Prepare the Way of The Lord

A Catholic Faith Community Since 1908

St. Rita of Cascia

December 9, 2012

MASS TIMES
SUNDAYS: Sat. 5:30 pm (Vigil), 7:30 am, 10 am & 12 N WEEKDAYS: Mon., Tues., Fri, and Sat. 8 am (Wed. & Thurs. 8 am Communion Service) HOLY DAYS: (eve of) 5:30 pm; (day of) 8 am & 6:30 pm

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION
(Confession) Saturdays 4-5 pm or by appointment DEVOTIONS Our Lady of Perpetual Help: Saturday 7:50 am ADORATION First Friday 8:30 am5 pm, Rectory Oratory

Msgr. Richard Krekelberg, V.F.Pastor Deacon Manuel Valencia Deacon John Hull 318 North Baldwin Avenue, Sierra Madre Mailing Address: 50 East Alegria Avenue, Sierra Madre, CA 91024 Phone: 626/355-1292 FAX: 626/355-2290 www.st-rita.org

2ND SUNDAY OF ADVENTDECEMBER 9, 2012

Msgr. Richard Krekelberg, V. F.Pastor
626.355.1292 x. 228 revkrek@st-rita.org Dcn. Manuel & Chela Valencia deaconmanuelvalencia@gmail.com 626.355.1292 Dcn. John Hulljohnhull65@gmail.com 626.355.1292 Weekend Presiders: 10 am MassFr. Chris Thiel, OFM Capuchin 12 Noon MassRev. Msgr. John Morales

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Parish Ministries and Organizations

Liturgy & Worship
Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers: David & Jill Muhs 355.9810 em@st-rita.org Altar Servers, Youth: Kathy Ganino: 626.398.9302 Altar Servers, Adult: Bill Cosso Eucharistic Adoration: Marylyn Barnes Rosary Prayer Group: Susan Day: 355-3835 Sacristans: Sat. Vigil: Gary Fidone/Bill & Patti Huber Sunday Masses: 7:30-Bill Cosso/David Banis; 10:00-David Muhs; 12N-Bernie Grace Weekdays: John Bigley, Margaret Duran Porter: (Evening Church Lockup) Sheila Palazzolo Environment: Barbara LeVeque /Gil Lazo 355.1292

How to Contact Us
Parish Office/Mailing Address 50 East Alegria Ave., Sierra Madre, CA 91024 Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9am to 6pm; Sat. 9 am to 1 pm. Office Email: ParishAdmin@st-rita.org Director of Administration
Mary Lou Butler: mlbutler@st-rita.org 355.1292

Ministries & Organizations

Bereavement Ministry: Call Parish Office: 355.1292 Christian Family: Sheila Pierce 355.8332 Greeters & Ushers: Erny Henry: 626.289.3504; 626.446.6715 Mens Club: Nick Sotis: 358-2495 nick.sotis@pro-sites.net New Members/Welcome: Contact the Parish Office St. Rita Guild: Patty Sullivan: 355.3707 psullivan514@gmail.com Senior Ministry: Marilyn McKernan, marilyn@st-rita.org Shawl Ministry: Mary Taillac 355.3179 Marilyn Delgatto 355.8717

Pastoral Council Vice Chair

George Landis: 626.792.0445

Finance Council Chair

Bill Sullivan: 355.3707

St. Rita SchoolOffice: 626.355.6114

Principal: Joanne Harabedian jharabedian@st-rita.org

Other Contacts
Archivist: Marilyn McKernan, marilyn@st-rita.org Bulletin Submissions: bulletin@st-rita.org or drop off at Office Public Relations: ParishAdmin@st-rita.org Registration Information: rc@st-rita.org 355.1292 Webmaster: Ralph Seymour: seymour@seymourmedia.com

Director of Liturgy & Music Paul Puccinelli: mm@st-rita.org Director of Religious Education Cristina Cullen: 355.3841 dre@st-rita.org Director of Youth Ministry/Confirmation Theresa Bui Costanzo: 626.590.8828 ym@st-rita.org RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) Team: Deacon Manuel and Chela Valencia; Susan Blakeslee: rcia@st-rita.org

Let Saint Rita Be There For You . . .

Communion for Sick and Homebound Parishioners
St. Rita ministers provide Communion home visits. Contact the Parish Office (355.1292) or Jill Muhs 355.9810 em@st-rita.org.

For Information about the

Sacrament of Baptism
Baptismal Preparation for parents and godparents: 7 8:30 pm the last Monday of the month. Call for Reservations. Baptisms are usually the first Sunday of the month. Preparation for children who have attained the age of reason (usually during 2nd grade) is arranged either through the Office of Religious Education or St. Rita Elementary School.

