O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

A Catholic Faith Community Since 1908

St. Rita of Cascia

December 2, 2012

MASS TIMES
SUNDAYS: Sat. 5:30 pm (Vigil), 7:30 am, 10 am & 12 N WEEKDAYS: Mon., Tues., Fri, and Sat. 8 am (Wed. & Thurs. 8 am Communion Service) HOLY DAYS: (eve of) 5:30 pm; (day of) 8 am & 6:30 pm

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION
(Confession) Saturdays 4-5 pm or by appointment DEVOTIONS Our Lady of Perpetual Help: Saturday 7:50 am ADORATION First Friday 8:30 am5 pm, Rectory Oratory

Msgr. Richard Krekelberg, V.F.Pastor Deacon Manuel Valencia Deacon John Hull 318 North Baldwin Avenue, Sierra Madre Mailing Address: 50 East Alegria Avenue, Sierra Madre, CA 91024 Phone: 626/355-1292 FAX: 626/355-2290 www.st-rita.org

1ST SUNDAY OF ADVENTDECEMBER 2, 2012

Msgr. Richard Krekelberg, V. F.Pastor
626.355.1292 x. 228 revkrek@st-rita.org Dcn. Manuel & Chela Valencia deaconmanuelvalencia@gmail.com 626.355.1292 Dcn. John Hulljohnhull65@gmail.com 626.355.1292 Weekend Presiders: 10 am MassFr. Chris Thiel, OFM Capuchin 12 Noon MassRev. Msgr. John Morales

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Parish Ministries and Organizations

Liturgy & Worship
Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers: David & Jill Muhs 355.9810 em@st-rita.org Altar Servers, Youth: Kathy Ganino: 626.398.9302 Altar Servers, Adult: Bill Cosso Eucharistic Adoration: Marylyn Barnes Rosary Prayer Group: Susan Day: 355-3835 Sacristans: Sat. Vigil: Gary Fidone/Bill & Patti Huber Sunday Masses: 7:30-Bill Cosso/David Banis; 10:00-David Muhs; 12N-Bernie Grace Weekdays: John Bigley, Margaret Duran Porter: (Evening Church Lockup) Sheila Palazzolo Environment: Barbara LeVeque /Gil Lazo 355.1292

How to Contact Us
Parish Office/Mailing Address 50 East Alegria Ave., Sierra Madre, CA 91024 Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9am to 6pm; Sat. 9 am to 1 pm. Office Email: ParishAdmin@st-rita.org Director of Administration
Mary Lou Butler: mlbutler@st-rita.org 355.1292

Ministries & Organizations

Bereavement Ministry: Call Parish Office: 355.1292 Christian Family: Sheila Pierce 355.8332 Greeters & Ushers: Erny Henry: 626.289.3504; 626.446.6715 Mens Club: Nick Sotis: 358-2495 nick.sotis@pro-sites.net New Members/Welcome: Contact the Parish Office St. Rita Guild: Patty Sullivan: 355.3707 psullivan514@gmail.com Senior Ministry: Marilyn McKernan, marilyn@st-rita.org Shawl Ministry: Mary Taillac 355.3179 Marilyn Delgatto 355.8717

Pastoral Council Vice Chair

George Landis: 626.792.0445

Finance Council Chair

Bill Sullivan: 355.3707

St. Rita SchoolOffice: 626.355.6114

Principal: Joanne Harabedian jharabedian@st-rita.org

Other Contacts
Archivist: Marilyn McKernan, marilyn@st-rita.org Bulletin Submissions: bulletin@st-rita.org or drop off at Office Public Relations: ParishAdmin@st-rita.org Registration Information: rc@st-rita.org 355.1292 Webmaster: Ralph Seymour: seymour@seymourmedia.com

Director of Liturgy & Music Paul Puccinelli: mm@st-rita.org Director of Religious Education Cristina Cullen: 355.3841 dre@st-rita.org Director of Youth Ministry/Confirmation Theresa Bui Costanzo: 626.590.8828 ym@st-rita.org RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) Team: Deacon Manuel and Chela Valencia; Susan Blakeslee: rcia@st-rita.org

Let Saint Rita Be There For You . . .

Communion for Sick and Homebound Parishioners
St. Rita ministers provide Communion home visits. Contact the Parish Office (355.1292) or Jill Muhs 355.9810 em@st-rita.org.

For Information about the

Sacrament of Baptism
Baptismal Preparation for parents and godparents: 7 8:30 pm the last Monday of the month. Call for Reservations. Baptisms are usually the first Sunday of the month. Preparation for children who have attained the age of reason (usually during 2nd grade) is arranged either through the Office of Religious Education or St. Rita Elementary School.

