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15 MAY 2016 OF | PENTECOST 11 DECEMBER 2016 | THE THIRD SUNDAY ADVENT

Saint Anne

SEAL BEACH

Our Lady of Guadalupe by Alma Yamazaki

MASSES: SAT: 5:00 PM, SUN: 8:00, 10:00 AM,12:00, 4:00 PM, DAILY: 9:00 AM CONFESSIONS: Mon-Sat 8:30 AM, Sat 4:00-4:45 PM M s g r . M i k e H e h e r , P a s t o r | [email protected], 562 -431-0721 Ext. 14 F r . B e n T r a n , P a r o c h i a l V i c a r | [email protected], 562 -431-0721 Ext. 11 F r . R o b e r t V i d a l , P a s t o r E m e r i t u s | [email protected] D e a c o n P e t e r N g u y e n | [email protected] A m y P a p a g e o r g e s , D i r e c t o r o f F a i t h F o r m a t i o n | [email protected], 562 -431-0721 Ext. 16 J y l l i a n R h o d e s , Y o u t h M i n i s t r y / C o n f i r m a t i o n | [email protected], 562 -431-0721 Ext. 15 J a n C o o p e r , F r o n t O f f i c e | [email protected] 340 10TH ST. | SEAL BEACH CA 90740 | 562-431-0721 | WWW.STANNESEALBEACH.ORG | MON.—FRI. 8:45—4:00

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St. Anne

11 December 2016

CALLING What does Christ expect of his disciple? When I was growing up I thought all that Jesus wanted from me was to obey the Ten Commandments and the seven precepts of the church. Oh, yes, and help the poor and support missionaries. Later, when I started wanting to become a priest, I realized that Christ was looking for each of us to find and follow our calling. Mine was to the seminary to see if I was suitable, even worthy, to be ordained a priest. My brother and sister had a different calling: to marriage. When people live longer nowadays it is possible that a single person might have two or more callings over the course of a lifetime. All vocations are a mixture of a personal desire and a confirmation of that desire, as any fellow knows who has had a crush on a particular woman who just happens to not be the least bit interested in him. I thought I knew how to be a priest when I got ordained: just do all the stuff that the priests I admired did, plus the stuff I was assigned as my duties. But a vocation is not just a role to be played. A parish priest develops a relationship with the people he serves and thereby he learns how to live for them and give them the service the Church called him to. Their relationship develops over time as he learns who the members of his flock are and how they wish to be served. Like spouses and everybody else with a real calling, priests ministrations have to be found worthy. They have to delight the object of their devotion. I remember that my father when he worked in San Francisco used to love to go occasionally to Gump’s or Tiffany’s and pick up some lovely bracelet or necklace for my mother. That gift would create an occasion for all of

the family to go out to some fancy San Francisco restaurant so she could wear the new item. Finally one day when my father brought her another gift, she insisted that he take it back. What was wrong? Did she not like it? She told my father, “Pat, I know you love me. You don’t have to spend all that money. Look, why don’t you just bring me flowers, okay?” That settled it; every Friday he brought home for her a beautiful bunch of flowers, whatever was in season. He loved her and learned how she wished to be loved. Now I am more convinced that what Christ expects of me is to listen for him when he speaks in my soul and when he reveals himself in the people and activities of my life. Among the prayers I make every morning, I ask that I may be given the grace to have some idea what his will is for me that day and then I ask that he would give me the courage and creativity to carry it out. Courage because I don’t think God’s will is that I need merely be compliant—not sinning and doing a little good every now and then—rather it is something that asks so much of me that only with courage will I be able to accomplish it. And creativity because I am pretty sure he expects me to collaborate with him in finding the most successful way to accomplish his will. We all are called to love and have to learn the best way for each of us to do that. And each of us must pray that God blesses us as we try to become worthy our calling. Msgr Mike

Third Sunday of Advent

Around our Parish KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS MONTHLY MEETING/MEMBERSHIP All interested Catholic men are invited to attend our Council meetings. We typically meet the 1st Monday of each month at 7:00 PM in the Parish Hall. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 3rd. For additional information, please contact J. Jones at 562-936-0164 or Bob Hannan at 562-594-4762. PARISH FOOD DRIVE ENDS NEXT WEEK St. Anne's Knight of Columbus are collecting cash, checks, and/or canned and boxed food donations at all masses until 12/18. All donations will go toward helping our neighbors in need this Glorious Christmas season. Thank you in advance for your continued generosity. “Help Us Help Those In Need”

WOMEN’S GUILD JANUARY MEETING Our next meeting will be on January 23rd — the Spudtacular Potato Bar. MONTHLY MEETING/MEMBERSHIP St. Anne’s Women’s Guild general meetings are usually the 4th Monday of each month in the Parish Hall. To support our ministries and speakers as a member, please contact Joanne Groustra at 562-296-8705.

