Saint Dunstan Catholic Church Second Sunday of Advent December 7th, 2008 - Bulletin
		Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill shall be made low.
		— Isaiah 40:4

	It is interesting to read and see how each evangelist constructs the beginning of his gospel. They all begin in their own way, with own unique style and with their own faith perspective. St. John begins his gospel by referring us back to the time before creation; “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God.” Matthew begins his gospel in history, by tracing the genealogy of “Jesus Christ, son of David, son of Abraham”. It would appear that St Luke has a number of accounts of Jesus so he begins by telling us he is going to “write an ordered account for you.” He begins his gospel in the Temple in Jerusalem. St Mark, whose gospel is, proclaimed this Sunday, seems to be an evangelist in a hurry. He wastes no time in getting to the essence of his gospel; “The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” The first sentence of Mark’s gospel states unequivocally that Jesus is the Son of God. This is the “good news” according to Mark and everything flows from that fact. Once we grasp that reality we get busy preparing for his coming. St. Mark immediately introduces us to John the Baptist and urges his hearers to prepare for “Jesus the Son of God”. The call to repentance is a critical invitation for us to prepare a way for the Lord, to prepare ourselves for Christ to come anew into our hearts. When you reflect on it, that is what Advent is all about; getting ready to celebrate Christmas means renewing our lives by acknowledging our need of Christ. St. Dunstan's Youth Group will be hosting an Advent Prayer Service on Thursday December 11th at 7pm in the Church. Please join us for prayers preparing the way of the Lord! There will be a Deanery Penance Service in St Robert Church @ 7:30 on December 15th. Our Deanery comprises St Robert, St Bruno, St Veronica, All Souls, Mater Dolorosa and ourselves. All parishioners are invited.
	The St. Dunstan Youth Group will be hosting a night of Advent prayer "Prepare the Way of the Lord" on Thursday December 11th at 7pm in the Church. Please join us for an evening of welcoming the arrival of Jesus the Lord! Italian Catholic Federation Membership 2009 All parishioners are invited to join Italian Catholic Federation St. Dunstan's Branch 403. Membership dues are now being accepted for Calendar year 2009--Join now and you will automatically be a member for the remainder of 2008, including invitation to the Branch's holiday party on December 2nd limited to members. Members need not be Italian. Come share the culture, good company and good food! Our dues are $30 per year. To join or for more information, please call Nadia Holober, Membership Chair, at (650) 872-3150. WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS WEEK AT ST. DUNSTAN PARISH Monday, December 8th Feast of the Immaculate Conception, a holy day of obligation Men’s Club meeting at 6:30 pm in the Parish Center Tuesday, December 9th Novena in honor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament after the 8am Mass CCD classes at 3:45 pm Wednesday, December 10th Women’s Club meets at 6:30 pm in the Parish Center Thursday, December 11th Bible Study in the convent at 10 am. Youth Ministry Advent Service at 7 pm in the church Saturday, December 13th Retrouvaille meets in the convent RCIA at 9 am in the rectory Women’s Club Breakfast with Santa in the Parish Center at 10 am Monday thru Saturday Morning Prayer in the church at 7:15 am Monday thru Friday Rosary recited in the church at 7:40 am On Dec 6 & 7, 13 & 14, our 2 Christmas Giving Trees will be set up in the church. One tree will have labeled ornaments for gift card donations, and the other tree will have labeled ornaments for gifts. Take as many ornaments as you wish from the trees. Purchase the “wish” gifts indicated on the ornament. Please do not wrap them. Bring the gifts with the ornaments attached to any of the weekend masses on Nov 30, Dec 6, 7, 13 or 14. Committee members will be at each mass by the trees to collect your gifts. If you prefer to make a monetary donation, please make checks Italian Catholic Federation Membership 2009 payable to St. Dunstan TERESA Giving Tree. St. Dunstan Advent Reconciliation Service will be held at St. Robert’s Church! As you make preparations for Christmas, come prepare your hearts as well. Parishioners and priests from our neighboring parishes will gather Mon, Dec 15 at 7:30 pm to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We will hear readings from the Advent scriptures, sing and have the opportunity for individual confessions. St. Robert’s Parish is located at 1380 Crystal Springs Rd, San Bruno. Second Week of Advent Leader: May the Lord's peace be with us all. All: The Lord is our faith and our life. Leader: May his love shine in our hearts. All: Our hope is in the coming of the Lord. Two purple candles are lit and allowed to burn as before. Leader: Let us pray that we may experience fully the peace of Christ. (pause