Advent Candle
The Advent Wreath Candle will be lit this week in memory of Thomas Rathgaber.

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.

Holy Day Mass Schedule
Wednesday, December 8th is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and a Holy Day of Obligation. Scheduled Masses are: 6:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 5:00 PM and 7:30 PM. There will be a vigil mass on Tuesday, December 7th.

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. 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 and bring your gifts to the church lobby this weekend or December 11th & 12th. A special collection box will be placed there for gift cards & certificates. 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.

Sanctuary Lamp
The Sanctuary Lamp Candle will be lit this week in honor of Antoinette Check for the occasion of her 75th birthday from her family.

Bread & Wine
The Eucharistic bread and wine for this week is in memory of Linda Richards from Gerry & Bob Benjamin.

Friendly Seniors
Meeting Tuesday, December 7th, at 1:00 PM in the Holy Family Chapel. New members over age 55 are welcome.

Nocturnal Adoration
First Tuesday, December 7th, at 8:00 PM in the church.

Please Pray for the Repose of the Souls of the Recently Deceased
Ursula Nemeiksis and Fred Allocca

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.

Rosary Altar Society
Our next monthly meeting will be Monday, December 6th at 8:00 PM in the school cafeteria. To put us in the “Holiday Mood”, Al Tepedino and Vicky Sorrentino will entertain us with beautiful Christmas Carols and songs. Refreshments will be served - please bring something for the dessert table. Also, please bring an unwrapped item or two to be donated to Pilgrim State for Christmas. Some suggestions are gloves, hats, shampoo, shirts, slippers, toothpaste, playing cards, etc. (no glass items).

Thank You
To all who helped make our Cake Booth at the Holiday Vendor Fair a great success - from donating items to purchasing and helping at the booth - thank you very, very much! And we had a great variety, too!
-Daphne Reinhardt and Daphne Mullaly

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.

What’s Up, Up There?
They’re busy doing little projects that bring us closer each day to the joyful day when we’ll be able to say “it’s finished.” One of the little side jobs that will be completed this week is the rebuilding of the planter at the base of the crucifix on the side of the Church. The wooden planter will be replaced by a brick one with a limestone cap. Our crucifix will be renewed and the corpus of Jesus will be re-hung in the days to come.

Knights of Columbus
Christmas Tree and Wreath Sale
The Bellmore Knights of Columbus are selling Christmas Trees, wreaths and grave blankets beginning at 9:00 AM. Come by and see our large selection at competitive prices.

New Year’s Eve Party
8:00 PM - 1:00 AM - $64 per person
Information and reservations: Jack Falci 804-2850

Charismatic Renewal Center
The Diocesan Office of the Charismatic Renewal Center will sponsor an evening of prayer on Monday, December 13th at 8:00 PM in the Holy Family Chapel. “The Laity in the Church” will be presented by Jim Anderson, a teacher at Sacred Heart Academy and a long time teacher in the Charismatic Renewal. Everyone is welcome. For information call the Renewal office at 631-952-7400.

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

New Life - New Love
The parish rejoices with our young families who celebrate the baptism of a child. Please be assured of our prayers and support. We welcome our newest parishioners.

Kevin Michael Murray Thomas Nicholas Giglio Robert Charles Ambrosino Emma Margaret Ambrosino Michael James Kalista Julie Marie Lange James Larsen LoPalo Angela Nancy Praino Vincent Matthew Spano

Isabella Rose Zullo Adam Joseph Schmitt Victoria Lyn DeLeo Christopher George Fasano, Jr. Anthony Joseph Messina Kevin Salvatore Psomas Timothy John Trainor Isabel Mia Ulmschneider Shelby Eileen O’Rourke

We Are Eternally Grateful
Last week, with your help, our St. Vincent de Paul Society and Outreach provided a full day of Thanksgiving food - breakfast and dinner, from soup to nuts - for more than 300 people in some 75 families. The turkey certificates were a huge success. The people loved the idea of being able to pick out their own turkey. They also enjoyed all the extra goodies we were able to provide due to your generosity. So, thank you from the bottom of our hearts, and thank you for your love for our needy neighbors.

Christmas Candle
The beautiful red candles on the Main Altar may be memorialized to honor your loved ones. The offering of $50 can be made at the Rectory Office.

Share the Good News
Celebrating Advent
Leaving the time for quiet and recollection during these hectic days before Christmas is often difficult. As a Church we celebrate Advent during these days in the hope that we focus on the real meaning of the season. Below you will find many programs that hopefully will nourish your spirit for the season.

Advent Evening Prayer
Sunday, December 5th, 7:30 PM in the Church
Our Social Justice Committee offers us an Evening Prayer. 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.

An Evening of Lessons and Carols
Sunday, December 12th, 7:30 PM in the Church
This is an annual tradition here at St. Barnabas. Through the beautiful music from the past and present we contemplate God’s love for humanity in the incarnation of his son Jesus.

Children’s Christmas Pageant
Sunday, December 19th, 3:00 PM in the Church
Come see our children act out the story of the first Christmas at the annual Children’s Christmas Pageant. All families are invited to attend. Refreshments to follow.

Advent Penance Service
The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be available at many times in preparation for Christmas, but in particular at a special prayer service on Tuesday, December 21st at 7:30 PM in the Church.

Sacrament of Reconciliation
Confessions are held on the following dates and times in the Church:
Saturday, December 11th: 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM
Saturday, December 18th: 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM & 4:00 PM to 4:45 PM
Friday, December 24th: 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon

Catholic Daughters of the Americas
The next meeting of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Court Mother Seton #2413, will be held on Tuesday, December 7th at 7:30 PM in the school cafeteria. After a short meeting we will have our Christmas party. For further information, please call Jackie after 7:00 PM at 781-7846.

Girl Scout Bake Sale
Girl Scout Troop 942 will be having a bake sale after the 5:00 PM Mass on Saturday, December 11th and after all the Masses on Sunday, December 12th in the lobby of the Holy Family Chapel .

Christmas Flowers
Remember you loved ones living and deceased at Christmas by having poinsettias placed on the altar in their honor. Please Click Here to print out a form, which you can fill out and drop off at the rectory or in the collection basket. The offering is $15.00.