The Best way to prepare the coming of our savior

How can we joyfully prepare our hearts for the coming of our Savior? John the Baptist, the harbinger of good tidings, gives us groundbreaking recommendations to welcome our loving God into our midst. A warm encounter with our tender God somewhat entails a personal sense of eagerness to forgive and be forgiven. If Jesus Christ −hung on the Cross− was able to forgive what seemed to be unforgivable, we should ponder the breadth of God’s willingness to pardon the gravest offences. To forgive and to be forgiv-en involve a lengthy process when we hold resentments, revenge and a great deal of re-taliation. However, it is possible. In the Christian milieu, forgiveness comes from God, and therefore we should ask God to accelerate such process of forgiveness. Through the power of forgiveness, God enables us to befriend the people who have hurt us and also to ennoble our heart to acknowledge that we have wounded our neighbors. Therefore, prepare your heart to welcome our divine savior by both forgiving and being forgiven.

DECEMBER 10, 2017 SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Facility Reservations Calendar Please confirm events at www.olaparish.net

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9 Breakfast With Santa Set Up 8:00am, Parish Hall Curia Meeting 9:00am, St. John’s Hall Bernard Slingerland Funeral 9:30am, Church Slingerland Funeral Reception 10:30am, St. Paul’s Room SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10 Breakfast With Santa 8:00am, Parish Hall Flame Meeting 10:30am, St. Paul’s Room Group Baptisms 12:00pm, Church Levi Oliver Baptism Reception 12:00pm, St. John’s MONDAY, DECEMBER 11 Christmas Program Practice 9:00am, Church Girl Scout troop 3097 Meeting 3:00pm, St. John’s Hall OLA Basketball Practice 3:00pm, Parish Hall Christian Meditation 4:00pm, Church OLA Women’s Book Club Mtg. 6:30pm, St. Paul’s Neocatechumenal Group 7:30pm, St. John’s Hall TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12 Christmas Program Practice 9:00am, Church PERT Club Meeting 9:00am, St. John’s Hall OLA Basketball Practice 3:00pm, Parish Hall Young Rembrandts Art Prgm. 3:05pm, Schl. Mtg. Rm. Kof C Business Meeting 6:00pm, St. John’s Hall B&G 6:30pm, St. Paul’s Room Baptismal Preparation 7:00pm, St. Paul’s Room WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13 Legion of Mary Meeting 8:45am, St. Paul’s Room Christmas Program Practice 9:00am, Church OLA Basketball Practice 3:00pm, Parish Hall Music Ministry Rehearsal 7:00pm, Church Neocatechumenal Group 7:30pm, St. John’s Hall THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14 Christmas Program Practice 9:00am, Church OLA First Grade Play 11:00am, St. John’s Hall OLA Basketball Practice 3:00pm, Parish Hall Girl Scout Troop 103 Meeting 6:30pm, Youth Room Advent Prayer Service 7:00pm, Church FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15 OLA First Grade Play 2:00pm, St. John’s Hall OLA Basketball Practice 3:00pm, Parish Hall Christmas Jazz Spectacular 3:30pm, Church Recital 3:30pm, St. John’s Hall SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16 Quinceañera—Rodriguez 11:30am, Church Baptism—Whitmore 1:00pm, Church Quinceañera—Alicia Jimenez 2:00pm, Church

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9 St. Juan Diego 5:00pm Flo Tupa † Abbes Family Georgina De Vega † Parulan Family SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10

8:00am Bob Robinson † Ricci Family 9:30am Martha Ryan † Gilles Family 11:00am Paul Hickey † Abbes Family Paulina Carbon (birthday) Her Children, Carbon Family 7:30pm OLA Parishioners MONDAY, DECEMBER 11

St. Damasus I 8:00am Bernie Slingerland † Slingerland Family TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12 Our Lady of Guadalupe 8:00am Souls in Purgatory Anonymous Dale & Arlene Fuller † Portillo Family WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13 St. Lucy 8:00am Craig Mc Kown † Campos Family THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14 St. John of the Cross 8:00am Rod Hill † Campos Family FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15 8:00am Lee Hebert † Zboralske Family Ernie Nichols † Rodora Antonio SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16 5:00pm Fred & Lizz Baca † Baca Family

Mass Intentions To request a Mass, please call the Parish

Hearing Assist Devices Available

Please ask an Usher for assistance.

ADVENT RECONCILIATION SERVICE

Our Advent Reconciliation Service will be on

Tuesday December 12, at 6:30 pm in the Church

Loni Leitaker & Family Joe & Tina Basuil

Chris & Yvonne Harty & Family JoAnne Lowe

Rick & Sandy Sabbatini & Family Adam & Cynthia Harper & Family

Tara Nichole John Bartel

“Welcome one another, then, as Christ welcomed

you, for the glory of God.”

