Advent Candle
The Advent Candle will be lit this week in memory of David Boyce.

Feast of the Immaculate Conception
This year, December 8, 2004 marks the 150th anniversary of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception, patroness of the United States. One hundred and fifty years will have elapsed since Blessed Pope Pius IX, declared the Most Holy Mother of God to have been completely exempt from every stain of original sin. In order to mark this event a bilingual Mass will be celebrated at St. Agnes Cathedral, Rockville Centre at 7:30 PM on Tuesday, December 7, 2004 by Bishop Murphy. This Mass will also be televised on Telecare. You are welcome to attend.

Night of Prayer for Life
The parish in conjunction with many parishes throughout the nation will participate in the national Night of Prayer for Life that will be held from the end of the 7:30 PM mass on Wednesday, December 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, until 1:00 AM Thursday, December 9, 2004. This is an effort to unite parishes across the nation to pray for a respect for all human life through prayer to our Eucharistic Lord. All are welcome.

Family Liturgy - Jesse Tree
The Family Liturgy Committee invites families who would like to learn the tradition behind the “Jesse Tree” as well as how to make one. On Friday, December 3rd, from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM in the school cafeteria, we will be gathering for a special workshop and for prayer and fellowship too. The cost for this workshop is $3.00 per family or per “Jesse Tree”. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Please bring scissors, colored pencils and a dessert or snack to share. Juice, coffee, hot chocolate and tea will be provided. Participation at this workshop is limited, so please sign-up after the 10:15 Mass, or at the rectory. In addition, information about the “Jesse Tree” will be available by request if you would like to bring this tradition into your own homes, but will not have the chance to attend the workshop. NOTE: Due to the cancellation of this event last year, those who signed up last year will be given first opportunity to participate this year.

EMs, Lectors and Altar Servers
Please pick up your ministry schedules for December and January in the Altar Servers Sacristy after Mass today.

Bread & Wine
The Eucharistic bread and wine for this week in in loving memory of Dominick Galizio from his children and grandchildren.

Catholic Celiac Society
A customer of the Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration at Clyde, Missouri has started the Catholic Celiac Society. They have a web site at www.catholicceliacs.org. The site is still under construction, but has some information that might be helpful.

Please Pray for the Repose of the Souls of the Recently Deceased
Rita Mistretta, Erhard Hamann, Richard Penninipede, and Vitina Amendolare

Altar Flowers
The flowers on the Blessed Mother’s Altar for this week are in thanksgiving for favors received from Eileen Williams.

What’s Up, Up There?
The report is that the north side of the roof is complete and the south side has only a few ridge caps left to install. Isn’t that good news? The work on the wheelchair ramp proceeds, the lightning protection system is almost completely finished and the last of the mortar repairs are being finished. Actually the first talk of removing scaffolding has been heard on the construction site. There is hope for our Christmas decoration deadline.

Prayer for Peace
On Monday evening, November 29th at 7:30 PM, we will gather for an evening of prayer for peace in our world. The war in Iraq has continued and the efforts of the peace-keepers continue to be frustrated. Our military who seek to support the peace continue to be far from their families and friends and their loved ones continue to live in fear for their safety. And so we seek to come together in prayer for an end to war and terrorism and for peace in all lands and among all people. Father Paul Hurley, a Major in the US Army, one of the chaplains at the Military Academy at West Point and a graduate of West Point itself will preside and preach at the service. Let us come together on this evening to pray for peace. As we begin our advent season this will certainly be a wonderful way to pray together and seek the peace that the Lord Jesus promises.

Sanctuary Lamp
The Sanctuary Lamp Candle will be lit this week in loving memory of John & Catherine Till from MaryLou & Tom.

Advent Evening Prayer
These days, unless we force ourselves, there is really no time to prepare our hearts spiritually for Christmas, or even to find a moment of sanity in the weeks beforehand. This Advent, our Social Justice Committee offers us an opportunity to do both with Evening Prayer on Sunday, December 5th at 7:30 PM in the church. This ancient evening prayer of our Church is a calming and peaceful way of focusing ourselves on Advent’s main event, the expectation of Jesus’ arrival, once more, in our hearts. This year the reflection will be given by Vincent Torti, a program developer for Good Samaritan Hospital, who has also taught Theology at two Catholic High Schools as well as scripture courses for adults. Please give yourself a gift this Advent, and join us in celebrating Advent the old fashioned way, with a prayer of joyful hope.

