Dear Friends,

“What then must we do?” some people ask John the Baptist. He had just told them to repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of their sins. Isn’t that enough? Apparently, they didn’t think so. “What then must we do?” What then must you do? Must I do? That’s also what happened in the 1983 movie, The Year of Living Dangerously, with Mel Gibson, Sigourney Weaver, and Linda Hunt. It’s a story about people who live in a world where people use people for their own ends. Gibson, Weaver, and Hunt are the protagonists living in Indonesia in 1965 during the Sukarno regime. It’s a dangerous year for all of them, both politically and personally. They each end up asking troubling questions about the assumptions they have made about life, about their relationships, and about the roles they play in a very unjust society. The movie begins with a reflection that Hunt’s character asks of Gibson’s as they walk through the terrible slums of Jakarta, Indonesia’s capital, slums that are just outside the western style hotel where many journalist stay. “What then must we do?” Hunt asks Gibson, deliberately echoing the Baptist. Can you just remain coldly detached from such misery? Can you remain detached from the mutual affects that friendship and love make on you and others in your life? Will you be responsible for yourself or act as if your purpose is to just succeed, regardless of the consequences? The movie can do for us what John the Baptist did for the people of his day. It can force us to ask

these disturbing questions of ourselves. When John heard the people who listened to him, he replied with some very specific suggestions: share your food and clothes with those who have none; don’t collect more in taxes than you should; don’t extort or accuse falsely, be satisfied with your pay. Listen to what he tells them. Listen to what Linda Hunt’s character asks throughout the film, of both Gibson’s and Weaver’s characters. When we really hear these suggestions and we try to act on them, something happens. What happens is that we find that we resist repentance. We find that we’re so attached to the things that we’ve been doing that we can’t change. That’s what the Baptist wanted to do for the folks that came to him. He wanted them to feel that resistance. Why? Because only then could they open themselves to what real repentance is. What is real repentance? It’s more than being sorry for our faults. Sorrow is good but it doesn’t get to the heart of things. When we listen to our hearts, we hear the groan that we can’t change for the better by ourselves. That’s when real repentance can happen! So, again, what is real repentance? It’s going beyond the old habitual assumption that I’m in charge of my life, playing the same old tape that I’ll do it when I’m good and ready. It’s getting out of our heads and hearts and giving them over to the Messiah, to the Christ, to the only one who can give us the power, from within, to change. This is why the Baptist could only prepare for the Messiah’s coming and why he wasn’t that Promised One. Only God can enter human flesh and blood and change it from inside. This takes a humility like the Baptist’s. We’re not God and it’s his world that he alone came to save.

Love,

Fr. Joe

Worship…Called and formed by the Word of God, we

worship our Lord primarily in the Mass. The Eucharist is

the center of our Christian life. It grounds everything else

we do, from prayer to our daily tasks to our ministries. If you

have any comments, please feel free to contact any of the

following Pastoral Council Representatives: Fr. Colin

Kay, Deacon Rich McGarry and Michael Kohler.

