Santa Teresa Parish: e-Bulletin 12-9-16

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This e-Bulletin does not include all the information that is included in the paper bulletin given out at church. Please take a bulletin when you attend Mass to receive all the information about our Parish.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I address myself today to all Catholics and people of good will, here in Santa Clara County. In a special way, I am writing to those among us who live in fear – fear of discrimination, of deportation, of having their families torn apart.

There is a great deal of uncertainty in these weeks following the national elections. Yet we must respond to the needs of our brothers and sisters, our neighbors and friends, and those who live and work with us in this Valley of Saint Clare.

While I will not attempt to offer any false hope, I do want to assure you that the Diocese of San Jose is working in partnership with Santa Clara County and the City of San Jose and other agencies, including Catholic Charities, to address both the fears of our people and steps to defend the human rights of every individual, regardless of ethnicity, place of origin, or religion.

On November 14, Mayor Sam Liccardo pledged to all who feel threatened by possible action, “We’ve got your back.” He went on to explain that “we cannot control the events in Washington, D.C., but we can do much to care for each other here at home.”

The Church makes the same pledge as we stand together in solidarity and accompaniment with those most in need. We cannot and will not abandon you because Jesus promised never to abandon us.

As a community that professes that kind of hope in Christ, our greatest strength lies in our ability to gather together in prayer. It is what the Lord Jesus did prior to every major event in his life. It is what we must also do as we continue “to promote a culture of mercy in which no one looks at another with indifference or turns away from the suffering of our brothers and sisters” (Pope Francis, Misericordia et Misera).

Therefore, I invite all to observe a Day of Prayer on December 12, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. For almost 500 years since the Blessed Virgin Mary’s appearance to a poor Indigenous Mexican named Juan Diego, Catholics have prayed for our Lady of Guadalupe’s protection and strength under her title as Patroness of the Americas.

It is in this image of Mary that we find comfort, consolation, strength, and hope. And it is in the union of our prayer with her that we encourage one another for the work that lies ahead.

So that we might pray together, I ask our churches to remain open throughout December 12, from Las Mañanitas (or the first Mass) in the morning until evening, as determined in each parish.

As we pray that day under the loving gaze of Guadalupe, the Mother of us all, let us remember that “we cannot love Our Lady of Guadalupe unless we love el pobre [the poor one] Juan Diego with the commitment of our lives”

In closing, I wish to recall the opening words of the Second Vatican Council’s Pastoral Constitution of the Church in the Modern World,
Gaudium et Spes:

The joys and the hopes, the griefs and the anxieties of the people of this age, especially those who are poor or in any way afflicted, these are the joys and hopes, the griefs and anxieties of the followers of Christ.

Know that your joys and hopes, griefs and anxieties are ours, and I offer my prayers and solidarity with and for you. We stand with you.

With every best wish and kind regard, I remain,

Sincerely yours,

Patrick J. McGrath
Bishop of San Jose

This Weekend's 2nd Collection is for the Retirement Fund for Religious

Aging religious need your help. Thousands of

senior sisters, brothers, and religious order priests spent year working in Catholic schools, hospitals, and agencies — often for little pay. Their sacrifices leave their religious communities without adequate savings for retirement and eldercare. Your gift to the Retirement Fund for Religious collection helps provide prescription medications, nursing care, and more. Please give generously to those who have given a lifetime.

Christmas Giving Tree

If you took a tag off the Christmas Giving Tree and haven’t returned your gift please deliver gifts to the Parish Office during office hours on Monday or Tuesday. If you still wish to donate something to our Christmas Giving you can mark your donation for the Christmas Giving Project. If you have questions, please contact"

Lynda DeManti at lynda@santateresachurch.com or (408) 629-7777 ext. 105

Hams and Turkeys for Christmas Food Boxes

If you can donate a turkey or ham for our Christmas Food Boxes, please deliver them on Saturday, December 17th from 9:00 a.m. to Noon. We are giving food boxes out in the afternoon.

Restocking the Pantry

We are expecting to provide food
for over 700 people for Christmas.
In order to do that we now need your help
in re-stocking the shelves for Christmas
and our regular pantry needs for January.
Please consider donating items on the list below.

