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 Bulle n announcements e‐mail: bulle n@blessedsacramentlaredo.org 

Reverend Fr. Wojciech Przystasz, Administrator 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)

ACTS CORE Blas A. Martinez 722-1231 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. Blas A. Martinez (956) 744-0867

FOURTH DEGREE K.C. ASSEMBLY (Meet 4th Tuesday of the month at 6:30 P.M. in the parish hall) Mr. Javier Martinez (956) 251-3720 LECTORS Mr. George P. Kazen, Scheduling 722-5347 PARISH COUNCIL Mr. George P. Kazen, President MEN’S FAITH SHARING Meet every Mon. at 7:00PM in the p. h. LADIES’ FAITH SHARING Meet every 1st & 3rd Tue. at 6:30PM in the p. h. QUINCEAÑERA COORDINATOR Mrs. Patsy Salinas 722-1231 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (CCD) Mrs. Maria Teresa Hinojosa, Coordinator 286-2842 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 Dennis R. Garza 722-1231

Saturday, December 2, 2017 - Weekday [34]; Blessed Virgin Mary; First Saturday 9:00AM †Nora E. Garcia (A) By Friends 6:00PM †Charles Bruni (A) By Bruni Family Sunday, December 3, 2017 – FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT 8:00AM For Parishioners 10:00AM †Pablo Albidrez (B) By Family 12:00PM †Cordelia “Cordy” Cantu & Lupita Treviño By Tomas Cantu & Family †Jose & Rosaura Villarreal & Daughter Estela V. Roel By Mrs. Alicia V. Sanchez 5:00PM †Blas M. Martinez (B) By Family Monday, December 4, 2017 - Advent Weekday; St. John Damascene, Priest & Doctor of the Church 7:00AM All the Souls in Purgatory By V.R. Kirkpatrick Tuesday, December 5, 2017 - Advent Weekday 7:00AM †Rev. Deacon David Vargas By Joe & Josie Arellano Wednesday, December 6, 2017 - Advent Weekday; St. Nicholas, Bishop 7:00AM For All the Souls in Purgatory By Santos Family 6:00PM †Aurora Martinez & Emilia Dominguez By Sylvia S. Mendoza Thursday, December 7, 2017 – St. Ambrose, Bishop & Doctor of the Church 7:00AM All the Souls in Purgatory By V.R. Kirkpatrick 6:00PM †Laudelina Fierros Martinez By Sylvia Bird Friday, December 8, 2017 - THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY; Holy Day of Obligation 7:00AM For Parishioners 9:00AM All the Souls in Purgatory By Valdez Family 6:00PM †Roberto A. Ramirez By Mine Ramirez & Fam. Saturday, December 9, 2017 - Advent Weekday; St. Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin 6:00PM In Thanksgiving for Connie Acevedo (B) By Rose M. Garcia & Family Sunday, December 10, 2017 – SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT 8:00AM †Guillermo & Santos Perales By Estela Ochoa 10:00AM For Parishioners 12:00PM †Drusilla P. Kazen (A) By George P. Kazen & Family 5:00PM †Fara N. Garcia (B) By Family

Mass Intentions for the Week Dear Parishioners, The commercial and secular world has begun it’s celebration of the “holiday season”. However, the Church does not begin the celebration until Christmas Vigil. This weekend, marking the special period of Advent, we begin to make our arrangements. It is a period of joyful expec-tation waiting and preparing for the coming of Jesus for Christmas. Advent starts on the Sunday after the Feast of Christ the King, between Novem-ber 29th and December 3rd. It lasts from 23 to 28 days, with four Sundays and ends on Christmas Eve which sometimes falls on the fourth Sunday of Advent. The First Sunday of Advent begins a new Liturgical Year in the Church. The word Advent comes from the Latin word "Adventus", which means coming. For the ancient Romans, this word meant the official arri-val of Caesar. For Christians, this is a joyous preparation for the coming of the Lord. Waiting for the coming of Christ brings joy. Therefore, Advent is not a time so much of penance, but rather a joyful expectation, and prepa-ration. Omitting the hymn Gloria is not an expression of penance, as it is in Lent, but a sign of waiting for the new sound of the angelic hymn sung at Christmas Vigil Mass. Advent preparation has three meanings: 1) First, we remember waiting for the first, historical coming of Jesus. We join with all those generations of the people of the Old Testament, who for centuries have waited for the Messiah. Advent Liturgy tells us about those saints who have preceded or foretold the coming of the Savior. Amongst them was John the Baptist whose voice cried out announcing the coming of Christ. We also look at Mary, who in a special way waited for Jesus. Through her “Fiat” "May it be done to me according to your word ", Mary teaches us faith. 2) Our thoughts during Christmas – are those in which we prepare our-selves by prayer, reflection and Advent resolutions. God became man, He came to us, and therefore we should also go to meet the Messiah, the Incarnate Son of God. We can meet Him through prayer, reflection on our lives and meditating God’s Word. 3) At the same time our thoughts also travel in time to the future - re-membering that one day Jesus will come again to judge the living and the dead, to remove all evil and reign forever. Waiting for the second coming of Jesus is a source of joy. Advent reminds us that our whole life is a wait-ing. We always wait for someone or for something. A man who has noth-ing to wait for is miserable. Our waiting for someone, waiting for Christ's coming makes our lives beautiful. Advent season is divided into two periods, each period having a different character:

* The first period includes the time of Advent from the first Sunday until December 16th. The readings of the Masses at this time prepare us for the second coming of Christ as Judge of the living and the dead.

