Welcome to Sacred Heart

We extend a warm welcome to those who attend our Church. We hope that you will find ourparish community a place where your life of faith will be nourished. We also hope that you will share your special

gifts within the community. Your prayers, your presence and your talents are most welcome. Parish registrationforms are in the back of the church or may be obtained at the Parish Office.

Sacred Heart CATHOLIC CHURCH

Main Church7190 Highway 17 South

Fleming Island FL 32003

Green Cove Springs Church207 Palmetto Avenue

Green Cove Springs FL 32043

PARISH OFFICE7190 Highway 17 SouthTel 284-3811 Fax 529-8845Office Hours: Monday – Friday8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.Pastor: Father Michael Pendergraft Business Manager: Tish AguilarReceptionists: Mary Bullington, Silvia AlexanderRCIA Coordinator: Mike Curtis Hall Director: Arlene ManaloYouth Director: Janice Schubert

RELIGIOUS EDUCATIONTel 284-9983Kristin Michler-Belleza (K-5)Sandra Curtis (6-12)

MUSIC MINISTRYKaren Otto, Mike Curtis and Ann Marie Barta

ANNUNCIATION CATHOLIC SCHOOL1610 Blanding Blvd., Middleburg 32068Tel. 282-0504Principal: Victoria Farrington

MASS SCHEDULESaturday Vigil: 5:30 p.m.; Spanish 7:30 p.m. (Green Cove Springs Church)Sunday: 8 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.Holy Days: 8 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.

Weekdays: Monday through Friday 8 a.m.Sacrament of Reconciliation: Sat. 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. or by appointment

To arrange for Baptism or Marriages please call the Parish Office.Homebound Parishioners: Please call the office if you know of anyonewho needs Eucharist brought to the home or would like a visit.

Web site: www.sacredheartcatholicchurch.org

MISSION STATEMENT

Compelled by the Gospel, we the parish family of Sacred Heart, promote and support Christian Life by serving our parishand community through the celebration of the sacraments, educational programs and other parish ministries.

STEWARDSHIP John the Baptist’s call to repentance is echoed in the U.S. bishops’ pastoral letter on stewardship: “Christians must beg God for the grace of conver-sion: the grace to know who they are, to whom they belong, how they are to live—the grace to repent and change and grow, the grace to become good disci-ples and stewards.” Your Gifts to God and Parish ~ November 26th Sacrificial Giving: $ 10,406.53 Building Fund: $ 8,006.56 Not in envelopes: $ 3,821.00 Children’s Sharing Treasure: $ 63.50

Second Sunday of Advent December 10, 2017

Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.

— Mark 1:3

Sacred Heart Parish offers sympathy to Theresa Wegmann on the death of her husband, George; and to the family of Alice Feliciano who died recently.

The Parish extends its congratulations to the families of Lincoln Harrison, Bran-don Noah Keller, Amelia Nicole Burris, Michael Arthur Stukel III, and Connor Joseph Zelek, Aubrey Elizabeth Zelek, and Addison Rae Zelek who were

recently baptized.

You’re invited to Sacred Heart’s Annual Christmas Pageant and Live Nativity on Sunday, December 15th, at 7:00 pm. Reception will follow.

EVERYONE’S INVITED!

BEST ADVENT EVER We prepare for everything we consider important in life, and Advent is the time we prepare for Christmas. Welcome to Best Advent Ever. This is a free pro-gram offered by Dynamic Catholic. To subscribe, log on-to http://dynamiccatholic.com/best-advent-ever. It is that easy.

Each week is filled with inspiring videos and testimonies that help us discover what we really want, what matters most, what matters least, how we can become the-best-version-of-ourselves, and what it means to have a fabulous Christmas.

Christmas Eve Scripture and Songs Please join the Choir for our annual Scripture and Songs Event prior to the 11 pm Mass on Christmas Eve. The program will begin at 10:20 pm. This

program will prayerfully and joyfully start off your Christmas Season.

I would like to thank the following parents who provid-ed transportation as well as chaperoned the RISEUP event on Saturday, December 2, 2017 at UNF in Jacksonville: Mrs. Tara Gonzalez, Mr. Dana Latino, Mrs. Amy Latino, and Dr. Laurie Stoutamire. Because of you, the following 12 teens/tweens could attend: Kelsey Cooper, Cameron Gonzalez, John-Paul Latino, Sophia Latino, Andrew Motil, Rafael Naar, Sebastian Rogers, Alex Stoutamire, Jonathan Stoutamire, Olivia Stoutamire and Brady White all enjoyed the Christian band “Stars Go Dim” and learned much from Catholic International Speaker: Sara Swafford. We enjoyed this fellowship time with hundreds of other teens from throughout the Diocese of St. Augustine. Blessings, Janice Schubert Youth Director

Christmas Break Sunday, December 17th to Wednesday January 3rd.

Classes resume on Sunday, January 7th.

ANNUNCIATION CATHOLIC SCHOOL NEWS

SHEEP (Sacred Heart Early Education Program) will meet tomorrow, Monday, December 11th, at 9:15 am in the Activity Center.

Bible Study will be held on Wednesday, December 13th, at 10:00 am in Bldg. C. It is held every other Wednesday. All are welcome!

Education News...

Think a Catholic Education is too expensive for your children?

How about a $5,677.00 scholarship?

Please explore the Step Up for Students Scholarship Program

which makes a Catholic elementary education affordable for our families.

www.stepupforstudents.org

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * At Annunciation Catholic School, your parish school, it is our goal to make a Catholic education available to every parishioner.

Youth Ministry Corner

Keep Christ in Christmas Magnets The Knights of Columbus will be selling Keep Christ in Christmas magnets in the narthex after each weekend Mass. The price is $5 and profits will be used to sup-port charitable programs during the Christ-mas season.

Children's Christmas Eve Choir

If your child would like to be in the Children's Choir for the 4 pm Christmas Eve Mass, we are having one practice on Thursday, December 21st from 4-5 pm in the Church. Any child who is able to read is invited to

participate. Please contact Karen Otto at 904-553-3178 or karenannotto@hotmail.com with further

In Our Parish...

THE COUNCIL OF CATHOLIC WOMEN Christmas Celebration

Fellowship, laughter, and song await you at our upcom-ing meeting on Monday, December 11th, at 6:30 pm in the Activity Center. We will begin with a scrumptious pot luck dinner, so please bring your favorite dish to share. If you are bring-ing food, we ask you to arrive at 6:15 so we can set up the buffet. Once again, in the true spirit of Christmas, our annual Santa’s secret auction fundraiser will benefit the needy in our community. If you are able to donate a $10 wrapped or bagged gift for the auction, please bring it with you. However, the most important thing to bring is yourself, as delicious food, mysterious bags, games, gifts, the sing-ing of carols, tons of laughter and the company of won-derful women await. All women of the parish are welcome. We hope to see you there! For additional information about our Council or our up-coming meeting, please contact Diane Conlon at 874-2414 or catholicwoman2@gmail.com

SUNDAY LITURGY Fleming Island Church SATURDAY, December 23rd 5:30 pm Mass SUNDAY, December 24th 8:00 am Mass 10:30 am Mass

CHRISTMAS MASSES Fleming Island Church CHRISTMAS EVE, Sunday, December 24th 4:00 pm Children’s Mass 6:00 pm 8:00 pm 11:00 pm (A Lessons and Carols Program will begin at 10:20 pm) Green Cove Springs Church CHRISTMAS EVE, Sunday, December 24th 5:00 pm (in English) 8:00 pm (en Español) CHRISTMAS DAY, Monday, December 25th Fleming Island Church 10:00 am

NEW YEAR’S MASSES Fleming Island Church Sunday, December 31st 5:30 pm Vigil Mass Monday, January 1st 9:00 am 5:00 pm in Green Cove Springs (en Español)

TOPIC FOR REFLECTION: “Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come.” Mk13:33 FINANCE REPORT - The October financial repor t was reviewed. We are financially sound. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: 1. The church parking lot repairs were completed. A bid was accepted to reseal the parking lot in the spring. 2. The final phase of adding stone to the sides of the

church sign will soon be completed. 3. Joy Ayala will oversee the project of a new sign for the

Green Cove Springs location. 4. The ramp to the portable has been repaired. Thanks go

to Gary Bachtell and Bob Wood. 5. The Caution Sign is in place at the back exit. Nancy

suggested this added precaution for the south exit. NEW BUSINESS: 1. The Diocese is working on a security plan for all parishes. 2. The Bishop’s Annual Stewardship Appeal (BASA) will begin the weekend of January 27-28. CLOSING PRAYER: The Our Father was said by all. The next Parish Council meeting will be held February 5, 2018, at 7:00pm in the portable. Future meeting dates are: April 2, 2018 and June 4, 2018.

SACRED HEART PASTORAL COUNCIL MINUTES

December 4th Meeting

Marriage Preparation Marriage Preparation: To schedule a wedding, an engaged couple must meet with their parish priest or deacon at least eight months before their pro-posed wedding date. Preparation for the sacrament includes attending a diocesan program such as Engaged Encounter or Pre Cana. Also, cou-ples of child-bearing age will need to take a full course of Natural Family Planning. Pre-registration for each of these programs is mandatory. The next Engaged Encounter program will be January 19th-21st at Marywood Retreat Center. The next Pre Cana program will be February 10th in Jacksonville. For more information about the di-ocesan requirements or to register for any of the di-ocesan programs, please visit www.dcfl.org or call (904) 551-2619.

Second Sunday of Advent God calls us to proclaim the Good News. How do you share that Good News? Pray for the grace to be a faith-filled witness of God’s love. (Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11)

If you have a question about a vocation to the priest-hood or religious life, contact Father David Ruchinski, Voca-tion Director, at (904) 262-3200, ext. 101, or email voca-tions@dosafl.com.

Pray For

Vocations

Exercise Classes for People with Parkinson's Disease AND their Caregivers Mondays and Thursdays at 9:30 am. This Monday the group will also meet at 6:00 pm in Bldg. C.

Around the Diocese...

BULLETIN DEADLINE The deadline for the bulletin article is noon on Mondays. Holiday weeks have ear lier deadlines. Articles for the bulletin may be emailed to bulletin@sacredheartcatholicchurch.org

DID YOU KNOW... Mary “cooperated through free faith and obedience in the salvation of humanity.” Her yes in the name of all humanity makes her mother of all the living. (CCC#511)

Sheriff’s NET The Clay County Sheriff’s Office is introducing another

enhanced strategy to reduce crime and engage the com-

munity. Residents can join the Sheriff’s Neighborhood

Engagement Team (Sheriff’s NET).

You and your neighbors can meet with deputies monthly

to discuss crime trends and crime prevention strategies.

This is your opportunity to meet one-on-one with them

and tell them what is really happening in your neighbor-

hood.

You can learn how the Clay County Sheriff’s Office works

for you. Fill out the application and join the Sheriff’s NET.

For more information, call (904) 264-6512 and ask for the

Community Affairs Section. Please email your application

to neighborhoodnews@claysheriff.com.

Join us at the next meeting is in Sullivan Hall at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on December 12th, at 7 pm.

PRAYER LIST Names will be printed in the bulletin for four weeks, then removed. Please call with names you would like to have includ-ed on our list. Thank you for helping us keep our list current. Please pray for… Rose Bergin, Michael Cassidy, Pat Cook, Joanne Gillease, Donna Guzinski, Virginia McCauley, Stephanie Palta, Margaretia Sanchez, Levi Shepherd, Casey Spillane, Mary Stafford, Charley Strayer, John Anderson, Jane Angerer, Nancy and Bill Bar-telll, Judith Gall, Florence Grass, Mark Hathaway, Kenny Mackeart, Janet Palmer, Hilary Silva, John Steinberg, Lois Battisti, Pat Chestnut-Sarpy, John Duzansky, Mark Hathaway, Virginia Hefferin, Dolores John-son, Karen McCallan, Richard and Reba Pedigo, Donna Ramos, Carly Stoffa, Tommy Turner, Len Winkeler, Fr. Alex Ducci, Kat Launer, Rebecca Smith, our prayer blanket recipients and our homebound parish-ioners.

The trailer located at the end of our parking lot is to recycle aluminum cans. The profit is used by our Outreach Ministry to help others who are less fortunate. Thank you to all who have been recycling in this way. Please no tin cans, boxes or plastic bottles!

READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: Is 35:1-10; Ps 85:9ab, 10-14; Lk 5:17-26 Tuesday: Zec 2:14-17 or Rv 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab; Jdt 13:18bcde, 19; Lk 1:26-38 or Lk 1:39-47, or any readings from the Common of The Blessed Virgin Mary, nos. 707-712 Wednesday: Is 40:25-31; Ps 103:1-4, 8, 10; Mt 11:28-30 Thursday: Is 41:13-20; Ps 145:1, 9-13ab; Mt 11:11- 15 Friday: Is 48:17-19; Ps 1:1-4, 6; Mt 11:16-19 Saturday: Sir 48:1-4, 9-11; Ps 80:2ac, 3b, 15-16, 18- 19; Mt 17:9a, 10-13 Sunday: Is 61:1-2a, 10-11; Lk 1:46-50, 53-54; 1 Thes 5:16-24; Jn 1:6-8, 19-28

Monday, December 11th, 8:00 am – In memory of Charles Stanukinas requested by Jack and Sue McInerney. Tuesday, December 12th, 8:00 am - In memory of Yolanda Yatco requested by the Yatco Family. Wednesday, December 13th, 8:00 am - In memory of Amanda Marie Harpin requested by Helen and Jack Garrity. Thursday, December 14th, 8:00 am - For the Spe-cial Intentions of Mary O’Neill requested by Maureen Gatins. Friday, December 15th, 8:00 am - In memory of Mary Parry requested by Bill Parry. Saturday, December 16th, 5:30 pm - In memory of Bill Harrington requested by the Scared Heart Ministry of Consolation. Sunday, December 17th, 8:00 am - In memory of William Chapman requested by the Sacred Heart Ministry of Consolation. Sunday, December 17th, 10:30 am - For the Special Intentions of the Parishioners of Sacred Heart Parish. Sunday, December 17th, 5:30 pm - In memory of Barbara Harkins requested by Dan Harkins and Family.

SULLIVAN HALL All events held at Sullivan Hall are scheduled through Sullivan Hall director, Arlene Manalo. For prices, availability and more information, call Arlene at 284-3811 or email sullivanhall@sacredheartcatholicchurch.org www.facebook.com/shsullivanhall

PARISH WEBSITE Be in the know… check out our website at www.sacredheartcatholicchurch.org Contact Parish Office at 284-3811 or email bulletin@sacredheartcatholicchurch.org if you have something for the website.

TODAY’S READINGS First Reading — The rugged land shall be made a plain; the rough country, a broad valley (Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11). Psalm — Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation (Psalm 85). Second Reading — Conduct yourselves in holiness, has-tening the coming of the day of God (2 Peter 3:8-14). Gospel — I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit (Mark 1:1-8). The English translation of the Psalm Responses from Lectionary for Mass © 1969, 1981, 1997, Interna-tional Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.