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張神父與我們反思什麼才是真正的謙卑。

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耶穌聖誕

天主預定的時期到了，天主第二位聖子耶穌基督，降生於童貞聖母的淨胎，救贖普世人類。那是羅馬凱撒奧古斯都執政的時期，他頒布了一道召令，命令全國人民各返原籍辦理戶口登記。

達味一族原籍白冷，若瑟因此帶了瑪利亞由納匝肋到白冷去登記。白冷距耶路撒冷約六里。米該亞先知曾預言以色列的領袖基督將在白冷誕生。

若瑟和瑪利亞到了白冷，那裡旅舍客滿，沒有人肯收留他們，於是只好在一個岩洞過夜。

就在這天，瑪利亞的產期到了，聖子誕生。據聖伯姬達神視所見救主的誕生：一切都準備好了以後，聖母跪到地下，舉目合十，仰天祈禱，浸沉在神魂超拔之中，在她的祈禱中，聖子降生了，聖子身上發出神奇的豪光，日月應遜莫明。聖母用繈褓將他裹起來，聖母以極高的尊敬、最大的虔誠朝拜聖嬰，接著嬰兒哭起來，顫抖著，聖母把他抱起來，靠近心臟，挨著衪的臉，流露出難以言傳的喜樂和極溫柔的母愛。這時若瑟起來，跪倒在地，流著喜悅的淚朝拜嬰兒。聖母和他一起把嬰兒放在馬槽裡，雙雙朝拜。（根據古老的傳說，現在白冷聖誕大堂下面的岩洞，就是當年基督誕生的地方。）

聖子耶穌在謙遜、貧窮、暗晦的狀態中降生。可是天主將這天大的喜訊立刻傳報給人類知道，接受人類的敬禮。祂所傳報的不是權貴顯要，也不是自命不凡的人，而是身份卑賤的牧人。那時，有幾個牧人在田野露宿守夜，看守羊群。上主的一位天使在他們身邊顯現，上主的光明照耀他們，他們非常驚駭。天使對他們說：「不要害怕，我現在報告你們一個萬民歡騰的大喜訊：救主今日為你們在達味城誕生了。衪是主、默西亞。這是給你們的標記：你們要看見一個嬰兒，裹著襁褓，躺在馬槽裡。」有一大隊天神，同那位天使一起讚頌天主道：「天主在天受光榮，主愛的人在世享平安。」

牧人們彼此說：「我們到白冷去，看看上主傳報給我們的事。」他們去了，找到了瑪利亞、若瑟和那躺在馬槽中的嬰兒。他們看見以後，就把天使對他們所說的事傳揚開了，凡聽見的人都驚訝牧人向他們所說的事。瑪利亞把這些事默存在自己心中，反覆思想。

天使向牧人傳報的喜訊，也是向我們普世眾人傳報的，我們今天應當朝拜新生的救主。我們應當存想天主在「聖子降生為人」的奧蹟中表現了祂無限仁慈，從而喜樂，並生發感恩之心。

救主誕生的諾言，使被逐出地堂度顛沛流離生活的亞當感到安慰；使亞巴郎感到喜樂；使雅各伯英勇無畏；使梅瑟克服一切困難，爭取了猶太民族的解放。古聖先知引頸翹望的日子終於到了。過去是一個諾言，現在是一件事實。誠如聖金口若望所說：「朋友的書信，給予我們很大的喜樂。朋友遠道來訪，握手言歡，給予我們更大的喜樂。含苞待放的鮮花是可愛的，甜美的累累果實更是可愛。古聖接到了天主的書信，我們榮獲天主聖駕親臨。他們得了一紙諾言，我們獲得了這諾言的實現。為什麼天主屈尊紆貴，降生為人，受盡千苦萬難，最後被釘死在十字架上，流盡最後一滴血。總括一句話，就是為了『愛我們』。我們以愛還愛，知恩圖報，這是天經地義的事。」

