Gaudete Sunday: 3rd Sunday of Advent: Announcements for Sunday, December 13, 2015

Priest: Rev. Fr. Jason Kulcynski.

Mass Intention: Mr. & Mrs. F. Brill (RIP) req. by John A. Laurito.

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Christmas Flowers: Christmas Flower envelopes are available. Please consider contributing to the Christmas decorations and flowers for Christmas at St. Edmond Church.

Immaculate Conception Mass: Anyone who took video or pictures of last week’s beautiful Mass for the Immaculate Conception is invited to share them on our website. You can e-mail them to latinmassphila@gmail.com or tlmcommunityofphila@gmail.com Thank you.

Immaculate Conception Mass Finances:
Income $ 850.00
Expenses $1400.00
Balance Deficit of $ 550

Mass Sponsorship: Anyone who wishes to sponsor a Mass at St. Edmond Church should contact Fr. McKale directly. To sponsor one of our regular Sunday Masses, Missa Cantata with organ & quartet, the donation is $1,000 – Solemn High $1,500. It would need to be far in advance so that arrangements may be made. All monies would need to be given in one envelope with the total amount.

Some observations: The last time we had 100 people for a Sunday Mass was April 14, 2014. The highest in 2015 was 82 people for April 5, 2015. Since September 13 of this year (2015) attendance has been in the 30s or 40s. Looking strictly at individual contributions, about 15% of people come here faithfully every week, the remainder come bi-weekly, monthly or less frequently than that. I am aware that many people desire an early Mass and while one or two of us priests could accommodate that often, we cannot every week because of our other pastoral responsibilities. An earlier Mass would also eliminate priests upon whom I rely to ensure that the TLM is offered for you at St. Edmond every Sunday; trust me, this is no easy task as they are also stretched thinly among many parish duties and other apostolates.
What is distinctive here is our music program (besides the sung TLM, of course); however, this Autumn it was necessary to reduce our organist to once a month plus holydays for financial reasons.
While I am not certain how to interpret the financial & attendance data of the last few months, whether it is a lack of commitment or interest, or whether there are simply too many TLM’s in the Archdiocese, it must be taken into consideration when planning which date to end the choral music for this year as well as planning for Autumn 2016 to Spring 2017 as that is our major expense and the only expense that is not a fixed cost.

To preserve what we have, we need to increase attendance and income. While we have a significant internet presence, you really are the best advertisement for the beauty of the TLM – not only by your weekly commitment and generosity, but also by inviting and welcoming people to join us at Holy Mass as well as by living out our holy Catholic faith by being merciful, faithful and cheerful about the Faith.

So I encourage you to strive to be promoters of the Latin Mass by inviting and making people aware of our presence here at St. Edmond’s and at the Cathedral. Perhaps, we can invite extended family to join us at Mass this Christmas or for Little Christmas (Epiphany).

It has been my hope for a while that after Mass socials would be more regular in order to produce more cohesiveness among all of us. At OLMC, Norristown the Latin Mass group has an after Mass social every Sunday except the first of the month. Perhaps we can start by having one once a month and build from there.

I welcome your initiative and practical suggestions in helping our apostolate become more successful.
Thank you for all you do.

Fr. McKale

November Finances:
As previously announced, the All Souls Mass broke even.

November 1 Income $ 843
November 8 Income $1091
November 15 Income $ 440
November 22 Income $ 261
November 29 Income $ 311
Total Income $2,946
Expenses:
Music $2,300
Rent $ 750
Clergy $ 650
Total Expenses $3,700
November Balance (-$754)

On a Happy Note:
Tax Exemption Filing: As you may recall, TLM Community of Philadelphia was incorporated in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on July 30, 2014. Application for exemption must be filed within 27 months of the date of incorporation (i.e. October 30, 2016). Our lawyer, John McGuire, has informed me that our paperwork is ready to be filed. Within the next four weeks, a check will need to be written to the US Treasury in the amount of $850.00 as well as legal fees of additional $945.00. This is important as while we are a Catholic entity, we are legally distinct from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

A donor who wishes to remain anonymous has provided the funds for this expenditure. Thank you as always. Fr. McKale.

Upcoming Masses:

A) Christmas Day Mass, Friday, December 25: Mass will be at St. Edmond Church at Noon.

B) Solemn High Mass for Epiphany, January 6, 2016 at 7PM at the Cathedral Basilica of Ss. Peter & Paul, Philadelphia, PA,
Fr. Harold B. McKale, Parochial Vicar of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Doylestown, PA & Chaplain, Traditional Latin Mass Community of Philadelphia, will offer the Mass.
Fr. Gerald Carey, Parochial Vicar of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Morton, PA, will be the Deacon.
Fr. Chris Moriconi, Parochial Vicar of St. Eleanor Parish, Collegeville will be the Subdeacon.

C) Solemn High Mass for Candlemas, February 2, 2016 at 7PM at the Cathedral Basilica of Ss. Peter & Paul, Philadelphia, PA, Fr. Jason Kulcynski, Pastor of Holy Martyrs Parish, Oreland, PA, Traditional Latin Mass Liaison for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Webmaster & Social Media Coordinator, will offer the Mass.
Fr. Harold B. McKale, Parochial Vicar of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Doylestown, PA, & Chaplain, Traditional Latin Mass Community of Philadelphia, will be the Deacon.
Subdeacon T.B.A.

D) A Solemn High Mass is being planned after the Octave of Easter at St. Mary Parish, Schwenksville, PA. Confirmation & details to follow at a later date.

E) A Solemn High Mass is being planned for the Feast of the Annunciation on April 4, 2016, at Our Lady of the Assumption, Strafford, PA, at 7PM preceded by the recitation of the Rosary at 6:40PM. Confirmation & details to follow at a later date. As March 25th is Good Friday, the feast is transferred to the first available date after the Octave of Easter.

F) A Solemn High Mass for Ascension Thursday, May 5, 2016 at 7PM, at the Cathedral Basilica of Ss. Peter & Paul, Philadelphia, PA.

G) A Solemn High Mass for Corpus Christi, Thursday, May 26, 2016 at 7PM at the Cathedral Basilica of Ss. Peter & Paul, Philadelphia, PA. Msgr. Charles Sangermano, Pastor of Holy Savior Parish, Norristown, PA, will offer the Mass.
Fr. Harold B. McKale, Parochial Vicar of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Doylestown, PA & Chaplain, Traditional Latin Mass Community of Philadelphia, will be the Deacon.
Subdeacon T.B.A.

Planned Giving: Please consider remembering us in your will. Our official name is “Traditional Latin Mass Community of Philadelphia.”

International Institute for Culture: Check out upcoming events at http://www.iiculture.org/aboutus.asp.

Events: If anyone has pertinent information that would be appropriate for our bulletin, please e-mail it to Fr. McKale @ tlmcommunityofphila@gmail.com.

Mass Intentions: If anyone still has unfulfilled Mass intentions, Fr. McKale can pass them on to a priest that will satisfy the intention by offering a TLM or Divine Liturgy (Byzantine). Please specify if you have a preference. The donation is $10. If you would like a Mass card, please include an extra $5 for the card.