W ! P , F V BLESSED SACRAMENT CATHOLIC CHURCH

DIOCESE OF LAREDO 2219 Galveston St., Laredo, TX 78043-3002 • Phone: (956) 722-1231 • FAX: (956) 722-2823

Website: www.blessedsacramentlaredo.org

Reverend Fr. Wojciech Przystasz, Administrator Deacon David Vargas, Permanent Deacon Reverend Fr. Pawel Antoszewski, Parochial Vicar Deacon Roger Mar nez, Jr., Permanent Deacon Reverend Msgr. Stanley A. Sliwiak, Ph.D., Re red Deacon Dennis R. Garza, Permanent Deacon

PARISH OFFICE HOURS Monday through Friday 8:00 A.M to 12:00 N.N.

and 1:00 P.M.- 5:00 P.M.

SUNDAY MASSES

Saturday: 6:00 P.M. Sunday: 8:00 A.M. (Español) 10:00 A.M. 12:00 N.N. 5:00 P.M.

SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM Parents MUST be registered parishioners (considered registered parishioners if have actively been attending Sunday Masses prior to baptism). Baptisms are administered on the 3rd Sunday of each month. Baptismal instruction is offered on the preceding Thursday.

PARISH STAFF Mrs. Josie R. Arellano, Bookkeeper

Ms. Gloria B. Sandoval, Parish Secretary Mrs. Consuelo M. Perez, Bulletin Editor

Mr. Manuel Ponce, Director of Music

DAILY MASS Mon., Tue., Thu. and Fri. 7:00 A.M. Wednesday 7:00 A.M. & 6:00 P.M.

FIRST FRIDAY: 5:30 P.M. FIRST SATURDAY ONLY: 9:00 A.M.

SACRAMENT OF HOLY MATRIMONY

Couples should inquire about premarital prepa-ration and available church dates at least six (6) months prior to planned wedding date. Do not make any arrangements before contact-ing the parish office.

BLESSED SACRAMENT SCHOOL Mrs. Selma J. Santos, Principal

1501 North Bartlett Avenue Laredo, TX 78043

Phone: (956) 722-1222 Fax: (956) 712-2002

NOVENA TO

OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP Wednesday after the 6:00 P.M. Mass.

ADORATION OFTHE BLESSED SACRAMENT First Friday 5:30 P.M. - 7:00 P.M.

Third Thursday of each month 7:00 A.M . - 6:00 P.M.

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION Saturday, 4:30 P.M. to 5:30 P.M.

Wednesdays, 30 min. before the evening Mass OR

by appointment (Please call the Parish Office)

ADULT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION Miss Hope Gonzalez 722-1231 ALTAR SERVERS (Training on Saturday mornings at 9:30AM in the church) Miss Suzie Schafer 722-1231 ALTAR SOCIETY (Meet 2nd Monday at 3:30PM in the parish hall) Mrs. Maria Teresa Hinojosa, President 286-2842 ADULT & CHILDREN’S CHOIR Mr. Manuel Ponce 722-1231 BROWNIE TROOP 9150 Mrs. Naomi Arredondo, Troop Leader 236-8672 CUBMASTER FOR PACK 192 Mr. George Valdez 645-0675 COMMUNION FOR HOMEBOUND Call the Parish Office 722-1231 EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS OF HOLY COMMUNION Mr. George P. Kazen, Scheduling 722-5347 KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS COUNCIL #10939 (Meet 2nd & 4th Tuesdays of the month at 7:30 P.M.) G.K. Mr. Javier Medellin (956) 568-2763 (956) 763-4410

FOURTH DEGREE K.C. ASSEMBLY (Meet 4th Tuesday of the month at 6:30 P.M. in the parish hall) Mr. Hector Herrera (956) 723-0308 LECTORS Mr. George P. Kazen, Scheduling 722-5347 PARISH COUNCIL Mr. George P. Kazen, President PRAYER GROUP-(Meet Sunday 2:30 - 4:00 P.M.) Please call the Parish Office at 722-1231 QUINCEAÑERA COORDINATOR Mrs. Patsy Salinas 722-1231 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (CCD) Mrs. Maria Teresa Hinojosa, Coordinator 286-2842 Mrs. Naomi Saldaña, CCD Secretary ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY Miss Yolanda Valdez 722-1231 YOUTH GROUP “LIFE IN CHRIST” (Meet every Wed. @ 7PM in the P.H.) Mr. & Mrs. Felipe & Lali Martinez 722-1231 YOUTH LECTORS Deacon David Vargas 727-7826 or 722-1231

