DECEMBER 25, 2016

Merry Christmas “… this is Christ the king, whom shepherds guard and angels sing; … the babe, the son of Mary.”

Feliz Navidad “...este es Cristo el Rey, a quien pastores escoltan y los ángeles cantan; … el niño, el hijo de Maria.”

December 25, 2016

PARISH STAFF Administrator/Administrador Rev. Ambrose Madu Parochial Vicars/Vicarios Rev. Anthony Sebamalai

Schedule of Masses / Horario de Misas Saturday: 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM Vigil (English), 7:00 PM Vigil (Spanish) Sunday: 8:00 AM (English), 9:30 AM (English), 11:00 AM (English), 12:30 PM (Spanish) Weekdays: Monday through Friday 7:30 AM (English) Tuesday & Thursday 7:30 PM (Spanish) Morning Prayer: 8:00 AM (English)

Parish Office Hours / Horas de Oficina

Deacon Candidate Mr. Jim Cowan

Monday through Friday 8:30 AM to 8:00 PM Saturday & Sunday 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Director of Religious Education Mrs. Linda Affatato Director of Music Ministry Mr. Gusti Daija Fac i li ties Manager Mr. Allen Nonnenmacher

New Parishioners / Nuevos Feligreses: Welcome to all parishioners. We encourage all parishioners to register at our parish office. We invite new parishioners to make an appointment to meet a member of the parish staff. Bienvenidos a todos los feligreses. Les pedimos que se registren en la oficina parroquial. Invitamos a los nuevos feligreses a que hagan una cita para reunirse con uno de los sacerdotes.

Christian Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, Communion): Iniciación Cristiana (Bautismo, Confirmación, Comunión):

Business Manager Mrs. Laura Kimmins

Adults: Participate in the Rite of Christian Initiation (RCIA). Infants to age 5: Parents and Godparents participate in Baptism program. Children (Grades 1-12): Participate in Religious Education Program. Please make an appointment to discuss preparation for the sacraments.

Par i sh Office Mrs. Dorina Vazquez Sch o o l Principal Mrs. Tara Hynes

Los adultos: Participan en el Rito de Iniciación Cristiana (RICA). Los infantes hasta 5 años: Padres y Padrinos participan en el programa bautismal. Los niños (Grado 1-12): Participan en Programa de Catequesis. Favor de hacer una cita para discutir la preparación para los sacramentos.

Sch o o l Secretary Mrs. Tracey Cocozello

Infant baptisms are held once a month in English and once a month in Spanish. Parents must consult with a priest before fixing a date.

Sports Association Mr. Joe Dicks

El bautismo de niños se lleva a cabo una vez al mes en Ingles y una vez al mes en Español. Los padres deben consultar con un sacerdote antes de fijar la fecha.

Finance Council Ms. Haley Albunio

Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confessions) / Confesiones:

Parish Council

Saturday 10:00-10:30 AM and 4:00-4:30 PM or by appointment with priest.

Ariel Adia Marilyn Apicos Lou Barrella Julio Bustamante Patria Bustamante Robert Dunn Jennifer Ellsefen, s’cty Connie Gutierrez, pres. Fr. Ambrose Madu Thomas Mauro Kelly Molinari

Christine Monahan Hugo Neri Ariel Ortega Thomas Paone, MD Mike Passarella Linda Penett Alejandro Perez Giustina Rossi Michael Rosson Marybeth Russo Sharon Thebuwanage

Sábado 10:00-10:30 AM y 4:00-4:30 PM o por cita con el sacerdote

Marriage / Matrimonio: Couples planning to be married should call for an appointment at least six months prior to the wedding. Couples should consult with a priest before fixing a date with the reception hall. Las parejas que están planificando casarse deben llamar para una cita por lo menos seis meses antes de la boda. Las parejas deben consultar con el sacerdote antes de fijar una fecha con el salón para la recepción.

Visits to the Sick / Visitas a los Enfermos: In an emergency, call the parish office at any hour. Please inform the office of sick or homebound who desire the sacraments. En caso de una emergencia, llame a la oficina a cualquier hora. Por favor infórmenos de algún enfermo o alguien que está recluido en la casa y desee recibir los sacramentos.

