Church Address: 941 Lexington St., Santa Clara, CA 95050 Office Address: 725 Washington St., Santa Clara, CA 95050

Office: (408) 248-7786 ~ Fax: (408) 248-8150 E-mail: stclareparish@dsj.org Web-site: www.stclareparish.org

December 9th, 2018 ~ 2nd Sunday Of Advent ~ The Candle Of Peace

~ Mass Schedule ~

WEEKDAYS - Rectory Chapel: Mon, Wed, Fri, & Sat 8:00 am ~ Tue & Thu 5:30 pm SATURDAY: Reconciliation 4:15-4:45 pm ~ Vigil Mass 5:00 pm

SUNDAY: 7:45 am (English) ~ 9:00 am (English - Family) ~ 10:30 am (Portuguese) ~ 12:00 pm (Spanish) ~ 1:30 pm (Cantonese) ~ 3:00 pm (Mandarin) ~ 5:30 pm (English)

Pastoral Staff: (408) 248-7786 Pastor’s Notes Pastor: Rev. Tadeusz Terembula, x104, tterembula@dsj.org Parochial Vicar: Rev. Prosper Molengi, x105, pmolengi@dsj.org Office Manager: Joanna Ayllon, x106 Religious Education Coordinator and Hispanic Ministry Coordinator: Paty Rascon, x102, lpadillaDeRascon@dsj.org Facility Emergencies: Matt Dutra (408) 904-9181 Saint Clare School: Principal - Cecile Mantecon (408) 246-6797, www.drexel.dsj.org/stclareschool RCIA: Diane Madruga, camponeses6@gmail.com Music Ministry: Christopher Wemp, cmwemp@gmail.com Community & Service Webmaster: Perig Vennetier, perigv@gmail.com Pastoral Council: Jasmine Vu, jass.vu@gmail.com Finance Council: Jerome Alabado, jerome.alabado@gmail.com Serra Club of Santa Clara: Tom Bommarito (408) 243-4647 St. Vincent de Paul: Mick Gonzales (408) 645-0506 Facilities: Matt Dutra, mattdutra74@gmail.com Knights Of Columbus: Tony Colombo, a_colombo1726@comcast.net Young Ladies Institute (YLI): Dolores Wriglesworth, doloresandlee@sbcglobal.net Social Justice Committee: Anne McMahon, mcmahonam@sbcglobal.net Italian Catholic Federation: Janet Glaubke (408) 225-0743 Hispanic Committee: Elania Tablada (408) 984-3519 Portuguese Community: Filomena Bettencourt (408) 221-5236 Mandarin Community: Contact: Rev. Carlos A. Olivera, aolivera@dsj.org Cantonese Community: Contact: Tony Lau, tonylau2000@gmail.com

Dear Parishioners, Many of us have likely heard the phrase “All roads lead to Rome.” The Roman Empire prided itself on its complex system of roads con-necting every part of the empire with the capital. These stone-paved roads stretched throughout Europe, Asia, North Africa and the Mid-dle East. They were built by slaves and paid for by taxes from con-quered lands. These roads were feats of engineering, passing over hills and mountains, under aqueducts, taking many twists and turns to avoid nature’s obstacles. They were anything but straight. John the Baptist would have traveled Roman roads many times in his life, as did those who came out into the desert to hear him preach. It was there, where the roads end in the desert, that John

tells his disciples to build a new road – one for God’s Son: Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. John was not tell-ing them to pick up shovels and pick axes. Rather, he prayed that they might pave a way for the love of the Lord to enter their hearts and touch their souls. John is the last prophet be-fore Jesus, as well as his first disciple. For those will-ing to undertake this ambi-tious task of making a

straight path for the Lord, John tells them they will be met along the way by God in the flesh. He comes alongside us to assist us in our “road-making” and bridge-building, making winding roads both straight and smooth, by forgiving us our sins and removing obstacles from our path. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The Lord will purify us, perfect us and prepare us for himself. This road work began in us on the day of our baptism, and it con-tinues until we meet the Lord at our death, as Paul told the Philip-pians: I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it. To help things along, the Apostle encourages us to increase in knowledge, love and perception, discerning what is of value. This Advent season, what is of great-est value is not the large number of gifts soon to appear under the tree. Rather, it is the gift of God’s only Son who hung on the tree of the cross for us and for our salvation. During this busy season, we do so much to prepare for the coming of Christmas. Let us make sure we spend at least as much effort this Ad-vent season preparing for the coming of Christ, both his birth in Bethlehem and his return in glory as our King. At this Eucharistic table, we partake of the promise found in the words of Isaiah, and John: and all flesh shall see the salvation of God. May we too, then, prepare the way of the Lord as we go forth and proclaim the Good News we have heard and received.