Pray for the recovery of: Mary Ludlow, Margaret Schneider, Dave Owens, Sam Samir, Craig Buksar, Ven Hammonds, Fr. Jim Moran, Timothy Dolan, Bill Thys, Manny Chirico, Margaret Chirico, Facundo Daniel, Helen Kohler, Nicki Conaway, Ray Hofmeister, Virginia Sprague, June Passarelli, Barbara Spreer, Ron Barbarulo, Janet Blumka, Emma Marie Wyman, Evelyn Hedderich, Jason & Justin Leider, Kevin Barnett, Dianna Miranda, Jack Hermans, Joanne DeCaro, Brandon Higgens, Ann Millstein, Carol Gravel, Wendy Gratale, Richie Policastro, Jackie Manning, Stanislaw Tecza, Jean Calabrase, Louis Frances, Jarret Adamo, Matthew McGovern, Gloria Ranieri, Sarah Valenti, Dennis Crosby, Stan Tomon, Violeta Arva, Ken Macagna, Todd Hodge, Vickie DePadova, Louise Garcia, Emily Rao, John Rao, Carol Verbovsky, Kenneth Bodzak, Janice Ward, Carol Crosson, Anne Llewellyn, Amy Joosten Butler, Les Wolf, Gary Beal, Diana Lambouras, Thomas Brown, Mary Ann Cavana, Nicole Schepps, John Falcone, Elise Bord, Vicki Purpura, Liz Morano, Baby Regan Doyle, John Cooney, Msgr. Joseph Slinger, Jayden J. Miranda, Brenda Reef, Mary Garripoli, Kenneth Michael Bodzak, Kelly Ann Ross, Kay McAteer, Frank DiGiaimo Jr., Michael T., Mildred Adamo, Patricia Salvi, Aliysha Malone, Peter Mastrangelo, Olga Marino, Tyler Dixon, Richard DeLorenzo, Brandon Patory, Alice Giegler, Ruth Rizzo, Patrice Foster, Gertrude Mahon, Sean Cox, Ken Lisa, Kevin Considine, Baby Kaedon Ross, Glenn Endresz, Sarah Wilder, Krista Jentzsch, Patricia Hinchliffe, Helen Krajacic, Robert O’Byrne, Andrew D’Amico Sr., Anthony Frank, Janet Blumka, Anna Coletti, Patricia Castiglia, Linda DeLorenzo, Jean Conerly, Ruth Corsi, Rick Owen, Jeannie Girovasi, Natasha Santana, and Jay Paolella.

†Pray for the happy repose of † Fr. Michael Guba

The Bread and Wine will be offered this week in loving memory of Carmen Caines as requested by Marie.

The Altar Candles will burn this week in loving memory of Louis Pensec, as requested by his family.

The Sanctuary Lamp will burn this week in loving memory of Harriet Fochi, as requested by Mike & Linda Califano.

Monday, December 14th

7:30 – Mary McEntee – Family Mel Griffin (Living) The Maher Family 8:45 – Phil Manzi – Marie Schreck Suzanne Schneider – Joe & Alan Quinn

Tuesday, December 15th

7:30 – Lisa Thornberry (Living) – Paul Ann Thornberry (Living) – Paul Lena Sciancalepore – Anna Marie Sciancalepore 8:45 – William Scott Yarmchuk – Loving Family Elsa V. Obera – Arlaus Familoy

Wednesday, December 16th

7:30 – Holy Souls Joseph Yamroz (Living) - Mother 8:45 – Ignacio Garcia – Belinda Garcia Gregory DeLorenzi – Lucy Fassak

Thursday, December 17th

7:30 - Louis Pensec – Loving Family Anthony & Concordia Florio – Loving Family 8:45 – Frank Marianacci – Family Francisco Diaz – Daughter, Claudia

Friday, December 18th

7:30 – Msgr. Joseph Slinger (Living) – Mildred Placa Robert Zimmerer – Pat & Jack Molenaar 8:45 – David Libak – Wife Violet & Herman Meyer – Daughter, Ruth

Saturday, December 19th

8:45 – Thomas, Bart & Joe Avanzato – Family Elsa Obera – Teresa Dee 5:15 – Alfred Fusaro –Emily Perry & Josephine Marinelli –Anthony & Vittoria Marjorie Paszkiel – Contemporary Choir Carmella Held – The Abate Family

Sunday, December 20th

7:30 – Lucy Campbell – Campbell Family Peter Britz – Lillian & Peter Britz Robert Wilson – Dan & Barbara O’Byrne 9:30 - Max Gellis – Rosemary Jones Dorothy Doheny – Family Fran Golembiski – Hessman Family Pauline McGovern - Family 11:30 – Joe – DePadova Family Edward Niemiec – Dolores Niemiec Mary Gerardo – Sheila & Phil Buckley Angela Fornelius – Debbie & Tony Villano 6:00 PM – People of St. Anne Parish

Let us pray for those in our armed forces especially

for: PFC Richard Marchese, US Army; Lt. Col.

