Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church 300 Fulton Street ▪ Redwood City, CA 94062 Tel. (650) 366-3802 ▪ Fax: (650) 366-1421 [email protected] [email protected] ▪ www.mountcarmel.org

Third Sunday of Advent + December 16, 2018 Parish Center Hours Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Parish Phones Parish Center Office: (650) 366-3802 Pastor’s Office: (650) 306-9583 Religious Education Office: (650) 368-8237 Mt. Carmel School Office: (650) 366-6127 Kids’ Place (Pre-School): (650) 366-6587 Parish Staff Pastor: Rev. Ulysses D’Aquila Deacon: Rev. Mr. Thomas J. Boyle Principal: Dr. Deborah Farrington Administrative Assistant: Ivette Meléndez Director of Religious Ed.: Magdalena Hernández Youth Confirmation: Judy Draper Director of Music: Bianca Remlinger Pre-School Director: Maureen Arnott

Mass Schedule Sunday: 8:00 am, 10:00 am, 12:00 pm (Español), and 5 pm Saturday: 8: 15 am and 5:00 pm Vigil Mass Monday to Friday 8:15 am Reconciliation/Confession Saturday 3:30 –4:30 pm

Baptisms / Bautismos Call parish at least two months in advance. Llame a la parroquia a lo menos dos meses antes.

The King of Israel, the L , is in your midst, you have no further misfortune to fear. — Zephaniah 3:15b

Weddings / Bodas Call parish at least six months in advance. Llame a la parroquia a lo menos seis meses antes.

Mission Statement Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish is a Christ-centered community in the Roman Catholic tradition. We try to share the Good News of salvation with others. As a diverse community, we value and respect individual differences. As God’s people, we gather in the Spirit to pray, to celebrate the sacraments, to teach, to learn, to console, to rejoice, to minister and to renew our faith with one another.

Notes from the Pastor

Notas del Párroco

You might remember that in the year 2004 some archaeologists in the Holy Land discovered a large cave which they claimed had been used by John the Baptist and his followers. The cave or cistern was very large with steps leading down to an underground well. Drawings on the walls of the cave depicted a man wearing animal skins with a staff, plus scenes from John the Baptist’s life and his death by beheading. The archaeologists also found shards of many small jugs that they believed were used in the baptismal ritual for which John was known. It seems that John the Baptist was a member of that mystical Jewish sect called the Essenes, the same people who produced the famous Dead Sea Scrolls. John’s message of repentance for sins and his call to conversion and baptism must have been extremely powerful because, according to the Gospels, thousands of people were traveling out to the desert from the surrounding villages and from the city of Jerusalem to hear John preach and to be baptized by him. And we also know that John, just like Jesus, had gathered around himself a great number of fervent disciples who even after his death remained faithful to John the Baptist’s memory. I suppose that at this distance in time, it’s difficult for us to imagine the stir and commotion caused by the presence of these holy men, first John the Baptist, and then Jesus himself. What exactly was it that the people were yearning for? What did they come to see or hear? Why did they submit to John’s baptism of purification? I’m not positive that I know the answer, but I do believe that at all times and in all places we humans have felt at the core of our beings that things aren’t right in the world, and that things aren’t right with us. We want to disburden ourselves of guilt, to feel cleansed of our sins, and to know that we are on the right course in our lives. For those of us who have experienced that terrible sensation of emptiness, that malaise, and for all of us who have questioned the value and meaning of life, we know very well what those disciples of John and then Jesus were seeking. This is what Jesus offered then, and it’s what he offers believers today: forgiveness of sin, healing of body and soul, purpose and meaning, and finally the hope of eternal life in the next world. That’s why John the Baptist called his followers to repentance, for repentance is how we prepare ourselves for Christ’s coming, by purifying our hearts and clearing the road of our life from every obstruction and obstacle that would prevent his timely arrival at our door. And when we “make the road straight,” we begin to see the light up ahead and to discern our true destination. Particularly in this season of Advent we should more than ever commit ourselves to living in such a way that we are open and ready to receive our Lord Jesus when he comes. So let us not become discouraged; and let us rejoice that God has chosen us to be his people, to live in his love, his hope, and his promise of life without end. Fr. Ulysses.

