Bulletin_20191208

WEEKEND:
Saturday:
Vigil Mass…………………………..5:00 PM
Sunday:
Mass………………………………...9:00 AM
Hispanic Mass (1st Sun)…...……11:00 AM
CCD (Sep—May)…………………10:15 AM
RCIA……………………………….10:15 AM
WEEKDAY:
Monday:……………………Mass: 5:00 PM
Tuesday:…………………...Mass: 5:00 PM
Wednesday:……………….Mass: 5:00 PM
Thursday:………………….Mass: 5:00 PM
Friday:……………………...Mass: 5:00 PM
*First Friday:..Mass: 5:00 PM + Adoration
*First Saturday: Mass: 8:00 AM + Rosary
& Meditation
Reconciliation: Wednesday: 6-6:30 PM / Saturday: 4-4:45 PM / or by appointment
Baptism: Requires one month prior notification
Matrimony: Requires six-month notice in advance of the marriage date
Sunday, January 5th, 11:00 AM
Pastoral Council—Thursday, December 12th, 6:30 PM
Finance Committee—Saturday, December 14th, 10:00 AM
Parish Women’s Group—Monday, January 13th, 2:00 PM
LAST WEEKEND’S COLLECTION
Regular Collection $3026.00
Building Fund $359.00
Candles $16.00
Special Donation $1000.00
Deposit Total $4401.00
Retired Religious—December 7th / 8th

Last week I likened Advent to school having two distinct “semesters.” The first semester
begins with the First Sunday of Advent and concludes on December 16. December
17 marks the beginning of the second semester. In the Liturgy, this “second semester”
is characterized by what is called the “O Antiphons.” The O Antiphons are used in the
Liturgy of the Hours (the breviary), as well as in the Mass; they are the Alleluia verse.
The popular Advent hymn, O Come, O Come Emmanuel, is based on the O Antiphons.
Here are the O Antiphons in Latin and English and their assigned day:
December 17 O Sapientia (O Wisdom)
December 18 O Adonai (O Lord)
December 19 O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse)
December 20 O Clavis David (O Key of David)
December 21 O Oriens (O Dayspring)
December 22 O Rex Gentium (O King of Nations)
December 23 O Emmanuel (O God with Us)
The O Antiphons are derived from various prophecies found in Isaiah. Scholars do not
know when the O Antiphons first appeared in the Liturgy but Boethius (480-524 AD)
referenced the O Antiphons in his writings. They are therefore a very ancient feature in
the Roman Liturgy.
A fascinating feature of the O Antiphons is that it spells out “Tomorrow I will come.”
This is seen in looking at the first letter of each title of Jesus in reverse order: Emmanuel,
Rex, Oriens, Clavis, Radix, Adonai, Sapientia. That spells: ero cras, which translated
means, “Tomorrow I will come.” It’s a kind of liturgical countdown to Christmas.
As we attend the “school of Advent” may we truly anticipate the coming of the Lord Jesus
especially by helping others in imitation of the One who came not to be served but
to serve.
God bless. Let us pray for each other.
~ Announcements are on the back page ~
—Fr Sofie

