Christ Our King and Savior Catholic Church 6341 LAKE OCONEE PKWY. GREENSBORO, GEORGIA 30642 PHONE: 706-453-7292 FAX:

706-453-7095

WWW.COKAS.ORG

Mission Statement United in Christ, All for the Glory of God Unidos en Cristo, Todo para la Gloria de Dios

Pastor: Rev. Roberto Herrera [email protected] Emergency (24/7) 678-608-7829

Mass Schedule Saturday Vigil 5:00 pm Sunday Mass 9:00 am Spanish Mass 11:45 am

Daily Mass Schedule No Monday Mass Tuesday 9:00am Wednesday 6:00pm (English) 7:30pm (Spanish) Thursday 9:00am Friday 9:00am

Parish Office Mon - Fri. 9 am -2 pm

Advent Penance Service: December 15th (7:00 pm) Christmas Mass Schedule December 24th : 3:30 pm (Children’s) , 5:30pm 7:30 pm (Spanish) and 10:00pm December 25th : 9:00am only

Business Manager John Steadman [email protected] Accountant Millie Browning [email protected] Director of Religious Education Bev Fox [email protected] Communications Coordinator Gina Murphy [email protected] Pastoral Administration Lily Vaughn [email protected] Maintenance Clarence Drinkwine [email protected]

Confessions

Eucharistic Adoration

SVDP Hotline

Rosary

Saturday - 4:00 - 4:45pm call for appointment

1st Friday 9 am – 6 pm

706-453-4744

Before Mass 8:40am

December 11, 2016

"Be always happy" We want to celebrate Christ's coming with a new heart and enormous joy. That is the meaning of "A dvent". Let's ask ourselves if we have done all that we were supposed to: "Have I announced the good news of the Gospel to the poor? Have I mended broken hearts? Have I proclaimed pardon to the captive ones? Have I brought liberty to prisoners?" We run the risk of living in a world of light and yet, not see, because of pure routine. Advent invites us to live the same joy and enthusiasm that Mary proclaimed in the "Magnificat" because of all the beautiful work God had performed in her. "Happiness is the gigantic secret of a Christian", said Chesterton. In this world there are loud but false laughs that don't last long. Christian happiness surfaces from a very deep and serene desire that resides in the soul. The root of our happiness lies in the certainty that we have been rescued from the evil one and brought over to a world inundated with grace. The secret to reach this happiness is not precisely searching for it. We don't go to our Lord to fill ourselves with happiness, but to find Him and love Him. Then, happiness invades us as if by surprise. Happiness is a privilege from God, is a gift of the Holy Spirit, and is the characteristic of His Kingdom. " In a gr aceful soul it is always spring", used to say the saint priest of Ars. This is the urgent testimony that we must give to the world; scream to all that faith makes us happy. Happiness is contagious, disar ms and pulls; and in fact, is what every day Christians most likely need. Nietzche used to say that Christians should have a little more of "the look of saved people and sing better songs" to be held accountable of their beliefs. Christmas is near and we all run the risk of being trapped in the comings and goings of all the festivities. We must dedicate some time to prepare our interior: our spirit, our prayer life. So that we can really live and enjoy the truth that we are about to celebrate. When we think of all the problems around us, when we experience economic crisis and insecurity, when a loved one has passed away, can we be happy? When so many die of hunger, so many are at war, and the dignity of so many are mistreated, can we be happy? Can we live happy lives when so many are experiencing so many difficulties? Still, St Paul has told us "Be always happy". This means that happiness is possible. And we are called to live it with our feet on the ground and aware of the problems around us.

Happiness as well as sadness are contagious. As Christians we must make happiness fashionable because we believe and are hopeful. And our faith is not artificially grounded.

MASS INTENTIONS

Advent

Saturday, December 10 5pm Morgan Darrah Eggert Sunday, December 11 9am Gillian Switala Monday, December 12 No Mass Tuesday, December 13 9am Loretta Farnell Wednesday, December 14 6pm No Mass 7:30pm No Mass Thursday, December 15 9am Belletieri Family Friday, December 16 9am Headly Family Saturday, December 17 5pm Dr. Pat Patterson Sunday, December 18 9am In Honor of St. Joseph 11:45am People of the Parish

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PRAYER REQUESTS Military Personnel Tarah Thompson Diane Desmond Linda Chelana Harriette Thompson Vickie Abbott Connie Jean Anderson Sonya Stephenson Fabiola Whisenhunt Charlean Ferguson

John Piler Steve Piler Larry Patient Cathleen Bozzella Lani Dwyer MaryEllen Brown Pam Quinn Rosemary Sheedy Jackie Scalzo Deidre Slifko

For those in critical need of daily prayers. Note: Names will stay on the Prayer list for 6 weeks and then they will be removed. Call 706-453-7292 x 4 or email [email protected] with updates.

