A Word from Father Mullin
The Second Letter of Saint Peter reassures us:
The Lord is patient with you, not wishing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.... So conduct yourselves in holiness and devotion, waiting for the day of His coming.
I encourage you to make sacramental confession a part of your spiritual preparations for Christmas. Check out the insert in today’s parish bulletin for a listing of Penance Services and confession times at Saint Elizabeth and at several area churches, along with the schedule of Masses for Christmas.
Father Tom Mullin
Advent Giving Tree
Thank you to all who are taking a gift tag or two from the Giving Tree this Advent. Please check the tag itself to see whether the gift should be wrapped or remain unwrapped and be sure to attach the tag to your gift.
Please be sure to return all gifts by next weekend, December 16-17. Many of the gifts are given out at agency Christmas parties before Christmas. A complete list of the agencies distributing this year’s gifts is posted by the Giving Tree in the church narthex.
Catholics Coming Home
A special six-week program, No Greater Love - Catholics Coming Home, begins on Monday, January 8, at 7:00 PM in church. Now through next weekend special referral cards are available in the pews for church-goers to fill out with the names and contact information of a family member, friend or neighbor who might be interested in this program. We will then send them a personal invitation to Catholics Coming Home. Cards may be placed in the collection basket or returned to the parish office by Monday, December 18. It just might be the best Christmas gift you have ever given!
RCIA Inquiry
Do you know someone who has asked about the Catholic faith? Please invite them to learn more about the RCIA by contacting DRE Beth Riordan at 610-646-6545 or
Mass Intentions for the Week
December 9-10: Second Sunday of Advent
Saturday, 5:30 PM- William Maloney
Sunday, 8:00 AM- People of Saint Elizabeth
Sunday, 9:30 AM- Paul Zadroga
Sunday, 11:30 AM- John Cossa (1st Ann)
Monday, 7:30 AM- Thomas Froio
Tuesday, 7:30 AM- Mass of Thanksgiving
Wednesday, 7:30 AM- Martha Mathis
Thursday, 7:30 AM- Peter Valentine (1st Ann)
Friday, 7:30 AM- Martha Mathis
Saturday, 8:30 AM- Katherine & Joe Morgan
December 16-17: Third Sunday of Advent
Saturday, 5:30 PM- Michael Ardoline, Sr,
Sunday, 8:00 AM- Theresa Rodner
Sunday, 9:30 AM- People of Saint Elizabeth
Sunday, 11:30 AM- Joan & Peter Reehil
Readings: Isaiah 61/1-2, 10-11; Psalm - Luke 1/46-54; 1 Thessalonians 5/16-24; John 1/6-8, 19-28
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament: All are welcome to Exposition in the daily Mass chapel on Mondays between 8:00 AM and 8:30 PM.
Prayer Corner
Please pray for all those who are ill, including Marie Altieri; Louise Ardoline; Rita Chambers; Doris Cullen; Trevor Ferraro; Sheila Flynn; James Ford; Stephen Guminski; Steven Kacenjar; Ginny Klimek; Marie Laboranti; Marinell Lamkin; Suzanne Lezoche; Gloria Makoid; Edward Musuras; Larry Shontz; Nazzie Sookiasian; Lurita Soprano and Tammy Swan.
We also remember those who have died, including John DeVito, brother of Angela Wadas; Gertrude Phillips, grandmother of Scott Fraser, and Victoria DiMichael, mother of Dominick DiMichael. May all our departed loved ones rest in peace!
Liturgical Music Ministry
The Parish Music Ministry needs YOU! No Music experience required. Minimal/convenient rehearsal times for most parish music groups. Please contact Louise Shanley (
Welcome New Parishioners
Saint Elizabeth parish warmly welcomes the following individuals, couples and families who registered during November: John & Tina Armenio; Gregory & Theresa Auda; Thomas & Anne Mc Vey; Shaun & Caitlin Murphy; Michael & Amanda Paduano; Nazareth Sookiasian and Michele Tennity. Welcome to all!
Baptism News
The next session of Pre-Jordan I: Preparing for Your Child’s Baptism will be held on Saturday, January 13 and the next session of Pre-Jordan II: A Call to Christian Parenting, will be held on Saturday, February 10. Both programs begin at 10:30 AM in the ministry center. To register for a Pre-Jordan Program and/or to arrange for a baptism, call 610-321-1200.
Adult Faith Formation
Women at the Well: Women of Saint Elizabeth Church- are you looking for ways to Keep Christ in Christmas? Join us this Friday, December 15, 9:00-10:00 AM in the daily Mass chapel for a peace-filled hour with Jesus. Eucharistic Adoration is a special time to simply rest in the presence of Jesus, speaking to him in the silence of your heart, reflecting on the words of Scripture while listening to meditative music. This one, short hour is sure to cut through the clamor of this busy time of year and refocus on the true meaning of Christmas.
Parish School News
Christmas Concert: Please join us for our Christmas Band and Harmonium concert this Wednesday, December 13, at 7:00 PM in the gym.
Financial Aid: Financial aid applications are currently available through FACTS Grant & Aid and due by December 31, 2017. This year your 2017 tax return is the only documentation that all applicants are required to submit by March 31, 2018 or earlier – as soon as your tax return is complete. The link is on our website, on the Archdiocesan BLOCS website and also at https:// online.factsmgt.com/aid.
Advent/Christmas Prayer Service: All are welcome to join our students and faculty in prayer on Thursday, December 21, at 2:00 PM in church.
