Second Sunday of Advent
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Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11; 2 Peter 3:L8-14; Mark 1:1-8. The prophet Isaiah speaks for the Lord in giving comfort to his people, proclaiming the service of Jerusalem at an end—and that her guilt is expiated. They are to prepare the way of the Lord, for the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and he will shepherd them with care. In the second reading, Peter writes to his community that the day of the Lord will come like a thief. Therefore, they ought to conduct themselves in holiness and devotion...eager to be found without spot or blemish before him. In
the Gospel, John the Baptists heralds the coming of Jesus as he exhorts his listeners to turn away from sin and be baptized.Domenica 2A Di Avvento
Risuona il grido di Giovanni Battista, perché si prepare la strada del Signore. I cuori si convertano per fare giustizia, compiere opera di amore, aprire l’animo alla pietà, per ritornare a Dio con tutto il cuore, con tutta l’anima e con tutte le forze.
將臨期第二主日
聖經中三位人物告訴我們將臨期應有的精神，第一位是依撒意亞先知，他的話語給人帶來希望：「安慰我的百姓……她的苦役己滿期，她的罪債己清償」。第二位是馬利亞，天主之母，她的服從打開了聖子降生成人，救贖的大門。第三位是若翰洗者為主預備道路。
要活出這種精神，首先要像依撒意亞先知所說的，懷着盼望的心情等待。所期盼的不是世界上的物質，而是心靈上的珍寶——耶穌的來臨。第二要像聖母般的服從，又像聖母一樣珍愛耶穌。最後，要懷着像洗者若翰般的熱忱，努力修直主的道路，所謂修直主的道路，那就是在寧靜、祈禱和克已的態度去生活。在這段時日中盡力做慈善的工作，特別記得有需要的人，因為在這個人人歡樂的時期，對於貧苦、孤獨、失業、傷心的人來說特別覺得難過，要為他們做些事情。總之不要過一個世俗的、祇顧物質的聖誕節才好。From the Pastor’s Desk
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Today we celebrate The Second Week of Advent and the theme for this week is hope. I would to share with you an article by Mark Searle.
“Human beings cannot live without hope. Unlike the animals, we are blessed-or cursed-with the ability to think about the future and to fear our actions to shaping it. So essential is this to human life, that human beings cannot live without hope, without something to live for, without noting to look forward to. To be without hope, to have nothing to live for, is to surrender to death, in despair. But we can find all sorts of things to live for and we can hope for almost anything: for some measure of success or security or for the realization of some more or less modest ambition; for our children, that they might be saved from our mistakes and suffering and find a better life than we have known; for a better world, throwing ourselves into politics or medicine or technology so that future generations might be better off. Not all of these forms of hope are selfish; indeed, they have given dignity and purpose to the lives of countless generations.
But one on the reasons why we read the Old Testament during Advent is to learn what to hope for. The people of the Old Testament had courage to hope for big things: that the desert would be turned into fertile land; that their scattered and divided people would eventually be gathered again; that the blind would see, the deaf hear, the lame walk; that not only their own people, but all the peoples on the earth, would be united in the blessings of everlasting peace. Clearly, their hopes were no different from ours or from any human being’s: lasting peace tranquil lives, sufficiency of food, an end to suffering, pain and misery.
This we hope for the same things as the Old Testament people, for their hopes are not yet realized. But we differ from them in two ways. First, the coming of Jesus in history, as a partial fulfillment of God’s promises, immeasurably confirms and strengthen our hope. Secondly, we differ from the Old Testament people because Jesus has revealed to us that God is not far off, but is already in our midst. Hence the importance in the Advent liturgy of John the Baptist and of Mary: because they recognized the new situation, they serve as models for the Church in discerning the presence of our Savior in the world.”
Taken from “The Spirit of Advent,” Mark Searle, in Assembly, Volume 7:1. Notre Dame Center for Liturgy, Notre Dame, IN.
Have a blessed week!
Fr. Tho Bui, SDB
Pastor
Mass Intentions For The Week
Sunday December10, 2023
8:45 Luigi & Giuliana Marciano + – Esther Ragusa +
10:15 For the People of Saints Peter and Paul
12:00 Loriano & Anita Belluomini + – Norma Gaddini Rianda +
5:00 The Pierini & Spes Families +
Monday December 11, 2023
7:00 Birthday and Death Anniversary of Eleanore +
9:00 Domenico, Francesca, Tom, Giuseppe & Frances Cresci + – Eduardo M. Moskaira +
Tuesday December 12, 2023
7:00 Virginia Sanguinetti + – Luis Gonzalo Gomez +
9:00 Serge, Tom, & Stephanie Cincotta + – Happy Anniversary Francis & Louisa Kwong
Wednesday December 13, 2023
7:00 Ettorina Cardella & Family + – Lenore Barbano +
9:00 Frank Cannizzaro + – Robert Poss +
Thursday December 14, 2023
7:00 Edward Sabini +
9:00 Daniel Scopel + – Paolo Nascimbene +
Friday December 15, 2023
7:00 Ettorina Cardella & Family +
9:00 Birthday of Queena Maggiora +
Saturday December 16, 2023
7:30 Henry Ravetto +
9:00 In Memory of Conchita & Emil Chao +
5:00 The Louis Greco Family +
WEEKLY INTENTIONS
For each intention mentioned in the group below, individual Masses will be said in our
Parishes, Schools or Missions.