Fr. Tad

su nacimiento en Belén como su regreso glorioso como nuestro Rey. En esta mesa eucarística, par-ticipamos de la promesa encontrada en las palabras de Isaías, y Juan: y todos los hombres verán la salva-ción de Dios. Que, entonces, también nosotros, preparemos el camino del Señor a medida que sali-mos y proclamamos la buena nueva que hemos es-cuchado y recibido.

Padre Tadeo

Mass Intentions December 8th ~ December 15th, 2018

————— Monday ~ December 10th ————— ♦ Open

————— Tuesday ~ December 11th ————— ♦ Open

————— Wednesday ~ December 12th ———— ♦ Spanish Charismatic Prayer Group, 7:00 pm, Lower Church

————— Thursday ~ December 13th ————— ♦ Open

————— Friday ~ December 14th ————— ♦ Open

Sat 5:00 pm

Sun 7:45 am

9:00 am

10:30 am

12:00 pm

5:30 pm

Mon 8:00 am

Tue 5:30 pm

Wed 8:00 am

Thu 5:30 pm

Fri 8:00 am

Sat 8:00 am

Heidi So + Affonso Family + Luana & Aldo Guastapaglia + Christopher Do Rego +

Julia Silveira +

William Kelly + Randy Estrella +

Joao Sousa Silva + Manuel Jeronimo + Maria da Conceicao Cordeiro + Gabriel Silva +

Alfredo Garcia Rodriguez + Monica Yadira Garcia Gonzalez + Jose Luis Gonzalez +

St. Clare Parishioners

Barbara Nehme +

Laura Monteiro ~ well being

Open

Manuel Amarante +

Elson Lourenco +

Open

Calendar of Events

Notas del Párroco Queridos feligreses, Muchos de nosotros probablemente hemos escuchado la frase "todos los caminos conducen a Roma". El imperio romano se enorgullecía de su complejo sistema de cami-

nos que conectaban cada parte del imperio con la capital. Estos caminos empedrados se extendían por toda Europa, Asia, el norte de África y el Medio Oriente. Fueron cons-truidos por esclavos y pagados con los im-puestos de tierras con-quistadas. Estos cami-nos eran prodigios de la ingeniería, pasando sobre colinas y monta-ñas, bajo acueductos,

tomando muchos giros y vueltas para evitar los obstáculos de la naturaleza. Ellos eran todo menos derechos. Juan el Bautista habría recorrido muchas veces las carrete-ras romanas en su vida, al igual que los que salieron al de-sierto para oírle predicar. Fue allí, donde los caminos termi-nan en el desierto, que Juan les dice a sus discípulos que construyan un nuevo camino – uno para el hijo de Dios: Pre-paren el camino del Señor, hagan rectos sus senderos. Juan no les estaba diciendo que cogieran palas y hachas. Más bien, él oró para que pudieran allanar el camino para que el amor del Señor entrara en sus corazones y tocara sus almas. Juan es el último Profeta antes de Jesús, así como su primer discípulo. Para aquellos que están dispuestos a emprender esta ambiciosa tarea de hacer un camino recto para el Señor, Juan les dice que serán reunidos a lo largo del camino por Dios en la carne. Él viene a nuestro lado para ayudarnos en nuestra "construcción de caminos" y puentes, haciendo los caminos sinuosos rectos y allanados, al perdonarnos nues-tros pecados y eliminando los obstáculos de nuestro camino. Todo valle será rellenado, toda montaña y colina, rebaja-da. El Señor nos purificará, nos perfeccionará y nos pre-parará para el mismo. Esta obra del camino comenzó en nosotros el día de nuestro bautismo, y continúa hasta que nos encontra-mos con el Señor a nuestra muerte, como Pablo dijo a los Filipenses: “Estoy convencido de que aquel que co-menzó en ustedes esta obra, la irá perfeccionando…” Para ayudarnos, el apóstol nos alienta a aumentar el conoci-miento, el amor y la percepción, discerniendo lo que es de valor. En este tiempo de Adviento, lo que es de mayor valor no es el gran número de regalos que pronto aparecerán debajo del árbol de navidad. Más bien, es el regalo de Dios en su Hijo unigénito, que cuelga en el árbol de la cruz por nosotros y por nuestra salvación. Durante esta ajetreada temporada, que hacemos tanto para prepararnos para la llegada de la Navidad, asegurémonos de que hacemos al menos el mismo esfuerzo durante el Ad-viento para prepararnos para la venida de Cristo, tanto