Thursday, December 15 Advent Penance Service 7:00p.m. With Fr. Young, Fr. Garcia, Fr. Orellana, and Fr. Herrera Saturday, December 17 Posada 6:00p.m. Saturday, December 17 and Sunday, December 18 Blessing of expectant mothers during All Masses

Women of COKAS Ladies’ Day-Retreat Tuesday, January 24, 2017 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Featured Speaker: Sister Barbara Young Of the Cenacle Sisters We will accept reservations in January. Questions: Call Robyn Morgan 404-281-7910

COKAS GIVING TREE This weekend is the deadline for returning the COKAS Giving Tree gifts. If you took a tag, please bring a new and wrapped gift back to the church no later than Sunday, December 11th and place it under the tree. Thank you for your continued support!

Feast of our Lady of Guadalupe Monday, December 12th Please join us! 6am to 8am: Morning Prayer in Sanctuary Breakfast /Mariachi Band in Social Hall

7pm: Mass (Bilingual) 8pm: Reception in the Social Hall

Children’s Liturgy of the Word is celebrated at the 9:00 and 11:45 a.m. masses for children Pre-K through 3rd grade. NO SIGN-UP REQUIRED

Flowers adorning the Pedestals have been donated by The Guadalupe Ministry Flowers adorning the Blessed Virgin Mary have been donated by Jim Collins for Mary’s intercession for the cure of Breast Cancer.

LOOKING AHEAD December 11th 11th 12th 12th 14th 14th 15th 16th 17th 18th

Breakfast with Santa

After 9:00 Mass In the Social Hall Faith Formation (K-5th) 10:30am-11:30am In the PLC Mondays in the Word Bible Study 10:00am-12:00pm In the PLC Room 212 Folklore Dance Performance 6:00pm In Front of the Church St. Theresa Circle 10:00am In the PLC Room 212 NO Mass Advent Penance Service 7:00pm In the Sanctuary Children/Youth Choir Rehearsal 4:00-5:15pm In the Social Hall Confessions 4:00pm In the Sanctuary Children/Youth Choir Rehearsal 3:00-4:15pm In the Social Hall

Deadlines for the Holiday Bulletin Publication dates: Bulletin Date Office Deadline Jan. 8th December 27th

STEWARDSHIP OF TREASURE

How shall I make a return to the Lord for all the good He has done for me? Offertory At Masses 11/26-11/27/16........….....$ Online Giving 11/21-11/27/16.………. Total $

6,092. 3,060. 9,152.

DECEMBER second collections: 12/3/16—St. Vincent de Paul 12/11/16—Retirement Religious 12/25/16—Catholic Charities

Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! Go to: www.cokas.org. At the top right side of the home page, click on the icon. Call or email Millie Browning with any questions 706-453-7292, ext. 9, [email protected] Thank You For Your Support! Thank you for your support of our parish this year! We are so grateful for all of your support and dedication to the work we are doing for our parish and in the community. If you haven’t signed up for Online Giving yet, now is a great time to set up your end of year donation and a weekly offertory gift.

Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory’s statement on election: ‘Just as every ballot counts … so too does every person’ (Published 11/17/16) Any person who assumes the lofty responsibilities of government leadership needs and deserves our prayers and our support. To all of our newly elected public officials, I sincerely offer both. This has been a toxic election process and feelings on all sides remain intense. As people of faith we must pray that our nation can move into a moment of composure and renewal. While there are still a great many issues that continue to divide us, we must rely on our love for our country, our freedom, and our national wellbeing to be the glue that holds us together. As Christ’s Church we must work boldly and tirelessly to restore the Gospel message of peace, reconciliation, mercy and civility into our wounded public discourse. The venomous campaign just concluded has seriously damaged our national tone and focus. The protests that have erupted across the country might well have occurred regardless of which party prevailed—only the signage and chants would have changed. Many people are angry and confused; even worse, many are fearful. These are not emotions any citizen expects to confront at the conclusion of a presidential election in the greatest nation in the world. Those who succeeded on November 8th are to be congratulated for having achieved a critical opportunity to move this land that we love forward. Those who fell short must not set aside their principles that affirm life and promote the dignity of all people; rather, they must assess how they might keep those dreams alive in the wake of political defeat. Both, however, must set aside their hateful rhetoric and realize the rising societal price of their partisanship. The poor and the vulnerable, the immigrant and the unemployed, the weak and the needy rarely seem to be the forces that drive social change, yet they are the ones who suffer most in times of social turmoil. Before any person rejoices or laments too passionately the outcome of this election, let us recall that just as every ballot counts, the Gospel reminds us that so too does every person. May God bless our nation and give us the strength, wis-

dom and perseverance to heal and unite it.

