Friday, December 24: 5 PM Christmas Mass During the Night
Saturday, December 25: 9 AM and 11:15 AM Christmas Day Mass (no evening Mass)
Sunday, December 26: 9 AM, 11:15 AM, 7 PM Sunday Mass in the Octave of Christmas (Holy Family)
Reservations are not required to attend our Christmas masses. All diocese-wide COVID-19 precautions (face masking of nose and mouth, hand sanitizing, social distancing, receiving the Host in the hand) remain in effect regardless of your vaccination status. Please follow the direction of the ushers.
On Sunday, December 19, 2021, join us in person or online for the 4th Sunday of Advent.
Our current Mass times are:
9 AM EST – Morning Mass
11:15 AM EST – Community Mass
7 PM EST – Evening Mass
Watch the video live or on replay via YouTube Live by clicking in the window above. Subscribe to our YouTube channel atyoutube.com/stcharlesbklyn .
The readings will be from Cycle C.
Entrance: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel – 395 Readings and Responsorial Psalm – 1002 Offertory: Christ, Be Our Light! – 590 Communion: Hail Mary: Gentle Woman – 889 Closing: O Come, Divine Messiah! – 401
The Gather 3rd Edition Hymnal/Missals are available for use in the church – pick one up as you enter and return it after Mass. Instructions on how to use the hymnal missal are available here: https://www.stcharlesbklyn.org/hymnal-missal/ .
Today’s readings are also available to read online at the USCCB website https://bible.usccb.org .
Please follow the instructions of the ushers, and observe all of the posted health precautions so that we can continue to worship together safely.
Mary and Elizabeth Meet, Moretto da Brescia,
early 16th century, Nationalmuseum (Sweden)
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting,
the infant leaped in her womb,
and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,
cried out in a loud voice and said,
“Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And how does this happen to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”
(Luke 1:41–43)
Fr. Smith’s Commentary on the Second Reading
Fourth Sunday of Advent Hebrews 10:5–10
December 19, 2021
We are now in “late Advent” when the focus is clearly on the birth of Jesus. The first line of our opening prayer reminds us that through God’s grace an angel had made known to us “the incarnation of Christ your Son”. The preface of the Mass says that:
all the oracles of the prophets foretold him,
the Virgin Mother longed for him
with love beyond all telling,
John the Baptist sang of his coming
and proclaimed his presence when he came.
Our first reading from the prophet Micah tells us that Bethlehem is more than just a small insignificant village:
But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah,
who are one of the little clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to rule in Israel,
whose origin is from of old,
from ancient days.
(Mic 5:2)
Our gospel relates the story of Mary’s Visit to her elderly cousin Elizabeth. (Luke 1:39–45) Yet I find the second reading today from the letter to the Hebrews more interesting as it urges us to contemplate the meaning of the second part of today’s opening prayer that in the Eucharist we are “brought to the glory of his Resurrection.”
View the Church live stream video by clicking on the image above.
Saturday, December 18: Caroling: 6:30 PM rehearsal at the Church, 7 PM in the neighborhood. Due to the inclement weather, and also to Covid concerns, the Caroling Outing scheduled for 7:00 PM this evening is being scaled back to a Christmas Carol singalong in church, with prayer.
Sunday, December 19: Fourth Sunday of Advent. Masses at 9 AM, 11:15 AM, and 7 PM.
Monday, December 20: Reconciliation Monday – priests available to take confession before and after the 12:10 PM Mass and from 4 PM – 8 PM.
Wednesday, December 22: Mass at 12:10 PM
Friday, December 24: 5 PM Christmas Mass During the Night
Saturday, December 25: 9 AM and 11:15 AM Christmas Day Mass (no evening Mass)
Sunday, December 26: 9 AM, 11:15 AM, 7 PM Sunday Mass in the Octave of Christmas
Reservations are not required to attend our Christmas masses. All diocese-wide COVID-19 precautions (face masking of nose and mouth, hand sanitizing, social distancing, receiving the Host in the hand) remain in effect regardless of your vaccination status. Please follow the direction of the ushers.
Stories of conversion have always held a strange fascination for me. I am a cradle Catholic and although looking back on my life I can see times of change and growth and alas more than a few times of spiritual retreat there is no single moment when I knew I had crossed a line from unbelief to belief. One of my favorite stories is of C.S. Lewis the great Christian author to wrote everything from the Narnia Series for children to Mere Christianity for basically everyone.
On Sunday, December 12, 2021, join us in person or online for Gaudete Sunday, the 3rd Sunday of Advent.
Our current Mass times are:
9 AM EST – Morning Mass – in person
11:15 AM EST – Community Mass – in person and livestreamed online
7 PM EST – Evening Mass – in person
Watch the video live or on replay via YouTube Live by clicking in the window above. Subscribe to our YouTube channel atyoutube.com/stcharlesbklyn .
The readings will be from Cycle C.
Entrance: O Come O Come Emmanuel – 395
Readings and Responsorial Psalm – 999
Offertory: Wait for the Lord – 406
Communion: Like a Shepherd – 402
Closing: People, Look East! – 409
The Gather 3rd Edition Hymnal/Missals are available for use in the church – pick one up as you enter and return it after Mass. Instructions on how to use the hymnal missal are available here: https://www.stcharlesbklyn.org/hymnal-missal/ .
Today’s readings are also available to read online at the USCCB website https://bible.usccb.org .
Please follow the instructions of the ushers, and observe all of the posted health precautions so that we can continue to worship together safely.
