We, the parish community of Saint Joseph Catholic Church (Elk Grove) and Mission Church of Saint Vincent de Paul (Rancho Murieta), enriched by many traditions and cultures, come together to worship God in Sacrament, liturgy, and prayer.

We are committed to acting as One Body in Christ, and to living our One Faith with the help of the Holy Spirit. We continually seek to reach out in loving service to others, both within our parish as well as in the greater community, in order to

spread the Good News of our faith.” (Parish Mission Statement)

Saint Joseph Parish and Mission Church of St. Vincent de Paul

9961 Elk Grove Florin Road, Elk Grove, CA 95624 ● (916) 685-3681 ● FAX (916) 685-7254 Mission Church: 14673 Cantova Way, Rancho Murieta, CA 95683 ● (916) 354-2403 ● FAX (916)354-2404

Saint Joseph Parish

Parish Weekly Collection

Weekly Goal: St. Joseph $ 11,200.00 SVdP $ 2,600.00

Offertory this Week: St. Joseph $ 16,119.94 SVdP $ 2,717.00 FOR EFT (Electronic Fund Transfer) If you wish to contribute via EFT (electronic fund transfer) please visit our parish website for more information. “Thank you for your generosity and may God continue to bless you with His providence.”

Schedule of Services

Saint Joseph Parish

Weekend Masses Saturday 4:30 PM Sunday 7:30 9:00 11:00 AM & 1:00 PM (Español) Weekday Schedules (Monday to Friday) Liturgy of the Hours 7:30 AM Daily Mass 8:00 AM Rosary 8:30 AM First Friday Mass 7:00 PM Adoration

Holy Days of Obligation 8:00 AM, 12 noon & 7:00PM

Eucharistic Adoration Friday 8:30 - 10:00 AM Sacrament of Reconciliation Saturday 2:30 - 3:30 PM Or By appointment

Mission Church of Saint Vincent de Paul

Weekend Masses Saturday 5:00 PM Sunday 9:00 AM Weekday schedules Rosary and Chaplet of Divine Mercy (Monday) 6:00pm Daily Mass (Wednesday) 8:30 AM First Wednesday Adoration 9:00 AM Rosary (Fridays) 8:00 AM Service of the Word (Friday) 8:30 AM Holy Days of Obligation 6:00 PM Sacrament of Reconciliation Saturday 4:30 - 4:50 PM Or By appointment

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School

Marci Greene (Principal) (916) 684-7903, ext. 12 e-mail: mgreene@stelizabetheg.org Tammy Babich (Preschool/EDP Director) (916) 691-4825 e-mail: tbabich@stelizabetheg.org

Office Hours

Saint Joseph Parish Monday 8:45 AM - 12:00 Noon

Tuesday to Friday 8:45 AM - 4:30 PM

Visit us on our website: stjoseph-elkgrove.net

See us on Facebook: St. Joseph Catholic Church (Elk Grove, CA)

Mission Church of Saint Vincent de Paul Monday/Wednesday/Friday 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Parish Staff

Fr. Julito R. Orpilla (Pastor), ext. 122 e-mail: father.julito@stjoseph-elkgrove.net

Fr. Victor Gutierrez (Parochial Vicar), ext. 125 e-mail: father.victor@stjoseph-elkgrove.net

Deacon Larry Hiner, e-mail: deacon.larry@stjoseph-elkgrove.net

e-mail:

Aurora Fragozo-Aguirre (Parish Administrator), ext. 120 e-mail: aurora.aguirre@stjoseph-elkgrove.net

Sr. Ma. Imelda Grace Dañas, RVM (Director of Religious Ed.),ext. 124

e-mail: SJP.dre@stjoseph-elkgrove.net Leah Monroe (Youth Ministry Coordinator), ext. 123 e-mail: leah.monroe@stjoseph-elkgrove.net

Erwin Jimenez (Administrative Assistant II), ext. 121 e-mail: erwin.jimenez@stjoseph-elkgrove.net

Karina Santana–Sierra (Administrative Assistant), ext. 128 e-mail: karina.santana@stjoseph-elkgrove.net

Ruth Guerrette (IT Support), e-mail: ruth.guerrette@stjoseph-elkgrove.net

Anna Romea (Liturgical Music Coordinator) e-mail: anna.romea@stjoseph-elkgrove.net

Fourth Sunday of Advent and Christmas Eve

December 24, 2017

Fourth Sunday of Advent will be celebrated

during our regular morning Masses. Christmas Eve

Mass will be celebrated in the afternoon at 4pm, 6pm

and 10pm midnight Mass.

