Advent and Christmas

Wednesday, December 11, Vigil of Our Lady of Guadalupe
7:00PM Rosary Exposition of Blessed Sacrament / 10:30PM Mass in Spanish
12:15PM Daily Mass / NO 7:15PM Weekly Mass
Thursday, December 12—Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
7:00PM Bilingual Mass
12:15PM Daily Mass
Thursday, December 19
Penance Service 7:00PM
Tuesday, December 24—Vigil of The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas Eve)
5:00PM Mass in English / 7:00PM Mass in Spanish
NO 12:15PM Daily Mass
Wednesday, December 25—The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas Day)
10:00AM Mass in English / 12:30PM Mass in Spanish
NO 12:15PM Daily Mass / NO 7:15PM Weekly Mass
Tuesday, December 31— Vigil of Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (New Year’s Eve)
7:00PM Bilingual Mass
12:15PM Daily Mass
Wednesday, January 1, 2025—Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
(New Year’s Day)
10:00AM Mass in English / 12:30 PM Mass in Spanish
NO 12:15PM Daily Mass / NO 7:15PM Weekly Mass
Holiday Office Hours—Closed from December 23, 2024 to January 1, 2025
Office reopens on Thursday, January 2, 2025 at 9:00AM
We wish you and your loved ones Happy and Blessed Holidays!

New Liturgical Year
Cycle C is a liturgical time of the Catholic Church that is characterized by the fact that most of the Gospel texts are from the Gospel of St. Luke, and who was St. Luke? St. Luke was an evangelist, the author of the third Gospel. He never knew Christ in person, but in his Gospel, he says that he came to know about Jesus by talking to eyewitnesses about the events of Jesus’ life, his death and
resurrection. Listening to those stories helped Luke become a believer, and he wrote his Gospel so that others would come to know and love Jesus. Luke was a doctor, and he traveled with St. Paul on his second missionary trip. In fact, Paul calls Luke his “dear doctor” (Colossians 4:14). Because he cared about the bodily needs of others, Luke is the
patron saint of doctors. In his Gospel, Luke helps us to know how concerned Jesus was about the sick, the poor, and anyone in need of help, mercy, and forgiveness. Luke tells us that Jesus came to save all people. Through the Gospel of Luke, we learn how compassionate and supportive Jesus was.
The symbol for the Gospel of Luke is an ox, an animal that was often sacrificed as an offering to God in ancient times. In his writings about Jesus, Luke reminds us of the great sacrifice that Jesus made to save all people through his death on the cross and his resurrection. Luke is also the author of the Acts of the Apostles. In Acts, we learn about the coming of the Holy Spirit, the work of the Apostles, especially St. Paul, and how the Church grew in the world. He was the only person said to have remained with St. Paul during his imprisonment and until his death.

Homework: What work of charity or love will I do for others during this time?

Remember: During Advent Season flowers are not placed in the church, except on December 12 for the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

I have seen that several people park in prohibited places in the parish, risking their integrity, that of others and their vehicles, even causing damage to someone else’s property. The last inconvenience we had was someone who almost knocked down the pole with the electrical transformer because the steel cable that protects it burst; this pole is where the trailers used to be. Some took the habit of parking on the grass or curve that leads to the bottom of the parking lot or exit of the Church.
Please stop being lazy and walk a little more since walking is healthy; park in the designated places to avoid accidents; and please do not block the entrance or exit of the parking lots. If your car is hit due to parking in a prohibited place, you are responsible for the damage that happens to your vehicle. ~Father Fabio

What is #iGiveCatholic?

#iGiveCatholic is a powerful, 24-hour online giving event to unite the faithful in dioceses across the nation (and the world!) to come together and raise as many charitable dollars as possible for Catholic parishes, schools, and nonprofit ministries on #GivingTuesday, December 3, 2024.

What is #GivingTuesday?

#GivingTuesday is a global day of giving fueled by the power of social media and collaboration. Celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving and the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday, #GivingTuesday kicks off the charitable season when many people focus on holiday and end-of-year giving.

When is #iGiveCatholic?

#iGiveCatholic is on #GivingTuesday, December 3, 2024. You can support St. Paul on that day or you can make an #iGiveCatholic donation at any time during the advanced giving period from November 18 through December 2, 2024. Gifts made by check or cash can be made directly to qualifying organizations during this same time frame.  Please visit https://atlanta.igivecatholic.org/organizations/st-paul-the-apostle-catholic-church to make a donation to St Paul, which will benefit our Catholic Campaign.

The weekend of December 7 and 8, the Gift Shop will have an Encore ChristKindle Market in the Parish Hall with Advent Wreaths, statues, ornaments, and gift items for sale for your convenience and inspiration. Come see us before the 5 PM Mass Saturday and after the 8 AM and 12:30 Masses on Sunday.

The K/C will be serving their delicious hot breakfast on Sunday, December 8th in the parish hall after the 8:00 am and 10:00 am Masses. Come out and have some breakfast for the simple price of a donation. Served with pancakes, French toast, potatoes, meats, fruit, omelets & eggs, and beverages. Why go out to eat when you can have a homemade breakfast, visit with friends, and support our Knights??

The Angel Tree committee would like to thank all those who generously took bells and
angels from our tree in the Narthex. The last date for returning gifts is December
15th. Please return the gifts UNWRAPPED, in a large plastic bag with the angel or bell
attached so we will know who the gifts are intended for. If it is possible, please close up
the bag, so there will be no “peeking” until Christmas. We are going to give the parents
of the recipients the opportunity to see what their children will receive, and to wrap
them as well. Again, thank you all for your amazing generosity!

Vivian’s Circle will hold a Christmas Cookie Walk after the Vigil and morning Masses on December 14-15. We invite donations of homemade cookies to be delivered on Saturday, December 14 from 1-4 pm. We are also collecting cookie tins. Make plans to attend this fun activity and stock up on cookies for your family and friends over the holidays!

Your St. Paul Gift Shop will be raffling a beautiful indoor/outdoor 18-inch
Holy Family Statue with dust cover to benefit the Capital Campaign. Tickets
will be available after all Sunday masses. Drawing will be held on Sunday
December 29, 2024, the Feast of the Holy Family, after the 12:30 Mass.