Phillip Christy, US Army; Army Natl. Guard; Pvt. John

Pagios, US Army; Pvt. Kristoffer Burger, US Army;

SPCE4 Kyle Milnes, US Army; PO 2nd

Cl Jimmy

Guerra, US Navy, PO 2nd

Cl Nicholas J. Vanni, US

Navy; Major Gregory Sugalski, US Army; MM2

Nicholas J. Magarelli, USN, Master Sgt. Michael

VanPamel, USAF; Sgt. Michael Bourke, US Army;

PFC Lindsay Newarski, US Army; PFC Jason Dawson,

US Army;Staff Sgt.. Matthew Bauer, USAF; Brandon

Motto, USMC; Lt. Marc Sabatino, USN; LCPL Storm

Odom, USMC; Airman Michael Diffin, USAF; Sgt

Major Joseph R. Lobban, US Army; CPL Justin Scales,

USMC; LCPL Dominick Rizzo, USMC; PFC Jonathan

C. Sulinski, Warrant Officer Alan Harty, US Army;

Sgt. Bert J. Frullo, US Army; LCPL. Harrison James

Bruining, USMC; LCPL Steven D’Argenio, USMC;

Capt. Kip Rainey; SP4 Monica Saucier, US Army; Spec.

4 Brian Tarantino, US Army; PO 1st Cl. Mike

Tarantino, USN; Lt. Col. Marshall Denney; Lance

Corp. Marshall Denney IV; EO2 Michael Yondolino,

USN; Col. Patrick Frank; Capt. Daniel Curtin, US

Army; Capt. Erik Mineo, US Army; Staff Sgt. Joseph

Sullivan, USMC; A1C Richard Baldassari, USAF;

Capt. Donald Pump, USMC; and all those serving in

Iraq and Afghanistan.

ALTERNATIVE TO ABORTION If you know someone who is considering having an abortion, here is a number they might call that could be of help to them to consider an alternative to this practice. The number is 1-800-395-HELP (4357).

During December, Pope Francis asks us to pray especially

...that all may experience the mercy of God, who never tires of forgiving.

BACK TO OUR ROOTS

Will meet this Thursday, December 17th

from 1-2 PM in the Faith Center

Eucharistic Adoration Friday, December 18th

12:00 pm – 6:00 pm Concluding with

Benediction at 6 pm Please volunteer to pray

one hour before our Lord. Sign-up sheet in the church vestibule.

MEDITATION

Storage -Mary Oliver

When I moved from one to another

there were many things I had no room

for. What does one do? I rented a storage

space. And filled it. Years passed.

Occasionally I went there and looked in,

But nothing happened. Not a single

Twinge of the heart.

As I grew older the things I cared

About grew fewer, but were more

important. So one day I undid the lock

and called the trash man. He took

everything.

I felt like the donkey when

his burden is finally lifted. Things!

Burn them, burn them! Make a beautiful

fire! More room in your heart for love,

for the trees. For the birds who own

nothing? – the reason they can fly.

STEWARDSHIP REFLECTIONS 3rd Sunday of Advent

“Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by

prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make

your requests known to God.” – Philippians 4:6-7

St. Paul reminds us that our God is an abundant

God, the ultimate giver of gifts. He promises to

give us all that we need. When we trust that God

will take care of us, it is easier for us to share what

we have been given.

GROW (God Reaches Out to Women)

Looking for a stocking stuffer for a special woman in your life? Get her the book “When the Heart Waits” by Sue Monk Kidd. GROW will be hosting a Book Chat in February, featuring this book.

