December 24/31, 2006
4th Sunday in Advent/Holy Family Sunday

Parish
Worship
Christian Formation
Campus Ministry
Justice & Peace
Community Meetings, Retreats, Etc.
Finances
Readings

Parish

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

This bulletin will serve both for our celebration of the 4th Sunday of Advent, as well as Christmas, AND the Feast of the Holy Family next Sunday, as well as the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God on New Year’s Day, so I want to take the opportunity to express, in the name of the entire Dominican community, our best wishes to you and all your loved ones for a Blessed and Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year! It is our privilege and blessing to serve you as your priests.

Just a reminder that January 1st, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, because it falls on a Monday, is NOT a Holy Day of obligation this year. If you’d still like to attend Mass on the Solemnity, we will be having our regular 2 daily Masses that day, at 8 AM and 5:15 PM, but you have no obligation to attend Mass this year.

Every Advent, Father Raniero Cantalamessa, the Preacher for the Papal Household, preaches a retreat for the Pope and his closest co-workers. I wanted to share with you something he preached at last year’s retreat, that I feel gets to the heart of our celebration of Christmas:

“To say ‘Jesus is Lord!’ means, in fact, to make a decision. It is as though saying, ‘Jesus in my Lord’ I recognize His full right over me, I hand the reigns of my life over to Him; I do not want to live anymore ‘for myself’ but ‘for Him who died and rose for me.” (II Cor 5:15)
“To proclaim Jesus as one’s Lord means to subject to Him the entirety of our being, to make the Gospel penetrate everything we do. It means, to recall a phrase of the venerated John Paul II, ‘to open more than that, to open wide the doors to Christ.’”

May each of us open wide the doors of our hearts to welcome the Christ Child this Christmas!


fr Brian, OP

The parish offices will be closed Fri., Dec. 22 through Mon., Jan. 1.

Christmas Mass Schedule
Sunday, December 24
3:30 PM Music and 4 PM Children's Mass
6:30 PM Life Teen Mass
12:00 Midnight Mass
Monday, December 25
11:00 AM Christmas Day Mass

All of the names on our prayer list are now posted on the Milagros. If you would like to add or take off a name, please call the Parish Office.

Finances

Parish Center Debt Elimination Campaign

We welcome Lillian Anne Baggett who through Baptism were received into our faith community.

Parish Activities

Closed Circuit TV: in St. Thomas Hall. There is interest in a system allowing parents to watch Mass while attending to their children. Funding is still needed. Please earmark your donation NURSERY PROJECT.

Best of Ch’ville Coupon Books: now available for 2007. Coupons are good now until December 31, 2007. These Attractions books have GREAT deals from local restaurants and retailers and are only $25. Contact the parish office if you want one. Proceeds support youth ministry.

Are You in Need of a Babysitter? CSM will provide a responsible student. Whether you are looking for a few hours a week, a dinner out, or a one-time commitment, there are many students willing to help. For info contact Katie Hildreth: kmh7f@virginia.edu. Families set the rates/hours.

Mardi Gras 2007: is coming! -- Mark your calendar for February 10th!

All New Parish Members: please stop by the welcome display in the Link to pick up your new parishioner packet.

Worship

Contact Marta - lbrannon@cstone.net 293-8081x18

24-Hour Eucharistic Adoration: Every Wed. in Our Lady's Chapel. We are in urgent need of people to fill the following commitment times: Wednesdays: 12(Noon)-1PM, 5-6 PM and Thursdays 12(Midnight)-1AM. If you can commit to one of these hours, please contact Lori Donlon (293-3873/lorianned@aol.com).

Religious Education/Youth Ministry

RE Contact Trish Madden – 293-8081 reled@cstone.net
YM Contact Mike School 293 8081x16 youth@cstone.net

www.st-thomas-aquinas.org/Youth..htm

Children’s Liturgy of the Word: for grades K-3 at 9 AM Sunday Mass.

EE Parents: All Parents of EE students should have received a flyer entitled “Upcoming Sunday Celebrations” either through your child’s folder or in an email from the catechists. If, not please pick up extras from the RE table. This flyer contains ideas to help celebrate and learn together while we do not have religious education classes.

“JC-Keeping it Real”: EDGE middle school retreat, Jan 6. Registration forms are on the YM table, please return to Julie Balik before Jan 1.

Family Epiphany Celebration: JOIN US! We will be having a family Epiphany lesson and celebration on Sunday, Jan. 7th during normal religious education time, 10:10-11:10am. Sign up your family on the religious education table by Jan. 3rd so we will know for how many to prepare. Sign up or email Trish, reled@cstone.net if you are able to help either in planning on Jan 4th and/or in implementing the celebration on Jan 7th. The event will have to be canceled if we do not have enough families sign up or enough volunteers. All ideas welcome! This is an effort to celebrate this important day as a parish and educate our children, even though our college student catechists will be out of town.

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Parents: Our atrium meetings for our CGS children will resume the week of January 7th.

Confirmation students: Be sure to get your sponsor forms and baptismal certificates in ASAP. They are PAST DUE!

Antioch 2007: is coming soon. Open to ALL high schoolers (grades 9-12) Jan. 12-14. Registration forms will be mailed home this week along with some other important information. Cost is $50. Contact Mike if interested.

Sleep Homes Needed for Antioch. If you are interested, email Mike at youth@cstone.net

EE/EDGE/LT: Will resume Jan 21

ADULT EDUCATION

Theology & Donuts: 10:20-11:10AM, in St. Thomas Hall. Next Date TBA.