Anointing of the Sick

Please notify us (355.1292) as early as possible for the Anointing of the Sick, the sacrament intended for the seriously ill or dying. It is Our Lords special presence and companionship in serious time of need. Anointing may take place in the home, at the hospital or elsewhere and as often as once a month. If someone should die without anointing, remember that the desire to receive is sufficient and the Lord cares!

Sacraments of Reconciliation and first Eucharist

If You Should Experience the Loss of a Loved One

Please call us at 355.1292 If you feel you will be in need, or your loved one has passed, we will assist in making arrangements with your chosen funeral directors; refer you to our liturgy and music directors; and offer you helpful guidelines and a book that will aid in the selection of readings for the Mass or Memorial Service. Areas we can help you with prior to the passing may help in the planning of funeral services. We know that this can be a tough time and we want you to know that your parish is there for you. PLEASE UNDERSTAND we only have one resident priest, sometimes arrangements for another priest may be needed.

Sacrament of Matrimony
Contact the Parish Office upon engagement; at least six months is needed for preparation of this joyous sacrament!

Sacrament of Confirmation

A two-year program for freshman/sophomore age teens. Apply through the Office of Religious Education.

NOTE: Adult applicants for the sacraments should contact the Parish Office.

Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick

See adjoining column.

SAINT RITA
REV. MSGR. RICHARD KREKELBERG

OF

CASCIA CHURCH

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PASTORS CORNER
PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD AND MAKE STRAIGHT HIS PATHS!

Dear Parishioners,
This Second Sunday of Advent we make the words of the gospel our prayer:

May the valleys of despair be filled with hope; may the mountains of obstacles to peace be made low; may the winding roads that lead astray be made straight and the rough ways of return to health and wholeness be made smooth MAY ALL FLESH SEE SALVATION AND REDEMPTION BY OUR GOD!
There are many ways that we might make straight the path of the Lord, but two very important ways are stressed in todays readings: working for JUSTICE and being a catalyst for HARMONY. A long time ago now, Pope Paul VI proclaimed, If you want peace, work for justice. It only makes sense. We know that justice happens and justice exists when each receives his or her due, when there is equality and fair treatment, and when basic human rights are respected. As there is a very serious and proven global imbalance in the distribution of resources and goods, is it such a wonder that there is not world peace? When people stricken with enduring hunger and poverty a world away are none the less allowed to see the lives of the rich and famous almost flaunted in their faces on beaten-up televisions atop a pile of rubbleno wonder the hate, no wonder the lashing out. Jesus IS the reason for the season and amidst all of the ubiquitous bad news we must find hope in Gods Good News; as the psalmist proclaims, The Lord has done great things for us! The Lord has given us all that we needall that we need to find our way and to make straight his paths. But do we believe it? Remember how Thomas once protested: How can you say we know the way? We do NOT know the way or where you are going! To which Jesus responds: You DO know the way, Thomas. I am the way, the truth, and the life! It would be very easy to dismiss Jesus response, just because we have heard it to the point of ho, hum probably followed by a yawn. But there it is. We need to spend Advent in a way that allows us to experience Jesus as the way that can lead to wolves lying down with lambs, the truth of ourselves and of the world that can set us free from the prisons we ourselves create; and the life that consoles us in the knowledge of life everlasting. Continued Advent blessings to you! Msgr. Richard

2ND SUNDAY OF ADVENTDECEMBER 9, 2012

PARISHIONERS WHO REQUEST OUR PRAYERS FOR HEALING AND RETURN TO GOOD HEALTH

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8
8:00 AM 5:30 PM

7:30 AM Angela Brennan RIP 10:00 AM For All Parishioners 12 NOON Laura Rogers INT

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9

Rosemarie Gorman RIP Beatriz Valencia RIP

John J. McCoy, Andy Heller, JoAnn E. Douglass, Kathleen Ramsey, Tonyja Blakeslee, Addie Marshall, Alice Feeney, Joanna Singleton, Jackie Bagnuolo, Mary Ellen Isoard, Tim Stanley, Antoinette Wassef, Theresa Morcos, Aspet Herapetian, Rose Mary Taquino, Selma Tuffs, David Duran, Paul Viger, Julie Meyer, Zdenka Czerny, Cliff Hancuff, Wendy Wolf Fadel, Dorothy Van Gordon, Rosanne Kenny, Hal Finney, Louise Bigley, Christa Owen, Ailey Gardner-Ybarra, Cathy Hundshamer, Eva Bernejo, Laurie Larkin Masella, Edith Olah, Matteo Begnoche, Lancelot Loera, Fred Mycroft, Clare Marquardt, Brian Eck, Alex Arranaga, Anna Mary Hession, Mildred Vocelka, Joseph Moore, Effie DeGroot, Ned Vento.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 10
8:00 AM 8:00 AM 8:00 AM 8:00 AM 8:00 AM

