MEMORIALS The Sanctuary Candle this week is burning in loving memory of the Merando and Miller Families donated by Chuck and Paula Tompkins. The candle will burn from December 24th through December 30th.

PLEASE PRAY For the sick and suffering, especially

ANNOUNCED MASSES If you wish to bring up the gifts for a Mass being said for your loved one(s), please see the Usher before Mass.

Vigil (Sunday) Mass – December 23 5:00 PM John, Madeline and William Critelli and

Family Sunday, December 24 – Fourth Sunday of Advent 8:30 AM Susan Duff McFadden 10:15 AM St. Joseph’s – Catherine Portman-Laux

Sunday, December 24 – Vigil of Christmas 4:00 PM All the People of the Parish 6:00 PM St. Joseph’s – All the People of the Parish 8:00 PM All the People of the Parish Monday, December 25 – The Nativity of the Lord

(Christmas) – Holy Day of Obligation 10:00 AM All the People of the Parish Tuesday, December 26 – Saint Stephen, The First

Martyr 8:15 AM Jean Frisenda Wednesday, December 27 – Saint John, Apostle and

Evangelist 8:15 AM Anne and Patrick O’Connor Thursday, December 28 – The Holy Innocents, Martyrs 8:15 AM Helen, Frances and John Zuvic Friday, December 29 – Saint Thomas Becket, Bishop

and Martyr 8:15 AM Mike Martorana Saturday, December 30 – Sixth Day within the Octave

of the Nativity of the Lord 8:15 AM Dimon and Robert Nicolosi and the Cirillo

Family

Vigil (Sunday) Mass – December 30 5:00 PM James Doherty Sunday, December 31 – The Holy Family of Jesus,

Mary and Joseph 8:30 AM James Mitchell 10:15 AM St. Joseph’s – Alan Fujii 12:00 PM Roger Ailes

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

December 24, 2017

Lucy Abbatine Lucas Boesch Electra Bokanoski Nicole Bokanoski Robert Broughal The Brusco Family Kathleen Clements Christopher Hartly Joseph Hoda Parker Jane Holloway Joey Hyatt, Jr. Elizabeth M. Hynes Kaitlyn Jandrucko Dennis Klubnick Geoff Lyons Kathleen Manganello Mary Marion Paula Martino Merna Mendelson

Todd Morris Joseph Nowakowski Brian O’Keeffe Inelda O’Keeffe Luis Padilla Rosario Padilla Neilan Pierce Vivian Pisanelli Joan Rosado Phillip Rossignol Melissa Castro-Santos Miguel Santos Laura Schiele Sally Singh Ralph Torres Connie Tuomey Chris Ventura Frank Volkmann Lidia Watrud

“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be

born will be called holy, the Son of God.” Luke 1:35

READINGS FOR THIS 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]

MONTH’S MIND Sally V. Donoghue • Constance Duncan • Susan Duff

McFadden – November 25th James Mitchell – November 28th

We remember our loved ones who have died one month following their passing on to eternal life.

that the fighting among nations cease, that vengeance end and lasting peace begin, and for all of our prayers in our book of petitions.

and for all our dearly departed, especially

Richard J. Mazzuca, Sr. Deborah G. Phillips

OUR LADY OF LORETTO PARISH RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

“Handing on the Faith” 845-265-3718 ✭ ollfaithformation@gmail.com

Classes will not be held on Wednesday, December 27th due to the Christmas Holiday.

Classes resume Wednesday, January 3rd.

Please pray for our Second Graders who will receive the Sacrament of First

Reconciliation on Sunday, January 7th.

MASS ATTENDANCE

Adults Children Total

Saturday, 5:00 pm 92 7 99

Sunday, 8:30 am 102 21 123

St. Joseph’s Chapel Sunday, 10:15 am 51 9 60

Sunday, 12:00 pm 95 24 119

Total 340 61 401

WEEKEND OF DECEMBER 17, 2017REGULAR WEEKLY COLLECTION – $7,102

Thank you for your generosity.

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION At Our Lady of Loretto • Every Monday • 7:00-8:00 pm

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament remains as it is with individual prayer time, but specific groups are being identified for certain Mondays so they can come together to focus in prayer for a specific intention...

Jan 1 – Unborn and persecuted Christians Jan 8 – Doctors, nurses and medical personnel Jan 15 – The elderly and grandparents Jan 22 – Employees and volunteers of the Parish

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUSLoretto Council #536 Epiphany Dinner

Saturday • January 6th (see to the right for details)

Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship

Loretto Council, No. 536 is sponsoring the local level of the 2018 Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship on Thursday, January 11th (snow date, Thursday, January 18th) at 6:00 PM at the Capuchin Youth and Family Ministries Gym, 781 Route 9D, Garrison. Registration will start at 5:45 PM. All boys and girls ages 9 to 14 are invited to compete in their respective age division. Age eligibility is determined by the age of the contestant as of January 1st, 2018. There is no cost to participate. Proof of age (birth certificate or other proof of age) and written parental consent will be required on the entry form.