“As the journey of Advent continues, as we prepare
to celebrate the nativity of Christ, John the
Baptist's call to conversion sounds out in our
communities. It is a pressing invitation to open
our hearts and to welcome the Son of God Who
comes among us to make divine judgement
manifest. The Father, writes St. John the Evangelist,
does not judge anyone, but has entrusted
the power of judgement to the Son, because He
is the Son of man.
“And it is today, in the present, that we decide
our future destiny. It is with our concrete everyday
behavior in this life that we determine our
eternal fate. At the end of our days on earth, at
the moment of death, we will be evaluated on
the basis of our likeness or otherwise to the Baby
Who is about to be born in the poor grotto of
Bethlehem, because He is the measure God
has given humanity.
“Through the Gospel John the Baptist continues
to speak down the centuries to each generation.
His hard clear words bring health to us, the men
and women of this day in which even the experience
and perception of Christmas often, unfortunately,
reflects materialist attitudes. The 'voice'
of the great prophet asks us to prepare the way
for the coming Lord in the deserts of today, internal
and external deserts, thirsting for the water
of life which is Christ.” — Benedict XVI
The feast of the Immaculate Conception, which
is ordinarily celebrated today, is superseded by
the Sunday liturgy.
Jerusalem
In Palestine Christians gather today in Jerusalem
for the celebration of holy Mass. In Rome
they proceed to the stational church "Holy Cross
at Jerusalem" which serves to give the atmosphere
of the Holy City.
Monday, December 9th
Immaculate Conception of the Blessed
Virgin Mary
Mass: 5:00 PM
Advent Penance Service: 6:30 PM
Tuesday, December 10th
Our Lady of Loreto
Mass: 5:00 PM
“Mass Readings Explained”: 5:30 PM
Wednesday, December 11th
St. Damasus I, Pope
Mass: 5:00 PM
Confession: 6:00 PM
Thursday, December 12th
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Mass: 5:00 PM
Pastoral Council: 6:30 PM
Friday, December 13th
St. Lucy, Virgin & Martyr
Mass: 5:00 PM
Saturday, December 14th
St. John of the Cross, Priest & Doctor of
the Church
Finance Committee:10:00 AM
Confession: 3:00 PM*
Vigil Mass: 4:00 PM*
Sunday, December 15th
Third Sunday of Advent
Rosary: 8:30 AM
Mass: 9:00 AM
CCD: 10:15 AM
RCIA: 10:15 AM
* Please note time change due to the
annual Atmore Christmas Parade on
Saturday

Why "Jerusalem"? Excavations of ancient sites often reveal a number of strata. When
enemies destroyed a city, a new one would rise on the same location, so that today
there are several layers of remains, one city, as it were, above the other. Our Jerusalem
likewise has four strata. The bottommost layer is the Jerusalem of the Jews, that venerable
land where the Lord Jesus began His mission of redemption, where He suffered
and died. This is the historical Jerusalem so dear to us Christians. Anyone making a pilgrimage
to the Holy Land enters that ancient city with holy awe. That Jerusalem, however,
lies buried deep.
For us another has been built upon it, the Jerusalem of Christians, God's kingdom on
earth, the holy Church. This city still stands; it is the one which the divine King will enter
at Christmas. Now we understand why we will hear so much about Jerusalem during
the coming week. We should now clean and adorn our city, improving its streets and
avenues through which the Savior will make His entrance. As a motto we should take
the words of the precursor, St. John the Baptist: "Prepare the way of the Lord, make
straight His paths; let every valley be filled, every hill be leveled." Holy Mother Church's
message today is that the Savior is coming to the Jerusalem of the Christians, to the
Church.
Above the second stratum there arises a third, the heavenly Jerusalem at the end of
time. Already now the Church sings of this Jerusalem. For during Advent we await the
Savior who will appear on the Last Day to take all into "the new Jerusalem coming down
from heaven."
Finally, there may be recognized a fourth Jerusalem, our souls in sanctifying grace. This
city too must be adorned and prepared, for the King will want to enter. That is our present
task.
On Epiphany, the climax to the current season, the Church will cry out: "Arise, shine, O
Jerusalem, for the glory of the Lord has risen upon thee." That is the goal. Today we
must prepare for the great King's visit to our city. The whole coming week must be devoted
to it. The Church prays: "Awaken our hearts to prepare the way for Your onlybegotten
Son that we may serve Him with purified hearts."
In the time of the Roman Empire, rulers rode from city to city for the purpose of official
visitations. Their appearance, called epiphany or parousia, was a great event, one preceded
by months of preparation. Something analogous takes place in the Jerusalem of
our souls. From a high watchtower we see the Lord coming afar off. Suddenly John the
Baptist appears; he hurries into the city to announce the King's approach. God condescends
to manifest Himself to us in grace; but He demands the proper reception.
—Excerpted from The Church's Year of Grace by Pius Parsch
—(From www.catholicculture.org (Trinity Communications))