Anointing of the Sick

Please notify us (355.1292) as early as possible for the Anointing of the Sick, the sacrament intended for the seriously ill or dying. It is Our Lords special presence and companionship in serious time of need. Anointing may take place in the home, at the hospital or elsewhere and as often as once a month. If someone should die without anointing, remember that the desire to receive is sufficient and the Lord cares!

Sacraments of Reconciliation and first Eucharist

If You Should Experience the Loss of a Loved One

Please call us at 355.1292 If you feel you will be in need, or your loved one has passed, we will assist in making arrangements with your chosen funeral directors; refer you to our liturgy and music directors; and offer you helpful guidelines and a book that will aid in the selection of readings for the Mass or Memorial Service. Areas we can help you with prior to the passing may help in the planning of funeral services. We know that this can be a tough time and we want you to know that your parish is there for you. PLEASE UNDERSTAND we only have one resident priest, sometimes arrangements for another priest may be needed.

Sacrament of Matrimony
Contact the Parish Office upon engagement; at least six months is needed for preparation of this joyous sacrament!

Sacrament of Confirmation

A two-year program for freshman/sophomore age teens. Apply through the Office of Religious Education.

NOTE: Adult applicants for the sacraments should contact the Parish Office.

Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick

See adjoining column.

SAINT RITA
REV. MSGR. RICHARD KREKELBERG

OF

CASCIA CHURCH

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PASTORS CORNER

Dear Parishioners,
STAY AWAKE! PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD AND MAKE STRAIGHT HIS PATH! CALL HIM EMMANUELGOD WITH US.
These are some of the gospel themes for the Sundays of Advent 2012. Advent is a time of cleaning the house of our mortal souls, tidying up our spiritual lives so that the Son of Justice may enter, and so that nothing might distract us from the obvious

Jesus IS the reason for the season!

As your pastor, I urge our faith community of St. Rita to take our Advent Themes to heart and mind. Let us not allow Christmas Eve to arrive by surprise. As families, observing Advent could just be the most rewarding stocking stuffer. Lighting the candles of an Advent wreath in the home of a senior living alone could be the assurance that Jesus continues to be light for the journey. Decorating homes and the planning of parties can still be Advent awakening and awareness when the Christ child and the Holy Family are frequently mentioned as the reason why. The wrapping and giving of gifts can be done with a prayer of thanksgiving that each gift be a reminder of the greatest gift when God so loved the world. If you tend to decorate early in the house, try deliberately decorating in a gradual way; keep the Advent wreath prominent until the conclusion of the four weeks and then give it a Christmas makeover with a Christ candle in the middle. Let us remember that Advent is a personal and communal preparation time, yes, for this years celebration of the birth of the Savior, but more importantly it is in preparation for JESUS SECOND COMING, whether at our personal passing over or at the end of all histories! What if this is our last Advent? It shouldnt then be wasted. May the Lord fashion himself a people. Blessed Advent to all!

Msgr. Richard

1ST SUNDAY OF ADVENTDECEMBER 2, 2012

PARISHIONERS WHO REQUEST OUR PRAYERS FOR HEALING AND RETURN TO GOOD HEALTH

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1
8:00 AM 5:30 PM

7:30 AM For All Parishioners 10:00 AM Rev. Steven Ochoa, O.S.A. RIP 12 NOON G. Foglia & S. Frysingen INT

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2

Robert Klotz RIP Katherine Lass RIP

Andy Heller, JoAnn E. Douglass, Kathleen Ramsey, Tonyja Blakeslee, Addie Marshall, Alice Feeney, Joanna Singleton, Jackie Bagnuolo, Mary Ellen Isoard, Tim Stanley, Antoinette Wassef, Theresa Morcos, Aspet Herapetian, Rose Mary Taquino, Selma Tuffs, David Duran, Paul Viger, Julie Meyer, Zdenka Czerny, Cliff Hancuff, Wendy Wolf Fadel, Dorothy Van Gordon, Rosanne Kenny, Hal Finney, Louise Bigley, Christa Owen, Ailey Gardner-Ybarra, Cathy Hundshamer, Eva Bernejo, Laurie Larkin Masella, Rudy Wunderlin, Edith Olah, Matteo Begnoche, Lancelot Loera, Fred Mycroft, Clare Marquardt, Brian Eck, Alex Arranaga, Anna Mary Hession, Mildred Vocelka, Joseph Moore, Effie DeGroot, Ned Vento.

AND

MONDAY, DECEMBER 3
8:00 AM 8:00 AM 8:00 AM 8:00 AM

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4

Thomas Shea RIP Lorna Kuykendall INT

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6

8:00 AM 5:30 PM 8:00 AM 5:30 PM

Communion Service Communion Service

Spiritual Growth
Tuesday, December 4, RCIA
7:30 pm Parish Office Meeting Room Contact Deacon Manuel for information.

