and

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT December 23, 2018

NATIVITY OF OUR LORD PARISH, DURYEA 127 Stephenson Street Tel: 570-457-3502 Fax: 570-451-3341 Office Hours: M-F, 8:30-4:30 unless otherwise noted in bulletin

E-mail: rectory@nativityduryea.org Web: www.nativityduryea.org / Nativity of Our Lord Duryea

Rev. John V. Polednak, V.E., Pastor Deacon André Kabacinski, Parish Deacon

Masses: Daily, M-F – 7:00 am ● Saturday (Vigil)- 4:00 pm ● Sunday- 8:00 am, 11:00 am and 7:00 pm

Confession: Daily, M-F~6:40-6:55 am ● Saturday- 3:15-3:45 pm, and anytime upon request.

The Twenty-fifth Day of December, when ages beyond number had run their course from the creation of the world,

when God in the beginning created heaven and earth, and formed man in his own likeness;

When century upon century had passed since the Almighty set his bow in the clouds after the Great Flood,

as a sign of covenant and peace;

In the twenty-first century since Abraham, our father in faith, came out of Ur of the Chaldees;

in the thirteenth century since the People of Israel were led by Moses in the Exodus from Egypt; around the thousandth year since David was anointed King; in the sixty-fifth week of the prophecy of Daniel;

In the one hundred and ninety-fourth Olympiad;

In the year seven hundred and fifty-two since the foundation of the City of Rome;

In the forty-second year of the reign of Caesar Octavian Augustus, the whole world being at peace,

JESUS CHRIST, eternal God and Son of the eternal Father,

desiring to consecrate the world by his most loving presence, was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and when nine months had passed since his conception, was born of the Virgin in Bethlehem of Judah, and was made man:

The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to the flesh. - the announcement of the

Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord from the Roman Martyrology

LITURGICAL CALENDAR, DEVOTIONS AND INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 23, 2018-JANUARY 1, 2019

Sun

23

8:00am

11:00am

7:00pm

Irene Rostkowski (by Children)

Italio, Marie and Arnold Mascioli (by Shirley and Walter Perhalla and Family)

For the Intentions of Our Parishioners

Mo

n

24

7:00am

4:00pm

12Midnight

Special Intention

For the Christmas Intentions of Our Parishioners

For the Christmas Intentions of Our Parishioners

Tu

e

25 9:00am

11:00am

For the Christmas Intentions of Our Parishioners

For the Christmas Intentions of Our Parishioners

Wed

26 7:00am Paulette Dalton (by Andrew and Andrea Lentowski)

Th

u

27 7:00am John Zielinski (by Richard and Charlotte Albertson)

Fri

28 7:00am Greno and Nancy Fumanti (by John and Nancy Rafferty)

Sat

29 4:00pm Thomas and Florence Skowronski (by Joyce and Edward Jones)

Sun

30

8:00am

11:00am

7:00pm

For the Intentions of Our Parishioners

Dolores Nitowski (by Deacon André, Maryann and Family)

Michael and Mary Vanko (by Mike, Rita and Michael Sowa)

Mo

n

31 7:00am 4:00pm

David Yuhas (by Diane Orlowski)

In Thanksgiving for the Blessings of 2018

Tu

e

1 9:00am

11:00am

Peace and Blessings for Our Families in the New Year

Peace and Blessings for Our Families in the New Year

VOTIVE CANDLE OFFERINGS

Sacred Heart of Jesus Henry Hodick (by wife Mary Alice )

Blessed Virgin Mary Helen Zuro (by daughter Mary Ann)

St. Joseph Michael and Irene Rostkowski (by Children)

2 Week of December 23, 2018-January 1, 2019

DECEMBER CALENDAR 23 Sunday -NO CCD 24 Monday–Christmas Eve--OFFICE CLOSED

25 Tuesday—Christmas—OFFICE CLOSED

26 Wednesday—OFFICE CLOSED

27 Thursday—NO Gift Certificates

30 Sunday -NO CCD 31 Monday – New Year’s Eve OFFICE CLOSED JANUARY 2019 CALENDAR 1 Tuesday - Sol of Mary, Mother of God -OFFICE CLOSED 4 Friday – First Friday 6 Sunday -CCD Classes resume