David Poss
Rest in Peace
Leo A. LaRocca – Mario Crotti
Loana Bozzetto – Arlene Sauser
Particular Items
Second Collection: Today there will be a second collection for the Retirement Fund for Religious. Please be generous!
Eucharistic Adoration & Confession/ Anointing of the Sick: We have Adoration & Confession every Friday, following the 7:00 AM Mass. And on the first Friday of the month we have the Anointing following the 7:00 AM Mass.
Christmas Poinsettias: In a Saints Peter and Paul tradition we are offering Christmas Memorial poinsettias for sale. You can remember a loved one and decorate the Church for Christmas at the same time! People will be taking orders in front of the church on December 10 & 17, or you can email or call the parish office. Price is $20.
Speaking of Poinsettias! Pious Christmas Legends: The Poinsettia: “It was Christmas Eve. A little Mexican boy and girl named Pablo and Maria were too ashamed to join friends and family in church because they had no gift for the Christ Child. They decided to kneel and pray. To their amazement, a beautiful plant grew in the spot where they had knelt. Its flaming red leaves arranged like a star and its yellow blossom like a shining light were God's gift for the little ones to present to Jesus. The Poinsettia grows wild in Mexico and was first called ‘Flower of the Holy Night’, because of the way its top cluster of green leaves mysteriously turn red in December. In the 1830's congressman and botanist Joel Roberts Poinsett brought it to the United States.”
THIS THURSDAY! Advent Penance Service: On Thursday, December 14, at 7:00 PM, we will host our Advent Penance Service. Individual confessions will be heard in English, Spanish, Italian, Cantonese and Vietnamese. In the words of the Baptist, let’s “make straight the paths of the Lord’ into our hearts!
Christmas Novena Services: Come join your Salesian Priests, brothers, and Sisters at our Advent Novena Services. They will be prayed from Monday December 18 through Wednesday, December 20, and on Friday, December 22 at 5:00 PM.
Salesian Boys’ and Girls’ Club Christmas Carols: In what has become a North Beach tradition, you are invited to join the Club’s annual Christmas Carol serenade as they walk through the streets bringing the joy of the season! Meetup is around 9:00AM on Saturday December 23, in the playground, and the tour always starts with Carols in front of the Church being sung to our wonderful 103-year-old Fr. Armand Oliveri!
Advent Giving Tree for Poor Moms & Children: Project Gabriel of the Archdiocese of San Francisco has an Advent Giving Tree where you can support mothers in need and their children this Christmas. Go to sfarch.org/gabriel-project-advent-tree/ and select the gift you would like to give!
Mille Grazie & Thank you to those to those who helped send out the Christmas mailing and helped decorate the Church: Jeanne, Leslie, Lourice, Marie, May, Nicola, Silvano, Susan, & Toni!
Choose Life! 20th Annual Walk for Life West Coast: Join fellow Catholics and Pro‐Lifers from all over California and beyond as we stand up for the littlest among us at the 20th Annual Walk for Life West Coast in San Francisco on January 20, 2024. This year marks the Walk’s 20th anniversary of standing for the littlest among us. Who would have thought that when Dolores Meehan walked into our then-pastor Fr. John Malloy’s office in 2004 that that would be the start of America’s second largest pro-life event? (That’s Fr. Malloy with Dolores & Eva getting an award at the very first Walk!) The day begins with the Walk for Life Mass at 9:30AM at St. Mary’s Cathedral celebrated by Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone. For more info, visit walkforlifewc.com or call 415‐658‐1793.
Adoration for Life: As always Saints Peter and Paul will host all-night Eucharistic Adoration for Life the night before the Walk. If you’d like to schedule an hour (or more) to be with Our Lord during the night, email Gibbons at the parish office.
Saints Peter and Paul Salesian School & Pre-K Accepting Applications: Our K-8 Salesian school is accepting applications for this year and next. Please email Dr. Lisa Harris at the school at [email protected], sspeterpaulsf.org/ or Barbara Simons at the Pre-K at [email protected] to learn more!
Sponsor a Student! Are you able to help a student receive a Catholic education? We are receiving more request for financial aid than ever before. The Salesians started by educating the children of the poor and we are not about to stop now—but like Don Bosco before us we need your help! We invite financially able parishioners to help with this ministry. Please call Dr. Lisa Harris at 421-5219 or Fr. Tho Bui at 421-0809.
Archdiocesan Annual Appeal: Our assessment this year is $64,663. You can watch a video showing some of the things your AAA gifts support at www.salesiansspp.org/donations. So far 70 families/parishioners have pledged or donated $50,866 leaving us with a balance of $13,797. If you, can, join the 1% club—give $647! But ALL Parishioners should give SOMETHING! Help us to meet this shared obligation!
Liturgical Calendar
Sunday 10 Second Sunday of Advent
Monday 11 Damasus I; Pope
Tuesday 12 Our Lady of Guadalupe
Wednesday 13 Lucy; Virgin, Martyr
Thursday 14 John of the Cross; Priest, Doctor
Friday 15 Advent Weekday
Saturday 16 Advent Weekday
Sunday 17 Third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete (Rejoice!) Sunday
Your gifts of December 2/3 : $2,682.
Weekly goal: $8,670.
Shortfall: $5,988.
We are always in shortfall. Fr. Tho asks for your help Please consider donating an amount equal to a breakfast or lunch or movie ticket. Thank you! Your parish appreciates your continued support!
