 THE STUMP OF JESSE SIGNS OF LIFE performs his priestly functions, the priest allows Frequently at Mass, we have seen Jesus to make use of his very being to people doing certain things accomplish sacramental actions.