ADVENT CLASSICAL CONCERT Our parish will host an Advent concert on Monday, Dec. 12th at 7:00 p.m. A trio of professional classical musicians (flutist, violinist, cellist) will present an hour repertoire of Classical and Christmas music in our sanctuary. Please plan to attend and invite your friends. This free concert is an early Christmas gift to the Community of Seal Beach.

PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY In addition to those who receive shawls made with love and prayers, members of the Prayer Shawl ministry delivered 27 sets of scarves and hats they made to Mercy House last week. May God continue to bless these women who touch lives and hearts in a profound way.

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OUR MISSION: Saint Anne Church exists to help us become disciples of Jesus Christ who connect with God, grow in faith, and serve in love.

CLEANING THE CHURCH If you are handy with a dust rag or vacuum, please join other parishioners to help prepare our church for Christmas liturgies! Cleaning will begin after the 9:00 a.m. Mass on Tuesday, December 20th. The more the merrier so please lend a hand!

CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS CHOIR There is still time to sign up for the Children’s Christmas Choir which performs at the Christmas Eve mass at 3:30 p.m. All children ages 7—18 are welcome. Practices are 12/13 and 12/20 from 2:40-3:00 p.m.

ANGELS & SHEPHERDS NEEDED Calling all children of the parish ages 4—7! Our Children’s Christmas Mass needs many little angels (girls) and shepherds (boys) to participate on Christmas Eve at 3:30. The children should wear a simple costume: girls can wear wings or a halo with a dress, boys can wear a shepherd tunic or head covering. Join Mary and Joseph in enacting our gospel reading. Sign up at [email protected].

LIFE, JUSTICE & PEACE MINISTRY WOW! Thank you to all who donated coats, socks and blankets. We had an overwhelming response; many were like new and some purchased new items! Your donations will keep out the chill for our brothers and sisters most in need this cold weather season. We are no longer collecting these items but we will continue to accept socks. May God bless you for your generous hearts!

RETIREMENT FOR RELIGIOUS This weekend we will take up a second collection to support to religious institutes that have an unfunded past service liability. It distributes direct care, planning and implementation assistance from the fund to religious institutes based on specific criteria approved by the conferences of major superiors and bishops. Your generosity is deeply appreciated.

Third Sunday of Advent

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9:00 AM MASS INTENTIONS 12/12 12/13 12/14 12/15 12/16 12/17

For the People Jose Agustines Sophie Roshak Kelly Kiely Germayne Cumby Karen Castellana ( Rest in God’s love and peace)

PLEASE PRAY FOR Fr. Bob Vidal, Katia Bergstrom, Juanita Kho, Julia Poirier, Jim Swearingen, Brenda Malloy, Bart Monge, Ed Palacol, Kathleen Kastner, Jeanette Brent, Aurora Lavadia, Mike Pendleton, Linda Medcalf, Eileen Nelson

Around our Diocese PENANCE SERVICES All services begin at 7:00 p.m. Mon., Dec. 12—St. Mary by the Sea, Huntington Beach Tuesday, Dec. 13—St. Bonaventure, Huntington Beach Wednesday, Dec. 14—St. Joachim, Costa Mesa Friday, Dec. 16—Sts. Simon & Jude, Huntington Beach Thursday, Dec. 22—St. John the Baptist, Costa Mesa

NEW AUXILIARY BISHOP FOR OUR DIOCESE The Press Office of the Holy See announced that Bishopelect Timothy Freyer, current Vicar for Priests in the Diocese of Orange, has been appointed by Pope Francis as Auxiliary Bishop for the Diocese of Orange, assisting Bishop Kevin Vann. The date of his episcopal ordination will be January 17, 2017. In his new role, Bishop-elect Freyer says he will assist Bishop Vann in any way he can, including to develop the diocese’s new pastoral plan. He will also focus on evangelization, including creating experiences, ministries and structures that will bring people closer to Christ.

CHRISTMAS AT THE CATHEDRAL Celebrate the joy of this Holy Season with spectacular Carol settings with Guest Tenor César Sánchez and the Choirs of Christ Cathedral and Orchestra on December 16th from 7:30-9:00 p.m. in the Arboretum on the Christ Cathedral campus. Ticket prices are: Special Front Seating $40, General Seating $25, Senior (65+) Seating $20, and Student with ID $10. To purchase tickets, please call 714-971-2141 ext. 5529, or visit christ-cathedral-concerts.ticketleap.com