SCHOOL HAPPENINGS Sunday Children’s Program “Finding God”

Continuous Faith Formation Program

“Faith Formation is more than a subject to be taught, it is an invitation to a way of life” Joe

Paprocki.

The Second Sunday of Advent – Peace Last week was the First Sunday of Advent and was the Sunday of Hope. Today is the Second Sunday of Advent – the Sunday of Peace. Prayer: O God of Peace, Emmanuel, we pray that you will send your light into our hearts during this sea-son of Advent. Help us to be ready for the day and the hour of Christ’s appearing. Work in our hearts and help us to prepare for the peace that he brings – the inner peace that tells us that we are united with you – and the outer peace which will come when he returns to judge the world. Amen. Rediscover Christmas This year, slow down and focus on what matters the most and rediscover the real meaning of Christmas. Dy-namic Catholic offers a free, lifechanging email pro-grams called Best Advent Ever. You’ll receive short inspirational video, practical tips & free Christmas music. Your experience of Christmas will be unlike any you've experienced before! Are you ready for the best Advent ever? To sign up, visit BestAdventEver.com Parenting Pointers The purpose of Advent is not to shop but to learn to wait. Teaching your child to delay gratification is an important life skill. Please keep in your prayers our children and youth as they prepare to receive the Sacraments of First Rec-onciliation & First Communion and Confirmation.

Saint Clare of Assisi pray for us! Paty Rascon, Catechetical Office 408.248.7786 X 102 lpadilladerascon@dsj.org Office hours: Tue-Thu 9:00am-12:00pm

2:00pm-5:00pm

AWAITING THE SALVATION OF GOD The world does not seem big enough to contain the jubila on of the first reading. In the Gospel reading, the Roman empire isn’t big enough, either. The great powers of Rome are named and made to stand wai ng for the arrival of God’s salva on. And we find Paul medita ng joyfully on what really ma ers. According to Baruch, the city of Jerusalem is like a person standing on ptoe looking for God’s salva on, which is com-ing from the east. Those who were led away on foot, heads down, now come back, a proud people. Why, the very way is smoothed out. The path is lined with fragrant, lush trees. It can’t get any be er than this, can it? Well, yes, it can. For a voice calls out in the desert. Here is the beginning of the sal-va on of God. Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.

WELCOME BACK, 6TH GRADE! Our 6th Grade students, with science teacher Ms. McCormick, spent last week at Walden West Outdoor Environmental Ed Camp. This opportunity provided our students the chance to connect with nature and with one another. NEWLY INSTALLED WOOD WINDOWS We are very grateful to our benefactors for providing us with dual-pane wood windows to replace our original 98-year old windows! Our new windows keep in the heat, keep out the cold and cut down on street noise so that our students have an environment that is condu-cive to learning, while keeping in the spirit of our origi-nal architecture. ST. CLARE WAS WELL REPRESENTED AT THE FAITH FORMATION CONFERENCE Students and alumni musicians from the Sunday 9 A.M. Family Mass joined Chris and Claire Wemp and Irene Kim to serve as music ministers at the mass cele-brated by Bishop Cantú at the recent Faith Formation Conference. We are grateful for their willingness to share their gifts and represent our community well! CALLING ALL ST. CLARE AL_MNI! THE ONLY THING MISSING IS “U”. If you know of a St. Clare School alumni student, family or employee, please share this link with them: https://goo.gl/forms/pEtJxf8h5OBlnMF93 We would like to reconnect with those who have been part of our 162-year tradition! FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA Check out our Facebook page: @stclareschoolsantaclara. Give us a LIKE and follow our posts. SUPPORT US Contact the school office if you would like to buy SCRIP, support our school and classroom outreach or make a donation towards the support of our school pro-grams. Mrs. Cecile Mantecón, Principal www.stclareschool.org | 725 Washington Street, Santa Clara CA 95050 | 408-246-6797 Educating hearts and minds since 1856

