Third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete (Rejoice!) Sunday

Zephaniah 3:14-18a; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:10-18. In the first reading, a joyful hymn praises God for his removal of judgment of his people. Saint Paul assures the Philippians that the Lord is near, and that they should have no anxiety at all. In the Gospel, John the Baptist tells the people about the Messiah to come who will be mightier than him.
 
 
將臨期第三主日 

若翰洗者給人的印象似乎近於相當狂熱的，聖經記載他向群眾大聲呼喊：「修直主的道路……！」這呼聲好像非常緊急和重要，可是在今天的讀經中，可見到他柔和的一面，群眾都被他的宣講感動，懇切地向他請教：「我們該做什麼呢？」他的答覆是：「有兩件衣服的,要分給那沒有的，有食物的，也該照樣……稅吏要誠實、公務人員不可勒索、不可敲詐。」他給他們很實際的指示。換句話說，若翰要他們以忠誠、以愛去好好準備默西亞的來臨。 

將臨期己過了一半，我們期待的基督聖誕快要到來，我們準備得怎樣？我們的心是不是被許多大大小小的俗事所分散？我們能不能夠專心趨向天主？不單為即將到來的聖誕節作準備，也為基督的第二次來臨作準備？兩千多年前若翰洗者所宣講的，和今日教宗方濟所宣講的是同一的訊息，同樣的重要，我們是不是己經準備好去迎接基督？ 

若翰洗者的指示很明確：悔改、把不好的行為和思想、習慣除去，誠實、常為別人的好處着想。如果我們照着做就是準備好了；因為耶穌說：「為你們中弱小的所做的一切就是為我做了」我們怎樣愛近人，就是怎樣愛天主。


Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 
 
We are on the third Sunday of Advent and today’s liturgical color is rose. It is traditionally known as Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete is the Latin word for Rejoice. It is a joyful expectation for Jesus Christ’s birth and Second Coming, as the Lord promised. No one knows when that day will come, but we are warned to prepare for the coming of the Lord. 

St. John the Baptist called people to change their way of living and he pointed people to Jesus Today’s Gospel of Luke tells us that common people listened to John the Baptist, who called them to repent and change their lives. These people were the tax collectors and the soldiers. They asked John the Baptist, “What should we do?” John the Baptist urged them to reach out to those in need. If they had been doing wrong things, they had to repent and correct it. We too, are called to change, in order to prepare for Christmas. Last Saturday, our parish had the reconciliation service and confession, but only about 20 people showed up. I wonder why we did not take this opportunity to seriously prepare for the birthday of Christ.

We have a little more than a week before Christmas. Besides   completing our shopping or attending one party after another, may I suggest each one of us should do one or two good things. To help a brother or sister who is in difficulty or visit to a sick person ,or attend the Christmas novena prayer service which begins this Monday in our church at 5pm. Also, we should consider going to confession! 

Here is another good way to prepare for Christmas: our parish is celebrating the 100^th Anniversary this year, so take this opportunity to ask God’s blessing through the indulgence that was granted to us by the Holy See. We can offer this blessing for a person or people who are in need of grace. 
 
St. John the Baptist tells us, “I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” LK. 3:16. St. John the Baptist points us toward Jesus Christ. Let us together prepare ourselves very well to celebrate the Birthday of Jesus Christ.  

Have a blessed Advent! 

Fr. Tho 
 Pastor
 
Mass Intentions For The Week 

Sunday              December 15, 2024
8:45     In Memory of the Ettorina Cardella Family + – Vickie Moresco +
 10:15  Memorial for Fr. Mario Rosso, SDB + – Roy A Gould +
 12:00  Steve & Lena Cuneo + – Queena Maggiora +
 5:00     The Birthday of Queena Maggiora +

Monday             December 16, 2024
 7:00     In Memory of Conchita & Email Chao +
 9:00     Henry Ravetto + – Antonio & Manuela Amandea +

Tuesday            December 17, 2024
 7:00     Edward Sabini +
 9:00     Birthday of Joseph Maggiora + – Thelma Gallegioni + 

Wednesday      December 18, 2024
 7:00     Birthday of Lorraine DeNicolai +
 9:00     Emilia Lucchesi + – Luigi Braccini + 

Thursday          December 19, 2024
 7:00     Birthday of Rosario T. Bugayong +
 9:00     Concetta Romeo + – Maria Serchia + 

Friday                December 20, 2024
 7:00     Angelo Sanguinetti +
 9:00     Anniversary of the Death of Giuseppe D’Ascoli + – Roberto Rivera + 

Saturday            December 21, 2024
 7:30     Birthday of Sheila Iyer +
 9:00     Luigi & Rosa Mangini + – Mara Amato +
 5:00     The Louis Greco Family + – Dolores Brockenshire + 

 
 
Particular Items
 
Christmas Memorial Poinsettias: This weekend and next, parishioners will be in front of the church taking orders for our traditional Christmas Memorial Poinsettias. This is your chance to remember a loved one and decorate the church for the Christmas season at the same time! 

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 Novena! As always we will have the chanted Christmas Novena, starting December 16, at 5:00PM in the Church. Join us! 

School Christmas Pageant: The school’s annual Christmas Pageant will be on December 19, starting at 5:30PM. Everyone is invited! 