Saturday, December 17, 2016 - Advent Weekday [3] 6:00PM †Geronimo Treviño, Jr. (B) By Lauro Lopez, Jr. Sunday, December 18, 2016 – FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT 8:00AM †Gerardo Rene Treviño (A) By Family 10:00AM For Parishioners 12:00PM †Deacon Larry Sandlin (A) By Fr. Wojciech 5:00PM †Adela Garcia Treviño (A) By Lauro Lopez, Jr. Monday, December 19, 2016 – Advent Weekday [4] 7:00AM †Arturo R. Barrera, Sr. (A) By Family Tuesday, December 20, 2016 - Advent Weekday [4] 7:00AM †Eva Vela Guerra (A) By Guerra Family Wednesday, December 21, 2016 - Advent Weekday [4]; St. Peter Canisius, Priest, Doctor of the Church 7:00AM †Julia Virjan (A) By Guerra Family 6:00PM †Luis Alfredo Ponce By Ponce Family Thursday, December 22, 2016 – Advent Weekday [4] 7:00AM †Mr. & Mrs. C.A. Saenz, Sr. By Mr. & Mrs. John Daves Friday, December 23, 2016 - Advent Weekday [4]; St. John of Kanty, Priest 7:00AM †Francisco Garcia Treviño (A) By Lauro Lopez, Jr. Saturday, December 24, 2016 - VIGIL OF THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD 6:00PM For Parishioners Sunday, December 25, 2016 – THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD (Christmas) 12:00AM †Delfino & Delia Alamo By Family 8:00AM In Thanksgiving By Veronica Ramirez 10:00AM †Celedonio Perez (A) By Perez Hinojosa Family 12:00PM †Pablo Jorge Castillo By Mr. & Mrs. Richard Treviño No Evening Mass (B)=Birthday (A)=Anniversary

Mass Intentions

for the Week

SUMMONED BY GOD

As Christmas draws near, Advent’s scriptures lure us into a world of dreams, signs, wonders, and the miracle of the virgin birth. Too often we allow the great stories of our faith, the ones that are most familiar, simply to wash over us. Today’s Gospel account of the events leading up to the birth of the Lord reads like a present-day soap opera. Yet Joseph’s courage, even in the midst of what must have been an incredibly confusing time, provides a model for us. Each week, we are summoned by God to embrace the way of goodness and truth through the proclamation of God’s holy word. Like Joseph, we are called to do as the Lord com-mands us. As we stand at the threshold of Christmas, let us have the courage to be open to whatever it is that the Lord will require of us as we celebrate the miracle of Bethlehem. Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co., Inc.

LLAMADOS POR DIOS Al acercarse la Navidad, las Escrituras del Adviento nos llevan a un mundo de sueños, señales, maravillas y el milagro del nacimiento de una virgen. Muchas veces dejamos que los grandes relatos de nuestra fe, los que son más conocidos, sim-plemente nos pasen sin sentirlos. El relato del Evangelio de hoy sobre los acontecimientos previos al nacimiento del Se-ñor parece una telenovela actual. Sin embargo, la valentía de José, aun en medio de una época que debe haber sido increí-blemente confusa, nos brinda un modelo a seguir. Cada sema-na, Dios nos llama a aceptar el camino de la bondad y la ver-dad por medio de la proclamación de la Palabra sagrada de Dios. Como José, somos llamados a hacer lo que el Señor nos ordena. Mientras estamos en el umbral de la Navidad, tenga-mos la valentía para estar abiertos a lo que sea, a lo que el Señor requiera de nosotros durante nuestra celebración del milagro de Belén. Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co., Inc.

Fourth Sunday of Advent December 18, 2016

They shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.” — Matthew 1:23

The Sanctuary Lamp

will be burning this week in Loving Memory of: Gerardo Rene Treviño

Our Mother of Perpetual Help Candles will be burning this week in Thanksgiving by: Selina Lynn & Alexandria Perez

Our Lady of Guadalupe Candles will be burning this week . . .

. . . In Loving Memory of Margarito Requejo

. . . In Loving Memory of

Ann Leech Escamilla

BIRTHDAY WISHES . . . and God’s many blessings to all those cele-brating a birthday or anniversary this week.

