St. Peter Chanel Catholic Church

12001 E. 214th Street Hawaiian Gardens, CA 90716 Parish Office: 562/924-7591 Spanish CCD: 562/860-3637 English CCD/Confirmation: 562/865-6498 Website: http://www.spcomv.com Staffed by the Oblates of the Virgin Mary Fr. Larry Darnell, OMV, Pastor Fr. Edward Broom, OMV, Associate Pastor Fr. Craig MacMahon, OMV, Associate Pastor Fr. Vincenzo Antolini, OMV, Priest in Residence Only Vocations for Oblates of the Virgin Mary Contact Fr. Jeremy Paulin, OMV 617-869-2429

MASS SCHEDULE – HORARIO DE MISAS

SATURDAY – SABADO English: 8:00 am, 6:00 pm SUNDAY – DOMINGO English: 8:00 am, 12:00 noon, 6:00 pm Español: 6:30 am, 10:00 am, 2:00 pm, 4:00 pm, 8:00 pm

WEEKDAYS – DIAS ENTRE SEMANA English: 6:00 am, 8:00 am, 12:00 noon, 6:30 pm Español: 6:30 pm (en la Iglesia Antigua)

HOLY DAYS – DIAS DE OBLIGACION Same as weekdays – Lo mismo que entre semana

CONFESSIONS – CONFESIONES Monday through Friday: during most Masses Lunes a Viernes: durante las Misas Saturday – Sabado: 5:00 pm-8:30 pm Or by appointment - O por cita

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION Perpetual Adoration Daily from 6:30 am to 9:30 pm (Except during the Masses) All Night: Fridays and Saturdays

JOVENES PARA CRISTO Español: Sábados a las 6:30 pm en la Iglesia Antigua

ADULT INSTRUCTION – INSTRUCCION ADULTA English: Fr. Craig MacMahon Español: Fr. Fernando Cuenca

COMMUNION TO THE SICK - A LOS ENFERMOS English/Español: A priest/Un sacerdote Call the Parish Office / Llamen a la Oficina de la Parroquia

OFFICE HOURS - HORAS DE LAS OFICINAS Parish Office/Oficina de la Parroquia: 10:00-6:00 pm Spanish CCD/Catecismo en Español: 3:30-7:30 pm English CCD/Catecismo en Inglés: 2:00-6:30 pm

BAPTISMS Dates and times are announced at the baptismal class. Parents of children to be baptized must attend two classes of prepara-tion. Godparents need only attend the first class. Godparents must be practicing Catholics who have received Confirmation. The classes take place on the 3rd and 4th Wednesday of each month at 7:30 pm in English in the Old Church. If you do not live in this parish, you must obtain a letter of permission from your own parish to baptize your child at St. Peter Chanel. If at all possible, please do not bring children to the classes. BAUTIZOS Fechas y horas son anunciadas en la clase de bautizo. Padres de los niños que serán bautizados deben venir a dos clases. Los padrinos tienen que venir solamente a la primera clase y es necesario que sean buenos Católicos que practican su Fe, y que hayan sido Confirmados. Las clases son el primer y segundo Miércoles del mes a las 7:30 pm en Español, en la Iglesia Antigua. Si no viven en esta parroquia tienen que obte-ner una carta de permiso de su propia iglesia para bautizar sus hijos aquí. Si es posible, por favor no traigan sus niños a las clases.

MARRIAGES Contact the parish office Monday through Friday, at least six months prior to the date. We encourage all couples who are living together to come and explore the possibility of getting married in the Church. MATRIMONIOS Llamen a la oficina Lunes a Viernes, por lo menos seis meses antes de la fecha. Les recomendamos a todas las parejas que están viviendo juntos, que vengan y pregunten acerca de los pasos a seguir para casarse por la Iglesia.

Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Today by Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J.

