Our Lady of Sorrows Church
What a lesson!
From the Pastor’s Desk
My Dear People:
I am overwhelmed with the birthday cards,
promises of prayers and Masses, cakes,
cookies and gift cards that I received this
past Monday on my birthday. I must say that
due to the quantity of gifts I would lose much
sleep if I tried to personally answer all of the
good wishes and greetings you have given
me. How can a priest be so blessed to have
such a loving parish?! Permit me to say:
“A million thanks to each one
of you who celebrated my
birthday in any way.”
I love the statement of the lady who saw me
in the the Chapel of Our Savior: she, from the
back, thought she would wish me a Happy
Birthday, but then thought… “I will just stay
right here and pray for him!” Perfect. I love
for people to pray for me.
The great holiday of Thanksgiving is this
week. It is such a reminder of our obligations
in life. We have received such a gift from
God-to live as long as He lives, and His plan
is that this eternal life be in perfect happiness
with Him. He has proven Himself to be such
a loving and forgiving God, while still being
the One who is King of Justice.
Being grateful to one another is like the air in
the tires of our ride through life. We all need
to be appreciated; God “feels” the same way.
The Gospel of St. Luke tells us of the ten
lepers, nine of whom were healed but did not
go back and thank Jesus. We can almost
hear the emotion in between the lines as
Jesus says to the one who returned to thank
Him:
“Where are the other nine?
Were not ten made clean?”
He knew where they were and He knew He
had cleaned all ten of their leprosy. Jesus
was making a point that when we receive
things from Him, He expects to be thanked.
The whole country stops this time of the year
and with church services and prayers gives
thanks to God for this country, for our
families, and for all the blessings of life.
There will be three Masses on Thanksgiving
Day. Fr. Booth will not be here, as he went
to see his parents for Thanksgiving. I
personally feel the need to offer the 6:30 and
10:00 while Fr. Jaya will offer the 7:45 a.m. I
feel I cannot thank God enough; He has
literally spoiled me…and this parish has
helped God do it!
It is difficult to believe that for over thirty
years this “God-fearing country” has
legalized the killing of the unborn infant.
Now Congress, in preparing a Senate and a
House bill for government-paid health care
with our money, actually plans to use our tax
money to pay for abortions.
The American Bishops have asked all
Catholics to email or fax a letter to their
senators and representatives objecting to a
bill that would have our tax money pay for
abortions. All information can be found on
Congress website at www.house.gov and
www.senate.gov. This is so urgent that the
mail might be too slow.
Wishing you the best for the holidays with a
God-centered thanksgiving, I am faithfully
yours,
With prayers and blessings,
Fr. Muller

Mass Schedule for Thanksgiving Day is:
6:30 a.m.
7:45 a.m.
10:00 a.m.
MASS INTENTIONS
Monday, November 23 Special Intention
Don Smith
Theresa Cusimano
Tuesday, November 24 Jim Meehan
Spec. Int. of Michael Sicola
Raymond Von Hagel
Wednesday, November 25 Kitty La Susa
John Holt
Mary Egan
Thursday, November 26 Donors to the OLS School
Foundation
Elizabeth Saia
Anthony Smeraglia
Friday, November 27 Lenora Katherine Rose Saia
James A. Reynolds
Special Intention of Bill Barranco
Saturday, November 28 Special Intention
Sue Dominick
Pete Giangrosso
Sunday, November 29 People of the Parish
Anthony V. Rosato, Sr.
Marvic Lara
PRAY FOR VOCATIONS
Tending the needs of others is a gift of service to God
as well as those in need. Imagine that you chose to
serve God as a deacon, priest, brother, or sister.
What do you think/feel about this choice? (Matthew
25:31-46) For those in need of the basic necessities of
life, may we respond generously as we would to
Christ.
Please join us on Tuesday,
December 1, at 11:00 a.m.
in the Parish Hall. There
will be Mass, followed by
lunch and bingo.
St. Ann’s Members! Remember our
Christmas Party is on December 2 at 10:30 a.m.
in the Family Life Center. Please bring $10 for
lunch if you have made a reservation. You may
also bring your donation for Father Jaya’s school
at this time.
_______________________________________
Please remember to bring extra canned goods
and nonperishable items for our food baskets for
the months of November and December, in the
spirit of Thanksgiving and Christmas, to help with
families who are in need of food. All food goes to
the Catholic Center of Concern for distribution.
_______________________________________
The annual Breakfast with Santa will be held
on Saturday, December 12, in the Family Life
Center. Seating times will be at 8:00 a.m. or
10:00 a.m. Tickets will be $6.00 per adult, $4.00
per child, and kids three and under are free.
