Dear Parishioners,

“Welcome one another, therefore, as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.”
(Romans 15:7)

This, the second Sunday of Advent, we continue our preparations for Christmas, the birth of Jesus our Savior. Advent in Latin means “an arrival.” The arrival of Christ into our world. We must prepare to give Him the welcome He deserves. Arrivals can be rather cold and depressing unless someone reaches out and offers us the gift of welcome. The gift of “welcome” is a great gift in itself. We have all experienced it at different times in our lives and know the warmth of the inner feeling that accompanies it. Being welcomed isn’t about deserving or earning or claiming our rightful place. It is about receiving a gift, wrapped in ribbons of non-judgmental grace and love. (Gifts usually come wrapped in attractive wrappings and ribbons). So during this Advent we ought to be busy preparing our gifts to welcome the greatest gift-giver of all: The God of Creation, wrapped in the flesh of a very human little baby. But our welcoming of Jesus is not where it ends, for Jesus, in return, welcomes us to enter with Him into the glory of God. This welcome is a gift wrapped in ribbons of grace and unconditional love. If we are ready to accept God’s gift of welcome, what better way to let our God know that we appreciate what He is doing for us than to reach out to some lonely or new people in our community and parish. Don't worry about their wrappings and ribbons welcome them as they come. Make an extra effort to seek out some forgotten relative, neighbor or friend perhaps, some one who recently lost a spouse, parent or child and share the sprit of Christmas with them.

Gracious God,
help us to welcome others
into our lives this Advent and Christmas.

God bless all of you,
Sister Patricia

Advent Reconciliation Service
TOMORROW NIGHT, Monday, December 10th

Tomorrow night our parish will take part in a 7:30 p.m. communal celebration of the sacrament with parishioners and priests from St. Veronica’s and Mater Dolorosa at Mater Dolorosa Church, 307 Willow Ave (and Miller), South San Francisco. If anyone wishes to participate, but doesn’t drive at night, please give S. Sheral a call and she’ll arrange a ride for you. There is also an opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation every Saturday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. in the reconciliation room off the vestibule of the church or by appointment with one of the priests.

We will be having Communion Services only on:
Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at 6:30 am.

We will continue to have 6:30 a.m. Mass on:
Tuesdays and Fridays.

As a Parish Community we pray …for our parish family that we become aware that Jesus lives within each of us. May we welcome all who enter His house just as He welcomes us.

WE CONGRATULATE THE NEWLY BAPTIZED

Luke Anthony Dimech,
Elena Victoria Avila
Vincent Vaughn Marucco and
Tessa Rae Marucco

We continue to ask each week that parishioners pray for the chronically ill of our parish. If you have a friend or loved one in need of our parish prayers please call the Rectory at 589-2800.

Our sincere sympathy to the familes of
Walter Nelson and
Marlene Leri
who died recently.

CONSOLATION MINISTRY

Saint Robert’s Grief Support Group will hold a meeting on December 15th in the Convent Chapel from 3:15 p.m. (before the 4:30 p.m. Mass). Anyone who is suffering from the loss of a loved one-spouse, sibling, child, parent, friend or relative is invited to come and pray share, comfort and be comforted. You are invited to bring a companion as for support and strength. God bless and comfort you in your sorrow. Call, Sister Patricia 589-0104 or any of the consolation Ministry Committee.

Consolation Ministry Committee meets after the 8:30 a.m. Mass in Mary’s Chapel on the first Wednesday of every month. If you are interested, you are welcome to join us.

AIDS LUNCH
December 12th

We are scheduled for the 2nd Wednesday of each month. If you can prepare a favorite cookie, snack or lunch item for 10 to 12 people, please drop it off at the Children's Chapel, in the back of Church, by 9 a.m. on December 12th. Please pack the items in a non-returnable container. Frozen items are ok!

Thanks to everyone who contributes!

Once again we begin our Advent preparations for the coming of Jesus. In the midst of all the hustle and bustle of our Christmas shopping, let us remember our sisters and brothers who are confined to their homes or care facilities due to illness or declining years. There are baskets on the altar steps in which you may place your unwrapped gifts of: slippers, white knee socks, lap robes, sweaters, nightgowns, pajamas or a card or note letting them know we care. We can bring a smile to their faces and warmth to their hearts.

CELEBRATE SIMGANG GABI OR MISA DE GALLO

A Filipino Tradition of Nine Day Novena of Masses In Preparation for Christmas at the following Masses:

Saturday, Dec. 15th at 8:30 a.m.
Sunday, December 16th at 7:30 a.m.
Monday through Saturday December 17th-December 22nd at 8:30 a.m.
Sunday, December 23rd at 7:30 a.m.

There will be a fellowship after all these Masses in the vestibule hosted by the Fil-Am. At the last day, December 23rd a breakfast will be served at the residence of Dada and Bob Gallagher, which is the house around the corner from the rectory.

ADOPT A FAMILY

Once again this year we will have an Adopt-a-Family tree in front of church for the Christmas Season. The tree will have paper ornaments profiling families that can use some help during this time of year. We’ve received our families from our own St. Vincent de Paul Society as well as Catholic Worker House in Redwood City, Child and Family Services of San Mateo County, and again this year we’ve gotten some families from our adopted parish in Mississippi.

If you have the means to help, look for the tree after Masses the weekends of Dec.1st & 2nd and 8th & 9th. We’ll need the gifts turned in by the weekend of Dec. 15th and 16th for distribution.

Thank you in advance for your consideration. If you have any questions, give one of us a call: Rob and Cathy Aveson, John and Eileen Grealish or John and Nancy Marty.

FIL-AM CHRISTMAS PARTY
December 15th

A buffet dinner and dance will be held on Saturday, December 15th, at 7pm in Hennessy Hall. The price is $20 per person. There will be free door prizes. Come and join the fun. For more information call Dada Gallagher or Encar Sancez.

Advent - A Time to Re-imagine and Change the World

"If you have come to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up in mine, then let us work together." ‒ABORIGINAL ACTIVIST SISTER

During Advent, we echo God's gift of Jesus to the world through the generous actions of holiday charity. Clothing drives, food collections and opportunities to donate money come from almost every faith organization throughout the country.

Yet, with all the opportunities to give. it can be easy to lose sight of why we give or if what we are giving is what Christ would ask of us. Advent calls every person of faith to re-imagine our world anew through eyes of hope and love, just as our world was transformed when Christ set it on fire with a new way of peace, compassion and justice.

What would it mean to re-imagine our world in such a way? And why is Advent such an important time to consider our own role in the preparation for Christ's coming?

Take a moment to reflect on all that you do or all that you hope to do in response to your call as a person of faith and a disciple of justice. We are each pulled in many directions, spreading ourselves thin by our many attempts to build a better tomorrow. The needs of our world demand attention and the pain of our most vulnerable populations cries out for relief.

As we consider the meaning of Advent, reflect for just a few minutes on what the message means to you, right now, in your own daily experiences. Ask yourself some of the following questions:

• What does the "common good" mean to me?

• How have I sought to address the needs of the world?

• What gifts and talents do I have that I can share with others?

• How are my resources, gifts and talents unique?

• How have those who are "needy" impacted my own life and heart?

• What are my own needs?

• Do I offer my needs to those whose needs I attempt to fulfill?

Wntten by NElWORII. Associates Kathleen Byrne and Jon Gromek.

SUNDAY COLLECTION

Thank you for your generous donation of $2,658.85
to our School, CCD and Confirmation Programs

    
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Saturday, 4:30 p.m. Mass

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