Catechetical Ministry… 408-248-7786 Paty Rascon

RCIA We warmly welcome those inquiring about becoming

Catholic. For information, please call the office.

Reconciliation Saturdays 4:30 pm or by appointment.

Prayer Groups Spanish Charismatic Group Wednesdays 7 pm

Spanish Prayer Group Thursdays 6:30 pm Portuguese Prayer Group Thursdays 7 pm

Portuguese Charismatic Group last Friday of month

Celebrating The Year of MERCY

Parish Office… 408-248-7786 Rev. Tadeusz Terembula, Pastor

Rev. Pedro Perez Sención, Parochial Vicar In Residence: Rev. Canon Raphael Ueda

Mary Park, Office Administrator Paty Rascon, Hispanic Ministry

Madeline Rader, Principal

Sacrament of the Sick If you or anyone you love is sick and unable to attend

Mass, please call the office.

St. Vincent de Paul…408-645-0506

Church Address: 941 Lexington St. Office Address: 725 Washington St.

Santa Clara, CA 95050

E-mail: stclareparish@dsj.org Web-site: www.stclareparish.org

Church Address: 941 Lexington St. Office Address: 725 Washington St.

Santa Clara, CA 95050

E-mail: stclareparish@dsj.org Web-site: www.stclareparish.org

Mass Schedule

Weekend: 5:00 pm (Vigil); 7:45am, 9:00 am, 5:30 pm (English) 10:30 am (Portuguese); 12:00 pm (Spanish) 1:30 pm (Cantonese); 3:00 pm (Mandarin)

Weekdays: Mon, Wed, Fri, & Sat 8:00 am; Tue & Thu 5:30 pm

December 20, 2015 ● Fourth Sunday of Advent

Mobile App: Saint Clare

Visit us on Twitter @stclareparishsc Visit and like us on Facebook:

St. Clare of Assisi

Pastor’s Note

Dear Parishioners,

To provide a better understanding of what the Jubilee Year of Mercy is all about, here it is a reflection written by the Director of Worship at the Diocese of San Jose, Diana Macalintal. In a Jubilee Year, popes throughout the centuries have established special ways that Catholics can ask for and re-ceive God's mercy and forgiveness of their sins or the sins of a loved one who has died. These special graces are called "indulgences." That word has sometimes had a negative meaning because of how the practice of granting indul-gences was often abused or misused by individuals who believed one could buy or work for God's forgiveness. Yet God's mercy cannot be bought or earned. God's for-giveness is freely given and complete, with no strings at-tached. God indulges us, by no merit of our own, but by his love, just as a grandmother indulges her grandchildren simply because she loves them, even when they do some-thing wrong.

In his letter titled "The Face of Mercy" (Misericordiae Vultus), Pope Francis describes God's indulgence and the effects of receiving God's free gift of love during this Year of Mercy: In the Sacrament of Reconciliation, God forgives our sins, which he truly blots out; and yet sin leaves a neg-ative effect on the way we think and act. But the mercy of God is stronger even than this. It becomes indulgence on the part of the Father who, through the Bride of Christ, his Church, reaches the pardoned sinner and frees him from every residue left by the consequences of sin, enabling him to act with charity, to grow in love rather than to fall back into sin. (#22)

The total liberty we experience through God's indulgent love for us frees us to show that same kind of uncondition-al love to others. As the Pope continues in his letter, "to gain an indulgence is to experience the holiness of the Church, who bestows upon all the fruits of Christ's redemption, so that God's love and forgiveness may extend every-where."

Here are specific ways Pope Francis has established for the faithful to receive God's indulgence during this Year of Mercy, December 8, 2015, to November 20, 2016:

A WARM WELCOME TO ALL WHO WORSHIP WITH US Whether you are a parishioner of long standing or new to the parish, if you are not registered, we invite you to do so as soon as possible. If there are

changes to your status, please let us know. Please fill in the details below and place in the offertory basket or mail to the Parish Office.

Name: __________________________________________________________________ Phone: __________________________________

Address:_____________________________________________________ City:_______________________________ Zip: ______________

□ New Parishioner □ Moving (please remove from directory) □ New Address □ New Phone Number

Baptism Contact the Parish office to arrange for baptismal prepara-tion. Baptisms are celebrated monthly except during Lent.

