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   To use the Catholic calendar and follow the readings of the day please click the link below:

http://www.usccb.org/nab/index.htm  

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December 7th, 2003

2nd Sunday of Advent

Let Us Pray For Those Seriously Ill
 People will remain on the sick list for 2 weeks unless otherwise notified:

Anthony Tuzzo, Margaret Ng, Angelo Polcari,  Carol Skinner, Richard Carlson and Jack Salvatore

Vocation reflections

“John went throughout the whole region, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.”  He went to prepare the way of the Lord.  Today, God still calls men and women to proclaim this baptism and to prepare the world for that time when the Lord will come again. Is God calling you to do this as a priest, deacon or religious?

If so, please contact the Vocations Office at 973-497-4365 or by e-mail at platebri@rcan.org or visit our website at www.rcan.org.

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SCRIPTURE  REFLECTION

The Lord has done great things, leading his people out of slavery to the glorious splendor of Jerusalem.  Let us make ready the way of the Lord by abounding in love and in works of justice.

HOLY HOUR

Every Tuesday, the Blessed Sacrament is exposed in the church from 3 to 4 p.m.  It is an hour of prayer for the priests, DIVINE MERCY and religious men and women of the church.  Prayers are also said for an increase of vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

We invite you to come and spend time with the Lord for these intentions and for your personal requests.  The Holy Hour closes with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.  If you cannot join us in church, we ask you to join us from a quiet spot in your home and pray with us, asking the Lord to guide and protect our priests.

Church Decorations

Our Church will be beautifully decorated with fresh trees and Poinsettias for the Christmas Season.  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 your “FLOWER” envelope and deposit it in the Christmas Decoration Depository located in front by the altar.

Second Collection

Next weekend will be the collection for the Retirement Fund for Religious.  Embedded in The Rule of St. Benedict and The Way of St. Francis of Assisi is a plea for mercy in human affairs.  Religious women and men thank you for each merciful action you take on behalf of others and pray for your spiritual peace and simplicity of heart.  Retirement Fund grants are awarded to more than 560 religious institutes in 47 states, Washington, D.C., Guam and Puerto Rico.  Please give generously.

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Spiritual Bouquet

As we get ready to celebrate our Centennial year, our Centennial Committee is inviting all parishioners to set aside the year 2004 as a Jubilee year of prayer.  The tradition of a jubilee year comes from OLD TESTAMENT ORIGINS. The ultimate derivation of the word jubilee is disputed, but it is most probable that the Hebrew word jobel, to which it is traced, meant "a ram's horn", and that from this instrument, used in proclaiming the celebration, a certain idea of rejoicing was derived. Further, passing through the Greek iobelaios, or iobelos, the word became confused with the Latin jubilo, which means "to shout", and has given us the forms jubilatio and jubilaeum, now adopted in most European languages.

For the Israelites, the year of Jubilee was, in any case, preeminently a time of joy, the year of remission or universal pardon. "Thou shalt sanctify the fiftieth year," we read in Leviticus 25:10, "and shalt proclaim remission to all the inhabitants of thy land: for it is the year of jubilee."

 With this in mind, as pastor and Spiritual Shepherd of St. Anne’s, I am calling for a year of prayers during our Centennial. I ask that we pray for the continuing conversion of our parish and the world around us, to a life open to Christ.  I ask that this take the form of a spiritual bouquet to be offered during our Centennial Year.  Let it be a time of forgiveness and healing; a time filled with rejoicing and shouting for joy, the great love God has for his people and the desire he has for us to be healed. Let us pray, that at the conclusion of jubilee year, the words of Micha the prophet. “You have been told, O man, what is good, and what the  LORD requires of you: Only to do right and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God.” Mi 6:8, will be witnessed in our parish.

 The following bouquet is found in pews of the church. Please fill out and place in the collection basket or drop at the rectory. These will be brought up in the Offertory Procession of the January 11th opening Mass, and kept before the Blessed Sacrament during the Centennial Year.

