December 9th, 2007 
TRANSFIGURATION/STS. PETER & PAUL PARISH
WEST HAZLETON, PENNSYLVANIA 
2nd SUNDAY OF ADVENT 

NEXT SUNDAY’S READINGS: As a way to prepare for Mass next Sunday, you may pray with the readings for next Sunday’s Mass: Isaiah 35:1-6, 10; James 5:7-10 and Matthew 11:2-11 (16)

CHRISTMAS WAFERS - You may purchase the wafers after all weekend Masses or at the Rectory during normal business hours. COST: $2.00 per pack of 4 wafers.

CHRISTMAS FLOWERS - All Christmas Flower envelopes will be placed on the altar(s) during the Christmas season. You may request the flowers in memory of a loved one, if you wish. 

FRIENDLY REMINDER - In July of this year, changes to our Mass schedule for 2008 were announced. BEGINNING IN JANUARY 2008, ALL WEEKDAY MASSES SHALL BE CELEBRATED AT 7:00 AM IN TRANSFIGURATION CHURCH. IN THE EVENT OF A FUNERAL, THE MASS SCHEDULED FOR THAT DAY SHALL BE CANCELLED AND RESCHEDULED FOR A LATER DATE.

RETIREMENT FUND FOR RELIGIOUS - The Catholic Church assists the financial need of elderly religious through the national appeal for the Retirement Fund for Religious. Today, 5,452 women and men religious need skilled nursing care that costs an average of $49,850 each. Please be generous to this collection.

ADVENT PENANCE SERVICES IN THE AREA:
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16TH
- St. Gabriel’s 2:00 - 4:00 PM
- Our Lady of Grace 4:00 - 5:30 PM
MONDAY, DECEMBER 17th
- Transfiguration 7:00 PM
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18th 
- St. John Bosco, Conyngham 7:00 PM
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19th
- Good Shepherd, Drums 7:00 PM
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20th
- St. Francis of Assisi 7:00 PM

SANCTUARY CANDLES:
(TR) In memory of Joseph Serta, Alfred Oshinski and John Baron Families requested by The Edward Oshinski Family
(STS) In memory of Violet Skernolis requested by a friend.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SICK OF OUR PARISH AND ALL OUR HOMEBOUND PARISHIONERS. 

STS - Agnes Novitsky

PLEASE PRAY FOR: Rose Marie Tomko (TR), Anthony Novitsky (TR), Mary Baradziej (TR), Agnes Kopec (TR), Gertrude Sypeck (TR), Irene Pisak (TR), Mildred Chicalese (STS) and Betty Majko (TR) 

MEETINGS ON THE HORIZON…..
December 11 - 7 PM - Youth Gr. Advisory Board - Past. Ctr. 

NOTE - If you or your loved one is hospitalized, especially when transferred from a nursing home, or admitted to a surrounding area hospital, please call the rectory and we will gladly include their name on our visitation and weekly prayer list. 

THANK YOU to FRANK J. SKOKOSKI, Atty. at Law in Hazleton, for placing an ad in our bulletin. Please remember to support the businesses that support our Parish Bulletin.

DECEMBER HAPPENINGS………
Dec. 9th - Youth Group Breakfast in Transfiguration School 7:30 am - 12:30 pm
Pictures with Santa at the Breakfast at a cost of $2.00 each (9 AM - 12 noon)
Youth Group going to St. Luke Pavilion (please meet there for 2 PM)
Dec. 16th - Children’s Christmas Party for our children from Sts. Peter & Paul’s and Transfiguration Parish - to be held in 
Transfiguration School from 2-4 PM
Dec. 17th - Transfiguration Penance Service at 7 PM
Dec. 20th - 1st practice for children’s Christmas pageant -
7 PM in Transfiguration Church
Dec. 21st - Anyone who wants to help decorate Transfiguration Church - please be at the church for 6 PM
Dec. 23rd - Final practice for children’s Christmas Pageant -
1 PM in Transfiguration Church
Dec. 24th - Children’s Christmas Pageant at the 4 PM Mass in 
Transfiguration Church
Dec. 29th - Youth Group Holiday Party - 6 PM in 
Transfiguration School (Please call Cristin 
Slattery to make your reservation at 459-0796)

