Church of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel 627 East 187th Street, Bronx, New York 10458 | T: (718) 295-3770/ 3771 | F: (718) 367-2240

www.ourladymtcarmelbx.org | Parish E-mail: mtcarmelbx@aol.com

Sunday, December 24, 2017| Fourth Sunday of Advent- Year B

PARISH STAFF

Pastor Rev. Fr. Jonathan Morris

Parochial Vicar

Rev. Fr. Israel K. Boadi

Coordinator of Religious Education Sister Edna Loquias, S.M.C.

Business Manager Esteban Perez

Parish Secretary Elizabeth Mannini

Music Director & Organist Dr. Stephen Rapp

Cantor Bilen Eminov

Youth Minister School Principal Jesus Vargas Ms. Valerie Savino

LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST

Saturday: 8:30am | 12:00pm (Both English)

Saturday Evening: 5:00pm (Vigil Mass in English)

Sunday: 8:30am (English) | 9:30am (Spanish)

11:00am (Italian) | 12:15pm (English)

1:30pm (Spanish)

Weekday: 8:30am / 12:00pm / 6:30pm (All English)

RITE OF RECONCILIATION

Saturdays 4:00pm to 5:00pm or any time by calling the Parish Office.

RITE OF BAPTISM

2nd Sunday of every month in Spanish at 2:30pm 3rd Sunday every other month in English at 2:30pm Attendance at Pre - Baptism Class is required. Please stop by the Parish Center to register or call for more information.

RITE OF MATRIMONY

Wedding dates may be scheduled after initial meeting with a priest.

PASTORAL VISITS TO THE SICK

If you or someone you know is in the hospital or homebound and would be served by a pastoral visit by a Priest, Religious Sister or a lay Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, please contact the Parish Center.

NEW PARISHIONERS

We invite new parishioners to register at the Parish Center.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM

For information please call Sr. Edna at the Parish Office at (718) 295-3770.

MOUNT CARMEL SCHOOL 2465 Bathgate Avenue

Please contact the School Office at (718) 295-6080.

PARISH CENTER

2380 Belmont Avenue Bronx, NY 10458

Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

December 24, 2017 CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL 2

ANNOUNCED MASSES

Sunday, December 24th| IV Sunday of Advent 8:30am Giovanni Cozzolino 11:00am Roberto e Lorena Russo

12:15pm Frank Pappas, Frances & Nicholas Longo, Christine & Thomas Covino, Jennie Salce 7:00pm Pro Populo 10:00pm Salvatore Guzzi

Monday, December 25th| Nativity of the Lord 8:30am Isaia Barone 9:30am Pro Populo

12:15pm Vito & Laura Signorile

Tuesday, December 26th | St. Stephen

8:30am Peter Gaine 12:00pm Pasqualina Messineo 6:30pm Luisa Milo Ferguso

Wednesday, December 27th | St. John, Apostle & Evangelist

8:30am Peter Gaine 12:00pm Vincenzo Mannini 6:30pm Deceased Members of the Contento Family

Thursday, December 28th | The Holy Innocents

8:30am Salvatore & Giuseppina Florio

12:00pm Michele Sabatino

6:30pm Isaia Barone

Friday, December 29th | St. Thomas Becket

8:30am Peter Gaine

12:00pm Michelina Cavaliere

6:30pm Rose Lupo, Giuseppe & Caterina Di Noia

Saturday, December 30th | Sixth Day of Christmas

8:30am Angelina Giasullo & Joseph Cea 12:00pm Lino Salvatore

5:00pm Deceased of the DiMucci, Hansen, Qualitero & Campanile Family

Sunday, December 31st| The Holy Family 8:30am For a special intention 9:30am Pro Populo 11:00am Defunti Societa’ Santi Cosmo e Damiano di Matera