Word… St. Anne’s is a family of faith formed by the Word of God, especially as this is expressed in the person of Christ, in the

Scriptures, and in the Tradition of the Church. As we hear this word and take it more and more deeply into our lives, we

become ever more truly the People of God.

If you have any comments, please feel free to contact any of the following Pastoral Council Representatives:

Donna Stickna, John Hill, Carmie DeMerchant, Melissa Rovetto-Ruffner & Marianne Cummins

SAINT ANNE SCHOOL NEWS

We will host our annual Barnes & Noble Book Fair on Dec. 16. Check out our web site for a voucher to use when you make your purchase. As always, we appreciate your continued support of our school!

Sunday, January 31, join us for mass at 9:30 am to kick off Catholic Schools Week then stop at the school for a student-guided tour and a chance to meet the principal, teachers, and current parents.

FAITH FORMATION NEWS

CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS TREE IS UP!! It can be found in the St. Anthony shrine. This year, we are asking the children to hang new socks on the tree—socks for men, women, & children. The socks will be distributed to the Food Pantry clients. Thanks in advance!

HOME STUDY - Home Study II meets Tuesday, December 15. Families will gather in the school cafeteria from 7-8:30pm—please enter through door #5 (back parking lot of school). Online chapter reviews for chapters 1-8 are due at least one week before the session (by December 8).

SUMMER FAITH RETURN SESSION DATES

Advent: Sunday, December 13 from 10:30-11:30am in the Church Hall

Epiphany: Sunday, January 10 from 10:30-11:30am in the Church Hall Advent families will receive an online reminder. This is a FAMILY event, not a drop-off event!

RECONCILIATION PREP – Completed Reconciliation books are due in the Faith Formation Office by Friday, December 11.

Wednesday, December 16, 2015 Barnes & Noble

765 Route 17 South Paramus, NJ

Come and see our school choir

perform upstairs that night at 7:00 PM!

Visit BN.COM/bookfairs to support us

online from by entering

Bookfair ID 11627031 at checkout.

supporting

Saint Anne School

supporting

Saint Anne School

Wednesday,

December 16, 2015

Wednesday,

December 16, 2015

765 Route 17 South

Paramus, NJ

765 Route 17 South

Paramus, NJ

Bookfair ID 11627031

Bookfair ID 11627031

Service… Impelled by the Spirit of Jesus, St. Anne’s strives to reach out to others. In works on behalf of justice, charity, and human

development, we seek to imitate Jesus in bringing glad tidings to the poor, liberty to the oppressed and captives, and healing to

the blind and the sick. If you have any comments, please feel free to contact Fr. Joe or Fr. Colin.

FROM THE OFFICE OF HUMAN CONCERNS

FOOD PANTRY NEEDS: ITEMS MOST NEEDED: HOT & COLD CEREAL, CANNED VEGETABLES, PASTA, PASTA SAUCE, MAC/CHEESE, LAUNDRY DETERGENT!! Also need rice, instant potatoes, canned vegetables, canned fruit, pancake mix, syrup, cake mix, tuna, healthy snacks, cookies, face soap, deodorant, napkins, paper towels, house cleaning products. Please check the dates on your donations prior to donating them. We do not hand out expired food. You can drop off food anytime at the rectory.

STILL WAITING ON SOME GIFTS… PLEASE DON’T DISAPPOINT THE RECIPIENT! GET YOUR GIFT IN TODAY!

ST. CAJETAN MINISTRY

for the Unemployed & Under-employed

We meet every two weeks as follows: St. Catharine’s Ministry Center - next meeting: Thursday, Dec. 17th - first floor meeting room 7-9PM and at St. Anne’s Rectory on Saturday, Dec. 19th - from 10am-12 noon. If you think you may be interested please contact Ed Grzesiak 201-321-5144, John Lederer 201-286-9354, Lou Cuomo 201-657-3838, Eamon Jennings-917-841-2558, Steve Zmuda 201-819-9026. You can also email us at stcajetan@stannefairlawnnj.org

Community… Formed by the Word and by the Eucharist, St. Anne’s

builds community in the ways that we live and work and

celebrate together. In these ways, we experience the living

presence of Christ.

