Dear Friends,

All over the world the Christmas carol Silent Night has become the most beloved of all carols. Here is the story of its origin: On Christmas Eve in 1818 Father Joseph Mohr, the Parish priest of Oberndorf, near Salzburg, Austria, was notified that repairs of the Church organ could not be finished in time for midnight Mass. This caused great disappointment for the priest and the people since the music for the Mass that the choir had prepared could not be sung. To lessen the disappointment, Father Mohr decided to surprise his parishioners with a new carol. He went to work immediately and wrote three stanzas, the first of which was inspired by the sight of a baby whose ailing mother he had visited earlier in the day. Having fixed the text, he brought it to his friend, Franz Gruber, a teacher and organist in the nearby village Arnsdorf. Gruber composed a tune in a few hours. At midnight Mass, the hushed congregation in the little church heard the first performance of Stille Nact, performed to the accompaniment of a guitar.

Reflection:

When one door closes, God has a way of opening another, if we place our complete trust in him. The deep disappointment of a broken pipe organ on Christmas Eve for one parish priest in Austria in the early part of the nineteenth century became a blessing for the Christian world from that day forward. Father Mohr could have never imagined that his willingness to use his imagination, experience, and talents, instead of settling for a Mass without Christmas music, would be the origin of a beautiful Christmas hymn sung in every language throughout the world both within and outside the church. (Reflection by Fr. John Hillier). A few Questions: Do we bring “music” and a “Hymn” that reflects the love of Christ each time we encounter a family member, a church goer, a neighbor, and/or a stranger? Do we allow the silence of prayer to give us the strength we need to grow in our Christian faith? Do we take the time to remain still so that we can fully listen to the will of God in our life? The world is filled with noise and sadly the “music of the world” will never bring about the “silent night” we all need. This silence and peace can only come from one place, that is in the stable in Bethlehem that holds in it the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ. From all of us that serve here at Saint Clare Parish, I want to wish you a very “silent night” and Merry Christmas!

Fr. Peter Glabik, Pastor

SAINT CLARE PARISH • CLIFTON, NJ Fourth Sunday of Advent • December 23rd, 2018

WWW.SAINTCLARENJ.COM

Celebration of

the Eucharist

MONDAY, DECEMBER 24- CHRISTMAS EVE 4:00 PM SPIRITUAL BOUQUET CARDS 9:00 PM PEOPLE OF THE PARISH __________________________________________________ TUESDAY, DECEMBER 25- CHRISTMAS DAY 8:00 AM GENEVIEVE, ANTHONY, & ANDREW BLASKEWICZ 10:00 AM SPIRITUAL BOUQUET CARDS 12:00 PM SPIRITUAL BOUQUET CARDS __________________________________________________ WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26 8:30 AM ANTHONY BLASKEWICZ FRANK BOZZELLI STEPHEN DENKOWICZ __________________________________________________ THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27 8:30 AM INTENTIONS OF FR. PETER GLABIK __________________________________________________ FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28 8:30 AM JOSE RODRIGUEZ (1 YEAR ANN.) OLIVIA ESTEVEZ __________________________________________________ SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29 5:00 PM JOHN BLASKEWICZ; ANNE K. ZAREMBA; CYRUS SILVERIO; SOUL OF EUGENE; CLEMENTINA NAPOLITANO __________________________________________________ SUNDAY, DECEMBER 30 8:00 AM AGNES & JAMES FORD; STEPHEN DENKOWICZ; ANTHONY REPPE 10:00 AM BRIGIDO & TRANQUILINA DAVID; CYRUS SILVERIO; LEONARD MACALUSO 12:00 PM JOSE TELLO; JOSE RODRIGUEZ; CYRUS SILVERIO; LUCILIA DACOSTA

Collection December 15-16, 2018: 4,604.00

Memorials for the Week Altar Bread & Wine is offered this week in memory of…

ANTHONY & GENEVIEVE BLASKEWICZ Altar Candles burn this week in memory of…

FRANK JAMES MAZZA Sanctuary Candle burns this week in memory of…

STEPHEN DENKOWICZ Divine Mercy Chapel Candle burns this week in memory of…

PEOPLE OF THE PARISH Memorial Opportunities are available:

Contact the Office at 973-777-9313

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

First Reading: Micah 5:1-4a Micah speaks of the ruler who will come from Bethlehem. He discusses how the people of Israel will be saved from corruption and live in peace. Second Reading: Hebrews 10:5-10 Paul describes to the Hebrews how Jesus came into the world and offered to do God's will. We were saved through his sacrifice, the only offering sufficient for the sins of the world. Gospel: Luke 1:39-45 Mary paid a visit to Elizabeth, whose baby stirred in her womb upon hearing Mary's greeting. Elizabeth filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb." Elizabeth was deeply overjoyed that the words God had spoken to Mary had now been fulfilled.

OFFICE HOURS FOR CHRISTMAS:

MON, DEC 24TH: 9-12PM TUES, DEC 25TH: CLOSED

2019 MASS BOOK NOW OPEN!

DONATION: $15 PER MASS FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE.

CALL THE OFFICE TODAY!

SAINT CLARE CHURCH INFO: REV. PETER GLABIK, PASTOR REV. THOMAS FITZGERALD, PAROCHIAL VICAR ADDRESS: 69 ALLWOOD RD, CLIFTON, NJ 07014 PARISH OFFICE: (973) 777-9313 FAX: (973) 777-6945 EMAIL: OFFICE@SAINTCLARENJ.COM WEBSITE: WWW.SAINTCLARENJ.COM OFFICE HOURS: MON-THURS 9AM-12PM/ 1PM-3PM CLOSED MASS TIMES: SAT 5PM; SUN 8AM, 10AM, 12PM IN CHURCH MON-FRI 8:30AM IN DIVINE MERCY CHAPEL

SAINT CLARE PARISH • CLIFTON, NJ Fourth Sunday of Advent • December 23rd, 2018

WWW.SAINTCLARENJ.COM

“When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby stirred in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and cried out in a loud voice: ‘Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb. But who am I that the mother of my Lord should come to me?’...‘Blessed is she who trusted that the Lord's words to her would be fulfilled.’”

What a wonderful family reunion. Two expectant mothers meeting, greeting, celebrating imminent births. St. Luke points out the presence of the Holy Spirit, even before the Pentecost event. The question posed by Elizabeth ‘who am I?’...can be changed for us today.

Who am I that my Lord and Savior should come to me? A loving Father saw our need, and in concern for us, sent, not the mother or our Savior, but the saving Lord Himself. How frequently we pray the words of Luke in the Hail Mary. As we complete our advent may the question of Elizabeth, and my question be answered.

As we approach the feast of the birth of Christ this week, may we live the visitation event, greeting others in the name of the Lord, recognizing His presence among us in our needy world. The two holy women rejoiced in Christ's presence, and so do we. Reflect for a few moments on the biblical basis of the Hail Mary.

HIS WORD TODAY

BY REV. WILLIAM J. REILLY

MINISTRY SCHEDULE DEC. 29/30 5:00 PM 8:00 AM 10:00 AM 12:00 NOON

EUCHARISTIC MINISTER (H)

RODULFO MOISES JR. STELLA BEDNARZ

TANIA FERNANDEZ ANTHONY SANTASIERI

EILEEN HARRISON JOAN MARIANO

MICHAEL LAROSA RODULFO MOISES III

LECTOR ROBERT SANTORIELLO VIRGINIA REILLY JEANETTE SODANO JONAS AVANCENA

ALTAR SERVERS

ANDREW D’AMATO ADDISON O’LEARY JUSTIN MARTINEZ

JONATHAN MARTINEZ ROSALIN MENDEZ

JONATHAN AVANCENA

*December 2018-February 2019 Ministry Schedules now available in the Sacristy, Parish Office, and online at www.saintclarenj.com/ministry-schedules. Questions please contact Josie Lagazo-Estero: jlagazo395@aol.com.

CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE

CHRISTMAS EVE

DEC. 24TH 4PM & 9PM

CHRISTMAS DAY

DEC. 25TH 8AM, 10AM, 12PM

PARISHIONERS, THANK YOU FOR DONATING CHRISTMAS GIFTS & BRINGING JOY TO FAMILIES IN NEED. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR GENEROSITY THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON!

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PICTURES OCCASIONALLY DURING CHURCH EVENTS!

SAINT CLARE PARISH • CLIFTON, NJ Fourth Sunday of Advent • December 23rd, 2018

WWW.SAINTCLARENJ.COM

SAINT CLARE PARISH • CLIFTON, NJ Fourth Sunday of Advent • December 23rd, 2018

WWW.SAINTCLARENJ.COM

This week’s Advent Candle is dedicated for:

Kaiser Family

Anthony Savoca by Mr. & Mrs. Carmine Masullo

The DiLorenzo Family by Karen DiLorenzo

Anne K. Zaremba by A.L. Zaremba

Pilar Valido by Tania & Eduardo Fernandez

The Petrone Family by Mr. & Mrs. Dominick LaRuffa

Mallari & Fernandez Family by Mr. & Mrs. Rudolf Mallari

The Meade Family by Kevin & Janice Meade

Silvina Moises by The Moises Family

Avancena Family by John & Asuncion Avancena

Besterci Family by Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Besterci

Dougherty Family by Barbara Dougherty

Kozyra & Peduto Families by Barry & Cheryl Kozyra

Sarte Family by Luisito Sarte

Lagazo & Estero Families by Sonny & Josie Estero

Hedwig Sukalsky by Ms. Laraine Sukalsky

Frank J. Mazza by Mrs. Lucille Mazza

Rivieccio, Rizzo, Oliveri, & Alfieri Families by Mr. & Mrs. Vincent Rivieccio

Joseph, Helen, and Father Joseph Kwiatkowski by Barbara Szczygiel

June Handel, Richard Handel, Eva Kalbacher, & Charles Kalbacher

by Ms. Donna Handel

SAINT CLARE PARISH • CLIFTON, NJ Fourth Sunday of Advent • December 23rd, 2018

WWW.SAINTCLARENJ.COM

CHRISTMAS FLOWER DEDICATIONS The following were memorialized or //honored. Please remember them in your prayers. Apologies for any missing or misspelled names.

DONATION BY: MEMORIALIZED// HONORED MS. ELIZABETH ACEVEDO MR. & MRS. VALENTIN; MR. & MRS. MARQUEZ; MR. & MRS. AROCHO AGGARAO FAMILY MRS. DOLORES ANTONIO ROMAN ANTONIO; ANTONIO & GUGONIA ORLANDA FAMILY; CEFERINO ANTONIO FAMILY; JULIO & CRISTINA LAPEZ; JOSE & GODOFREDO ORLANDA MS. LETTRICE AQUINO MR. & MRS. JOHN AVANCENA VIOLETA AVANCENA; ASUNCION LAYSON; SALVADOR LAYSON JR.; JOSE AVANCENA GERALDINE K. AZZOLINO RICHARD C. BARRY DR. MICHAEL C. BARRY MR. & MRS. JOSEPH BESTERCI MR. & MRS. JOHN BESTERCI; MR. & MRS. MICHAL BILY; MR. & MRS. PAUL & ANN SABOL; MR. & MRS. PETER & ARLENE MONTEVERDE; MRS. ROSE BRADLEY; THE COPKO FAMILY MR. & MRS. NICHOLAS BOGLIVI MR. & MRS. PAUL BONANNI MR. & MRS. JOSEPH BOYER KENNY’S & BOYER’S MR. WILLIAM E. BROSONSKI MR. & MRS. ANTONIO CAMPANELLA ANTONINO CAMPANELLA JEANNE CASELLA HELEN ROWENS MR. & MRS. ANTONIO CENTRON MR. & MRS. JUANITO CERDAN MR. & MRS. ANGELO & DONNA CIFELLI MR. & MRS. NICOLO CORRIERI MY FAMILY MR. & MRS. ANDREW D’AMATO RAYMOND KOCHIK; MARGARET & JOSEPH KOCHIK; REHWALD FAMILY MR. & MRS. LORAND DERKA MARIA DERKA; ATTILA DERKA; FLORENCIA RACHO; GAUDENCIO RACHO; BELEN ALINGASA MR. & MRS. BENJAMIN DE JESUS MODESTO BONDALO; MACARIO BONDALO; RONNIE RENEGADO; PERCY RENEGADO MR. & MRS. THOMAS DELANO FAMILY & FRIENDS OF THE DELANO FAMILY MRS. CATHERINE DENKOWICZ DECEASED FAMILY MEMBERS MS. KAREN DiLORENZO MR. & MRS. ANTHONY DiLORENZO MR. & MRS. COS DI NAPOLI MR. JOHN DOMAGALA DENISE DOMAGALA MR. & MRS. CAMILO DUENAS, JR. MR. & MRS. JOSEPH DUFFY MS. LENORE DZIUBA TED DZIUBA SR.; PIRONE FAMILY MR. & MRS. SONNY ESTERO JUAN & MARCIANA LAGAZO MR. & MRS. THOMAS FELIPE EMILY & STEVE BARAN; DOROTHY & JACK FELIPE MR. & MRS. EDUARDO FERNANDEZ URSINO RODRIGUEZ; FELIX QUEVEDO; EDITH LIPCHUS; PILAR VALIDO MR. & MRS. SALVATORE FINOCCHIARO AL, SAL, JULIANNA, JUSTIN FINOCCHIARO- PRAY FOR HEALING MRS. MARGARET FREDERICKSON JOHN DREW FREDERICKSON ESQ. (ATTORNEY); BUD FREDERICKSON MR. & MRS. MARK FULLMAN BARBARA DOMINIANNI; NICHOLAS DOMINIANNI; RITA FULLMAN; JOHN F. FULLMAN; FORTUNATO OCELLO MRS. CAROLINE GALDO LUIGI GALDO MRS. CAROL GOMMOLL GOMMOLL FAMILY; KIEVIT FAMILY MR. & MRS. ALBERT GRECO CARMEL GRIMALDI LAWRENCE & CARMELA PUGLIA; ANTHONY J GRIMALDI MR. & MRS. NESTOR GUEVARRA MS. JOANNE GURSKY GIZELLA GURSKY; JOHN GURSKY MS. DONNA HANDEL JUNE & RICHARD HANDEL; EVA & CHARLES KALBACHER MRS. EILEEN HARRISON MARGARET KEARNS; RICHARD KEARNS; JOSEPHINE CUMMINS; JAMES CUMMINS MS. JANE HEARN-CUTAR MR. & MRS. THEODORE HEISELMAN THEODORE HEISELMAN MR. & MRS. THOMAS HILBERTH STEVE & ALBINA BACSENKO; BELA & IRENE HILBERTH MR. & MRS. TOM HOANG CUC DANG NGAT LE; ONG BA KUONG; ONG BA THAC DANG MS. LOURDES IMPERIO MS. PAMELA INGLIS INGLIS FAMILY; YUSKO FAMILY; HUGH & BETTY GAMBARO MR. & MRS. GARY IPPOLITTO IPPOLITTO FAMILY; BURD FAMILY MR. & MRS. JOHN JACKOVITZ MR. & MRS. THOMAS KAISER MARY COLACURCIO; DOMINICK COLACURCIO; SOPHIA CAJZER; JOSEPH CAJZER MS. JUNE KIRBY MRS. DOROTHY KOCHIK RAYMOND KOCHIK; KOCHIK FAMILY; REHWALD FAMILY; NYCZ-D’AMATO-MASKAL FAMILIES MR. & MRS. STEPHEN C. KOLAKOWSKY MEMBERS OF THE KOLAKOWSKY-BINOTTO FAMILIES LIVING & DECEASED MR. & MRS. BARRY KOZYRA THE KOZYRA FAMILY; THE PEDUTO FAMILY MRS. JOSEPHINE KURC RICHARD KURC GILDA LAO CHAI BIO LAO; ESPERANZA LAO; VICTOR LAO; NELSON LAO; EDWARDO YU MR. & MRS. DOMINICK LARUFFA CLAUDE & VIRGINIA PETRONE; JEAN & THOMAS LARUFFA; MARY VIVINETTI; LEONARD PETRONE; KATHY UAQUINTO MR. & MRS. PHILIP LIPPI MILDRED KIESSLING MR. & MRS. ANDREW MAHER DELFINA PEREZ; MARIA VARGAS MR. HOWARD MALLOY IVAN M. RYAN MALLOY JULIUS & MAGDALENA MARIANO MR. MATTHEW MARIANO MR. & MRS. CARMINE MASULLO MRS. LUCILLE MAZZA DECEASED BOZZELLI FAMILY; DECEASED PORRETTA FAMILY; DECEASED MAZZA FAMILY; DECEASED PAYNE FAMILY MR. & MRS. DAMIAN MC CARTNEY KEVIN & JANICE MEADE MR. & MRS. ROBERTO MENDOZA ENCARNITA ESGUERRA; ERNESTO ESGUERRA; ROBERTO MENDOZA; CORAZON NACAR MR. & MRS. STANLEY MIELACH LENNY AMOROSO; MR. & MRS. MIELACH SR. MR. & MRS. RICHARD MILLER RICHARD MILLER FAMILY MRS. ANGELA MONTAGUE FLORENCE & JOSEPH FARINELLA MR. & MRS. JOSEPH MULLER MULLER FAMILY; HANGOSKI FAMILY; MCNAMARA FAMILY MR. & MRS. JOHN NEUBAUER MS. ANGELA NOLASCO NOON FAMILY MR. & MRS. JAMES NOON; MR. & MRS. JOSEPH SODANO MR. & MRS. RONALD OLSZOWY EMIL & ANN OLSZOWY; JOHN & MARGARET GRONER MR. & MRS. CESAR ONG BENITO TAN; ROSITA TAN; ERNESTO TAN; JAMES TAN, CONSUELO TAN, FELIX TAN MR. & MRS. JOSEPH PAVONE MARY & NICHOLAS PAULTER; VALERIA & KOSTEK BULWIN GILDA RESTREPO MR. & MRS. JAIME REYES MR. & MRS. FELIPE CAWAKE; MR. & MRS. EMMANUEL REYES MS. MARIBETH ROBBIANI-FUNG ROSEMARY CURRAN; JAMES M. CURRAN MR. & MRS. JUN RUZ ERNESTO CENIZAL SR.; BENJAMIN RUZ SR. MR. & MRS. PETER SAGUI MR. & MRS. JOSEF SCHMIDT MRS. ERIC SEITZ ERIC P. SEITZ; JOSEPH A. LUPICO MR. & MRS. CHARLES SFERRAZZA SFERRAZZA FAMILY; WALSH FAMILY MR. & MRS. JEREMIAH SHEEHAN RICH & GINGER BOONE; MARIE & JOE SHEEHAN MRS. RITA SINGER PROVENDENZA LOGIUDICE MR. & MRS. CHARLES STAUHS EMILY DYKMAN MS. LARAINE SUKALSKY HEDWIG SUKALSKY MR. & MRS. ROBERT SWETITS THE MINGO FAMILY; THE SWETITS FAMILY MR. & MRS. BOGUSLAW SZCZYGIEL SZCZYGIEL FAMILY MR. VICTOR URBANOVICH MR. & MRS. OSCAR VARGAS LEO & DOLORES VIVIANO STANLEY & SOPHIE WOLANSKI; CHRISTINE (HONEY) VOCHECOWICZ; STANLEY E. WOLANSKI JR.; ANNA STARZEWSKA; VIVIANO & COMO FAMILY; ALL SOLDIERS-LIVING & DECREASED MR. & MRS. JAMES WAKSMUNDZKI MRS. HELEN WETZEL ROBERT WETZEL MR. & MRS. WESLEY WILLIAMS MS. BEATA WITYCH KRYSTYNA, STEFAN WITYCH MRS. LORRAINE WOEHRLE ANTHONY & SOPHIE KRUDYS MARY WOJTACH KURT DECHERT JR.; ANNA WOJTACH MRS. DOROTHY WOODRUFF THOMAS JAMES WOODRUFF EDWARD WOZNY, JR. ANNA MAY WOZNY MS. REGINA ZIGNORSKI BARBARA ZIGNORSKI CHRISTMAS FLOWER ENVELOPE OFFERING RECEIVED UNTIL DECEMBER 19TH.