Saint Joseph Parish

: 12/18 8:00am - Mike Barrett † : 12/19 8:00am– Ronnie Tereau (SI)

Franz Josef Apostol † Juan Jose Valadez †

: 12/20 8:00am– Teddy & Archie Grant (SI) Carlos & Lupita Viña (SI) Holy Souls in Purgatory

RM 8:30am - For the People of SVdP Thu: 12/21 8:00am - Fr. Jim Gallas, SJ † Fri: 12/22 8:00am – Flordeliza Villarimo (SI)

Joan Rees † Sat: 12/23 4:30pm- Dan & Julia Osuna †

Fr. Jim Gallas, SJ †RM 5:00pm - Barbara Gregor io†

12/24 7:30am - Holy Souls in Purgatory 9:00am - Francisco Dias†

Rufina Pena Villalobos † RM 9:00am- Jean Bowles † 11:00am– Franz Josef Apostol † Paul Seishas † 1:00pm – Benjamin & Rosita Hernandez †

Enrique Landin Cuellar † Jose Maria & Rosario Meza † Maria del Rosario Ramirez †

4:00pm- Mariana Pereira † RM 5:00pm- For the People of SVdP 6:00pm- For the People of SJP

10:00pm- For the People of SJP

Today’s Readings

 

First Reading —— As a garden makes its growth spring up, so will G make justice spring up before all the nations (Isaiah 61:1-2a, 10-11).  Psalm — My soul rejoices in my God (Luke 1:46-50, 53-54). Second Reading — Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophetic utterances. Test everything; retain what is good (1 Thessalonians 5:16-24). Gospel — I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, make straight the way of the Lord (John 1:6-8, 19-28).

Readings For The Week  

 

 

Mon: Jer 23:5-8; Ps 72:1-2, 12-13, 18-19; Mt 1:18-25

Tues: Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25a; Ps 71:3-4a, 5-6ab, 16-17; Lk 1:5-25 Wed: Is 7:10-14; Ps 24:1-4ab, 5-6; Lk 1:26-38

Thur: Sg 2:8-14 or Zep 3:14-18a; Ps 33:2-3, 11-12, 20-21; Lk 1:39-45 Fri: 1 Sm 1:24-28; 1 Sm 2:1, 4-8abcd; Lk 1:46-56

Sat: Mal 3:1-4, 23-24; Ps 25:4-5ab, 8-10, 14; Lk 1:57-66

Sun: 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Ps 89:2-5, 27, 29; Rom 16:25-27; Lk 1:26-38

Pray For Our Military FamiliesSteven Alsop Josh Alonzo Alanna Appel Don R. Baker II Solomon Bolt Carl Ian Bravo Nicklaus Brincka Grant Boone Alondra Cruz Mark Dollar Jaclyn Edwards Eric Edwards Benjamin Erwin Matthew Farrell Joey Feathers Gabriel Franzoia Serena Grandov Graham Hebert

Bryan&Nancy Horsey Breanna Johnson Valery Keaveny Jr. Joseph King Freddie Koeller Glenn Lewis Stephen Lindahl James Lovello Kevin McDonald Amber McGovern Russell Miller Colin Medigovich Midori Mekata Mike Montini Jared Ortner Sean Passmore Cherry Pangilinan Diosdado Pangilinan

Dominic Peterson Ian Rubstello Michael Riehl Joshua Shaffer Zachary Schiele Jason Stiles Shawn Tostado Jason Lee Tudor Jerry & Davita Vega Ronald P. Viray Jaime Wong-Lopez Jordan Wood Jason Woodford Shai-Lin Ynacay Shawn Zachary Gibson Dominic X. Herrera David Young Mary Young

To add new names of active military to our military list, please send an e-mail to wicket42@outlook.com or call Pat at 916-686-5977.

Knights of Columbus

It’s the season to be Jolly, and Crabby… not crabby in a bad way, but in the best way. The Knights of Co-lumbus will be holding our annual Crab Feed on January 13th, 2018. Tickets will be available after each Mass. Tickets are $45 each. We will not be selling tickets the weekend of Christmas and New Year’s but will resume again on January 6th & 7th. Get your tickets early!

