Pastor's letter and Mass Times

SAINT ANTHONY

PARISH

Dear Parishioners,

Today is the first day of the new liturgical year for the Church. We are entering Advent, a time of preparation for Christmas. We will begin preparing our hearts to celebrate the birth of Christ, and in anticipation of his return.

Hope, light, joy, and “holy waiting” are all terms that illustrate the spiritual movement of these four weeks. But there is another word that underlies them and is highlighted in our readings today: justice. Justice might not be the first word that comes to mind as we prepare our hearts to celebrate the nativity of baby Jesus. So often when we think of justice, it is in the legal sense. We think of right and wrong or fairness.

God’s sense of justice is deeper than that, however. It is about the proper state of things in the world, and about the order God wants in his creation. This is what Jeremiah prophesies in today’s first reading. The redemption that awaited God’s people was not just about saving us, but about bringing forth God’s order in the world. God’s way is justice, and it is authentic.

Jeremiah foretold the (first) coming of Christ. The Gospel addresses his second coming and contains admonitions to keep our hearts alert and free from vice. Jesus says to be vigilant and attentive to what surrounds us: But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.

This is the fullness of the kingdom that awaits us. This is the time when God’s just judgment will fall upon each of us, so the Lord tells us to be active in preparation and free from anxieties in life.

Every Advent is a time to prepare for our own journey to Bethlehem, and to await the return of the Son of Man. We take a serious look at our practices and consider how we can grow closer to God. There are countless ways to do this. Perhaps it is a dedicated time each day for prayer. Or maybe it is in reconnecting with a loved one. It could even be starting a new act of service. It might look different from person to person, but God is calling us to prepare to receive him and prepare for his return.

Blessings,

Fr. Tad

First Week of Advent: Hope, A Purple Candle

Dear Jesus, you are the hope in our messy world. This Advent, help us slow down, listen to your voice, and focus on what’s really important. We place our hope in you as we prepare our hearts to celebrate your birth on Christmas. Amen.

MASS ETIQUETTE

Remember to silence, turn off, and put away your cell phones, tablets, and gaming devices prior the start of Mass.

Remember not to chew a gum in the church, especially during Mass.

Keep in mind the Communion fast – we are to fast from food and drink (water and medicine excluded) one hour before receiving Holy Communion. Let us prepare our body and soul to worthily receive our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.

When we are in the church (specifically in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament), we should keep our volume to a reverential whisper, if conversation is necessary. This is to promote prayer to prepare our hearts and minds for Mass. Thank you for your mindfulness.

ADVENT RECONCILIATION SERVICE

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2024

7-8 PM Big Church

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2024

11AM-12PM

and by appointment

Prepare for the Christmas Season by celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation during Advent. All are welcome.

FIRST FRIDAY EUCHARISTIC ADORATION

DECEMBER 6, 2024

"I will not allow myself to be so absorbed in the whirlwind of work as to forget about God. I will spend all my free moments at the feet of the Master hidden in the Blessed Sacrament. He has been tutoring me from my most tender years."

- St. Faustina

Eucharistic Adoration will follow at 6:30 Mass on Friday, December 6 at the McKean Road church. Come to sit quietly in meditation, pray, or read your Bible or other spiritual books, or to simply be in Jesus' presence. All are invited to come at their convenience throughout the night and also for the 7:00 am breakfast that follows the benediction on Saturday.

SOLEMNITY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

PATRONAL FEAST DAY OF THE UNITED STATES

MONDAY, DEC 9, AT 8:00 AM MASS

"No sin would touch her, so that she would be a fitting and worthy vessel of the Son of God. The Immaculate Conception does not refer to the virginal conception and the birth of Christ, but rather to Mary's being conceived without inheriting Original Sin." (United States Catholic Catechism for Adults, 142-143)

Every December 8, we joyfully celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, the Patroness of the United States. However, this year, 2024, December 8 falls on the Second Sunday of Advent. As a result, the celebration of the Solemnity will be transferred to Monday, December 9.

Sharing is Caring

The Pastoral Care Ministry of St. Anthony Parish is once again hosting an Advent blood drive on Saturday, December 7, 2024.

The Stanford Blood Center will be taking donations in the Big Church parking lot from 8:30am - 12:15pm.

Whether you are a first time donor, or a season giver, please consider sharing the gift of life this Advent Season. A single blood donation can provide life saving blood products to as many as three individuals in need.

In person sign-ups will be held after each mass on the weekend of November 23-24th. Don’t want to wait, contact Corinne Jarrett (grammycmj@gmail.com or 408-892-3152) today to get on the schedule. You can also sign up on-line by visiting the Stanford Blood Center website.

Your continued support of the life saving event is greatly appreciated.

Outreach News St Joseph’s Christmas Food Drive

Feed a Family

Many in our community continue to experience extreme food insecurity. St. Joseph’s in Gilroy has advised us that they have had a precipitous drop in food donations from local food banks, while at the same time they are seeing a significant growth in the number of families needing assistance. St. Joseph’s is currently providing food items to over 2000 people each week. St. Joseph’s has requested that we once again donate money to a food drive, as that was extremely helpful last Christmas. St. Joseph’s has the capability of purchasing large quantities of food items by the pallet load, and at a discount. Therefore, we are asking St Anthony parishioners to make cash or check donations and “Feed a Family” this Christmas.

We are suggesting a donation of $25, but any amount will greatly help. We have been told many times that St. Anthony Church is one of St. Joseph’s largest supporters. Please give generously, and help make this a very Merry Christmas for a family in need.

Please make checks payable to St. Joseph’s Family Center. A member of Outreach will be available to take your cash or checks after each mass on Saturday and Sunday, December 7-8, and December 14-15. You may also drop off cash or checks in the parish office no later December 16.

May the Lord bless each of you and your families for your continued generosity, and may you have a blessed Christmas season!

DIOCESE OF SAN JOSE: PASTORAL PLAN

The Diocese of San Jose has been working on a spiritual renewal (like the Eucharistic Revival among others) of our parish communities and encouraged the parishes to undertake evangelization efforts among the people. In case you have not yet seen the Diocese of San Jose plan (released late last year), you can view/download a copy here. The St. Anthony Pastoral Council and Finance Committee are working to incorporate applicable elements of the Diocese plan into our own St. Anthony Parish Plan, and will share highlights of the integrated plan with the community in Q1 2025.

Renovation Project of our Cottage

Renovation cost : around $12,000

Money raised: $ 12,125

Thank you to 16 generous families for their donation.

2025 Mass Intention Book

The 2025 Mass book is available.

A very special prayer practice that is offered at every Mass is a Mass Intention. Intentions are offered for many reasons, for the living and the dead. Masses can be offered for birthdays, anniversaries, illness, special intentions and answered prayers. Consider remembering a loved one this upcoming year.

If you are looking for a specific date for the Mass, call soon to reserve your date so that it isn’t taken.

Contact the parish office ~ (408) 997-4800; email us at churchstanthony@dsj.org.

A donation of $10 is suggested.

Religious Education Classes for children at Saint Anthony Parish has already begun this month, but it is not too late to sign up. Whether preparing for first Holy Communion or to take part in continued formation, all children and youth can learn more and grow in their faith.

Forms are available in the parish office. The cost is $80 per child.

Please sign up your child asap. Any questions, please call Katrina Votaw at (408) 927-8224.

We hope your children will join us this year!!

CALLING ALL MUSICIANS AND SINGERS

The 8:30 AM and 10:30 AM choirs are looking to recruit more singers and musicians. Please consider sharing your talent and joining us in praising God through music.

Rehearsals for the 8:30 AM Mass are on Tuesdays at 7:00 PM and rehearsals for the 10:30 AM Mass are on Wednesdays at 7:00 PM.

For more information, contact Denise Delong at: denise_delong@yahoo.com or speak to a choir member after Mass.

Have you ever tried to “Sing the Hours”?

The Liturgy of the Hours, also known as the Divine Office or Breviary, is the daily prayer of the universal church, with prayers dispersed at intervals throughout the day to sanctify time and work. The Office is organized around the Psalms, which train our voices speak and sing along with the voice of Christ.

Now, there is a new and easy way to learn the Liturgy of the Hours, by listening to the twice-daily podcast “Sing the Hours” with Paul Rose. Visit SingTheHours.org to get started! After a few weeks of listening and praying and singing along, you will find the timeless prayers of Jesus and His Church becoming your own prayers as well!

DONATIONS INFO

It is easier now more than ever to make your stewardship and second collection contributions online. A "Donate" button has been added to the upper right corner of the parish website home page and an "Online Giving" button to the end of each week's parish email. Clicking these buttons will take you directly to our online giving app.