December 25, 2007

My Dear Friends in Christ,

It is hard to believe, but this evening we celebrate the great Birth of Christ.

Our Advent meditations devolve in great part around our Lady, she who all
generations have called "blessed," she who does not "know man", the Blessed

Virgin Mary. Why, many today ask, does she take such a great role in the life of the Church?
Should not Christ alone, "in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge", suffice?

The Church honors Mary in obedience to her Lord Jesus Christ. Christ can truly be Lord only for those

who keep all of his commands, who proclaim all of his Gospel in all of its parts. Our Lord has entrusted his
Body, the Church, to Mary as Mother when from the Cross, with his dying words he said, "Behold your
Mother."

By God's will and plan our Lady fulfilled a unique and irreplaceable role in our salvation, all beginning

with the words of the Gospel: "Fiat voluntas tua, thy will be done." For Our Lady's perfect obedience to the
Father she is the first and most perfect disciple. Elizabeth is the first to proclaim with authentic devotion and
love our Lady's greatest title, "mother of my Lord". Mary is Mother of God.

Called in the Gospels "the mother of Jesus," Mary is acclaimed by Elizabeth, at the prompting of
the Spirit and even before the birth of her son, as "the mother of my Lord." (Lk 1:43; Jn 2:1; 19:25;
cf. Mt 13:55.) In fact, the One whom she conceived as man by the Holy Spirit, who truly became
her Son according to the flesh, was none other than the Father's eternal Son, the second person of
the Holy Trinity. Hence the Church confesses that Mary is truly "Mother of God" (Theotokos).
(Council of Ephesus (431); DS 251.) (CCC 495)

Saint Bede comments that Elizabeth blesses Mary using the same words as

the archangel "to show that she should be honored by angels and by men and why
she should indeed be revered above all other women" (In Lucae Evangelium
Expositio

, in loc.) Her divine Motherhood gives our Lady an intimate and

irreplaceable role in our spiritual lives and our salvation. As we pray the
scriptural Hail Mary we proclaim again these divine greetings, "rejoicing with

Mary at her dignity as Mother of God and praising the Lord, thanking him for having given us Jesus Christ
through Mary" (Pope St. Pius X, Catechism of Christian Doctrine, 333). "With her generous 'fiat' (Mary)
became through the working of the Spirit the Mother of God, but also the mother of the living, and, by
receiving into her womb the one Mediator, she became the true Ark of the Covenant and true Temple of
God." (Pope Paul VI, Marialis cultus, 6.)

On behalf of myself, Fr. Prakash, the Deacons,

Religious and Staff of St. Patrick Church,

I wish you and your families a very Blessed Christmas!

Fr. Paul Pecchie

Remember in your Celebrations that Christmas is not just a day but 12 days to

celebrate. Let us truly keep Christ in Christmas!!

Page Two - Sunday, December 24, 2006

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Fr. Paul Pecchie
Fr. Prakash Madanu, ALCP.

(727) 584-2318 Tel.

(727) 586-5413 Fax.

ST. PATRICK CATHOLIC CHURCH

2121 - 16th Avenue SW, Largo, FL 33770

JMJ

Please note the Rectory Office will be closed on Monday, December 25th, Tuesday, December
26th and Friday, December 29th in observance of Christmas and the Solemnity of Mary. For a
recording of Mass times and other information, please phone 584-2318.

Parish & Evangelization - Page Three

http://www.stpatrick-largo.org

A NEW ORDER

"O, Little Town of Bethlehem." A Philadelphia clergyman named

Phillips Brooks penned these popular words back in the mid-1800s,
but the prophet Micah could have used them first. Micah knew that
from small packages great treasures come. In today's first reading, he
knew that from tiny Bethlehem would come the Lord.

The writer in Hebrews explains that Christ came to us to do the

will of God by establishing a new order and by becoming our perfect
sacrifice. And Luke tells us that Elizabeth
and John, the infant in her womb, understand
that great and wondrous things are at hand
with the coming of the Lord.

This is the Fourth Sunday of Advent.

