Nurturing our Franciscan Tradition St. Francis of Assisi Parish DecemberDecember 08, 15, 2019 2019 - -The The Second Third Sunday Sunday of of Advent Advent NOT UPDATED From the Pastor’s Desk - The Lord is Coming Throughout Advent we are awaiting the Coming of the Lord, not just commemorating his historical coming among us through his birth. This is our focus for the first two weeks of Advent and the readings to date have reflected this aspect. However, our focus changes today and, from this Sunday onward, we shall be concentrating on preparing ourselves to celebrate the Birth of Christ into the world at Christmas. Advent is a Season of waiting, anticipation and expectancy. This waiting is meant to generate an atmosphere of excitement and wonder. We all remember the sense of wonder and awe we felt prior to the celebration of Christmas as children or, indeed, can feel that excitement building up in our children or grandchildren. This is the atmosphere that the Church attempts to recapture each year through the Advent Season. It is as if the Church is reminding us that the Birth of Our Savior into the world was such a stupendous event that it is necessary for us to prepare to celebrate Christmas. Before the changes introduced to the Liturgy after the Second Vatican Council this Sunday was known as “Gaudate Sunday” (Latin for “rejoice”), and we are to rejoice because the Coming of the Lord is near and this theme of rejoicing is expressed in the Entrance Antiphon and Readings. We light the third candle on the Advent Wreath to denote this rejoicing, the candle is rose (pink) in color as a sign of our anticipated joy and hope. The First Reading and the Gospel passage promise restoration and new life. The poetry of Isaiah is strikingly beautiful. Following our drought in California in recent years we can appreciate his sense of wonder by his use of an image of the Coming Messiah being able to effect the transformation of desert into fertile land. Not only will nature be rejuvenated, but humankind will be restored to full life. Again today we turn our gaze to the figure of St. John the Baptist. In the Gospel we hear Jesus explaining the role that St. John plays in God’s plan of Salvation. Jesus declares that the Baptist is the precursor mentioned by the prophets. He points to St. John’s strength of character and his wholehearted commitment to his calling. St. John was a man of integrity, now in prison paying the price of that integrity. St. John acted as a herald of the Lord in his message, and we are called to act as heralds of the gospel. We pray for the grace to grasp the opportunity presented to us by the Advent season to draw closer to that same Lord. Today we also bless “Baby Jesus” figures from your home nativity sets in observance of a beautiful tradition introduced by Pope John Paul II, called Bambinelli Sunday. Peace and every Good in the tradition of St. Francis and St. Clare. Fr. Des. WEEKEND MASSES WEEKDAY MASSES RECONCILIATION CHURCH HOURS Saturday Vigil 5:15pm (in St. Clare Chapel) Saturday 4:00-5:00pm M-Th 9:00am-3:00pm Sunday 7:30am, 9:30am, Noon 12:10pm or by appointment Fri 9:00am-1:30pm stfrancisparish.com • facebook.com/SFAPSacramento Parish Stewardship Task Force updated to CATHOLICS IN COMMUNITY Thank you for the interest that has been shown in the journey toward a new vision of stewardship for our St. Francis Parish family. As has been identified in bulletin letters and an- nouncements, the vision is growing around what it means to be stewards of God’s gifts to each of us. There are four pillars of Stewardship including HOSPTITALITY, PRAYER, FORMATION and SERVICE. Because so many parishioners were raised with the concept of stewardship meaning financial gifts, which is only a very small part of the four-pillar vision, our updated name is “Catholics in Community”. We are all on a Faith Journey with our God, both personally and communally. Together, as St. Francis Parish, we are growing our faith through the four pillars, each of us build- ing with selected or all four pillars. Reminder that we meet the first Tuesday of each month at 6:00 PM in the library of the Parish Center. Meetings end no later than 7:30 PM. You’re invited! Feel comfortable in at- tending to offer your ideas and interest in the development of how our parish grows our faith communally. The next meet- ing is January 7th. Meanwhile, meet someone new to you, offer