Saint Dunstan Catholic Church Third Sunday of Advent December 14th, 2008 - Bulletin
		Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing.
		— 1 Thessalonians 5:16

	Back in the days before electricity, a tightfisted old farmer was taking his hired man to task for carrying a lighted lantern when he went to call on his best girl. "Why," he exclaimed, "when I went a-courtin' I never carried one of them things. I always went in the dark." "Yes," the hired man said wryly," and look what you got!" Once again we hear of John the Baptist and how he came “to testify to the light…he was not the light, but came to testify to the light”. This Sunday of Advent is called Rejoice Sunday. It is interesting to note the number of times “joy” or “rejoice” is mentioned in the readings this weekend. The joy of Advent shines forth with an inspiring message of hope and encouragement urging us to rejoice and be happy because the Lord is near. It tells us that joy is basic to being Christian and our vacation is to radiate this joy as a light in darkness. We are all familiar with the gospel message of carrying the cross but maybe not as familiar with the promise of joy in Christ; “that my joy might be in you and your joy be complete”. Sometimes we equate joy with pleasure and look for it in material things. We are always searching and always disappointed. As St Augustine said, “Our hearts are restless till they rest in Thee”. Christian joy is something deep within us and is an awareness that God is with us. Friendship with God is our source of joy. We are called to reflect the joy of the marvelous truth: ‘that God so loved the world that he gave his only Son”. Like Mary in our responsorial we have to acknowledge, deep within our hearts that “the Almighty has done great things for me”.
	The St. Dunstan Youth Core Team meets a few times each month to plan events ranging from religious to social themes. Any high school students who are Confirmed in the Catholic Church and interested in participating in the Youth Core Team should contact Aly Garcia, Youth Minister Intern at 692-4872 or stdunstanyouth@att.net. 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 15th St. Dunstan Parish Reconciliation Service at 7:30 pm at St. Robert’s Church Tuesday, December 16th Novena in honor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament after the 8am Mass CCD classes at 3:45 pm School Advisory Board Meeting at 7pm in the school math room Thursday, December 18th Bible Study in the convent at 10 am. School Advent Prayer Service at 7 pm in the church Friday, December 19th Last day of school.- Christmas vacation begins Saturday, December 20th Retrouvaille meets in the convent RCIA at 9 am in the rectory 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. Third Week of Advent Leader: May His love shine in our hearts. All: And may the Lord's peace be with us all. Leader: The Lord is our faith and our life. All: Our hope is in the coming of the Lord. Two purple candles and the rose colored are lit and allowed to burn as before. Leader: Let us pray that we may grow in love for each ot her as the Lord comes to us. (pause for silent prayer) Leader: Father in heaven, may we, your family who look for ward to the birthday of Christ, experience the joy of your love and celebrate His birth with a new sense of love for each other All: Amen. Suggested scripture readings: Isaiah 9:6-7, John 1:19-34 Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, Philippians 2:1-11 Christmas Celebrations at St. Dunstan 2008 Saturday, December 20 8:30 – 9:00 am Confessions 3:30 –4:45 pm Confessions Monday, December 22 Masses at 6:30 am, 8:00 am & 5:10 pm Tuesday, December 23 Masses at 6:30 am, 8:00 am & 5:10 pm Wednesday, December 24 8:30—9:30 am Confessions Christmas Eve Masses: 4:30 pm Children’s Mass with Pageant 11:00 pm Carols Singing and Readings 11:30 pm Christmas Mass Christmas Day Masses: 7:00 am, 8:30 am, 10:00 am and 11:30 am No 5:00 pm Mass on Christmas Day Last weekend’s Regular Collection: $8,536.00 Last Weekend’s Christmas flowers collection: $2,529.00 This weekend’s Second Collection is for the Retirement Fund for the Religious Thank you for all your support! SAINTS AND SPECIAL OBSERVANCES Sunday: Third Sunday of Advent Tuesday: Las Posadas begins 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. Please join the Divorced and Separated Catholics of the Archdiocese of SF to celebrate the season with a potluck dinner and sing-along on Sat., Dec 20 at St. Dominic’s Church, SF. Social hour starts at 6:30 pm followed by potluck dinner. Call Gail at 591-8452 or Vonnie at 873-4236 for more info. to those who served as Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers and Altar Servers this weekend: Saturday, December 13th 5 PM Lector: J Ryan Eucharistic Ministers: R&C Fry, J&L Clothakis, C Orfino, F Axiaq Altar Servers: Wilkom, Yee, Abello, Antunez Sunday, December 14th 7 AM Lector: B. Penner Eucharistic Ministers: M Wyman, R Flahavan, P Livingston Altar Servers: Capitolo, Celio, Bertin, Jackson 8:30 AM Lector: D. Capodanno Eucharistic Ministers: S Capodanno, P Lucero, M Leland, L Bates, J Lilles, D Lawson Altar Servers: Chavez, Chavez, Ching, Colarusso 10 AM Lector: F. Sigona Eucharistic Ministers: J Sigona, G Maldonado, K Burns, R Garrison, L Borromeo, L Raquel, T Herbeck Altar Servers: Burns, Burns, Garrison, DeGuzman 11:30 AM Lector: Y. Kaialoa Eucharistic Ministers: T Dizon, G O’Neill, K Begin, B Santos, C Caimotto, C Cannizzaro Altar Servers: Chan, Doyle, Gracia, Fusaro 5 PM Lector: G. Ledbetter Eucharistic Ministers: J Ledbetter, P&M McLaughlin, K Phelps, H Santana, F Gutierrez Altar Servers: Ghanaim, Janiczek, Jones, Jones Special thanks to all of our ushers for their dedicated service at our weekend Masses. Mass Intentions for the Week December 14 thru December 20, 2008 Sunday  7:00 am For Parish 8:30 am Chachyama Cownan 10:00 am Salvatore Alioto 11:30 am Bert “Bart” Chetcuti 5:00 pm Lori Mazzoni Monday 6:30 am Fred Dehlinger 8:00 am Lorna Dankwerth 5:10 pm Ursula Mendoza (living) Tuesday 6:30 am Jean Baptiste Larrateguy 8:00 am Paul Ebejer & Vicky Grech 5:10 pm Kenneth Koch Wednesday 6:30 am Martin Teehan 8:00 am Angelo Chetcuti 5:10 pm Michael Monteroso Thursday 6:30 am Julia & Patrick Costello & Tom Glennon 8:00 am Peter Glenn Bove 5:10 pm Agostino & Eni Mariotti Friday 6:30 am John, Mark & Peter Folan 8:00 am Rafaela Estrada 5:10 pm Victor & Olaria Caimotto Saturday 8:00 am Giuseppe V. Pasquinelli 5:00 pm Enrico Zucconi 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.