OUR MINISTRY of PRAYER

Please remember in prayer the intentions written in our Book of Prayer located in each Church and the Parish Center entrance area. We also remember those persons who have requested prayers through the prayer chain.

Please remember in prayer the following parishioners who are homebound: Agatha Sicilia and Alice Springer.

Also, please remember the following parishioners in prayer: Francis Bittle, Dorothy Burkard, JoAnn Cannada, Dick Cool, Grace Crotts, Jack Dillon, Joan Fink, Ethel Fitzgerald, Doris Glass, Daniel Hartke, Ray Horst, Bob Kaas, Peggy Kauffman, Michelle Keegin, Jeanette Massena, Rosemary McDermott, Karen Mills, Dolores Munafo, Tony Newman, Rita Priest, Charles Putman, Mary Reckley, Elfriede Ridenour, Francis Smith, Margaret Smith, Robert Smith, Carroll Wivell and Lorraine Wivell.

FOR PRAYER REQUESTS

please call the Parish Office at (301) 447-2367 or Linda McCauley at (301) 271-7561.

LECTORS

Please pick up your copy of the “Workbook for Lectors and Gospel Readers” for Cycle C from the Sacristy and check your name off of the list as you do so. Thank you.

PARISH ADVENT RETREAT

Theme:           We are an Incarnational Church
Leader:           Barbara Anderson
When:          Wednesday, December 9
Time:            9:30 am to 12:00 pm
Where:         St. Anthony’s Upper Hall
Register:       Call Parish Office (301) 447-2367  
Cost:             Free Will Offering

CHRISTMAS MEMORIALS

If you wish to remember your loved ones during the Christmas season, donations for our Christmas decorations can be made by using the envelope provided in our packet of offering envelopes. Additional envelopes are in the back of the church. Please return the envelopes via the offertory collection by Sunday, December 20th. A listing of those remembered will be published in our bulletin for December 26 & 27. Thank you.

ADOPT-A-FAMILY

This season is time when we are more conscious of those who are not as fortunate as we are. Seton Center has provided us with 4 families for this year’s Adopt-a-Family program. You can help us reach out to some of our needy families by taking one or more of the ornaments in the back of St. Anthony Shrine and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church and Parish Center. They have family needs listed on them as well as a family code #. Be sure to take the ornaments with you in order to avoid duplicates. Return your gifts with boxes, wrapping paper, and receipts (for returns, if necessary). Also, please return the information ornament with the package. All gifts should be returned by Sunday, December 6. If you have any questions, please call (301) 271-4099.

FAMILY CHRISTMAS PROGRAM

All are invited to our Parish Christmas Concert, Pot Luck and Live Nativity at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel on Sunday, December 20.

• 3:00 pm The youth of our parishes will present a Christmas Concert and a sing-a-long.
• 4:00 pm For the Pot Luck Supper, please bring a dish indicated by the initial of your last name.  Entrée Q – Z / Vegetable I – P / Salad A – H (Help will be needed in the kitchen and to set up tables and chairs before the program.
• 5:00 pm The Live Nativity will take place on OLMC front lawn.

THANK YOU to our SPONSORS

Through the kindness of the sponsors that appear on the back cover, this bulletin is furnished to our parishes without charge. We feel the sponsors get good coverage with their ads. We hope our present sponsors will renew their ads and we urge you to patronize them. If you are interested in placing your ad on the back cover of our bulletin, please contact FATA at 1-800-934-1620 for details.

BAPTISMAL PREPARATION CLASSES - Congratulations to all new parents.

If you are planning to have your baby baptized, please contact the parish office to register for the baptismal preparation class. Parents and godparents are invited to attend. The next class will be Sunday, January 10, at 1 pm at Saint Anthony Shrine in the church. The class is expected to last about one hour. If you have any questions, please call Barbara at the parish office (301) 447-2367.

HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH MINISTRY

• Faith & Film - 12/5  Join your friends after SAS 4:00 Youth Mass for a movie night! Food & fun guaranteed! Featured film is Bella.  Meet on the seminary patio at 5:00 p.m. Pick up at 8:00 p.m. RSVP to Lori by 12/1.
• Mount 2010 - February 12 to 14  Join fellow Catholics for 3 days of amazing talks, praise and worship. Fifteen dollar deposit due to Lori Carter by Tuesday, 12/1/09. Forty dollars and Registration form due to Lori Carter by Saturday, 1/2/09. Male and female chaperones needed.

For information on High School Youth Ministry Events or to volunteer contact:  Lori Carter (301) 271-4050 kpltcarter@comcast.net.

YOUTH MINISTRY MUSIC PRACTICES

for students in grades 6 – 12 are held Sunday evenings 6:30 - 8:00 pm in the OLMC Parish Center. Upcoming practices: November 22, December 13 & 20. A Pizza social will follow the practices.

SMAC! YOUTH MINISTRY NEWS

All 6th, 7th and 8th grade parishioners are invited to the next SMAC meeting on Friday, December 4th from 7:15 to 8:45 pm in the old Schoolhouse at St. Anthony’s. Don’t miss the fun, food and friends! For information call Mike Miller at (301) 271-9871. 

SMAC! CALENDAR of EVENTS

• Nov 21 – Movie Night – 7:00 pm SAS Hall
• Dec 4 – SMAC Meeting – 7:15 pm SASH
• Dec 13 – Visit Sisters & Pizza Party – 2:00 pm Villa of St. Michael & Pizza Hut

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

• Nov 24 – Pastoral Council Mtg. – 7 pm SAS
• Nov 25 – Thanksgiving Mass – 7 pm SAS
• Dec 1 – Bring Your Own Craft – 1 pm SASH
• Dec 9 – Parish Advent Retreat – 9:30 am SAUH
• Dec 15 – Parish Penance Service – 7 pm SAS
• Dec 18 – KofC Christmas Dinner – 7:30 pm
• Dec 20 – Y.M. Christmas Concert – 3pm OLMC
• Dec 20 - Parish Christmas Potluck- 4pm OLMC
• Dec 20 - Live Nativity – 5 pm OLMC
• Dec 24 – Christmas Eve Mass – 4:00 pm SAS
• Dec 24 – Christmas Eve Mass – 4:15 pm OLMC
• Dec 24 – Christmas Eve Mass – 9:30 pm SAS
• Dec 25 – Christmas Day Mass – 9:30 am OLMC
• Jan 1 – Solemnity of Mary Mass – 9 am SAS

PEACE & SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE - an education and action ministry

November

• 25th Casseroles for FRM due date

To volunteer or participate in any activities, please contact Deacon John Hawkins at (301) 271-2194 or JHawkins@archbalt.org.

“This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.” John 15:12

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FROM BARBARA . . .

We are not a people who have experienced a royal leader. In fact our ancestors fought a revolution to break away from royal leadership. But as Catholic Christians, we are baptized into the kingship of Jesus. The baptism ritual tells us “As Christ was anointed Priest, Prophet, and King, so may you live always as a member of his body, sharing everlasting life.” The book of Revelation tells us that “he has made us into a kingdom, priests for his God and Father…” We all share in the ministry of Christ. Take time this week to reflect on how you minister in Christ’s name.

Next week we begin Advent, the time when we spiritually prepare to celebrate God’s incarnation as a human being. For your convenience, there are the blue books available in the back of both churches and parish center; a weekly reflection sheet in the bulletin; a parish retreat; and our parish Advent service. Details can be found elsewhere in the bulletin. I hope that you will take advantage of the various resources and opportunities that will be offered to prepare for this celebration and to anticipate the second coming of Christ.

As we celebrate the national holiday of Thanksgiving this week, I want you to know that I give thanks for all of you. So many people offer their gifts and talents to these faith communities. I am truly blessed to have been called to serve in these parishes.

May God continue to bless us all.

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ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC CHURCH COUNTRY CHRISTMAS CRAFT FARE

Saturday, December 5, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
St. Joseph's Parish Hall
DePaul Street, Emmitsburg, MD
Breakfast & Lunch will be available
Sponsored by St. Joseph's Sodality

MOTHER SETON SCHOOL BREAKFAST with SANTA & HOLIDAY BAZAAR

Saturday, December 5, 8 am – 12 pm

Mother Seton School, Emmitsburg, invites you to a fun morning of breakfast with Santa and also a great ‘one stop shop’ for your holiday gift giving. Breakfast will consist of pancakes, bacon, scrambled eggs, sausage gravy, biscuits, and home fries.  Cost of breakfast is $6.00 ages 7 to adult, $4.00 ages 3 to 6, and ages 2 and under are free.  ($1.00 will be added to each ticket purchased at the door.) Have your picture taken with Santa for $5.00. Holiday gifts for purchase will be available from local crafters and home business consultants.  A bake table with delicious pies, cakes, and cookies will also be available.  To pre-order tickets or for more information, please contact MSS at (301) 447-3161.

HOT MEALS for NEEDY

The Ladies of Charity and the Council of Churches will be sponsoring a hot meal on the last Saturdays of the month for the following five cold months: November 28, December 26 (a special meal and gifts will be given for those that visit), January 30, February 27 and March 27.

The meals will be served at Elias Lutheran Church on North Alley in Emmitsburg by a non-denominational, Christian organization whose mission is to provide nourishing meals, fellowship and encouragement to those in need. Please check for details at: Seton Center, Up County Pregnancy Center and Food Bank

RACHEL’S VINEYARD

Do you know someone who is hurting from the pain of abortion? There is HOPE & HEALING for those who are suffering the after-affects of abortion trauma. All communication is strictly confidential. Counseling - Spiritual Support – Rachel’s Vineyard Retreats. 410-625-8491 or 1-800-286-4224 or email: projectrachel@ archbalt.org. www.project-rachel.net (local website) www.rachelsvineyard.org (national website)

BON SECOURS SPIRITUAL CENTER
1525 Marriottsville Road, Marriottsville Md. 21104

Friends Day of Prayer
Wednesday, December 2, 9:30 am – 3:00 pm

We begin with a morning presentation at 10:00 am.; Mass in the chapel; a delicious lunch and an afternoon presentation at 1:30 pm. There is also an hour of free time after lunch to walk the beautiful grounds, pray the labyrinth, or just to relax outdoors at the pond. $30 (includes breakfast between 8:00 and 9:30 am and lunch). Guided By: Rev. Eugene Nickol of Our Lady of the Fields Church in Millersville.

A Franciscan Christmas - We All Have One
Friday, December 4, 9:30 am – 3:30 pm

Francis of Assisi is one of the best loved saints of all time. Few people are aware that Francis began the custom of setting up a nativity scene at Christmas time, and the first to present a "living nativity" during Christmas Eve Mass. We will discuss the life and little known facts about Francis, his initiation of the Christmas customs, and the experience and miracle of the first "Greccio", the living nativity as well as share some of our own family Christmas customs.. $50. Guided By: Mary Jo Johnson, SFO.

The Word Made Flesh: An Advent Day of Embodied Prayer and Reflection
Saturday, December 5, 9:30 am – 3:30 pm

As Christians, we believe that God became human in the form of Jesus. We also believe that, as humans, we are created in the image of God. This day of prayer and reflection will offer an opportunity--through various spiritual practices--to explore the incarnation and our connection to it, leading to a deeper and more meaningful Advent journey. $50. Guided by: Tracy Radosevic, Biblical Storyteller.

Care for the Care Giver
Saturday, December 5, 9:00 – 11:00 am
Wednesday, December 16, 6:30 – 8:30 pm

If you are a caregiver, we want you to be well and invite you to spend some “low key” time of personal sharing, answer seeking, being cared for and comforted. We will explore emotions and issues about grief and guilt and the joys and satisfactions connected with personal care giving. We will pray for you and your loved ones, and offer spiritual support to help you in your care efforts.  Please come and be with us. Suggested Donation: $15 (or what you can afford).

To register, please call (410) 442-1320 or visit www.BonSecoursSpiritualCenter.org