Poinsettias For the Altar

As we prepare for the birth of Christ, we would like to decorate the Altar with Poinsettias. We ask that you donate a plant beginning this week, December 18, in a loved one’s name. Please attach a small tag with the name of your loved one to the plant and place in the vestibule.

Saint Joseph Parish

St. Vincent de Paul Society News

Thank you to everyone who took bells from the Giving Tree and returned them! Your generosity has made Christmas a little brighter for at least 500 people.

We will house the homeless of Elk Grove this year in the Social Hall for one week, December 31st– January 7th, 2018. We are in need of Night Monitors, those folks who spend the night in our Social Hall and make sure all goes well with our guests as well as help get them started for the next day. Please call Ed Sanchez at 916.690.2531 if you would like to help out.

If you or someone you know is in need of help with food, clothing or utility bills, please call our confidential hot line at 916-667-2779. We serve zip codes 95624, 95683, 95693, 95829 and 95830. One of our volunteers will return your call to schedule a home visit to discuss your needs. God Bless You.

Noticias de la Sociedad de San Vicente de Paúl

¡Gracias a todos los que tomaron una Campanita de Deseo del arbol navideño! A traves de su generosidad ayudaron a traer la magia del espiritu navideño a lo menos 500 personas.

Nos preparamos para el programa annual de EG Wins, en cual proveemos techo y comida a los indigentes de Elk Grove. Estamos en busca de voluntarios para la guardia nocturna del 31 de diciembre al 7 de enero en el salon social. Favor de comunicarse con Ed Sanchez al 916.690.2531 si esta interesado en ser guardia noc-turno.

Si usted o alguien que conoce necesita ayuda de comida, ropa u otro gasto del hogar, por favor llame a nuestra línea confidencial, al 916-667-2779 y déje su mensaje. Cuando le regresemos su llamada, plat-icaremos sobre sus necesidades en su hogar. Ofrecemos servicio a los códigos postales 95624, 95683, 95693, 95829 y 95830. Dios los bendiga.

Confirmation Program & Youth Ministry News

Confirmation students will not meet dur ing the month of December . Our next meeting will be on Monday, January 8 from 6:30-8pm. Year 1 and Year 2 Saint Projects will be due.

EDGE at SVdP will not meet dur ing the month of December . Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, January 9th from 7-8:30pm. Year 1 and Year 2 Saint Projects will be due.

ALL Year 2 students receiving Confirmation in May 2018 must turn in a Sponsor form. Please email them to Leah Monroe: leah.monroe@stjoseph-elkgrove.net or turn them into the Par ish Office.

Noticias del Programa de Confirmación y Ministerio Juvenil

Los Estudiantes de Confirmación no tendran reunion durante el mes de diciembre. Nuestra siguiente reunion sera el lunes, 8 de enero. Año 1 y 2 deberan entregar su Proyecto de Santos ese dia. EDGE en SVdP no se reunira durante el mes de diciembre. Nos volveremos a reunir el martes 9 de enero para la entrega de su Proyecto de Santos. TODOS LOS CANDIDATOS QUE RECIBIRAN SU CONFIRMACION EN MAYO 2018 DEBEN ENTREGAR EL FORMULARIO DE PADRINO/MADRINA. Favor de enviarlo a traves de correo electronico a Leah Monroe, leah.monroe@stjoseph-elkgrove.net o traerlo a la oficina parroquial.

tendran reunion el jueves, 11 de enero de 6 a 8pm.

Saint Joseph Parish Grief Support Sessions

St. Joseph's Ministry of Consolation will begin their seven weekly grief support sessions on Wednesday, January 17th through February 28th. We are present for those grieving the loss of a loved one or other significant loss in one's life. This ministry takes place in the context of faith, and is caring, supportive, and compassionate. We will be meeting in the Renwald Room from 11am to 12:30pm.

For more information, please contact Marilyn Petruska at 685-3207 or Mary Ellen Trapp at 893-8863.

Simbang Gabi

Join us as we begin our Simbang Gabi Masses in preparation of the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Mass has be-

gun Friday, December 15 through Saturday, December 23 at 7pm. Following all Masses, join us for our traditional potluck. Please bring the follow-ing:

Day 2– December 16th: Arroz Caldo and Bread Day 3– December 17th: Sotanghon and Puto Day 4– December 18th: Meat Dish– Adobo,

Menudo, Embutido, Dinuguan & Rice Day 5– December 19th: Spaghetti, Garlic Bread

and Pizza Day 6– December 20th: Champorado or Choco

late Rice Day 7– December 21st: Adobo and Rice Day 8– December 22nd: Palabok, Puto and

Kutsinta Day 9– December 23rd: Last Day Dinner (please

see below) If your last name begins with: A-E Desser t F-M Main Dish N-T Seafood Dish U-Z Vegetable Dish

Let us all feel joy as we await the coming of the Lord. If you have any questions, please contact Sylvia Campomanes at 916.897.2590 or 916.897.7845.