Thank you in advance for your consideration!

NOTE: We cannot accept any items that are expired.

Calendars

Calendars are in the back of the vestibule.
We thank Antonio and Lourdes Abiog
for sponsoring this calendar!

Please take ONLY ONE per family
so all our Parishioners will get one.

ICF Annual Nativity Set Raffle

Raffle tickets on sale in the vestibule.
Proceeds will support ICF Scholarship Fund.
Need not be present to win.
Sponsored by the ICF Branch 368, Santa Teresa.

Help support our Youth Group!

See’s Candy on Sale
in the Vestibule before and after
the Saturday & Sunday Masses.

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe a Day of Prayer and Solidarity
with Families of Immigrants

Special Prayer Service
Monday, December 12th
7:00 p.m.

Altar of the Dead

The Altar of the Dead has been taken down. You can pick up your photos of your loved ones in the basket in the Vestibule.

Beautification Crew-Volunteers Needed

We are actively searching for volunteers who would be open to vacuuming, dusting, and general organizing for our conference rooms, office, and church kitchen. The commitment is once a month for 3 hours for 6 months. You can sign up again. It would be when staff is present for questions in the organization.

If you have a calling for organization and cleanliness and wish to donate some time to our parish, please call Jen at 408-629-7777 ex. 101 or sign-up online http://santateresachurch.com/volunteer We thank you for your prayerful consideration!

Picture Directory Special Sections

We will have three special sections in the directory:

One is our Veterans and Active Military section which is free to include pictures of loved ones. Our second is the Memorial section honoring our deceased loved ones. The last is Affordable Advertising – This will help to offset the costs we'll incur during our 50th Jubilee celebrations. Please encourage friends and family with business to support your parish with affordably priced full color ads.

DUE DATE: DECEMBER 15, 2016
You can find the forms in the vestibule, office and online at
http://santateresachurch.com/three-sections-in-the-picture-directory/

Christmas Eve Nativity Pageant
December 24, 2016 at 4:00pm

Calling all kids! If you would love to be a part of this exciting event and you haven’t signed up, please contact Nancy at 408-629-7777 or nancy@santateresachurch.com

Rehersals are Monday, December 19th, Wednesday, December 21, and Frdiay, December 23rd from 6:30-8:30pm in the church.

Santa Teresa Brick’s Make a Great Christmas Gift!

4” x 8” Brick
Minimum Donation $150 each
1 to 3 lines of inscription plus art image if desired.

8” x 8” Brick

Minimum Donation $300 each
1 to 6 lines of inscription plus art image if desired.

Go to http://santateresachurch.com/avila-hall-brick-project/
Questions? Please contact donna @santateresachurch.com or 408-629-7777

Christmas Flower Fund 2016

This fund helps us to pay for the beautiful poinsettias
and decorations in the Church
during the Christmas Season.
You can make a donation in honor of a loved one
and the list of names and donors
will be published in our Bulletin the weekend of January 8th.
Yellow envelopes are available in the vestibule.
Please place your filled-out envelopes
in the collection basket or drop it off at the Parish Office.

Events

All the events happening at the church are on our website. It's a Google calendar and you are able to click on the right side of the calendar to download the events into your personal google calendar. Go to http://santateresachurch.com/home/calendar

Holy Spirit Open House
Holy Spirit School has added a special OPEN HOUSE to the calendar.
Please join us Friday, December 9 from 9 to 11 am.

Classes will be in session and you will be able to:

tour the campus
peek in on classes
visit with current families
chat with staff

Come witness our students, teachers, parents and staff as we discover FAITH, seek KNOWLEDGE and experience COMMUNITY.

UPCOMING FESTIVAL DATES FOR CHURCHES IN THE DIOCESE

December 10-11, 2016
Our Lady of Guadalupe
2020 E San Antonio St, San Jose 95116

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Picture Directory Special Sections

We will have three special sections in the directory:

Christmas Eve Nativity Pageant December 24, 2016 at 4:00pm

Christmas Eve Nativity Pageant
December 24, 2016 at 4:00pm