Romans15:7

WE WARMLY WELCOME OUR

NEW PARISHIONERS!

We extend prayers of comfort to the families and friends of

JUSTIN HALL BERNIE SLINGERLAND AUGUSTO GONZALEZ

REST

IN

PEACE

PERT CLUB MEETING Tuesday, December 12, 2017

The PERT Club will meet, in St. John’s Hall, OLA, at 11:00 am, for a short meeting, LOTTO drawings and door prizes. The Christmas potluck luncheon will follow promptly at Noon. BINGO will begin when the kitchen crew is finished with cleanup. A ham will be supplied by the club, along with some stuffing left over from our Thanksgiving luncheon. It will be left up to you to bring your favorite support-ing dishes to share and round out the meal. Please bring your own place setting, cup, wine glass, and some nonperishable food for the St. Vincent de Paul Food Locker. Please call Pat at 489-8402, or George at 483-7194, if you have any questions. $3.00 will be charged for guests. No charge for members this year. Be prepared to sing some Christmas music, led by Pauline, to help us prepare for the special feast day. If you have some Christmas decorations, bring them along to decorate your PERT table.

OUR PARISH

27th ANNUAL OLA GIVING TREE Tags are still available on the OLA Giving Tree at the back of the church. Please choose a tag, purchase an appropri-ate new gift, wrap it, attach the tag firmly, and return the gift to the tree by NEXT

SUNDAY DEC. 17, before NOON. Thank you so much for your generosity. We´re bringing hope and joy to many families. Questions? Call Christine 761-4939, Beth 487-2374 or MaryCaye 481-7484.

ADVENT PRAYER – THURSDAYS, DECEMBER 7TH, 14TH & 21ST

Advent is a time to prepare for Jesus’ second coming into the world. Although we know not the time and place, we renew our desire for his second com-ing by sharing in the prepara-tion of his first coming. I in-vite you to prayer during this season on three Thursdays in

Advent, December 7th, 14th and 21st at 7:00 pm. These are not evening prayer, rather simple prayer ser-vices. I offer this to provide you time and space, to take a breath during the busyness of the days. You can participate in any way you wish, through sharing of prayer, listening to scripture or sitting quietly in your thoughts. It is a half hour or so of time not in terms chronos, the inexorable marching of time, rather a time of opportune moment. ~Deacon Michael Tateishi

Monday, Dec 11 Is 35:1-10; Ps 85:9ab and 10, 11-12, 13-14; Lk 5:17-26 Tuesday, Dec 12 – Feast of our Lady of Guadalupe Zec 2:14-17 or Rv 11:19A; 12:1-6a, 10ab; Judith 13:18bcde, 19; Lk 1:26-38 or Lk 1:39-47 Wednesday, Dec 13 Is 40:25-31; Ps 103:1-2, 3-4, 8 and 10; Mt 11:28-30

Thursday, Dec 14 Is 41:13-20; Ps 145:1 and 9, 10-11, 12-13ab; Mt 11:11-15 Friday, Dec 15 Is 48:17-19; Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6; Mt 11:16-19 Saturday, Dec 16 Sir 48:1-4, 9-11; Ps 80:2ac and 3b, 15-16, 18-19; Mt 17:9a, 10-13 Sunday, Dec 17 – Third Sunday of Advent Is 61:1-2A, 10-11; Lk 1:46-48, 49-50, 53-54 1 Thes 5:16-24; Jn 1:6-8, 19-28

READINGS FOR THE WEEK

● ● ●

“It is only through shadows that one comes to know the light.”

~St. Catherine of Siena

● ● ●

WISDOM OF THE DAY

OLA Youth Groups

Wednesdays (Grades 7 - 8) 7:00pm - 8:30pm

Tuesdays (Grades 9 - 12) 7:00pm - 8:30pm

Meetings are held in Seton Hall.

For more information about Youth Groups, please

contact Johann Rubia-Miller at 481-5115 or

Email: youth@olaparish.net

Dinner and Mass Fellowship Night

Every 3rd Sunday of the month come and break bread in the youth room, attend Mass together, and experience our faith through prayers and worship. There will be a light dinner in the youth room from 6:30pm to 7:15pm followed by attendance at the 7:30pm Mass. Help to participate in the Mass by greeting, ushering, bringing up the gifts, and reading. This evening is for youth in grades 7-12. RSVP is not required.