基督在世三十三年的生活，就是一部活的福音。衪的誕生，提供我們最寶貴的教訓。創造天地萬物的天主，降生到世上的時候，卻選了一位貧窮的母親，一座小城，一個馬槽；光榮的天主，用繈褓包裹著，躺在馬槽裡。人們怎樣能找到救主呢？「這是給你們的標記。」天使說：「你們要看見一個嬰兒，裹著襁褓，躺在馬槽裡。」這幾句話，含有多大的教育意義，降生的天主，教訓我們的第一件事就是謙遜。為了補贖我們驕傲的罪，天主聖子捨棄祂的全部光榮，在各方面都和我們一樣，只有一點不同：他不受罪惡的玷污。聖金口若望道：「聖子降生時絕對不以祂的光榮來震撼世界，絕對不像西奈山頒布十誡那樣的威嚴，衪只是靜悄悄的來了。」

耶穌誕生的日期，福音沒有記載。希臘教會在一月六日（即三王來朝瞻禮）慶祝聖誕。羅馬公教會自三五四年起，特定每年十二月廿五日為耶穌聖誕節，全世界各地均隨從羅馬教會所定的日期，慶祝耶穌聖誕瞻禮。

古代羅馬，每年十二月廿五日舉行「常勝太陽神節」。聖教會選定十二月廿五日為耶穌聖誕節，可能是為了幫助眾人脫離「太陽神的迷信」，於是便規定此日為慶祝基督誕生的日期。

關於聖誕節舉行三台彌撒的來歷，是這樣的：六世紀起，每年聖誕夜雞鳴時分，教宗就在羅馬聖母大殿舉行第一台彌撒；在聖女亞納大西亞堂舉行第二台彌撒；天明時分，眾教友列隊到聖伯多祿大殿，教宗在這裡舉行第三台彌撒。十二世紀起，第三台彌撒改在聖母大殿舉行，因為聖伯多祿大殿距離教宗的御宮拉特朗大殿太遠，往返需時甚久。這樣，形成了司鐸聖誕節舉行三台彌撒的習慣。現在的彌撒經上，耶穌聖誕第一台子時彌撒，就有「集會祈禱於聖母大殿」的字樣；第二台黎明彌撒，就有「集會祈禱於聖女亞納大西亞堂」的字樣；第三台天明彌撒，就有「集會祈禱於聖母大殿」的字樣，就是這個出典。聖誕節三台彌撒也含有奧秘的意義：第一台彌撒紀念吾主自無始之始生自聖父，本台彌撒的進台詠摘自聖詠第二章：上主曾對我說：「你是我的兒子，我今日生了你……」。第二台彌撒標志著耶穌是世界的真光，旭日東升，驅除黑暗的夜：「今日一道曙光要射在我們身上，因為主為人誕生了……」（本台彌撒進台詠）。第三台彌撒紀念聖嬰耶穌是真天主，也是真人，是我們萬民的君王：「有一個嬰孩為我們誕生了，有一個兒子賜給了我們，王權負在他的肩上……」（本台彌撒進台詠）。「全球四極都看見了我們天主的救恩，全球都要想上主歡躍……請萬民來朝拜主……」（本台彌撒默思歌詠）。

The beauty of Christmas

聖誕節通常是個嘈雜的派對，然而我們可以稍稍沉靜一下，聆聽愛 的聲音。

當你下定決心，每天重生，並讓天主進入你的靈魂，你就是聖誕 節。當你抵禦着生活中的風暴與艱難，你就是聖誕樹。當你以你的美德為你的生活的色彩裝飾，你就是聖誕飾物。當你召喚、聚集人並尋求合一，你就是聖誕的鐘聲。

當你用你的生命、善良、耐心、喜樂和慷慨來照亮他人的道路，你 也是聖誕燈飾。當你向世人傳佈和平、正義與愛的信息，你就是聖誕的天使。
當你帶領人與主相遇，你就是聖誕的引路明星。
當你把最好的東西給人，你就是賢士。當你努力克制自己，獲致內在的和諧，你就是聖誕音樂。
當你真正與人為友，成為兄弟姊妹，你就是聖誕禮物。當你親手寫下善意，你就是聖誕賀咭。

即使受苦或受委屈，當你選擇原諒，重新締造和平，你就是聖誕的祝福。當你以食物與希望滿足了你身邊的窮人，你就是聖誕晚餐。

在寂靜的夜晚，沒有喧嘩和大肆慶祝，當你謙卑而自覺獲得世界的 救主，是的，你就是聖誕夜。
你是一個具有信任而溫柔的微笑，於永恆的聖誕節的內心平安中建 立了天國。

祝福所有期盼着聖誕節的人，聖誕快樂！

教宗 方濟各

Dear Saint Joseph Family in Christ,
 
Welcome to Saint Joseph/Old Mission San Jose and our weekly communication newsletter.  I invite you to embrace and share these messages with your family and friends.

Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.   Psalm 80

Welcome to the Fourth Sunday of Advent.  We are approaching the celebration of Christmas. We have prepared ourselves during Advent for the birth of Jesus. The readings today anticipate His coming and speak of God’s promise of salvation.  Christmas is a joyful time of the year. It is a joy to celebrate the greatest story of love. God enters into human life by becoming a human person in Jesus. Please click here to read my personal Christmas letter to you.

This morning at 6:00 AM (yes, six o'clock in the morning!) The Filipino Community of Saint Joseph (TFCSJ) and guest priest, Father Martin Aris, celebrated our traditional Filipino Christmas, Simbang Gabi.  Many thanks to all for yet another wonderful cultural experience.

This month has been filled with buzzing activity and we're not done yet!  Many thanks to Sister Marcia, Adult Spirituality Coordinator, and Music Director, Ronald McKean, our staff, volunteers, organizers, presenters, performers and guests who attended the Advent Retreat and our beautiful Carols of Christmastide concert last Saturday.  The growth and unity of our community is exemplary and I am grateful to everyone for their dedication and support.  I look forward to celebrating with you the many Masses and Devotions still ahead which will lead us directly into the new year.

I want to extend a special thanks to Sister Bernadette and team, guest priests, parents and children for your hard work and dedication to our Family of Faith Ministry and the beautiful expression of reflection, prayer and repentance witnessed in our Advent Reconciliation last Saturday.  This is a vital and important step in the formation of our children and families.  Thank you for this wonderful example of love, forgiveness and recognition of Jesus in ourselves and in each other.

Many thanks to our Youth Director, Jimmy Garcia, and all those who attended our Young Adults meet and greet the past two weekends.  We look forward to knowing you better and building a wonderful and welcoming foundation.  Please help us grow.  Spread the word by extending this invitation to your friends and family.

Please continue to join us for virtual Las Posadas which began December 15 and runs through December 23.  Las Posadas is a ceremonial reenactment of Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem and has been celebrated annually at Old Mission San Jose in Fremont since 1982.  Please click here for program details.

On January 1, 2022, we begin our year-long commemoration of Mission San Jose’s 225th Anniversary.  In 2022 we pay special tribute to the people whose lives shaped our rich heritage starting with the Franciscan missionaries who sowed the seeds of Christian faith that has endured for nearly 225 years.  Please click here to bookmark and check our website for updates and information as the year progresses.

Please click here and help us help our Afghan brothers and sisters in need.
Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.   Matthew 25:37-40

2022 is right around the corner and resolutions for the New Year are being pondered by all.  Why wait?  Let's start right now.  Have you thought about joining our Lector Ministry?  Consider allowing God to borrow your voice, to speak through your heart and make His message known.  Our parish is filled with fantastic readers and speakers.  Please share your wonderful talents with us.  Perhaps you have considered being an usher for our people.  Ushers are the friendly face and smile of our community.  They welcome everyone into God's house.  Ushers are instrumental in providing assistance to those receiving Jesus at Communion.  They are your personal concierge at Saint Joseph Church!  These roles are vital and we have an immediate need for both lectors and ushers, particularly at this busy time of year.  Please click here for more information and how to join.

"Blankets of Hope" is an educational nonprofit organization that helps students practice empathy and kindness in an impactful service-learning experience.  Our very own Saint Joseph School, under the leadership of Mrs. Patricia Calton, has committed to this schoolwide Mission Service project.  Please click here for more details on how you can help our students achieve their goals.  Thank you for your support and generosity in the formation of our young people.  They are our future.