Parish Office/Oficina Parroquial 10 Austin Place Staten Island, NY 10304 Phone: 1.718.447.1503 / Fax: 1.718.447.7361 OLGCSI.org email: [email protected] https://www.facebook.com/groups/OLGC.SI/

Religious Education Office Educación Religiosa 42 Austin Place Staten Island, NY 10304 Phone: 1.718.815.7262 Fax: 1.718.447.8639

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School/Escuela 42 Austin Place Staten Island, NY 10304 Phone: 1.718.447.7260 Fax: 1.718.447.8639 www.goodcounselsch.org

Sports Association Website: olgc.siplay.com

December 25, 2016

THE CHRISTMAS DAY FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK Theme: Look Our Savior comes The shepherds in today’s gospel, they too saw only a child, just an ordinary child. A new-born baby in the arms of his mother, a simple woman. The house was not even a house, only a shelter in the rocks where they were protected from the rain and the wind. There was nothing extraordinary in what the shepherds saw. This is what Paul says in the second reading. He tells us that today “the kindness and love of God are revealed.” In other words, God’s kindness and love are made visible, they are shown for us to see in that new-born child. Since the beginning of the world, this is exactly what people had wished for: “if only we could see God!” They wanted to know who God really is, how he looks upon us. Is He kind and loving, or is He sometimes angry and ready to punish us? Today God answers this wish. He shows Himself to us. This is what the word reveal means. And what do we see of God? His kindness and His love, this is what he reveals of Himself in that small child. If God had come with great power and majesty, we would have been frightened. We would not have dared to come near Him. But now, it is he Himself who comes near to us. He comes, not with the power of a ruler, or the glory of a king. He comes to us as a simple child, a new-born baby. So, today we are by the prophet Isaiah in these in these words: “Look, your Savior comes.” We are called to look and to see, to see as the shepherd did to see more than just an ordinary child. We look at a baby we are to see God become man; we look at poverty - we are to see all the riches of God; we look at weakness - we are to see the strength of God; we look at helplessness - we are to see the power of God; we look at a simple thing: the birth of a child - we are to see the most extraordinary event in our human history God has become man. We have said that we are called to look and to see. To look, not only in the crib, for there we will find only statues or pictures of God. To look, not only in Bethlehem, for there we will find only the memory of Jesus’ life on earth. But to look in our world today, in our own lives. It is there, in our world and in our lives, that our Savior comes. It is here that he is “God-with -us.” Perhaps you ask yourself on this Christmas day: Where should I look to see God? There are indeed many places and situations were can we see Him, if only we open our eyes. In the faithful love of a husband for his wife or a wife for her husband, he is there showing Himself a faithful God. In the love of parents for their children, He is there showing us His fatherly love. continue on page 4

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EL DIA DE NAVIDAD Del Escritorio del Pastor Tema: Mira nuestro Salvador viene Los pastores en el evangelio de hoy, ellos también vieron solamente a un niño, apenas a un niño ordinario. Un bebé recién nacido en los brazos de su madre, una mujer sencilla. La casa no era ni siquiera una casa, sólo un refugio en las rocas donde estaban protegidos de la lluvia y el viento. No había nada extraordinario en lo que los pastores vieron. Esto es lo que Pablo dice en la segunda lectura. Él nos dice que hoy: "la bondad y el amor de Dios son revelados". En otras palabras: la bondad y amor de Dios son hechos visibles, se muestran para nosotros ver en ese niño recién nacido. Desde el principio del mundo, esto es exactamente lo que la gente había deseado: "¡si sólo pudiéramos ver a Dios!" Querían saber quién es realmente Dios. Cómo nos mira. ¿Es bondadoso y amoroso, o está a veces enojado con nosotros y dispuesto a castigarnos? Hoy Dios responde a este deseo. Él se muestra a nosotros. Esto es lo que significa la palabra "revelar". ¿Y qué vemos de Dios? Su bondad y Su amor, esto es lo que revela de Sí mismo en ese niño pequeño. Si Dios hubiera venido con gran poder y majestad, podríamos habernos asustado. No nos habríamos atrevido a acercarnos a Él. Pero ahora, es él mismo quien se acerca a nosotros. Él viene, no con el poder de un gobernante, ni con la gloria de un rey. Él viene a nosotros como un niño sencillo, un bebé recién nacido. Por lo tanto, hoy somos por el profeta Isaías en estos en estas palabras: "Mira, tu Salvador viene" Estamos llamados a mirar y a ver. Ver como lo hacían los pastores: ver más que un simple niño. miramos a un bebé -debemos ver a Dios convertido en hombre; miramos la pobreza- debemos ver todas las riquezas de Dios; miramos la debilidad -estamos para ver la fuerza de Dios; miramos a la impotencia- estamos para ver el poder de Dios; miramos algo simple: el nacimiento de un niño- debemos ver el acontecimiento más extraordinario en nuestra historia humana: Dios se ha hecho hombre. Hemos dicho que estamos llamados a mirar y a ver. Mirar, no sólo en la cuna, porque allí sólo encontraremos estatuas o imágenes de Dios. Mirar, no sólo en Belén, porque allí sólo encontraremos el recuerdo de la vida de Jesús en la tierra. Pero mirar en nuestro mundo hoy, en nuestras propias vidas. Está allí, en nuestro mundo y en nuestras vidas, que viene nuestro Salvador. Es aquí donde él es "Dios con –nosotros." Tal vez se pregunte en este día de Navidad: ¿Dónde debo mirar a ver a Dios? De hecho, hay muchos lugares y situaciones donde podemos verlo, si sólo nos abrimos los ojos. En el amor fiel de un esposo por su esposa o una esposa por su esposo: él está allí mostrándose a sí mismo un Dios fiel. En el amor de los padres por sus hijos: Él está allí mostrándonos su amor paternidal Continua en la pagina 4

