ST.

DAMIEN OF MOLOKAI CATHOLIC

PARISH
722 WEST MAIN STREET MONONGAHELA, PENNSYLVANIA 15063
Parish Office: 724-258-7742 Parish Fax: 724-258-8733 Madonna Catholic Regional School: 724-258-3199
Website: stdamienofmolokai.org Email: stdamienparish@verizon.net
Diocesan Victim Hotline: 1-888-808-1235

DECEMBER 10, 2017 - SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT

PASTORAL STAFF MISSION STATEMENT
Fr. William R. Terza ............................................. Pastor St. Damien of Molokai is a Catholic parish family which recognizes and
stdamienterzab@verizon.net embraces the gifts and talents of our faith filled people. The life of our
Deacon Al Poroda.............................Permanent Deacon patron saint inspires us to lead lives of love, hope and charity. Moving
DeaconAl611@gmail.com or 724-258-7742 x 13 forward, we will grow through our liturgy, teachings and outreach to all,
Mrs. Kathryn Wray ............................. Director of Music with the help of God and the gifts received through the Holy Eucharist.
kfwray188@gmail.com
Mrs. Patricia Forsyth ................. Asst. Director of Music
pattyforsyth@comcast.net
Mrs. Kathy Miller ............................ Lead Administrator
kmiller@madonnacatholic.com
Mrs. Kathy Miller ................................. Faith Formation
kmiller@madonnacatholic.com
Phyllis DeMedio .............................................. Secretary
stdamiendemediop@verizon.net
Peggy Romeo ................................................... Secretary
stdamienromeop@verizon.net
Helena Glaneman .......... Safe Environment Coordinator
Alexsei521@yahoo.com or 724-503-7325
ST. DAMIEN FINANCIAL COUNCIL
Gloria DeRosa Alfred Galilei Steven Markovich
Antoinette Moffit Richard Pantaleo Randall Rodriguez
ST. DAMIEN PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL
Joyce Amatangelo Kathleen Barkey Thomas Caudill
Nancy Cole Sandra Craig Kris DAndrea
James Greaves Thomas Kustron Denise Majoris
Anna Markovich Juliann Romasco Walter Tabory
INTERIM MASS SCHEDULE
Saturday Vigil .................................................. 4:00 p.m.
Sunday ........................................8:30 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.
MondayFriday ............................................... 8:00 a.m.
SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION
Tuesday................................................... 8:309:00 a.m.
Saturdays ................................................ 3:003:30 p.m.
All Masses & Reconciliation are at St. Damien
of Molokai Church 722 West Main Street
BAPTISMS: 1st & 3rd Sundays at 12:15 p.m. and 4th
Sunday at Mass.
WEDDINGS: Please make arrangements by calling the
Parish Office 6 months in advance.
Page Two St. Damien of Molokai Parish, Monongahela
December 10, 2017
Second Sunday in Advent
Saturday, December 9, 2017
4:00pm Leona Hudak
(Daughter, Marlene & Rick)
Sunday, December 10, 2017
8:30am Antoinette Dipaola (Elaine Niccolai)
11:00am Living and Deceased Members
of the Parish
Monday, December 11, 2017
8:00am Anne Cichy
(Son, Dennis Cichi & Family)
Tuesday, December 12, 2017
8:00am Charles R. Doty (Sister, Mabel Anctil)
Wednesday, December 13, 2017
8:00am Loretta Amoroso
(Don Amoroso & Family)
Thursday, December 14, 2017
8:00am Ferrando & Venturini Families
(Ann, Alice, Jack & Families)
Friday, December 15, 2017
8:00am Fr. Paul Leger (Nephew, Gregory Leger)
Saturday, December 16, 2017
4:00pm John & Betty Hearn
(William & Rosemary Hearn)
Sunday, December 17, 2017
8:30am Agnes Simon (Suzie & Dave Simon)
11:00am Living and Deceased Members
of the Parish
Rest In Peace
In the charity of your prayers we kindly ask that
you please pray for the repose of the soul of Alex
DeRosa, brother of Germaine Sickels of our par-
ish. May God grant him eternal rest, may Perpet-
ual Light shine upon his soul and may all the
souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy
of God, Rest In Peace .
Christmas Flower Memorial 2017
DUE THIS MONDAY
Envelopes for Christmas Flower memo-
rial donations have been placed at the
doors of the church this weekend. Please return
your Christmas Flower donations by Monday,
December 11th. This will insure that your do-
nation and memorial will be placed in the Flow-
er Memorial publication.
ST. DAMIEN FAITH FORMATION
Dec. 10: 9:30-10:45am Grades 1-8 &
Decision Point
Dec. 17: 9:30-10:45am Grades 1-8 &
Confirmation
Dec. 24: CHRISTMAS VACATION
Dec. 31: CHRISTMAS VACATION
OplatkiChristmas Wafers are
available at the Parish Office.
The requested donation for
Oplatki is $3.00 per package.
Thank you.
DONT FORGET THE
ST. DAMIEN FOOD BANK
December pick-up date is:
Wednesday, December 13th
from 10am-2pm and 5-7pm
Items needed for the month of
December are:
Stove Top Stuffing, Canned Cranberries,
Mashed Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes,
Toilet Paper & Paper Towels
*Please be sure to check expiration dates on
items given to the Food Bank, Thank you!
Tuesday Morning Bible Study (Parish Center)
Every Tuesday morning from 11:00am-12Noon)
Servants of the Little Way (Chapel) The first Tues-
day of every month at 6:00pm.
Holy Hour(Church) The third Wednesday of each
month @ 7:00pm
Eucharistic Adoration (Chapel) This Friday from
12:00noon6:00pm. Call 724-747-7071 for sched-
uling.
Catholic Mens Fellowship The 1st & 3rd Satur-
day of each month at 7:30-8am at St. Damien for
Adoration, to St. Francis for 8:30am Mass and then
to breakfast.
Holy Name Society (Church) Second Sunday of
each month with Rosaries at 8am and then to the par-
ish park for the meeting after the 8:30am Mass.
 St. Damien of Molokai Parish, Monongahela Page Three