Tomorrow we celebrate anew the fruit of
Mary's womb. As we are told in Hebrews,
Jesus' new order is being established even
today. And as Micah proclaims, his greatness
is reaching even now to the ends of the earth.

First Reading -- Hannah conceived, and at

the end of her term bore a son whom she
called Samuel (1 Samuel 1:20-22, 24-28)
or Sirach 3:2-7, 12-14

Psalm -- Blessed are they who dwell in your

house, O Lord (Psalm 84) or Psalm 128.

Second Reading -- See what love the Fa-

ther has bestowed on us that we may be
called the children of God (1 John 3:1-2,
21-24) or Colossians 3:12-21 [12-17].

Gospel -- The boy Jesus remained behind in

Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it.
They found him in the temple, in the midst
of the teachers (Luke 2:41-52).

Like Mary and Joseph, may we learn to

develop patience and forgive those closest to

us first - a good way to being this new year!

Readings for the Week Ahead:

December 31, 2006

Feast of the Holy Family

ARISH

EWS

We are . . . Disciples in Mission

Sharing our Faith in Christ all year!

Monday, December 25th

Christmas Day

9:00 AM Christmas Day Mass
11:00 AM Christmas Day Mass (Adult Choir)

PLEASE NOTE: There will be NO 7:30 AM Mass

and NO 5:30 PM MASS on Christmas Day.

THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD -- CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE

Please note the following schedule of Masses for Christmas Day. Consider inviting someone you know to
Christmas Mass - perhaps, a friend or a family member who has been away from the Church. Let us cele-
brate the birth of Christ, our Lord and Savior!

CELEBRATE THE BIRTH OF OUR LORD!

Sunday, December 24th

Christmas Eve

4:30 PM Vigil Mass
6:30 PM Vigil Mass (Children's)*
12:00 AM Christmas Midnight Mass*

Light of the World

*15 minutes prior to the 6:30 Vigil, the Children's Choir will sing Christmas carols.
*20 minutes prior to the Midnight Mass, the Choirs will sing Christmas carols.

The Solemnity of Mary, January 1st is not a holy day of obligation this year
as it falls on a Monday. However, in honor of this Feast of our Lady, our Mass
times for Monday, January 1st are as follows:

Monday, January 1st

(not a holy day of obligation this year)

9:00 AM & 11:00 AM (please note there will be no 7:30 AM Mass)

May the peace of Christ be with you and your

loved ones each day throughout the coming year!

SACRAMENT PREPARATION

The Reconciliation retreat is on Saturday, January

13th from 9 AM until 12 Noon in Msgr.
McCall Hall. This is mandatory for all
students and for one parent to attend.

First Reconciliation will be celebrated
on Saturday, January 24th at 10:30 AM
in the church.

All for the Greater Honor & Glory of God

Page Four - Faith Formation

http://www.stpatrick-largo.org

Men's Bible Study Group
Robert Smith

6:45 AM - 7:30 AM (CR)

(ph. 587-7961)

Every Wednesday

Adult Bible Study Group
Sr. Kathleen

9:45 AM - 11:30 AM (CR)

Class resumes on Jan. 3rd

THE GREAT BIBLE ADVENTURE" will begin

on Thursday, January 18th, 7 PM in the Con-
ference Room. Is the Bible a mystery to
you? The Great Bible Adventure is a EWTN
video series with Jeff Cavins. This class will
help you understand the key people, places
and events of Salvation History. For info, con-
tact Sr. Kathleen ex 321.

RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)

RCIA is a process in which new Catholics
embark on and join us in a continuing and
deepening conversion into faith and disciple-
ship. It is for those who are unbaptized and
would like to be received fully into the
Catholic Church, those who have been bap-
tized in another Christian community and seek full recep-
tion into the Catholic Church, and for those who were bap-
tized as Catholics but have not received the sacraments of
Confirmation and Eucharist. Inquiry classes are held
every Sunday morning at 10 AM in the Conference
Room of Msgr. McCall Hall. For info, phone Sr. Kath-
leen ext. 321.

