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THE BIRTH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST

First Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5: 16 - 24 (English): In this reading, St. Paul asks to rejoice and pray "without ceasing. God will give us his peace and we will be blameless when Jesus calls all the faithful. Second Reading: Galatians, 4 :21 , 5:1 (Lebanese): St. Paul explains that the law made us children of the promise. We are not the children of the slave but the free. Gospel: Luke , 1: 57 - 66 (English & Lebanese): In this Gospel reading, Elizabeth gives birth to a son. This event was a rejoicing event for everyone because the Lord had shown his great mercy toward Elizabeth and Zechariah. Last Week's Collection Total Collection $ 1,087.00 Thank you for your continued support and generosity. May God bless you and your families. Masses &Celebrations during the Week: Sun. Dec. 10th 10:00AM Shamma Nohra (40 Days Mem.) (Family) 12:00PM Antonios Sarkis Youssef Elbaresh (6 Months Mem.) (Family) Mon. Dec. 11th 6:00PM Albertina & Manuel Santos (Isaura Ferreira) Tue. Dec. 12th 6:00PM Tony Badaoui (Family) Wed. Dec. 13th 5:15PM Rosary & Mother Mary's Prayers 6:00PM Joseph Boutros (Boula & Alice Boutros) Thu.Dec. 14th 9:00AM Bassam Obeid (Marie Obeid) 9:30AM Rosary & St. Charbel's Prayers Fri. Dec.15th 5:30PM Christmas Novena 6:00 PM Antonios Sarkis Youssef & his deceased & Youssef Tannous Jabbour & His deceased (Family) Sun. Dec. 17th 10:00AM Youssef Sarkis Khalil (40 Days Mem.) (Family) 12:00PM Haifa Elias (40 Days Mem.)(Family) Leamington Ministerial Association invites all the Christians to pray for each other. This week we pray for : Baptist Church Choir Practice for the Funeral Mass on Tuesday, December 12th, 2000 at 6:30PM Choir Practice on Wednesday, December 13th, from 6:30PM to 8:00PM with Sharon Abbas for the children and youth. Everyone is welcome. Parish Council Election: If you are interested in being a member of our Parish Council, please register your name on the sheet provided at the Bulletin Board. Christmas Play: St. Anthony's Parish is having a play for Christmas. If you want to be a part of this play, please register your name on the sheet provided. The practice with Mrs. Barbara Gaspard will take place on Monday, December 11th, 2000 at 6:30PM. St.Charbel's Calendars for the year 2001 are on sale for $5.00 in St. Anthony's Parish. Thank you in advance for your support. May God bless you. Administrative Assistant: The Diocese of London invites applications for the position of Administrative Assistant for the family, life and youth ministry office. Qualifications: Excellent organizational and communication skills; computer proficiency; accounting and budgeting skills; experience working on a team; interpersonal skills; familiarity with Diocesan structure an asset. This is a permanent, full time position based in the London office. Salary and benefits consistent with diocesan salary grid guidelines. Starting date: January 2001. Interested person should send detailed letter, resume, and three references to: The Search Committee (Administrative Assistant) the Family, life & youth ministry office, P.O. Box 2400, London, Ontario, N6A 4G3. Deadline for applications is December 20, 2000. Job description is posted on Diocese of London Website: http://www.rcec.london.op.ca Are you concerned about people living on the street ? Struggling financially? Do you know people looking for food, shelter, clothing. Homeless Initiative Program, sponsored by South Essex Community Center, can help. Call toll free: 1-866-978-1967 or 1-877-485-9534 weekdays 9:00 AM to 4:00PM.All call are confidential. Parish Council Pastoral Committee will be meeting on Monday, December 11th, at 7:00PM with Fr. Elie. The Birth of John the Baptist The Birthday of John the Baptist, has been celebrated from the earliest days of the Church. Jesus himself called John, who prepared the way for him by his preaching, the greatest of men. A "Voice in the desert," John as the final prophet of the Old Testament, told the people of his time that their Lord was near. The announcement of John's birth by the angel Gabriel to Zachary, his father, was received with disbelief because Elizabeth was beyond childbearing age. In the wastelands of Judea, people from all ranks of society came to hear John and their hearts were moved by his call to repent. Many were baptized by him in the River Jordan as a sign of their conversion; some remained to live with him as his disciples. His denunciation of King Herod's immoral conduct shocked the king's court. Jesus began his own mission by being baptized by John . Recognizing the Son of God, whose "sandals he was not worthy to untie," John said, "He must increase, and I must decrease." John's life prepared for Jesus who was eternal life. Our Lady of Guadalupe On December 9, 1532, ten years after the Spanish conquest of Mexico, the Blessed Virgin appeared on the Tepeyac hill, then three miles from Mexico City, to Juan Diego, an Indian convert who was on his way to Catechetcal instruction. She told him she wished a shrine to be built there. When Juan Diego told Bishop Zumarraga what had happened, he refused to believe him and asked him for a sign. Three days later, on December 12, the Blessed Mother appeared again to Juan and told him to gather in his coarsely woven cloak, roses which she arranged. When they were presented to Bishop Zumarraga he saw a picture of Our Lady of Gaudalupe impressed on the cloak. The shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, where the picture is kept, was built in 1709 and is one of the great Marian shrines in the world and a national treasure for the Mexican people. The Pope Pius XII declared Our Lady of Guadalupe the patroness of the Americas. Hail Mary full of grace, pray for us sinners.

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