Upcoming Events at St. Vincent Martyr Parish….

Advent is the season in which we prepare for the great celebration of Jesus’ birth at Christmas. During these four weeks, we are invited to contemplate the richness of God’s gift to us in Christ, as we, along with the entire Church:

WAIT. We remember humanity waiting for the coming of the Savior. We wait and pray for the Second Coming of Jesus as our Lord and Judge.

CONVERT. We examine our lives and listen to the call of John the Baptist, to make the ways of our heart ready for forgiveness and love.

HOPE. We remember how God has fulfilled is promises in the grace and salvation through Jesus, and we pray and celebrate in hope for ourselves and for all God’ has made.

Opportunities at St. Vincent Martyr Parish to wait, convert and hope during this
Advent season:

The Giving Tree will be in the Church lobby the first week in Advent.

Dec. 3 – Senior Luncheon with Midday prayer and the Sacrament of the Sick

Dec. 4 – Women’s Night of Reflection with Dinner and Eucharistic Adoration

Dec. 5 – Men’s Night of Reflection with Dinner and Reflection

Dec. 8 – Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Dec. 10 – Faith at the Movies – discussion of The Nativity Story

Dec. 15 – Advent Penance Service

Dec. 16 – Novena to the Baby Jesus (in Spanish)

Check this bulletin for more details on all of the above opportunities.

January 4, 2009 at Noon – Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord

Our parish will formally welcome the Hispanic Community of Madison to our Parish with a bilingual liturgy to celebrate this important feast. All parishioners are invited to come and participate. Reception to follow.

Novena to the Baby Jesus

The Hispanic Ministry will host a novena to the Baby Jesus beginning on Dec. 16 at

7 PM in our Church. All parishioners are welcome to participate. The closing will take place on Dec. 24 at 7 PM in the Church as well.

Finding Faith at the Movies

Dec. 10 at 7:30 PM

Please join other parishioners in the parish media center to discuss the film, The Nativity Story. From director Catherine Hardwicke, this meticulously researched and visually lush adaptation of the biblical tale follows the pair on their arduous path to their arrival in a small village, where they find shelter in a quiet manger and Jesus is born.

This is the perfect film for the season of Advent. Can we learn and notice new things in this favorite Scripture story? For more details, email Jan.Figenshu@svmnj.org or 973 377 4000 ext. 253.

Special Celebration of Epiphany

El Día de los Reyes (The Day of the Kings)

The Feast of Epiphany is a holy day of obligation in Columbia and many Spanish speaking countries. On Sunday, January 4, 2009 at the Noon Mass we will celebrate El Día de los Reyes (The Day of the Kings) with our Hispanic parishioners.

The feast of the Epiphany commemorates the acceptance of the Christ Child by the world at large. The visit of the Magi to the Christ Child is the manifestation to the Gentiles. The image of the wise men offering their gifts is quickly followed by Herod's killing rampage throughout Judea and the Holy Family's flight to Egypt. The message of Epiphany reminds us that Jesus enters and brings peace and justice to the messiness of the world not just the messiness of our hearts. Jesus upsets the world order, favors outcasts over insiders--yet does not neglect the insiders, either.

The Feast of the Epiphany is the perfect time for our parish to welcome the latest wave of immigrants to Madison. Our parish has been built through the faith of the newcomers: the French, the Italians, the Germans, the Irish and now the Columbians. Please be a part of this historic Liturgy.

In the spirit of Epiphany, may we all be primed to welcome the strangers in our midst to the peace of the Lord Jesus.