ST. PATRICK'S RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Religious Education (K-8) Sundays, 10:30 - 11:45 AM

Going Deeper With Your Faith

Adult Education and Faith Formation

Small Faith Sharing Group
Barb Murphy 10 AM - 11:30 AM (CR)

Friday, December 29th

Catholic Social Teaching. New members al-

ways welcome! Questions? Call 585-4149

PASTOR'S CLASS with Fr. Pecchie

7:00 PM - 9 PM (CR)

No class until January 8th

May we all enjoy the greatest gift we were
given by our Loving Father at Christmas -
the Birth of the Christ Child!

Mr. & Mrs.

Joseph &

Julie Blum

DRE, ext. 320

Hey kids, we need you!

We are looking for more students to take a
part in the Sunday 9:00 AM Children's

Sunday 9:00 AM Children's

Mass

Mass! We need readers, greeters, ushers,
altar servers, and choir members. If you are
interested in any of these, please contact
Joe or Julie Blum at ext. 320 to volunteer.

Religious Education

at St. Patrick

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED AT MASS

We are still looking for more volunteers to help with
Children's Liturgy of the Word at the Sunday, 9
AM Mass. This is a program for children ages 4-6
to hear the word of God at their level. If interested
in helping with this ministry, please call the religious
education office at ext. 320.

We are looking for VOLUNTEERS to help out in the NURSERY at the 9:00 Mass ...

St. Patrick School parents can get hours for volunteering, and students can earn community service hours.
Only one teen volunteer and one adult volunteer is needed each Sunday, so sign up now for one shift each
month throughout this school year. Please e-mail Piper at lcpjlargo@yahoo.com or call the religious educa-
tion office at ext. 320 if you are interested in helping.

NO Religious Education

Classes for K through 8th grade

on December 24th or 31st.

Classes resume

Sunday, January7th.

Have a Blessed and Happy Christmas!

FOUNDATIONS OF PERSONAL PRAYER: Resumes January 9th

School & Youth - Page Five

http://www.stpatrick-largo.org

Principal: Mrs. Therese Hernandez

ENIOR

IGH

OUTH

ROUP

H.S. Youth Minister: Mr. Joseph Blum, ext. 320

In Hoc Signo Vinces ... "By This Sign, You Will Conquer"

Jr. High Youth Ministers: Mr. & Mrs. Bob & Sue Tassinari, ext. 322

ST. PATRICK CATHOLIC SCHOOL

"One Mind, One Heart, One Spirit"

ELEBRATING

OVER

YEARS

XCELLENCE

DUCATION

, L

EADERSHIP

& S

ERVICE

The Junior Youth Group meets on Sunday nights from 7:00 to
8:30 PM in the Youth Room. Please note there will be no
meeting on Sunday, December 24th. If you have any ques-
tions, please call Sue & Bob at 585-5546.

ST. PATRICK CATHOLIC YOUTH

Help Wanted: We need people to work at coffee and donuts on
December 31st at all Sunday morning Masses. We are also looking
for teens to be ushers at Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. If you
are interested, please contact Mr. or Mrs. Blum.

SCHOOL CALENDAR

December 21, 2006 to January 2, 2007

CHRISTMAS BREAK

January 3, 2007

CLASSES RESUME

OPEN HOUSE

PRE-K and KINDERGARTEN

JANUARY 10, 2007

8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

. Y

OUTH

ROUP

May the true spirit of the Christmas holidays fill your homes!

Looking for "Angel Sponsors"

If you are interested in being an "angel sponsor" for the
March for Life trip to Washington DC, we are taking dona-
tions of either $25, $50 or more to help sponsor a student
for the trip. If you would like to help our youth with this trip,
please contact Mr. Blum.

SPONSORS

Please pray for the 17 people from our parish who will be attending

the March for Life in Washington D.C. in January.

There will be a mandatory meeting on Wednesday, January 10th in the teen room for everyone attending
the March for Life. All paperwork must be completed and turned in at this time.

No youth events on December 23rd & 30th. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Come and see what makes St. Patrick Catholic School so special.
Join us for our Open House. Meet our Pre-K and Kindergarten
teachers. Tour the campus! Call the school office for more informa-
tion, (727) 581-4865.