for silent prayer) Leader: Father in haven, the day draws near when the birth of your Son will make radiant the night of the waiting world. May his quiet coming fill us with true inner peace. All: Amen. Suggested scripture readings: Micah 5:2 Matthew 2: 1-2, 9-11, Isaiah 2:1-5, Matthew 3: 1-6 Monday, December 8 is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Masses for the holy day are Monday at 6:30, 8:00, 11:00 am, and 5:10 and 7:00 pm. St. Dunstan Women’s Club Presents Breakfast With Santa Saturday, December 13 10 am –12 noon St. Dunstan Parish Center 1133 Broadway, Millbrae Adults; $7 Child: $5 breakfast only, $10 breakfast & photo with Santa Breakfast includes ham and croissant sandwich or bagel and cream cheese, fresh fruit, holiday cookies, milk, juice and coffee. Enjoy live music, caroling, arts and crafts and raffle. Contact Linda @ vil4fun@yahoo.com MEN’S CLUB MEETING, Monday, December 8 at 6:30pm in the Parish Center. Come celebrate the holidays and enjoy a wonderful meal. Dinner is $15 per person. Get a square for the Super Bowl Pool. For information and reservations contact Paul at 589-4009 or lacampagne@aol.com. Our Lady of Guadalupe Pro-Life March, Sun., Dec 14 @ 2pm from St. Gregory Church, San Mateo to Planned Parenthood (about 7 blocks). Call Jessica @ 572-1468 for info. Last weekend’s Regular Collection: $9,790.00 This Weekend’s Second Collection is for Christmas flowers for our church. Next weekend’s Second Collection will be for the Retirement Fund for the Religious. Thank you for all your support! SAINTS AND SPECIAL OBSERVANCES Sunday: Second Sunday of Advent Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Monday: The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Tuesday: St. Juan Diego Thursday: St. Damasus I Friday: Our Lady of Guadalupe Saturday: St. Lucy All Women of the Parish are invited to the Women’s Club Ornament Exchange meeting on Wednesday, Dec 10 at 6:30 pm in the Parish Center. to those who served as Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers and Altar Servers this weekend: Saturday, December 6th 5 PM Lector: L. Clothakis Eucharistic Ministers: J Clothakis, B&G Borba, J Ryan, E Danli, N Holober Altar Servers: Miller, Panopio, Pidlaoan, Pramono Sunday, December 7th 7 AM Lector: H. Connolly Eucharistic Ministers: B Rogers, M Wyman, S Bosso Altar Servers: Puzon, Reyes, Rossi, Salameh 8:30 AM Lector: E. Linak Eucharistic Ministers: D Magsaysay, R Pezo, S Jajeh, M Ocafrain, J Lilles, M Anderegg Altar Servers: Jajeh, Sheker, Sheker, Uchi-Tabaloc 10 AM Lector: P. Maloney Eucharistic Ministers: K & P Begin, J&F Sigona, R&C Fry, D Vogl Altar Servers: Totah, Totah, Pucci, Salem 11:30 AM Lector: J. Roensch Eucharistic Ministers: C Caimotto, T Dizon, R Barrera, B Tiamson, M Rogers, Y Kaialoa Altar Servers: Hain, Hain, Barrera, Restivera 5 PM Lector: S. Santana Eucharistic Ministers: B Cappel, K Babasa, P Borromeo, H Santana, J Costa, F Gutierrez Altar Servers: Salinda, Solano, Sosa, Janiczek Special thanks to all of our ushers for their dedicated service at our weekend Masses. Mass Intentions for the Week December 7 thru December 13, 2008 Sunday  7:00 am For Parish Monday 6:30 am Bruni Family (liv/dc) 8:00 am Gaetano & Rosina Bernardo 11:00 am Mazie Nevin 5:10 pm Josephine Erquiaga 7:00 pm Jeanne Del Tredici Tuesday 6:30 am Laura Fletcher 8:00 am Lilliana Grenno 5:10 pm Rudolph Kocjan Wednesday 6:30 am Margie Mattone 8:00 am Irene Swift 5:10 pm Nevell McRee Thursday 6:30 am Martin Teehan 8:00 am Franov & Budesa Family (liv/dec) 5:10 pm Alvaro Melendez Friday 6:30 am Rodolfo Soriano 8:00 am Tito Caputo 5:10 pm Pauline Spiteri Saturday 8:00 am Natalina Angelina Starrh 5:00 pm Irene Swift We pray for the sick members of our parish family and for those who care for them: Madison Kitz, William Dill, Ted & Eileen Damian, Pat Saracini, Bill Barca, Helen & Vicky Noceti, Irene Thommen, Kyong Cruz, Ciera Whipple, Dorothy Rives, Elsie Noceti, Steve Bacho, Eva Caprini, Mary Farr, Barbara Modica, Karen Shirley, Jose Conrado Vasquez, Henry & Lucy Garcia, Frances Snyder, Jack & Rene Sagrafena, Mrs. Larry Duggins, Antoinette Ramos, Joe Hamilton, Pauline & Joseph Burgio, Noralee Gelhaar, Geraldine Feehan, Martin Hidalgo, Norman Roos, Lyle Dibbs, Gloria Giannini, Maxine Coutts, Anna Mae Stewart, Jonathan Cerezo, Nick Cannuli, Kathy Montiel, The Yakaitis Family, Susan Silvera-Dunn, George Rodriguez Jr, Nafal Jweinat, Michael Coffaro, Diedra Bradshaw, Irma Sweeny, Charlene Spediacci, Esther Litton, Jan Diamond, Viola Burdick, Ronald Reyes, Josephine Muscat, Patricia O’Neill, Virginia Ryan Rogers, Michael Wisherop, Helen Maternia, Elsie Clark, Bernice Malloy, Wayne Devora, Beverly Buhs, Rita Gilmore, Marisa Hosea, Marcella Mahoney, Judy Marks, Rita Bartolo, Michael Hovan, Gerda Altherr, Stephen Petinak, Richard Castro, Donald Clancy, Dan Bray, Rene Tiamson, Dondon Pasco, Dotty Mardiloff, Robert Weldon, Doug Baldwin, Joseph Conrad Rodriguez, Raymond Reudy, Mona Pasco, Rick Trecartin & Doris Spiteri We pray for the deceased members of our parish family: Martha Costa & Paul Gambiano