Christmas Flowers. If you wish to donate the Christmas flowers and greens in memory of a loved one, stop in the office today and place your offering in one of the envelopes. On the front of the envelope print clearly the name/ names of all those in whose memory the offering is made. Those names will be included in all the Christmas mass programs and they will be prayed for at all the Christmas masses.



COLLECTION
Thank you so very much for your generous response to the needs of the parish. Our collection last Sunday was $17,356. $3,353 was received in ParishPay for a total of $20,709. Also, thank you for your donation of $2,393 for Retired Religious.



YOUTH CHOIR
Children (from grade 3 up) and Teenagers are invited to take part in the CHRISTMAS YOUTH CHOIR which sings at the 5:30PM Christmas Eve Mass. Rehearsal is this Monday, Dec, 21st from 4-5PM.

Please call Tina Silvestro at 212-877-3111 for a Parent Permission Form to sign up. Forms can also be found on the Sunday School website under the Youth Choir tab.



ADVENT SIMPLE SUPPERS
Please join us on Wednesday evening, December 23rd for Prayer and Meditation followed by a light dinner of soup, salad, and bread. Prayers begin promptly at 7PM in the 2nd floor meeting room of the Rectory. It’s a wonderful and contemplative way to prepare for Christmas. We hope to see you there. For more information please call/email Chris Williams (Tel. 304-337-1252; email: [email protected]) or Christina Russo (Tel. 201-248-7244; email: [email protected]).



SPECIAL NEEDS MASS
You’re invited! Please join us today at 4:00pm for a Special Needs Mass welcoming families with loved ones on the autism spectrum and other challenging behaviors.
All Families are invited!



25th ANNUAL NEW YORK CARES COAT DRIVE
Members of the Social Action and Youth Adults Committee wish to thank you for your generous donations to the coat drive.



THE JOYJ INITIATIVE - JESSE TREE
During this special season, we want to say THANK YOU to the volunteers, the donors, and the local groups and businesses that have worked very hard during the year. We are very fortunate to be part of such a great parish and neighborhood.

This weekend JOY J Volunteers will be collecting items in the vestibule of the Church after all masses. THANK YOU for your generous donations and for making the winter more bearable for our less fortunate brothers and sisters who live on the street.



CATHOLIC FAMILIES GROUP
Please join our Blessed Sacrament Catholic Families Group! We are +130 families striving to raise our children in the love and knowledge of Christ. In addition to seasonal events, we host monthly discussion groups for mothers and fathers. Join our Meetup for more info:
www.meetup.com/NYC-Catholic-Families/



ABC’s of Catholic Relief Service… This week - CRS/Central African Republic:
The recent courageous visit by Pope Francis highlighted the conflict in this poverty stricken nation. American Catholics play a role in reconciliation. CRS brings together Christian and Muslim leaders to promote peace building. And, you help care for thousands of displaced people.
Last week - CRS/Bosnia. Next week - CRS/Democratic Republic of the Congo. For more info visit: www.crs.org



FOOD FOR FAMILIES COLLECTION
This weekend (and the 3 ^rd weekend of every month) is our non-perishable grocery collection for FOOD FOR FAMILIES. Shopping lists can be found on the table behind the last pew in the Church. Please put your donations on the boxes in front of the side altars. Many thanks from our parish community!
( In order to provide the highest quality service to those who seek our help, we may only accept freshly bought, unopened non-perishable items. If this is no convenient, we also accept monetary donations.)



REQUEST FOR VOLUNTEERS
Blessed Sacrament Church is organizing a new program and we’re recruiting volunteers. The program is called SMALL ACTS OF KINDNESS (SMACK). A few times a week the Rectory gets calls from elderly/sick/disabled people asking for assistance with some small task (escorting them to a doctor’s appointment, picking up a prescription, delivering food from our food pantry, etc.) We’re seeking volunteers who would be willing to pitch in and help with such requested tasks. Most would be a one-time event, requiring only a small amount of time and commitment. People with flexible schedules would be very welcome, though those who have busier schedules (jobs, for example) could be very helpful as well. The coordinator would make calls to volunteers to see who might be available for any given task, giving time commitment and details. Karen Gargamelli has offered to serve as coordinator. If you might be interested in participating in this very worthy program, or needing more information, please contact her at Karen@benincasanyc. org .



POPE FRANCIS CHRISTMAS BOOK SALE
Last minute Christmas shopping. The Social Action Committee is still offering copies of “Laudato Si - On Care For Our Common Home” for only $8.00. A challenging document which I urge you to read. Discounted copies will be on sale this weekend in the Church vestibule.



PAX CHRIST METRO NEW YORK
Sunday’s readings relate the story of the Visitation. Mary, a very young, mysteriously pregnant, vulnerable teenager hastily travels to her older thought-to-be sterile cousin who is now happily pregnant. We don’t really know how Mary got there in a time and culture that would not have condoned such travel, nor do we know why. Did she go out of excitement for Elizabeth’s pregnancy? Did she go for refuge since her own pregnancy was socially suspicious? Why? Whatever the reason, the Gospel tells us the infant in Elizabeth’s womb leaped for joy upon Mary’s arrival, but nothing is said about how Mary felt. Do we approach Jesus’s coming with a similar mix of feelings, joy and uncertainty? There is definitely a sense of the specialness of Jesus, a belief that he is born of Mary’s deep faith. As Christmas draws near, are we ready to celebrate this amazing child with a faith that surpasses understanding? Let’s give it a try.