Saint Elizabeth Roman Catholic Church

Insert to the Parish Bulletin for Sunday, December 10, 2017

SCHEDULE FOR SACRAMENTAL RECONCILIATION IN PREPARATION FOR CHRISTMAS

All are encouraged to celebrate the sacrament of Penance in preparation for Christmas. Here at Saint Elizabeth, we will have a Communal Reconciliation Service with individual confessions at 7: 00 PM on Tuesday, December 19, and an extended period of confessions (9:00-11:00 AM) on Saturday, December 23. A number of visiting priests will be on hand for both occasions.

There are also Penance Services in area parishes, as follows: on Monday, December 18, at St. Maximilian Kolbe Church and SS. Simon & Jude Church in West Chester; on Tuesday, December 1 9, at St. Patrick Church in Malvern and SS. Peter & Paul Church in West Chester; on Wednesday, December 20, at St. Joseph Church in Downingtown; and on Thursday, December 21, at SS. Philip & James Church in Exton. All begin at 7:00 PM.

Christmas Mass Schedule

Note: Because of the severe over-crowding at the first Mass on Christmas Eve each year, we encourage our regular parishioners, if at all possible, to plan to celebrate Mass at 7:30 PM on Christmas Eve or on Christmas Day itself, Thank you for your cooperation!

Schedule of Christmas Eve Masses at Area Parishes

St. Basil the Great, Kimberton - 4:00 PM, 6:00 PM and 12:00 Midnight st. Joseph, Downinglown - 4:00 PM, 6:00 PM, 8:00 PM and 12:00 Midnight St. Peter, West Brandywine - 4:00 PM, 6:30 PM, 9:00 PM

SS. Philip & James, Exton - 4:00 PM & 5:30 PM (with tickets), 7:30 PM and 10:00 PM St. Thomas More, Pottstown - 5:30 PM and 9:00 PM

Greetings to you and to your loved ones from all ofus on the parish staffat Saint Elizabeth. May you and your extendedfamily have a wonderfid Chri.stmas, and may the Holy Fcnnily q/ Jesus, Mary and Joseph bring blessings of health, happiness and peace 10 all lhe individuals, couples andfamilies ofSaint Elizabeth Church through.out the New Year 2018!

Iproclaim to you good news ofgreat joy: today a Savior is born for us, Christ the Lord. (Luke 2/10-11)

It's Timefor No Greater Love - Catholics Coming Home!

October Count Mass Attendance Report: 2013-2017

Each year during October, the parishes of the archdiocese conduct a count of those attending weekend Masses. Here's the summary of attendance at our parish in the years 2013 through 2017:

Sadly, the downward trend reflected above matches the pattern of Mass attendance across the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and around the country. Needless to say, each of us needs to reflect prayerfully upon his/her own consistency in Mass attendance, and also to invite other family members and Catholic neighbors to do the same!

This year, our parish is responding to this downward trend with a new approach to inviting Catholic believers in our community to reconsider their participation in the sacramental life of the Church. We are encouraging our parishioners to give a unique "Christmas gift" to their own family members and Catholic neighbors who have been estranged from the Church for any reason whatever.

We invite you to recormnend them to us, so that we can send them a personal invitation to consider enrolling in a special six-week program called: No Greater Love - Catholics Coming Home. The next series 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 name and contact information of a family member, friend or neighbor who might be open to a gentle re-entry into a more active practice of their Catholic Faith. Without disclosing the name of the one making the referral, we will send them a personal invitation to Catholics Coming Home here at Saint Elizabeth.

Completed referral cards may be placed in the collection basket or returned to the parish office by Monday, December 18. If you have any questions about this outreach program, please contact Deacon Barry Midwood at 610-321-1200 anytime during the week.

So, please take the time today to complete a referral card for someone you love. It's time for No Greater Love-Catholics Coming Home! And this just might be the best Christmas gift you have ever given!