ST.

COLUMBA CATHOLIC CHURCH

December 1, 2013 First Sunday of Advent

SAN DIEGO

Advent Penance Service

Monday, December 9th 6:00 p.m. in the church

Pastors Corner
Advent - A Season Above the Ordinary
The four weeks of Advent start today with the Gospel message of "being prepared," living above the ordinary and becoming more conscious of Godly things. The first reading is a message of hope for the good things to come and the second reading reminds us that life could become better if only we align ourselves with Christ. Advent is about going back to the reason for having Christmas, that Christ came to show us the face of God. So it is more important to be prepared spiritually rather than materially. Here is how we can heed the Advent call according to the Word of God today: 1. Watch and pray - watch with the eyes of faith because God sends messages through the things around us. Pray that we may have the wisdom and understanding to hear Him even in the most ordinary time. 2. Throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light - St. Paul writes this in the second reading today to remind us that the Christ who comes is the God of light and does not have fellowship with darkness. Repentance and change of heart are necessary to unite ourselves with Him. 3. Live above the ordinary - the daily grind of life consumes our energy, attention and time: work, sports, food, shopping, relationships, etc. While these things may be good in themselves, the Gospel reminds us of their ultimate value and destiny in God. Therefore, lift up to the Extraordinary One all the ordinary concerns of life that they may all become part of our spiritual offering to God.

Christmas Concert
Sunday, December 8th at 6:30 pm St. Columba Church
This concert is being performed by the St. Catherine LaBoure Choir, our neighboring parish in Clairemont. Come and enjoy the beautiful music of the season.

Christmas Dreams

Holiday Big Breakfast

The St. Columba Mens Club will sponsor a Holiday Big Breakfast on Sunday, December 15th, from 8:00 am to 11:00 am in the parish hall. Tickets will be available at the door: $8/adult, $5/child. All proceeds will benefit the Building Maintenance Fund and Tuition Assistance Fund.

Mass Intentions for the Week

MONDAY, DECEMBER 2 7:00 amEC Armando Perez TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3 7:00 amME Asuncion A. Villalobos WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4 7:00 amME Donors Intention THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5 7:00 amME Rick Canfield FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6 7:00 amME Betty Keller SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7 8:00 amME Joe Kloberdanz 5:30 pmME Intentions of Dale Michaelson SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8 7:30 amEC Clifford Behrens 9:30 amME Intentions of Craig Carter, Jr. 11:00 amME People of the Parish 5:30 pmME Jean & Charles DeNardo
EC=Fr. Edward Corcoran, ME=Fr. Mario Elias

Christmas Flowers
If you would like to make a flower offering in honor of a family member or friend, special envelopes are available in the pews. Your donations will be used for the beautiful poinsettias which decorate the church during the Christmas season.

Giving Tree
Stop by our Matthew 25 Giving Tree in the vestibule of the church and pick up an envelope. All donations will be sent to Fr. John Tasto in Tijuana, Mexico for the support of his school and parish. Make checks payable to St. Columba. Thanks for supporting this worthy program.

FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

DECEMBER 1, 2013

Christmas Baskets
The St. Columba Mens Club will again sponsor a Christmas food-giving program. You can leave non-perishable items such as stuffing, cranberry sauce, potato flakes & canned veggies in the boxes at the back of the Church. We also gratefully accept monetary donations to help pay for perishables. You may drop your monetary donations in the collection basket in an envelope marked Christmas basket. For questions or to propose a recipient family - call Ed Ancmon at (858) 356-8111. PLEASE PRAY for the following who are ill, their families and those who care for them, especially: Dorothy Byrne, Nettie Caldwell, Marlena Daniels, Donna Brozovic DeLaTorre, Debra Drake, Thomas Dunne, Bruce Elizondo, Gigi Esguerra, Frank Klementich, Jay Koppelman, Alfred Lucas, Carolina Monserrat, Bill Moore, Doris Oliver, Luther Ramos, Bob Riggs, Gloria Riggs, Steve Romero, Chris Sirca, Divina Villar