FRIDAY, D ECEMBER 7

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8 SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9

Perry Hutson RIP Thomas Shea RIP Rosemarie Gorman RIP Beatriz Valencia RIP

Wednesday, December 5, Evening Prayer

5:30 pm Meditation 6 pm Prayer Rectory Oratory Contact Deacon John Hull for information.

7:30 AM Angela Brennan RIP 10:00 AM For All Parishioners 12 NOON Laura Rogers INT

Friday, December, 7, Adoration

After the 8 am Mass until 5 pm Rectory Oratory

FEAST DAYS
MONDAY, DECEMBER 3 TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7
Feast of the Immaculate Conception St. Nicholas St. Ambrose St. John Damascene St. Francis Xavier

Adopt-a-Family Information
(Please see page 7 of this Bulletin for additional information about our holiday giving programs.)

Do you know of someone who could use a helping hand this holiday season? We are looking for

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8

families in St. Rita Parish or Sierra Madre that would welcome gifts for their children and/or food for their holiday meal. All referrals are kept confidential. We encourage you to help us in this Outreachand you are welcome to apply on behalf of your own family.

TODAYS READINGS
First ReadingThe days are coming when the LORD will fulfill the promise made to Israel and Judah (Jeremiah 33:14-16). PsalmTo you, O Lord, I lift my soul (Psalm 25). Second ReadingAbound in love for one another and for all (1 Thessalonians 3:12 4:2). GospelStand erect and raise your heads; your redemption is at hand (Luke 21:25-28, 34-36).

Please complete the slip below and return it to the Parish Office or call 355-1292 on/before December 15. Name of Family Phone Contact Referred by Phone Contact email

Thank you for helping!

SAINT RITA OF CASCIA CHURCH

St. Rita School News
Youth NiteWednesday, December 12, 7 pm, Gara Edge Monday, December 3, 4 PM, Gara Year 2 ConfirmationSaturday, Dec. 15, 4 pm, Gara Youth MassSaturday, December 15, 5:30 pm

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Theresa Costanza ym@st-rita.org 590-8828

Pre-School Sunday School News Did you know that St. Rita offers Sunday School for children ages 3-5? Please have your children join us upstairs above Gara Hall in the School Library during the 10 am Mass. No registration necessary! It is a wonderful program and we would love to have you join us. Childrens Liturgy of the Word (CLOW) We are excited to announce CLOW is coming to St. Rita! Beginning this Sunday, December 2, during the 10 am Mass, all children in 1st-3rd grades are invited to participate. The children will be dismissed from Mass after the Opening Prayer to go to Gara Hall where they will have the opportunity to listen to the Sunday Readings at an ageappropriate level. They will return to Mass at the beginning of the Liturgy of the Eucharist to remain with their families for the remainder of the Mass. We will need 5-10 volunteers to help. If you are VIRTUS-certified and can help, please let me know. Questions? Information?

On October 25, 2012, St. Rita School students from 5th-8th grade were invited to celebrate Mass at the Cathedral with over 90 schools from the Los Angeles area. The invited schools represent a small portion of the Missionary Childhood Association, a national program to encourage students to donate small change to make a big impact to those in need around the world. St. Rita students raised over $3,000 to help during the 2011-2012 school year through their Lenten lunch program and collections. Msgr. Terrance Fleming and Father Ken Deasy presided at the Mass with several other celebrant priests, including our own Monsignor Richard. The music was performed by a combined choir from St. Rita, St. Luke, and St. Felicitas and Perpetua schools led by our School Choir Director, Mr. Joseph Augustynski. Breakfast with Santa
Sunday, December 16 8 am - Noon OMalley Hall

Cristina Cullen dre@st-rita.org

The St. Rita Mens Club presents their annual pancake breakfast for the family. Santa will be on the premises beginning at 8 am. Cost: $8/adults; $5 children 6-13; free for ages 5 & under. Watch for a ticket order form (flyer insert) in the Bulletin the weekend of December 8th-9th.
Information: Alan Leahy 355-9783

December Special Collections

December 1 & 2Flowers & Liturgical Collection.
This is used to provide flowers and altar enchancements for the Church throughout the new Liturgical Year. A special envelope is in your packet and can also be found in the Vestibule. December 8 & 9Maintenance & Repairs. This collection provides for the daily operations of our parish plant. You can donate to this collection at any timesimply mark your check or envelope For Maintenance. All funds stay at St. Rita. December 8 & 9Retirement for Religious. This annual Archdiocesan Appeal helps provide funding for those religious who have served us through the years. Deadline for Bulletin articles is normally on Thursday, 10 days before desired publication date. The deadline for the December 22-23 bulletin is Tuesday, December 11. The deadline for the January 1-2 bulletin is Tuesday, December 18. bulletin@st-rita.org or bring to the Parish Office.