For entry forms or additional information, contact Dan Dillon at 265-3802 or Youth Director Bob Flaherty at 265-3191.

Philipstown Food Pantry DeliveryNext Sunday • December 31st

The Knights of Columbus will be collecting food and other items, including diapers, toothbrushes, toothpaste,

soap, shampoo, cleaners and paper towels, for the Philipstown Food Pantry the weekend of December

30th and 31st.

Please leave donations in the cry room during that weekend. Thank you for your generosity!

Grand Knight – Bob Murphy To join, email our Membership Director, John Hackney:

johnhackney@hotmail.com.

Epiphany Dinner By Loretto Council of the Knights of Columbus

Saturday, January 6th Join us after the 5:00 pm Mass or any time before 8 pm

In the Parish Hall

A portion of the net proceeds will be donated to the Respect Life Committee

Menu Roast Pork, Roasted Potatoes and Carrots, Salad,

Bread, Soft Drinks, Coffee and Dessert

Hot Dogs/Macaroni and Butter

Tickets Tickets on sale this weekend

Age 0-5: Free ✶ 6 to 11: $5 ✶ 12 and over: $15

Raffle for Basket of Cheer

For more information contact John Scherer at (845) 661-1557 or johnkscherer@gmail.com.

Prayer Over the Christmas Manger at Home Lord, please bless all who look upon this

manger; may it remind us of the humble birth of Jesus, and raise our thoughts to Him, Who

is God-with-us and Savior of all, and Who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.

THE CHRISTMAS SEASON December 24th - January 8th

The liturgical season of Christmas begins with the vigil Masses on Christmas Eve and concludes on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord (January 8, 2018). During this season, we celebrate the birth of Christ into our world and into our hearts, and reflect on the gift of salvation that is born with him… including the fact that he was born to die for us.

Christmas Monday, December 25th

A Holy Day of Obligation

Our Christmas Mass Schedule Christmas Eve – Our Lady of Loretto

4:00 pm Christmas Vigil Mass with Children’s Choir 8:00 pm Christmas Vigil Mass

Christmas Eve – St. Joseph’s Chapel 6:00 pm Christmas Vigil Mass

Christmas Day – Our Lady of Loretto 10:00 am Christmas Mass

OUR OUTDOOR NATIVITY The Child of Bethlehem was donated in loving memory of Dorothy and Thomas Barca and Florence and Otto Isler by the Isler family.

Our Lady was donated in loving memory of Susanna Kitson by the Kitson family.

Saint Joseph was donated in loving memory of Herbert Granville by the Kitson family.

The Angel of Bethlehem was donated in loving memory of Peter Monaster by the Monaster family.

Two Wise Men and a Shepherd were donated in loving memory of Betsy Moss Bradley by Mr. and Mrs. William Moss.

One Wise Man was donated by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Keenan.

One Shepherd was donated in loving memory of Carmella Lucio by Lucio Petrocelli.

One Shepherd was donated by Mr. and Mrs. John Merante.

The Sheep of Bethlehem were donated for the Necaise family intentions by John and Barbara Necaise.

The Ox was donated by Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Smith for their grandchildren’s intentions.

The Donkey was donated by the Knights of Columbus, Loretto Council #536.

“He was born for the poor, the oppressed and the suffering, for the simple and ordinary people who

have not lost hope in God. He came for transgressors and sinners.”

Christmas Homily 2012, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Fouad Twal

POPE FRANCIS: FOUR ELEMENTS THAT ARE NECESSARY FOR PRAYER

Francis gives 4 necessary predispositions for achieving an encounter with the Lord who is alive and with us.

1. Silence, because every dialogue requires silence.

“And from God’s mysterious silence gushes His Word, which echoes in our hearts. Jesus Himself teaches us how it is really possible to be with the Father and He demonstrates it with His prayer.”

2. Knowing how to call God our Father

“We must learn to say Father, that is, to put ourselves in His presence with filial confidence.

3. Trust and confidence, as a child

“Children know how to trust, they know someone will take care of them, of what they will eat, of what they will wear and so on …”

4. Also as a child, allowing oneself to be surprised by God

A child “marvels even at small things, because everything is new to him. To enter in the Kingdom of Heaven it is necessary to let oneself be surprised … Do we let ourselves be surprised by God who is always a God of surprises? Because an encounter with the Lord is always an encounter with someone living, it’s not an encounter of [something in a] museum. And we’re going to Mass, not to a museum. We go to a living encounter with the Lord.”