ST. PATRICK CATHOLIC SCHOOL SWEEPS CONTEST

We are proud to announce that the winners of the American Essay Contest for Eighth Graders sponsored by
the Clearwater Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution were all from St. Patrick. First Place:
Mary Jo Monk, Second Place: Julie Murphy, Third Place: Rachael Deja. We congratulate the students and
their families and thank their teachers.

Special Thanks to the 6th Grade Class for cleaning the Church pews and kneelers! A job well-done!

Page Six - Stewardship

http://www.stpatrick-largo.org

Summary Report for St. Patrick, Largo

as of December 2006

PARISH INFORMATION:

Assessment:................................. $119,658.00

This is the amount St. Patrick Parish

must give

to the Diocese for the 2006 Appeal.

Pledged: $69,111.60

Paid: $66,408.80 + Pledge Balance: $2,702.80

# of Gifts:

238

Average Gift:

$290.38

This is the number of gifts by our parish-
ioners (

out of our 1176 registered fami-

lies) who have made a pledge by sending
their donation in the APA Diocesan enve-
lope.

% of Assessment:

57.8

% Participation:

20.2

Just over 20% of our parishioners have

participated in the 2006 APA!

Please prayerfully consider making your pledge today.
You may use the Diocesan APA envelopes marked
"St. Patrick Church, Largo #370". IT'S NOT TOO
LATE TO SEND IN YOUR PLEDGE!

% of Parish

Participation

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

The Gospel tells of the Virgin Mary, pregnant herself, hurrying off to help her

cousin Elizabeth. The model of good stewardship, she who had given herself

to bear the Savior, gave her time and love to others as well.

December 17, 2006

$ 11,403.58 (438 Envelopes Used)

Building and Maintenance

$ 2,015.00 (126 Envelopes Used)

Religious Retirement Fund

$ 240.00 (Additional)

Ministry of Helping Hands

Poor Box Collection - $ 430.00

Children's Envelopes - $ 9.50

My good deed was:

I made signs for my cousin's game. (Madisen

Dunning)

I cleaned my room. (Matt

Ruppel)

May God bless and reward

you for your generous

spirit and giving heart!

THANK YOU for your

continued support.

ibrary News:

Watch for the news of the St. Pat-

rick Library Book Club starting in January 2007. For

more information call Florence Deaton at 595-3254.
Come browse our stacks in Msgr.
McCall Hall today, (the library is open
Sundays `til noon) and sign out the
books and tapes of your choice.

ARE YOU CONNECTED?

Check our St. Patrick website! It's
packed with parish info, ministry notes,
thoughtful reading, previous bulletins

and photos galore. Visit www.stpatrick-largo.org !

Attention Actors and Actresses

...

St. Patrick Players will be doing a production of a tableau drama depicting
Leonardo Da Vinci's "The Last Supper". If you are interested in participat-
ing please contact Betty Archer at 596-6579.

Balance still owed to Diocese: $50,546.40

2006 Annual Pastoral Appeal Update

SMALL CHRISTIAN

COMMUNITIES:

Join a Small Christian Commu-
nity. These groups are meeting

weekly in people's homes to reflect on Scripture
and the teachings of the Catholic Church. For
more info contact Diane Kledzik at 587-7869 or
Sr. Kathleen at 584-2318 ext. 321.

Parish Outreach - Page Seven

http://www.stpatrick-largo.org

Parish Ministries

Claire Obordo

"
"
"
"

The Word was made flesh, and made His dwelling

among us."

among us." We are the Body of Christ.

We are the Body of Christ.

Let us reach out in SERVICE and in LOVE.

"
"
"
"

The Word was made flesh, and made His dwelling

among us."

among us." We are the Body of Christ.

We are the Body of Christ.

Let us reach out in SERVICE and in LOVE.