If you have any comments, please feel free to contact any of

the following Pastoral Council Representatives: Junie

Fuertes, Peggy Long, Eamon Jennings, Danielle

Douglass, Stephanie Kedersha, Joe Barone and Terence

Curley

EVENTS FOR THIS WEEK Sunday, December 13th Holy Name Society – 10:30 am – CR Summer Ret. Sess. – 10:30 am – CH Christmas Concert – 5:00 pm - C Monday, December 14th Penance Service – 1:00 & 7:30 pm - C AA – 7:30 pm – LCR Choir – 7:30 – 9:00 pm – C Tuesday, December 15th Men’s Prayer Group – 6:00 am - FC Prayer Shawl Mtg. – 1:30 pm – CR Home Study – 7:00 pm – CAF/SCH School Christmas Concert – 7:00 pm - C Wednesday, December 16th Play Group – 9:30 – 10:30 am - CH Bible Study – 7:00 pm – CR Thursday, December 17th Children’s Choir – 4:15 pm – C Girl Scouts – 2:30 pm - CH Cub Scouts – 6:30 – 8:30 pm – CAF/CH Choir – 7:30 pm - C Friday, December 18th Eucharist Adoration – 12:00 – 6:00 pm – C PTG Dance – 7:00 pm – CH Simbang Gambi – 7:00 pm – C/CH Saturday, December 19th Orbit – 2:00 – 4:30 pm – Launch Pad AA – 7:30 – 8:30 pm – CAF

Are you a stay-at-home mom or dad of children age 5 and under? Or perhaps you care for your grandchildren during the week?

If so, come join us for a weekly Play Group this Wednesday, December 16th at 9:30 am for about an hour in the Church Hall. For info, please email Meghan at meghan.lobue@gmail.com

2015 ADVENT/CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE

Sunday, December 13th Christmas Concert

5:00 pm Monday, December 14TH Advent Penance Service

1:00 pm and 7:30 pm Thursday, December 24th 4:00 pm - Christmas Vigil

6:00 pm – Children’s Mass Solemn Mass at 10:00 pm

Friday, December 25th Christmas Day

8:00 am, 10:00 am, 12:00 Noon Thursday, December 31st

Vigil of the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God 5:15 pm

Friday, January 1st Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

8:00 am and 10:00 am

SAINT ANNE'S SENIOR TO INSTALL OFFICERS FOR 2016/2017

There will be no regular meetings in December. Our newly elected officers will be installed at our annual Christmas party at the Brownstone on December 14. Our elected officers for 2016/2017 are President Marie Petrocelli, Vice President Jack O'Neil, Treasurer Joan Daloisio, and Secretary Eleanor Coles. President Petrocelli appointed Nick Felice, Joy Disco, and Helen Kohler as trustees. Our hostess for Jan. and Feb. 2016 is Anna Bastinck. We wish everyone a Blessed and Merry Christmas. For further information call Lucy at 201-791-3440.

SANTA TIME

Many thanks to all who had Bagels with Santa last Saturday morning. We would like to keep this annual tradition going for many years. Thanks, also, to Laurie Hessman and Lynn Alfieri for taking the lead this year. Many thanks go out as well to all our “elves”! It was a great team effort! Merry Christmas to all and we hope to see you all again next year!!

The choirs of St. Anne Church…..

will present our 26th Annual Christmas Concert

“God Bless Us Everyone”

Sunday, December 13th

at 5:00 pm in the Church The concert will feature the combined voices, more than one hundred strong, of the adult, children’s, contemporary and festival choirs singing traditional carols and new selections with orchestral accompaniment. Come, add your voice to the over 100 voices of St. Anne’s Choirs and celebrate the spirit of the season!

PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD!

Our parish Advent Penance Celebration will take place on Monday, December 14th

.

There will be two services:

at 1 o'clock in the afternoon and again at 7:30 in the evening.

Come and prepare your hearts for the coming of our Lord!

THE CATHEDRAL CONCERT SERIES 55TH ANNUAL CANDLELIGHT CAROL SING will take place on Wednesday, December 16 and Thursday, December 17th at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Park and Clifton Avenues in Newark. Doors open at 7 pm and performances begin at 8 pm. Ramped entrance on Ridge Street. Secure parking. For more information call 973-484-2400 or visit www.cathedralbasilica.org

NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY WITH THE ALAN QUINN FIVE PIECE ORCHESTRA

AT ST. ANN’S KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS HALL

When: December 31, 2015 8pm – 1am

Cost: $75 per person Includes: Open bar, 5 course buffet dinner with appetizer, champagne toast at midnight music, dancing & more Where: Knights of Columbus Hall 16-16 Maple Ave, Fair Lawn Deadline: Reserve early, seating is limited Contact: Frank Sylvester 201-966-5433 Please make checks payable to St. Ann’s K of C #2853. No Refunds…No Walk Ins!

Finance/Administration… A Christian community strives to steward its resources so that they can provide the material by which its various

ministries can reflect the parish’s mission to reflect Christ’s presence in all that we do and say. Finance Committee

Members: Ed Hughes, Bill Ball, Sally Quinn, Sheila Abate, Ed Trawinski, Loretta Stachiotti, Kristie Bednarz,

Karen Gillies, Steve Palermo and Jerry Cunningham.

Buildings/Grounds: Carl Shoemaker, Dave Lee, Kate Humble, and Steve Zmuda.

We are grateful to the 1,536 people who worshipped with us last weekend and contributed $12,452.00 in the offertory and $1,737.00 through Online Giving offertory, which along with

other fees and donations, totaled $17,846.00. Our weekly expenses average out to $20,348.00.

Heating & Air Conditioning ~ Everyone knows that there are some months in which our electricity bill or heating bill is higher than

others. Well, it’s the same with the Church. As you know, we use an additional way of paying for our extra

energy months. In the back of the church each Sunday you will find separate ENERGY envelopes. If you should

happen to hit the jackpot that week, and wish to throw a dollar or two in that envelope, we’d greatly appreciate

it! You can throw these special envelopes right in the collection with your regular envelope. The energy

envelopes will not be mailed to you. They will simply be in the back of the church, so if you don’t spot them, be

sure to ask the ushers at your Mass. Thanks so much. And special thanks to those who have already been doing it

regularly. It makes a difference!!!

Online Giving…

You have the opportunity to make donations to our Sunday collection online! To sign up, go to the St. Anne website – www.stannefairlawnnj.org

There are several ways to access the system: 1. Underneath the scrolling slideshow on the home page, on the bottom right-hand corner, you will see a

light blue icon with a $ sign. Click that icon to go directly to the system.

OR

2. From the homepage, check the left-hand menu options. The second to last menu option says

“envelopes & online giving.” Click that link, and a page with various giving options will appear. Select the

Online Giving option to be taken directly to the system.

Once you are taken to the new site, click on the section that says Create New Account. Next you will see New User Account Registration. Fill out the form and click “submit.”

When you are enrolled, you can go into Manage My Account, where you will see My Payment Methods. Here you can choose to have the funds deducted from your checking or bank account (you will need your routing and account numbers on hand). Under Manage My Account, you will also see Give a New Gift. There you will decide when and how much to give. (In the list, Offertory Collection means the Sunday collection.) You can select recurring or one time gifts. You also have the option to access all the other special envelopes you would normally find in your envelope packet and which are generally one-time donations.

Each time you go to Mass, get a card that says “I have made my donation online” and put it in the collection when the usher comes around. Thanks so much for giving online!