Monthly Schedule
ADORATION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT: 2nd Saturday of month, Daily Chapel, 8:30 am - 3:30 pm. Holy Hour for Life with chaplet of Divine Mercy, 2:30-3:30 pm. ANCIENT ORDER OF HIBERNIANS: Every 2nd Wednesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. in the Music Room. BIBLE SHARING: Mondays, 8:00-9:30 am in the Ministry Center. BINGO: Every Friday night at 6:30 p.m. Doors open at 4:00 p.m. Babysitting is available. CHILDCARE: Every Sunday during the 9:30 am Mass in the Preschool; for infants and children up to four years of age. For more information, call (858) 279-0161. CULTURE OF LIFE MINISTRY: For information, call Louise Holland at 619-316-7498. DIVINE MERCY DEVOTION: Mondays and Fridays at 3:00 p.m. in the Daily Chapel (chaplet, rosary and a reading from the diary of St. Faustina.) GRIEF & BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GROUP: The 1st Monday of each month, 7:00-8:00 pm in the Ministry Center. Call Robin at (858) 277-3861 for more information. GREETERS/USHERS: Contact Terry Foster at 858-4277178. KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS: Council #1349. Round Table, Richard Portugal. For information call (858) 279-8731. LAY APOSTLES for JESUS CHRIST RETURNING KING: 2nd Tuesday of every month in the Music Room, 6:30-8 p.m. Contact Peggy Keller at (858) 569-5996. MENS CLUB: The 1st Tuesday each month at 7:30 p.m. in the Music Room. All men of the parish are welcome and encouraged to join. MENS FAITH GROUP: First Saturday of the month in the Ministry Center, 8:45 am-10:00 am. All men are invited to this informal spiritual gathering to share prayer, discussion and donuts. PRAYER MEETING: Join us in praise, songs, scripture readings, teachings and worship every Thursday at 7:00 p.m. in the Ministry Center. R.C.I.A. (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults): For adults seeking Baptism or for baptized adults seeking full membership in the Catholic Church by preparing to receive the Sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist. For information, call Mike Conroy, (858) 278-1507. ROSARY MAKERS: First Thursday of every month, at 2:00 p.m. in the Ministry Center. Call Teresa Kleinpeter for more info at 858-277-6240. SENIORS CLUB: 2nd/4th Thursdays of the month, 10:30 a.m. in the Parish Hall. Open to seniors over 50 in our parish. Watch bulletin for upcoming events. YOUTH GROUP: Sundays, 6:30-8:00 p.m. in Ministry Center for both Junior and Senior High. For more information call (858) 277-3861.

Readings for the Week

Mon: Dn 1:1-6,8-20/(Ps) Dn 3:52-56/Lk 21:1-4 Mon: Is 4:2-6/Mt 8:5-11 Tues: Is 11:1-10/Lk 10:21-24 Wed: Is 25:6-10/Mt 15:29-37 Thurs: Is 26:1-6/Mt 7:21,24-27 Fri: Is 29:17-24/Mt 9:27-31 Sat: Is 30:19-21,23-26/Mt 9:35-10:1,5-8 Sun: Is 11:1-10/Ps 72:1-2,7-8,12-13,17/Rom 15:4-9/ Mt 3:1-12

The Gift of Generosity

This holiday season, we thank everyone who has supported St. Columba this past year with their time, talent and financial contributions and look forward to support from all of our members in the year ahead. If you need a convenient way to make regular offerings or if you plan to make an additional gift before the end of the year, we encourage you to look into our electronic giving options. As the pace of life speeds up, especially around the holidays, you may find electronic giving a most welcome way to make contributions. Visit http://www.stcolumbachurch.blogspot.com or contact the church office for more information.

School News
Important update for VONS shoppers! Thank you for supporting St. Columba School by shopping at Vons. New in November...in order for St. Columba School to continue receiving credit from VONS you need to pay for your groceries with a debit card, check, or cash. The use of a CREDIT CARD will not generate funds for our school! Thanks for your understanding!!! Box Tops for Education: Please continue to send in your Box Tops found on various products such as Ziploc, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury and many others. This is a yearround fundraiser for St. Columba School. Thank you to the many parishioners who support this program!