Bev Fox, DRE [email protected] 706-453-7292

FAITH FORMATION

Important Dates Dec 11: Classes for K-5 Dec 15: Advent Penance Service 7:00 pm

NO Edge/Life Night on Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Dec 18: Final class before Christmas Jan 1:

NO Sunday classes K-5

Jan 8:

Classes resume K-5

Third Sunday of Advent

Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas, please pray for us Feast Day December 12 On December 9, 1531, a 57-year-old Aztec, Juan Diego, saw the Blessed Mother on a hill in Mexico City. She told Juan to have a church built in her honor. When Juan went to ask Bishop Zumarraga about this, the bishop did not understand the Indian dialect—and he did not believe in the vision Juan described. Three days later, on December 12, Mary appeared again to Juan Diego, and this time she gave him a sign for the bishop. “Take these roses to the bishop,” she said, as she arranged in his cloak beautiful roses she had Juan Diego pick from the hillside although it was winter. When he was admitted into the bishop's room, Juan Diego opened his cloak, and out dropped the roses. On the cloak there remained an image of Mary as she had appeared to Juan Diego. The image of Mary on the cloak is known as Our Lady of Guadalupe for an interesting reason. On that same day, Mary appeared to Juan's uncle and cured him, giving him a message for the bishop, saying that she would “crush the serpent's head.” The bishop did not understand the Indians' language. The Indian word for “crush the serpent” sounded to him like “Guadalupe,” the name of Mary's shrine in Spain. Thinking that the Virgin wanted the new shrine to have the same name, the bishop called her Our Lady of Guadalupe. Mary appeared to Juan Diego dressed as an Aztec woman to show her love and compassion to an oppressed group of people. Mary had heard the prayers and pain of these people, and she came to give them hope. Mary's visit to Guadalupe is a reminder that God will remember his mercy for all people. In Mary's song of joy, the Magnificat, she praised God because he has put down the mighty, exalted the lowly, filled the hungry, and sent the rich away empty. People honor Our Lady of Guadalupe because they recognize her motherly concern for them.

CONFIRMATION CLASS OF 2018 Confirmation classes begin Wednesday, January 11th at 6:30 pm in the Parish Social Hall. Students in grades 9th—11th must be registered for Life Teen and Confirmation Class prior to January 11th. Questions? [email protected]

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA

STEWARDSHIP SCRIPTURE REFLECTION

Pancakes and Pics with Santa Join us TODAY for a delicious pancake breakfast with Santa, compliments of The Knights of Columbus following the 9:00 Mass in the Social Hall.

Each of us has his or her own role to play in the coming of the kingdom of God. John the Baptist was called to be the herald of the Messiah, preparing the way of the Lord. To what is the Lord calling me?

*** Have your picture made with Santa and bring him your Wish List ***

HOLY SPIRIT MonASTERY TREATS The Knights of Columbus are selling fruitcakes, fudge, biscotti & coffee from the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers, Ga. Visit the tables in front of the church on the weekend of December 17 and 18 after the 5 p.m. and 9 a.m. Masses. Sales will also be in the Social Hall after 9 a.m. Mass on December 18. All net proceeds collected by The Knights of Columbus are donated to local charities and also go to support the monks and their good works.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS

SUPPER CLUB Supper Club is back for Winter, 2017! Calling all parishioners, single or married! Come on out and join the parish Supper Club! You will be divided into groups of six, to meet once a month during January, February and March 2017. There are no requirements other than a desire to share good food and fellowship. This is a great opportunity for renewing friendships or making new ones, and you might even find a new recipe to enjoy at home! To learn more about Supper Club or to sign up, call Jim or Sharon Liebeck (706-999-1669) or email at [email protected].

LOCAL KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS COUNCIL RECEIVES TOP INTERNATIONAL AWARD Greensboro, GA: Knights of Columbus Council 13808 of Greensboro, GA has earned the distinction of Double Star Council, the organization’s top award, for the 2015-2016 fraternal year. The Double Star Council Award recognizes overall excellence in the areas of membership growth and retention, promotion of the fraternal insurance program, and sponsorship of service-oriented activities. The award was presented to the membership by Georgia State Deputy Mark McMullen at a special ceremony on November 13, 2016.