12:15pm Deceased of the Marano & DeLuca Family 1:30pm En gratitud al Señor

From the Desk of Father Jonathan

Someone mentioned to me earlier this week how time seems to be flying by more quickly then ever. I agreed, but told her that we probably feel that way because we are getting old! She laughed, then added that there might be something more to it than just old age. She explained to me that her children also tell her that they can't believe how fast their days and weeks go by. "When I was growing up," she continued, "the days always seemed to be so long and slow. No longer!" She then gave me her theory: our lives are so full of activity that we don't have time to stop and enjoy the moment. Both children and adults go from one thing to the next every single day, before and after school and work, and we never take time to smell the flowers. I think she is on to something. On the day that Jesus was born, things were so very simple. Mary, Joseph, and a baby were in a quiet stable. The King of Kings was born in silence, broken up only by the sounds of the animals giving glory to the newborn king, in the only way they knew how. How different is that from the noise and complexity of our daily activity! With our busy schedules, do we even have time to stop by the stable and adore the Christ child? Much of our busyness is part of God's will for us, no doubt. We were born in these times and in these parts, not in the first century A.D. Our reality is what it is. We need to take care of our children, parents, jobs, rent, health, and so much more. But perhaps we can slow down our experience of time by living each moment in the presence of God. We can do that in so many different ways. For example, several times a day, stop what you are doing and say a "Hail Mary". Or on the way to or from work, stop by a church and make a visit to Christ in the Eucharist or light a can-dle as a prayer. Say a prayer of thanksgiving before eve-ry meal, even if you are with other people. Before be-ginning a project at work or home, ask the Lord for wis-dom and strength to do it with perfection and love. Pray the rosary on your way to pick up the kids at school. These are all little ways to slow things down and live our lives with meaning. One of my prayers for our parish on this Christmas Day is that in 2018 we don't allow ourselves to be car-ried away by the hustle and bustle of our surroundings and forget the most important things in our lives, to love God and to love others, especially those in most need of love and mercy.

Merry Christmas!

God bless, Father Jonathan

+ REST IN PEACE + Please pray for Antonietta Longariello & all the faithful departed

WEEKEND MASS COLLECTION - 12/17/17

Collection …………......................................$3,369.13 Last year’s Collection …..................................$4,156.52

WEEKEND ATTENDANCE - 12/17/2017

Adults: ……. 672 Children: …… 233 Total: ……905

December 24, 2017 CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL 3

GOD’S PROMISE

The lengthy passage from Samuel is a wonderful exposition of God’s promise to the house of David: that his throne would forever be gloriously occupied by his descendants. Hidden in the mystery of the prophecy is the promise of the Savior, the Messiah, Son of God and Son of David. The prophet Nathan, speaking in God’s name, poetically turns around David’s plan to build a house for God, and announces God’s plan to build a “house,” that is, a dynasty for David. From this house of David will come the Messiah, the Christ, not in kingly splendor as David ruled, but as a humble man, destined to rule forever and over all. When God gives a gift, it’s amazing what we are given—so different from what we ever could have imagined.

Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co., Inc.

LA PROMESSA DI DIO

Dopo la testimonianza di Giovanni Battista, ecco la testimonianza di Maria, madre di Dio, che ha serbato preziosamente in cuor suo le grandi cose che il Signore aveva fatto per lei. Il concepimento verginale di Cristo, così chiaramente esposto nel vangelo di oggi (Lc 1,34-35), non è un fatto isolato, una grazia a sé. Ma non ci è presentato nemmeno come il modo più adatto per la nascita del Messia. Ci è dato come sicurezza che il figlio, nato da Maria, “ sarà dunque santo e chiamato Figlio di Dio ”, perché “lo Spirito Santo scenderà su di te, su te stenderà la sua ombra la potenza dell’Altissimo ”. La nascita di Gesù dalla Vergine Maria non è una verità aggiunta alla verità dell’Incarnazione; è parte integrante di questo stesso mistero. E la divina condiscendenza, per mezzo della quale viene richiesto il consenso di Maria, perché possa realizzarsi il progetto divino, è ciò che san Paolo chiama la “ rivelazione del mistero taciuto per secoli eterni, ma rivelato ora... a tutte le genti perché obbediscano alla fede ” (Rm 16,25-

26). © lachiesa.it

TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION In Greece, St. Basil delivers presents on his feast day, Dec. 31, and makes sure everyone is sprinkled with holy water. The Baby Jesus is in charge elsewhere, called the Christkind in Austria and Belgium, El Niño Jesús in Co-lumbia, and Le Petit Jesus in France, where he shares his duties with Père Noël. In the Czech Republic almost eve-ryone is atheist, but Ježíšek, the infant Jesus, brings gifts to one and all. In Poland the “Star Man” is said to bring the gifts, although often he turns out to be the village priest in disguise. St. Nicholas, not his Americanized cousin, is the giver in Holland, where he wears a bishop’s miter, and in Russia, where he wears a bishop’s crown.

—Rev. James Field, Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.

THIS WEEK’S MEMORIALS

Mass Wine

In Loving Memory of Pasquale Marsibilio

By the Marsibilio Family

Altar Bread

In Loving Memory of Domenica Bonarrigo

By Mimma Rizzo

Sanctuary Lamp

In Loving Memory of Connie & Anthony Montemorra

“Always in our hearts” Your Children, Grandchildren

& Great-grandchildren

Mass Candles

In Loving Memory of Frank Pappas

“We love & miss you” Mommy & Aunties

The Advent - Christmas Concert

A heartfelt “thank you” to all who attended!