En el año 2004 algunos arqueólogos en la Tierra Santa descubrieron una gran cueva que según ellos había sido utilizado por Juan el Bautista y sus seguidores. La cueva o cisterna era muy grande, con escaleras que condujeron a un pozo subterráneo. Dibujos en las paredes de la cueva representaban un hombre vestido en pieles de animales, además de escenas de la vida de Juan el Bautista y su muerte por decapitación. Los arqueólogos también encontraron fragmentos de muchas pequeñas jarras que creían que fueron utilizados en el ritual de bautismo por el cual Juan el Bautista era conocido. Parece que Juan el Bautista era un miembro de una secta judía mística llamada los esenios, los mismos que produjeron los famosos Rollos del Mar Muerto. El mensaje de Juan de arrepentimiento por los pecados y su llamada a la conversión y el bautismo debe haber sido muy potente, ya que, según los Evangelios, miles de personas estaban viajando al desierto de Jerusalén y de los pueblos alrededores para escuchar su predicación y ser bautizado por él. Y también sabemos que Juan, al igual que Jesús, habían reunido en torno a sí un gran número de discípulos fervientes, que incluso después de su muerte se mantuvieron fieles a la memoria de Juan el Bautista. Supongo que a esta distancia en el tiempo, es difícil para nosotros imaginar la conmoción causada por la presencia de estos hombres santos, primero Juan el Bautista, y luego Jesús. ¿Qué fue lo que la gente estaba anhelando? ¿Por qué vinieron a ver o a escuchar a él? ¿Por qué se someten al bautismo? No estoy seguro, pero creo que en todo momento y en todo lugar hemos sentido en el núcleo de nuestro ser que las cosas no están bien en el mundo, y que las cosas no están bien con nosotros. Queremos desbordar a nosotros mismos de la culpa, sentirnos limpios de nuestros pecados, y saber que estamos en el camino correcto en la vida. Para aquellos de nosotros que hemos experimentado esa terrible sensación de vacío, del malestar, y por todos los que han puesto en duda el valor y el sentido de la vida, sabemos muy bien lo que esos discípulos de Juan y luego Jesús estaban buscando. Esto es lo que Jesús ofreció entonces, y es lo que ofrece a los creyentes hoy en día: el perdón de los pecados, la sanación del cuerpo y alma, propósito y significado, y, finalmente, la esperanza de la vida eterna en el mundo venidero. Es por eso que Juan llamó a sus seguidores al arrepentimiento, por que el arrepentimiento es como nos preparamos para la venida de Cristo, mediante la purificación de nuestros corazones y al despejar el camino de nuestra vida de cada obstáculo. Cuando seguimos el buen camino, podemos ver la luz por delante y discernir nuestro destino. Sobre todo en este tiempo de Adviento debemos más que nunca comprometemos a vivir de tal manera que estamos abiertos y listos para recibir a nuestro Señor Jesucristo cuando venga. Así que no nos desanimamos; y alegrémonos de que Dios nos ha escogido para ser su pueblo, para vivir en su amor, su esperanza, y su promesa de una vida sin fin. Padre Ulises.

Archdiocesan Annual Appeal 2018. A grateful thanks to all of you who have contributed for the Archdiocesan Annual Appeal. We encourage those who have not to consider helping us meet our goal of $72,821 by the end of the year. The amount we now owe is

$6,420. May God bless you for your constant generosity to our parish.

Father Ulysses. Today’s Second Collection

is for our Liturgy Fund.

This collec on cover the expenses of our Music Ministry, including salaries, microphones and other equipment and the music books. It also help us to pay for such liturgical needs as Altar Bread and Wine, altar server vestment, candles and Church décor .

ELECTRONIC DONATIONS VANCOPAYMENTS.COM is an agency created to facilitate the process of donations, if you wish to make your donations to the Church electronically or by Credit Card, please see our website, www.mountcarmel.org press Donate and follow the easy instructions. Thank You, God r ewar d your gener osity.

CHRISTMAS MASSES Monday Dec. 24 4:00 PM Family Mass 10:00 PM Evening Mass Tuesday December 25 10:00 AM Mass in English 12:00 PM Misa en Español

CHRISTMAS EVE FAMILY MASS

Monday, December 24th, at 4:00 p.m. Children in grades K - 5 are invited to participate in the entrance procession. They will dress in a provided costume and carry an ornament or card. Children who participate must arrive at church that day by 3:30 p.m. If your child/ren would like to participate, please contact Karen Sammons at [email protected] by December 19th. Please include your child's name and grade.