8 Tuesday -Pastoral Council, 6:30pm, Rectory

20 Sunday -Grade 5 Family Morning, 9:45am, HRCH 23 Wednesday -Take-Out Piggy Dinner (Orders due Jan. 20) 24 Thursday -Meeting of All Parish Councils, Committees and Officers, 6:30 pm, HRCH

More events and details online at www.nativityduryea.org

~ FINANCES AND ONGOING STEWARDSHIP ~ for the weekend of December 15-16, 2018 $3,193.75 Sunday; $2,523.50 Secondary; $197.94 Loose; $313.40 Cemetery; $572 Christmas

Online Giving: $209 Sunday; $105 Secondary; $1.00 Initial; $5 Retirement for Religious; $2.00 Cemetery

Loaves and Fishes: January – Hot Chocolate Mix DIOCESAN ANNUAL APPEAL We are currently at just over 50% of our parish goal for the 2018 Appeal, at $23,780.00. Thank you to all who have contributed so far. A list will be published after Christmas.

2019 Blessing of Homes Fr. John and Deacon André continue this beautiful tradition. If you would like your home blessed, please fill out and return so that a schedule could be made.

Name_________________________________

Address_______________________________

_______________________________

Phone __________________or___________________

Times that might work best

for all or most of the family to be at home:

A Weekday = Morning Afternoon Evening

Saturday Morning

Sunday Afternoon

Blessing of Homes Father Polednak and Deacon Kabacinski are continuing the custom of the Blessing of Homes after Christmas. Consider making this custom a part of your January to start the year off right, especially those in new or remodeled homes. If you wish a home visit, please indicate such on the reply form and return it by December 25. The blessing of a home is a blessing for the structure, but more importantly for those who dwell there. Ideally, everyone is home when the blessing takes place, though this is sometimes impossible. Please indicate what is a good time for the visit – this will be taken into account as Father is making the schedule.

20 + K + M + B + 19

WITH PARISH SYMPATHY Our prayers are requested for John Anderika, whose Prayer Service was celebrated on Monday, December 17; and for Stanley Kapish, Jr., whose Mass of Christian Burial was also celebrated on Monday, December 17. May the Risen Christ embrace them in His eternal love and peace, and give His comfort and consolation to their families and friends. Our parish sympathy is extended to them in their loss.

ITEMS FOR THE END OF 2018… AND BEGINNINGS OF 2019

BLESSED CHRISTMAS WAFERS (Opłatki) for use at your Christmas dinners and celebrations are still

available after Masses throughout the Advent season. We hope you can keep this tradition alive in your homes. A donation of $2 is asked to cover the cost of the wafers, and shipping and handling.

2019 PARISH CALENDARS have been available. Please take one calendar per home; additional calendars may be taken after New Year’s. Thank you very much to the Piontek Funeral Home for their donation of the calendars! Kittens and puppys are cute, mountains and oceans show us the majesty and glory of God, and comics help us find humor in our daily lives, but a Catholic Home Calendar helps us to bring the Faith into our homes in a real and visible way. Please consider taking your calendar today.

HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION – January 1 – Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. On New Year’s Day the Church celebrates the mystery of Mary’s divine motherhood under the title of Mother of God. Called the Theotokos in Greek, Mary has been called God-bearer from the earliest days in the Church. Masses are 4pm on the 31st, and 9am and 11am on January 1.

NEW OFFERTORY ENVELOPE SYSTEM will begin in January as announced in last week’s bulletin and included in your Christmas Letter. If you have not received Adult Envelopes, and you are 23 Years old or older, please call the rectory, as your census information may not be up to date.

The GIFT CERTIFICATES that support Holy Rosary School and our other Diocesan schools will be available on THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, from 8:00-10:00 am in the Church Hall.

TAKE OUT PIGGIE DINNER Sponsored by the parish Men’s Society will be held on Wednesday, January 23rd, 2019. Order forms will appear in the next bulletin.

Questions for personal reflection based on this Sunday’s Readings…

The Sound of Our

Greeting

“When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting,

the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said,

‘Blessed are you among women,

and blessed is the fruit of your womb.’” -Luke 1:40-43

Do I realize how powerful my words are and

am I aware of their power to harm others – or to lift others up?

Do I support those who are expecting a child? Do I see each child, each person of any age, as a gift no matter

how troublesome or inconvenient they are to me?