St. Rita Mens Club Meeting

Join us at Bill & Patty Sullivans home on Tuesday, December 11 at 7 pm. Drinks and light refreshments will be served.
Information: Nick Sotis 599-8228

Job Opportunity
We need a part-time maintenance person to work Friday, Saturday and Sunday to set up halls, handle emergencies and handle basic maintenance needs. Knowledge of tools and basic repairs is required, willingness to do some cleaning when needed, ability to speak and understand English.

Please call Mary Lou Butler:

626/355-1292 x 222 mlbutler@st-rita.org

1ST SUNDAY OF ADVENTDECEMBER 2, 2012

Meetings, Ministry & Special Events

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This Week at St. Rita

This WeekendNo Room at the Inn

After all the Masses OMalley Hall Come see the beautiful and varied crche sets displayed by our parishioners.

Holy Day of Obligation

Opportunities for Spiritual Growth

(See page 4 for more information.) Tuesday, December 4 RCIA Class
7:30 pm Parish Office Meeting Room

Saturday, December 8 Vigil Mass Friday, December 7 5:30 pm Feast Day Mass Saturday, December 8 8 am

Solemnity of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception

NOTE: The Holy Day of Obligation is fulfilled

by attending one of the above services; the 5:30 pm Saturday Vigil Mass does not fulfill your obligation.

Wednesday, December 5, Evening Prayer Friday, December 7, Adoration

5:30 pm Meditation 6 pm Prayer Rectory Oratory

After the 8 am Mass until 5 pm Rectory Oratory

Pray the Rosary

Weekday mornings after the 8 am Mass

Thursday, January 17, Bible Study Resumes

7 - 8:30 pm Parish Office Meeting Room

The Community Chorus of Redlands An Advent Concert of Lessons & Carols Sunday, December 9, 4 pmin the Church Have you attended this amazing musical event in the past? If not, dont deprive yourself of a spiritually moving experience. Plan to come and bring your friends and neighbors. The acoustics in St. Rita Church only help to enhance the magnificent voices. The concert lasts about two hours. Free Will Offering

Presents

Save the Date

Sunday, December 9Community Chorus of Redlands
4 pm In the Church Free Will Offering See adjacent column for more information.

Tuesday, December 11Mens Club Christmas Meeting

7 pm Bill & Patty Sullivans home See page 5 for more information.

Thursday, December 13 St. Rita School Christmas Pageant

6 pm OMalley Hall All are Welcome

Catholic Community & Local Events

Wednesday, December 5St. Monica Academy

Sunday, December 16Breakfast with Santa

8 am - Noon OMalley Hall See page 5 for more information.

Open House. 7 pm. Informational meeting for 8th graders and parents. 301 N. Orange Grove, Pasadena.
December 5, 6 & 7Parish Mission. Led by Fr.

Robert Barcelos, OCD. St. Therese, 510 N. El Molino, Alhambra. 626/282-2744 sts-alh.org Retreat for Women. Sacred Heart Retreat House, 507 N. Granada Ave., Alhambra. Cost is $135/lodging Info/Reservations: 626/289-1353 x 302 & meals.

Friday-Saturday, Dec. 7-8Special Advent

SAINT RITA OF CASCIA CHURCH

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Advent Giving Tree at St. Rita

This year we are doing things a little different with our Advent Giving program to benefit St. Rita and St. Anthony families who need us to help them experience a little bit of Christmas. There will be a Giving Tree in the Vestibule of the Church. Please take a gift tag or two, purchase the listed items, and then return them UNWRAPPED to the tree. We are not wrapping Christmas donations this year. We will use some donations to assemble Christmas baskets for St. Rita or Sierra Madre families only (see page 4). All other donations will be given to St. Anthony so that parents there may have an opportunity to select and wrap presents for their children. We encourage families, organizations, and ministries to donate to this very worthy St. Rita tradition. If you would like to donate a check (made payable to St. Rita) or cash, please drop your donation in an envelope in the Sunday Offering basket. We need all donationswhether toys, clothing, gift cards, or cashat the Parish Office on/before Thursday, December 20. For more information, please contact the Parish Office 355-1292

4 pm Vigil Mass

Christmas Eve

As in past years, we encourage you to have your children and grandchildren bring an unwrapped gift or toy to this Mass. Your donations will be picked up by St. Francis Center in downtown Los Angeles at the conclusion of the Mass and distributed to needy families who reside near Skid Row. Thank you for your continuing support & generosity.

For it is in giving that we receive