Posadas Las Posadas Navideñas han comenzado y termi-

naran el 23 de diciembre. Los invitamos para que nos acompañen a las 6pm en la Iglesia.

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton “Mustache and Mozzarella”

Annual Alumni Spaghetti Dinner

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School, Class of 2018 invites you to their annual alumni spaghetti dinner “Mustache and Mozzarella” on Thursday, January 4, 2018 from 6-8:30 pm at Father Phillip Wells Parish Center, 9539 Racquet Cour t, Elk Grove 95759. Tickets are $10 per person, $5 per additional sibling. All St. Elizabeth graduates are welcomed! Please give your payment before December 22 by either mail or drop it off at SEAS or you can pay via Venmo to https://venmo.com/Lisa-Hinton-7. Please include your name and graduation year with your payment. If you have any questions, please contact Lisa Hinton 916.903.6812.

Walk For Life West Coast 2018

Join fellow Catholics and Pro‐Lifers from all over California as we stand up for the littlest among us at the 14th Annual Walk for Life West Coast in San Francisco on January 27, 2018. There will be Mass at 9:30AM celebrated by Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone at St. Mary’s Cathedral. The rally will begin at 12:30PM in San Francisco’s Civic Center Plaza, and the Walk, down the city’s Market Street, begins at 1:30PM. For com-plete information about the Walk, visit www.walkforlifewc.com.

Caminata Por la Vida de la Costa Oeste 2018  Los invitamos a que se unan a lado de mas Católicos y personas Pro‐Vida de toda California, mientras

luchamos por los más pequeños entre nosotros en la 14º Caminata por la Vida de la Costa Oeste en San Francisco, el 27 de enero del 2018. Habrá Misa a las 9:30 am celebrada por el Arzobispo Salvatore Cordileo-ne en la Catedral de Santa María. La manifestación comienza a las 12:30 PM en la Plaza del Centro Civico, y la Caminata, por la Calle Market dara inicio a la 1:30 PM. Para obtener información completa sobre la Caminata, visite www.walkforlifewc.com.

Saint Joseph Parish

TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION

Last week, we looked at a form of nativity scene called a presipio, characterized by framing the crèche of Jesus with a vast array of personalities and a rich geographical context. The tradition was carried to the New World, and finds very rich expression in Latin America today. While in Europe the presepio was reserved mostly to the homes of wealthy nobles and great churches, in Latin America it was claimed by the poor and expressed the skills of native artisans. In Mexico, you can still find clay figures in every village market. In a way, the native people took the religion of Spanish rule and baptized it with their Indian culture by surrounding the crib of Jesus with local geography and people. In Brazil, where Christmas falls in summer, the figure of the baby Jesus is wrapped in gold and gems, and set on a hillside surrounded by flowers and animals of all kinds. Sometimes there is a double presepio, presenting both Nativity and Crucifixion.

In some places in Latin America, even non-religious people take care to have a presepio in the home, sometimes dedicating one whole room in the house or apartment to the scene. Some cities have markets where people from the countryside sell plants and figurines. In Cuzco, churches and families provide hot chocolate for the children of the poor who come down to help create the nativity scenes. In Paraguay, the baby Jesus grows—the small infant who arrives on Christmas Eve is replaced at New Year with a toddler Jesus who holds in one hand the globe and in the other a cross. Few Christmas traditions have the vitality and variety of presepios and crèches honoring the Nativity. —Rev. James Field, Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.

TRADICIONES DE NUESTRA FE

El mes de diciembre ha llegado y en todo el territorio mexicano, comienzan los preparativos para celebrar las Posadas, tr adición que se extiende del 16 al 24 de este mes, nueve días justo antes de la navidad, y que ha alcanzado prestigio aun en otros países de Latinoamérica, donde se les conoce como “novena”. Remon-tándonos a los inicios de estas festividades, aparece la época precolombina, cuando los frailes evangelizadores se dieron a la tarea de inculcar la veneración a Cristo como única deidad. De esta manera, los frailes agustinos instituyeron en 1517, las llamadas 9 Misas de Aguinaldo en el Virreinato de la Nueva España, que se realiza-ban en el atrio de las iglesias en los días que precedían a la navidad, incluyendo representaciones de escenas de la natividad de Cristo, y se concluían con festejos y cantos, todo con la finalidad de facilitar la sustitu-ción de la figura del dios mexica por Cristo.

