MARIA REGINA PARISH 2150 W. 135th Street ♦ Gardena, CA 90249 Office: (310) 323 0030 ♦ Fax: (310) 323-8081

E-Mail: office@MariaReginaGardena.net ♦ Website: www.MariaReginaGardena.net

Pastor: Rev. Sang Van Tran (310) 323-0030

Pastor Emeritus: Msgr. Thomas M. Acton

Sunday Mass: Rev. Amaechi Ugwu, S.J.

Permanent Deacons: Dn. Matthew Van P. Nguyen

Dn. Ramon Nuñez

Special Ministry: Jül Marie Hermosísima (310) 323-0030

Receptionist: Manuela Castañeda (310) 323-0030

School Principal: Mrs. Lynnette Lino (310) 327-9133

Filipino Community: Aida B. Abalos (310) 989-7944

Crecimiento en la Fe: Julio Pérez (310) 916-5001

Vietnamese Community: Hung Duc Tran (310) 676-1864

Fourth Sunday

of Advent

20th of December

2015

HAVE YOU REMEMBERED YOUR PARISH IN YOUR WILL, TRUST OR ESTATE PLANNING?

You may wish to name your parish as a beneficiary on an insurance or other financial instruments. Our legal title: For the Sole Benefit of Maria Regina Church, 2150 West 135th Street, Gardena, CA, 90249. Thank you for your

consideration.

Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time September 27, 2015

TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION

Many of our most treasured traditions link the liturgy of the church with the hearth of the home. The food on the table at certain feasts and fasts helps to extend the mystery into everyday life. Tonight, for example, many families of Italian heritage, especially those with links to the south of Italy, will settle down to the “Feast of the Seven Fishes,” or La Vigilia. It is a command performance for the whole family, as the saying goes: Natale con I tuui, Pasqua conchi vuoi, or “Christmas with your family, Easter with whomever you wish.” Seven different fish, some say one for each day of Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem, others say one for each sacrament, or one for each day of creation, are served. Eel and shrimp, lobster and crab, calamari, pasta with clam sauce, flounder and hake all abound, but most especially baccala, dried salted cod. Why? Many say that it is a way to pay homage to the beasts of the stable who witnessed the holy birth and relinquished their manger to make way for God. Tonight, if someone asks you to “pass the shrimp,” you’ll be able to shed a little light on a menu that is a delicious treasure in our tradition! —Rev. James Field, Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.

TRADICIONES DE NUESTRA FE Esta semana recordamos a los niños judíos que fueron asesinados por orden del Rey Herodes en Belén. Esa tragedia que ocurrió cuando el viejo y celoso rey se enteró del nacimiento de un nuevo rey de los judíos. Él mandó a matar a todo niño que tuviera menos de dos años. El llanto de las familias que perdieron sus pobres inocentes se ha convertido en risas en varios países latinoamericanos. El 28 de diciembre en muchas partes es conmemorado como el día de los inocentes que viene siendo el April Fools Day de Latinoamérica. En ese día se hacen bromas para burlarse de los amigos. Si la broma funciona al pobre que fue engañado se le llama “inocente”. La inocencia normalmente se atribuye a los niños o a los ingenuos, pero en si la inocencia es una virtud cristiana, de los que hemos sido perdonados por Cristo. Esta inocencia no es ingenuidad mas bien es la candidez, simplicidad y generosidad de una persona que conoce bien lo duro que es la vida y aún así mantiene la esperanza. —Fray Gilberto Cavazos-Glz, OFM, Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.

Mass Intentions & Schedule

Saturday, December 19 7:00am Aida Abalos 5:30pm Don O’Neill † Phan Xies Xauie Do Tien Du † 7:00pm Phero—Daminh †

Sunday, December 20 8:00am Anton Ke—Luca † 10:00am Virginia Guzman †

12:00 Noon Samuel Arado Bram †

Monday, December 21 7:00am Virginia Guzman †

Tuesday, December 22 7:00am Giuse Maria †

Wednesday, December 23 7:00am Anna—Teresa †

Thursday, December 24 7:00am Sr. Maria Phan Nguyen (birthday) 5:00pm Parish Intentions 7:00pm Parish Intentions 9:00pm Parish Intentions 11:00pm Parish Intentions

Friday, December 25 8:00am Parish Intentions 10:00am Parish Intentions 12:00pm (noon) Parish Intentions

Saturday, December 26 7:00am Vocations 5:30pm Teresa—Ana † 7:00pm Cac Linh Hon

Fourth Sunday of Advent December 20, 2015

Sunday Collections: December 12-13, 2015

Sunday Collection……………………………..….$5,267.00 Collection Retirement Fund for Religious…..……$1.629.00

Thank you for your generosity to Maria Regina Church. Gracias por su generosidad a su Iglesia de Maria Regina.

