It’s the eve of Christmas Eve and I’m so excited to celebrate Christmas this year at Holy Spirit. So, this message will be brief, to the point and from my heart: Merry Christmas to each and everyone of you. May the Christ Child find room in your heart and in your home. The angels of Bethlehem sang in prayer: Peace on earth to those of good will. I wish you all the same: May the Peace of Christ be with you. Enjoy quality time with your family and friends. Again: Peace to all and may this be the merriest and the happiest and the most joyful Christmas ever.
Fr. Bill
NEWS FROM THE PARISH
This Week at Holy Spirit!
From your Holy Spirit Family - Merry Christmas! We hope this Holiday Season is filled with blessings, joy and love. Thank you for sharing this Christmas with us in any way that you did over the Advent and throughout the Christmas Season. Please note our office closures for this coming week.
We will continue to live-stream our 4pm Mass for those who wish to continue watching Mass at home on YouTube/Holy Spirit Las Vegas; or through Facebook/HolySpiritRCLasVegas.
Office & Parish Life Center Hours:
Monday - Friday 8am - 12pm &1pm - 4pm
702-459-7778
*Office & Gift Shop will be closed December 23rd - January 3rd for the Christmas Holiday
Do you need a prayer? Would you like to pray for someone? You can reply directly to this email (which will create a private comment) or click the 'Reply' button to leave a public comment.
We are united to one another through our prayer. We are praying for you. You are not alone.
MERRY CHRISTMAS
Christmas is one of the most important days of the Church year, second only to Easter itself. It is the feast of the incarnation, the feast of God becoming flesh (the Latin "in carne" means "enfleshment"). It is a uniquely Christian teaching, the Divine choosing to become one of us. Because of this belief, God is not only Transcendent, but also wholly Immanent, Emmanuel (God-with-us). While remaining Transcendent (meaning we must rise above our present condition to reach Him), He is at the same time Immanent (meaning He is with us as we rise toward Him). Every Eucharist is like Christmas where the bread and wine are transformed into His flesh, His Body and Blood, and, in a sense, He is born anew on the altar.
The liturgical season of Christmas begins with the vigil Masses on Christmas Eve and concludes on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. During this season, we celebrate the birth of Christ into our world and into our hearts and reflect on the gift of salvation that is born with him, including the fact that he was born to die for us.
Thank you to all who made donations towards our Christmas Decorations. Below is a list of names in which these donations were made in loving memory.
920 Christmas stockings filled with toys, goodies, and gift cards to 9 agencies…
25 gift bags for Child Haven filled with handmade baby blankets by our own Prayer Shawl Ministry as well as much needed supplies for the infants.
25 gift bags filled with special items for the seniors at God in Me.
Additionally, you provided $4,350 in extra gift cards and $10,744 in cash to assist the agencies.
You were able to help those in need from the following agencies:
Casa de Luz, Catholic Charities, Catholic Worker, Child Haven, Children’s Heart Foundation, Family Promise, First Step, Full Armor Ministries, God in Me Ministries and a few parish families.
Needless to say, we as well as the agencies and the families were overwhelmed by your generosity. On behalf of everyone, we would like to thank you and wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a healthy Happy New Year!
MOMENT OF THE WEEK
The Nativity! Over the course of this past week, the Advent Environment in the Sanctuary of the Church was replaced by the Christmas environment, with, of course, the Nativity being the focal point. For the Church, the Christmas Season actually takes place from Christmas Eve/Day through the Baptism of the Lord (January 9th). While most people will have their Christmas decorations taken down by January 9th, the Church still celebrates this wonderful season of Christmas, the celebration of the Incarnation of our Lord! See more photos of our Christmas environment below!
YOUR OPINION MATTERS
What is the best thing about Christmas 2021?
Gathering with Family & Friends
- View Details
Receiving a Very Special Gift
- View Details
Giving a Very Special Gift
- View Details
Being Able to Take a Vacation/Going Out of Town
- View Details
Enjoying Some Well-Deserved Rest
- View Details
Eating Delicious Food, Cookies, Candy, Etc.
- View Details
Being Part of a Christmas 'Surprise'
- View Details
Feel free to write additional foods you may share for Christmas, or add your own comments & questions in the comments section. Last weeks #1 Answer to the question, 'What is on your Christmas Dinner Table?' - Traditional; 'What is your favorite type of Christmas Cookie?' - Sugar Cookies cut into Festive Shapes
GOSPEL REFLECTION QUESTIONS
Read the Readings from this Sunday, the Feast of the Holy Family
1 Samuel 1:20-22, 24-28;Psalm 84:2-3, 5-6, 9-10; 1 John 3:1-2, 21-24; Luke 2:41-52
Use the following discussion/reflection questions in your families, with your spouse, your friends, or even as personal journal questions
1. What does being a child of God mean to you? Do you believe God desires you to be a part of His family? Do you believe God desires to be a part of your family?
