Thursday, December 21, 2023

4th Sunday of Advent

Pray for Peace

By a quirk of the calendar that happens every five or six years, Advent 2023 is the shortest it can be. The fourth “week” of Advent is only one day: December 24. As a result, the Catholic faithful have an obligation to attend Mass twice between the afternoon of December 23 and December 25, to participate in Masses for the Fourth Sunday of Advent, and for Christmas.

You might be tempted to skip the Advent Mass and focus on Christmas. But the fourth candle in the Advent wreath often symbolizes peace, something our world is desperately in need of this year.

Please join us for Mass at St. Josaphat to pray for peace:

4th Sunday of Advent

Saturday, Dec. 23 - 5:00 pm

Sunday, Dec. 24 - 8:00 am & 10:00 am

And to celebrate the coming of the Prince of peace:

Christmas

Sunday, Dec. 24 - 4:00 pm

Monday, Dec. 25 - 8:00 am & 10:00 am

Please note corrected Mass time for New Year’s Day:

Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

Monday, Jan. 1 - 10:00 am

A Wartime Christmas Message from the Catholic Church in the Holy Land:

As people of hope, we await the birth of the Prince of Peace. And we remember that we are never alone, for God chose this place in which to enter into the darkness as Emmanuel, God with us.

We ask all those who celebrate Christmas all over the world: pray with us. Pray for peace in Bethlehem, in Gaza and all over the Holy Land. We pray for an end to violence and a release of all captives. We pray for a permanent ceasefire and for the dawning of a time of dialogue instead of oppression, of justice instead of imposed solutions, of living together instead of the dream of getting rid of one another. We implore those in positions of power to help end a conflict that has been going on for more than a century, facilitate a path towards a just peace based on equality, so that this war might be the last and our children might finally witness hope instead of despair.

Then we will be able to celebrate on Christmas and be filled with the great joy of our coming Savior, singing with the angels, “Glory to God in the highest, and peace to God’s people on earth.”

Sources: catholicreview.org, https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2023/12/18/holy-land-christmas-message-war-246751

COMING UP...

Friday 12/22

8:00 am Mass

Saturday 12/23

Parish Office Closed

4:15 pm Reconciliation

5:00 pm Mass

Sunday 12/24

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Parish Office Closed

8:00 am Mass

10:00 am Mass

4:00 pm Christmas Eve Nativity Mass

Monday 12/25

Christmas Day

Parish Office Closed

8:00 am Christmas Day Mass

10:00 am Christmas Day Mass

Tuesday 12/26

Parish Office Closed

8:00 am Mass

10:00 am Breaking Open the Word

Wednesday 12/27

Parish Office Closed

8:00 am Mass

Thursday 12/28

Parish Office Closed

8:00 am Mass

The church will be open 30 minutes prior to any scheduled service for private prayer.

WHAT'S HAPPENING?

Last Call for Oplatki Wafers

We have just a couple packets left. Oplatki wafers are an age-old Polish Christmas tradition. You can purchase a $5 packet of Oplatki wafers (2 white, 1 pink) at the Parish Office on Friday (tomorrow) before 5pm.

What are Oplatki Wafers? >

Help decorate the Church for Christmas!

Help make our church even MORE beautiful for Christmas! We need volunteers who are able to assist with decorating the church for Christmas on Sunday, December 24th. We will have two shifts. After the 8am mass until the 10 am mass starts, we need help unwrapping the many poinsettias that will be delivered earlier in the week. Then, after the 10am mass, we will need help placing the flowers around the church. Young and old are welcome!

Please email Jennifer Miller at jmfiel0204@gmail.com if you are able to help.

Unity Award Nominations

Every year we honor an individual or organization who has exemplified the spirit of bringing people together and making the Gospel present - as St. Josaphat gave his life in this effort - with the St. Josaphat Unity Award. The Award, which includes a $10,000 cash prize, is presented at the Unity Gala Kickoff Mass. Deadline for nominations is December 31st.

Purchase Tickets and Sponsorships here

The Hands of Mercy Aging Ministry Needs You!

Do you have an hour a week to spare for those less fortunate in the new year? If you do, The Hands of Mercy Aging Ministry needs you! Every week, our volunteers visit The Vistas in Lincoln Park where they administer Communion and spend time with the residents. This is truly a wonderful opportunity to make a difference in someone else's life, put a smile on their face and make their day. Please contact Kelly Smith at kellytheresesmith@gmail.com if you can help.

A big thank you from the Refugee Ministry!

Thank you to all who helped deliver a Welcome Pack to a newly arrived refugee family last week. The Rohingya family of seven fled Myanmar (formerly Burma) and resettled in Chicago. The family fled persecution in their country described by the United Nations as ethnic cleansing and have been living in a UN refugee camp for many years.

The St. Josaphat Refugee/Migrant Ministry purchased the Welcome Pack with generous donations from St Josaphat parish. The Welcome Pack includes all items necessary to set up an apartment with the exception of furniture. Volunteers also make sure that the family also finds the kitchen stocked with food staples and ethnic foods familiar to them.

With a record number of refugees arriving in Chicago, we are working together with Exodus World Service and the other LPOT churches to offer them safety, hope and support. Exodus World Services is in need of individuals and families to befriend the refugees and support them as they adjust to their new community. There are a number of ways that you can help.

If you are interested in learning more about the Refugee/ Migrant Ministry, contact Judy Lovero at judylovero@gmail.com.

SJS Tour & Coffee

Join us for a Tour & Coffee to learn all about St. Josaphat School! All tours begin at 9:00 am on the following Fridays:

January 12th, 2024
February 9th, 2024
March 15th, 2024

Last call to collect your photos of loved ones

There are still a few photos that were left behind on our November Altar of Remembrance. Please collect the photos of your loved ones from the parish office during office hours. Unclaimed photos will be discarded at the end of December.

Facilities Update

Church Boiler - It's our very own Christmas miracle! Our church boiler is now up and running independent of the rectory boiler as of this morning. We are working on temperature adjustments and a final inspection but the church and rectory are much more comfortable and we are ready for the cold weather.

Our Facilities Committee needs you! If you have experience in construction, mechanical engineering or contracting, please consider sharing your talent and expertise. Contact Tina at tina@stjosaphatparish.org.

Parish Office Holiday Hours

The parish office will be closed for the holidays from 5pm Friday, December 22 through Tuesday Jan 2, reopening on Wednesday 1/3.

VOLUNTEER

Want to Serve with our Liturgical Ministries?

Please contact Jim Maciejewski for details.

Don's Helping Hands

Making sandwiches for Don’s Helping Hands takes less than an hour and brings heaps of rewards - to our guests who come to our door each weekday AND to you in knowing you’ve done your part to serve those less fortunate. Sign up now on the parish website.

QUICK LINKS

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VISIT OUR WEBSITE

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Sunday Offering

Thank you for your continued support of our parish! You can donate any time - just click here or text SUNDAY to 312-625-5666.

Mass Times: Sat at 5:00 pm, Sun at 8:00 am & 10:00 am, Mon/Tue/Wed/Fri at 8:00 am

The Parish Office is open M-F 9a-5p and Sat 1-5p

773.327.8955, office@stjosaphatparish.org

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