ST. THOMAS OF CANTERBURY / ST. JOSEPH PARISH Roman Catholic Church

First Sunday Of Advent — December 2, 2018

G O D ’ S G E N I U S ?

O ccasionally at this time of year, you will hear someone describe God’s genius in sending His Divine Son, the Second

Person of the Trinity, to us as a baby. The device suggests the perfection of grace in the paradox of a child, born in the impoverished setting of a stable in a tiny village that the world would consider of no consequence, who happens to be the King of the universe. The latter notion should elicit fear; the former would not frighten us in the slightest. Fear often accompanies the idea of an encounter with God. A study of the world’s religions through history, apart from the Judeo-Christian idea of a Creator who blessed creation with His goodness, would find more than enough evidence that the god of a particular place or time is an exacting god. Either the human sacrifice that was the highest expression of many ancient religions all over the world or the insouciance of fickle gods imagined by Greeks and Romans characterizes man’s predominant religious experience. The idea that the mystery of the Incarnation, second only to the mystery of the Trinity in the order of revelation, is genius because it overcomes our fear of God seems a little silly to me. We may have geniuses among us – I am convinced everyone in their own way possesses some aptitude of brilliance – but suggesting God is a genius in his providential will puts the cart before the horse. The real problem in saying He came among us as an infant so that we might not feel threatened by his divine nature is that we should feel a little threatened or maybe even a lot. Let’s face it, no one likes surprises. Not to feel threatened is to welcome whatever is unsurprising, or unsung, or safe. Our fallen nature prefers an ordinary god.

The Nativity is anything but unsurprising, unsung, or safe. It is the answer to Isaiah’s prayer: “Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, with the mountains quaking before you, while you wrought awesome deeds we could not hope for, such as they had not heard of from of old.” God has done something dramatic in our lives, so that our hearts – inured to evil, sin, death, and suffering - may be moved by His reality, His peace, and His Fatherhood. Make no mistake, though; his coming in the quiet of a Bethlehem night is not ordinary. Emmanuel - “God-with-us” - is really and truly among us. That is pretty dramatic! Nor is the preservation of his mother from the sin that afflicts the whole world an everyday occurrence. Our feast this Saturday, celebrating the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Mother, is nothing less than the first sign of the New Creation, of a new world, a kingdom - surprising! Because the circumstances surrounding Our Lady’s Immaculate Conception and Our Lord’s birth in Bethlehem seem ordinary at a glance, the great danger (and this is where we find ourselves on shaky ground) is that we will miss what God is doing for He gives us grace mostly in the ordinary circumstances of our day-to-day existence. His grace is what enables us to experience Emmanuel – God with us. By the amazing mysteries we celebrate on December 8th and 25th we are as present to them as Mary’s mother and father were when she was born, and St. Joseph, the shepherds, and Magi when she gave birth to Jesus. “Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy,” Jesus warns in our gospel today. Amen!

The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

December 8, 2018

Our Bulletin Cover Image is Peter Paul Rubens’ “Immaculate Conception”. Source: Wikimedia Commons

In teaching that Mary was conceived immaculate, the Catholic Church teaches that from the very moment of her conception, the Blessed Virgin Mary was free from all stain of original sin. This simply means that from the beginning,

she was in a state of grace, sharing in God's own life, and that she was free from the sinful inclinations which have beset human nature after the fall. Source:

ewtn.com.

THE PASTOR’S CORNER by Fr. Rees Doughty

OFFERTORY November 17/18: $8,940.37 November 24/25: $8,825.54 Online Giving (Nov 12-26): $2,168.80 Campaign for Charity & Justice: $2,399.00 The Second Offertory at December 2/3 Masses will be for the Capital Projects Fund. We thank you for your generosity and continued support of the parish! Please consider Online Giving for your donations. It is safe and secure. You set up when your gift is made, for how much, and for which collection. Visit the “News/Events” tab at ststhomasjoseph.com, and click on “My Own Church” for more information. A Fellowship Breakfast will be held Sunday, December 2 at St. Thomas of Canterbury gym after the 9 am Mass. Join us for a donut and coffee and meet your fellow parishioners. Christmas Giving Tree: St. Thomas/St. Joseph Parish in conjunction with Catholic Charities of Orange County will once again have “ornament” wishes for needy local children and adults available on trees at St. Thomas and in a basket at St. Joseph. Return purchased items by Sunday, December 9 for delivery on Monday, December 10. Donations of wrapping paper is appreciated. Operation Archangel: We will soon be introducing a new parish safety plan called Archangel. This plan will cover medical, fire, and public safety emergencies. If interested, contact Pete at Peter.mcgovern@aol.com or leave a message with the Parish Office.

The Solemn Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary is always a holy day of obligation for Catholics in the United States no matter what day of the week it is celebrated. Catholics are encouraged to come to Mass to celebrate this great festival of the sinless Mother of God.

Masses for the holy day are on: * Friday: 7 pm at St. Joseph Church

with Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, 5 pm (Exposition) to 9 pm (Benediction)

* Saturday: 8:30 am at St. Thomas Church 12 noon - St. Thomas Church

(The Saturday Vigil Mass at 4:30 pm does not “count” but is celebrated for the first Sunday in Advent.)

“Won’t You Spend An Hour With Me?”

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

on the Eve of the Immaculate Conception, Friday, December 7,

5-9 pm at St. Joseph.