Elementary Faith Formation
2017-2018 Theme: Our theme for this year is Family Prayer. Each month families will pray and go deeper into the meaning of a Catholic prayer. In December, we are praying an Advent Prayer:
Heavenly Father, your son, Jesus, is your greatest gift to us, a great sign of your love. Help us to live in that love together as a family this Advent. Prepare our hearts for Christmas. Bring us closer to each other and to your son. Give us the grace and strength we need every day. Help us to always trust in you. Come, Lord Jesus, lead all people closer to you. Come and dispel the darkness of our world with the light of your love. Amen.
Check the parish website and Facebook page for weekly posts on this prayer.
Advent Family Prayer Service: All are welcome to join us this Monday, December 11, at 5:00 PM for a Liturgy of the Word, followed by the presentation of the Jesse Tree, enhanced by little angels, shepherds and more!
Reminder: Parents of children preparing to receive the Sacraments of Confirmation and/or First Holy Communion this spring are reminded to turn in the required registration form, photo banner permission and sponsor form no later than Friday, January 5, 2018.
Middle School Faith Formation: Our fall bible study was a great success! Our next study will engage 7th and 8th graders with such questions as: Who am I? How do I form good friendships? How does my faith relate to issues like bullying, gossip, peer pressure, etc?
The study is called Theology of the Body for Teens, Middle School Edition. More information and registration forms are on the parish website and in the narthex. Questions may be directed to Beth Riordan (
Pastoral Outreach News
Burkina Faso Food Packaging: Thanks to the parishioners of all ages who came out on Saturday December 2, to unload the truck and package the meals headed to Burkina Faso. We packaged about 14,000 meals provided by the generosity of parishioners.
Senior Adult Ministry: Pot Luck Lunch
Lunch and Learn: Plan now to join us on Thursday, January 11, at 10:30 AM for a presentation by Bruce Mowday, a local author who will speak about the Johnston Brothers, the gang who stole millions of dollars and eventually murdered four teenagers and how the gang was brought to justice! The next Game Day will be on Thursday, January 25.
Liturgical Life Note
Low Gluten Communion Hosts: To accommodate the health needs of some parishioners and guests, low gluten Communion hosts are available at weekend & daily Mass. For more info, please contact Gen Miceli (
Youth Ministry News
Register now for Saint Elizabeth Youth Ministry! Go to the front page of the parish website www.stelizabeth parish.org or email Ryan Schwalm at rschwalm @stelizabethparish.org to get involved!
High School Youth Group (Grades 9-12): Meets weekly on Tuesday nights in the CLC, 7:00-8:30 PM.
Help Needed: We are looking for an additional team leader for our High School Youth Group. We hope to find a leader 20-25 years old who feels called to help at our Tuesday night meetings by leading small groups and activities. If you or someone you know can fill this opening, contact
Eighth Grade Youth Group + Middle School Youth Group (Grades 6-7): Next meetings are on Wednesday, December 20, 5:30-7:00 PM in St. John the Baptist.
Elementary Youth Group (Grades K-5): Our next Free Play Night will be on Saturday, December 16, 6:30-8:30 PM in the gym.
St. Elizabeth Athletic Ministry (SEAM):
Basketball: All practices and games are subject to cancellation due to weather. If school or EFF is closed for bad weather, all practices are cancelled. Coaches will contact teams if weekend games or practices are cancelled. Please use your best judgment in bad weather before coming out to the gym!
Financial Corner
Thank you for your consistent financial support of our parish community throughout the year.
Regular Collection for Sunday, November 26, 2017
Weekend Contributions: $20,491.85
[Amount of Loose Cash: $1,321.85]
Midweek & Auto-Giving: $ 9,958.50
Total Regular Collection: $30,450.35
Number of adult envelope contributions: 624
Religious Retirement Collection: Thank you for your support of this weekend’s annual collection for the Retirement Fund for Religious Priests, Sisters & Brothers. So far a total of $4,462 has been donated by 171 donors. Additional contributions may be sent directly to the parish ministry center during the week.
2016-2017 Parish Financial Report: You should have received the financial report for fiscal 2016-2017 in the mail this past week. Questions about the financial report should be directed to Fr. Mullin or Sam Venuti at 610-321-1200. Thank you for your commitment to a generous stewardship of treasure all year long!
Auto-Giving: A special “thank you” to the 292 families now participating in Auto-Giving to ensure a consistent financial support to the parish throughout the year. These families combined contributions exceed $550, 000, for which we are very grateful. We would like to pass 300 auto-donors by the end of the year! Please consider joining Auto-Giving for 2018! To receive an electronic copy of the authorization form, contact Sam Venuti (
Stars Rewards Sales
Don’t forget to purchase Stars Rewards gift cards for your Christmas shopping. Cards are on sale in the ministry center after weekend Masses throughout the year. Thanks to all who support our parish and parish school families through the Stars Rewards program.
Words from the Pastor
Even though you are out of town or away on vacation, you can still listen to our pastor’s weekend homilies. Go to the parish website (stelizabethparish.org) and scroll down the home page for “Words from our Pastor.” Why not check out the parish website today!
2018 Breaking Bread Hymnals
While you are sitting in church, take a few moments to become more familiar with the liturgical sections of the 2018 Breaking Bread hymnal. Note that the ordinary parts of the Mass are provided on pages 3-30, including the Eucharistic Prayers on pages 12-26. Both the Gloria and the Profession of Faith can be found on the inside front cover of the hymnal itself, while the Parish Stewardship Prayer is inserted inside the vinyl cover. Please do not remove the protective covers from the hymnals and place the hymnals in the pew racks after Mass. Thank you for your cooperation and care!
Upcoming Meetings & Activities
For a complete schedule of upcoming meetings, parish activities and other events, check out the online parish bulletin at www.stelizabethparish.org.