THANK YOU to all who have sponsored a child from THE
GIVING TREE. This year we provided Christmas gifts for
over 147 children. We had a set of twins, a set of triplets, a
child with spinabiphita, and many other needy children in fos-
ter care. Even though 27 angels didn't come back, we had
several families who helped in the last minute shopping for gifts for these children. We truly
appreciated your assistance!

Special thanks to Janet Derrick who organized this endeavor (and who has been doing this for the past

nine years!) And very special thanks to our Religious Education children, our school children, our quiet an-
gels - anonymous volunteers, and all of you, our parishioners, who helped to provide a very special Christmas
for these children. Thank You for generous giving!

May God continue to bless you and your family at Christmas and in the coming year!

December 24, 2006

4th Sunday of Advent

Cycle C:

Mary trusted that the Lord's words to her

would be fulfilled. Step out in faith

and God will be there to guide you.

VOCATION VIEW:

(Luke 1:39-45)

SHARE-A-PRAYER: If you or someone you know

needs special prayers, phone our prayer
line and let us pray for you and your
loved ones. Phone 584-6954 or 585-
7247 and our prayer warriors will offer
their prayers up to heaven for you!

eace to you, Friends, Parishioners, at Christmastide.

May you live as Jesus did,

taking the world as it is,

and bringing to it love and compassion.

May you delight in your children and your grandchildren, in

your family and friends.

May you welcome the stranger,

knowing that Jesus came as a stranger

into a world that was challenged to recognize him.

May you find the Christ-child wherever you turn.

And may your heart be filled with

the Joy of Christmas, which is hope,

the Spirit of Christmas, which is peace,

and the heart of Christmas, which is love!

May God Creator, Savior, and Holy Spirit go with you!

GIFT FOR THE CHILD OF CHRISTMAS

A Communion Reflection by Donal Neary S.J.

And the shepherds came,

and it doesn't say they brought anything

no lamb, no hay, no food, no gifts for the child.

Yet they were the honored guests,

for we need to bring nothing to God

except the gift all can bring.

We bring ourselves, our love.

And even though love has its flaws, and is not perfect,

yet it is the choicest gift of all.

In it God recognizes us at our best,

and he recognizes the likeness of his son.

He welcomes our love with its flaws,

as when we think we are loving someone

when we are more filling our own needs:

loving someone only to fill loneliness

or for what another can give.

No love is perfect; every effort to love is a gift for God.

The relationships that last, with all their ups and downs,

are our Christmas gift to the child of God.

And every hug from a baby child is a beginning of our

deepest desire - to love and be loved.

In the broken marriage and disappointed relationship

there was the effort to love;

every bond of parent and child -

even in the worst of relations -

is a bond of love.

But somewhere love got lost.

In the middle of all this is the desire and effort,

even the struggle to love.

This desire and gift, given by God.

is what we bring to Jesus this night.

And God delights in love.

Page Eight - Prayer & Schedule of Events

http://www.stpatrick-largo.org

Sun.

10:00 AM

7:30 PM

Mon.

Tue.

6:00 PM

Wed.

6:45 AM
9:30 AM

6:45 PM

Thu.

10:00 AM

Fri.

10:00 AM

7:30 PM

Sat.

9:00 AM
3:30 PM
5:30 PM

Parish Meeting Rooms: Art = Art Room (School Jubilee Building); Cafe =
School Cafeteria; CH = Church, CR = Conference Room in Msgr. McCall Hall;
FLD = Field; MC = Media Center; MR = Music Room (School Jubilee Build-
ing); PE-A/B = PE portables; OLM = Office of Liturgical Music; PC = Msgr.
McCall Hall; PCLib = Msgr. McCall Library; REL = Religion Room (old Span-
ish Room); RE Office = Religious Education Office in PC; YR = Youth Room

12/24/06
NO Coffee and Donuts (PC)
RCIA Class (CR)
NO Religious Education for Children (School)
NO Junior High Youth Meeting (YR)
Al-Anon Meeting (CR)

12/25/06 - The Nativity of Our Lord

12/26/06
No School Christmas Break
NO Foundations of Prayer Mothers' Grp (CR)
Griefshare Meeting (Lib)
NO Bell Choir Practice (CH)
NO Foundations of Personal Prayer Mtg. (PC,CR)

