FINANCE COMMITEE CORNER
Last Sunday $7,495 was received in the offertory baskets at Mass and $8,819.83 was received through WeShare, for a total of $16,314.83. Thank you for so generously giving to our regular collection.
YOUTH CHOIR FOR 5:45 CHRISTMAS EVE FAMILY MASS
Children (from grade 3 up) and Teenagers are invited to JOIN the CHRISTMAS EVE YOUTH CHOIR which sings at the 5:45 pm (previously at 5:30) Christmas Eve Family Mass. Rehearsals are on Wednesdays December 5,12,19 at 4-5 pm in the Church and Thursday Dec. 20 6:30-7:30 in the Church. We have varied the days/times for those who want to participate but have schedule conflicts.
The Parent Permission Form to sign up can be found on the Sunday School website under the YOUTH CHOIR tab. (www.blessedsacramentsundayschool.org) or you can pick up the form at the rectory office. Please call Tina Silvestro if you need more information 212-877-3111.
JOY J JESSE TREE
The JoyJ Initiative's Jesse Tree will be placed on the altar in front of the Blessed Mother on December 1st. The Tree will have ornaments on it with a request for certain items or a donation. These items include a hat, scarf, gloves, sweatshirt (Large), socks and a $5 McDonald's card. All items will be used for our Homeless Outreach and added to the comfort bags distributed to our less fortunate Brothers and Sisters living on the Streets of New York. 100% of your donation will be used to buy the items to be placed in the bags. The unwrapped items will be collected before the Masses on Saturday, December 15 and Sunday, December 16. After that, they can be brought to the Rectory. God bless you and have a very Merry Christmas!
SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY
The Parish Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul will meet on Tuesday, December 11th at 6:30pm in the Rectory. All are welcome to attend!
THE CHRISTIAN MEDITATION GROUP
The Christian Meditation Group will now meet each Wednesday from 5:30pm to 7pm. Come visit us and learn about this ancient form of Christian prayer. For more info visit our website: www.christianmeditation.us
PARISH CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING
All are invited to attend the lighting of the Parish Christmas Tree! We will gather on Sunday, December 16th at around 4:30pm on the steps of the Church. There will be caroling, hot chocolate, cookies, and perhaps even a visitor from the North Pole. Families are invited to bring a home made decoration to hang on the Tree!
COAT DRIVE
The Social Action Committee would like to thank the many parishioners who donated to our very successful 2018 Blessed Sacrament Church Coat Drive. Many thanks to all the hard working volunteers for making this a reality. Almost 300 coats were collected. The many many bags of coats, collected for NYCARES were dropped off the the 20th Police Precinct- our special thanks to the Precinct for helping with the Drive! Our wishes to all of you for a Blessed Christmas and a beautiful, healthy New Year!
BAPTISM PREPARATION
Parents and Godparents wishing to present their children for Baptism are asked to please attend the preparation class with Father Duffell. The next session will be held this Tuesday, December 11th at 7:30pm in the Rectory. There is no need to register in advance.
ADVENT SIMPLE SUPPERS
Please join us on the Tuesdays of Advent: December 4; December 11; and December 18 for prayer and meditation followed by a light dinner of soup, salad, and bread. Prayers begin promptly at 7pm in the dining room of the Rectory. It is a wonderful and contemplative way to prepare for Christmas. The Gay Fellowship is sponsoring the Advent Simple Suppers; ALL arev WELCOME to come. We hope to see you there. For more information, please call/email Chris Williams at 304-337-1252 or jcw.arts@gmail.com.
ATHLETES VS EPILEPSY
Francis Connolly, a member of Athletes vs Epilepsy, and our Sacristan, is raising funds to help find cures and overcome the challenges created by epilepsy. This will be in connection with the TD 5 Boro Bike Tour, that he will be participating in this upcoming May. Your donation will help fund innovation in accelerating new treatments and therapies in a time frame that matters. No donations is too big or too small, every dollar counts to the people living with epilepsy. Please donate at https://epilepsyfoundation.donordrive.com/participant/16643
A Symposium on Cardinal Bernardin's "Seamless Garment" at 35
December 11, 2018 | 6 p.m.
McNally Amphitheater | Fordham University
140 W. 62nd St. | New York, NY 10023
In December 1983, at Fordham University, Cardinal Joseph Bernardin of Chicago delivered a landmark lecture outlining what he called a "consistent ethic of life" -- using the Catholic tradition to articulate a defense of life at every stage, and in a way that could cross religious and political boundaries.
Bernardin's "seamless garment" approach proved controversial and seemed to founder after his death in 1996. But Pope Francis has given new life to the consistent ethic, and this symposium will examine how the "seamless garment" looks in 2018, and how it resonates with other faith traditions and in our society.
Bishop Emeritus Gerald Kicanas of Tucson, onetime colleague of Cardinal Bernardin, will deliver the keynote address.
FREE ADMISSION -- RSVP: crcevent@fordham.edu
More info: fordham.edu/crc