Kathy Sweetman Rudy Wunderlin

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11

Thomas Shea RIP Raymond Young RIP

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13 FRIDAY, D ECEMBER 14

8:00 AM 5:30 PM

Communion Service Communion Service

Spiritual Growth
Tuesday, December 11, RCIA
7:30 pm Parish Office Meeting Room Contact Deacon Manuel for information.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15 SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16

Paul Greenfield RIP Beatriz Valencia RIP William Prendiz INT

Wednesday, December 12, Evening Prayer

5:30 pm Meditation 6 pm Prayer Rectory Oratory Contact Deacon John Hull for information.

7:30 AM Neil Murphy RIP 10:00 AM Bill Gleason INT 12 NOON For All Parishioners

Tuesday, December 18, Penance Service

7pm Assumption of the BVM Church

FEAST DAYS
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12
Our Lady of Guadalupe St. Lucy

Adopt-a-FamilyInformation
(Please see page 7 of this Bulletin for additional information about our holiday giving programs.)

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14

St. John of the Cross

Do you know of someone who could use a helping hand this holiday season? We are looking for families in St. Rita
Parish or Sierra Madre that would welcome gifts for their children and/or food for their holiday meal. All referrals are kept confidential. We encourage you to help us in this Outreachand you are welcome to apply on behalf of your own family.

TODAYS READINGS
First ReadingTake off your robe of mourning and misery; put on the splendor of glory from God (Baruch 5:1-9). PsalmThe Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy (Psalm 126). Second ReadingI am confident that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11). GospelThe winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth (Luke 3:1-6).

Please complete the slip below and return it to the Parish Office or call 355-1292 on/before December 15. Name of Family Phone Contact Referred by Phone Contact email

Thank you for helping!

SAINT RITA OF CASCIA CHURCH

St. Rita School News
Youth NiteWednesday, December 12, 7 pm, Gara Edge Monday, December 17, 4 PM, Gara Year 2 ConfirmationSaturday, Dec. 15, 4 pm, Gara Youth MassSaturday, December 15, 5:30 pm

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Theresa Costanza ym@st-rita.org 590-8828

Childrens Liturgy of the Word (CLOW) We are excited to announce CLOW at St. Rita! During the Sunday 10 am Mass, all children in 1st-3rd grades are invited to participate. The children will be dismissed from Mass after the Opening Prayer to go to Gara Hall where they will have the opportunity to listen to the Sunday Readings at an ageappropriate level. They will return to Mass at the beginning of the Liturgy of the Eucharist to remain with their families for the remainder of the Mass. We need 5-10 volunteers to help. If you are VIRTUS-certified and can help, please let Cristina know. Pre-School Sunday School News Did you know that St. Rita offers Sunday School for children ages 3-5? Please have your children join us upstairs above Gara Hall in the School Library during the 10 am Mass. No registration necessary! It is a wonderful program and we would love to have you join us. Questions? Information?

Have you heard? St. Rita students recently boxed food at the Foothill Community Center for families served in the San Gabriel Valley. They also made posters to decorate for those who depend on the Center for their Thanksgiving meal. During Thanksgiving week the school devoted one day to a particular need: Warm & Wooly Wednesday (clothing & blankets); Toiletry Thursday (soap, toothbrushes, etc.); Footsie Friday (new and gently used shoes); Thanksgiving Food Drive; Moola Monday (change for bus tokens); and Teddy Bear Tuesday (gently used stuffed animals, toys, books). Each year the entire Student Body of our school participates in this wonderful giving tradition established by the Franciscan Sisters of Charity at St. Rita in 1970. All donations were given to Catholic Charities for distribution to the needy throughout the Archdiocese. Breakfast with Santa
Sunday, December 16 8 am - Noon OMalley Hall

The St. Rita Mens Club presents their annual pancake breakfast for the family. Santa will be on the premises beginning at 8 am. Cost: $8/adults; $5 children 6-13; free for ages 5 & under.
Information: Alan Leahy 355-9783

Cristina Cullen dre@st-rita.org

Special Collection
Flowers & Altar Enhancement Collection. In
former days, the ladies from St. Rita Guild would stand outside of Church after Sunday Masses, asking for donations for Christmas flowers, Easter flowers, etc. Now we ask for your once-a-year support to provide flowers and altar enhancements for the Church throughout the Liturgical Year. Since Advent began our new year in the Church, its time to once again ask for your help. A special envelope was in your December packet and envelopes can also be found in the Vestibule.

