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December 22nd, 2002

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Let Us Pray For Those Seriously Ill
 Marie Starz, Bruno Spazian, and Angela Krajnik. 

Vocation reflections

That angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she will give birth to the Son of God.  Although Mary is confused, the angel assures her that nothing is impossible with God. Could the Lord be calling you to bring this gift of new life and hope to a waiting world as a Priest, Brother or Sister?

 If you feel this call, “inquire within” and Please contact the Vocations Office the Vocations Office at (973) 497-4365 or by E-mail at kellyric@rcan.org. Or visit our web site at www.rcan.org. 

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STEWARDSHIP 
             

STEWARDSHIP SCRIPTURE  REFLECTION
David’s posterity shall endure forever.  His kingship finds its fulfillment in the son of Mary, Jesus the Christ.  To him be glory and praise forever.

OUR WEEKLY OFFERING
December  2002
December 14/15                 $5,915.
Month’s Total                   $15,980.
Month’s Average                $5,326.
Mailed in                               $253.     

We thank you!

WEEKLY AVERAGE COMPARISONS:
Month  ‘01 Monthly Avg.     ‘02 Monthly Avg.
November      $5,654.                 $5,281.

December      $6,056.                 

HOLY HOUR FOR PRIESTS
Holy Hour will be cancelled for Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays - beginning November 26th through the month of December.  Holy Hour will resume on January 7th.

During this time of postponement, we invite you to continue praying at home for the priests, DIVINE MERCY and Religious men and women of the Church and for an increase of vocations to the priesthood and religious life.  

Church Decorations

      St. Anne’s Church will be beautifully decorated for the Christmas Season with fresh trees and lovely Poinsettia Plants.  If you would like to make a donation in memory of a loved one or a friend while also helping to defray the cost of the decorations, please put your donation in the “FLOWER” envelope and deposit it in the Christmas Decoration Depository located in front by the altar.  If possible, please drop off your flower envelope by December 22nd in order to have our “donor list” posted in the church vestibule for Christmas Day.  Thank you.

T’is the Season to Come Together 

On Sunday, December 22nd at 3 pm in church, please come and join the Liturgy Committee on the last Sunday of Advent to decorate the church for Christmas.

We invite all of you to come and help make this a family affair by helping to decorate the Church.  There will be hot chocolate and cookies.

Later that evening, we can all come together for Simbang Gabi which is another family tradition we celebrate with Mass and potluck dinner afterward.  I hope you will be able to take time out of your busy schedule and give thanks for all that we share as a family, and to also pray for those who are less fortunate.

Please contact either Janice at the rectory (201-656-2490) or Celia Morales (201-963-5030) to let us know that you will join us so that we can prepare and don’t forget to bring a potluck dish to share for dinner later.

Looking forward to sharing this time with you!!

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MONDAY   Mal 3:1-4,23-24 Ps 25:4bc-5ab,8-10,14 Lk 1:57-66

TUES.  2Sm 7:1-5,8b-12,14a,16 Ps 89:2-5,27,29 Lk 1:67-79

WED.  Is 52:7-10 Ps 98:1-6 Heb 1:1-6 Jn 1:1-18

THURS.  Acts 6:8-10;7:54-59 Ps 31:3-4,6-8,17-21 Mt 10:17-22

FRIDAY  1Jn 1:1-4 Ps 97:1-2,5-6,11-12 Jn 20:1a,2-8

SATURDAY   1Jn 1:5-2:2 Ps 124:2-5,7b-8 Mt 2:13-18

NEXT SUNDAY - HOLY FAMILY  Sir 3:2-7,12-14 Ps 128:1-5 Col 3:12-21 Lk 2:22-40

Water

Saint Peter’s Preparatory will present Woody Allens’ Don’t Drink The Water on Friday, January 3rd and Saturday, January 4th at 8 p.m. and Sunday, January 5th a 2 p.m. in The Roy Irving Theater at St. Peter’s College.  Student admission is $6.00; Adult admission is $8.00.  For further information call 201-547-6400.

CCD News

- Children’s Christmas Party December 22nd in auditorium.  Children will be dismissed at 12 noon.

- December 22nd last day of class until January 6th when we return.  Please don’t forget to bring the children to Mass on these Sundays when there is no class.

St. Anne’s Class of ‘85

There will be a Reunion for members of St. Anne’s Class of 1985 on Thursday, December 26th held at Houlihan’s Restaurant & Bar, 700 Plaza Drive, Secaucus.  Arrival time between 5-6 p.m.

Please contact Frankie Poli at home 201-714-9875, work 201-395-1706 or email fpoli@pershing.com

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 Our Web Site

                     http://stannesjc.com         

When you log on and browse around you’ll see all kinds of information about our parish. Included, of course, will be the current activities for the many different organizations as well as an update as to what is going on with our parish family.
Do not let evil defeat you: Instead, conquer evil with good!!

By your wounded heart: teach us love, teach us love, teach us love..... -Daphne Fraser

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Personal Meditation      

December 22nd, 2002

2 Sm 7:1-5, 8-12, 14, 16  Rom 16:25-27  Lk 1:26-38

Gospel Reading

The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth. He was sent to a young virgin who was betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the family of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

The angel came to her and said, "Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with you." Mary was troubled at these words, wondering what this greeting could mean.

But the angel said, "Do not fear, Mary, for God has looked kindly on you. You shall conceive and bear a son and you shall call him Jesus. He will be great and shall rightly be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the kingdom of David, his ancestor; he will rule over the people of Jacob forever and his reign shall have no end."

Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be if I am a virgin?" And the angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore, the holy child to be born shall be called Son of God. Even your relative Elizabeth is expecting a son in her old age, although she was unable to have a child, and she is now in her sixth month. With God nothing is impossible."

Then Mary said, "I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me as you have said." And the angel left her.

Reflection

Today we have another chance to hear God's promise to Mary. She was blessed because she believed God's promise would be fulfilled. She becomes the house of God. A human heart is the house God seeks, where his reign will have no end. We, too, are born to be a home for God, and to continue the saving mission of Jesus. With God, nothing is impossible: from barren ground God brings forth life. If we believe this, if we even hope that it could be so, we have our share in the blessedness of Mary. Faith is faith; it is not scientific certainty. It is always to some extent a leap in the dark. Mary took the risk and the consequences - commitment to a lifelong pilgrim journey, searching, wondering, holding on, waiting. She, too, knows what it is to live between the first and second comings of Christ.

Prayer During the Advent Season

Lord, move our hearts to prepare joyfully for the coming of Christ our Savior. Protect us from all dangers, and free our minds and hearts from the darkness that hinders your light. As we look forward to the feast of your Son's birth, increase our faith and trust in your love. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.