St. Clare School News

9 December 2018

“I am not alone at all,’ I thought. I was never alone at all. And that, of course, is the message of Christ-mas: We are never alone. Not when the night is darkest, the wind coldest, the world seemingly most indifferent. For this is still the time God Chooses. Taylor Caldwell (The Nome Static)

K N I G H T S C O R N E R I heard a story today, about a man who went to see a priest. He told the priest his dog died and he wanted a funeral for the dog. The priest said, “We don’t do funerals for dogs.” The man said to the priest, “OH well, I was going to give the church $5000,” and priest said, “Wait! You didn’t say the dog was Catholic.” This is a joke, Father Tad’s ask-ing us for help for our church isn’t a joke.

Contact email: a_colombo1726@comcast.net

Aging religious need your help. Senior Catholic sis-ters, brothers, and religious order priests minis-tered for years for little to no pay. Their sacrifices now leave their religious communities without ade-quate retirement savings. Your gift to today’s sec-ond collection for the Retirement Fund for Reli-gious helps to provide medications, nursing care, and more for tens of thousands of elderly religious. Please be generous.

RCIA NEWS The first stage of the RCIA jour-ney, the Precatechumenate or In-quiry Period, is now complete with The Rite of Welcome which was celebrated on November 18th at the 9:00 am Mass. The Inquirers have obtained sponsors from with-in the St. Clare Parish Community to help mentor them along the

way. Please pray for Brandon Gonzaga, Tom McKeon, Kim Medina and Gail Thomas, as they continue on their journey towards receiving their Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil.

Diane Madruga at camponeses6@gmail.com

Cathy Parshall at catpars@comcast.net St. Clare Rectory at 408-248-7786

BLESSINGS ABOUND!

Thanks to the magnificent efforts and your wonderful generosity, our Knights of Columbus had a very suc-cessful outcome to their, ‘Coats For Kids’ fundraiser.

They were able to pur-chase 24 (12 for boys and 12 for girls). The coats were presented to St. Vincent de Paul for the most needy..

For more information contact: a_colombo1726@comcast.net

Retirement Fund for Religious

Please give to those who have given a lifetime

SIGN UP TO GIVE ONLINE

If you’ve never donated online before, signing up is easy! - Visit h ps://stclareparish.churchgiving.com and click Make a Dona on on the collec on you wish to donate to. - Click Recurring Dona on, then enter your dona on amount and frequency. Once you’ve added your account informa on, dona ons will automa cally deduct from your account. It’s that easy!

TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION Look around most Catholic churches, and you will dis-cover an image of John the Bap st, o en in the old bap-

stery, or in a window near where the font is or was located. He has two feast days in the calendar: one commemora ng his birth, and the other his death. There are only three na vi es in our calendar: for Jesus, for Mary, and for the Bap st. John’s birthday is reck-oned according to the schedule given in Luke’s Gospel of the angel’s announcement to Mary. The angel tells her that her cousin Elizabeth is in the sixth month of pregnancy, and so Mary hastens to help her. Reckoning Christmas as December 25, we count backwards nine months to March 25 for the Feast of the Annuncia on. Then we count forward three months to June 24 for John the Bap st’s birth. Halfway to Christmas, his na vi-ty gives ample reason for rejoicing in the summer, and his symbols of fire and water are used playfully in bon-fires and dives into the sea. Even at the polar opposite of Christmas in the calendar, the energy of Christ’s birth in the Incarna on provides cause for rejoicing. —James Field, Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.

