A MEDITATION FOR THE FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT by DEACON TONY MARTUCCI

Happy New Year, everybody!

No, the deacon isn’t delusional. I didn’t bump my head this morning and I haven’t lost my marbles. Today is the First Sunday of Advent. It is the beginning of the Church’s Liturgical Calendar and it runs until Saturday of the 34th week in Ordinary Time next year.

Advent comes from the latin word advenire, which means “to come to.” While the rest of the world prepares for Christmas, the birthday of Jesus Christ, by decorating, sending cards and buying presents, the Church prepares for the celebration of Christ’s birth but it is also preparing for His return at the end of time. 

Our first and second readings point to that time in a way that is slightly different from the report in the Gospel. They have a more optimistic tone in looking forward to the coming of Christ. St. Paul even gives us some suggestions on how we should prepare ourselves. On the other hand, Jesus’ description is more somber and foreboding. There is an air of uncertainty. People disappearing seems very disconcerting to me. But Christ is simply warning us to be ready for the time when He returns. We may not be around for the end of time, but at the end of our time on earth, He will return for us and we need to be ready for that.

How are we supposed to to get ready? St. Paul uses the image of throwing off the works of darkness and putting on the clothing of light. We do that by getting rid of those things in our life that separate us from Christ, or that make it harder for us to recognize Him. I don’t think anyone would disagree that we are surrounded by a culture that is opposed to the Christian life. We are constantly tempted to take shortcuts in the way we live and how we treat others. How often do we hear, “Everybody does it!” when we are tempted.

During this season of Advent we can pray more for others, go to confession, read the Bible and reflect on its influence in our lives. We can also speak up for what we believe. Perhaps we can be more generous in our support of charities. Love others as though this is the last chance we have to love. 

A little boy put two cupcakes and two juice boxes in a lunch bag, “Where are you going?”asked his mother. “I’m going to find God.” he answered. She smiled and said, “Be good and don’t be late for supper.”

The boy walked to the park and saw an elderly woman sitting alone on a bench. She was looking down at the ground when he sat next to her. She looked up at him and managed a little smile. He opened his bag and gave her one of his cupcakes and juice box. She took them and gave him a big smile. They ate together and talked for a little while then he said. “I have to go home.” She nodded and reached out to him. He hugged her goodbye.

When he got home his mother asked him how his day was. He answered, “I had lunch with God and she has the nicest smile.”
When the woman went home, her husband asked, “Did you have a nice day?” She smiled and said, “I had lunch with God. I didn’t realize he was so young?”

The message today is: none of us knows when we will meet Christ, so we should be ready.  Be the best person we can be. Make a difference wherever we go. Do the right thing, even if no one is watching.  Before we act, ask ourself, “What would Jesus do?”  Before we speak, think “What would Jesus say?”

“Stay awake! You also must be  prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”  

We have four weeks of Advent to practice being our best. Let’s pretend that we are children, trying to be good because Santa Claus is watching and we don’t want to be on his naughty list.

Someone IS watching. And we really do want to be on His list of those who are His faithful followers.

WOMEN'S TRENTON 128 - THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Women’s Trenton 128
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit
12/5-12/8/2019

The Team

Kathy Tucker
Mary Weis
Mary Ann Dowd
Adelaide Sangiorgi
Amy Schiano
JoAnne Henderson
Lisa Klarmann
Ronnie Martella
Alice Riggio
Father Ed Blanchett
Deacon John Clymore

The Candidates (and Sponsors)

Telma Bill-Smith (Rick & Lisa Klarmann)          
Angela Caputo  (Marie Garrett)         
Minnelly Guerrero (Marisel Kemper)
Diane Kerrigan (Mary Weis)
Theresa (Terry) Mihalko (Alice Riggio)
Mary Vitale (Mary Weis)
Ellen Wilezol (Adelaide Sangiorgi)  

THE CURSILLO SECTION NEEDS YOUR HELP!!!

The Cursillo Section Needs Your Help for the following:

• Help with Set-up on Thursday 12/5 from 4 to 5PM
• Dean/Jim Monks/Maria Polumbo

• Help Checking-in People on Thursday 12/5 at 7PM
• Paddy Morris, Terri D'Andrea and Bob Morris

• Help with take down Sunday 12/8 from 2-3PM
• Tara Mika
• Need Snacks/Bottled Water for the weekend
• Water & snacks (Maria Polumbo)
• Water & snacks (David & Alice Riggio)
• Chocolate (David Riggio)

If you can help, please call David Riggio at 914-629-7299 or Robert Lauricella 646-229-4295.

God Bless You!!!

BE A PRAYER PARTNER FOR TRENTON 128 AT ST. ALFONSO'S CHAPEL.

We have opportunities for the community to sign up for praying in the Chapel at San Alfonso's for the Women's Weekend #128.

To be a prayer partner for at the St. Alfanso Chapel for someone on this list CALL DAVID RIGGIO at (732) 323-0216 OR Email David at davadips@yahoo.com. David will confirm the time and location of the chapel.

Please pray for all of the members of the team of Trenton 128.

We will update this list as cursillistas respond.


THURSDAY

Title	Day	Time	Given By	Prayer Partner	Chapel Time
Know Thyself	Thu	8:30PM 15 min- Spr.Advs.	Deacon John Clymore	n/a	n/a
Prodigal Son	Thu	9:30PM 15 min Spr. Advs.	Father Ed	n/a	n/a

FRIDAY

Title	Day	Time	Given By	Prayer Partner	Chapel Time
Three Glances of Christ	Fri	7:15AM 15 min Spr. Advs	Father Ed	n/a	n/a
Ideal	Fri	9:30AM 30 min Laity	Alice Riggio	Maria Palumbo	9:30am
Grace	Fri	10:30AM 45 min Spr. Advs.	Father Ed	Terri D'Andrea	10:30a
Laity	Fri	1:15PM /30 min Laity	Ronnie Martella	Mary Power	1:15PM
Faith	Fri	2:15PM 45 min Spr. Advs.	Deacon John   Clymore
Piety	Fri	4:15PM 30 min Laity	Mary Weis	Mary Power George Weis	4:15PM

SATURDAY

Title	Day	Time	Given By	Prayer Partner	Chapel Time
Figure of Christ	Sat	7:30AM 15 min Spr. Advs.	Deacon John Clymore	n/a	n/a
Eucharist Talk during Mass	Sat	7:45AM 20 min Spr. Advs.	Father Ed	n/a	n/a
Study	Sat	9:15AM 30min Laity	Lisa Klarmann
Sacraments #1	Sat	10:15AM 45 min Spr. Advs.	Deacon John Clymore	Jim Monks	10:15AM
Sacraments #2	Sat	11:00AM 45 min Spr. Advs.	Father Ed	George Weiss	11:00AM
Action	Sat	1:30PM 30 min Laity	Amy Sechiano	Tara Mika	1:30PM
Obstacles to the Life of Grace	Sat	3:00PM 15 min Spr. Advs.	Deacon John Clymore	Mary Power	3:00PM
Leaders	Sat	4:00PM 30 min Laity	Mary Ann Dowd	Mary Power	4:00PM

SUNDAY

Title	Day	Time	Given By	Prayer Partner	Chapel Time
Christ’s Message to the Cursillista	Sun.	7:15AM 15 min Spr. Advs.	Father Ed	n/a	n/a
Study and Evangelization of Environment	Sun.	9:10AM 30 min  Laity	Adelaide Sangiorgi
Life in Grace	Sun.	10:10AM 45 min Spr. Advs.	Deacon John Clymore
Christianity in Action	Sun.	11:15AM 45 min Laity	JoAnn Henderson
Cursillista Beyond the Cursillo and Total Security	Sun.	1:30PM 15 min Laity	Kathy Tucker	Tara Mika	1:30PM

FROM KATHY TUCKER, LAY DIRECTOR

We have opportunities for the community to sign up for praying in the Chapel at San Alfonso's for the Women's Weekend #128.

We have two people per talk. When you sign up please call David Riggio so he can keep track of our prayer warriors. He will give you the instructions at that time. 

We also are accepting donations such as water and snacks.

Anyone wishing to write Palanca. We will be accepting all Palanca at SOL, your Ultreya Meetings and at the November 22, 2019 8PM at the send off Mass at Epiphany in Brick and the Thursday Night, Dec 5th Opening.

Please pray for the Team and Candidates.

DeColores, Kathy