Our Christmas Eve/Day Mass schedule is as follows:

• Vigil of Christmas – December 24
  • 5:00 PM – Main Church – Mass with Family of Faith
  • 7:00 PM – Main Church  – Mass with Youth, Confirmation, and Young Adults
  • 9:00 PM – Mission Church –  Adult Choir (Christmas Carols prelude at 8:30 PM)
• Christmas Midnight Mass – Mission Church (Christmas Carols prelude at 11:30 PM)
• Christmas Day – December 25
  • 8:00 AM – Mission Church
  • 10:00 AM – Main Church
  • 12:00 PM – Main Church – Mass with Family of Faith
  • 3:00 PM – Mass in Vietnamese – Main Church
  • 5:00 PM – Mass in Chinese – Main Church

Parish Office Hours:

• Monday through Thursday - 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Friday - 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon
• Saturday - 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• CLOSED - 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m.
• CLOSED Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
• CLOSED Monday, December 27, 2021
• CLOSED New Year's Eve and New Year's Day
• Office Phone - (510) 656-2364

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT -  December 18 and 19, 2021 – Please click here for the online bulletin which contains the worship aid.

Please click here for THIS weekend's Mass schedule, December 18 and 19, 2021.

• Saturday:
  • 5:30 PM – Vigil Mass in the Mission
• Sunday
  • 8:00 AM – Mission
  • 10:00 AM – Main Church, livestream
  • 12:00 PM – Main Church – Mass with Family of Faith
  • 3:00 PM – Mass in Vietnamese, Main Church, livestream
  • 5:00 PM  – Mass in Chinese, Main Church, livestream.  Please visit our website.
  • 7:00 PM – Mission – Mass with Youth, Confirmation, and Young Adults

Please visit our ONLINE GIVING link.  We have streamlined the process to provide maximum security, convenience and efficiency.  We are grateful for your faithful support of our parish and facilities.  Thank you for your generosity.  

New job opportunities are available at Saint Joseph Parish, Mission and School.  Please click here for our list of openings.

Getting married?  Please click here for detailed information and to reserve your date in the Old Mission or the main Church.  Baptism?  Please click here for registration and detailed information.

Please click here for our entire Mass schedule.  

As a reminder, if you cannot attend Mass in-person, livestream continues at 10:00 AM Sunday in English, 3:00 PM Sunday in Vietnamese and 5:00 PM Sunday in Chinese. Please join us online on our Livestream YouTube Channel.

Monday-Saturday:
INDOORS, in the Mission (all days)

• 7:30 AM – Holy Rosary / Confession
• 8:00 AM – Holy Mass
  • First Friday of each month Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
  • First Saturday of each month Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary (hospitality following)
• 8:30 AM – Chaplet of Divine Mercy

Thursday - Adoration and Benediction (IN THE MAIN CHURCH, morning Mass will remain in the MISSION)

• 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM – Exposition and Adoration (directly following the 8:00 AM Mass)
• 6:00 - 6:30 PM – Evening Prayer and Benediction
• 7:00 PM – Mass in Vietnamese
• 7:30 - 9:00 PM - Adoration and Benediction

Daily Adoration in the Eucharistic Chapel (Main Church)

• Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday - 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM
• Thursday - 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
• Saturday - 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Closed during recording sessions
• Closed during livestream sessions not offering public attendance

First Wednesday of each month:
Devotion to Saint Joseph

• 7:00 PM - Mass in the Mission

Confession:

• Daily 30 minutes before each Mass (including weekends) and by appointment

Saint Joseph Catholic School (TK through 8^th Grade) - Principal, Patricia Calton
School website - Please click here or call the school office at 510-656-6525.
Please click here for the current school newsletter.
 
Please visit the following websites and links:

• SAINT JOSEPH – Church website
• FACILITY CALENDAR - Daily, weekly, month at a glance
• FAMILY OF FAITH - Information and registration
• PASTORAL REFLECTIONS - Saint Joseph Staff compositions
• BULLETIN – Online news and ministry links
• ONLINE GIVING – Thank you for your dedicated and generous financial support.
• REGISTRATION – NEW and existing parishioners.  Please update your information.
• JOB OPPORTUNITIES - Job postings for the church, school and mission
• OLD MISSION SAN JOSE – Mission and Gift Shop website

Yours in Christ,