ST. DUNSTAN
GLASTONBURY
Saturday, December 15 4:00 PM J. Patrick Lawson, Jr. 1st anniversary requested by the family Sunday, December 16 8:00 AM Carl & Della Lutgen requested by Lois & Brad Churchill 9:30 AM Albert Benoit requested by the family 11:30 AM Charles Catania, Sr. requested by the family Monday, December 17 8:00 AM Mass Tuesday, December 18 8:00 AM Mass Wednesday, December 19 8:00 AM Mass Thursday, December 20 8:00 AM NO MASS Friday, December 21 8:00 AM Michael Whitney requested by the family Saturday, December 22 4:00 PM Teofila Janczukowicz requested by the Louth family Sunday, December 23 8:00 AM Larry Churchill requested by Lois & Brad Churchill 9:30 AM Andrew Ho requested by Theresa Bae 11:30 AM Justin Parent requested by the family If you are attending the Mass scheduled for your deceased loved one, please let the ushers know before Mass if you would like to bring the gifts to the altar.
FINANCIAL BLESSINGS December 8 & 9 Offertory $10,378.96 Retirement Fund for Religious $5,430.44 Immaculate Conception Offertory $1,404.00 THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY! The parish office will be closed Monday, th December 24th and Tuesday, December 25 for the Christmas holiday. th
We have an early deadline for the December 30 bulletin. Please th have bulletin submissions in by Wednesday, December 19 at noon. Email
[email protected] and
[email protected] or call 860.633.3317. Thank you!
Please note that we will follow the Glastonbury School System’s decisions on winter weather. If there is a delayed opening or a snow day cancellation, there will NOT be a morning Mass at Saint Dunstan.
Columba Bae, Karen Kuzmeski Bardwell, Anthony Barone, Gary Bruemmer, Erin Burbank, Jim Chabot, Rick Coltey, Deacon Ron Daigle, Capt. Gregory Galeazzi, Barbara Gots, Mary Healy, Jack Kessler, Ed Laskarzewski, Mike Newhouse, Jim Nolan, Edward Stankiewicz, Roseann Talbot, Barbara Tsipouras, Gloria Vespoli
Christmas Mass Schedule Monday, December 24 4:00 PM, 5:30 PM and 10:00 PM Tuesday, December 25 9:30 AM and 11:00 AM Confession Schedule Thursday, December 20: 7:00-8:00 PM Friday, December 21: 7:00-8:00 PM
This weekend is the regular Third Sunday food collection. This is the last drive of the year, and it will benefit the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry here in town. The holidays can be particularly hard times for family suffering job losses or debilitating illness. St. Vincent de Paul reaches out to a wide range of people from our community in need. Volunteers will be posted outside the main entrance of the church collecting non-perishable food and cash donations. (Checks can be made out to Church of St. Dunstan.) The Third Sunday group wishes to thank all who have given so generously this holiday season and we wish all a peaceful and joyous Christmas. CHRISTMAS EVE PAGEANT THIS YEAR WE WILL AGAIN HAVE THE DRAMATIZATION OF THE CHRISTMAS STORY DURING OUR 5:30 PM CHRISTMAS EVE LITURGY. CHILDREN OF ALL AGES ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PAGEANT AS JESUS, MARY, JOSEPH, SHEPHERDS OR ANGELS. THERE WILL BE A SHORT PRACTICE FOR ALL CHILDREN IN CHURCH ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23 AFTER THE 9:30 AM MASS. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE BUT CANNOT ATTEND THIS PRACTICE, CONTACT THE PARISH OFFICE.
Advent Opportunities for the Sacrament of Penance Townwide Penance Service: Tuesday December 18th at 7:00 p.m. at Saint Paul Church, Main St.
Here at Saint Dunstan Church: Every Saturday at 3:00 p.m. also Thursday December 20th at 7:00 p.m. and Friday December 21st at 7:00 p.m.
THIRD WEEK OF ADVENT Many thanks and much gratitude to Cindy Harasyko and Christina Wiedemer who chaired our annual Cookie Festival! Along with Kathy Gerber, Lindsey Durosko, Claire Candelori, Victoria Bates, and many others, $1,445 was raised to benefit the 2013 Mission Trips! A very special thanks to Deb Smith for the festive decor and to Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (our own Shane Harasyko) who not only brought Santa, but many smiles to all!
GIVING TREE
If you took a gift ornament, please attach the ornament to your unwrapped present and bring it to the back of the church before Mass on December 15th or 16th. Presents must be received no later than 12:30 pm on December 16th for timely delivery. Please contact the Lang family (
[email protected]) or Wenner Family (
[email protected]) with any questions. Thank you for supporting this very special and wonderful program.
St. Vincent de Paul Society The Glastonbury conference of St. Vincent de Paul Society is once again looking for Christmas sponsors for our less fortunate families. If you can help it would be greatly appreciated. We know that everyone’s budget is tight due to the economy. If you cannot help with sponsoring a family, perhaps you can purchase a gift card in any denomination to Stop & Shop, Target, Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Kohl’s, Bob’s, or any kind of gas card. Please call the parish office (860 633-3317) if you would like to help or to learn more about being a sponsor.
St. Dunstan Women’s Retreat On the weekend of January 18 and 19 the women of our parish are invited to Our Lady of Calvary Retreat Center in Farmington, CT. Experience a weekend filled with rest, relaxation and spiritual renewal. At Our Lady of Calvary, the natural beauty of the grounds and the peaceful atmosphere of the retreat house can provide a much-needed break from your daily routine. You’ll have the opportunity to participate in the sacraments, to hear conference talks, to share with other women and to reflect on this year’s theme, “If Only You Knew the Gift!” For more information, please visit www.ourladyofcalvary.com or call 860-677-8519.
Mass of Healing and Hope Tuesday, December 18, 2012 at 7:30 pm Archdiocesan Center at St. Thomas Seminary, Bloomfield, with rosary at 6:55. Presider: Msr. Gerard Schmitz. Trained prayer teams available after Mass. Call the Charismatic Renewal Office at 860-‐243-‐8234 for more information.
Bulletin Advertising We thank all those who have renewed their ads as well as our new sponsor advertisers. Please patronize these generous sponsors and let them know you saw their ads in the bulletin. Anyone who may be interested in advertising in the bulletin can still call for ad size availability and rates. Joe Sheehy, a sales rep. from Liturgical Publications, can be reached at 1-‐800-‐888-‐4574 x3933; he will be happy to assist you.
Knights of Columbus Museum The Museum is excited to announce the opening of their new crèche exhibit, Joyeux Noel: Christmas in Canada. This exhibition features more than 75 crèches, statues and framed art created in Canada. The 12th Annual Christmas Tree Festival, featuring decorations created by elementary aged Catholic school children is also open; both exhibits will run through Feb. 3, 2013. The museum is located at 1 State St, New Haven (203-865-0400).
HOME FRONT 2013 Last year, members of the parish joined forces with Home Front to repair and paint the Catholic Worker Houses in Hartford. An appeal from the Home Front Organization has been received to commit to additional assistance in 2013. We first need a TEAM Captain to lead parish volunteers. This individual should have some knowledge of construction and be good at delegating and organizing the volunteer team. If you would like to consider leading this project, please call the parish office 860-‐633-‐3317 or Fr. George.