12/27/06
No School Christmas Break
Men's Bible Study (CR)
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament (CH)
NO Bible Study (CR)
Benediction (CH)

12/28/06
No School Christmas Break
Legion of Mary (Lib)
NO Children's Choir Practice (OLM)
NO Adult Choir Practice (OLM)

12/29/06
No School Christmas Break
Faith Sharing Group (CR)
Our Lady's Oratory Prayer Group (CH)

12/30/06
Mission of St. Patrick Tutoring (CR)
Confessions (CH)
Confessions (CH)

Mass Intentions

The Week Ahead

Sat.

4:30 PM

Sun.

7:30 AM
9:00 AM
11:00 AM

Vigil Mass

4:30 PM
6:30 PM
Midnight

Mon.

9:00 AM
11:00 AM

Tue.

7:30 AM
9:00 AM

Wed.

7:30 AM
9:00 AM

Thu.

7:30 AM
9:00 AM

Fri.

7:30 AM
9:00 AM

Sat.

7:30 AM
9:00 AM
4:30 PM

Sun.

7:30 AM
9:00 AM
11:00 AM
5:30 PM

December 23, 2006
St. Patrick Parishioners

December 24, 2006
Draksler and Zorowski Families
Jean Southmayd
Carol Kerr (Living)

Christmas Eve - December 24, 2006
Frank Maltese
Michael Winn
Msgr. John M. McCall

Christmas Day - December 25, 2006
Jan Gradek
Matthew Moffatt

December 26, 2006
Emma DeClercq
Joseph Amadeo

December 27, 2006
Msgr. John M. McCall
Vocations

December 28, 2006
Robert Lauzon
Frank Maltese

December 29, 2006
William Hall
Madeline Carollo

December 30, 2006
Judy Didario
Frank Maltese
Brownie Parhalo

December 31, 2006
St. Patrick Parishioners
Nicholas Mangin
Jan Gradek
Joseph Frisch

Pray for our Military

Staff Sgt. William J. Condon, US Army, Afghanistan
Lt. Comm. Shawn D. Fitzpatrick, USN, Virginia
Sgt. Jason A. George, US Army, Korea
Lance Corporal Jorge Granados, USMC, Iraq
Sgt. Joshua Harmon, Kentucky
Pvt. Joshua Harrison, US Army, Afghanistan
Staff Sgt. Matthew Hicks, U.S. Army, Missouri
Airman Ryan Hines, USAF
Staff Sgt. Kevin Kinkade, U.S. Army, Kentucky
Pvt. 1st Class Nick Krege, USMC, Missouri
Specialist Daniel McCarley, US Army, Florida
Airman 1st Class Kevin McCarley, USAF, Germany
Ensign Christopher McDowell, USN, Mississippi
Pvt. Chris Reed, USMC, Missouri
Major Kristin Streukens, USAF
Major Scott Trapman, US Army, Fort Lewis, WA
Major Michael Trofinoff, US Army, Iraq
Staff Sgt. Saturnino Vilano, Jr., US Army, Afghanistan
Airman Christopher E. Villano, USN, Iraq

Please pray for the members of

our St. Patrick Parish family and

friends who have died recently:

Frank Bermudez

Michelle O'Brien

Anne Salvella

Dorothy Susanno

Carmella Venezio

`Round the Diocese & Saints Spotlight - Page Nine

http://www.stpatrick-largo.org

Diocesan Announcements

St. Stephen

St. Stephen, first martyr

Feast Day: December 26

St. Stephen is the patron saint of
deacons, but he should probably be
declared the patron saint of ministry
fairs and time and talent call-outs, too!
Early in the history of the early
Church, it became clear to the apostles
that there was more to do than they

could possibly accomplish alone. Calling the community
together, they selected seven people to distribute food to
the poor so that they could concentrate on preaching. But,
as so often happens, Stephen's ministry to the poor made
him visible and gave him many opportunities to talk about
the faith that led him to undertake these acts of charity.
Distressed by the number of converts he was making and
unable to refute his testimony, the religious leadership of
the day brought false charges against him and sentenced
him to death. Far more than just a "volunteer," St.
Stephen proved his commitment to the Lord by his
courageous and outspoken defense of the faith and his
willingness to forgive his persecutors, even as they stoned
him to death. May the example of this first martyr
challenge us to give generously of our time and talent in
the service of the Church.