Segundo Domingo de Adviento - Paz La semana pasada fue el primer domingo de Adviento, y fue el Domingo de la esperanza. Hoy es el segundo do-mingo de Adviento - el domingo de la paz. Oración: Oh Dios de la paz, Emmanuel, oramos para que envíes tu luz a nuestros corazones durante esta temporada de Adviento. Ayúdanos a estar listos para el día y la hora de la venida de Cristo. Trabaja en nuestros corazones y ayúdanos a preparar-nos para la paz que él trae – la paz interior que nos dice que estamos unidos a ti – y la paz exterior que vendrá cuando él regrese para juzgar al mundo. Amén. San Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin Hoy, 9 de diciembre, es la fiesta de san Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin de México. Fue beatificado por San Juan Pablo II en 1990 y canonizado por el mismo en el 2002. Es el primer indígena mesoamericano canonizado y es patrono de los floristas y de los indígenas. En las investigaciones que se hicieron para su canoniza-ción se encontró que su nombre indígena era Cuauhtla-toatzin, que significa “Águila que habla” y que fue bauti-zado, siendo adulto, junto con su esposa Lucía por sa-cerdotes franciscanos. Se dice que estaba autorizado para comulgar 3 veces a la semana, lo cual era muy raro en aquel entonces. La primera vez que se la apareció la Virgen María fue el 9 de diciembre de 1531, en el Te-peyac y su fiesta fue fijada por el Papa en esa fecha di-ciendo que ése "fue el día en que Juan Diego vio el Pa-raíso". Eventos y Fechas Importantes Celebración Virgen de Guadalupe: Hoy, durante el hora-rio normal de misa y la recepción al terminar.

Misa Nochebuena: lunes 24 de diciembre. 4 pm inglés 6 pm español: Misa de Gallo 10 pm portugués

Navidad - martes 25 de diciembre: 9:00am: en inglés. Agradecimiento Muchísimas gracias a todas las personas que apoyaron con su presencia, donativo y/o trabajo, la celebración de la Inmaculada Concepción el domingo pasado. Sabía Usted Que… Los pasajes de las Sagradas Escrituras que leemos y escuchamos en la Liturgia de la Palabra no se escogen al azar, ni son la preferencia personal del párroco; sino que, van de acuerdo con el “Leccionario”. El Leccionario de los Domingos y Fiestas sigue un ciclo de tres años: conocidos como ciclo A, B y C. “¡Amado Juan Diego, ‘el águila que habla’! Enséña-nos el camino que lleva a la Virgen Morena del Te-peyac, para que ella nos reciba en lo íntimo de su corazón” — San Juan Pablo II

Boletim Paroquial Português Boletín Parroquial Español

Reflexão por: João Pereira Arruda O Precursor do Senhor aparece neste Domingo para estarmos preparados para receber o Messias. Foi a mensagem de João Bap sta á mais de dois mil anos que con nua nos nossos dias a mensagem que nos indica em como nos devemos preparar para receber o Menino Jesus. Se foi uma mangedoura que O recebeu quando Ele nasceu, assim também, devemos fazer neste Advento de rar tempo e fazer esforços em fazer dos nossos corações mangedouras com feno maciço afim do Deus Menino se sen r “confortável” na nossa “mangedoura-coração” . Só temos mais dois Domingos para estar-mos preparados para receber o Princípe da paz neste mundo cheio de guerrilhas, de desunião de famílias de desencontros de idealogias. Vamos receber o Menino que quiz ser um de nós, fez-Se carne num casal; Maria e José cons tuindo assim uma família; por assim ser nesta preparação foquemo-nos em defender valores que sustentam e dão vitalidade ás famílias que querem viver neste mundo adentro dos valores cristãos. Tendo por modelo Maria e José veêm o caminho certo de serem uma mais valia no fabrico frágil da cons tuição de uma sociedade sádia e unida. João Bap sta é uma figura indispensável na História de preparar o Natal do Filho de Deus que com a Sua vinda consolidou a úl ma Aliança com a nova Aliança nos trazida por Jesus Cristo. Nesta preparação do Emanuel não nos desviemos do objec vo a alcançar que é de receber o Menino Jesus e fazer parte do presépio das figuras mí cas de pastores, anjos ou magos. Todos eles foram levados a adorar o Deus Menino porque estavam limpos do lodo que embaceia a nossa visão. Estejamos atentos a limpar este lodo (oferta do mundo e do comércio) para vermos o Natal no abraço com os familiares e amigos, na celebração da missa da Festa da vinda do Salvador.