RCIA: meets Wed, 7:30 PM, in St. Thomas Hall. Contact Fr. Dominic for details at frdominic@stauva.org. Next class Jan. 17, topic: “Sin & Grace”.

Adult Confirmation: Did you receive First Communion but miss Confirmation? You can take classes in order to be confirmed in the spring. You can take classes in order to be confirmed in the spring. Please come to RCIA class on Wed, Jan. 24, 7:30 PM, in St. Thomas Hall. Contact Fr. Dominic at frdominic@stauva.org for details.

Catholicism 101 Christmas Season Schedule: A video series with presentations by Fr John Corapi, sponsored by the K of C, meets selected Saturdays at 10 AM in the Community Room. The next sessions will be “The Church Part I”, Jan 6; and “The Church Part II”, Jan 20. For info contact sackandpam@adelphia.com

Women's Little Rock Scripture Study combines personal study, group discussion and prayer to facilitate growth in the Spirit. Please join us this fall for a 10-week session studying the Acts of the Apostles. We meet Tues, 9-11AM in the Community Room at St. Thomas. Childcare can be made available for a fee. Please call Patty Gazewood 973-6802 or gazewood@earthlink.net if you have any questions.

Sunday Evening Scripture Study: we meet Sunday evenings when RE is in session and are using the Little Rock Scripture Study for an Introduction to the Bible. Join us after the 5:15 Mass.

Justice & Peace
Contact Mary Kirwan-295-1885 W, 295-7950 H kirwanm@adelphia.net
Bridget Davis-964-1127 bnfdavis@cstone.net

Advent Food Collection: We are collecting for the Emergency Food Bank an all-volunteer food bank that supplies area hungry with a 3-day supply of food. Needed: canned juice concentrate, vegetables, soup, beans, fruit, chicken or tuna, peanut butter, cereal and macaroni&cheese. Beginning in January we will collect food for the pantry at Holy Comforter.

Books for Prisoners – We are continuing to collect magazines, dictionaries, religious material and good books of fiction for local and state prisons. Collection boxes are located in the Catholic Student Ministry Room. More books have been taken to Quest Book Store on W. Main Street to be mailed off to prisoners. Thank you for your support!

PRO-LIFE

Meeting: Respect Life Month and Spring Planning are here! Join us Tuesday, Jan 2 at 11 AM, at St. Thomas, Room 5a (downstairs). Contact Nicole for more info: nicole@verners.com.

Campus Ministry

UNDERGRADUATES(CSM)

Kevin Simowitz: kjs5e@virginia.edu
Fr. Luke Clark: lukeop2828@hotmail.com

YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY

A ministry for young professionals & graduate students ages 21-35 Contact: Rhoda Hernandez - rhodahernandez@gmail.com

Salvation Army Food Bank: Needs help organizing its food bank. Our group will go on Sat. mornings from 10:30-12:30; other times are also available. If interested in helping, contact Beth at eab7f@virginia.edu.

Save the Date! Sun., Jan. 21, 2007, YAM Planning Meeting and Lunch! We'll meet after the 11:30 Mass in the link, by the Sacristy - come out and meet other cool YAM folks, as we plan YAM events for the spring semester!! Your input would be greatly appreciated.

Charlottesville Catholic School

Phone: 964-0400. Web site at www.cvillecatholic.com

Community Meetings, Retreats, Etc.

Separated or Divorced Catholics: a tri-parish support group to spiritually nurture & support Catholic men & women going through the process of separation or divorce. Meetings will be held the first and third Mon. of every month, at Incarnation, 7 PM, room # 9. Contact Lauryn Mathena-Armstrong, Outreach Coordinator at Incarnation, at 973-4381 X 112 or lauryn@incarnationparish.org. All inquiries will be kept confidential.

Meals on Wheels: needs volunteer drivers to deliver hot, lunch-time meals to the homebound. Drivers needed for, once-a-week commitments & on a substitute basis. Just an hour or two, once-a-week, can make a big difference. Please call (434) 293-4364 for more information.

Give the GIFT of TIME to Your Spouse!!! Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend, Feb 2-4, Virginia Beach. Contact Rick & Denise Long: longsbaseball@comcast.net for flyer, (804-550-1010) Space is limited...hurry!

Parents of Rising Middle Schoolers: Learn what Ch’ville Catholic School has to offer your child during an information night for prospective parents on Thurs., Jan. 11, at 7:00 PM. Please call CCS if you would like a 6:00 PM tour of the school prior to the meeting: 964-0400.

Ch’ville Catholic School: wishes all of our friends a very MerryChristmas and a New Year that is happy, health and prosperous.

The Pregnancy Centers: has an immediate job opening for an Assistant Manager of Support Services. The 20 hour per week position requires good typing, Microsoft Word and Excel skills, a love for people, attention to detail, and ability to multi-task. Please call Ron Schneider or Cyndi at 979-4516, or fax your resume to 434-220-1010. This is a job-share position.

Catholic Scripture Study: Gospel of Matthew 7-8:30 PM, Room 7 at Incarnation each Wed. unless otherwise noted. For more info. and registration, contact Ralph Barnett preferably by e-mail, ralphbarnett@e-soupministry.com, or by phone, 847 606-0854, or contact Incarnation Office (973-4381).

Readings for the Week of December 24, 2006

Readings for the Week of December 31, 2006