December 25, 2016

Continue from page 3 Continuación de la pagina 3

In the support and help that friends give to one another, He is there showing Himself our friend, our helper. In the comfort and consolation that neighbors can bring to each other; He is there showing Himself as our consoler. In all these situations, God shows Himself as “God with us.” He is there knowing for sure that our savior has come, for we experience in our own lives His kindness and His love. During these days of Christmas season, when we look at the crib, we recall what happened on the first Christmas. We receive Christmas greetings and on the cards, we see the picture of Mary and Joseph and the new-born child. Or, perhaps at night time, we gather together as family to pray before a small crib in our home. At such moments, let us try to see beyond those pictures, to see the real face of God. Let us see God's kindness and love for us, kindness and love that he often shows through people around us. Happy Christmas and prosperous New Year to all!

En el apoyo y la ayuda que los amigos se dan unos a otros: Él está allí mostrándose a sí mismo nuestro amigo, nuestro ayudante. En el confort y el consuelo que los vecinos pueden traer el uno al otro ; Él está allí manifestándose nuestro consolador. En todas estas situaciones, Dios se muestra a sí mismo como. "Él está allí sabido para seguro que nuestro salvador ha venido, porque experimentamos en nuestras propias vidas y su amor. Durante estos días de la temporada de Navidad, cuando miramos la cuna, o cuando recordamos que sucedió en la primera Navidad, intentemos ver quizás recibimos saludos de Cristo y en las cartas, vemos el cuadro de María y José y la Recién nacido O, tal vez en la novena vez, nos reunimos como familia para rezar ante una pequeña cuna en nuestra casa. En esos momentos, intentemos ver más allá de esas imágenes, ver el verdadero rostro de Dios. Veamos la bondad y el amor de Dios por nosotros, la bondad y el amor que a menudo muestra a través de las personas que nos rodean. Feliz Navidad y próspero Año Nuevo a todos

FECHAS PARA LA PRIMERA RECONCILIACIÓN: FIRST PENANCE DATES: Group 3: Saturday, January 14, 2017 at 11 AM in the church (Spanish). On the day that your child is scheduled to receive the Sacrament of First Penance, please arrive at the church half hour earlier. Parents/Guardian are to be present for the Penance Service.

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Grupo 3: Sábado 14 de Enero, 2017 a las 11 AM en la iglesia (Español). El día que su hijo (a) tenga que venir para recibir el Sacramento de Penitencia (Confesión), favor de llegar a la iglesia media hora antes. Los padres/guardián deben estar presentes para el servicio.

December 25,, 2016

Come Celebrate! Our Lady of Good Counsel Family Liturgy When: Sunday, January 8, 2017 Time: 9:30 AM Family Liturgy Children are invited to attend Mass dressed as angels & shepherds to accompany the Holy Family and the Three Kings to celebrate the Christmas Season. Religious Education classes to follow at 10:45 AM.

Venga a celebrar! Liturgia Familiar de Nuestra Señora del Buen Consejo Cuando: Domingo 8 de Enero, 2017 Hora: 9:30 AM Liturgia de la Familia Los niños están invitados a participar en la Misa vestidos como ángeles y pastores para que acompañen a la Sagrada Familia y los Tres Reyes Magos a celebrar la Época Navideña. Seguidamente habrá clases de Educación Religiosa a las 10:45 AM.

RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS

RITO DE INICIACIÓN CRISTIANA PARA ADULTOS

For those who wish to become Catholic, or who are missing any of the Sacraments.

Para aquellos que desean convertirse en Católicos, o que les falta recibir alguno de los Sacramentos.

For English speaking call: Barbara at 718-815-2339

Para los hablan Inglés llamar a: Barbara al 718-815-2339

For Spanish speaking call: Debbie at 347-861-1976. Please call after 7 PM.

Para los que hablan Español llamar a: Debbie al 347-861-1976. Favor de llamar después de las 7 PM.

For all those who are sick among us, that they may experience God’s healing spirit in their lives Por todos aquellos que están enfermos entre nosotros para que puedan experimentar el espíritu sanador de Dios en sus vidas: Angelita Acevedo **Mario Apeña **Heriberto Cerpa **Bernadette Crea **Liz Crehan **Donata Doyle **Narcisa Echavez **Alberto Garcia **Terrence Gibbons **Tino Guerrero **Virginia Marotta **Giselle McGee **Cruz Mejia **Anita Navarrete **Robert Newland **Sr. Kate O’Brien, SND **David O’Neill **Enrique Perez **Pilar Potencio **Walter Rogers **Raymond Torres **Salvatore Valjic **Elsa Vega **Silvia Vega **Targee Williams **Raymond Yonick.

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December 25, 2016

This Week / Esta Semana Monday, December 26 7:00 PM AA (CAF) Tuesday, December 27 2:30 PM Sports 6:00 PM Neuroticos Anonymous (CAF) 7:00 PM Baptism class 8:00 PM AA Meeting / Spanish (CAF) 8:00 PM Sports Wednesday, December 28 10:00 AM Al-Anon (SM) 2:30 PM Sports Thursday, December 29 7:00 PM Al Anon (SM) 7:00 PM Sports Friday, December 30 7:30 PM Sports 6:30 PM Confio en el Senor (SA) Saturday, December 31 10:00 AM Food Pantry distribution 10:00 AM Confession 4:00 PM Confession

__________________________

Rooms in Parish Office: SA: St. Augustine, SM: St. Monica, FH: Fr. Hennessey, FR: Fr. Regan, CH: Church Rooms in School: ES: Elementary School, AUD: Auditorium, GYM: Gym CAF: Cafeteria, CAR: Creative Art Room

Collection for December 17/18, will be published next week due to early printing of the bulletin. La colecta del 18 de Diciembre, será publicado la próxima semana debido a la impresión temprana del boletín. Thank you for your continued Support! ¡Gracias por su continuo apoyo !

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MASS INTENTIONS / INTENCIONES DE LAS MISAS December24, Saturday 9:00 AM Jeanne Donovan ( ƚ) 5:00 PM Peter & Virginia Sherry ( ƚ) 8:00 PM 12:00 AM Private Intentions December 25, Sunday/ THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD 9:00 AM For the People of OLGC) 11:00 AM Dolores Belvin & all the deceased members of of the Criso & Margarella Families ( ƚ) 12:30 PM December 26, Monday/Saint Stephen 9:00 AM December 27 Tuesday /Saint John, Apostle 7:30 AM 7:30 PM December 28, Wednesday/The Holy Innocents 7:30 AM December 29, Thursday 7:30 AM 7:30 PM December 30, Friday/The Holy Family of Jesus 7:30 AM Rita Ochoa( ƚ) December31, Saturday 9:00 AM 5:00 PM Jeanne Donovan ( ƚ) 7:30 PM

READINGS OF THE WEEK LECTURAS DE LA SEMANA Monday: Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59; Ps 31:3cd-4, 6, 8ab, 16bc, 17; Mt 10:17-22 Tuesday: 1 Jn 1:1-4; Ps 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12; Jn 20:1a, 2-8 Wednesday: 1 Jn 1:5 — 2:2; Ps 124:2-5, 7b-8; Mt 2:13-18 Thursday: 1 Jn 2:3-11; Ps 96:1-3, 5b-6; Lk 2:36-40 Friday: Sir 3:2-6, 12-14 or Col 3:12-21 [12-17]; Ps 128:1-5; Mt 2:13-15, 19-23 Saturday: 1 Jn 2:18-21; Ps 96:1-2, 11-13; Jn 1:1-18 Sunday: Nm 6:22-27; Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8; Gal 4:4-7; Lk 2:16-21

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