Christmas Legends: The Robin: A small brown bird was perched on a beam in a stable in Bethlehem watching the people from many lands who had come with gifts for the newborn Child. The little bird could see the great adoration of the people as they knelt before the Babe, and was able to sense that something wonderful had happened. 

After a time, the visitors departed and the Holy Family settled down to rest; and the little bird prepared to sleep, too. But just as he was dozing off, he noticed that the fire, built to keep the Child warm, was dying out. Quickly he flew down and began fanning the coals with his wings. The fire became brighter until the feathers on the little bird's breast radiated the glow and showed a beautiful red. 

Although he grew very tired, the small bird stayed by the fire all night, fanning it to keep the blaze bright and the Christ Child warm. 

Since that night the robin's breast has remained a glowing red, a mark of the unselfish love and devotion shown by that bird in Bethlehem!

 

 
Laura Vicuña Pre-Kindergarten Open House: Since 1987 the Laura Vicuña Pre-K has been providing early education to the children of North Beach and beyond. Curiosity, creativity, and exploration through play are encouraged in an environment that fosters a love for learning at an early age.  Parents are invited to come and tour both classroom spaces on Sunday, January 12 from 10:00 AM to 12 noon. Visit prek.sspeterpaulsf.org or call 415-296-8549 or email [email protected] to learn more. (Left: learning how focaccia is made!)

Choose Life! Walk for Life West Coast 2025: Join fellow Catholics and Pro‐Lifers of every and no faith from all over California and beyond as we stand up for the littlest among us at the 21st Annual Walk for Life West Coast in San Francisco on January 25, 2025. There will be Mass at 9:30AM at St. Mary’s Cathedral . The rally begins at 12:30PM in San Francisco’s Civic Center Plaza, and the Walk, down Market Street, begins at 1:30PM. Last year’s Walk drew tens of thousands of people. For complete information about the Walk, visit walkforlifewc.com or call 415‐658‐1793.

  
Our Centennial Celebration and Jubilee Year has begun! On November 9-10, 2024 we began the 100 Year Anniversary of Saints Peter and Paul Church.   What a great weekend! The Masses and the Renewal of Wedding Vows were holy and beautiful; both the Saturday and Sunday receptions were packed; the food was great, and the grace of God touched all! Go here for links to photos and videos. 
   
Remember, though, the Jubilee Celebration is for the whole year—see the indulgence granted to us by the Vatican at left! Let us take this year to gratefully reflect on the gifts given to us by God the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit; to honor those who have come before us, and to preserve our faith and our Church for our posterity! 
   

Who are they?

Guess Who?  

Can you recognize this week’s lovely mystery married couple? Last week’s couple were Guido & Shirley Bardini, married here back in 1958.  Want to see more SSPPmarried couples? Go here, and you can find our full slideshow.  
  
  



JUBILEE PLENARY INDULGENCE
 
On the Occasion of the Jubilee Celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Church.
The Apostolic Penitentiary in Rome, charged with the granting of indulgences, has designated Saints Peter and Paul Church in the Archdiocese of San Francisco, California as a Vatican recognized site for Plenary Indulgence and has granted a Plenary Indulgence to the faithful who truly repent and are driven by charity under these certain conditions from November 1, 2024 until November 1, 2025. A Plenary Indulgence may also apply, through the faithful’s own sufferings, to the Souls in Purgatory. 
  
WHAT IS A PLENARY INDULGENCE? 
An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment for sin the guilt of which is already forgiven, which a properly disposed member of the Christian faithful obtains under certain conditions with the help of the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies authoritatively the treasure of the satisfaction of Christ and the saints. Code of canon Law (can. 992). A plenary indulgence can be gained only once a day. In order to obtain it, the faithful must, in addition to being in a state of grace, have the interior disposition of complete detachment from sin, even venial sin.  You can download a flyer here on how to obtain this wonderful spiritual gift!  
 

Care for Body & Soul!

Catholic Medical Care right in our Parish! Bella Primary Care offers primary & pediatric healthcare in accordance with Catholic principles. They are located at 2000 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 304, in San Francisco. Now scheduling appointments for: 
PEDIATRICS: Wellness visits for ages 6 months to 18 years with our pro-life pediatrician Dr. Virginia Schneider.
WOMEN and MEN: Comprehensive annual exam.
EXPECTANT MOMS: Pregnancy verification, initial ultrasound and blood work.
FERTILITY: Initial and follow-up appointments using natural fertility assessment methods. 
For appointments, call 415-775-1500 or email our office at [email protected].  We look forward to caring for your families in a Christ-centered way! 
 
Liturgical Calendar
Sunday               15          The Third Sunday of Advent
Monday              16          Advent Weekday
Tuesday             17          Late Advent Weekday
Wednesday       18           Late Advent Weekday
Thursday           19          Late Advent Weekday
Friday                20          Late Advent Weekday
Saturday            21          Late Advent Weekday. Pater Canisius; Priest, Doctor
Sunday              22          Fourth   Sunday of Advent 

Your gifts of December 7/8:  $3,147
 Weekly Goal:                       $8,670.
 Shortfall:                              $5,523.
 Retirement Fund for Religious: $1,486.
 Immaculate Conception:      $800. 

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!