ST.

COLUMBA CATHOLIC CHURCH December 4, 2011 Second Sunday of Advent

SAN DIEGO

Giving Tree
Once again we have a Giving Tree in the vestibule of the church if you would like to make a monetary donation. All donations benefit our Matthew 25 program, a program St. Columba started over 20 years ago that supports the poor children in the mission parish of Cristo Redentor in Tijuana, Mexico. Please make your check payable to: St. Columba Church. Thank you for your support of this program!

Pastors Corner ~
ADVENT SYMBOLS AND THEIR MEANING The ADVENT WREATH symbolizes the cycle of life. The four candles (for the four weeks of Advent) symbolize the Light of Christ. Candle of HOPE this is a reminder that God will bring to fulfillment his divine plan, so that whatever uncertainties this world experiences, Christ comes to assure us that He is still the Lord of life, and He comes to give us life in its fullness. Candle of LOVE God is Love and those who find God experience the true meaning of love, which finds its highest and most sublime expression in Christs self-offering to save us. Candle of JOY this is the fruit of having God in our life. He gives meaning to our existence, and that gives joy to our life. Candle of PEACE Jesus is the Prince of Peace. His coming is also the coming of peace for those who accept His message and way of life. The PURPLE color stands for preparation with repentance and humility. The LITURGICAL CALENDAR, which starts with Advent, is the calendar used by the Catholic Church. It is patterned after the Life of Christ, just as St. Paul tells us in his writings, It is no longer I that lives but Christ living in me. The Liturgical cycle is not a mere repetition of activities every year. We have to understand time in two ways: Chronos, or linear time, which is like passing time from one moment to another; and Kairos, or spiraling time, which leads to the fulfillment of Gods plan in Christ. PREPAREDNESS, READINESS, WATCHFULNESS are the dominant themes in the liturgy for Advent. These themes imply many other necessary dispositions like repentance, renewal of hearts, fixing the highs and lows of life (according to John the Baptist), embracing the life of virtues of faith, hope and love. The liturgical messages should make us ready to meet Christ in all ways possible: in the liturgy and sacraments, in life or even in death.

(Immaculate Conception & Christmas Masses)

Attn: Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers...Volunteer sign-up sheets are available in the sacristy for the Immaculate Conception Mass and the Christmas Eve and Christmas morning Masses. Please sign-up at your preferred Mass. Thank you for your help each year with these special Masses!

December Schedules

Mass Intentions for the Week

MONDAY, DECEMBER 5 6:30 am Communion Service 8:15 amME Charles Harrington TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6 6:30 amME Perfecto Espino, Jr. 8:15 am Communion Service WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7 6:30 amAA Donors Intention 8:15 am Communion Service THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8Immaculate Conception 6:30 amAA Int. of Kenneth Goldkamp 8:15 amME Joseph Colmie, & People of the Parish 9:15 amEC Int. of Mario B. Icban & family 6:00 pmME Brigido & Justina Herrera FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9 6:30 am Communion Service 8:15 amME Gwyn Sheehy SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10 8:15 amME Carmen Fabio 5:30 pmME Ernesto Etrata SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11Third Sunday of Advent 7:30 amEC Art & Millie Scarborough 9:30 amME Int. of the Tom Pekny family 11:00 amDF People of the Parish 5:30 pmME Morteza Siry
AA-Fr. Abraham Ahn, EC-Fr. Edward Corcoran, DF-Fr. Dennis Flynn, ME-Fr. Mario Elias, RK-Fr. Rex Kintanar

Buy Scrip during Sunday coffee and donuts!

Stop by the hall after the 7:30 & 9:30 Masses to purchase select gift cards like Walmart, Target, Arco, Vons, and Starbucks. Next Sunday we will also have Amazon.com cards. This is an easy way to raise funds for the school. Thank you for your ongoing support!

SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT

DECEMBER 4, 2011

Thank You! Christmas Flowers

If you would like to honor a family member or friend by making a flower offering, special envelopes are in the pews. Your donations help adorn the church with beautiful poinsettias for Christmas. The Mens Club would like to thank all parishioners for their generous support of the Thanksgiving Basket project for needy families. We collected $580.00 and purchased fresh produce and turkeys. Twelve baskets were distributed. The collection will continue through Sunday, December 18th, and baskets will be distributed at Christmas. If you are aware of parishioners in need, please contact the rectory or a member of the Mens Club.

Online Giving
St. Columba Church is now offering online giving for your convenience. We use VANCO Services to process your electronic donations. You can set up automatic or one-time debits from your checking/savings accounts or use debit and credit cards. If you feel uncomfortable not dropping something in the collection basket, there are purple slips in the pews you can use to indicate youve given online. You may access the site either through our blog at: http://www.stcolumbachurch.blogspot.com Or through our parish web site at: http://www.stcolumbasandiego.com/index.html

Please pray for the following who are ill, their families and those who care for them, especially ~
Trisha & Antonio Alcantara, Meldina Almandrez, Joe Bachmeier, Walt Becker, Esther Boatheng, Mary Brunnhoelzl, Patricia Chuilli, Pat Connolly, Betty Conners, Marlena Daniels, Gary Davila, Paul & Rita Doman, Marciano Elias, Bruce Elizondo, Kathy Glenwinkel, Mary Golden, Chita Gonzalo, Gaye Harkay, Edward Jardell, Sr., Mark Little, Regina Lucero, Sue McGee, Marjean McGrew, Laura McKune, John McManus, Robert Medina, Vic Miranda, Fr. Louis Newman, Vilma & Veronica Ortega, Candida Perez, Jane Riner, Mary & Greg Rodriguez, Gloria Satterwhite, Evelyn Sefkow, Charlotte Showalter, Myrna Singca, Deacon Bill Vasquez, Michelle Wadlow, and Ron Zeunges

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

Saturday, December 10th, 8:45 am-3:30 pm Daily Chapel Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is the second Saturday of each month in the Daily Chapel. There is a sign-up book in the chapel if you wish to sign-up for a specific time.

Support Elderly Religious

A donor to the Retirement Fund for Religious writes, We thank God for every religious sister who taught us in school, not only our ABCs, but also to love God. Show your support for the senior sisters, brothers and religious order priests who have made a positive difference in so many lives. Please Share in the Care and give generously to next weeks special collection.

Advent Penance Services

Monday, December 12th 3:30 & 6:30 pm

School Thank You!

During this season of Advent, we give thanks for the blessing of our parishioners and your continued generosity for the children of St. Columba School. We just finished our 2011 Gala Dinner Dance & Auction which showed a profit of $25,000. Thank you so much for your support. We invite you to stop by the hall after Mass and visit our Book Fair which starts today and runs through Wednesday.

Immaculate Conception
(Holy Day of Obligation) Thursday, December 8th Mass schedule: 6:30 am, 8:15 am, 9:15 am & 6:00 pm

Readings for the Week

Mon: Tues: Wed: Thurs: Fri: Sat: Sun: Is 35:1-10/Lk 5:17-26 Is 40:1-11/Mt 18:12-14 Is 40:25-31/Mt 11:28-30 Gn 3:9-15,20/Ps 98:1-4/Eph 1:3-6,11-12/Lk 1:26-38 Is 48:17-19/Mt 11:16-19 Sir 48:1-4,9-11/Mt 17:9-13 Is 61:1-2,10-11/Lk 1:46-50,53-54/1 Thes 5:16-24/ Jn 1:6-8,19-28

K of C Christmas Cards
Once again the Knights of Columbus are selling Christmas Cards. All proceeds go to support the K of C and their works throughout the year. Look for Knights selling Christmas cards after Masses this weekend through December 11th.