Dec 7 bulletin and Christmas mass schedule

Dear Parishioners & Friends of St. Raymond’s,

As we celebrated Thanksgiving last week, I offered my special thanks to God Almighty for each and everyone of you, for your vocation and for your kindness and generosity in using yourself to serve God and His church.

Indeed, our community is blessed to have so many wonderful and dedicated people that are always using themselves to help others and make our community a healthier and more prosperous family. After all, the parish is the spiritual home of each one of you. If any of you have not been involved and participated in building up our community, now is the right time to do so. As we move into the season of the greatest Mystery in existence, it is that God is becoming a human like us in all things except sin. Of course, there are no words sufficient enough to describe this Mystery, all that we can do is offer praise and exaltations to God and honor His name by living our faith and trust in Him.

How privileged we are to be called His body, the church, and how lucky we are to be able to know, see and feel Jesus in the Sacraments, as well as in the beautiful lives of those that we encounter in our daily life.

God became one like us in His son Jesus to unite us together. This unity is an invitation to all of us to realize how much God loves us and how much the world needs this love through us. Let us reveal this love to others around us, let people see Christ in us and hear Him through our mouth as we give them hope and salvation.

To each and everyone of you, I extend my warmest wishes, hoping that this blessed Christmas season may empower you with the gift of faith, peace and joy so that you may pass it on to those whom you meet daily.

 

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Msgr. Moussa Joseph

Rector

 

St. Raymond’s New Year’s Eve Party Tuesday December 31, 2013

The Cedars Hall 8:00 P.M.-1:00A.M.

There will be dinner, cash bar, party favors, and live music.

Featuring Joseph Beshara and his band. 

Tickets are $75.00 per person

For Reservations call 314-621-0056 or Rick/Janet Baker 314-845-5997

Please join us in bringing in the New Year with liturgy at 7:00 P.M.

 

Thank you to all those who donated to the Collection for the Philippines. Your generosity is appreciated. We collected $750.00.

 We ask you kindly to send us your email address so we can communicate with you faster. Any of you who have moved or changed phone numbers, please contact the rectory at

314-621-0056.

Santa is coming to St. Raymond’s on Sunday December 15th. We need elf volunteers Saturday December 14th at 8 am to help set up. If you have any questions, please call Robbyn Wahby at 314-374-8339 or email at rgwahby@gmail.com. Don’t forget your wrapped gift for the needy children.

 

As of January 1, 2014, we have no more mass intentions from the Parish for weekdays and Saturdays. We have only a few intentions for Sundays till end of February. Do not be surprised if you only see “Special Intentions” or unfamiliar names. I hope and pray that you will go back to the traditions in remembering your deceased family members or any intention you would like to pray for.

 

CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE:

 

Christmas Novena:           Monday December 16th –Friday, December 20th at 7 pm

                                                  Saturday December 21st following 5 pm Liturgy

                                                  Sunday, December 22nd following 11 am Liturgy

                                                    Monday, December 23rd at 7 pm

Christmas Eve:                     Tuesday December 24th:  5 pm Children’s Liturgy & 10 pm Christmas Liturgy (following the 10 pm liturgy, everyone is  invited to the hall for refreshments and fellowship.)

Christmas Day Wednesday December 25th: 10 am Christmas Liturgy (No coffee hour today)

Schedule for confessions: Everyday during novena from 6:15-7 pm

Tuesday December 24th: 3:30-4:30 pm and 8:30-9:30 pm

New Year’s: Tuesday December 31st 7 pm Liturgy

Wednesday, January 1, 2014 10 am Liturgy

 

Nov 30th bulletin

THE VISITATION TO ELIZABETH

The third Sunday of the Season of Announcement

commemorates another important event in the unfolding

of the promises of God: Mary went to visit her cousin,

Elizabeth.

After receiving such tremendous good news, Mary could

have secluded herself in a life of prayer and contemplation.