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

The novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe will begin on December 4th and will take place in different houses of our community, which were very kindly donated.  The last day of the novena, December 12th, will be at the church at 6:30 pm.  Father Julio will celebrate with Mass in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe and also in memory of Francis Muzikar.  Free food and dance will follow in auditorium.

(La Novena a nuesta Señora de Guadalupe comenzará Jueves Diciembre 4, Se la celebrará en diferentes casas que fueron generosamente ofrecidas. El 12 de Diciembre es el último día y se lo celebrará en la iglesia a las 6:30 pm. El cual terminará en una misa celebrada por Padre Julio,  a nuestra virgencita Guadalupana  también en la misa pediremos por  el lamentable deceso de la señora:   Francis Muzikar. Después de misa compartiremos una linda fiesta con disc J y comida gratis.)

Advent Tradition of Blessed Wheat

As we prepare the coming of Our Savior, St. Anne’s has continued the European tradition of growing grains for the manger scene at home.  These grains will be distributed today at all Masses. 

On the Feast of St. Lucy (December 13th), they are to be planted in moist soil.  On Christmas Eve, the wheat gets cut and placed in the manger.

Monthly Memorial Mass

 At the request of many parishioners, we will begin a monthly memorial mass on the first Saturday of each month.  Those who are enrolled, will have their names recorded in our Parish Prayer Request Book located near the Blessed Sacrament.

Each month, this book will be brought up in the Offertory Procession and all will be invited to pray for these special intentions.  These intentions can be for the living or for the deceased.  Our Parish Family of St. Anne's wishes to share in your sorrow and in your prayer.  We are calling this “Our Lady of Fatima Society”.  Each person enrolled on a yearly basis, will share in the spiritual benefits and good works of the St. Joseph’s Morning Prayer Group, and in a monthly Mass and Rosary shared on the First Saturday of each month in honor of the Blessed Mother.

These Memorial Mass cards will be available at the rectory. You may see an example already set up in the Parish Prayer Request Book.

St. Anne Seniors

For more information on events below, contact Peggie Riscoe at 201-659-3930: (Open to all, sorry NO children.)

·          Dec. 31 - New Year’s Luncheon at Empire Club cost $29 (open bar, champagne, family-style dinner)

·          Senior Christmas Party has been moved to December 17th at the request of the Fiesta.

CCD News

·          Parent Club Meeting today 10-11:15 a.m.

·          Teacher’s Meeting 11:30-12:30

Dec. 14th - New Confirmation Parent Meeting 10-11:15 am. in Library.

Annulment Information

Candlelight Carol Sing

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Simbang Gabi

You’re invited to a Nine-Day Novena Mass in preparation for the coming of Jesus - beginning December 15th and ending December 23rd at 7:30 p.m. in church.  A pot luck dinner will be served in the auditorium after each Novena.

Coping With The Holidays

Hudson Hospice is sponsoring a presentation on how to “cope with the holidays” when you have lost a loved one.  How can I survive the holidays?  What can I do when it hurts? 

Learn how to: Enjoy the gifts of the season, Build in flexibility, Ask for change and accept help, Make changes in traditions, Relive the memories, Look for positives, Balance solitude and sociability, Eliminate unnecessary stress, Celebrate life, Help children during this time - on  Monday, December 15th from 7-8:30 p.m. at St. Mary’s Hospital, 308 Willow Ave., Hoboken.  Please call the hospice office to register: 201-433-6225!

Annual Gift Giving Tree

Here’s how it works:

·          Take a tag from the tree. Purchase the gift listed on the tag and return it during the month of December up to Christmas Eve. 

·          Return wrapped gift (with tag taped to it) in basket located in church vestibule.  Gift will be carried in Offertory Procession and placed under tree.

·          This tradition is a wonderful way to share your blessings with those less fortunate.  During the Holiday Season, just a little caring goes such a long way to bring a smile to someone’s face.

·          Many organizations benefit from this Gift Giving.  Some are: St. Anne’s parishioners who are in need, Anthony House, St. Joseph Home For The Blind, Hoboken Shelter for Men and Women, Babyland, Aides Patients, etc.

If you are available to help sort or distribute gifts during the week before Christmas, please contact Sister Alberta at 201-659-1794.

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