THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH OF SAINT MATTHEW & OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP

The Week of December 22, 2019 - Fourth Sunday of Advent

If you would like to bring the gifts up during the offertory procession,

please see an usher before Mass begins.

OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP CHURCH

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21 5:00 pm James Mulvey req. by Matthew Kelley SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22

8:30 am Nikolaus & Elisabeth Herbold req. by Wolff Family 10:30 am Louise Ciancio req. by Family MONDAY, DECEMBER 23 8:00 am Peter Carrier TUESDAY, DECEMBER 24 8:00 am Special Intentions for BJK THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26

8:00 am Sal Campoli req. by wife, Dora FRIDAY DECEMBER 27 8:00 am Anthony Kalathara req.by Mary Kalathara SATURDAY, DECEMBER 28 8:00 am Special Intentions for BJK 5:00 pm Alma Dualsky req. by family SUNDAY, DECEMBER 29

8:30 am Special Intentions BJK 10:30 am Josie & Tony Gagliano req. by Camille Gutierrez & Family

ST. MATTHEW’S CHURCH

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21 5:00 pm Ann Mitchell req. by Family SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22

8:30 am Robert Fortunato req. by Karen & Anthony Vitale & Family 11:00 am Michael Markman req. by Wife MONDAY, DECEMBER 23

9:00 am Ann Mitchell req. by family TUESDAY, DECEMBER 24 9:00 am Special Intentions THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26

9:00 am Joseph Nyemchek req. Kathy & Peter Riolo FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27 9:00 am Joseph Nyemchek req. by Kennedy Family

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 28 9:00 am Ann Mitchell req. by family 5:00 pm Edward Illmemsee Sr. req. by Walter & Joan Haubold SUNDAY, DECEMBER 29

8:30 am Joseph Nyemchek req. by Bassmann Family 11:00 am AnnMarie Yanez req. by Lois & Vinny

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 24 4:30 pm 8:00 pm

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25 8:30 am 11:00 am

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 24 6:00 pm

10:00 pm TUESDAY, DECMEBER 25

8:30 am 10:30 am

First Reading: Isaiah 7:10-14 Ahaz receives from Isaiah a prophecy that he will be successful in war and is urged to ask for a sign that the prophecy is true. The sign is “The virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel.” Second Reading: Romans 1:1-7 Paul greets the Romans by pointing out that Jesus is the Christ who was promised to them in Scripture. He, Paul, is the apostle favored with the task of spreading the name of Christ to all. Gospel: Matthew 1:18-24 In a brief, straightforward, simple narrative, Matthew recounts the events leading to Jesus’ birth. He details the appearance of the angel in a dream to Joseph and stresses that “All this happened to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophets.”

December 22, 2019 - FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

A FRESH PERSPECTIVE ON THE SUNDAY READINGS HIS WORD TODAY by Rev. William J. Reilly

Fourth Sunday of Advent December 22, 2019

“Through him we have been favored with apostleship that we may spread his name and bring to obedient faith all the Gentiles among whom are you who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ. To all in Rome, beloved of God and called to holiness, grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Do you ever count how many Christmas cards you receive? Do you classify some as religious, family pictures, or strictly secular? A card sometimes expresses how people feel about you, or even the Christmas season. We are about to celebrate the birth of Christ. Is not this passage of Paul to the Romans a great Christmas wish? We may not be in Rome, but his care for those loved by God is quite clear. We 1. Belong to Jesus Christ 2. Are called to holiness 3. Grace is his wish for us and 4. Peace is the result of the presence of the Lord.

May the blessings of Christ be with you and yours.

Please keep in your prayers the ill of our parish especially: Kristin Harkin, Susan Sullivan Manuel, Maribeth Groth, Fred Wolff, Tom Donohoe, Dan Devoy, John Wazeter, Stephen Childs, Joy

Childs, Edison Blanco Perez, BJK

And for those who have died marked by the sign of faith, especially: Cassandra Cottone, Kathleen Stricks

If you know of any parishioners who are ill and would like to be visited by a priest, please contact the rectory at 914-478-2822. Please feel free to call the rectory to add names of immediate family members at any time.

We are very grateful to those in the military who have dedicated themselves to protect our liberty and

freedom. Please keep our troops in your prayers, especially: Brian Dunne-Navy, Christopher Gaulin-Army, George Moore-Navy, Nicholas Sestito-Marine, Michael Germain-Navy, Brandon King-Army, Michael Parton-Navy, Peter Dillon-Coast Guard, Chris Minozzi-Marines, Sean Roth-Army If you would like to add a name to our Military List, please call the rectory office.

WEEKLY COLLECTIONS - Thank You!

Weekend 2019 Includes Parish giving 2018 Dec. 15 $6,048 $778 $6,064 Repairs & Maint. $2,394 — $885

There are two collections this weekend. The second collection is for CHRISTMAS FLOWERS. Next weekend: Religious Retirement.

Christmas Flower envelopes & Christmas Collection envelopes can both be dropped into any collection basket or sent to the rectory at any time.

The Mass Book for January - June 2020

Is OPEN

St. Matthew & OLPH

Religious Education Classes:

NO CLASSES December 22, 25, 29 January 1

Classes resume on January 5 & 8

——————————————————————-

ARE RELIGIOUS

EDUCATION

CLASSES

CANCELLED?

In the case of inclement

weather a FLOCKNOTE will be sent out notifying

parents of cancelled classes. We will also post the

notification on radio station WHUD 100.7FM. Sign up

for Flocknote at: www.flocknote.org

Candles & Flower Dedications

St. Matthew Tabernacle Candle Special Intentions for BJK

Blessed Mother Candle Special Intentions

Sacred Heart Candle

Special Intentions For Those In Need

OLPH Tabernacle Candle In Memory of Sal Campoli

req. by wife Dora

If you would like to reserve a candle for a loved one, please contact the rectory 914-478-2822

The parish offices will close on Tuesday, December 24th, at noon

and reopen on Friday, December 27th, at 9:30 a.m.

The parish offices will close on Tuesday, December 31st, at noon

and reopen on Thursday, January 2nd, at 9:30 a.m.

Christmas & New Year’s Office Hours

CHRISTMAS FLOWER ENVELOPES & CHRISTMAS OFFERING ENVELOPES

If you would like to make a donation towards the Christmas Flowers in memory of a loved one, please use the Christmas Flower Envelope that you can find in your monthly envelope packet. There are also extra Christmas Flower Envelopes on the tables in the rear of the churches.

The Christmas Flower Envelope and the Christmas Offering Envelope can be dropped into any collection on any weekend.

CHRISTMAS EVE: St. Matthew’s:

4:30 pm & 8:00 pm Our Lady of Perpetual Help:

6:00 pm & 10:00 pm

CHRISTMAS DAY: St. Matthew’s:

8:30 am & 11:00 am Our Lady of Perpetual Help:

8:30 am & 10:30 am

NEW YEAR’S DAY:

St. Matthew’s: 9:00 am

Our Lady of Perpetual Help: 10:30 am

LECTORS & EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS

If you have not already done so, please

stop by the sacristy and pick up a little

“Thank You” gift for Christmas from the

parish.

2020 CHURCH CALENDARS Please remember to pick up your 2020 Church Art Calendar. They are located on the tables in the rear of the church.

We thank Joseph Casario and the Edwards-Dowdle Funeral Home for providing the calendars once again this year.

Second Collection Next Weekend:

The second collection Next weekend, December 28-29, is for the Retirement Fund for Religious. This annual collection helps to fund the care of 30,000 senior sisters, brothers and religious order priests.

Many of these religious worked in Catholic schools, hospitals and childcare agencies; others worked in the missions and spread the Good News. Today, their congregations are faced with the mounting costs of eldercare and a dearth of new members to provide funds to pay for that care.

Please consider making a gift to this collection in appreciation of their many years of service to the Church and the Lord.

UPDATE ON FOOD TOWN GIVES BACK PROGRAM with ESCRIP

The parish received a deposit from Foodtown of $249.32 for purchases

made by parishioners in October 2019. Thank you to the 101 parishioners who are registered to participate in this FREE program.

However, we could be earning an even greater sum if more of our parishioners signed up to participate. All you have to do is provide your 12-digit Foodtown barcode number to the office. You find this number on the back of your Foodtown key chain. That's it!

Fill out the information below and drop it in the collection basket or return it to the rectory:

Name: _____________________________________________________

Telephone: ___________________Email: _________________________

Food Town Club Number: ______________________________________

(your number is the 12 digits under the bar code)

BASKETBALL SHOOT A THON

Saturday, December 28th

STMOLPH CYO is hosting our 2nd annual

BASKETBALL SHOOT-A-THON to raise money for

our CYO basketball program. The event will take place

on Saturday, December 28th at Our Lady of Perpetual

Help School Gym. Each player will take 20 foul shots.

Friends, family, and parishioners are asked to help

the CYO program by pledging a

certain dollar amount for every shot the player makes.

Parishioners, Friends & Family can donate to specific players, teams, or to the organization as a whole! As of press-time, our sixth grade boys blue team was currently in the lead for pledged donations for the Shoot A Thon!! Way to go boys! Who will be the next team in the lead??

If you would like to make a pledge, please visit:

https://www.givingzone.com/project/1XppP85kpD/saint-matthew-olph-2nd-annual-cyo-shoot-a-thon

eScrip