Thank you for your support!

No Room at the InnA Successful Event! Despite the rainy weekend, attendance was very good. Those who came were amazed at the 150+ sets displayed. Many, many thanks to those who shared their collections with us. Extra special thanks to those who donated a crche set for our first-ever raffle a huge success, netting very happy winners and adding $504 to our donation to agencies serving the homeless. Thank you to all those who supplied goodies for our food table. Thank you to those who helped with set-up (Lauro and Gil especially); with decorating; with working during the event hours on Saturday and Sunday; and finally, but not least, those who helped clean-up! We thank Monsignor Richard for his ongoing support. In the name of parishioners of St. Rita of Cascia, we are sending a check for over $1200 to be split between Catholic Charities & St. Vincent del Paul Society.
Rosemary Hagerott & Cheryl Harlow, Event Co-Chairs

Deadline for Bulletin articles is normally on Thursday, 10 days before desired publication date. The deadline for the December 22-23 bulletin is Tuesday, December 11. The deadline for the January 1-2 bulletin is Tuesday, December 18. bulletin@st-rita.org or bring to the Parish Office.

St. Rita Mens Club Meeting

Join us at Bill & Patty Sullivans home on Tuesday, December 11 at 7 pm. Drinks and light refreshments will be served.
Information: Nick Sotis 599-8228

2ND SUNDAY OF ADVENTDECEMBER 9, 2012

Meetings, Ministry & Special Events

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This Week at St. Rita

This SundayCommunity Chorus of Redlands

4 pm In the Church Free Will Offering 7 pm Bill & Patty Sullivans home See page 5 for more information.

Tuesday, December 11Mens Club Christmas Meeting

Wednesday, December 12 Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe Thursday, December 13 St. Rita School Christmas Pageant

6 pm OMalley Hall All are Welcome

Opportunities for Spiritual Growth

(See page 4 for more information.) Tuesday, December 11 RCIA Class
7:30 pm Parish Office Meeting Room

Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Saturday, December 8

Solemnity of the

Patroness of the United States

Wednesday, December 12, Evening Prayer

5:30 pm Meditation 6 pm Prayer Rectory Oratory

Pray the Rosary

Weekday mornings after the 8 am Mass

Catholic Community & Local Events

Saturday, December 15Annual Archdiocesan

Thursday, January 17, Bible Study Resumes

7 - 8:30 pm Parish Office Meeting Room

Save the Date

Sunday, December 16Breakfast with Santa
8 am - Noon OMalley Hall See page 5 for more information.

Filipino Ministry Simbang Gabi. 6:30 pm. A Faith-filled Filipino tradition. Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. Info? Lem Amit 323-661-6022 Saturday, January 12St. Francis High School Open House. Noon-3 PM. Campus tour, meet students, teachers, and coaches, etc. Info? 818-790-0325 www.sfhs.net

Tuesday, December 18Advent Penance Service

7 pm Assumption of the BVM, Pasadena

Ruben Zubia & Celia Merritt St. Rita Parish wishes you happiness in your new home in Arizona. Thank you for sharing your time, talent, and treasure with us! Well miss you and hope you will keep in touch to let us know of your new life.

SAINT RITA OF CASCIA CHURCH

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Advent Giving Tree at St. Rita

This year we are doing things a little different with our Advent Giving program to benefit St. Rita and St. Anthony families who need us to help them experience a little bit of Christmas. There is a Giving Tree in the Vestibule of the Church. Please take a gift tag or two, purchase the listed items, and then return them UNWRAPPED to the tree. We are not wrapping Christmas donations this year. We will use some donations to assemble Christmas baskets for St. Rita or Sierra Madre families only (see page 4). All other donations will be given to St. Anthony so that parents there may have an opportunity to select and wrap presents for their children. We encourage families, organizations, and ministries to donate to this very worthy St. Rita tradition. If you would like to donate a check (made payable to St. Rita) or cash, please drop your donation in an envelope in the Sunday Offering basket. We need all donationswhether toys, clothing, gift cards, or cashat the Parish Office on/before Thursday, December 20. For more information, please contact the Parish Office 355-1292

4 pm Vigil Mass

Christmas Eve

As in past years, we encourage you to have your children and grandchildren bring an unwrapped gift or toy to this Mass. Your donations will be picked up by St. Francis Center in downtown Los Angeles at the conclusion of the Mass and distributed to needy families who reside near Skid Row. Thank you for your continuing support & generosity.

For it is in giving that we receive