The church office will be closed December 24 & 25. The office re-opens Monday, December 28, 2015 at 9:00am. For Christmas

Fourth Sunday of Advent December 20, 2015

   

Church Ministries / Ministerios de la Parroquia

Guadalupanos guadalupnanos@MariaReginaGardena.net Folklorico folklorico@MariaReginaGardena.net Rosarios Martes a las 7:30pm en la Iglesia Hora Santa Cada primer Martes del Mes a las 7:30pm

Familias Unidas Todos los Miercoles — 7:00pm Grupo de Oracion Crecimiento en la Fe Grupo de Oracion & Alabanza Viernes 7:00pm Salon Parroquial Julio Perez (310) 916-5001

Liturgy Coordinator Dolly Pascual (310) 679-6350 Lectors Danita Mallett Eucharistic Ministers Dolly Pascual (310) 679-6350

Communion to the Sick Lorna Arceo (310) 345-4637

Altar Servers Martha Craft Sacristy Sacristan Committee

Altar Decoration Fr. Sang & Committee

Religious Education Saturday Mornings Ramon Nuñez (Spanish) Yolanda Marquez (English) Hung Tran (Vietnamese)

Youth Confirmation Monday night (6:30pm - 8:30pm) David Sevilla (310) 323-0030

Pastoral Council Fred Purifoy (310) 323-8396 Finance Committee Eddie Rodriguez (310) 516-9659

Quinceañera Manuela Castañeda (310) 985-0076

Choir Coordinator Jül Marie Hermosísima (310) 721-9214

Thanks to those who have donated monthly envelopes to the parish school.

Would you consider sponsoring one disadvantaged student to enable continuing his or her second semester at Maria Regina Parish School as a Christmas gift?

If so, please call Father Sang at (310) 323-0030.

You are welcome to donate Christmas flowers such as poinsettias to the church. Please bring your flowers to the church on December 21-22-23.

Thank you very much!

READINGS FOR THE WEEK

Monday: Sg 2:8-14 or Zep 3:14-18a; Ps 33:2-3, 11-12, 20-21; Lk 1:39-45 Tuesday: 1 Sm 1:24-28; 1 Sm 2:1, 4-8abcd; Lk 1:46-56 Wednesday: Mal 3:1-4, 23-34; Ps 25:4-5ab, 8-10, 14; Lk 1:57-66 Thursday: 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Ps 89:2-5, 27, 29; Lk 1:67-79 Friday: Vigil: Is 62:1-5; Ps 89:4-5, 16-17, 27, 29; Acts 13:16-17, 22-25; Mt 1:1-25 [18-25] Night: Is 9:1-6; Ps 96:1-3, 11-13; Ti 2:11-14; Lk 2:1-14 Dawn: Is 62:11-12; Ps 97:1, 6, 11-12; Ti 3:4- 7; Lk 2:15-20 Day: Is 52:7-10; Ps 98:1-6; Heb 1:1-6; Jn 1:1-18 [1-5, 9-14] Saturday: Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59; Ps 31:3cd-4, 6, 8ab, 16bc, 17; Mt 10:17-22 Sunday: Sir 3:2-6, 12-14 or 1 Sm 1:20-22, 24-28; Ps 128:1- 5 or Ps 84:2-3, 5-6, 9-10; Col 3:12-21 [12-17] or 1 Jn 3:1-2, 21-24; Lk 2:41-52

POSADAS For more information and the schedule, please con-

tact Victor and Arely Arevalo: Email: mabeth88@aol.com

Phone: 310-892-5503

Confessions: Saturday 4:00pm or anytime by appointment.

Baptism: 10:00am on Saturdays (English and Spanish); every 2nd Saturday after 7:00pm Mass (Vietnamese).

