HOLY INNOCENTS PARISH WE GATHER TO PRAISE, TO BLESS AND TO PROCLAIM.

431 Bedford Road, Pleasantville, NY 10570 (914) 769-0025,FAX: (914) 747-2476 Website: www.hiparish.org Office Hours: M-F: 9am-3pm, Sat: 11am-5pm, Sun:9am-1pm MASS SCHEDULE Saturday: 5:15pm Sunday: 7:30, 9:00 Children’s Choir, 11am, 5:15pm Daily: 7am Monday to Saturday Our Lady of Pompeii, Saratoga Avenue Sunday: 10:00am Daily: 8:45am SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: Saturdays: 4:30-5:00pm in the church; all other times by request. Please call the office for an appointment. NEW PARISHIONERS: You are cordially invited to join our parish community. Please stop in at the Parish Office.

CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS (RCIA): An ongoing invitation is extended to anyone who is interested in becoming a Catholic. Simply contact the Parish Office. SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM: Please call the Parish Office to make arrangements for our Baptismal Preparation Program, several weeks in advance of the baby’s birth. SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY: By appointment at least 6 months in advance. A pre-Cana program is required. SACRAMENT OF THE SICK: As scheduled, or anytime a priest is called. Please notify us when a family member enters the hospital.

PARISH STAFF Fr. William A. Holt, OP, Pastor

Fr. Daniel Davies, OP Fr. Jordan McConway, OP Fr. Gregory Doherty, OP Sr. Kathleen O’Hanlon, OP Fr. Hugh Burns, OP (In Residence)

Gerard Roggemann 769-3297 Director of Religious Education Joe DeSanctis 514-8731 Music Director Eileen Bruehl 769-0025 x11 Parish Coordinator Thomas Conaty 769-0025 x30 Youth Minister Barbara Mackin 769-0025 x22 Business Manager Alice Fortino 769-0025 x10 Bulletin Editor

December 21, 2014

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Monday: 1 Sm 1:24-28; Lk 1:46-56

Tuesday: Mal 3:1-4, 23-34; Lk 1:57-66

Wednesday: 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Lk 1:67-79

Thursday: Is 62:1-5; Acts 13:16-17, 22-25; Mt 1:1-25

Friday: Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59; Mt 10:17-22

Saturday: 1 Jn 1:1-4; Jn 20:1a, 2-8

Sunday: Sir 3:2-6, 12-14

Evening Vigil 5:15 Peter Cusack FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT 7:30 Our Parishioners 9:00 Thomas Burgess 10:00 (OLP) George Wagner 11:00 Maria Sammartano 5:15 John Ricciardi & Family Monday, Advent Weekday 7:00 Jane Marie Murden (5th Anniv.)

8:45 (OLP) Michealangelo & Filomena Salottolo Tuesday, Advent Weekday 7:00 Maria Melo 8:45 (OLP) Valeri & Felicissimo Families Wednesday, Late Advent Weekday 7:00 Irene Washienko 8:45 (OLP) John Brentano 4:00 Special Intention 6:00 Special Intention 10:00 Special Intention Thursday, The Nativity of the Lord 7:30 Special Intention 9:00 Special Intention 10:00 (OLP) Special Intention 11:00 Special Intention Friday, Saint Stephen, The First Martyr 7:00 Bernard Harney 8:45 (OLP) Mary Boguslawski Saturday, Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist 7:00 Jim Krulis 8:45 (OLP) Mr. & Mrs. George R. Rogan Evening Vigil 5:15 Dennis Mahoney THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH 7:30 Our Parishioners 9:00 Kathleen Sottile 10:00 (OLP) Gerard DeRosa 11:00 Alice M. Garfield (Birthday) 5:15 Margaret & Patrick Flynn

2014 FINANCE CORNER

Regular Maintenance Dec. 7 $10,887.37

PARISH PAY Our automatic giving program called Parish Pay will eliminate the envelopes you now receive so you do not have to search for that envelope every week as you rush out to Mass. Pick up one of the “Informational Blue Sheets” at the doors of the church and consider contacting them by phone or on line to set up an account.

Please pray for the safety of our men and women in the military, especially those who are serving overseas.