Sunday, November 8th:
St. Robert Parishioners
Monday, December 9th:
Special Intention
Tuesday, December 10th:
Special Intention
Wednesday, December 11th:
Special Intention
Thursday, December 12th:
Special Intention
Friday, December 13th:
Special Intention
Saturday, December 14th:
Special Intention
“The Advent
Mystery is the
beginning of
the end of all
in us that is
not yet
Christ.”
-- Thomas Merton
Blessed Virgin’s Intentions, Pope
Emeritus Benedict XVI, Pope
Francis I, Archbishop Rodi and All
Bishops, Father Sofie, Father Milsted, Father
Mesa, Priests of the Archdiocese, All Seminarians,
St. Robert Bellarmine Parish, Bonnie
Latino, Phyllis & David McGee, Tim DiVincenti,
Anne Latino, Curt Beck, Gene Santarelli,
Richard and Mary Powers, Bob Vale, Persecuted
Christians, The USA, Susan & Carl
Bowen, Ron & Blinda Smith, Maria Ewing,
Catherine Lambert, Mary McPherson, President
Donald J. Trump & Family, Brandy Turk
Fehr, All Elected Officials, The John Marano,
Jr. Family, Shimi Currie, Sesenia Lebumfacil
and Joel Lebumfacil & Family.
Our Military Family
Brock Houghton (USMC), Zachary Godwin
(USAF), Dan Markush (USAF), Scott Stanford
(USN), Andrew Markush (USN), Will Markush
(USN), Joshua Wilson (USAF), Anthony
Berneche (USN), Byron Tims, Jr. (USN), Gary
Shelley (USN), Alex Jones (USN), Sheena
Marie Currie (AUSA), Logan Doremus
(USMC) and John David Dorriety (USAF).
Repose of Souls
Gordon Nichols.

(Please note that the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is not a Holy
Day of Obligation this year)
Advent Penance Service
December 9th, 6:30 PM
Second Sunday of Advent
December 7th, Anticipated Mass, 5:00 PM; confessions at 4:00 PM
December 8th, Our Lady of Guadalupe Mass, 9:00 AM (Fr Pat Madden)
Third Sunday of Advent
December 14th, Anticipated Mass, 4:00 PM; confessions at 3:00 PM
December 15th, Mass: 9:00 AM
Decorate the Church for Christmas
December 15th, 10:00 AM: (Church Exterior & Boland Hall)
December 21st, 10:00 AM: Church Interior
Fourth Sunday of Advent
December 21st, Anticipated Mass: 5:00 PM; confessions at 4:00 PM
December 21st, 6:00 PM, Parish Christmas Party
December 22nd, Mass: 9:00 AM
Christmas Masses
(Holy Day of Obligation)
December 24th, Children’s Program, 4:00 PM
December 24th, Christmas Eve Mass, 4:30 PM
December 25th, Midnight Mass, 12:00 AM
December 25th, Christmas Day Mass, 9:00 AM
Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
(Holy Day of Obligation)
December 31st, Mass, 5:00 PM
December 31st, Holy Hour of Reparation, 6:00 PM
January 1st, Mass, 9:00 AM

Apologetics 101: Will meet Thursday, December
19th at 6:30 PM. Topic: Confession
and Anointing
Our Lady of Guadalupe: The Mass honoring
Our Lady of Guadalupe will be Sunday, December
8th at 9:00 AM. Fr. Madden will be the
celebrant for the Mass. A pot luck reception
will be held at 10:15 AM in Boland Hall.
Advent Penance Service: Our penance service
will be held Monday, December 9th at
6:30 PM in the church. There will be three
priests available to hear confessions.
Pastoral Council: The Pastoral Council will
meet Thursday, December 12th at 6:30 PM.
Finance Committee: The Finance Committee
will meet Saturday, December 14th at 10:00
AM.
Atmore Christmas Parade: Due to the annual
Atmore Christmas Parade, Mass on Saturday,
December 14th, will be at 4:00 PM. Confessions
will be at 3:00 PM. Please pass the
word so that everyone knows.
Parish Women’s Group: Please note that the
group will not meet in December. The next
meeting will be Monday, January 13th at 2:00
PM in Boland Hall.
October 25, 2019
“Dear children! Today I call you to prayer. May prayer be a balm to your soul, because the
fruit of prayer is joy, giving and witnessing God to others through your life. Little children, in
complete surrender to God, He will take care of everything and will bless you; and your sacrifices
will have meaning. I am with yo and bless all of you with my motherly blessing. Thank
you for having responded to my call.”
These are the current members of the Pastoral Council. Should you have any questions,
concerns or suggestions that relate to the Parish, please speak with one of them. The Pastoral
Council is an invaluable aid to a pastor and to the overall wellbeing of a parish.
Clyde Burkett Amy Cabaniss Rhecy Currie
Martha Franco Frank Rodrigues Cary Wilson