your name and welcome, during our Advent and Christmas liturgies. Join us for An Advent Prayer Advent and Christmas The Immaculate Conception Mon. Dec 9 Not a Holy Day of Obligation. Mass is at 12:10pm. Advent Reconciliation Service 7:00 pm Thur. Dec 19 Lord Jesus, Christmas Eve Tues. Dec 24 Master of both the light and the darkness, send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations Family Mass at 4:00 pm for Christmas. Mass at 7:00 pm Mass During the Night: 10:00pm We who have so much to do seek quiet spaces (Choir Concert starts at 9:00 pm) to hear your voice each day. We who are anxious over many things look Christmas Day Wed. Dec 25 forward to your coming among us. Mass at 7:30 am, 9:30 am (no noon Mass) We who are blessed in so many ways long for Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph the complete joy of your kingdom. Vigil Mass 5:15 pm Sat. Dec 28 We whose hearts are heavy seek the joy of Mass 7:30 am, 9:30 am, and Noon Sun. Dec 29 your presence. Mary, the Holy Mother of God We are your people, walking in darkness, yet Mass 12:10pm (in the church) Wed. Jan 1 seeking the light. Epiphany of the Lord To you we say, “Come Lord Jesus!” Vigil Mass 5:15 pm Sat. Jan 4 —Henri J.M. Nouwen Mass 7:30 am, 9:30 am, and Noon Sun. Jan 5 Baptism of the Lord Vigil Mass 5:15 pm Sat. Jan 11 Mass 7:30 am, 9:30 am, and Noon Sun. Jan 12 Photo by Joshua Davis on Unsplash 2 he irst hristmas reche T F C C In the 1200s, St. Francis of Assisi created the first Christmas Creche which helped to make the local townspeople aware of the Christmas story. St. Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor of the Church who died in 1274, told the story in his biography of St. Francis: “It happened in the third year before his death, that in or- der to excite the inhabitants of Grecio to commemorate the nativity of the Infant Jesus with great devotion, [St. Francis] determined to keep it with all possible solemnity; and lest he should be accused of lightness or novelty, he asked and obtained the permission of the sovereign Pontiff. Then he prepared a manger, and brought hay, and an ox and an ass to the place appointed. The brethren were sum- moned, the people ran together, the forest resounded with their voices, and that venerable night was made glorious by many and brilliant lights and sonorous psalms of praise. The man of God [St. Francis] stood before the manger, full of devotion and piety, bathed in tears and radiant with joy; the Holy Gospel was chanted by Francis, the Levite of Christ. Then he preached to the people around the nativity of the poor King; and being unable to utter His name for the tenderness of His love, He called Him the Babe of Bethlehem. Advent A certain valiant and veracious soldier, Master John of he Church ushers in a new liturgical year on the First Grecio, who, for the love of Christ, had left the warfare SundayT of Advent. Advent is about waiting…waiting for of this world, and become a dear friend of this holy man, the birth of Christ in Bethlehem, and waiting also for his affirmed that he beheld an Infant marvelously beautiful, Second Coming at the end of time. But the waiting is not sleeping in the manger, Whom the blessed Father Francis passive. We stand watch so as not to be caught asleep. embraced with both his arms, as if he would awake Him We wait in hope, knowing that there is more than the from sleep. darkness, that even as we wait for Jesus, we know that This vision of the devout soldier is credible, not only by He is with us. reason of the sanctity of him that saw it, but by reason of the miracles which afterwards confirmed its truth. For he Season of Advent brings with it a different look. example of Francis, if it be considered by the world, is WeT suspend our normal ways to make room for watchful doubtless sufficient to excite all hearts which are negligent anticipation…. a different Franciscan prayer at the begin- in the faith of Christ; and the hay of that manger, being ning of Mass… the lighting of the Advent candles… an preserved by the people, miraculously cured all diseases of empty creche… praying for God’s mercy in the Confiteor… cattle, and many other pestilences; God thus in all things glorifying his servant, and witnessing to the great efficacy putting away the Gloria to await its return at the first Mass of his holy prayers by manifest prodigies and miracles.” of Christmas.… St.