Fourth Sunday of Advent

The Visitation
The story of the Visitation is always read before Christmas. In this weekend’s gospel, Luke reminds us of Mary’s visit to her relative, Elizabeth. Mary had the privilege to be the vessel of the Son of God, Jesus; Elizabeth was also privileged to be the mother of John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus. At the Visitation, John the Baptist recognized the presence of Jesus in the womb of Mary, “When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.’” We need to be like Mary, who in her loving kindness brought peace and joy to her relative, Elizabeth. We all have received Jesus in the sacraments of the Church. Our mission is to share his love with our brothers and sisters. Mary encourages us to share that love with others. Let Mary inspire you, by her Visitation to Elizabeth, to bring peace and joy to others and the whole world. This beautiful image encourages us to recognize Jesus in the Eucharist and in each one of us. Let Mary visit you this Advent season for through her the presence of Jesus comes into our lives.

Christmas Day
This is a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Jesus has finally come into the world bringing peace, love, joy, and hope. It is the most joyful time of the year, a time to celebrate with our loved ones. Christmas has a way of bringing together families and friends, the perfect time to give the gifts of time and love to one another. I am so happy to be able to celebrate Christmas with our parish community. The beautiful decorations help us keep the Christmas spirit at church as we celebrate the sacrament of the Eucharist. I send you my best wishes for a holy and blessed Christmas season. Christmas reminds us we are one human family redeemed by Jesus Christ. We celebrate the birth of Jesus in history, but also into our hearts. Let Jesus live in your heart and share his love with the whole world.

This Christmas season will be a time for giving thanks to God for the gift of his Son. God chose the Holy Family to bridge the gap created between God and humanity. Baby Jesus continues to bring us closer together. For all of us, as we contemplate Christ in the manger, may we contemplate the everlasting love of God. What a beautiful and grace-filled opportunity to put aside past differences and old habits and begin a prayer-filled relationship with the Lord and His Church community. We are so blessed to have a loving and faith-filled community. Together, we will grow in strength and grace to know and celebrate God’s presence in our lives and all things of this world. Let us continue growing closer to Jesus by supporting and praying for one another.

Whether you go to the Mass on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day we will hear gospels related to the coming of Jesus into the world. The gospel of Matthew recounts the genealogy of Jesus; the Gospel of Luke recalls the Nativity scene; and the gospel of John tells us who Jesus is: the Word of God made flesh. Jesus was the promised messiah foretold by God. Matthew’s Gospel reaffirms Jesus’s lineage as a proof of Jesus’s authority. Matthew wants the listener to know that Jesus is Emmanuel: “God with us.” The Gospel of Luke tells us the story of the Nativity. The beautiful scene of the Nativity gives us much to reflect on. Let us place ourselves in the story of the Nativity and contemplate the presence of Jesus like the shepherds, the angels, Mary and Joseph did.

Celebrate
From Thanksgiving to New Year’s, there seems to be a stream of festivities. Christmas allows us to enjoy family and friends, to foster relationships, and to take a break from the daily routine. Christmas brings out the best in us. As we spend some time with our families and loved ones, we remember to celebrate our faith with our parish community as well. Christmas also reminds us that we are one human family redeemed by Jesus Christ. This Christmas Day, we gather in Church for Mass as one parish family. We celebrate the birth of Jesus in the best way we can, at the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. We come with gratitude and appreciation for the gifts we have received. Jesus comes into the world as a baby so that we can have a relationship with him.

Thank You for Your Continuous Support
Christmas is the perfect time to share our time, talent, and treasure with others and with the Church. Your generosity is a blessing for our parish. Your Sunday contributions and your donations during Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Masses support our parish operations during the year. I am grateful for your financial contributions to our parish. I humbly ask you to prayerfully consider making a Christmas gift to ensure that our parish ministries and operations can continue into the new year and beyond. If you are unable to make a financial gift, I ask that you continue to pray for our parish family. I also invite you to consider sharing your talents by volunteering in Church or giving of your time to the extent you are able. St. Catherine Labouré Parish is our spiritual home. Let us take care of it in the best way possible.

Please know that you are a gift to the Saint Catherine Labouré family. Your presence, whether in spirit or in person, means more to our local Church than you can imagine. May the Lord be with each one of you during this Christmas season. I will continue to pray for you and ask that you continue to pray for me. Merry Christmas