Con el paso del tiempo, estas celebraciones dejaron las iglesias para arraigarse en los hogares de la gente, que habiendo nacido ya bajo la influencia católica, comenzaron a remplazar la liturgia con peregrinaciones alabando el nacimiento de Cristo en cantos populares como símbolo inequívoco del fenómeno de la fusión de culturas que caracteriza al país. Es precisamente después de la Independencia de México que comenzó a estilarse que cada colonia organizara festejos incluyendo a todos los vecinos durante los nueve días antes de navidad, en los que casa por casa se iba pidiendo posada cargando las imágenes de José y María, como ellos lo hicieran cuando Cristo iba a nacer, de acuerdo a la creencia católica, por lo que no es casualidad, que en esta época, adoptara esta celebración el nombre de Posadas.

Shoot for the Stars

The Knights of Columbus will hold the Annual KofC Free Throw Championship with the Council level competition on Sunday, January 14, 2018 in the Social Hall. We invite girls and boys between the ages of 9-14 to participate. We will determine age eligibility based on their age on January 1, 2018. A copy of the partici-pants proof of age MUST be attached with the official entry/ score sheet form (e.g. county birth certificate or Baptismal certificate). We will not have access to a copy machine so please make a copy beforehand. Each participant will compete in their own age group against other boys or girls.

Registration will be from 12 noon to 1pm in the Social Hall. Parents or guardians need to be present to sign their participants in.

This championship is conducted annually and progresses from the local council level to the District, Chapter and State competitions. State winners’ results are reviewed by the Supreme Council in New Haven, CT where order-wide winners are chosen. Certificates, medallions or trophies are awarded at the various levels of the Championship. For more information please contact James Moralez at 916.685.4840.

Vocations Cross

Thank you to all those who signed up to take the Cross. Prayers for Gretchen Byers and Family as she will take the Cross mid December. If you have any questions, please contact Fr. Julito R. Orpilla at 916.685.3681 ext. 122.

In need of volunteers…

We are in need of volunteers for three of our ministries: ushers, baptisms and cantors and piano players 2 times a month on Sunday’s. For those interested in becoming an usher, please contact Bill Duval 916.606.2314, for Sunday’s Choir contact Ray Guertin 916.458.1578. For any other question please contact Ruth.

Please Remember…

If you or a loved one is unable to attend mass due to an illness, hospital stay, assisted care living, nursing home rehabilitation or have a physical limitation, you may request that communion be brought to them by a Eucharistic Minister. Please call the office with any questions and/or to make arrangements. Thank you.

Kiwanis Crab Feed The annual Kiwanis Crab Feed co-sponsored by the Knights of Columbus would like to invite you to their annual Crab Feed on Saturday, January 27, 2018 in the

Social Hall. Proceeds raised through this event will benefit the many community projects and programs sponsored by the Kiwanis Club. The Knights of Columbus will donate their proceeds to the Special Olympics of Northern California. Tickets are $50 per person and will be on sale before and after Mass. Credit cards are accepted. We appreciate your continued support. If you have any questions, please contact Joe Mazzoni Sr. at 916.354.0197.

Christmas Eve & Christmas Day Mass Times

Christmas Eve Mass will be celebrated at 5:00pm on Sunday, December 24.

Christmas Day Mass will be celebrated at 9:00am on Monday, December 25.

Unlocking the Mystery of the Bible Women’s Bible Study

The Bible is a story about our Father’s unfailing love for us, a love we are now called to share. Unlocking the mystery of the Bible provides the easiest way to understand and make the complex simple. We invite women of all ages to join us every Thursday beginning January 11– March 22, 2018 from 10am to 12pm. For more information or to sign up please call the office 916.354.2403.

Christmas Giving Tree If you took a tag off the Christmas Tree please bring the tag attached to your wrapped gift and return it to

the church vestibule. This is the last weekend to do so. If you have any questions, please contact Lana Mason at 916.354.3855. Thank you.