The Giving Tree

We have installed our annual Giving Tree in the vestibule of the church. If you would like to help some child have a good Christmas, please consider taking one of the cards from the tree, purchase an appropriate gift for the age of the child – boy or girl – that is written on the card, and then return the gift – unwrapped – to the church. Thank you for your kindness and generosity.

Next Week’s Second Collection Our Second Collection Retirement for Religious.

will

be

for

HOMEBOUND MINISTRY If someone in your family is homebound, lives nearby and is unable to attend Mass, but would like to receive the Eucharist, please contact Julie O’Leary at (650) 361-8681. Communion ministers are needed to bring the Eucharist to homebound parishioners. Please call Julie O’Leary if you would like to participate in this worthy ministry.

Saturday, December 15, 2018 5:00 PM Gilda Lina Sanchez † Sunday, December 16, 2018 08:00 AM Gene and Loraine Kitzke † 10:00 AM Fr. Louis Liberati, SDB † 12:00 PM Franky Barrientos (Int.) 5:00 PM Pro – Populo Monday, December 17, 2018 8:15 AM for the poor souls in Purgatory † Tuesday, December 18, 2018 8:15 AM Shirley Anderson † Wednesday, December 19, 2018 8:15 AM Imelda Pham † Thursday, December 20, 2018 8:15 AM Our Pastor (B-Day Int.) Friday, December 21, 2018 8:15 AM Thien To † Saturday, December 22, 2018 8:15 AM Lawrence Co †

THIS WEEK AT MT. CARMEL

Sunday, December 16, 2018 Children’s Liturgy 10:00 AM Church Confirmation Session 5:00 PM Church/Large Hall Monday, December 17, 2018 Grupo Carismático (Mesa Directiva) 7:00 PM

Tuesday, December 18, 2018 School Xmas Play 7:00 PM Men’s Basketball 8:30 PM Wednesday, December 19, 2018 Posada

6:00 PM

Old Chapel

Large Hall Large Hall All Facilties

Thursday, December 20, 2018 Pre-K Xmas Show 6:00PM Large Hall Friday, December 21, 2018 Voluntarios Guadalupanos 6:00 PM Small Hall Saturday, December 22, 2018 Simbang Gabi 5:00 PM Church/Small Hall

El Señor será el rey de Israel en medio de ti y ya no temerás ningún mal. — Sofonías 3:15b

SAINTS AND SPECIAL OBSERVANCES

Sunday: Third Sunday of Advent; Las Posadas begin Monday: of the Third Week of Advent Tuesday: International Migrants Day Wednesday of the Third Week of Advent Thursday: of the Third Week of Advent Friday: St. Peter Canisius; Winter begins Saturday: of the Third Week of Advent

GOOD GRIEF MINISTRY The loss of every loved one creates many changes, challenges and much pain. “Good Grief”, an ongoing support group, meets every Thursday at the Parish Center, from 6:00-7:30 p.m. There will be no meeting on 12/20 and 12/27 we will return on 1/3/2019.

Welcome Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Registration Form The following confidential information will be entered in our parish data system. It is only for the purpose of knowing and serving you better. Name (s): ______________________________ Address: _______________________________ City:_________________ zip:______________ Telephone:_____________________________ e-mail:_________________________________ Others in your household:________________ Number of adults over 18 years of age: _____ Number of children under 18 years of age: ___

OUR LADY OF MT. CARMEL #919128 300 Fulton St. Redwood City, CA 94062 CONTACT PERSON Ivette Meléndez, Bulletin Editor: 650-366-3802 Fr. Ulysses D’Aquila, Pastor: 650-306-9583 EMAIL ADDRESS [email protected] SOFTWARE Microsoft ®Publisher 2007 Adobe®Acrobat®X Window7® PRINTER Toshiba e studio 3055c TRANSMISSION TIME By 11:00 a.m. On Wednesday SUNDAY OF PUBLICATION December 16, 2018 NUMBER OF PAGES SENT 1 through 6 SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS