Imagine traveling back 2000 years in time to the little town of Bethlehem. No street lights or signs. No electricity. No running water, hospitals, or doctors.

You’d look for a stable on the outskirts of the dark village, but there might be many such stables with people keeping warm by sleeping near their animals.

If you happened to locate a stable where a man and a woman were taking care of an infant child, you might suppose that they were the Holy Family, but how would you know? What do you think Joseph and Mary and Jesus would look like?

You’d probably think you’d found the wrong place because the scene would not be much like that on a Christmas card, but more like the pictures of poor, hungry, wretched refugees found in many places around the world.

Dear Parishioners,

God has again blessed us through a generous bequest from the estate of Frances Kollerer, a long-time parishioner who died in December of 1999. Please remember the repose of her soul in your prayers. I will ask the Finance Committee for their recommendation as to the use of this money and that from the estate of Frances Fullan.

I received the report from Olwell and Associates concerning the possibility of building an Education Center and Parish Center. Their interviews and the responses from those who filled out the questionnaire provided very positive opinions concerning our Parish. I will bring their recommendations about the fund-raising campaign to the year 2001 to a combined meeting of the Building and the Finance Committees this week. I hope by next week I will be able to tell you about future steps we might take.

Let us seek the Face of the Lord in each other and in the poor of our world.

Jesus calls us to repentance and to faith. He calls out: "Repent and believe the Good News". Have we allowed our minds to become insensitive to untruth, to bad behavior, to immorality? Growth as a Christian requires a constant effort and involves an endless attempt to purify motives, improper behavior and insensitivity to the rights of others. We have a simple, but wonderful means to do this...The Sacrament of Reconciliation. Come together as Parish Family to confess our sins; receive God’s merciful forgiveness, and return home burden-free and filled with joy. We will celebrate two Advent Penance Services on:

READINGS for NEXT SUNDAY, FOURTH SUNDAY of ADVENT
Micah 5:1-4 Hebrews 10:5-10 Luke 1:39-45

As a Parish Community, We Pray...

On this Jubilee Day for Entertainers, may the Holy Spirit inspire them to use their talents to bring hope and joy to their audiences. Through them, may Jesus show His face to us.

We welcome into the family of God: Joseph Vidal, David Mohadjerani-Storm, & Alexis Esrick, who were baptized in Christ.

Christmas Poinsettias will decorate the Church during the Christmas Season. If you would like to make a donation of $10 (please make check out to St. Robert’s, Poinsettias Fund) toward their purchase in memory of a loved one, fill out the form below and return it to the Parish Office by December 22nd. A memorial list will be published in the bulletin.

Kindergarten Application:
Applications for St. Robert School Kindergarten for the 2001/2002 school year will be accepted in the School Office Monday Friday, January 8th through the 12th, between 9 AM - 3 PM. The screening fee for each applicant is $25.00. Please bring copies of your child’s birth and baptismal records, a recent family photograph and your child’s social security number. Screening dates will be assigned on completion of the application.

Requirements for School Registration:
Family must be registered and participating members of St. Robert’s Parish. This means that the family is involved in Parish life and the financial support of the Parish. Applications will be accepted for children who are 5 years of age by September 1, 2001. All acceptances will be based on student screenings and parent interviews.

Non-Discrimination Policy:
St. Robert School, mindful of its mission to be witness to the love of Christ for all, admits students of any race, color, and national and/or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at this school. St. Robert School does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color and national and/or ethnic origin in adminstration of educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

Parish Office Closed....Dec. 25th and 26th in observance of the Christmas holiday.

   
MONDAY, DECEMBER 18th
1:30 - 3 pm, Cheerleading.....Hall

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19th
6:30 - 8 pm, Legion of Mary.....Library
7:30 pm, Advent Communal Penance Service.....Church
8 - 9 pm, Teen Club.....Hall/Kitchen

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20th
3 - 5 pm, Cheerleading.....Hall
7:30 - 9 pm, Bible Study.....Convent

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21st
7 - 9 pm, RCIA.....Chapel

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22nd
7:00 pm, Priests’ Choir Concert.....Church

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23rd
3:00 pm, Advent Communal Penance Service.....Church

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24th
CHRISTMAS EVE
Sunday Masses: 7:30, 9:00, 10:30, 12 Noon
Christmas Eve Masses: 4:30, 8:00, Midnight

MONDAY, DECEMBER 25th
Christmas Day
7:30 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 12:00 Noon
no 5:30 p.m. Mass