Dece,ber 14, 2008

University Catholic Center

December 14th, 2008

Third Sunday of Advent

The UCC is on our Christmas Break Schedule—details below! Christmas Pageant Rehearsal

Advent/Christmas Schedule at the UCC

Everyone and anyone from age 0 - 100 is invited to participate in the annual UCC Christmas Eve pageant. As you may know, no prior experience is required (or expected) and you won't have a single line to memorize or song to sing. We'll be getting organized and handing out costumes on Sunday, December 21 immediately following the 10:30 am. Mass. The more the merrier!

* Today, December 14th—10:30 am and 8 pm Masses * Monday, Tuesday, December 15-16—Normal Schedule * Wednesday, December 17—UCC Closes for break. No daily Mass until January 12th * Sunday, December 21—10:30 am and 8 pm Masses * Wednesday, December 24th: 6:00 pm — Family Christmas Eve Mass 9:00 pm — Blue Christmas Mass * Thursday, December 25th: - No Mass at the UCC * Sunday, December 28th—10:30 am Mass only * Thursday, January 1st— No Mass at the UCC * Sunday, January 4th — 10:30 am and 8 pm Masses * Sunday, January 11th — 10:30 am and 8 pm Masses * Monday, January 12th Building Reopens (9 am to 5 pm) Daily Mass resumes normal schedule * Sunday, January 18 — Normal Sunday Mass schedule * Monday, January 19 — UCC Closed for MLK, No Mass

Blessings at Home! The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has a great resource for your homes— “Catholic Blessings and Prayers”. This book contains various prayers for you to use in your homes, your “domestic churches”. You can find links to purchase them online at www.utcatholic.org/links.php under “From the bulletin…”. Check out the book’s Blessing of a Christmas Tree and Blessing of a Christmas Manger online at www.utcatholic.org/ documents.php listed under “Liturgy”. CONGRATULATIONS AND WELCOME to Ingrid Haeckel, Andrew Kaul, and Stephanie Abma who recently celebrated their full initiation into the Catholic Church. Ingrid was confirmed and received the Eucharist for the first time at the 8:00 p.m. Mass on Sunday, November 23. Andrew and Kaul were confirmed and celebrated first Eucharist at the 12:30 p.m. Mass this past Thursday, December 11. We are very happy for them and pray for their continued growth in Christ. If you would like more information about the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) process and becoming Catholic, please contact Fr. Ed Koharchik at [email protected] or 4767351, ext. 12. Mission Trip Bake Sale Results Many thanks to all who supported the Belize Mission Trip during our fall bake sale. This year, the bake sale helped raise $221.74 for food and lodging during our students' stay in Belize. Thank you for your support!

READINGS FOR THE WEEK Mon: Tues: Wed: Thurs: Fri: Sat: Sun:

Nm 24:2-7,15-17a; Mt 21:23-27 Zep 3:1-2,9-13; Mt 21:28-32 Gn 49:2,8-10; Mt 1:1-17 Jer 23:5-8; Mt 1:18-25 Jgs 13:2-7,24-25a; Lk 1:25-25 Is 7:10-14; Lk 1:26-38 2 Sm 7:1-5,8b-12,14a,16; Rom 16:25-27; Lk 1:2638

Due to the Christmas Break, all bulletin announcements for December 21st through January 11th are due tomorrow (Monday)! Want to avoid the collection basket? Don’t want to worry about not having cash for forgetting your checkbook? Heading out of town but still want to give to the UCC collection? You can setup automatic monthly giving online at utcatholic.org/donate.php

Want to be Confirmed? Bishop Aymond will celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation at the UCC on Sunday, April 19 at the 8 p.m. Mass. Any students wishing to be confirmed then should register for weekly classes that will begin on January 27. Jim Harrington and Deacon John will coordinate the gatherings. The on-line confirmation registration form is found at www.utcatholic.org. There is a no fee, and all registrants will need to provide their baptismal certificates. Contact Deacon John for any additional details. Fr. Isaac Hecker, CSP, Founder of the Paulists, pray for us! If you are concerned about your own or a loved-one's harmful use of alcohol or drugs call the Alcohol and Drug Assistance Ministry (ADAM) toll free at 1-866-203-4087 for confidential help.

