“We desire to be able to welcome Jesus at Christmas time, not in a cold manger of our heart, but in a heart full of love and humility, a heart so pure, so immaculate, so warm with love for one another.”
-St. Teresa of Calcutta
Sunday readings for December 17, 2023- Third Sunday of Advent
First Reading: Is 61:1-2A, 10-11
Responsorial Psalm: Lk 1:46-48, 49-50, 53-54
Second Reading: 1 Thes 5:16-24
Gospel: Jn 1:6-8, 19-28
Announcements
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.
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.
Advent and Christmas Season Mass Schedule
Sunday, December 17: One Mass at 11:15. We ask all parishioners to come by 11 AM for the Sunday School Christmas play and to stay for the Mass
Sunday, December 24: Our usual Sunday Mass schedule (three Masses): 10, 11:15. 12:30
Sunday, December 24, Christmas Eve: 5 PM Christmas Mass (bilingual)
Monday, December 25, Christmas Day: 9 AM (English), 11:15 (Chinese)
Sunday, December 31: Our usual Sunday Mass schedule (three Masses): 10, 11:15. 12:30
Monday, January 1: 10 AM (English), 11:15 (Mandarin)
4th Annual Andy Chan Block Party
Join us for the 4th Annual Andy Chan Block Party on Friday, December 15th. 2nd street between Market & Chestnut Streets. This year’s event will raise money for our parishioner, Philadelphia Highway Patrolman Andy Chan and the family of Temple University Police Sergeant Christopher Fitzgerald. To Purchase Tickets or T-Shirts, https://www.fbbcf.org/event/AndyChan23 We hope to see you there.
VIP Tickets $150 per ticket
Open Bar at Nick’s Roast Beef Bar & Grille
LIMITED AVAILABILITY – General Admission Tickets $20 per ticket
*Raffle Tickets (1) ticket for $5 (5) tickets for $20
*If you’d like to purchase raffle tickets-please Venmo at @fbbcf65
Prizes include:
- Flyers Tickets
- Sixers Tickets
- Concert Tickets
- Eagles Signed Jerseys and Footballs
- Phillies Memorabilia
- Gift Cards to Philadelphia Bars & Restaurants and More!
*Do not need to be present to win*
T-Shirts $30 each & includes shipping
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.
Bible Study: Gospel of Mark
Saint John the Evangelist Parishioner, Paul Danove is Professor Emeritus of New Testament Studies at Villanova University. He will offer an in depth study of the Gospel of Mark by Zoom on Wednesday evenings from 7-8:30 PM from December 6-March 27. The class already began this week, but you can view the recording of the first class. If you wish to receive Zoom invitations to the class and the recordings, please email Fr. Tom at frtomcap@yahoo.com.
Holy Redeemer School Spotlight
The School Christmas Pageant is scheduled for Dec 20th at 6:00 PM. A dress rehearsal/performance for all students will be done in the afternoon that day.
Archdiocese’s Christmas Party at Cathedral Dec 20 1:00-3:30 (Fr. Tom will provide transportation).
Christmas Holiday Schedule for the school is as follows:
- December 21 – dismissal at 11:30 AM
- December 22 through January 2 – no school
- January 3, 2024 – school resumes
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Spotlight
Climate change is a moral issue. A life issue. And an essential way to protect life is to confront the changes happening to our environment. With time running out to act before a dangerous tipping point, the upcoming 28th session of the United Nations Climate Change Conference of Parties in the UAE must signify a profound transformation. Please visit www.crs.org for more information and to see how you can help!
“We must move beyond the mentality of appearing to be concerned but not having the courage needed to produce substantial changes.” ~ Pope Francis, Laudate Deum
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Holy Redeemer Church’s website: https://holyredeemerccc.org/