Baptism Class is required for Parents & Godparents. Please call the rectory if you have any questions.

Sacrament of Matrimony: Six months in advance. Call the rectory for information.

Sacramento de Matrimonio: Llamar a la oficina seis meses antes minimo para hacer una cita con el padre.

Quinceañeras: For more information, please call the rectory.

Quinceañeras: Nececitan ser Miembros de la Parroquia y nececitan estar en el programa de confirmacion.

Adoration: 1st Friday / 7:00-9:00pm Hora Santa: Primer Martes del mes 7:30-8:30pm.

Sacrament of the Sick: Please call for a priest (anytime).

Sacramento de los enfermos: Cualquier momento favor de llamar a la oficina para un Sacerdote.

Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time November 15, 2015 Fourth Sunday of Advent December 20, 2015

Mass Schedule English: Monday through Friday, 7:00am • Saturday, 7:00am & 5:30pm • Sunday, 8:00am & 10:00am

Spanish: Domingo (Sunday), 12 noon/Medio Dia • Viernes (Friday), Oracion— Crecimiento en la Fe, 6:30pm Vietnamese: Saturday, 7:00pm • Thursday, 6:30pm • Prayer Group, after morning Mass on Saturday

The Story of the

Christmas Tree “And this shall be a sign to you…” The Christmas tree traces

its roots, so to speak, to many Ancient customs. Before Christ,

people decorated their homes with evergreen branches in hope that the

short winter days would soon pass. In 16th c., Germany, the custom began of bringing an evergreen inside and decorating it with apples.

Called a “Paradeisbaum,” this tree was set up on Dec. 24 to represent the tree of life. One legend

suggests that a German minister, walking home one winter night, saw stars through the branches of a pine

tree, calling to mind the angel-filled skies above Bethlehem. He brought an evergreen home to his family

and decorated it with candles to remind them of our Savior’s birth. German immigrants brought the tradition

to America, and Christmas trees grew and grew. Because the fir tree is “eternally green,” and because

its triangular shape points to heaven, the Christmas tree is a symbol of our hope for the life everlasting

our Lord Jesus gives us. © 2009 Creative Communications

For the Parish (8000) 325-9414 OR-N

Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time November 15, 2015 Fourth Sunday of Advent December 20, 2015

Jubilee Year of Mercy

Pope Francis’ Prayer for the Year of Mercy Lord Jesus Christ,

You have taught us to be merciful like the heavenly Father, and have told us that whoever sees you sees Him.

Show us your face, and we will be saved. +++

Pilgrimage Sites and Special Indulgences

Pope Francis has instructed that special indulgences be available for the faithful. They may be obtained by making a journey or pilgrimage to any of the designated Jubilee Churches for oneself or for individuals who have died. Crossing through a Holy Door is a spiritual journey that signals, as the Holy Father said, “the deep desire for true conversion.”

Archbishop Jose Gomez has named certain churches in the Archdiocese to be local pilgrimage sites. These churches will have designated holy doors, though which the faithful will pass towards the path of spiritual renewal. The Archdiocese provides opportu-nities for the faithful to seek and find extraordinary ‘indulgence' from God the Father through Jesus Christ, Himself the true face of the Father’s mercy.

The designated Pilgrimage Sites in the San Pedro Pastoral Region are: Deanery 17 St. Dominic Savio, Bellflower Deanery 18 St. Mary of the Assumption, Whittier Deanery 19 Church of the American Martyrs, Manhattan Beach St. Catherine of Alexandria, Avalon Deanery 20 St. Anthony Church, Long Beach

Aside from a heart well-disposed to receive God’s mercy and for the grace to bring its desired fruits, other conditions are required for the faithful to obtain the special indulgence of the Jubilee of Mercy. Attend Mass or Pray before the Blessed Sacrament Make Profession of Faith Go to Confession or Sacrament of Reconciliation Receive Holy Communion and Pray for the Holy Father and his intentions

In particular, taking into consideration the spirit of this Holy Year, it is suggested that pilgrims recite the lovely prayer of Pope Francis for the Jubilee, and that they conclude the time of prayer with an invocation to the merciful Lord Jesus (for example, “Merciful Jesus, I trust in You”).