No cias Convívio de Natal da Comunidade Paroquial Portuguesa de Santa Clara: No Sábado dia 22 de Dezembro próximo o CPP leva a efeito o convívio de Natal da Comunidade Portuguesa de Saint Clare’s. Cabe aos membros todos desta comunidade maracarem presença neste convívio; este ano com o tema de “Natal da Saudade”. O programa terá início pelas 5:30 com a abertura do salão e o espectáculo se iniciará pelas 6 horas da noite. Este terá a par cipação dos coros das crianças, com música e poesia, com o Grupo Coral Português com a contribuição de toda a comunidade a cantar os cân cos de Natal da nossa tradição portuguesa . Teremos uma pequena peça de teatro natalício e a encerrar o espectáculo teremos o Presépio ao vivo. Seguir-se-á uma jantar de Ntal po pot-luck e pede-se ás famílias da nossa comunidade que se comuniquem com os membros do CPP afim do CPP poder coordenar esse jantar. Sendo este o tema do “Natal da Saudade” voltado aos convívios do Natal dos imigrantes portugueses o mesmo centra-se no valor do Natal ser celebrado em família e para as famílias. Venham todos conviver em família na maior celebração da nossa comunidade nesta paróquia de Saint Clare’s. Bole m Paroquial: Na seção em inglês do bole m está o programa de ac vidades nesta quadra do Advento-Natal para toda a paróquia. Para mais informações contactem com João Arruda.

Um Santo e Alegre Domingo para todos!!

Baptism Contact the Parish office to arrange for Baptismal

preparation, and to sign up for Baptismal Class. Spanish Prep Class: 1st Monday at 7:00 pm;

Baptism: 3rd Saturday at 10:00 am English Prep Class: 2nd Monday at 7:00 pm;

Baptism: 4th Saturday at 10:00 am

Baptism & Registration

Upcoming Second Offerings:

12/8 Immaculate Concep on

12/9 Re rement Fund for Religious

NOVEMBER 24-25 Sat 5:00PM: $452.40

Sun 7:45AM: $1,134.00 Sun 9:00AM: $1,061.65 Sun 10:30AM: $722.90 Sun 12:00PM: $771.61 Sun 5:30PM: $778.39

Total: $4,920.95 DECEMBER 1-2

Sat: 5:00PM: $854.00 Sun 7:45AM: $1,682.00 Sun 9:00AM: $963.00

Sun 10:30AM: $1,368.00 Sun 12:00PM: $1,008.40 Sun 5:30PM: $1,050.00

Total: $6,925.40

Stewardship is a way of life, a conver-sion of heart and mind. It recognizes that all we have is really a gi from God, who asks us to return a por on to support God’s work on earth. It is about developing a need to give ra-ther than merely giving to a need. Please become a good steward of St. Clare Parish and know that if you give only a small amount or fail to contrib-ute at all, our parish will suffer. La Corresponsabilidad es una forma de vida, una conversión de mente y corazón. Reconoce que todo lo que tenemos es realmente un regalo de Dios y Él nos pide que devolvamos una parte para apoyar su obra aquí en la e-rra. Se trata de desarrollar la necesidad de dar y no únicamente de dar para una necesidad par cu-lar. Por favor conviértase en un buen corresponsable de la parro-quia Santa Clara y sepa que si usted da solamente una pequeña can dad o no contribuye en absoluto, nuestra parroquia sufrirá

Stand And Be Counted Registering in a parish is a declaration of your desire to be part of a Catholic community and a commitment that in all its dimensions brings you advantages, recognition, and responsibilities of many kinds. Being a registered parishioner makes things much easier when it is time for infant Baptism, weddings, when asked to be a Baptismal or Confirma-tion Sponsor and even funerals. We are often asked to provide affidavits for Baptismal and Confirma-tion Sponsors. We can only do this if a person is a registered, active and contributing member.

So, are you a registered parishioner? If not please consider registering. Registration forms are available in the Church entrances and in the Parish Office.