There is no subject in Catholic devotion more extensive than the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is only to be expected, since the Mother of God is so basic to a correct understanding of her Divine Son. With the break in Catholic unity which took place in the 16th century, the Western world was deeply affected by those who considered themselves Christians, but had reservations about the Mother of Christ. Faith in her Divine Son is logically dependent on faith in His mother as the Mother of God. This has deeply affected the Western world, which has been so deeply infected by what I may call “non-Catholic Christianity.” After all, it is one thing to believe in Jesus Christ. It is something else to believe that He is the Living God who became man as a child conceived by a human mother. Already in the earliest centuries of Christianity, faith in the real Jesus Christ meant faith also in His Mother as the mother of a human child, but also, the Mother of God. This truth is essential to Catholic piety. We are only as truly devoted to Jesus Christ as we believe that He had a human mother, who is also the Mother of God. In some ways, this is one of the most important truths of our Catholic faith. We believe that the Son of Mary is the Son of the Eternal God. Christ is a divine person. But Jesus has two natures. He is the Eternal Son of God, who has always been the Son of the Eternal Father. But He also became the Son of Mary when she conceived Him at Nazareth as the God-man. The moment Mary said, “Be it done to me according to thy word,” the Eternal God took a human nature who was conceived in time and who will continue to exist as the God-man for all eternity. It is impossible to exaggerate the importance of seeing Mary as the true mother of Jesus Christ, who exists from all eternity, but also became man at the moment of His Incarnation in the womb of Mary. This is the heart of our Catholic faith. We believe that the same Jesus Christ who always existed as God, began to exist as man the moment His mother accepted the invitation to become the Mother of the Most High…….. How this needs to be stressed today! Jesus Christ is truly man. He shares our human nature, our human soul and body, our human life and mortality. But He is the Everlasting God who never came into existence and who always was and will be forever more. Out of love for us, He became man so that we might become more and more like Him. It was the Blessed Virgin Mary who was chosen by God to change the meaning of creation. She became the Mother of the Eternal God, the model for all of us to imitate in her deep faith, by believing that our destiny is also to join her in heaven.

Third Sunday of Advent December 11, 2011

ST PETER CHANEL CHILDREN'S CHOIR The Cherubs is our parish children's choir that sings regularly in the 12:00 pm Mass on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month. The choir is inviting children between the ages of 5 and 12 to join this unique group that is dedicate to singing beautiful sacred hymns. For more information, please call Geraldine Neri 562-900-3754.

CHRISTMAS TOY DRIVE ~A Gift of Love~

Please donate to our Christmas toy drive. A monetary contribution is preferred since we buy toys at wholesale. Please make checks payable to “St. Peter Chanel”. You may leave your check or unwrapped new toy(s) at the parish office any day of the week from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Deadline: Friday, December 16, 2011.

SCHEDULE FOR CHRISTMAS MASSES HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION

Christmas Eve: Saturday, December 24: 7:00 p.m.: Spanish 9:00 p.m.: English Christmas Day: Sunday, December 25: 8:00 a.m.: English 10:00 a.m.: Spanish 12:00 noon: English 6:00 p.m.: Bilingual

Simbang Gabi Simbang Gabi Masses will start at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels on Thursday, Dec 15 at 6:30 pm. The novena of Masses will continue in our parish on Friday, Dec 16 at 6:30 pm. We invite eve-ryone to attend. Volunteers are needed to help serve refreshments after Mass in the old church.

Christmas Gifts for Priests We will have Spiritual Bouquets available for our Oblate Priests and Brother. Spiritual Bouquets will be available in the back of the church or in the parish office. Thank you all for your wonderful support.

WORLDWIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER Husbands and wives, the most precious gift that you to each other is your love. Why not renew your love with the experi-ence of a Marriage Encounter Weekend? It's a perfect Christ-mas gift. The WWME Weekend provides the opportunity to look at your relationship in an atmosphere of privacy and gives you a chance to give thanks for the gift of your spouse, some-thing that most of us don't' take the time to do often enough. The next Weekend is scheduled for February 17-19, 2012. For more information or to register, go online at www.ilovemyspouse.org or call Jacob & Sarah Flores at (562) 923-7335 or Brian & Denise Keckeison at (562) 461-7278.

11 de Diciembre del 2011 Tercer Domingo de Adviento

Devoción a la Santísima Virgen Por el Padre John A. Hardon, S.J.

No hay tema en la devoción católica más extenso que el de la Santísima Virgen María. Esto es de ser esperado, puesto que la Madre de Dios es tan básica para comprender correctamente a su Divino Hijo. Con la interrupción de la unidad católica que sucedió en el siglo XVI, el mundo Occidental fue afectado profundamente por los que se consideraban cristianos, pero tenían reservas hacia la Madre de Cristo. Fe en su Divino Hijo depende lógicamente en la fe en Su madre como la Madre de Dios. Esto ha afectado profundamente al mundo Occidental, que ha sido infectado profundamente por lo que puedo llamar “cristiandad no católica”. Después de todo, es una cosa creer en Jesucristo, es algo más creer que El es el Dios Vivo que llegó a ser hombre como un niño concebido por una madre humana. Ya en los primeros siglos de la cristiandad, la fe en el Jesucristo verdadero significó también fe en Su Madre como la madre de un niño humano, pero también, la Madre de Dios. Esta verdad es esencial a la piedad católica. Nosotros solamente somos sinceramente devotos a Jesucristo en tanto que creamos que El tuvo una madre humana, que es también la Madre de Dios. De algunas manera, esta es una de las verdades más importantes de nuestra fe católica. Creemos que el Hijo de María es el Hijo del Dios Eterno. Cristo es una persona divina. Pero Jesús tiene dos naturalezas. El es el Hijo Eterno de Dios, quien siempre ha sido el Hijo del Padre Eterno. Pero El también llegó a ser el Hijo de María cuando ella lo concibió en Nazaret como el Dios-Hombre. En el momento que María dijo, "Hágase en mi según tu voluntad," el Dios Eterno tomó una naturaleza humana que fue concebida en el tiempo y que persistirá como el Dios-Hombre por toda la eternidad. Es imposible exagerar la importancia de ver a María como la madre verdadera de Jesucristo, quien existe por toda la eternidad, pero también llegó a ser hombre en el momento de Su Encarnación en el vientre de María. Esto es el corazón de nuestra fe católica. Creemos que el mismo Jesucristo que siempre existió como Dios, comenzó a existir como hombre en el momento en que Su madre aceptó la invitación para llegar a ser la Madre del más Alto… ¡Cómo esto necesita ser enfatizado hoy! Jesucristo es verdadero hombre! El comparte nuestra naturaleza humana, nuestra alma y cuerpo humano, nuestra vida y la mortalidad humana. Pero El es el Dios Eterno que nunca nació y que siempre fue y será para siempre. Por amor a nosotros, El llegó a ser hombre para que nosotros quizás lleguemos a ser cada vez más como El. Fue la Santísima Virgen María que fue escogida por Dios para que cambiara el significado de la creación. Ella llegó a ser la Madre del Dios Eterno, el modelo para todos nosotros para imitar en su fe profunda, creyendo que nuestro destino es el de también reunirnos con ella en el cielo.

Pilgrim Virgin - Dec 11 - Dec 18 @ 8am: Virgen Peregrina-Dic 11-Dic 18 @10am: Pilgrim Virgin - Dec 11 - Dec 18 @ 12noon: Bosack Family Virgen Peregrina - Dic 11 -Dic 18 @2pm:

Mass Intentions / Intenciones de Misa Saturday, December 10th 8:00 a.m.-Deceased Members of the Phan Family 6:00 p.m.-Irma Caceres (Thanksgiving) Sunday, December 11th

6:30 a.m.-Josefina Briones (RIP) 8:00 a.m.-Margarita Lacson (RIP) 10:00 a.m.-Francisco Rodriguez Licon (RIP) 12:00 p.m.-Richard Weerackoon (Thanksgiving) 2:00 p.m.-Alfredo, Jacob & Matthew Zamarripa (Thanksgiving) 4:00 p.m.-Magdalena Martinez (RIP) 6:00 p.m.-Parishioners 8:00 p.m.-Odilon Magana (RIP) Monday, December 12th

5:00 a.m.-Maria Guadalupe Turcios & Zoila Guadalupe Soto (Thanksgiving) 8:00 a.m.-Our Lady of Guadalupe 12:00 p.m.-Steven Matthew (Special Intention) 6:30 p.m.-Roberto & Ruth Guzman (1st Wedding Anniversary) 6:30p.m.(sp)-Jacinta Pastor Alfaro (RIP) Tuesday, December 13th 6:00 a.m.-All Souls in Purgatory 8:00 a.m.-Veronica Reasoner (RIP) 12:00 p.m.-Maria Phuong Nguyen (RIP) 6:30 p.m.-Jose Inez Torres Andrade (RIP) 6:30p.m.(sp)-Lupe Martinez (Special Intention) Wednesday, December 14th

6:00 a.m.-Ada Day 8:00 a.m.-Maria Hernandez (RIP) 12:00 p.m.-Dolores Sanchez, Socorro Lopez & Marta Villareal (RIP) 6:30 p.m.-Hernando Garavito & Ignacio Aguilera (RIP) 6:30p.m.(sp)-Guadalupe Garcia & Jose Luis Nava (RIP) Thursday, December 15th

6:00 a.m.-Lillian Teresa Venpin (RIP) 8:00 a.m.-Ramon Hernandez (RIP) 12:00 p.m.-Carlos Rodriguez (RIP) 6:30 p.m.-Priscilla Rico (RIP) 6:30p.m.(sp)-Vocations Friday, December 16th 6:00 a.m.-Alex Avandano (Special Intention) 8:00 a.m.-Gabriel Torres (RIP) 12:00 p.m.-Michael & Lance Hakker & Kyle Gonzalez (Thanksgiving) 6:30 p.m.-Ludwig & Perla Ceballos (Thanksgiving) 6:30p.m.(sp)-Maria Aguilar (RIP) Saturday, December 17th 8:00 a.m.-Justo & Lidia Parga (45th Wedding Anniversary) 6:00 p.m.-Nes & Toni Swaminathan (Wedding)

HORARIO PARA LAS MISAS DE NAVIDAD Día Santo de Obligación

Noche Buena: Sábado, 24 de Diciembre: 7:00 p.m.: Español 9:00 p.m.: Inglés Navidad: Domingo, 25 de Diciembre: 8:00 a.m.: Inglés 10:00 a.m.: Español 12:00 mediodía: Inglés 6:00 p.m.: Bilingüe

CARIDAD CON LOS VECINOS DE SPC Si compran algo afuera de la Iglesia, especialmente comida, por favor boten la basura en los cestos de la Iglesia o guarde la basura hasta que pueda disponer de ella apropiadamente en su casa. POR FAVOR NO ARROJE basura en las jardines de los vecinos o en la calle. Respetemos a los vecinos y mantengamos nuestra ciudad limpia, esto es un acto de caridad Cristiana.

Did You Know? Safety tips for parents traveling with children

Traveling with kids during the holidays can be a challenge, especially with the added worry of safety thrown into the mix. Here are some suggestions parents can use to help ensure their children’s safety while traveling: 1. Prior to leaving on your holiday, remind children about your family safety procedures for dealing with strangers and what to do if they get lost. 2. Keep a recent photo of children handy, also a photocopy of passports kept in a safe place or with a relative that can fax it to you in case of loss. 3. If you label children’s clothing, make sure the label is inside so strangers are not able to learn child’s name. For particular help, you may call Assistance Ministry at (213) 637-7650.

¿Sabe Usted? Consejos de seguridad para los padres que viajan con niños

Viajar con niños durante las vacaciones puede ser un desafío, especial-mente con la preocupación de seguridad añadida en la mezcla. He aquí algunas sugerencias que los padres pueden utilizar para ayudar a garantizar la seguridad de sus hijos durante el viaje: 1. Antes de salir a vacaciones, recuerde a los niños acerca de sus procedimientos de segu-ridad para la familia para tratar con personas extrañas y qué hacer si se pierden. 2. Mantenga una foto reciente de los niños a la mano, tam-bién mantenga una fotocopia del pasaporte en un lugar seguro o con un familiar para que puede enviársela a usted en caso de que se pierda su niño. 3. Si usted pone una etiqueta en la ropa de sus niños con su nombre, asegúrese de que la etiqueta este dentro de la ropa para que personas extrañas no sean capaces de aprender el nombre de niño(a). Para obtener ayuda, llame a la Oficina del Ministerio de Ayuda al (213) 637-7650.

RECEIVING THE PRECIOUS BLOOD We would like to remind you that if you have the cold, the flu, or any other communicable illness, we would appreciate if you would AB-STAIN from receiving the precious blood during Communion to minimize the risk of contagion. Also, if you are holding a baby in your arms, we would appreciate if you do NOT receive from the precious blood, since we want communicants to be able to hold the chalice with TWO hands securely. Also a quick reminder that when-ever you approach to receive Holy Communion under any species you must do an act of reverence, the most common one is to bow before receiving our Lord.

Recibiendo la Preciosa Sangre Queremos recordarles que si usted tiene la gripe, el flu, o alguna otra enfermedad contagiosa, le agradeceremos si usted pudiera ABSTE-NERSE de recibir la preciosa sangre durante la Comunión para redu-cir el riesgo de contagio. También si usted tiene a un bebe en brazos, le agradeceremos si NO recibe la preciosa sangre, porque queremos que los comunicantes tomen el cáliz seguramente con las DOS manos. También un recordatorio que cuando se acercan a recibir la Santa Comunión bajo cualquier especie debe hacer un acto de reverencia, el mas común es el de hacer una venia con la cabeza antes de recibir a Nuestro Señor.

Colecta de Juguetes para Navidad ~Un Regalo de Amor~

Por favor done a nuestra colecta de juguetes para la Navidad. Se prefiere una contribución monetaria ya que se compran los juguetes por mayoreo. Favor de hacer los cheques a nombre de “San Pedro Chanel”. Usted puede dejar el cheque o el juguete(s) nuevos sin envolver en la oficina parroquial. Fecha limite: Viernes, 16 de Diciembre del 2011.

Regalo de Navidad para los Sacerdotes Tenemos Ramilletes Espirituales disponibles para nues-tros Sacerdotes Oblatos. Los Ramilletes Espirituales estarán disponibles en la oficina parroquial. Gracias por su apoyo.

Curso de Consagración a María El Padre Eduardo “Escobita” tendrá un curso de Consagración a Jesús mediante María. Habrá tres turnos que comenzaran el 13 de Diciem-bre a las 9:30 am o a las 7:30 pm o el Viernes 16 de Diciembre a las 9:30 am. Para mas información favor de llamar al 562-860-3637.

Advent Wreath The Advent wreath is an old German tradition that has gained much popularity in the last few years. Most Christian homes and communities practice this custom during the Advent season. This sacramental is rich in meaning, is easy to implement and can ei-ther be simple, costing little, or very elaborate, costing more, handmade or store bought, with fresh greenery, or permanent greens. The Advent wreath is a wreath, or circle, of evergreens, made in various sizes. It is either suspended from the ceiling by ribbons (preferably purple) or placed on a table. The devotion is usually incorporated during the family meal, or during family night pray-ers. Fastened to the wreath are four candles standing upright, at equal distances. These candles represent the four weeks of Ad-vent. Three of the candles are purple, reminding us of the peni-tential nature of the season. A rose or pink candle is lit for the Third Sunday of Advent, also known as Gaudete (rejoice) Sun-day. The name is taken from the entrance antiphon or Introit "Rejoice (gaudete) in the Lord always, again I say, rejoice." It is reminding us that the end of Advent is almost here, and we can hardly contain our joy. The wreath should be in a circle, a symbol of eternity, and a re-minder that God has no beginning nor end. The evergreen is a symbol of eternal life and a reminder that God is immutable or unchangeable. The appearance of the actual Advent wreath is varied—everyone has their own interpretation of the Advent wreath. The look of your family's wreath depends on how much time and creativity you have to devote. Your family can create their own special wreath, or add personal touches to a store-bought wreath. With this devotion being so popular, one can go into any craft or gar-den store and buy a wreath. Any religious goods store carries several varieties, and the prices range from inexpensive to very costly. Some families want to create a new wreath every year, with every-one involved in the activity. Using evergreens, however, does add the risk of fire hazard, especially as the greens go dry. For less risk, or with smaller children or tight schedules, you may want to consider making a permanent wreath that you can reuse every Advent.

How to Read the Symbol of Mexico The Aztecs had no written language, but they read the meaning in pictures and symbols just as we read newspapers. This image told the Aztecs volumes. The woman stands in front of the sun, and is therefore greater than their sun god Huitzlipochtli. She stands upon the moon, and is therefore greater than the moon god, Tezcatlipoca. She is held aloft by a winged person, which means she is a heavenly being, yet her hands are joined in prayer, which means there is one greater than she. The mantle's blu-ishgreen color is reserved to Aztec divinity, yet her eyes are lowered, which means she is not a goddess herself. The sash at her waist was worn by pregnant women in Aztec culture, thus the child she carries is divine. The white fur at the neck and sleeves and the gold border are marks of royalty for the Aztecs. The stars on her mantle and the angel "carrying" her represent a new era being carried in. Touching the edge of a cloak represents a kiss, thus the angel is "kissing" the lady. The broach at her throat has the same black cross carried by Cortés and the Spanish Friars. For Aztecs, flowers represent the experience of the divine. The single four-petalled flower over her womb is both the quincunx (Flower of the Sun, representing abundance; it lay at the center of the uni-verse), and Tepeyac hill. The cross-shaped flowers are the mamalhuaztli, which signify new life. The nine large, triangular flowers, six below her heart, one on each sleeve and one on her bosom, are the Mexican magnolia, which symbolized the still-beating heart of human sacrificial victims. Because a pregnant woman wears them, her son is the final victim, because there are nine, the nine levels of the Aztec underworld are filled, no more human sacrifice is required. These nine flowers are also posi-tioned so that, with the quincunx as Tepayac Hill in the center, the geography of the surrounding moun-tains is correctly represented. Because her knee is bent, and because the triangular flowers also repre-sent "maracas," or rattles, she is seen to be dancing, and the profusion of flowers throughout her tunic represent a chorus of song. The leaf above the angel's thumb is the poinsetta leaf, called "Flower of Flesh" by the Indians, which identifies her as the fair Flower of Our Flesh.

For Europeans, her dress and shoes are that of a woman from the Holy Land, her hair is worn parted in the middle and under the tunic, as is common there. In the symbolic language of Eastern icon paintings, the glow around her is both the nimbus reserved for saints and a reminder of Rev 12:1, "the woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet." The moon under her feet is a sign of perpetual virginity. The red, white, and blue feathered wings of the supporting angel symbolize loyalty, faith, and fidelity, and his position beneath the woman indicates that she is above him, his queen. The blue of her mantle symbolizes eternity and hu-man immortality. The sash, called the "cingulum," was worn by young unmarried virgins, a symbol of chastity. The whiteness of the ermine fur shows her purity, while the eight-pointed stars on her mantle represent baptism and regeneration. The stars also repre-sent the heavens, and her role as Queen of the Heavens. Her broach symbolizes divine protection, while the leaf and rosette design on her robe recalls "I am the Vine, you are the branches" - eternal paradise. Because Spain was still on the old calendar, the winter solstice in 1531 A.D. took place on Tuesday, December 12, ten days before our current reckoning. The sky map for that date at 10:30, Mexico City time, is present on the Virgin's mantle, with the constellations visible when Juan Diego showed his tilma to Bishop Zumárraga represented. The roses fell from the tilma to the floor and the Virgin's image appeared impressed on the cloth. The main constellations of the Northern sky can be seen on the right of the mantle, on the left, the Southern ones, which can be seen from the Tepeyac in winter at dawn, with East at the top of the map in the Aztec style. The image is dated according to Aztec prac-tice, at the foot and border of the image, where the three stars on the aqua color, near the woman's foot, represent the Aztec date of 13 Acatl, or 1531. The mantle is opened and there are other groups of stars which are not marked in the image, but which are present in the sky. Given their European designations, the constellations are clear: the Corona Boreans (Boreal Crown) rests upon the Virgin's head; Virgo, the Virgin, is on her chest near her hands; Leo is on Her womb (she carries the Lion of Judah), with its main star Regulus, "the little king;" Gemini, the twins, are in the region of the knees (cf. Thomas, which means Twin, the Apostle who falls to his knees on seeing and recognizing the risen Christ, saying “My Lord and my God”). Orion, the Hunter, is over the angel --we hunt for God. Only by uniting the Aztec and the European reading of the image can one fully appreci-ate its symbolism. When division between Aztec and Spaniard threatened, proper under-standing of the image required unity. She is thus a symbol of unity for Mexico and a special symbol of divine love for the Aztec people and their home, the land of Mexico.

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