Fourth Sunday of Advent time

3

3 Look into the manger scene and imagine the Holy Family on that first Christmas Eve.

Joseph and Mary are at once both fearful and joyful, just as we often find ourselves before a new year.

Imagine picking up the Infant in the crib and be amazed that you can hold God, just as happens at every Communion.

All is peaceful and calm, not because the world has changed,

but that the Son of God has loved us so much he has come to be with us.

He brings joy and peace in our turbulent world just as he does in that manger scene.

May these few minutes of meditation strengthen in us the same faith of those who first beheld the Infant in the manger.

Through faith we get to know the God who comes to us in peace. To all those here visiting family or friends, or renewing the

practiced of our Faith this Christmas, we say WELCOME!

On behalf of Deacon André and the entire staff, may I wish you and your family near and far God’s blessings of peace and

joy. Kindly remember us in your prayers, as we will remember all of your family and loved ones at our Christmas Masses.

-Fr. John

This Bulletin is printed in Loving Memory of. . .

John A., Theresa and

John Adamiak Jr.

Alfred & Judith Akulonis, Sr. Frank and Helen Amantea Jean Marie Ambrosavage

Mary Louise Bomber Peter and Victoria Biga Thomas and Stella Blasco

Edward and Margaret

Brostoski Frank Callis

Alan J. Celusniak

John and Mary Celusniak Richard A. Champi, Sr. Chilek and Hoover Families

Coyne and Wieczorek

Families

Louis Robert Cremard

Catherine and Louis Cremard

Irene DeAngelo

Rev. Andrew J. Marcinko

M/M Andrew Marcinko

Carmen and Idena DeBiasi

Deceased members of the

Louis and Dorothy Doxbeck

Family

Deceased members of the

Dolan and Roche Family Chester Draus

Dulny and Kapish Families Jack Fischer and

Zaladonis Family Helen S. Mattei Freas

John T. Freas

and Mary Matt

Fumanti and Rafferty

Families

Dominick “Beaver” Gigliello

and

Anthony & Mary Naida

Margaret & Leo Glodzik, Sr.

and Lea Glodzik

Gregorczyk and Negvesky

Families Martin K. Hastie, Jr.

Jasienski, Bozinko &

Lewandowski Families Judge and Antal Families Kundrat and Simko Families

Eugene Madrak Lottie and George Matrone Victoria, Stella and William

Maziarz

Thomas J. and Cecelia A.

McAndrew Henry B. McHale John and Mary Mikovitch

John, Michaline and

Joseph Milus Moskaitis Family

Mary Ann Namatka

Peter & Elizabeth Namatka

William & Josephine Sowa

Sophia & Walter Nestorick

and Peter Pocholonis, Jr.

Deceased members of the

Stanley & Josephine

Nowakowski Family

Bernard Olcheski,

Eileen Macuga and

William & Helen Dalton

Agnes and Peter Olsheski

Olszewski, Grudzinski and

Madrak Families

Zigmont, Lottie &

David Olszewski and

Anna Skowronski

Frank & Florence Orlowski Bernard J. Ostrosky Teresa Ramiza Pace and

Michael T. Haluschak

Charles & Julia Pernot and

Martin & Anna Dunay

and Family

Ruth Pernot Samuel & Genevieve Perrins

Eugene P. Perrins

Edward and Dorothy

Piorkowski

Mrs. Helen Rava

Sharon Rava Imbrogno

Stanley & Stella Rava

and Family

Rincavage and Billick

Families

Anthony and Helen Rincavage

and Anthony Singer Michael and Irene Rostkowski Jess L. & Beatrice Rutkoski

Victor L., Anna and

Victor J. Salidas

Thomas & Florence

Skowronski and

Wascavage Family

Joseph and Mary Solarchik

Margaret Stanavage and

Son, Ronnie

Carl Joseph Tucker, Butler

and Long Families Walter Urban

Ross A., Anna and Raymond

Vender

Jacob J. Vitek

Pauline M. Vitek

Theresa M. Vitek

Earl & Marion Vrabel and

Michael Larronde

Grant Larronde

Mike Wasko Vincent & Mary Waszczak

and Marion Waszczak Bryk Helen Yardchik

Margaret Yauk

and Romayne Solarchik

Zujkowski, Pribula and Klink

Families Helen and Adam Zuro

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