Retrouvaille of Connecticut If your marriage has become troubled and stressed, unloving or uncaring, or cold and distant, even if you are divorced or separated but you want to try again, then the Retrouvaille program can help you. The next Retrouvaille Weekend will take place January 1820, 2013. For more information please call our confidential number 1-800-470-2230 or email
[email protected], or go to our website www.helpourmarriage.com for information and registration. BIRTHRIGHT VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES: Friendship counselors (training provided), clerical and clothing workers, and church fund raising helpers. Birthright’s guiding principle: “It is the RIGHT of every pregnant woman to give BIRTH and the RIGHT of every child to be BORN.” Please join us and be blessed with the opportunity to help a mother and her child. Call 860.290.8800. Birthright needs gently worn MATERNITY and BABY CLOTHING and BOOKS on pregnancy and baby and childcare. BIRTHRIGHT is an emergency pregnancy service staffed by volunteers dedicated to offering the alternative to abortion. Birthright offers free pregnancy tests, friendship counseling, and caring and practical support. Our office is located in East Hartford and served 424 women in 2010. Call 860.290.8800 to arrange for drop off. DONATE YOUR OLD CAR—HELP THE NEEDY— RECEIVE A TAX DEDUCTION—HELP YOUR PARISH! It’s fast, it’s easy, and it requires only one phone call or website visit. Cars For Help, a 501©3 not-for-profit organization, is using old vehicle donations to support Christian charitable organizations in an effort to help people who do not have access to basic needs (food, water, basic health and infant care, etc.). If you would like to donate any vehicle of yours in any condition, even severely broken or crashed, please visit www.CarsForHelp.com. You can also call directly at (630) 595-9272. With mention of this bulletin, 25% of your vehicle donation proceeds will go directly to St. Dunstan Church.
DECEMBER 16, 2012
Pre-K-8 Grades 6-8 Classes at Gideon Welles: Sundays: December 16 Tuesdays: December 18
Confirmation Confirmation Year 2 Next class is Hunger 101 on Sunday December 16 from 6:30-8:30. Statement of Faith due. Online Information form submitted by Dec. 16. Third Sunday of Advent Holiday magazines are well known for providing quick, practical ideas for trimming the house, welcoming guests, and preparing enticing food. The suggestions that are offered are designed to help the host and hostess show off a stunning atmosphere without spending days and weeks preparing for a party or dinner that may only last an hour or two. Often everyday items are transformed with a swatch of fabric, a candle, or some evergreens. Ingenious cutting makes plain vegetables or ordinary hors d'oeuvres into holiday delights. The operative concepts in getting people to buy these idea books and read them are: quick, easy, and practical. In the Gospel today, John the Baptist offers quick, easy, and practical ideas for those who would prepare for the coming of the Christ. As St. Luke tells us, people in his day were filled with expectation. John was pretty straightforward in what he thought they should do: If you have two coats, give one away to somebody who doesn't have one; be equitable in your dealings with others; don't push people around; don't lie about people. In modern parlance, we might say that John the Baptist was asking people to act justly in the world. Unfortunately, today we don't often think of justice as quick, easy, or practical. Our understanding of justice is more often colored by the contemporary legal system than by the divine laws of the covenant that binds God and his people. There was a reciprocity and equanimity in the covenantal relationship. There were duties to be fulfilled on each side. John was asking that those who were filled with expectation for the coming of the Messiah would set themselves aright with one another so that God's covenant would find full expression in the relationships that bind people to God and to one another. Justice is really about leveling things out. And when you think about it that is pretty easy. If you have more, then you share. ©2012 Liturgical Publications Inc.
Readings for the Week of December 16, 2012 Sunday: Monday: Tuesday: Wednesday: Thursday: Friday: Saturday: Next Sunday:
Zep 3:14-18a/Phil 4:4-7/Lk 3:10-18 Gn 49:2, 8-10/Mt 1:1-17 Jer 23:5-8/Mt 1:18-25 Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25a/Lk 1:5-25 Is 7:10-14/Lk 1:26-38 Sg 2:8-14 or Zep 3:14-18a/Lk 1:39-45 1 Sm 1:24-28/Lk 1:46-56 Mi 5:1-4a/Heb 10:5-10/Lk 1:39-45 ©Liturgical Publications Inc.