The Pope John Paul II Council is located at Christ Our King and Savior Catholic Church and operates many fundraising and service activities. They are involved in supporting many local charities including Special Olympics, food pantries, the First Call Pregnancy Center, Pete Nance Boys and Girls Club, and St. Vincent de Paul.

Grand Knight Ken Weber (left) accepts the Double Star Council award from State Deputy Mark McMullen.

“Receiving the Double Star Council Award is quite an honor for us. We are extremely proud of this accomplishment,” proclaimed Grand Knight Ken Weber, head of the local council’s 163 members.

The Knights of Columbus is the world’s largest Catholic lay organization. It provides members and their families with volunteer opportunities to serve their church and their community. With more than 1.9 million members in over 15,000 councils around the world, the Knight of Columbus annually donates more than $175 million and 73 million hours of service to charitable causes.

"ANUNCIOS PARROQUIALES" Aparición de la Virgen de Guadalupe: 12 de Diciembre de 1531 La Virgen María la que se ha aparecido en distintos lugares, en distintos para ayudarnos y animarnos a seguir adelante en nuestro camino al cielo. En estas apariciones, la Virgen nos ha pedido rezar el Rosario, acudir al Sacramento de la Penitencia y hacer sacrificios para la salvación del mundo. Hace muchos años, los indios aztecas que vivían en el valle de México, no conocían a Jesús. Ellos tenían muchos dioses y eran guerreros. Los misioneros eran unos sacerdotes que vinieron de España y que poco a poco fueron evangelizando a los indios. Les enseñaron a conocer, amar e imitar a Jesús en la religión católica y los bautizaron. Entre los primeros que se bautizaron, había un indio muy sencillo llamado Juan Diego, quien iba todos los sábados a aprender la religión de Cristo y a la misa del pueblo de Tlatelolco. El sábado 9 de Diciembre de 1531, cuando Juan Diego pasaba por el Cerro del Tepeyac para llegar a Tlatelolco, escuchó el canto de muchos pájaros y una voz que le decía: "Juanito, el más pequeño de mis hijos, ¿a dónde vas?". Al voltear Juan Diego vio una Señora muy hermosa. La Señora le dijo: "Yo soy la siempre Virgen Santa María, Madre del verdadero Dios. He venido hasta aquí para decirte que quiero que se me construya un templo aquí, para mostrar y dar mi amor y auxilio a todos ustedes". La Virgen le dijo a Juan Diego que fuera a ver al Obispo y le contara lo que Ella le había dicho. Juan Diego fue de nuevo a ver al Obispo y le dijo que la Virgen le había mandado la prueba de que Ella era realmente la Virgen. Al soltar su ayate, las rosas cayeron al suelo y apareció dibujada en la tela la preciosa imagen de la Virgen de Guadalupe. Fue entonces cuando el Obispo creyó que la Virgen quería que le construyeran en ese lugar un templo.

Fechas Importantes Misa de la Inmaculada Concepción Miercoles, 7 de diciembre Misa de Vigilia a las 6:00 pm (Ingles) y 7:30 (Español) Jueves, 8 de diciembre Misa a las 9:00 a.m. Celebración de La Virgen de Guadalupe Lunes, 12 de diciembre 6:00am—9:00 am Oraciones, Rosario en el Santuario Mañanitas con Mariachis y desayuno en el Salon Social 6:00 pm Presentacion de baile folclorico al frente de la iglesia 7:00 pm Misa Bilingüe Servicio de Penitencia Jueves, 15 de diciembre 7:00p.m. en el Santuario Con los Padres Young, Garcia, Orellana, y Herrera Posada Sabado, 17 de diciembre a las 6:00 pm 6:00p.m. Bendición para las mujeres en cinta Sabado, 17 de diciembre y Domingo, 18 de diciembre Durante todas las misas Navidad Sabado, 24 de diciembre 3:30 pm—Misa de Niños - 5:30—Misa - 7:30—Misa de Navidad en Español—10:00pm—Misa de Medianoche Domingo, 25 de diciembre 9:00 am — Solemnidad de Navidad Ministerio de Niños y Jovenes—Fechas Importantes Domingo, 18 de diciembre: Ultimo domingo de clases para K-5 antes de Navidad Domingo, 1° de enero: No hay clases de K-5 Domingo, 8 de enero: Clases de K-5 comienzan de Nuevo Miercoles, 11 de enero: Primera clase de Confirmación—deben estar registrados—esta clase es mandatoria para la Confirmación