St. John

St. John, apostle and evangelist

Feast Day: December 27

John, the beloved disciple, son of
Zebedee and the brother of James, was
one of the first apostles called by
Jesus. Modern Scripture scholars
disagree about whether or not he was
also the writer of the Book of
Revelation and the Gospel and epistles
that bear his name, but that controversy is less important
than the lesson that can be learned from his life and those
writings. Jesus called him and loved him and used him to
spread the Gospel of love. Privileged to be present at the
transfiguration, asked to watch and pray in the Garden of
Gethsemane, and given the responsibility to protect and
provide for his Mother at the foot of the Cross, St. John
said "Yes!" to Jesus, and then spent the rest of his life
faithfully following him and helping others to know and
love him, too. "We have come to know and believe in the
love God has for us

," he writes. "God is love, and whoever

remains in love remains in God and God in him

" (I John

4:16). Follow and love -- that's the condensed version of
St. John's life and writings and a sure recipe for good
stewardship of our vocations and the gifts entrusted to us!

Holy Innocents

Holy Innocents, martyrs

Feast Day: December 28

The infant, Jesus, whose birth we are
celebrating in this Octave of
Christmas, was not the only baby born
in Bethlehem that winter long ago.
Other newborns raised the hopes and

warmed the hearts of other families that year, too. But the
Magi, warned by an angel in a dream, went home without
returning to tell Herod where he could find the newborn
King of the Jews. Not knowing which was Jesus nor
where to find him, and fearful of the threat to his
sovereignty this infant king might pose, Herod ordered the
massacre of all the babies in the area. And hidden even in
this tragedy is the stewardship theme of gifts and grace:
What gifts they had, they gave to the Lord their innocent
suffering a foreshadowing of the crucifixion of the Sinless
One, the gift of their lives for the Lord who would in his
death overcome death and become the way to eternal life.
"Father, the Holy Innocents offered you praise by the
death they suffered for Christ. May our lives bear witness
to the faith we profess with our lips."

St. Thomas Becket

St. Thomas Becket (1118-1170), bishop and martyr

Feast Day: December 29

The trusted friend of King Henry II of England, St.
Thomas Becket was named Chancellor in 1154. Then,
seeking the political advantage of an alliance with the

Church, the king recommended that he also
be made Archbishop of Canterbury. But the
king hadn't counted on St. Thomas taking
his responsibilities as Archbishop so
seriously. "If we who are called bishops
desire to understand the meaning of our
calling and be worthy of it

," Becket wrote in

a letter, "we must strive to keep our eyes on
him whom God appointed high priest
forever, and to follow in his footsteps

Please join us for our annual Evening Prayer for Evangeli-
zation

on Sunday, January 14, 2007, 3 PM at St. Jerome

Catholic Church, 10895 Hamlin Blvd. Reception will fol-
low. Attendees are asked to assist in a new outreach effort
called Friends in Need. Gift cards for local gas stations,
drug stores, grocery stores or checks made payable to
Catholic Charities

will be greatly appreciated. Please RSVP

your attendance to the parish office before January 3! For
more info, contact the Diocesan Office of Evangelization &
Lifelong Faith Formation

at 341-6839 or

dmk@dosp.org

As Archbishop, St. Thomas began to live a more ascetic life and vigorously resisted the king's efforts to limit the rights
of the Church. Condemned for this disobedience to the king, St. Thomas was exiled. And when he returned to England
six years later, he was murdered in his own cathedral! His failure to do the politically expedient thing and his coura-
geous defense of the truth cost him his life, but this martyrdom resulted in his being declared a saint just three years later.
What does my discipleship cost me? How willing am I to make whatever sacrifices are necessary?