BETWEEN MAN AND WOMAN: Questions and Answers about Same Sex Unions - #19 Conclusion cont.
In a manner unlike any other relationship, marriage makes a unique and irreplaceable contribution to the common good of society, especially through the procreation and education of children.
The union of husband and wife becomes, over a lifetime, a great good for themselves, their family, communities, and society. Marriage is a gift to be cherished and protected.
(Between Man and Woman: Questions and Answers About Marriage and Same-Sex Unions. Copyright © 2003, USCCB. All rights reserved.)

CCD DIRECTOR:
CHERYL KRIEGER
454-2094
December 9 - CCD Class
December 16 - CCD Class
December 23 - NO CCD Class
December 30 - NO CCD Class
January 6, 2008 - CCD Class
January 13 - CCD Class
January 20 - CCD Class
January 26 - Penance Retreat 12 noon - 2 PM -Pastoral Center
- 1 PM - Parent Meeting - Transfiguration Church

ADVENT - CHRISTMAS - EPIPHANY HOUSE BLESSINGS - Sunday, December 2nd began our new church year and with that our “Annual Blessing of Homes”. In order to visit those who work through the day, evening times are available. If you would like Fr. Mark to bless your home this year, please fill out the slip below and return it to the rectory. Homes will be blessed between December 3rd, 2007 and January 4th, 2008. Fr. Mark is looking forward to visiting with you…. Click Here for a Print Version

NEW PARISH MISSALS - This year, we are giving our parishioners the opportunity to memorialize our Annual Parish Missals that will be used for the liturgy of the Mass. These Missals will be kept in the Church. We will begin using our new Missals on the First Sunday of Advent, which is Sunday, December 2nd. You can memorialize a Missal in memory of a friend or a loved one. The donation is $10.00 
There will be a special bookplate (label) placed on the inside cover of the Missal with the name of the person(s) being memorialized along with the name(s) of those donating the Missal. PLEASE SPECIFY DESIRED CHURCH…...
If you are interested in memorializing a Church Missal, please fill out the form below, and return it, along with your donation, by mail or you can drop it in the collection basket in a plain white envelope marked “Church Missal”. We will begin putting the Memorial Labels in the books as they come in - beginning in the front of the church and working our way back. Donations will be accepted until the end of 2007 only. Click Here for a Print Version

KEEP CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS - The West Hazleton Knights of Columbus is currently selling “Keep Christ in Christmas” car / refrigerator magnets at a cost of $5.00 each. They are very beautiful and a great Christmas treasure. Please contact Jim Kaschak at 455-2150 if you are interested in purchasing one of the magnets.

CENTENNIAL WINE GLASSES - There are still a few of our Centennial Wine Glasses left to purchase. COST: $5.00 each or a gift box of 4 for $20.00 Please come to the rectory to purchase your commemorative Centennial Glasses. 
A SAMPLE OF THE GLASS IS ON DISPLAY IN THE BACK OF TRANSFIGURATION CHURCH.

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION - His Excellency the Most Reverend Joseph F. Martino, D.D., Hist. E.D., Bishop of Scranton, and the Office for Parish Life/Family Life wish to invite couples celebrating their 25th or 50th wedding anniversary in 2008 to a diocesan Wedding Anniversary Celebration on Sunday, May 4th. The event includes a 2:30 PM Mass at St. Peter’s Cathedral followed by a reception. Please contact our Parish Office at 454-3933 if you wish to receive an invitation before January 10th, 2008.