FIRST RECONCILIATION ~ DECEMBER 11TH

On Monday, December 11th beginning at 7:00pm the second grade students and their families
will gather for the celebration of First Reconciliation. As our young people come to the sacra-
ment for the very first time we offer them our prayer and support in this significant moment.
May they always know and celebrate the healing power of Jesus Christ and the forgiveness of
sin through the sacrament. We thank Mrs. Miller, Mrs. Weldon and Ms. Wray who work to-
gether to oversee sacramental preparation for the second grade.

The Light is On for You THIS WEEK!

This Wednesday, December 13 from 6:00pm to 9:00pm the Sacra-
ment of Reconciliation will be available in every parish in the Dio-
cese. Now is the time. God is waiting to offer you forgiveness, heal-
ing and peace. The light is on and the confessional door will be
open.

Reconciliation/Christmas Schedules:
Advent Reconciliation Services:
Monday, Dec. 114:00pm Christmas Mass ScheduleSt. Damien
St. Damien of Molokai
Dec. 24th4:00pmChristmas Eve Vigil
Tuesday, Dec. 12 4:00pm
Dec. 25thMidnight Mass
Mary, Mother of the Church (Charleroi)
Dec. 25th10:00amChristmas Day
Thursday, Dec. 146:30pm
Our Lady of the Valley (Donora)

Christmas Mass ScheduleDonora Christmas Mass ScheduleCharleroi

Our Lady of the Valley
Dec. 24th5:00pm Christmas Eve Vigil
Dec. 24th10:00pmChristmas Eve Vigil
Dec. 25th9:00amChristmas Day
Dec. 25th11:00amChristmas Day
Mary, Mother of the Church
Dec. 24th5:00pmChristmas Eve Vigil
Dec. 24th7:00pmChristmas Eve Vigil
Dec. 25th 9:00am Christmas Day
Dec. 25th11:00amChristmas Day

Advent Giving
We commend the generosity of so many St. Damien Parishioners who donated gift cards and
made monetary donations to the St. Damiens Food Bank. Our parish will offer help and
support to many families this holiday season and throughout the winter because
of your charitable works.
God Bless You one and All!
Any items that need to be brought in yet should be brought to the parish office no later than
Monday at Noon, as they will be packing Monday evening to distribute on Wednesday.

He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. (Mark 1:8)

Thank you Jesus, for the gift of the Holy Spirit! Lord, help me grow my faith.
Page Four St. Damien of Molokai Parish

Prepare the Way of the Lord Advent is our annual time of anticipation
and expectation for the coming of Jesus at Christmas and, ultimately, at
the end of time. During this season we make many preparations so that we
can be ready to meet the Lord. We prepare our hearts through prayer and
reconciliation to be a fitting place of welcome for Jesus to dwell. We also
prepare our homes as places of warm hospitality to welcome neighbors
and strangers alike with a loving and generous heart. This Advent, we also find ourselves an-
ticipating the changes that will soon be upon as part of the On Mission for The Church Alive!
initiative. How are you preparing for the new realities in our parishes? Will your heart meet
these changes with resistance or with the resolve to do what it takes to foster new life in your
community and help grow the Church? Take some time this Advent to prepare the way of the
Lord as he comes to make us and our Church ever more alive! Visit onmission-
churchalive.org to learn more and to stay informed.