Prepare for Christmas
Sunday, December 5th
St. Ignatius Retreat House, Manhasset
Festivities begin with celebration of the Eucharist at 4:00 PM, followed by Cocktails and Buffet Dinner; tree trimming: Santa will be here; carols and a raffle. The cost is $40 per adult in advance; $50 at the door. Children under 16 are $10 and under 7, free. Call 621-8300, ext. 10.

Knights of Columbus
Christmas Tree and Wreath Sale
The Bellmore Knights of Columbus will be selling Christmas Trees, wreaths and grave blankets this year. The sale will begin Wednesday, December 1st at 9:00 AM. Come by and see our large selection at competitive prices.

Be An Angel!
Gift-giving and gift-receiving are meant to remind us of the real meaning behind our celebration of Christmas - God’s priceless gift of His Son, Jesus. And since the time that Mary and Joseph wandered homeless into Bethlehem, providing for the needy has always been a Christmas tradition. So, again this year, our parish will make available baskets filled with Angel Tags, each angel carrying the name of a gift needed by someone in our community. You are invited to take home an angel or two, sometime during the next couple of weekends, and bring your gifts to the church lobby on December 4th & 5th or December 11th & 12th. A special collection box will be placed there for gift cards & certificates. Please attach your Angel Tags, but do not wrap the gifts, as we will have wrap and ribbon available to go with them. The gifts will be distributed during the week of December 13th - 17th, so make sure you beat the December 14th deadline! God bless your generosity...through it may Jesus be born once more in all of our hearts this Christmas.

Adoption
Baby girls in China need homes. Infants and toddlers available. Older parents and singles welcome. For more information please call Barbara Salvesen at 845-623-5277.

In Your Prayers Remember the Sick
Patricia Birbiglia, Patti Fischer, Tom Bidell, Al Schuster, Baby Noah Pickus,
Catherine Donachie, Joan Stanton, Vincent Lovaglio, Dominick Graziano,
Elizabeth McCann, Catherine Doyle, Christine Sarnicola, Ginny Lewis, Sal Pitti
Florence Johanson, Julia Wiener and all the sick of the parish

Adult Faith Formation
How is Jesus Present in the Eucharist?
Monday, December 6th - 7:30 PM - Upper Church
Rev. Joseph DeGroco, Associate Professor of Liturgy
Seminary of the Immaculate Conception, Huntington
There seems to be much misunderstanding in the Catholic community as to how Jesus is present in the Eucharist. Some will say that Jesus is physically present in the consecrated bread and wine, while others will insist Jesus is there only symbolically. This presentation will explore what the Church means when it says that Jesus is really present in the Eucharist.

Christmas Wafers
In certain traditions a blessed wafer is shared among family members at the beginning of the evening meal on Christmas. This waver is meant to call to mind the advent of the real “Bread of Life” who came among us over 2,000 years ago. If you would like these blessed wafers, you may obtain them at the rectory office. The offering goes to Parish Outreach.

Food Pantry Weekend
December 4th & 5th
We could use everything especially pancake mix, syrup, sauce, macaroni & cheese, soups, juices, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, canned vegetables, canned fruit, tuna, jello, pudding, salad dressing, sugar, cookies, shampoo, hand soap, dish soap, laundry detergent, paper towels and toilet paper. Please leave your donated food on the benches in the front lobby of the church. We are happy to accept your food donations anytime at the rectory. Thank you for your generosity. We will be preparing food baskets for our neighbors at Christmas.

Children’s Christmas Pageant
Our Annual Children’s Pageant will be held on Sunday, December 19th at 3:00 PM in the Church. We will need many, many children ages 3 years and older to be our “adorable” angels and shepherds. We will also need some older school aged children to do some reading parts as well as dance liturgically. Our first practice meeting will be held on Friday, December 3rd at 4:00 PM in the Holy Family Chapel. For information, please call Rosemary Pettei in the Office of Christian Formation at 785-0130.

Al-Anon
Meetings every Wednesday at 8:00 PM and Sunday at 7:30 PM in the school cafeteria.

Alcoholics Anonymous
Meeting every Thursday at 7:30 PM in the school cafeteria.