HOW TO GO TO CONFESSION WHEN YOU HAVEN’T GONE IN YEARS

A practical guide for those hesitant about returning to the sacraments.

Aleteia.org, by Philip Kosloski – Going to confession for the first time in 5, 10, 20, 30 (or more) years can be daunting. We know we should do it, but there is part of us that is still reluctant or even afraid of going back to the sacraments. Besides feelings of shame, we may simply have forgotten how to go to confession. For those who are hesitant to receive the mercy of God, here is a practical guide to the various steps of going to confession.

Step 1: Examine your conscience This is the most necessary part of confession. Before you can confess your sins you need to know them. Typically a person goes to confession and tells the priest the sins they can remember since their last confession. If their last confession was 20 years ago, it might be rather difficult. The key is to tell the priest all mortal sins that you remember (to the best of your ability).

We typically remember those “big” sins, but if you need some help, you can easily find an examination of conscience online, including on the USCCB website. When telling them to the priest, say the sin itself and the number of times you committed it (or at least a general estimation, like, “I didn’t go to Mass for 20 years”). When thinking of these sins remember that the priest has heard everything before. You are not going to surprise or shock him.

Also, think about confession as going to a doctor. If you don’t tell the doctor your arm hurts, he won’t be able to diagnose it and offer a cure. Similarly, if you don’t tell the priest a sin, he won’t be able to offer absolution for it and help heal that spiritual wound.

Step 2: Look up the local confession times or schedule a time with the priest Sometimes if it has been a while, it is best to schedule a separate time with the local priest. However, if you don’t know the priest it might be daunting to think about it. Instead, find the nearest parish and inquire about their confession times.

It is also important to go early and try to be near the front of the line.

Step 3: Go into the confessional or Reconciliation room and start your confession If you haven’t been to confession in many years, you might not know that many parishes no longer use the old-style confessional booths, or may offer them as an option along with one or more Reconciliation rooms. In a room, you still have the option of confessing anonymously behind a movable screen, but you will usually sit in a chair rather than kneel. You may also choose to confess face-to-face; this is a good option for those who know the priest well and confess regularly to him, because the spiritual advice is more personal. Penitents line up outside the closed door to a Reconciliation room just as they do outside a confessional booth, entering when the person ahead of them leaves.

Wherever confession takes place, the priest typically will start first, saying, “In the name of the Father, and of the

Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” Then it will be your turn to talk. Since it is your first time in a while, it is best to let the priest know that, and say something like, “Father, this is my first confession in x amount of years. These are my sins.” Then you go ahead and start telling the priest your sins. Do your best to remember them. If you need to, write them on a piece of paper ahead of time.

Step 4: Listen to the priest’s consoling words and say your act of contrition The priest will respond with words meant to encourage you on your journey of faith. He will then give you a specific “penance,” which could be a number of prayers (like saying 5 Our Fathers), or something related to your sins. After that he will invite you to make an act of contrition, a prayer expressing your sorrow for your sins. If you are worried about that, most confessionals have the act of contrition printed and visible to see. If they don’t, then let the priest know and he will guide you through it.

Alternatively you can print your own copy of the following prayer.

My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against you whom I should love above all things. I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin. Our Savior Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. In his name, my God, have mercy.

Step 5: Bask in the mercy of God and say your penance Take a while in the church to thank God for what just happened. God just wiped your sins away! They’re gone. Praise him and allow God’s peace to flood your soul. Then do whatever penance the priest gave you.

Re-commit your life to Jesus Christ, and as you leave the church, start a new chapter in your life. God is always there whenever we fall. Trust in his mercy and allow his grace to permeate every aspect of your life. Plan to head to confession again soon.

GOD NEVER TIRES OF FORGIVING God never tires of forgiving. The problem is that we ourselves tire, we do not want to ask, we grow weary of asking for forgiveness. He never tires of forgiving, but at times we get tired of asking for forgiveness. Let us never tire, let us never tire! He is the loving Father who always pardons, who has that heart of mercy for us all. And let us too learn to be merciful to everyone. Let us invoke the intercession of Our Lady who held in her arms the Mercy of God made man. – Pope Francis

"I desire trust from My creatures. Encourage souls to place great trust in My fathomless mercy. Let the weak, sinful soul have no fear to approach Me, for even if it had more sins than there are grains of sand in the world, all would be drowned in the unmeasurable depths of My mercy.” – Jesus to Saint Faustina