Our Gifts to God $3,500 $3,000 $2,500 $2,000 $1,500 $1,000 $500 $0

$3,011

$2,676

$2,373 $1,580

11/16

11/23

11/30

12/7

Week of December 15

The Numbers: 9 am Mass: $900 11:30 am Mass: $806 5 pm Mass: $175 8 pm Mass: $795 Other Income: $51,451 (matching gift arrived)

Thank you for your generosity! $711 was collected in last week’s Black Bag to assist the Mary House Catholic Worker. Blue Christmas Eve Mass—9:00 pm Rather than being a time filled with lights and laughter, gifts topped with red bows and holiday parties where family and friends feast and engage in light-hearted conversation, for many people, Christmas is a very lonely, depressing, "blue\ time. Whether grieving the loss of loved ones, other losses, feeling alone, wounded or otherwise disconnected from the usual holiday festivities, Christmas can be a very difficult time, especially when it comes to attending Mass. If you are feeling out of synch this Christmas season, know that you are not alone. The University Catholic Center invites you to come and bring your life experiences and feelings. You are welcome and accepted. December 24, Christmas Eve - 9:00 p.m. Life isn't perfect. If it were, Jesus would not have had to come. Prayer Request for Zach Zach Rodriguez is a 9 year old from Pflugerville. Please pray for Zach as he battles leukemia. Due to complications including brain surgery, in just 4 months his insurance is about to reach it’s lifetime limit. He still has years of chemo to go. Please pray for him & if possible donate a monetary gift to the Zach Gift Fund. Any size donation would be appreciated. For more information, visit : www.zachgiftfund.com We encourage you to pray often for his recovery and easing of his pain during his treatment.

Weekly Reflection Question: John speaks of his baptism with water. How are fulfilling your baptismal call to be a priest, prophet and king? Christmas Flowers Please help make our worship space beautiful for Christmas by donating poinsettias or other flowers as a memorial for a loved one. The names of those memorialized will be listed in our bulletin. Flowers can be brought to the UCC on Sunday, December 21 through Tuesday, December 23.

Monday Dec 15 — Weekday of Advent Finals * 12:05 pm—Mass Holy Spirit Chapel * 12:30 pm—Reconciliation St. Paul Rec. Chapel * 7 pm — RCIA Catacombs Tuesday Dec 16 — Weekday of Advent Finals * 12:30 pm—Mass Holy Spirit Chapel * 1 pm—Reconciliation St. Paul Rec. Chapel * 2 pm — Staff Advent Party Offsite * 7 pm — UGAP Zilker (Trail of Lights)

The UCC will close following the Noon Mass. Wednesday Dec 17—Weekday of Advent Dorms Close UCC Closed. No Daily Mass “O Wisdom” Thursday Dec 18 — Weekday of Advent UCC Closed. No Daily Mass “O Sacred Lord” Friday Dec 19 —Weekday of Advent UCC Closed. No Daily Mass “O Flower of Jesse’s stem” Saturday Dec 20—Weekday of Advent “O Key of David”

Sunday Dec 21 —Fourth and Final Sunday of Advent

Masses at 10:30 am and 8 pm

“O Radiant Dawn” * 10:30 am Mass will be for repose of the soul of Joe Rizzo. * 8 pm — RCIA Dismissal Mother Teresa Room View the master calendar online at utcatholic.org Graduating? Looking for what’s next? Catholic 20-Somethings of St. Theresa is a community of those in their 20’s looking to grow in holiness and their Catholic faith. We are a friendly, active group with a variety of spiritual, social and service activities planned throughout the year. Please join us every Sunday for 5 p.m. Mass and dinner afterward. Meet before or after Mass in the foyer. To see our calendar, visit www.catholic20somethings.com and subscribe to the mailing list to receive announcements about upcoming events. For more information, e-mail Justin Golbabai at [email protected] or call Trey Ange at (512)589-4519. Other Young Adult Groups: UGAP at the UCC—[email protected] St. Austin’s — [email protected] St. Mary’s Cathedral—(512) 476-6182 Ext. 112 Jen Jones St. Louis the King— www.slya.org St. Ignatius, Martry — Amy at 512-478-4440