Spanish Prep Class: 1st Mon at 7 pm; Baptism: 3rd Sat at 10 am English Prep Class: 2nd Mon at 7 pm; Baptism: 4th Sat at 10 am

Weddings Arrangements need to be made at least six months in advance. Call the Parish office. Rosary The Rosary is recited daily after the 8 am Mass and before the 5:30 pm Mass on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The Hispanic Community has a Rosary Hour every Monday at 6 pm in the Rectory Chapel.

Sacramental Information

For those who are able: • With a desire for true conversion, make a pilgrimage to

the Holy Door, either in Rome or at the local Ca-thedral or other churches designated by the local bishop once those doors are opened.

• Having entered through the Holy Door, celebrate the sacraments of the Eucharist or Reconciliation.

• Within those two sacraments, make a profession of faith and pray for the Holy Father and for his in-tentions for the good of the Church and of the en-tire world.

For those who are sick and unable to visit the Holy Door: • Live your illness as a way to be close to Jesus who also

suffered in his earthly life. • Receive Communion, or participate in the Eucharist or

community prayer, even by televised media.

For those in prison: Pray in the chapel of your prison, and let God, through

your prayer, transform the bars of your cell into a kind of Holy Door, "because the mercy of God is able to transform hearts and is also able to transform bars into an experience of freedom" (Pope Francis).

Whenever you respond to God's gratuitous gift of mercy by doing one of these acts, you will receive the Jubilee Indulgence for yourself or for your deceased loved ones. Receiving this indulgence also commits you to live by mercy so that the fruit of God's gift to you may flourish.

Weekly Stewardship

Report

Thank YOU for your generosity!

Calendar of Events

Mon. Feast of St. Peter Canisius (patron saint of 12/21 Catholic press) Hispanic Rosary Group, 6:00 pm, Rectory Tue. Holy Hour for Voca ons, 5:30 pm, Chapel 12/22 RCIA Instruc on, 7:00 pm, Rectory

Wed. Feast of St. John of Kanty (patron saint of 12/23 Poland and Lithuania) Sat. Feast of St. Stephen (patron saint of altar 12/26 servers, casket makers, deacons)

Mass Intentions December 19-27

Saturday 5:00 pm Willie & Efigenia Rodrigues+

Sunday 7:45 am Nair Mancebo+

9:00 am Jose Andrade+, Sr. Pat Haid+, Jane Sirdelli+

10:30 am Norberto Monteiro+, Elidio & Maria Soares+, John Cunha+, Joao Sousa da Silva+, Luis M. Teixeira+, Jorge Bettencourt+, Gabriel Da Silva+, Lurdes Cabral Arruda+, Tiofilo Fonseca+, Maria Pestana (in thanksgiving)

12:00 pm Juan Carlos Gonzalez Vazquez (B)

5:30 pm Antonio & Ephegenia Rodrigues & Family+, Sara Monteiro Medeiros+, Anita De Masmela+, Calixtra P, Cuevas+, Angela De Byitrago+

Monday 8:00 am Aida Augusta+, Henry Vierra+

Tuesday 5:30 pm Amado C. Hermosillo+ (A)

Wednesday 8:00 am Joaquim Mancebo+, Souls in Purgatory+

Thursday 4:00 pm Garmay Leung, Francisco & Laurinda Camacho+ 6:00 pm Frank Vierra+ 10:00 pm Albert S. Vieira+, Luiz F. Madruga+, Mary C. Madruga+, Domingos & Gilda Correia+, Gabriel Da Silva+, Jose & Esperanza Mendonca+, Lurdes C. Arruda+

Friday 9:00 am Francisco & Laurinda Camacho+, Fernando Oliveira+, Manuel & Dolores Vierra+, Frank & Lavina Hogan+, Peter L. Rowland+, Yvonne Rowland, Connie Latoza & family, Souls in Purgatory

Saturday 8:00 am Jose M. Andrade+

Fiscal year is July 1 through June 30

Goal for Fiscal Year $374,400.00

Collected to 12/13 $171,123.34

Budgeted to 12/13 $172,800.00

Shortfall $1,676.66

Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) 4:00 pm English Family Mass 6:00 pm Spanish Mass 8:00 pm Chinese Mass 10:00 pm Portuguese Mass

Christmas Day (Dec. 25) 9:00 am English Mass New Year’s Day (Jan. 01) 8:00 am English Mass

Vocation Prayer for December Loving God, your love takes flesh in the birth of Jesus. As we celebrate his first coming, make us more attentive to your presence. Inspire us to respond to your call to be priests, deacons, sisters, brothers, members of secular institutes, and lay ministers. Keep us ready and eager to serve. Amen.

Office Closure The Parish office will be closed from Wednesday,

December 23 through Friday, January 1st. We will reopen Monday, January 4th.

Fr. Tad, Fr. Pedro and the Staff of St. Clare Parish wish all parishioners the best of the Christmas Season. May the Christ of Christmas be present in your homes and bring you peace, joy and love.

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel!

Sunday Children’s Programs

“Finding God” Continuous Faith

Formation Program

Religious Education here at St. Clare’s is more than just a Sacramental preparation program.

Christmas Prayers For Christmas Day (St. Bernard of Clairvaux)

Let your goodness Lord appear to us, that we made in your image, conform ourselves to it. In our own strength we cannot imitate your majesty, power, and wonder nor is it fitting for us to try. But your mercy reaches from the heavens through the clouds to the earth below.

You have come to us as a small child, but you have brought us the greatest of all gifts, the gift of eternal love Caress us with Your tiny hands, embrace us with Your tiny arms and pierce our hearts with Your soft, sweet cries. For a Family Meal

Dear God, Thank you for the joy of gathering together to celebrate Christmas. We ask that your love would fill the hearts of each one of us today. As we enjoy this meal we give thanks for all the good things in our lives. May the warmth and fellowship of today remain with us as we look forwards to the year ahead. Amen.

M er r y Chr istmas!

Catechetical Office: Paty Rascon 408.248.7786 X 102 lpadilladerascon@dsj.org

Mobile App for Our Parish We are excited to have unveiled a parish App. Available for download in the Android and Apples stores, it is a new and effective way for communication and connectedness. It is PACKED with prayer resources, educational resources, parish events, discussion boards and more. Please download the App and allow Push Notifications.

St. Clare School Pancake Breakfast and Open House

St. Clare School is now accepting applications

for Transitional Kindergarten through Eighth grade for the 2016-2017 school year. Please stop by our school office between the hours of 7:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. for enrollment information. Scholarship applications available upon request.

OPEN HOUSE AND PANCAKE BREAKFAST!

Please join us on Sunday, January 30th for our Annual Pancake Breakfast and Open House. Start your morning with delicious pancakes, sausage, and coffee. Our Annual Pancake Breakfast will begin at 8:00 A.M. After breakfast, all families are invited to visit our classrooms to learn more about our school's curriculum and commu-nity. Classroom visits will take place from 9:30 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. We look forward to meeting you!

St. Clare School has been providing quality

Catholic education for students in grades K-8 in the city of Santa Clara for over 150 years. Our staff is dedicated to providing a worshipping, learning, caring, and growing environment for our students. St. Clare School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national, and ethnic origin in the administration of their educational policies, admission policies, scholarship programs, athletic and other school administered programs.

YLI MEETS MONDAY This Monday, St. Clare's YLI will meet in the North Hall at 6:00 p.m. for refreshments and the annual Christmas gift exchange, followed by the recitation of the rosary and the regular meeting. This month we will be collecting gently used warm clothing for the homeless. Items such as coats, jackets, blankets, socks and personal products will be gratefully accepted. Our member, Nerissa Ward, will be delivering the items to downtown San Jose on Christmas Eve. St. Clare's YLI wishes a very happy and blessed Christmas to all members of St. Clare Parish and their families, and to all a Happy New Year 2016!

First Reading: Micah 5:1-4 Second Reading: Hebrews 10:5-10

Gospel Reading: Luke 1:39-45

A NEW ORDER “O, Little Town of Bethlehem.” A Philadelphia clergyman named Phillips Brooks penned these popular words back in the mid-1800s, but the prophet Micah could have used them first. Micah knew that from small packages great treasures come. In today’s first reading, he knew that from tiny Bethlehem would come the Lord. The writer in Hebrews explains that Christ came to us to do the will of God by establishing a new order and by be-coming our perfect sacrifice. And Luke tells us that Eliza-beth and John, the infant in her womb, understand that great and wondrous things are at hand with the coming of the Lord. This is the Fourth Sunday of Advent. Soon we celebrate anew the fruit of Mary’s womb. As we are told in He-brews, Jesus’ new order is being established even today. And as Micah proclaims, his greatness is reaching even now to the ends of the earth.

Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.

Readings for the Week

Scripture Readings for THIS Sunday

Beyond the Parish

Monday Sg 2:8-14; Ps 33; Lk 1:39-45 Tuesday 1 Sm 1:24-28; 2 Sm 2:1,4-8; Lk 1:46-56 Wednesday Mal 3:1-4; 23-34; Ps 25; Lk 1:57-66 Thursday 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8-16; Ps 89; Lk 1:67-79 Friday Vigil: Is 62:1-5; Ps 89; Acts 13:16-25; Mt 1:1-25 Night: Is 9:1-6; Ps 96; Ti 2:11-14; Lk 2:1-14 Dawn: Is 62:11-12; Ps 97; Ti 3:4-7; Lk 2:15-20 Day: Is 52:7-10; Ps 98; Heb 1:1-6; Jn 1:1-18 Saturday Acts 6:8-19; 7:54-59; Ps 31; Mt 10:17-22 Sunday Sir 3:2-6, 12-14; Ps 128; Col 3:12-21; Lk 2:41-52

Dec. 11— Jan. 03 Come to Bethlehem Nativity Display Our Lady Of Peace Church; Sat & Sun: 9 am-9 pm Mon. thru Fri.: 1-3 pm and 6-9 pm Come to Bethlehem this Advent and Christmas Season at Our Lady of Peace. All are invited to see Our Lady of Peace Church’s 800-square foot Nativity Display of more than 200 terracotta figures from Spain telling 15 mysteries in the infancy of Jesus.

Dec. 12—23 Cathedral Performance Series On evenings from December 12th through the 23rd, the city’s historic Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph hosts artists from the Bay Area ranging from the Silicon Valley Ballet, Celtic Harps, to the San Jose Youth Symphony and students from local schools. Performers will present a free 45-60 minute performance, starting at 7:30 pm. Feb. 06 Wedding Anniversary Celebration Bishop Patrick J. McGrath would like to invite all couples celebrating their 5th (or less), 25th, 40th and 50th (or more) Wedding Anniversaries in 2016 to participate in the annual Wedding Anniversary Mass. A short reception will follow after. Contact Sylvia Blanch at blanch@dsj.org or at 408.983.0128 for more information.

2016 Calendars Are Available in the Vestibule

Thank you to the mother and son real estate team of Carolyn Schulte and Dennis Jacobs for our compli-mentary calendars. Please take one and enjoy the

beautiful pictures and references to liturgical events.

Knights of Columbus Corner

"The person who invented the knock-knock jokes should get a "NO BELL" award. Join the Knights and there will be

no measure to the reward you will receive." Tony If you have questions about the Knights, please contact Tony Colombo at a_colombo1726@comcast.net or call him at 408.244.2596.

Boletim Paroquial Português Boletín Parroquial Español Reflexão por: João Pereira Arruda As leituras deste quarto e último Domingo do Advento já nos revelam o plano de salvação de Deus para a humanidade. Já nos revelam que um Deus se irá fazer um de nós e que nos vem salvar e libertar e nos conduzir á verdadeira felecidade. Na História da Salvação Deus sempre Se tem revelado pelos mais fracos. Não foram os reis, o clero, os advogados, os políticos do tempo ou os dos nossos dias que revelam a salvação de Deus, mas sim os pastores porque eram homens de boa vontade, os magos porque eram suficientemente inleligentes em deixarem-se guiar pela estrela de Deus, Maria e Isabel porque eram receptivas á vontade de Deus e resolutamente dispuseram-se totalmente á vontade de Deus. Isabel inspirada pelo Espírito Santo saúda sua prima: “Bendita és Tu entre as mulheres e bendito é o fruto do Teu ventre”. Maria do mesmo modo inspirada nos dá o “Magnificat” ; “A minha alma glorifica o Senhor e o meu espírito se alegra em Deus Meu Salvador”... se era tradição do tempo e da cultura daquela parte do mundo em saudar as pessoas com uma bendição se não é continuada nos nossos dias e copiada pela nossa sociedade, algo de grande valor se perde pois que Deus quer que nos bendigamos uns aos outros em especial aqueles a quem nós mais queremos e no retrato de Maria e Isabel estão duas primas que em estado de gravidez e demonstrando o carinho que tinha entre si bendiziam-se no Senhor que as tinham acumulado de bens de incalculavel valor. Festejamos o Natal esta semana, somos por assim dizer, chamados a sermos agradecidos dos dons que Deus tem dado a esta comunidade portuguesa e nesta paróquia de Santa Clara. Como família devemos copiar as atitudes de Maria e Isabel e de nos abençoar-mos uns aos outros. Que a graça do Deus Menino venha sobre nós (comunidade – família) e nos dê o desejo de projectar-mos o Menino Deus como Deus Salvador da Humanidade.

Missa do Galo A Missa da Vigília do Natal, será na próxima quinta feira dia 24 ás 10 horas da noite. Para mais participação nos cantos de Natal irá fazer-se uma tentativa de se cantar esses canticos antes da Missa .

Mensagem de Agradecimento do CPP O CPP aproveita esta oportunidade para agradecer a todos que de qualquer modo contribuiram para o Convívio Natalício realizado ontem no salão. Fosse com os seus talentos e trabalho ou com as comidas para o pot-luck ou ainda para os pais e avos que trouxeram as crianças para os ensaios a todos o nosso mais sincero obrigado. Cartão de Natal do CPP

O CPP na sua capacidade representativa desta comunidade, deseja que toda a nossa comunidade tenha um Santo e Alegre Natal. Que a celebração da vinda do Menino Deus traga a todos nós sentimentos de unidade e amor fraterno e que possamos celebrar esta festa como uma grande família na paz que o Emanuel nos traz. Paz e alegria para todos! Em nome do CPP; Connie Silveira; Presidente do CPP

Um Santo e Alegre Domingo e Alegres Festas de Natal

para todos!!!

Termina el Adviento Hoy celebramos el cuarto domingo de adviento y encende-mos la cuarta y última vela de la Corona de Adviento, para decirle a Jesús que Él es nuestra Luz, que nos estamos pre-parando para acogerle y llevar su luz a los demás.

Un Nuevo Orden “Oh, pequeña aldea de Belén”; un clérigo de Filadelfia llama-do Phillips Brooks escribió este popular villancico a media-dos de los 1800, pero el profeta Miqueas hubiera podido hacerlo primero. Miqueas sabía que el tesoro grande viene en estuche pequeño. En la primera lectura de hoy, él sabía que del pueblito de Belén vendría el Señor. El escritor de la carta a los hebreos explica que Cristo vino a nosotros para hacer la voluntad de Dios de establecer un nuevo orden y ser un sacrificio perfecto. Y Lucas nos dice que Isabel y Juan, el pequeño en sus entrañas, comprenden que grandes maravillas han llegado con la venida del Señor. Este es el Cuarto Domingo de Adviento. Mañana celebramos de nuevo el fruto de tu vientre, María. Como se nos dice en Hebreos, el nuevo orden de Jesús se está creando hoy mis-mo. Y como proclama Miqueas, su grandeza llega ahora mismo hasta los confines de la tierra. — Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.

Horario de Misas Especiales Nochebuena -24 de diciembre 4 pm Inglés 6 pm Español- Misa de Gallo 10 pm Portugués

Navidad - 25 de diciembre 9:00 am Inglés

Viernes 1º de enero 8:00 am Inglés

¡Que Bella Celebración de la Virgen de Guadalupe! Las mañanitas y la celebración para la Virgen de Guada-lupe estuvieron bellísimas. Todo mundo disfruto enorme-mente.

Agradecimientos Gracias a las personas que participaron en todos los prepa-rativos y también durante el evento, sin ustedes esta gran celebración no sería posible. Ante la imposibilidad de publi-car todos los nombres de tantas personas que se acercaron a hacer donativos en efectivo, tanto para las mañanitas co-mo para la gran celebración, a todas y cada una de ellas les agradecemos su generosidad.

Horario de Oficina La oficina estará cerrada del 23 de Diciembre al 4 de enero, reiniciando labores el lunes 4 de enero en horario normal. En caso de emergencia llame al 408.904.9187

¡Feliz Navidad!

Pastoral Staff 408.248.7786 408.248.8150 (fax)

Pastor (Ext. 104) tterembula@dsj.org Parochial Vicar (Ext. 105 ) pperezsencion@dsj.org Office Administrator (Ext. 106) mpark@dsj.org Catechetical Ministry & Hispanic Ministry Coordinator (Ext. 102) lpadilladerascon@dsj.org Webmaster Perig Vennetier perigv@gmail.com

Liturgy Liturgy Committee Fr. Pedro 408.248.7786x105 Altar Servers Fr. Tad (Eng.) Rogelio Esquivel (Sp.) 408.629.9182 Environment Robyn Schroeder robschroe3825@gmail.com Baptism Preparation Maria Gamboa (Sp.) magam4312@gmail.com Lucy Silva (Eng.) dlsilva@sbcglobal.net Funeral Coordinator Dolores Wriglesworth doloresandlee@sbcglobal.net Quinceañera Coordinator Paty Rascon lpadilladerascon@dsj.org Vocations Committee Tom Bommarito 408.243.4647 Children’s Liturgy Natalie Plecque (Eng.) plecque@mac.com Gloria Hackleman (Sp.) glhackleman@yahoo.com RCIA Diane Madruga camponeses@sbcglobal.net

Community & Service Pastoral Council Patrick Schneider pschneider@bcp.org

Evelyn Amaya Anne McMahon

Tony Colombo Marah Grace Gebala

Scott McLarty Mary Correia

Gregory Shelby John Sullivan

Finance Council Joe D’Amore joe.damore@sbcglobal.net

Jim Thorn Sean McMahon

Rigo Rascon Edwin Alabanza

Marcy Taylor

Serra Club of Santa Clara Tom Bommarito 408.243.4647

St. Vincent De Paul Mick Gonzales Extension 200

408.645.0506

Facilities Task Force Matt Dutra mattdutra74@gmail.com

Knights of Columbus Dave Vincent skdave.vincent@att.net

408.398.0399

Young Ladies’ Institute (YLI) Dolores Wriglesworth doloresandlee@sbcglobal.net

Social Justice Committee Anne McMahon mcmahonam@sbcglobal.net

Italian Catholic Federation (ICF) Matt Dutra 408.998.3226

Hispanic Community Elania Tablada 408.984.3519

Evelyn Amaya 408.945.9129

Portuguese Community Connie Silveira 408.250.1138

Mandarin Community Rev. Carlos A. Olivera 408.509.6960

Louis Yueh ap3088@hotmail.com

Simon Liao Simon.liao@hitachigst.com

Cantonese Community Melissa Poon Melissa.poon2@gmail.com

Lillian Lam lilliantt@yahoo.com

St. Clare Parish Rectory Hours: Monday thru Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Closed for lunch 12 - 1pm

Emergency #: 408.904.9187 Facility Emergencies: Matt Dutra 408.904.9181

Mass Schedule Daily (Chapel) MWFSa 8:00 am TTH 5:30 pm Weekend (Church) Saturday English 5:00 pm Sunday English 7:45 am English - Family 9:00 am Portuguese 10:30 am Spanish 12:00 pm Cantonese 1:30 pm Mandarin 3:00 pm Chinese Youth (Lower Church) 3:00 pm English 5:30 pm Reconciliation Every Saturday 4:30 - 4:45pm

Or by appointment Prayers for Vocations/ Benediction (Chapel) 4th Tues, 5:30 pm

Baptism See page 2 for preparation classes and baptism dates. For private baptisms, consultation with the priest is necessary.

Quinceanera Please call Paty Rascon for information about classes and liturgical celebration.

St. Clare School 408.246.6797 408.246.6726 fax office@stclareschool.org www.stclareschool.org Office Hours: Monday thru Friday

7:30 am - 4:00 pm

School Staff Principal: Madeline Rader Office Administrator: Cherell Rizzo Receptionist: Martha Ramirez

Parish Information & Contacts