Special thanks to Dr. Rapp, Cas Cibelli Nick Trombetta, our Choirs, and all those

who worked behind-the-scenes decorating the church and preparing for the reception.

Your generous spirits will be blessed by God!

Thank you for an inspirational evening!

We pray that Emmanuel, God-with-us, be in our hearts and in minds in 2018.

Merry Christmas! See you next year!

Christmas Angel Tree

Make a child’s Christmas happier! Take an Angel and return it to

the Parish Center with an unwrapped toy

~ The toys will be distributed on

Sunday, January 7, 2018 ~

LA PROMESA DE DIOS El largo pasaje de Samuel expone de manera maravillosa la promesa de Dios a la dinastía de David: que su trono siempre estaría ocupado gloriosamente por sus descendientes. Oculta en el misterio de la profecía está la promesa del Salvador, el Mesías, Hijo de Dios e Hijo de David. El profeta Natán, quien habla en nombre de Dios, desbarata poéticamente el plan de David de construir una casa para Dios y anuncia que el plan de Dios es construir una “casa”, una dinastía, para David. De esta dinastía de David provendrá el Mesías, el Cristo, quien no llegará con el esplendor majestuoso con el que reinó David, sino que vendrá como un hombre humilde, que gobernará por los siglos de los siglos. Cuando Dios hace un regalo; lo que recibimos es asombroso: es muy distinto a lo que podríamos haber imaginado.

Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co., Inc.

UN REGALO PARA NUESTROS NIÑOS

Tomando un Angelito de nuestro árbol de Navidad en la entrada de la Iglesia e intercambiarlo por un regalo, para los Niños de la parroquia... Los regalos serán entregados el domingo,7 de Enero del 2018

¡MUCHAS GRACIAS!

TRADICIONES DE NUESTRA FE

De las muchas tradiciones latinoamericanas para cele-brar el Adviento y la Navidad, las Posadas parecen ser lo mejor conocido en EE. UU. Tienen su origen en la últi-ma mitad del siglo XVIII cuando las estrepitosas Misas de Aguinaldo dejaron de ser celebradas en México. Para remplazar la festividad de esas Misas, los laicos decidie-ron celebrar en sus casas tomando lo que habían visto dramatizado en los templos, esto es, el recorrido de José y María mientras buscaban posada en Belén. Como las “Antífonas de la O” de la liturgia oficial cristiana, estas Posadas llegaron a ser celebradas nueve noches consecu-tivas. 200 años después, muchos latinos continúan cele-brando las Posadas en EE. UU. Recuerdo como de niño cantábamos “En el nombre del cielo” recorriendo las calles del barrio hasta llegar a la casa donde nos abrirían con cantos, tamales, galletitas y chocolate. Ese recorrido de José y María lamentablemente sigue todos los días en los pasos temerosos y cansados de tantos inmigrantes en este país. Como la Sagrada Familia, otras familias lati-noamericanas continúan buscando hospedaje con la es-peranza de dar a luz una nueva vida para sus hijos e hi-jas.

—Fray Gilberto Cavazos-Glz, OFM, Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co., Inc.

Lectors for December 30th & 31st

5:00pm V. Vera & A. Zervos

8:30am M. Gerbasi & N. Watson 9:30am M. Melendez & M. Gonzalez 11:00am E. Mannini 12:15pm B. Kajtazi & V. Vera 1:30pm C. Modesto & J. Mejia

READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: Vigil: Is 62:1-5; Ps 89:4-5, 16-17, 27-29; Acts 13:16-17, 22-25; Mt 1:1-25 [18-25] During the Night: Is 9:1-6; Ps 96:1-3, 11-13; Ti 2:11-14; Lk 2:1-14 Dawn: Is 62:11-12; Ps 97:1, 6, 11-12; Ti 3:4-7; Lk 2:15-20 Day: Is 52:7-10; Ps 98:1-6; Heb 1:1-6; Jn 1:1-18 [1-5, 9-14] Tuesday: Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59; Ps 31:3cd-4, 6, 8ab, 16bc, 17; Mt 10:17-22 Wednesday: 1 Jn 1:1-4; Ps 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12; Jn 20:1a, 2-8 Thursday: 1 Jn 1:5 — 2:2; Ps 124:2-5, 7cd-8; Mt 2:13-18 Friday: 1 Jn 2:3-11; Ps 96:1-3, 5b-6; Lk 2:22-35 Saturday: 1 Jn 2:12-17; Ps 96:7-10; Lk 2:36-40 Sunday: Sir 3:2-6, 12-14 or Gn 15:1-6; 21:1-3; Ps 128: 1-5 or Ps 105:1-6, 8-9; Col 3:12-21 [12-17] or Hb 11:8, 11-12, 17-19; Lk 2:22-40 [22, 39-40]

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