* The second period of Advent, from December 17th to Dec. 24th, is the time of our immediate preparation for Christmas. First we are invited to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession). Here at Blessed Sacrament, the Advent Confessions with several priests will be on Thursday, December 14th from 6:00 pm. - 7:00 p.m. From the first day of Advent, let us start our spiritual journey to Christmas by attending daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, spending more time in prayer, reading and meditating the Bible and helping those in need. May the Lord bless us during this beautiful Season!

Fr. Wojciech

First Sunday of Advent ● December 3, 2017

The Sanctuary Lamp will be burning this week in Loving Memory of: Blas M. Martinez (B)

Our Mother of Perpetual Help Candles will be burning this week

in Loving Memory of:

Margarito E. Guerra

Our Lady of Guadalupe Candles

will be burning this week in Loving Memory of:

Blas M. Martinez

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

BELATED BIRTHDAY WISHES . . . Yolanda Valdez 15-Nov

Sergio J. Palacios 03-Dec Brandon Gutierrez 03-Dec Rosina M. Silva 03-Dec Elena Zapata 03-Dec Nicholas Molina 05-Dec Misha Davila 06-Dec Ady Duncan 06-Dec

Dr. Fred Potts 06-Dec Kimberly Cantu Acuna 07-dec Kianna Lee Izaguirre 08-Dec Connie Acevedo 09-Dec Diana Garza 09-Dec Priscilla Yvonne Paz 09-Dec

d Sacrament Collection for the weekend of:

Thank you for your continued support & generosity!

Linda Araiza Berry Family Amelia Y. Cantu Pedro Cantu, Jr. Wayo Cavazos Alicia M. Charles Olivia Contreras Pamela M. Cortez Patsy Dees Lillian Dickinson William Dickinson Manuel E. Escamilla Chayo Flores Christian Flores

Florinda Garza Lydia Garza Jesus Gonzalez Maria Yolanda Gonzalez Megan Gribble Yvonne Gribble Rebecca Gutierrez Julia Herrera Baby Emiliano Ibarra Anthony Leija, Jr. Gilberto Maldonado Nora McCain Ambrose Morales, III Aurora Moreno Lucia Moreno Joesi M. Perez Maria Przystasz Baby Gabriel E. Rodriguez

Laura V. Rodriguez Victoria Rodriguez Eduardo Alfonso Santos Baby Jose Alberto Serna Emilio C. Solis William J. Stewart Jim Switzer Adriana Valdéz Ana Laura Valdéz Francisco H. Valdéz Luz Maria Valdéz Margarita Vargas Frank Vidaurri Marcelo Villescas Raymond S. York Zulie York

P ray For. . .

UUPCOMINGPCOMING SECONDSECOND COLLECTIONSCOLLECTIONS. . .. . . BLESSED SACRAMENT SCHOOL: THIS WEEKEND: DECEMBER 2 & 3 RETIREMENT FUND FOR RELIGIOUS: NEXT WEEKEND: DECEMBER 9 & 10

Thank you so much for your continued support!

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 especially Jose Moreno, Jr. & Jose Vela. As we mourn their passing, let us rejoice at their birth to eternal life.

ALTAR SOCIETY CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON Our Annual Christmas Party will take place on De-cember 9, 2017 at 11:30 a.m. at the La Posada Phillip V Room.

Altar Society members are asked to bring 2 gifts as always, one for a gentleman and another for a lady. Please invite your friends and make our gathering more plentiful and delightful. The cost is $25.00 per per-son. May God’s greatest gift to us, His Son Jesus, bring His blessings upon you and your loved ones at Christmas and always.

ANNUAL TOY AND BLANKET DRIVE

CONTINUES THRU DECEMBER 14TH

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

St. Nicholas Feast Day—December 6

From the ninth century in the East and the eleventh century in the West, Nicholas has been one of the most popular saints in Christendom and in Christian art and is the patron of many countries, dioceses, churches, and cities. He was a Greek bishop of Myra in Lycia (now Turkey). According to folklore, he may

have saved three girls from prostitution, restored to life three children who had been killed, and saved three unjustly condemned men from death. His charity to the poor is commemorated in modern times by those who follow the tradition of stuffing a boot or a stocking with gifts on his feast day. “Santa Claus” comes from the Dutch form of his name, “Sinterklaas.” He is the patron saint of sailors, merchants, and children.

Copyright © 2016, Catholic News Service–United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

November 18 & 19 , 2017

Envelopes $7,119.32 Loose 1,185.05 School Mass 176.28 CCD 79.10 TOTAL $8,559.75

Second Collection CCHD: $1,828.15

November 25 & 26, 2017 Envelopes $5,860.87 Loose 993.82 School Mass .00 CCD 85.45 TOTAL $6,940.14

Thanksgiving Collection

S.V. de Paul Society: $1,502.51

The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Friday, December 8, 2017

Patronal Feast Day of the United States of America

A Holy Day of Obligation

Our Mass schedule here at Blessed Sacrament is as follows:

Thursday, December 7th 6:00 p.m. (Vigil Mass) Friday, December 8th

7:00 a.m. ● 9:00 a.m. (School Mass) ● 6:00 p.m. (español)

ALTAR SOCIETY NEWS

LIGHT A CANDLE FOR ADVENT ENCIENDA UNA VELA DE ADVIENTO

Six Day Holy Thursday Candles on sale now at the Parish Office, M-F from 8AM-12Nn and 1-5PM. $4.00 each candle or a box of 12 for $48.00. Velas de Jueves Santo de seis días de venta en la Oficina Parro-quial de lunes-viernes de 8AM-12Nn y 1-5PM. $4.00 por cada vela o una caja de 12 velas por $48.00.