Advent Reflections
Please join us at St Damien of Molokai Parish for a rest from hectic holiday
preparations. Let us together prepare ourselves for the true meaning of
Christmas , the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ thru prayer, music and quiet
reflection. Join us on Tuesday, December 12th and Wednesday, Decem-
ber 20th at 7 pm in the Church.

CHRISTMAS NUT ROLL SALEORDERS DUE MONDAY, 12/11

Orders are now being taken for our Christmas Nut, Apricot and Poppy Seed rolls.
They are $13.00 each and orders are due by December 11th. Order forms are near
the doors of the Church, or you may call the Parish Office to order.

2017 TOYS FOR TOTSPick up this weekend

Its that time of the year again! The Toy Box Toys for Tots has been placed in the
church. Please bring all your new toys to donate for children up to age 12 and
place them in the box prior to pickup on December 10th.

Keep Christ in ChristmasThroughout the weeks leading up to Christmas or until sold out,
the Knights of Columbus will be selling religious Christmas cards in Fr. Leger Hall before
and after weekend Masses. Please purchase and use religious cards and help promote the true
meaning of Christmasthe birth of Christ. If you have any questions, contact Chuck Brooks
at 724-255-2744.

The Knights of Columbus thank you for all your support by donating shoes. This is the
LAST CALL for shoes. This weekend will be the last opportunity to clean out your closets of
all the old shoes that just arent needed anymore but will benefit third world country citizens.
Please make this your Christmas gift to the Knights who will in turn make the gift to those in
need. May God bless you for all your support. Place the shoes in the collection boxes in the
back of the Church.
 St. Damien of Molokai Parish Page Five

Offertory Report 12/03/2017 Pastoral Impressions

Offertory Mass By Fr. Bill
4:00pm 2145.00 Our Attendance
8:30am 1978.00 Offering ONCE EVERY SIX YEARS!
Back
11:00am 2163.00 To 4:00pm 179
Mail In 1200.00 God 8:30am 156 I write this Sunday to answer any
11:00am 253 question that might arise about our
Total $ 7,486.00
obligation to attend Mass on the fourth Sunday
Weekly Offertory Goal Total 588 of Advent, since Christmas begins in the even-
$7,500 ing of that day. This timing only happens once
every six years and it DOES NOT remove our
obligation to attend Mass for BOTH days. A
HELP is needed for decorating the church pastor recently published in his bulletin that he
for Christmas on Thursday, December was interpreting cannon law and allowing peo-
21st at 6pm. ple to be dispensed from obligation on the
fourth Sunday of Advent.
We are asking for a few men and teenagers
to gather and assemble all the needed trees, We have received communication from the Dio-
decorations, etc. It wont be necessary for cese that only the bishop is the interpreter of law
them to stay the whole in the diocese, could grant such a dispensation,
time. Others will be staying and that he has NOT granted such a dispensa-
to continue with the church tion. To do so would minimize the importance
decorating. Thank you for of the celebration of the Fourth Sunday of Ad-
vent as an important part of the liturgical year
your time and help during
and should be celebrated as such.
this season!
How many times in our lives are we faced with
attending two important events on succeeding
Madonna Catholic Regional School days( a wedding, a birthday, an anniversary, a
731 Chess St. football game, etc.) and we make sure we are at
Monongahela, PA both. This celebration in our liturgical year falls
under the same umbrella. We must arrange our
schedules so that we can celebrate both the
Fourth Sunday of Advent and the solemnity of
MCRS, located at 731 Chess St. Monongahe-
Christmas. Mass times for the Fourth Sunday of
la, boasts students in Preschool Grade
Eight with a dedicated staff and active vol- Advent are the normal times of Sat. 4:00pm,
unteers. For information about MCRS, up- and Sunday morning at 8:30 & 11:00 am. The
coming events or fundraisers, please call 724 masses for Christmas begin with the 4:00pm
-258-3199. Mass Sunday evening, MIDNIGHT, and 10:00
am on Christmas morning. Please attend one of
2018 Lottery Calendar tickets are available the three masses scheduled for each celebration.
NOW. The $25.00 ticket gives you 365 (The 4:00pm mass Christmas eve DOES NOT
chances to win! Dont miss out on your favor- satisfy your obligation for BOTH days).
ite numbers!
It is a beautiful time to celebrate our faith and
Enjoy Coupon Books - $30.00 and KidStuff we have the opportunity and privilege to at-
Coupon Books - $25.00 are available while
supplies last. Great money savers and great tend mass two days in a row. Many blessings
gifts! for all!