This Friday, the parish will expose the Blessed Sacrament at St. Joseph Church, 5-9 pm with Mass scheduled for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception at 7 pm.

Come! Spend an hour with Christ’s Presence in the miracle of the Holy Eucharist! Make your first week of Advent a sound beginning by pondering the same body born of the Blessed Mother in Bethlehem two thousand years ago. Each hour will present a meditation by one of the deacons of our parish!

Your Parish Office Is Open: Monday-Friday: 9 am-3 pm www.ststhomasjoseph.com

Pastor: Rev. Rees Doughty

frdoughty@stt-stj.com Parochial Vicar: Rev. John Kwaku Sah

Weekend Assistant: Rev. Robert Phelps Deacons: Leonard Farmer, Anthony Ferraiuolo,

John Hanley, Joseph Lieby, John Pelella Parish Office 845.534.2547 · office@stt-stj.com · FAX 845.534.1357 Faith Formation Office 845.534.9393 · reled@stt-stj.com Faith Formation Coordinators: Annmarie O’Connor and Mary Ellen Tiernan RCIA/T 845.661.8586 · metiernan@stt-stj.com Coordinator: Mary Ellen Tiernan

St. Thomas Church 340 Hudson St., Cornwall on Hudson, NY 12520

Sunday Masses Saturday Vigil: 4:30 pm Sunday: 7:30 am, 9:00 am, 11:00 am Weekday: Monday-Saturday: 8:30 am Confession Saturday: 9-9:45 am (or by appointment) Miraculous Medal Novena Monday after 8:30 am Mass Rosary: Monday-Saturday after 8:30 am Mass

St. Joseph Church

4 Saint Joseph’s Pl., New Windsor, NY 12553

Sunday Mass Sunday: 12:30 pm Weekday: Wednesday, 6:30 pm Mass Confession: Wednesday, 6-6:30 pm Adoration: Wednesday, 5:30 pm

CHRISTMAS MASSES

Christmas Eve: 4:00 pm - St. Thomas (vigil) 4:30 pm - St. Joseph (vigil) 6:30 pm - St. Thomas (vigil) 9:00 pm - St. Thomas (Night) Christmas Day: 8:00 am - St. Thomas 10:00 am - St. Thomas 12:00 noon - St. Thomas

STAR Youth Group Activities: * The Annual Poinsettia Sale will take place after all Masses on the weekend of December 8/9. Cost is $10/plant. * Let the Star Youth Group members help you with your Christmas shopping by babysitting your children! Members will be available on Saturday, December 15, 3-8 pm in the St. Thomas gym. * Lessons in Carols! Join us on Sunday, December 16, 3-4 pm at St. Thomas Church.

The Catholic Daughters of America Court Rita #264 will be holding their Annual Christmas Bake Sale after all Masses on December 15/16 in the upper school building. Mass Intentions For 2019 * Up to two separate intentions will be accepted at the Saturday Vigil Mass at 4:30 pm and at the Sunday 9 am Mass. The Sunday 11 am Mass intention will only be designated “Pro Populo”. * The Offering for an announced intention is $15; $10 for an unannounced intention. All intentions are scheduled through the Parish Office and are subject to the Pastor’s approval. The Catholic Faith. On Demand! Visit the website, formed.org, and enter our parish code: FHHFCV to gain FREE access to thousands of movies, video programs, audios, and ebooks.

MASS INTENTIONS

ST. THOMAS OF CANTERBURY / ST. JOSEPH PARISH

Mon, Dec 3: St. Francis Xavier 8:30 am +Kevin Hennessey by family Tues, Dec 4: St. John Damascene 8:30 am Special Intentions of Sharon Bywater Wed, Dec 5 8:30 am +Maureen Terwilliger by Kathy and Bill Fogarty 6:30 pm Mamawal Family by Linda Siner Thurs, Dec 6: St. Nicholas 8:30 am +Thomas Campbell by family Fri, Dec 7: St. Ambrose 8:30 am Living and Deceased Members of CDA 7:00 pm Celebrant’s Intentions Sat, Dec 8: Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary 8:30 am Celebrant’s Intentions 12 noon: Celebrant’s Intentions 4:30 pm +Edward and Lynne Hassdenteufel by family; and Pro Populo (For the Ints. of the People of the Parish)

Sun, Dec 9: Second Sunday of Advent 7:30 am +William Staudle by Staudle girls 9:00 am +Sam Scalise by Scalise family 11:00 am +Louise Milliken by John and Judy Carnright 12:30 pm +Olivia Ferrara by Frank Ferrara

ALL Masses are celebrated at St. Thomas of Canterbury Church,

except for the Sunday, 12:30 pm Mass and the Wednesday, 6:30 pm Mass,

which are celebrated at St. Joseph Church.

“Prayer is powerful! It fills the earth with mercy, it makes the Divine clemency pass from

generation to generation; right along the course of the centuries wonderful works have been achieved through prayer.”

- St. Francis Xavier (1506-1552)

Patron Saint of Missionaries Feast Day: December 3

St. Francis Xavier was born in Spain and with St. Iganatius Loyola become one of the

seven who founded the Society of Jesus. He preached for six months in Africa on his way to Asia where he spent the remainder of his life spreading the Word of God in India,

Japan, and the Philippines. Source: catholic.org.

A Japanese depiction of Francis Xavier, 17th century

Source: wikim

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ons.com