THE GIVING TREE - Catholic Social Services supplies our Parish with Christmas Tree “Decorations” that have ‘WISHES’ from some of the children in our area. Please take an “ANGEL” tag and make a child’s wish come true for Christmas…..Please place your unwrapped gifts with the tag attached under the Christmas Tree by Tuesday, December 12th at the latest. They will be taken down to Catholic Social Services on December 13th. 
Thank you for your continued generosity at this Holy and Blessed time of the year. 

CHOIR PRACTICE - Transfiguration Choir will have practice for the Christmas season on Tuesday, December 11th and December 18th at 6:30 PM. All are welcome to attend.

ORGANIST NEEDED - Transfiguration Church is looking for an organist to play at the 11 AM Mass. Please contact Fr. Mark at the rectory at 454-3933 if you are interested.

CHRISTMAS GIFTS - All Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, Ushers, Organists, Choir Members, Church Cleaners and Altar Servers are reminded to pick up their Christmas gift in the Church Sacristy. Enjoy!

COLLECTION FOR: 12-02-2007

(TR) Envelopes issued 659 envelopes used 304 (offering)
(STS) Envelopes issued 136 envelopes used 54 (offering)
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING YOUR PARISH

2008 CALENDARS ARE AVAILABLE FOR PICK UP IN THE BACK OF THE CHURCH.

TRANSFIGURATION PICNIC 2008 - New roasters are needed to replace all of our roasters that wore out at this year’s picnic. Any help you can give us in purchasing new roasters will be greatly appreciated. They can be dropped off at the Rectory during normal business hours. They shall be stored here in preparation for our picnic next year. We are looking for the large Hamilton Beach Roasters. You may be able to find them on sale in stores now because of the holidays.

CONFESSION - The Byzantine Franciscans of Holy Dormition Monastery in Sybertsville are available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation on THURSDAYS and FRIDAYS from 3:00 - 4:30 PM and 7:00 - 8:00 PM in the Monastery Chapel (all year round). All are welcome to come!

PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL - Volunteers are invited to serve on our Parish Pastoral Council. Please contact Fr. Mark to get involved. 

DIOCESAN ANNUAL APPEAL UPDATES …….
Here are the facts and figures to date for this year Diocesan Annual Appeal.
GOAL: PLEDGES TO DATE:
TR - $20,050.00 TR - $5,367.50
STS - $6,285.00 STS - $991.00
Thank you to everyone who has supported this year’s Appeal. 

TRANSFIGURATION CENTENNIAL COMMEMORATIVE BOOKS - Our final proof of the book has gone to the publisher for print. We HOPE to have our Centennial Books in hand by December 18th. They will be sold at the Rectory at a cost of $15.00 per book. These will make great Christmas gifts and they will have a memory of a lifetime.

CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES CORNER - Paul, a hard working father of two little boys, was laid off shortly before the Christmas Holiday. His employer could not make payroll. Paul found himself without gifts for his children on Christmas Eve. With nowhere to turn, Paul went to a local Catholic parish. The local pastor made arrangements with Catholic Social Services to supply the family with gifts for Paul’s two boys. Do not all children deserve a “brighter” Christmas season this year? Catholic Social Services and you - a perfect combination. Together, we can do great things.

NOTICE REGARDING SEXUAL ABUSE OF A PERSON UNDER AGE 18 BY ORDAINED OR LAY PERSONNEL OF THE DIOCESE OF SCRANTON - 
Such an act should be reported to the Diocese by calling the Victim Assistance Coordinator (570-344-5216) or the Chancellor (570-207-2216) or the Vicar for Priests 
(570-207-2269).
Upon receiving a report of this kind, the Diocese of Scranton is committed to assisting victims or survivors of sexual abuse in their pursuit of emotional and spiritual well-being. 

SCHOOL MASS - There will be a school Mass at Holy Family Academy on Wednesday, December 13th at 1 PM. All are invited to attend. This Mass is open to the public.

THE AMERICAN RED CROSS thanks everyone who participated in the recent blood drive at Transfiguration School. There were 27 units of whole blood collected.

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