2. What does a holy family look like? How can you better lead your family to holiness?
3. What can you do to be a better family member?
4. What does it mean to “abide” with God? How can you do this in the upcoming week?
WEEKLY WORSHIP
Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
'Round yon virgin Mother and Child
Holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace Sleep in heavenly peace
Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight!
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts singin’ Al-le-lu-ia!
Christ the Savior is born! Christ the Savior is born!
Be still my heart Be still my mind
May I still see the magic of that silent night
Fill me with wonder Keep mystery alive May peace on earth be my song tonight
Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace Jesus,
Lord at Thy birth Jesus, Lord at Thy birth
Writers: Silent Night - Traditional; 'Be Still' Refrain by Rend Collective
ANGEL TREE 2020
November 28th - December 13th
This year’s Angel Tree project will be a little different. As you are aware several things are different from prior years: We are practicing social distancing and many schools have not reopened. Many families are without jobs through no fault of their own. The agencies are at a disadvantage since they must use fewer volunteers to assist in their Christmas gift giving programs. We are limited in space for storage and the number of volunteers we can use at one time. Therefore, we are asking everyone to try something new this year…
After all the Masses on the weekend of November 21st & 22nd, volunteers will be handing out a special Angel tag as you leave Mass. Please consider taking one or two to help a child in need this Christmas. If you are unable to attend Mass and watch virtually, we have inserted an Angel tag in the bulletin that you can print, cut out and attach to your stocking. We will also leave some Angels in a basket in the gathering space of the church if you attend morning Mass during the week.
Here is what we are asking:
Please purchase a 16”-18” Christmas stocking and a Target, Walmart, Visa, etc. gift card (minimum $25). Please be sure to write the amount of your gift card somewhere on the card. You may choose the age and gender (newborn - teenagers) of your Angel just be sure to write that information on the back of the Angel. Put the gift card in the stocking and fill the rest of the stocking with little fun items you think your Angel would enjoy receiving. For many children this might be the only gift they will receive this year. After you have purchased the items and filled your stocking attach your Angel tag to the stocking and follow the directions on the back of the Angel tag. It is important that you give your stocking to one of the volunteers either on Wednesdays or on the weekend before all the Masses.
If you are unable to shop or would like us to shop for you, please put your donation (checks payable to Holy Spirit) in an envelope and label it “Angel Tree”. You can also go online to our website www.holyspiritlv.org, go to “Give On Line” and select “Angel Tree. Donations in the Poor Box will also assist with this project.
Thank you for rising to this new challenge and making this Christmas special for many deserving children. God bless you!
Are you wanting to become Catholic? Do you know someone who is interested in becoming Catholic? Are you already Catholic, but have never been confirmed? Then the RCIA process is for you!
First-4-Month Calendar for the RCIA process: for all three groups listed:
All sessions will be on
Mondays in The
Upper Room from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Text Book: “A Well-Built Faith”
FALL RCIACALENDAR
January 10th: "Sacraments of Initiation"
January 24th: "Sacraments of Healing
January 31st: "Sacraments at the Service of Communion
February 7th: "Human Dignity, Sin & Mercy"
February 28th: "The Commandments, Beatitudes & Virtues"
Below is information about Holy Spirit! Access the information by clicking on the links below. If, for any reason, you cannot find what you are looking for, please call our office 702-459-7778
Below is information about some of our ministries and groups at Holy Spirit. Access this information by clicking on the links below. For additional information, please call our office 702-459-7778
The Church of God is convoked in Synod. With this convocation, Pope Francis invites the whole Church to question itself on synodality: a decisive theme for the life and mission of the Church. This is a two-year journey (2021-2023) of reflection and sharing of the whole Church.
"By walking together, and together reflecting on the journey made, the Church will be able to learn from what it will experience which processes can help it to live communion, to achieve participation, to open itself to mission."
Prayer for the Synod:
We stand before You, Holy Spirit, as we gather together in Your name.
With You alone to guide us, make Yourself at home in our hearts;
Teach us the way we must go and how we are to pursue it.
We are weak and sinful; do not let us promote disorder.
Do not let ignorance lead us down the wrong path nor partiality influence our actions.
Let us find in You our unity so that we may journey together to eternal life
and not stray from the way of truth and what is right.
All this we ask of You, who are at work in every place and time, in the communion of the Father and the Son, forever and ever.
Amen.
WAYS TO GIVE
IN PERSON: Drop it off at the office or Use the kiosk in the lobby of the Church
AT MASS: Put it in the collection basket at the altar steps when you attend Mass
MAIL: Send it through the mail (5830 Mesa Park Drive, LV, NV 89135)
ONLINE: Use our on-line e-tithing system (www.holyspiritlv.org); click “On-line Giving”
"The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord."
Luke 2:10-11
Sent by Louie Latina on Saturday, December 25, 2021 at 11:00AM