Information and/or questions, contact: OLA Youth Minister, Johann Miller at (916) 481– 5115

youth@olaparish.net

OLA Youth Choir and Music Ensemble for

Advent and Christmas

All parish and OLA school children (grades 3-12) are invited to participate! Singers and instrumentalists welcome. We will be serving at the 9:30 am Mass for the Sec-ond Sunday of Advent (December 10) and at the 4:00 pm Christmas Eve Mass.

Practices are from 6:00-6:55 on

most Wednesday evenings be-

ginning November 8th through

December 20th. (No rehearsal the Wednesday before

Thanksgiving, 11/22.)

Please contact our Music Director, Casey Oliver,

with any questions at 481-5115

or worship@olaparish.net.

OLA SCHOOL NEWS

Note From Our Principal A popular hymn, "They will know we

are Christians by our Love," has been

sung for many years in America.

Who are the "they?" If we call our-

selves Christians, what responsibility

do we have? Mother Teresa of Cal-

cutta never lost sight of this message.

On her business card, she printed her thoughts on

what it means to live a Christian life. “Silence leads

to prayer. Prayer leads to faith. Faith leads to love.

Love leads to service. Service leads to peace.” God,

grant us the grace to be strong Catholic Christians.

Amen. Blessings on our work, and on each other!

~Nicole Grant

Something Extra Program. Please sign up for the Raleys/Bel Air Supermarkets Something Extra program. This program gives a percentage of the amount spent on groceries and prescrip-tions to Our Lady of the Assumption School. It is truly one of the easiest ways to contribute to OLA without spending more than you would nor-mally. In addition, all your family and friends who shop at Raleys/Bel Air Supermarkets in ANY TOWN can choose Our Lady of the As-sumption School to receive a percentage of their dollars spent. https://www.raleys.com

First Responders and Military Service. If you or your family members are first responders or in the military, we would love to have your name/s, field (ie. Police, Paramedic, Military, etc.) and the grade/s of your OLA relatives. We have a project coming up in which we would like to write letters/make pictures of appreciation. Please email them to Jane Ricci at develop-ment@olaparish.net. Thank you for your assis-tance in this very important project.

“Dear young people of Myanmar, hearing your young voices and listening to you sing today, I want to apply those words to you. Yes, you are “a welcome sound”; you are a beautiful and encouraging sight, for you bring us ‘good news’, the good news of your youth, your faith and your enthusiasm. Indeed, you are good news, because you are concrete signs of the Church’s faith in Jesus Christ, who brings us a joy and a hope that will never die.”

~Pope Francis to Young People of Myanmar

MARRIAGE TIP

A simple idea to make Advent prayerful:

use your address book to pray for people

alphabetically at dinner. Not sure what a

person’s needs or intentions are? Consid-

er calling or emailing them to find out.

BLESSING OF A BLESSING OF A BLESSING OF A

CHRISTMAS TREECHRISTMAS TREECHRISTMAS TREE

The use of the Christmas tree is relatively modern. Its origins are found in the medieval mystery plays that depicted the tree of par-adise and the Christmas light or candle that symbolized Christ, the Light of the world. According to custom, the Christmas tree is set up just before Christmas and may

remain in place until the Solemnity of Epiphany. The lights of the tree are illuminated after the prayer of blessing. In the home the Christmas tree may be blessed by a par-ent or another family member, in connection with the evening meal on the Vigil of Christmas or at another suitable time on Christmas Day. –USCCB When all have gathered, a suitable song may be sung. The leader makes the sign of the cross, and all reply “Amen.” The leader may greet those present in the following words: Let us glorify Christ our light, who brings salvation and peace into our midst, now and forever. R/. Amen. In the following or similar words, the leader prepares those present for the blessing: My brothers and sisters, amidst signs and wonders Christ Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea: his birth brings joy to our hearts and enlightenment to our minds. With this tree, decorated and adorned, may we welcome Christ among us; may its lights guide us to the perfect light. One of those present or the leader reads a text of sacred Scripture, for example, Titus 3:4 (lines 4-7) or Ezekiel 17:22 (lines 22-24 4; I will plant a tender shoot on the mountain heights of Israel.) Reader: The Word of the Lord. R/. Thanks be to God. The intercessions are then said. The leader says: Let us ask God to send his blessing upon us and upon this sign of our faith in the Lord. R/. Lord, give light to our hearts. That this tree of lights may remind us of the tree of glo-ry on which Christ accomplished our salvation, let us pray to the Lord. R/. That the joy of Christmas may always be in our homes, let us pray to the Lord. R/. That the peace of Christ may dwell in our hearts and in the world, let us pray to the Lord. R/. After the intercessions the leader invites all present to say the Lord’s Prayer. The leader says the prayer with hands joined: Lord our God, we praise you for the light of creation: the sun, the moon, and the stars of the night. We praise you for the light of Israel: the Law, the prophets, and the wisdom of the Scrip-tures. We praise you for Jesus Christ, your Son: he is Emmanuel, God-with-us, the Prince of Peace, who fills us with the wonder of your love.

Lord God, let your blessing come upon us as we illu-mine this tree. May the light and cheer it gives be a sign of the joy that fills our hearts. May all who delight in this tree come to the knowledge and joy of salvation. We ask this through Christ our Lord. R/. Amen. The lights of the tree are then illuminated. The leader concludes the rite by signing himself or her-self with the sign of the cross and saying: May the God of glory fill our hearts with peace and joy, now and forever. R/. Amen. The blessing concludes with a verse from “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”: O come, thou dayspring, come and cheer our spirits by thine advent here; disperse the gloomy clouds of night and death’s dark shadow put to flight. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Isra-el.

—From Catholic Household Blessings & Prayers

FAMILY CONNECTION

Second Sunday of Advent Theme: Preparing a pathway in our lives Breaking Open the Word Suggested text for faith sharing: Today’s first reading, from Isaiah Step One: Listen to the Word As you hear this reading, what words or phrases strike you? What in this reading touches your heart? What image from Isaiah lingers in your memory? Step Two: Look into Your Life Question for Children: How do you experience God taking care of you, even in times of trouble? Question for Youth: John went out to announce the good news of the Messiah’s coming. How can you be good news to your friends and family this week? Question for Adults: When you hear Isaiah comfort the people by promising that God is like a shepherd who gathers the lambs into his arms, what is your re-sponse?

LIVE, LEARN &ENJOY YOUR FAITH

ASL Interpreted Mass. Join us for ASL Inter-preted Mass on Sunday December 17, 2017 at 9:00 am at St. Joseph Parish, Sacramento. The church is located at the corner of El Monte Ave-nue and Gibson Street – 2 blocks from Del Paso Boulevard. St. Joseph’s is conveniently located within easy walking distance from the Arden/Del Paso Light Rail Station. For more information, please contact Jo Clark at (916) 733-0139 or at jclark@scd.org.

Our Lady of Guadalupe Mass. Are you a Sac State student in the midst of finals trying to figure out how you’ll be able to get to mass for Our Lady of Guadalupe? Join the Newman Catho-lic Center Sacramento and Bishop Soto for a bilin-gual mass on campus at Sac State! We’ll be in the University Union, Redwood Room, 1st Floor on Tuesday December 12 starting with mañanitas at 11:45am followed by a bilingual mass. Take a break from the finals whirlwind to spend time in prayer and celebrating our lady! Feast of the Holy Innocents Candlelight Procession and Mass. On Thursday, Decem-ber 28, Bishop Jaime Soto will lead the annual Feast of the Holy Innocents Candlelight Rosary Procession and Mass. We will meet at 6:00 p.m. at the steps of the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacra-ment (11th & K) and pray for the sanctity of life as we walk to Our Lady of Guadalupe (7th & T) for Mass at 7:00 p.m. This March for Life com-memorates those male infants of Bethlehem who were killed by decree of King Herod, as well as those innocent unborn babies lost by abortion to-day. Bring your family and walk to Mass praying the rosary. Candles will be provided. Carpools will shuttle people back to their cars. Dress warm-ly and bring umbrellas if needed. For more infor-mation, please call Leticia at (916) 519-0417.

DIOCESAN EVENTS

Save the Date for the Epiphany Cursillo Ultreya &

Community Dinner to be held Saturday, January 6,

2018 at St. Mel’s Social Hall 5:30 to 8:00pm. Addi-

tional details to follow.

FEAST OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE

DECEMBER 12TH Fifty-five year old Juan Diego met the Virgin Mary on the morning of December 9,1531, as he hurried to Mass near Mexico City. Speaking in the native Na-huatl, she revealed herself as “Holy Mary, Mother of the True God for whom we live.” She re-quested that a chapel be built. After the local bishop refused to

believe Juan, the Virgin herself arranged roses in Juan’s rough cloak. When opened his cloak before the bishop, a miraculous image appeared of the Virgin wearing a black maternity belt and bearing the jasmine flower over her womb. The Aztec symbolism clearly showed Mary’s unborn child to be the divine center of the cosmos. Nu-merous volunteers constructed Mary’s chapel in less than two weeks. In seven years, eight million native peo-ple were converted. Pope John Paul II called the shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe the “Marian heart of Ameri-ca.” In 1999 Saint John Paul II declared Our Lady of Guadalupe the Patroness of the Unborn.

A PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE

Virgin of Guadalupe, Patroness of unborn children, we implore your intercession for every child at risk of abortion. Help expectant parents to welcome from God the price-less gift of their child’s life. Console parents who have lost that gift through abortion, and lead them to forgiveness and healing through the Divine Mercy of your Son. Teach us to cherish and to care for family and friends until God calls them home. Help us never to see others as burdens. Guide our public officials to defend each and every hu-man life through just laws. Inspire us all to bring our faith into public life, to speak for those who have no voice. We ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, who is Love and Mercy itself. Amen.

Support OLA Via Amazon Smile

The Amazon Foundation contributes half a percent of your total purchases to our Parish.

Just shop via OLA Parish’s Amazon Smile portal: smile.amazon.com/ch/45-3954215.

Remember this doesn’t cost you anything!

We appreciate your support!

ESTATE PLANNING

A legacy gift to Our Lady of the Assumption is one of the most rewarding and far-reaching investments you can make. Our Lady of the Assumption takes the trust you place in us seriously. We are grateful to those who have included us in their plan for the dis-

tribution of their assets after death. We pray that you will keep Our La-dy of the Assumption Parish and/or School in mind. We invite you to contact the Parish Office if you wish to learn more about how you can

include us in your estate planning.

STEWARDSHIP

IS 40: 1-5, 9-11; PS 85: 9-14; 2 PT: 3, 8-14; MK 1: 1-8

Our readings from Holy Scripture on this Second Sunday of Advent remind us of what we are supposed to be doing during Advent, in fact throughout our lives. The reading from Isaiah anticipates the coming of Christ and John the Baptist as it proclaims “… prepare the way of the Lord.” This is a time of preparation for us. That message is repeated in our Gospel from St. Mark. Today’s Gospel is the absolute beginning of Mark’s Gospel and it immediately gives us that same signal by declaring, “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.” Of course, we all realize that the path to the Lord may not always be straight for us, but now is a time to correct that. God is waiting for us. St. Peter in his Second Letter, from which our Second Reading is drawn, indicates that God, however, “is patient with you.” You might say on this Second Sunday of Advent that the Lord is giving us a second chance to respond to His call. One of the basics of St. John the Baptist’s messages was that we need to get ourselves right with the Lord, perhaps turn our lives in a different direction. We can change; now is the time to do that. Pope St. John XXIII once stated during a homily in Advent, “We are all part of an immense family. This is proven by what is in our hearts during Advent and Christmas.” Now is the time to put love in our hearts and to truly prepare the way of the Lord.

WE SHARE

Earlier this year Liturgical Publications (LPi) bought ParishPay and began to tran-sition ParishPay into their We Share Service. If you use

electronic giving, we ask that you validate your ac-count. You can go to the link below. If you don't, check it out with this link: https://olaparish.churchgiving.com. If you are a current user, go to ParishPay and com-plete the transition process to WeShare.

INVITATION TO HELP CARMICHAEL’S HOMELESS “THERE BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD GO I.”

Between 150 – 300 fellow residents are homeless in Carmichael. Many of them were born and raised in our area, but have fallen on hard times. Our Lady of the Assumption does much to help the poor and those in material need. Yet, homelessness remains a formidable challenge. With the support of Father Eduino, the Pastoral Council, and the Strategic Planning Committee, Our Lady of the Assumption parish has offered to assist St. John by staffing their Winter Sanctuary for fourteen hours, from 4:30 PM Wednesday January 3rd through 6:30 AM Thursday, January 4th. St. John will host 20-25 guests that have been screened and bussed to their church. OLA will need a minimum of 20 volunteers to sign up for various shifts. We will need additional volunteers to cook a simple dinner and pack a light breakfast, as the guests leave in the morning. If you are interested in volunteering to help OLA help the homeless, please contact Juan Yñiguez (jcyniguez@att.net or 916.207.9512). This is also a good opportunity for our parish ministries to volunteer. Teens are welcome to participate, but they must be accompanied by their parent or guardian. Please feel free to learn more about Carmichael HART (https://carmichaelhart.org).

OFFERING

Week of December 3 - December 9

Weekend Offertory: $ 16,152.30 Electronic Giving: $ 2,390.33

Total: $ 18,542.63

Average Weekly Budget Amount: $ 12,500.00

A request from our counters: they are asking that you please, please write the amount of your donation on your envelope. This would not only save them a great deal of time, but it will help us record your contribution correct-ly too. Thank you!