Nathalie Gutierrez 18-Dec Rosie Cavazos 18-Dec Eddie Gonzalez 18-Dec Mia Isabella Ramirez 18-Dec Norma Benavides 18-Dec Lauren Castilla 19-Dec Araceli P. Tijerina 19-Dec Breanna Gutierrez 20-Dec Danielle Benavides 20-Dec Elizabeth Kazen 20-Dec Naomi Saldaña 20-Dec

Ameerah Nichole Alaniz 21-Dec Amelia Y. Cantu 21-Dec Jake Spruiell 21-Dec Lauren Paredes 22-Dec Luis M. Muñoz, Jr. 23-Dec James Dilley 23-Dec Jason Kromminga 23-Dec Alexandria Perez 23-Dec Raul Hinojosa 24-Dec Nelda E. Meza 24-Dec

Eddie Aguero George Aradillas Leonardo Ballesteros Arturo Bernal Katherine Marie Brown Hector Canales Amelia Y. Cantu Pedro Cantu, Jr. Eduardo Cavazos, Jr. Pamela M. Cortez Patsy Dees Lillian Dickinson William Dickinson Manuel E. Escamilla

Christian Flores Eva Cecilia Flores Lydia R. Garza Jesus Gonzalez Maria Yolanda Gonzalez Julia Herrera Baby Emiliano Ibarra Elsa Ibarra Claudia Johnson Anthony Leija, Jr. Gilberto Maldonado Homero Martinez Maricruz Martinez Oscar Martinez Reyna Martins Viola Moore Tionni Palacios Josie Perez

Maria Przystasz Baby Gabriel E. Rodriguez Reyna Rodriguez Vicky Rodriguez Rene San Miguel Eduardo Alfonso Santos Trinidad Sarmiento Baby Jose Alberto Serna Joe Stegmann Jim Switzer Fernando Torres Adriana Valdéz Ana Laura Valdéz Francisco H. Valdéz Luz Maria Valdéz Frank Vidaurri Raymond S. York Lorena Zepeda

P ray For. . . We especially pray every Wednesday after the evening Mass during the Novena of Our Mother of Perpetual Help. Let us pray also for those whom God has called home recently most especially Genaro Ramirez and Praxedis Arreola. As we mourn their passing, let us rejoice at their birth to eternal life.

Christmas Mass Schedule

Saturday, December 24th Vigil of the Nativity of the Lord

Vigil Mass at 6:00 p.m. (with homily for children)

Sunday, December 25th The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)

12:00 a.m., 8:00 a.m. (en español), 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 Nn No evening Mass!

ALTAR SOCIETY ANNUAL TOY AND BLANKET DRIVE CONTINUES . . . . . .thru Wednesday, December 21st. We ask that you please contribute to children of any age (from 1 mo. to 18 yrs. old) because they all deserve to receive at least one gift for Christmas. Please indicate if the gift is for a boy or

girl and for what age it would be appropriate. There are no words to tell you how very much your donations are needed and, most of all, appreciated. If possible, please also donate at least one blanket for the elderly.

Respectfully,

Maria Teresa Perez Hinojosa, Altar Society President

Collection for the Weekend of: December 10 & 11, 2016 Envelopes $6,193.86 Loose 1,757.76

CCD 83.49 TOTAL $8,035.11 School Mass of Holy Day of Obligation $272.70 Holy Day of Obligation: Immaculate Conception $1,833.72 Second Collection: Retirement Fund For Religious $2,562.65

Thank you for your continued support & generosity!

Advent Parish Penance Service

Thursday, December 22, 2016 ● 6:00 P.M.

Our Parish Advent Penance Service will be held on Thurs-day, December 22nd from 6:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. in the church. There will be several priests here for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We are invited to come find spiritual peace and a closer connection to the Lord.

Let’s prepare our hearts to receive worthy our Lord who is coming!

“Life in Christ” Youth Group

Annual Bake Sale This Weekend: December 17 & 18, 2016

Saturday after the evening Mass Sunday from 8:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Parish Hall Thank you for supporting our Youth Group!

ATTENTION

REGISTERED PARISHIONERS

2017 OFFERTORY ENVELOPES

REMINDER! The 2017 offertory envelopes are now available at the west entrance of the church. Please make sure you take your box of envelopes home. Envelope boxes will NOT be mailed to anyone. Please note that the use of your envelopes is proof that you are a registered member in the parish. When a person has been asked to be Godparent or sponsor, parishes or catholic schools request verification of a status as a practicing Catholic, attendance at Sunday Mass, or receiving of Sacra-ments. Without the use of your envelope, no such verification can be given. Using Sunday envelopes also helps the parish maintain records of your Sunday Stewardship for your year-end tax letters. THANK YOU!

SUNDAY BULLETIN NOW ON WEBSITE Are you travelling or simply just forgot to take a Sunday bulletin home? The Sunday bulletin now appears on our website at:

www.blessedsacramentlaredo.org Check it out!