Raffle tickets are $0.50. No pictures will be taken
by OLS this year, but families can bring their own
camera to take pictures with Santa. Come enjoy
food, arts and crafts, raffle prizes, and fellowship
with the OLS community. If you have questions
or are interested in registration, please contact
Rachel Briese by Friday, December 4, at 215-
8455 or rachelbriese@hotmail.com.
_______________________________________
Birmingham Cursillo Community will be
having our THANKSGIVING ULTREYA on
Tuesday, November 24, starting with Mass at
6:00 p.m. (note the time change to 6:00 p.m., not
the usual 6:30 p.m.) in the Parish Hall. After
Mass, we will proceed downstairs for a fun-filled
spiritual evening of dinner, prayer and witness
talk. We will also welcome the new Woman
Cursillistas just off the Women’s Cursillo
Weekend #119. Please bring a pot-luck dish, or
grocery store item to share. Looking forward to
seeing you at Thanksgiving Ultreya. DeColores!
For more information please contact Patrick
Crabtree at 205-960-3991 or email at
pcrabtree@crabtreecomputer.com
_______________________________________
Blood Drive will be held on Sunday, December
6, from 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. in the Parish
Hall. Breakfast will be served to the donors and
their families.
Ave Marie Shoppe will be open every Sunday
until Christmas. Come by and pick up your
advent candles and wreaths. The first Sunday of
Advent is November 29.
_______________________________________
OLS Annulment Education and Support
would like to invite everyone interested in
learning more about the Declaration of Nullity,
commonly know as Annulments, to join us
Thursday, December 3, at 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
in Room 102 of the Family Life Center. This
event is open to everyone who is interested in
learning more about the Declaration of Nullity. If
you are a divorced Catholic, know a divorced
Catholic or just want to learn more about what
the Church teaches about Annulments, we
encourage you to join us and learn more about
the Declaration of Nullity. Anne Marie Verchot,
RCIA Director at Our Lady of Sorrows and a
Diocesan Trained Advocate, will be leading the
meeting. For additional information, contact
David Asbach at 383-5634 or daa28@aol.com or
Anne Marie Verchot at 482-8627 or
verchot@bellsouth.net
_______________________________________
From the Music Director’s Desk:
Advent season will be starting on Sunday,
November 29. I want to bring to your attention
some changes in the music. During the four
weeks: The Kyrie will be sung, and the
eucharistic acclamations will be from the “Mass
of Hope” by B. Farrell (Music Issue Nos. 892,
895, and 897). We will sing an Advent setting of
the Lamb of God by K. Keil (Today’s Missal No.
37).
_______________________________________
Benedictine Sister to lead Advent Retreat
on December 4-6, Sister Therese Haydel, OSB,
will present an Advent Retreat at the Benedictine
Sisters Retreat Center in Cullman, AL. Retreat
presentations will be interspersed with ample
time for silence, personal prayer, and liturgical
celebration with the monastic community. The
Sacrament of Reconciliation will be celebrated. It
starts at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, December 4, and
the retreat will end after lunch on Sunday,
December 6. The cost is $195.00 per person for
a private room, $175.00 per person for a shared
room. For more information call 256-734-8302.
Chapel of Our Savior
The Chapel needs permanent Committed
Adorers for:
Monday at 2:00 a.m. (to share hour)
Monday at 3:00 p.m. (to share hour)
Tuesday at 3:00 a.m.
Our goal is to have at least two people on each
hour. These are the hours needed, but do select
an hour that best fits your schedule. Please call
Ida Wilker at 879-7040 or Mary Claire Brouillette
at 871-2909.
“Through perpetual adoration a parish gives the
King all the love He truly deserves. This is why
today the liturgy for Christ the King begins with
this prayer: ‘Worthy is the Lamb to receive
honor, glory and praise’ (Rev. 5:12).” Fr. John
Hardon
_______________________________________
High School Youth Group meets every
Sunday night from 7:00 p.m. until 8:45 p.m. We
start in the Parish Hall with dinner and then move
to the FLC youth room for fun and prayer. All
high school students are invited.
High School PSR and Youth Group will NOT be
meeting next Sunday, November 29.
Middle School Youth Group will meet this
Monday night 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the
Family Life Center youth room. Snacks will be
provided.
We will be making a pilgrimage to the Shrine of
the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville on
Saturday, December 12, with the youth group
from St. Francis Xavier. Check upcoming
bulletins for more information.
PSR class for high school students meets
Sunday morning in the FLC youth rooms from
10:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. Breakfast is provided.
Please remember to bring your journal.