Saint Dunstan Catholic Church Fourth Sunday of Advent December 21st, 2008 - Bulletin
		The child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.
		—Luke 1:35

	Teacher: What are you doing? Boy: I’m drawing God. Teacher: You can’t do that. Nobody knows what God looks like. Boy: They will when I’m through. Our God has revealed himself to us. He is not a God who creates and then looks at his creation from a distance and leaves us to our own devices. Our God entered into his creation by becoming a creature, a person. He shares in our humanity. But to do this, he was not going to use force or coercion. He had to ask permission. He would wait on the word of a young woman. He waited on Mary to say “yes”. He was not going to appear like some celestial being from outer space and put on the garb of humanity. He is no “Superman” from a comic strip, a creature from another world with ‘superpowers’. Our God was going to live in the womb of a woman and be born like every other human on the face of the earth. This is why life is so precious; the author of life wanted to become human. This is what gives dignity to people. Not wealth, or status, or power, or prestige, but that God saw fit to become human. Of all God’s creation, people are the most precious and prized. It is as if the only way He could fully express himself was to become human. This was not an unpleasant task he had to do to save us, but a labor of love and delight at the joy of being human. Our God is bound to us irrevocably through Mary’s response. God knows us from the inside; He is not aloof and detached but close and personal. The Word became flesh because Mary said, “Yes”.
	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. The Knights of Columbus would like to thank all those who Help us feed the hungry! attended or contributed in any way to our recent Larry Bianchi Memorial Crab Cioppino fund raiser. All the funds will be used to aid our parish and local community. In addition, it is our hope to revive the Sunday Pancake Breakfast in the not-to-distant future. Look for an announcement in the parish bulletin soon. The Knights wish all a holy and safe Christmas and a prosperous and healthy New Year. WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS WEEK AT ST. DUNSTAN PARISH Tuesday, December 23rd Novena in honor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament after the 8am Mass No CCD today Wednesday, December 24th Christmas Eve Masses at 4:30 & 11:30 pm Thursday, December 25th No Bible Study today Christmas Day Masses at 7:00, 8:30, 10:00 & 11:30 am Rectory closed Friday, December 26th Rectory closed Saturday, December 27th 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 ST. DUNSTAN GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP – NOW IN ITS 4th SUCCESSFUL YEAR If you or someone you know is struggling with the loss of a loved one, please join the St. Dunstan Grief Support Group for ongoing sessions to help process your grief and loss issues. For more information please call Barbara Cappel, L.C.S.W. at 692-7543 or Carol Hensley at 692-1488. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Last year the Society of St. Vincent de Paul served over 76,000 meals to the hungry and homeless in San Mateo County. Volunteers are needed to help serve at our Homeless Help Centers in South San Francisco and San Mateo. Learn more at the SVdP Volunteer Orientation on Tuesday, January 6th at 1:30 pm at the San Mateo District Office. Volunteers are also needed to answer helpline calls and for computer data entry. Call Lisa at 373-0623 to reserve a spot at the volunteer orientation. Help us feed the hungry! BAPTISM PREPARATION CLASS: Those who wish to attend the Baptism Preparation Class should call the rectory well in advance to register. Classes are held on the 1st Saturday of the month at 10:30 am and the 3rd Monday of the month at 7:30 pm in the convent, 1111 Magnolia Avenue. Fourth Week of Advent Leader: Our hope is in the coming of the Lord. All: May His love shine in our hearts. Leader: And may the Lord's peace be with us all. All: The Lord is our faith and our life. Three purple candles and the rose colored are lit and allowed to burn as before. Leader: Let us pray that the newborn Savior will bring us his love which lasts forever. (pause for silent prayer) Leader: Lord, our minds and hearts are filled with hope. We long to hear the voice which tells us of the coming of the Christ Child. All: Amen. Suggested scripture readings: Malachi 3:1-5, Romans 8:18-25 Isaiah 52: 7-10, Revelation 21:1-4 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: $7,659.00 Last weekend’s Retirement Fund for the Religious Collection: $3,839.00 Thank you for all your support! SAINTS AND SPECIAL OBSERVANCES Sunday: Fourth Sunday of Advent Winter begins Monday: Hanukkah begins Tuesday: St. John of Kanty Wednesday: The Vigil of Christmas Thursday: The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) Friday: St. Stephen First Day of Kwanzaa Saturday: St. John Need a copy of the Sunday bulletin or of a particular schedule, church and parish information? Please visit the St. Dunstan Parish website at: www.saintdunstanchurch.org. to those who served as Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers and Altar Servers this weekend: Saturday, December 20th 5 PM Lector: L. Clothakis Eucharistic Ministers: J Clothakis, R Attard, C Orfino, E Danli, R&C Fry Altar Servers: Casella, Casella, Pramono, Salameh Sunday, December 21st 7 AM Lector: R. Flahavan Eucharistic Ministers: S Bosso, B Penner, M Hutchings Altar Servers: Eckmann, Mendoza, Pucci, Salem 8:30 AM Lector: D. Capodanno Eucharistic Ministers: S Capodanno, D Magsaysay, M Anderegg, R Pezo, M Ocafrain, S Jajeh Altar Servers: Jajeh, Miller, Reyes, Salinda 10 AM Lector: P. Maloney Eucharistic Ministers: M&L Kelly, J&F Sigona, N Reyes, L Borromeo, T Herbeck Altar Servers: Jose, Peralta, Peralta, Solano 11:30 AM Lector: G. O’Neill Eucharistic Ministers: T Dizon, M Rogers, B&C Martin, B Santos, J Roensch Altar Servers: Lim, Panopio, Totah, Totah 5 PM Lector: P. McLaughlin Eucharistic Ministers: M McLaughlin, G&J Ledbetter, H Santana, J Costa, K Phelps Altar Servers: McLaughlin, Pidlaoan, Rossi, Ronquillo Special thanks to all of our ushers for their dedicated service at our weekend Masses. Mass Intentions for the Week December 21 thru December 27, 2008 Sunday 7:00 am For Parish 8:30 am Giuseppe & Anita Pasquinelli 10:00 am Tim Herbeck & Louis Marini 11:30 am Tony DeGuara 5:00 pm David Pape Monday 6:30 am Special Intention 8:00 am Patrick Ward 5:10 pm Cadona & Ghiarra Families Tuesday 6:30 am Harold Fuentes (living) 8:00 am Mary Halligan 5:10 pm Dylan Cappel Wednesday 6:30 am Patrick Newell 8:00 am Edwin & Rita Spiteri (living) & family Thursday Christmas Day Friday 6:30 am Carol Depew (living) 8:00 am Mae Soukup 5:10 pm Christopher Taylor Saturday 8:00 am Norman Schlimmer 5:00 pm Joe Caruana 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, Mike Casella & Mike Phipps We pray for the deceased members of our parish family: John Lynch