Laverne Ryan, Jimmy Fleming, Deborah Migliorini, Joyce Scholz, Rita Laviano, Antonio Soto, John Keator, Mary Pat & Jack McMahon, Betty Burns, Meghan Rizzo, Kathleen Corry, Mary Renna, Barbara Walters, Walter Salat, Juan Portillo, Jacques Padawer, Kathy FioRito, Edythe Proehl, Elizabeth Kelleher, Bonnie Proudian, Jeanne Cibirka,, Lucia Carlucci, Jennifer Schneider, Elsie Vernon, Maria Provenzano, Richard Colucci, Lee Franco, Adele Casagrande, Carrie Dunsmore, Joseph Drago, Gabrielle Sanchez, Jeanette Kastner, Margaret Borelli, Olivia Bendus, Frances Yacovelli, Rose Rosato, Linda Iorizzo, Rose Puller, Judy Chriss, MaryAnn Cappiello, Jane Chitty, Jerry Brennan, Jean Balzone, Bernadette Harris, Rose Makosky, Angela Lynch, Joey DeMatteis, Susan Mooney, Rita Miranda, Dennis Catozella

CONDOLENCES We extend our sympathy and promise of prayers to the family and friends of Elizabeth Alfonzetti (wife of Rocco); Emilio Rodriquez.

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CHRISTMAS 2014 Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

My heartfelt greetings to you as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus. May we not only celebrate the season but also embrace and make it our own. It’s the season also when third graders across the world are preparing their lines for their annual Christmas pageants. Even at the third grade level though, casting directors have a tough time finding an innkeeper. I mean really, who wants to be the one to turn Mary and Joseph away. Amidst the often-frenetic pace of our lives may we pause, if even for a moment, to offer this infant a safe place to rest in our own hearts inn. I would dare say, in all those children’s pageants and stories, that we see and read, the innkeeper eventually does allow that he has a stable in the back and that the couple are welcome to stay there with the animals. St. Luke doesn’t tell us whether they were invited to use the stable, or if they simply found their way there out of desperation. Others too, found their way there was well, and as a word of the nights coming and goings spread, I would have to imagine that the same innkeeper was eventually among the curious visitors. Part of the wonder of this night is the possibility of the meeting of worlds, the coming together of time, as we sing in that beautiful hymn, “the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.” Though we live so long after those events in Bethlehem, today we find ourselves at the manger. In our mind’s eye, we imagine the holy family in the stable, the mother tired, but radiant, the breath of the animals visible in the cold night air. We hear the lowing of the cattle and the rustle of straw, but most of all, we gaze in wonder at the baby, this long-expected child. What would we say if we were there? What would we add to Mary’s contented sighing and Joseph’s protective, “There, there”? As with all babies, just his existence is a gift. Again as with all babies, it’s not just their infancy, but also their futures we imagine and dream of and long for. However, with this baby, this little one named Jesus we have seen his future. We have glimpsed what lies ahead for him and what it means for us. So, what do we say to him as we take our place by this manger tonight? With prayers for the Divine Babe of Bethlehem to take Birth in our Hearts!

Father Holt, O.P.

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BIBLE STUDY The Bible Study group will not meet on Dec. 22nd, 29th and Jan. 5th. Bible Study will resume on Monday, January 12th.

THE WEEK AHEAD IN THE PARISH

Monday, December 22nd: 7:00-8:00pm—Confessions at Holy Innocents Tuesday, December 23rd: 11:00am—Lectio Divina Wednesday, December 24th Christmas Eve Masses at Holy Innocents: 4:00pm, 6:00pm and 10:00pm Thursday, December 25th: Christmas Day Masses at Holy Innocents: 7:30am, 9:00am and 11:00am...No 5:15pm Mass Christmas Day Mass at OLP : 10:00am

“THANK YOU” We wish to thank all those who have contributed so generously to our recent requests for donations to those in need. Thank you to those who brought in gift cards; food for the Food Pantry as well as cash donations to purchase fresh food for the holidays., gifts for the Giving Tree for the children of the Highbridge Community in the Bronx, gifts for the women and children of the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility. Also to those groups who donated food baskets to us for distribution. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.

EXCHANGE STUDENT A Danish exchange student is looking for a family to stay with from January-June 2015. He is 18 years old. If you can help please contact Tom Conaty at:

TomConaty@optonline.net.

DECEMBER ●Dec. 21st—7:00am-Youth Group Breakfast Run ●Dec. 25th—Merry Christmas

CYO BASKETBALL

Location

Pleasantville Bedford Road School: Enter thru the gymnasium on Manville Road.

Dates All clinics are held on Sundays: Dec. 21st and January 4th, 11th & 18th.

Times Kindergarten: 12:00-1:00pm, 1st Grade: 1:15- 2:15pm, 2nd Grade: 2:30-3:30pm. Registration is open and all are welcome. Please visit: holyinnocentscyo.com CYO Community Service projects kicked off this season with the 6th Grade Girls teams coordinating a food drive for St. Theresa’s Parish in Sleepy Hollow. Many thanks to coaches Edie O’Reilly, Angela Vella, Kay O’Neill, Brendan O’Neill and parent coordinator Rachel Skrzypczak for organizing this project and Elizabeth Kwiat, our Service Coordinator. Thanks to all the girls that participated: Analese Picart Maia Mayers Caroline O’Neill Josie Driscoll MaryGrace O’Neill Shannon Muldoon Chrissy Geba Eliza Murphy Isabella Pepdjonovic Lila Donohue Christina Skrzypczak Julia O’Reilly Morgan Conetta Maeve Roney Madison Schneeweiss Katrina Kelly Jenna McAllister Dylan Van Bramer Mia Togneri

WOMEN’S SOCIAL GROUP “Upcoming Events”

Thursday, January 15th at 7:30pm Short meeting followed by a movie with refreshments.

Thursday, February 19th at 7:00pm Short meeting followed at 7:30pm with presentation by Roseanne Fama from L’Oreal.

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UNBOUND The weekend of December 27/28 Fr. Mark Lane, C.O. will speak at all the Masses concerning the organization “Unbound”. (Their prior name was “Christian Foundation for Children and Aging.) “Unbound is an organization that helps children, youth and the aging living in poverty in developing countries across the world. It is a one-to-one sponsorship program. There will be no second collection for this appeal but you will be asked to visit the Social Hall where there will be a display of materials explaining their needs as well as an opportunity to speak to Fr. Lane.

ADVENT AROUND

THE WORLD

During the last days of Advent, popular customs around

the world also draw our attention to the circumstances

surrounding Jesus’ birth.

Wigilia is the Polish name for Christmas Eve. When

the first star appears in the sky, the Christmas tree is lit

and dinner begins. The Christmas Eve

meal starts with a prayer, the sharing of the

blessed oplatek (a bread wafer), and

exchanging wishes. Each person gathered

offers good health and success in the upcoming year to

one another. If there have been any misunderstandings,

each asks for forgiveness and for the New Year to be a

better one.

The Music Ministry of Holy Innocents, extends to all of you our warmest wishes for a very Merry Christmas ! We look forward to your participation in the beautiful songs of the Christmas season that will be used in the next few weeks during our parish liturgies. Each of these special, musical treasures has a unique way of portraying the poignant details of the birth of our Savior. We welcome and encourage you to join in singing them with the love and spirit that Christmas inspires in all of us!! We thank you for your support all year, and wish

you a very Merry Christmas!

“The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary”… “the Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; hence the holy offspring to be born will be called Son of God… Mary said, ‘I am the maidservant of the Lord. Let it be done to me as you say.’ With that the angel left her.”

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Reminder: No evening classes on Monday, December 22nd AND Tuesday, December 23rd. The Religious Education Office will be closed from December 23rd through January 3rd. Classes will resume on January 5, 2015.

MERRY CHRISTMAS! Gerard J Roggemann Coordinator - Holy Innocents Religious Education groggemann@hiparish.org Telephone: 914-769-3297 Fax 914-769-7225 FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Gospel: Luke 1:26-38: The Virgin Mary is approached by the angel Gabriel, who tells her that she has been chosen to bear the Son of God. Mary is first afraid, yet shows her unquestioning faith when she simply says, “Let it be done to me as you say.”

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CHRISTMAS WEEK SCHEDULE

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION

(Monday, December 22nd) Holy Innocents

7:00-8:00pm

CHRISTMAS EVE MASSES (Wednesday, December 24th)

Holy Innocents 4pm, 6pm & 10:00pm

CHRISTMAS DAY MASSES (Thursday, December 25th)

Holy Innocents: 7:30am; 9:00am; & 11:00am (No 5:15pm Mass)

Our Lady of Pompeii: 10:00am

NEW YEAR’S DAY- SOLEMNITY OF MARY MOTHER OF GOD (Holy Day of Obligation)

Holy Innocents Wednesday, December 31st - 5:15pm Vigil Mass

Thursday, January 1st – 7:30am, 9:00am & 11:00am (No 5:15pm Mass) Our Lady of Pompeii

10:00am