However, after the angel of the Lord had communicated the

news of Elizabeth’s conception to her, Mary perceived it as

the Lord’s will that she go to be with Elizabeth, and thus

chose to share the divine life within her with another. Mary

shared Jesus with others even before his birth. The

fundamental task of an apostle is to share Jesus with others,

and so, Mary is called the “Queen of the Apostles.”

Impelled by the Spirit of God, Mary left on a journey that

required four days of difficult travel, especially for a poor girl such as herself. Yet, as the Mother of God and our Mother, she was already concerned for the welfare of others.

When Mary encountered Elizabeth, the unborn infant in her womb leapt for joy, and Elizabeth herself was filled with the Spirit and sang of the blessedness of Mary.

 Mary is blessed, not simply because she was to be the Mother of God, but also because of her own personal faith. She heard the words of the angel and accepted everything that was to happen with humility. For this reason, she is blessed throughout the ages.

The hymn of Mary differs from that of Zechariah. Zechariah’s hymn is communal: he is proclaiming gratitude to God on behalf of all the people of Israel. On the other hand, Mary’s  hymn is personal, “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord.” She is humbly proclaiming the great things that God has done for her. In humility, the Virgin of Nazareth proclaims how great the Lord has made her by choosing her as the Mother of his Son.

The hymn of Mary announces a revolution which God will bring about through his Son. This revolution has a variety of aspects: it is moral (“He has confused the proud in their inmost thoughts.”); social (“He has deposed the mighty from their thrones and raised the lowly to high places.”) and economic (“The hungry He has given every good thing, while the rich He has sent empty away”.)

To be called by God for any task, brings with it a crown of sorrow and a crown of joy. God chooses us not for our own glorification, but in order to use us to bring about his kingdom. Like Mary, all of us should respond with humility and be grateful to God for choosing us as his instruments.

 

Pope Francis has named Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi as a member of the Vatican’s Congregation for Catholic Education, state-run National News Agency reported on Wednesday.

The Maronite Patriarchate’s secretariat said al-Rahi was appointed on November 9th, noting that he will occupy the post for a period of five years.

Congratulations Your Beatitude Mar Beshara Cardinal Boutros Rahi!

 

SAVE THE DATES!

The invitations for Msgr. Moussa ordination were mailed 2 weeks ago to all parishioners. If any of you did not get an invitation, please contact the Rectory at 314-621-0056.  Please send your replies as soon as possible.

The Ladies Society will hold their Christmas party on Thursday, December 5th at 6 pm at Bartolino’s Osteria on Hampton Ave. Tickets are $27 per person. Anyone interested in attending may call Pat Busekrus at 314-920-2573.

The Men’s Society will hold their Christmas party on Wednesday, December 4th at 6:30 pm and will serve St. Louis style barbeque prepared by the folks at Pappy’s Smokehouse. We would like everyone to try and get their sons or nephews to attend, if they are college age or older. We will send out an email for people to RSVP so we can order enough food. If you are not receiving our emails currently, please contact David Wahby at wahby@sbcglobal.net or Mike Hurley at Michael@hurleyandhurley.com. As always, men’s society will sponsor the meal, but will accept donations to offset the cost, however your attendance is what we consider most important. Please make an effort to attend this meeting, as well as, to help create interest in the men’s society among young men in our parish. Thank you

On Tuesday, December 31, 2013 we will have a New Years Eve Party at the Cedars Hall. Tickets will be available for purchase this weekend after all masses, They are $75 per person. More details will be mailed to everyone next week. I hope many of you will consider joining us at St. Raymond’s

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA

While you are out shopping, please pick up a toy, game or craft for a needy child.

Please bring the wrapped present to the Children’s Liturgy Sunday, December 15th,

At 9 am. Fr. Moussa will accept the gifts on behalf of area needy children. Your

Generosity is appreciated.

Did you purchase your Breakfast with Santa and raffle tickets yet? Hurry, they are

Almost gone!

Please see Robbyn Wahby following 9 am liturgy for tickets!