The summer has ended, the country’s Ramadan observance & subsequent holidays are over, all the schools are in session, & the pace of life has now settled down for a while. It was a busy summer for our parish, particularly due to the fact that there were 17 infant baptisms from early July to the end of September; the annual average during the first 13 years of the parish was only about 19 or 20!             On the last Saturday of September, Clara Metzhagopian began First Communion classes for this year. Already about a dozen youngsters have been registered for the class, but a few more will probably join in the coming weeks.

            We have also begun a Confirmation class for youngsters from the different congregations of our parish. Elisa Estrada, a Teresian Associate who is the librarian of the Pontifical Mission for Palestine Library in Jabal Hussein, is teaching those classes at 11:00 AM on Saturday mornings in the library. A couple of youngsters from our Sweifieh congregation have indicated an interest in being part of that preparation, & other youngster (11 years or older) are welcome to join. We did not succeed in finding a volunteer teacher to hold Confirmation classes for our Sweifieh congregation, but I hope this arrangement will prove satisfactory.

            As yet, we have had limited interest in other Saturday afternoon religion classes, but that may change in coming weeks. If more registration forms come in, we may be able to start classes for younger children or for those between First Communion & Confirmation.

            I will be leaving on October 19^th for my annual vacation in the States. Father Al Hicks from the Jesuit Center & Trappist Father Jean-Claude Maingot will cover the parish Masses during my absence. I will stay in the States through Thanksgiving & return to Amman at the end of November.

Scripture Readings for the Sunday & Feast Day Liturgies

Memorial of the Guardian Angels (October 2): Baruch 1:15-22; Matthew 18:1-5, 10.

27^th Sunday of the Year (October 4): Genesis 2:18-24; Hebrews 2:9-11; Mark 10:2-16 [or shorter 10:2-12].

Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary (October 7): Jonah 4:1-11; Luke 11:1-4.

28^th Sunday of the Year (October 11): Wisdom 7:7-11; Hebrews 4:12-13; Mark 10:17-30 [or shorter, 10:17-27].

29^th Sunday of the Year (October 18): Isaiah 53:10-11; Hebrews 4:14-16; Mark 10:35-4 [or shorter 10:42-45].

Feast (for Jesuits) of SS. John de Brébeuf, Isaac Jogues, & Companions (October 19): Hebrews 11:1, 35b-38; 12:1-2; Matthew 16:21, 24-28.

30^th Sunday of the Year; Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Palestine, Principal Patron of the Diocese of Jerusalem (October 25): Acts 1:12-14; Revelation 11:19b; 12:1, 3-6, 10b; Luke 1:41-50.

Feast of SS. Simon & Jude, Apostles (October 28): Ephesians 2:19-22; Luke 6:12-16.

31^st Sunday of the Year; Solemnity of All Saints (November 1): Revelations 7:2-4, 9-14; 1 John 3:1-3; Matthew 5:1-12a.

Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed or All Souls Day (November 2): various readings are available, including, e.g., Job 19:1, 23-27; Wisdom 3:1-9; Isaiah 25:6a, 7-9; Romans 8:31b-35, 37-39; 1 Corinthians 15:51-57; John 6:37-40 or 11:32-45 or 14:1-6.

32^nd Sunday of the Year (November 8): 1 Kings 17:10-16; Hebrews 9:24-28; Mark 12:38-44 [or shorter, vv 41-44].

Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica (November 9): Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12; 1 Corinthians 3:9c-11, 16-17; John 2:13-22.

33^rd Sunday of the Year (November 15): Daniel 12:1-3; Hebrews 10:11-14, 18; Mark 13:24-32.

Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (November 21): 1 Maccabees 6:1-13; Luke 27:27-40.

34^th Sunday of the Year; Solemnity of Christ the King (November 22): Daniel 7:13-14; Revelations 1:5-8; John 18:33b-37.

1^st Sunday of Advent (November 29): Jeremiah 33:14-16; 1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2; Luke 21:25-28, 35-36.

Feast of St. Andrew, Apostle (November 30): Romans 10:9-18; Matthew 4:18-22.

2^nd Sunday of Advent (December 6): Baruch 5:1-9; Philippians 1:3-6, 8-11; Luke 3:1-6.

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (December 8): Genesis 3:9-15, 20; Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12; Luke 1:26-38.

3^rd Sunday of Advent (December 13): Zephaniah 3:14-18; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:10-18.

4^th Sunday of Advent (December 20): Micah 5:2-5 (Hebrew vv. 1-4); Hebrews 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-45.

Christmas Day (December 25):

                                   Vigil (December 24, evening): Isaiah 62:1-5; Acts 13:16-17, 22-25; Matthew 1:1-25 [or shorter, vv. 18-25].

                Mass at Midnight: Isaiah 9:1-6; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-14.

                Mass at Dawn: Isaiah 62:11-12; Titus 3:4-7; Luke 2:15-20.

                                   Mass During the Day: Isaiah 52:7-10; Hebrews 1:1-6; John 1:1-18 [or shorter, vv. 1-5, 9-14].

Feast of St. Stephen, 1^st Martyr (December 26): Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59; Matthew 10:17-22.

Sunday in the Octave of Christmas and Feast of the Holy Family (December 27): 1 Samuel 1:11, 20-22, 24-28 [or Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) 3:2-6; 12-14];
1 John 3:1-2, 21-24 [or Colossians 3:12-21]; Luke 2:41-52.

Octave of Christmas and Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, and Giving of the Name Jesus (January 1): Numbers 6:22-27; Galatians 4:4-7; Luke 2:16-21.

2^nd Sunday after Christmas (January 3): Sirach 24:1-4, 8-12; Ephesians 1:3-6,15-18; John 1:1-18 [or shorter, 1:1-5, 9-14].

Solemnity of Epiphany (January 6): Isaiah 60:1-6; Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6; Matthew 2:1-12.

UpComing Events
(2 October 2009 - 8 January 2010)

October 2 First Friday & Memorial of the Guardian Angels - Mass at 12:00 noon at Annun­ciation Church (Jabal al-Weibdeh).

October 7 Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary - Mass at 8:30 AM at the Jesuit Center (Jabal Hussein).

October 9 Friday Mass (27^th Week in Ordinary Time) - 12:00 noon at Annun­ciation Church (Jabal al-Weibdeh).

October 16 Friday Mass (28^th Week in Ordinary Time) - 12:00 noon at Annun­ciation Church (Jabal al-Weibdeh).

October 19 Feast (for Jesuits) of SS. John de Brébeuf, Isaac Jogues, & Companions - Mass at 8:30 AM at the Jesuit Center (Jabal Hussein).

October 23 Friday Mass (29^th Week in Ordinary Time) - 12:00 noon at Annun­ciation Church (Jabal al-Weibdeh).

October 25 30^th Sunday of the Year; Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Palestine, Principal Patron of the Diocese of Jerusalem - regular weekend schedule of Masses.

October 28 Feast of SS. