MEMORIALS The Sanctuary Candle this week is burning in loving memory of Josie Pidala. The candle will burn from December 17th through December 23rd.

CHOIR REHEARSALS Children Christmas Choir rehearsals are being held on Mondays, November 27th through December 18th, 3:15 to 4:00 pm at Our Lady of Loretto Church.

Adult Choir rehearsals are held on Wednesday evenings at 7:30 pm in the choir loft. New members are welcome at all weekend Masses. If you would like to sing, please come to a rehearsal or call Jeffrey V. Lutz at 228-5612.

PLEASE PRAY For the sick and suffering, especially

ANNOUNCED MASSES If you wish to bring up the gifts for a Mass being said for your loved one(s), please see the Usher before Mass.

Vigil (Sunday) Mass – December 16 5:00 PM Daniel Claffey Sunday, December 17 – Third Sunday of Advent 8:30 AM Daniel Deneher – 22nd Anniversary 10:15 AM St. Joseph’s – Concetta and Louis Pecorelli

and Mary and Dante Cecchini 12:00 PM Bill Schultz and William A. Schultz

Monday, December 18 – Late Advent Weekday 8:15 AM Mike and Mary Hannigan Tuesday, December 19 – Late Advent Weekday 8:15 AM Edward J. Cretelli Wednesday, December 20 – Late Advent Weekday 8:15 AM Terrance Mangan Thursday, December 21 – Saint Peter Canisius, Priest

and Doctor of the Church 8:15 AM Anna Treuter Friday, December 22 – Late Advent Weekday 8:15 AM André Marcel Patnode and all the People of

the Parish Saturday, December 23 – Saint John of Kanty, Priest 8:15 AM Josie and Sal Pidala

Vigil (Sunday) Mass – December 23 5:00 PM John, Madeline and William Critelli and

Family Sunday, December 24 – Fourth Sunday of Advent 8:30 AM Susan Duff McFadden 10:15 AM St. Joseph’s – Catherine Portman-Laux

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT My soul rejoices in my God.

December 17, 2017

READINGS FOR THIS WEEK Monday: Jer 23:5-8; Ps 72:1-2, 12-13, 18-19; Mt 1:18-25 Tuesday: Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25a; Ps 71:3-4a, 5-6ab, 16-17; Lk 1:5-25 Wednesday: Is 7:10-14; Ps 24:1-4ab, 5-6; Lk 1:26-38 Thursday: Sg 2:8-14 or Zep 3:14-18a; Ps 33:2-3, 11-12, 20-21; Lk 1:39-45 Friday: 1 Sm 1:24-28; 1 Sm 2:1, 4-8abcd; Lk 1:46-56 Saturday: Mal 3:1-4, 23-24; Ps 25:4-5ab, 8-10, 14; Lk 1:57-66 Sunday: 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Ps 89:2-5, 27, 29; Rom 16:25-27; Lk 1:26-38

Lucy Abbatine Lucas Boesch Electra Bokanoski Nicole Bokanoski Robert Broughal The Brusco Family Kathleen Clements Christopher Hartly Joseph Hoda Parker Jane Holloway Joey Hyatt, Jr. Elizabeth M. Hynes Kaitlyn Jandrucko Dennis Klubnick Geoff Lyons Kathleen Manganello Mary Marion Paula Martino Merna Mendelson

Todd Morris Joseph Nowakowski Brian O’Keeffe Inelda O’Keeffe Luis Padilla Rosario Padilla Neilan Pierce Vivian Pisanelli Joan Rosado Phillip Rossignol Melissa Castro-Santos Miguel Santos Laura Schiele Sally Singh Ralph Torres Connie Tuomey Chris Ventura Frank Volkmann Lidia Watrud

There will not be a Noon Mass at Our Lady of Loretto on Sunday, December 24th.

MONTH’S MIND Lou Thorpe – November 21st

We remember our loved ones who have died one month following their passing on to eternal life.

that the fighting among nations cease, that vengeance end and lasting peace begin, and for all of our prayers in our book of petitions.

and for all our dearly departed, especially

Constance Duncan James Mitchell

OUR LADY OF LORETTO PARISH RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

“Handing on the Faith” 845-265-3718 ✭ ollfaithformation@gmail.com

CLASSES THIS WEEK Wednesday, December 20th, 2017

Grade 1 – 3:30 to 4:30 pm Grades 2 to 5 – 3:30 to 5:00 pm Grades 6 to 8 – 6:30 to 8:00 pm

Classes will not be held on Wednesday, December 27th due to the Christmas Holiday.

Classes resume Wednesday, January 3rd.

Please pray for our Second Graders who will receive the Sacrament of First

Reconciliation on Sunday, January 7th.

MASS ATTENDANCE

WEEKEND OF DECEMBER 10, 2017REGULAR WEEKLY COLLECTION – $7,124

COLLECTION FOR THE RETIRED RELIGIOUS – $1,784

Thank you for your generosity.

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION At Our Lady of Loretto • Every Monday • 7:00-8:00 pm

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament remains as it is with individual prayer time, but specific groups are being identified for certain Mondays so they can come together to focus in prayer for a specific intention...

Dec 18 – Liturgy and Spiritual Life Committee Jan 1 – Unborn and persecuted Christians Jan 8 – Doctors, nurses and medical personnel Jan 15 – The elderly and grandparents

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUSLoretto Council #536

Philipstown Food Pantry DeliverySunday • December 31st

The Knights of Columbus will be collecting food and other items, including diapers, toothbrushes, toothpaste,

soap, shampoo, cleaners and paper towels, for the Philipstown Food Pantry the weekend of December

30th and 31st. Please leave donations in the cry room during that

weekend. Thank you for your generosity! Grand Knight – Bob Murphy

To join, email our Membership Director, John Hackney: johnhackney@hotmail.com.

Information can also be found at KofC536.com.

Consider becoming a Lector, Eucharistic Minister or Altar Server

We especially need help at the following Masses: Lectors

Our Lady of Loretto Church: Saturdays • 5:00 pm, Sundays • 12:00 pm

St. Joseph’s Chapel: Sundays • 10:15 am Eucharistic Ministers

Our Lady of Loretto Church: Sundays • 12:00 pm St. Joseph’s Chapel: Sundays • 10:15 am

Altar Servers (4th Grade and up) Our Lady of Loretto Church: Sundays • 12 Noon

St. Joseph’s Chapel: Sundays • 10:15 am

If interested, please contact Anna McFadden at anna.mcfadden@gmail.com or call 845-265-2385.

MARCH FOR LIFE January 19th, 2018 • Washington, D.C.

Bus Information: Saint Columba Parish • 428 Route 82

Hopewell Junction, NY

The cost for students is $25 and adults is $35. The bus leaves St. Columba after the 4:30 am Mass.

For reservations or more information, contact George Morton at 845-226-6896; georgemorton@msn.com

“Let [Jesus] speak to you, embrace you, console you, heal your wounds, dissolve your doubts and fears – and you shall be ready for the fascinating adventure of life, that precious and inestimable gift that God places every day in your hands.”

– Pope Francis

Adults Children Total

Saturday, 5:00 pm 60 1 61

Sunday, 8:30 am *** *** ***

St. Joseph’s Chapel Sunday, 10:15 am 47 5 52

Sunday, 12:00 pm 115 23 138

Total*** 222 29 251***Attendance was not taken at the 8:30 am Mass.

LECTORS, EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS AND ALTAR SERVERS NEEDED FOR

CHRISTMAS MASSES Lectors

December 24th at 8:00 pm Eucharistic Ministers

December 24th at 6:00 pm (St. Joseph’s Chapel) and 8:00 pm

Altar Servers December 24th at 6:00 pm (St. Joseph’s Chapel),

December 25th at 10:00 am

If you can serve at any of these Masses, e-mail Anna McFadden at anna.mcfadden@gmail.com or call the

Parish Office at 265-3718.GAUDETE SUNDAY

BLESSING OF THE BAMBINELLI Today, Gaudete Sunday, the Pope blesses the “Bambinelli” – the figures of Baby Jesus that adorn Nativity scenes – in Rome. We have included below a Bambinelli blessing that you can use at home.

Bambinelli Blessing

God our Father, you loved us so much you sent us your only Son, Jesus, born of the Virgin Mary, to save us and lead us back to you.

We pray that, with your blessing, this image of Jesus might be a sign of your presence and love in our home.

Good Father, give your blessing to all who gather with us this Christmas, family and friends.

Open our hearts, that we might receive Jesus in joy, do always what he asks of us and see him in those who need our love.

We ask this in the name of Jesus, your beloved Son, who came to give peace to the world. You who live and reign forever and ever.

Amen.

Advent Reconciliation Services Monday, December 18th

Our Lady of Loretto Church 8:45 to 9:30 am (following the 8:15 am Mass) • 4:00 to

5:00 pm • 7:00 to 8:00 pm

Christmas Monday, December 25th

A Holy Day of Obligation Our Christmas Mass Schedule

Christmas Eve – Our Lady of Loretto 4:00 pm Christmas Vigil Mass with Children’s Choir

8:00 pm Christmas Vigil Mass

Christmas Eve – St. Joseph’s Chapel 6:00 pm Christmas Vigil Mass

Christmas Day – Our Lady of Loretto 10:00 am Christmas Mass

Advent and Christmas Traditions The Season of Advent changes its stress to the Nativity on December 17th. Your Creche might go up on December 17th without the Holy Family, and then add the Holy Family a few days before Christmas. On Christmas Eve welcome the Baby Jesus into the stable. On January 1st put the Magi somewhere else in the room and move them closer each day until they reach the stable on the Feast of the Epiphany or on January 6th.

Traditionally the Christmas Tree went up on Christmas Eve or just before, and remained up until at least January 6th “Little Christmas,” the traditional date for the Feast of the Epiphany (this feast day was moved to the closest Sunday). The Season of Christmas ends with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord (January 8, 2018).

GOD CANNOT CEASE TO LOVE ME "God cannot cease to love me. That is the most startling fact that our doctrine reveals. Sinner or saint He loves and cannot well help Himself. Magdalen in her sin, Magdalen in her sainthood, was loved by God. The difference between her position made some difference also in the effect of that love on her, but the love was the same, since it was the Holy Spirit who is the love of the Father and the Son. Whatever I do, I am loved. But then, if I sin, am I unworthy of love? Yes, but I am unworthy always.

Nor can God love me for what I am, since, in that case, I would compel His love, force His will by something external to Himself. In fact, really if I came to consider, I would find that I was not loved by God because I was good, but that I was good because God loved me. My improvement does not cause God to love me, but is the effect of God's having loved me.” – Father Bede Jarrett

THIS CATHOLIC IS ON DEATH ROW FOR “BLASPHEMY”. THE PRAYER SHE WROTE

IS BEAUTIFUL Do not abandon me in the day of trouble, do not deprive

me of your presence. Aleteia.org – On June 14, 2009, Asia Bibi was thrown into jail. A year later she was sentenced to death for blasphemy, and since 2013, after two transfers, she has been languishing in one of the three windowless cells on death row in the southern province of Multan in the Punjab Penitentiary. A year after the Supreme Court of Pakistan postponed her appeal amid death threats by 150 muftis (Muslim legal experts) against anyone who would assist “blasphemers,” the case has not progressed by one iota. On August 30, Asia Bibi had spent 3,000 days in prison.

This is the prayer she composed last year on the occasion of the Easter celebrations, and which accompanies her in her detention:

Resurrected Lord, allow your daughter Asia to rise again with you. Break my chains, make my heart free and go beyond these bars, and accompany my soul so that it is close to those who are dear to me, and that it remains always near you.

Do not abandon me in the day of trouble, do not deprive me of your presence. You who have suffered torture and the cross, alleviate my suffering. Hold me near you, Lord Jesus.

On the day of your resurrection, Jesus, I want to pray for my enemies, for those who hurt me. I pray for them and I beg you to forgive them for the harm they have done me.

I ask you, Lord, to remove all obstacles so that I may obtain the blessing of freedom. I ask you to protect me and protect my family.

Remember the Persecuted Christians in your prayers this Christmas.

"you are not above anyone.” Even if one feels certain that he or she is the last person on earth who holds to the truth, "do not spurn the company of human beings for this" reason.

• Hold onto ideals and live for something greater than yourself, even if it comes at a high price.

• "Nothing is more human than making mistakes and these mistakes must not become a prison for you.” The son of God came "not for the healthy, but the sick" so people should not be afraid to get up again and start over when they fall, "because God is your friend."

• "If bitterness strikes, firmly believe in all those people who still work for the good; the seed of a new world is in their humility."

• Spend time with people who have kept a child-like heart. "Learn from splendor, nurture amazement."

• “Live, love, believe, and with God's grace, never despair."

POPE FRANCIS ON HOW TO HAVE HOPE National Catholic Reporter

No matter "where God has planted you, hope. Always hope”:

• Enemy No. 1 is not out there somewhere, but inside oneself. “Don't make room for bitter or dark thoughts."

• "Believe in the existence of the most noble and beautiful truths" and trust that God, through the Holy Spirit, is ushering everything toward the good, toward "Christ's embrace."

• Believers are not alone in their faith. There are others who hope, too. "The world goes on thanks to the vision of many people who created an opening, who built bridges, who dreamed and believed, even when they heard words of derision around them."

• Never believe the struggles here on earth are “useless." God never disappoints and he wants that seed he planted in everyone to bloom. "God made us to flower, too."

• "Wherever you are, build!" • When life gets hard, and "you have fallen, get up.

Never stay down. Get up and let people help you to your feet."

• "If you're sitting, start walking!” Start the journey. • "If you're bored stiff, crush (boredom) with good works." • "If you feel empty and demoralized, ask if the Holy Spirit

may newly replenish" that void. • Work for peace among people. • Don't listen to those "who spread hatred and division." • No matter how different people are from one another,

human beings "were created to live together. With disputes, wait patiently. One day you will discover that a sliver of truth has been entrusted to everyone."

• Love people. Respect everyone's journey – whether it be troubled or down the straight and narrow because everyone has a story behind them.

• Every baby born is "the promise of a life that once again shows it is stronger than death."

• "Jesus has given us a light that shines in the darkness; defend it, protect it. This unique light is the greatest richness entrusted to your life."

• Dream of a world still not seen, but will certainly come one day. Think of those who sailed oceans, scaled mountains, conquered slavery or made life better for people on earth.

• Be responsible: "Every injustice against someone poor is an open wound" and countless generations will come after you have lived.

• Ask God for courage every day. "Remember Jesus conquered fear for us" and "not even our most treacherous enemy can do anything against faith.”

• If fear or evil looms so large it seems insurmountable, remember "that Jesus lives in you. And, through you, it is he, who, with his meekness, wants to subdue all enemies of humanity: sin, hatred, crime and violence.”

• Be courageous in speaking the truth, but never forget,