Text Box: RCIA - RITE OF ACCEPTANCE This Sunday, Assumption Parish community welcomes Helen Grand and Annemarie Pennino into the Order of Catechumens through the Rite of Acceptance. Helen and Annemarie are preparing for full initiation into the Catholic Church at Easter. Let us pray for them and for all those throughout the Church universal who are walking this journey of faith in Christ. CHRISTMAS PAGEANT “Deck the Halls with boughs of Holly”! Our Annual Children’s Christmas Pageant will be held on Friday, December 19th at 8:00 P.M. in the Church Hall. All are invited to see the lovely children of our parish perform in this great production. The donation is $10 for adults and $5 for children under 12. Text Box: SOLEMN ADVENT VESPERS We cordially invite all our parishioners and friends to celebrate Solemn Advent Vespers this Sunday at 5:00 P.M. in the Church. CHRISTMAS GIVING TREE As is our custom, here at Assumption, a Christmas tree will be on the side altar with the names of children who are in need of toys. Please take a tag or two and help with this year’s Toy Drive for needy children. Please return your gifts by Sunday, December 21st. Thank you! HOMELESS SHELTER Thanks to all who came forward to volunteer for our shelter. Unfortunately, we just learned that because the Partnership is embroiled in a political contest with the Department of Housing Services, the shelter program in the houses of worship in the Heights has been cancelled for this winter. Text Box: Third Sunday of Advent Text Box: BVM Text Box: Assumption Text Box: From the Pastor’s Desk Dear Friends: I wish to express my deepest thanks to all who made our Christmas Gala a great success. I thank all our parishioners and friends who came to the Gala and Silent Auction. From all the responses I have received, the event was great! I thank Georgeann Strakosch for the lovely floral arrangements, our Director of Music, Mr. Scott Battaglia and our Choir, who provided most of the entertainment. I thank Shirley and Alex Mc Donald for their wonderful performance. However, in a very special way, I thank the members of our Gala Committee who worked so hard to make this a truly elegant, fun-filled community gathering: Carol Danko and Patricia Zak-Kearon, our co-chairpersons, Annette Anglisano, Betty Fenelon, Allison Home, Claire McClafferty and Coleen Mc Grath. We are truly blessed in our parish to have such dedicated volunteers who are eager to use their talents for the good of the parish and community. A full financial report of the Gala will be in next week’s bulletin. God bless all who were a part of this year’s Gala and Silent Auction. Yours in Christ, Rev. Michael A. Carrano