“At this Christmas when Christ comes, will He find a warm heart? Mark the season of Advent by loving and serving the others with God’s own love and concern.”
-St. Teresa of Calcutta
Sunday readings for December 3, 2023- First Sunday of Advent
First Reading: Is 63:16B-17; 64:2-7
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19
Second Reading: 1 Cor 1:3-9
Gospel: Mk 13:33-37
Announcements
Second Collection for Retired and Ill Religious priests, Brothers and Sisters
Next Sunday, December 3, the second collection will be for retired and ill Religious priests, Brothers and Sisters. The Capuchin friars and the Missionary Servants of the Most Blessed Trinity receive a portion of this collection.
HR’s Advent Gift Giving Collection
This Christmas Eve, the Holy Redeemer Youth Group will visit Echeclon, a nursing home in Voorhees, NJ to sing Christmas carols and give each resident a Christmas gift. Simple gifts are appreciated: word puzzle books, adult coloring books, decks of cards, stuffed animals, 2024 calendars with pictures, socks, warm scarves or lap blankets. Please consider buying a few gifts for the residents and drop them in the box located in the back of church through this season of Advent. Gifts will be wrapped by HR’s Youth Group. Please do not give food or candy.
PHL Inquirer Article about our Chinatown
Please click this link to read about the history of PHL’s Chinatown including Holy Redeemer and those who took part in making sure our church remained in this community.
HR’s Youth Group Ice Skating
Any youth ages 12-17 are invited to go ice skating at City Hall on Sunday December 17th at 2pm. If you would like to sign up, please reply to this email by December 14th so a ticket can be reserved.
Meeting with Councilman Mark Squilla regarding proposed 76ers arena
All are invited to a meeting with Councilman Squilla on December 17 at 2 PM at the Mother Bethel AME Church at 419 South 6th Street to talk dialogue about the proposal to place a basketball arena on Market Street at the border of Chinatown.
Sight and Sound “I Heard the Bells”
Mark your calendars. Get into the Christmas Spirit on Saturday, December 16 at 4 PM with a potluck dinner followed by watching together the Sight and Sound Christmas program at the Teresa Hu Center cafeteria.
Holy Redeemer School Spotlight
The children from Grades 4 to 8 beautifully sang the hymns on Tuesday, November 28, at the funeral Mass for the mother-in-law of our 1st Grade Teacher (Kristen Fiordimondo) .
For the feast of the Immaculate Conception, there is no school on Thursday and Friday, Dec 7 & 8.
The Thanksgiving schedule for the school is as follows: 11:30 early dismissal Wednesday November 22, no school Thursday and Friday November 23-24 for the Thanksgiving Day holiday.
The school children have been invited to several Christmas Holiday parties:
Dec 2 – Asian American Women’s Coalition Christmas Party at Methodist Hospital 10:30-1:00
Dec 9 – Chinese American Women’s Sisterhood Society of Phila Party at Theresa Hu Center 10:30-1:30
Dec 20 – Archdiocese’s Christmas Party at Cathedral 1:00-3:30 (Fr. Tom will provide transportation.
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) SpotlightWhy was a delegation of Catholic leaders from Côte d’Ivoire in Washington, DC last month to talk with decision-makers about the growing violence in the central Sahel region? Because the people of Côte d’Ivoire are directly affected by the violence in at least 3 ways:
1) Threat of terrorist attacks: Côte d’Ivoire faces the threat of terrorist attacks who have expanded their operations from the Sahel to the coastal countries of West Africa, including Côte d’Ivoire. 2) Influx of refugees and displaced people: Côte d’Ivoire must deal with the influx of refugees and displaced people from the neighboring Sahel countries, especially Burkina Faso and Mali, who are fleeing from violence, poverty and hunger. 3) Impact of climate change: Côte d’Ivoire must cope with the impact of climate change and environmental degradation that affect the Sahel region and beyond. Climate change exacerbates the risk of conflict over scarce resources, such as land and water, between different groups and communities. Visit www.crs.org today to see how you can help!
***If you received this bulletin from a friend, request to be on the listserve by sending an email to holyredeemer1939@gmail.com.
Holy Redeemer Church’s website: https://holyredeemerccc.org/