Peace
Fr. Lara

Recognize God in Your Oridinary Moments - By Colleen Jurkiewicz Dorman
The Hidden Truth
If you have ever been visibly pregnant, chances are that someone, somewhere, whom you do not know, has reached out to touch your stomach. I’ve had this happen to me, and sure, it’s a little strange. Generally, I prefer people to ask before they touch me. But it’s also very sweet, this great mystical excitement inspired by a pregnant belly. We know that belly is special. We know enclosed within it is hope and potential — the very future of our world. Hidden, but real. How can we help but venerate it? It’s why the pregnant Madonna is my favorite devotional image. I even prefer it over the depictions of the Madonna and Child because I find in the sight of Mary’s swollen belly more to meditate upon than I find in the unveiled face of the Christ Child. Salvation and redemption, enclosed in flesh, moving, and growing and breathing, but I cannot see it. It’s real and it’s true and it’s there. And it is hidden.
There is much about God that we know with certainty. But there is so much that remains beyond our sight, beyond our comprehension. Questions of evil and sorrow. Pain and tragedy. Life and death. Why don’t we have all the answers? We grow very impatient about this. We’re like teenagers who want to be trusted with all the family secrets. We hate feeling left out of the loop. But truth, like life, does not come to us showing its face. Perhaps this is because we could not bear its terrible beauty. Perhaps it’s because we would not recognize it if it was laid bare for us to see. But it’s there, right in front of us. We can reach out and touch it. We may not see it. We may not understand it. But we can know it.
©LPi

The Holy Father's Intentions for the Month of December

For Pilgrims of Hope
We pray that this Jubilee Year strengthen our faith, helping us to recognize the Risen Christ in our daily lives, and that it may transform us into pilgrims of Christian hope.

Honor Our Military

Please take time to give thanks for those who have served and are serving in our military and to pray for the safety of those who may currently be in harm’s way. In a special way, we thank and pray for these parishioners and relatives of parishioners.
Dear God,
We pray in gratitude for all of those who have defended peace, virtue, and justice with honor. We pray especially for those who have suffered in mind and body from the ravages of war. May Your peace reign in our hearts and in our world. Amen.

He Who Sacrificed His Life
†JOHN A. STONIS, Grandson of John & Dorthy Stonis
†CHRISTOPHER ZIMNY

Those Still Serving
JAY MARTIN, Nephew of Becky and Tom Brennan
JESSICA CAMERON, Niece of the Cameron Family
JOHN PODCZASKI, Grandson of Genevieve Podczaski
STEVEN TUMBARELLO, Son of Sylvia & Vince Tumbarello
CRAIG BEHRENDT, Grand-nephew of Sister Mary Helen
DANIEL BELZER, Nephew of Dave & Bev Belzer
MICHAEL KELLY, Nephew of Kevin and Kathy Kelly
MATTHEW NEUBAUER, Nephew of Dan & Judy Neubauer
EUGENE WALL, Nephew of Suzanne Lessner
NAILL SWIDER, Grand-nephew of Alice Swider
BRYAN DUFF, Son of Julie Duff
RYAN BLOCHBERGER, Nephew of Mae Grady
TIMOTHY DWORKIN, Grandson of Barbara Bouska
ALEXIS GONZALES, Great-niece of Eden & Lyle Gonzales-Nemzin
JACK MAHON, JR., Son of Jack, Sr. & Eileen Mahon
MICHAEL FOLEY
JOHN FOLEY
PETER MULLER
DANIEL FRAYNA
JOSEPH GULLO
SANG HOON LEE
ANTHONY PALMERO
MORRIS COREY MCMAHON, Son of Chris & Julie McMahon
RYAN FONTILLAS
MICHAEL T. HEHN, Grandson of John & Dorthy Stonis

To add or remove someone, please send the person’s name and relationship (optional) to bulletin@stcatherinelaboure.com

Please Pray for Ukraine

For our sisters and brothers involved in or affected by the war and devastation in Ukraine-- the deceased, the injured, the frightened, the displaced, the fighters, the protesters, the leaders. May God give them solace, healing, comfort, and hearts and minds directed toward peace.
Donations can be made here:

Knights of Columbus: https://www.kofc.org/secure/en/donate/ukraine.html

Caritas: https://www.caritas.org/

Ukrainian Catholic Archdiocese of Philidelphia: https://ukrarcheparchy.us

"May the Queen of Peace preserve the world from the madness of war" - Pope Francis

Neighbors of other Faiths
The Golden Rule

Excerpted from charterforcompassion.org/the-golden-rule-in-seven-major-religions
We may speak of great differences in religious beliefs and forms of worship around the world. Called by an endless number of names, all, however, recognize and worship a Supreme Being. And all religions, somewhere in their sacred literature, expound the fundamental philosophy of the Golden Rule.

Buddhism: Hurt not others with that which pains yourself.
~ Buddha, Undanavarga 5:18

Christianity: Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that all men should do to you, do ye even so to them.
~ Matthew 7:12

Confucianism: What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.
~ Confucius, Analects 15:23

Hinduism: Good people proceed while considering what is best for others is best for themselves.
~ Hitopadesa

Islamism: No one of you is a believer until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.
~ Mohammed, Traditions

Judaism: And thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
~ Leviticus 19:18

Zoroastrianism: Whatever is disagreeable to yourself do not do unto others.
~ Shayast-na-Shayast 13:29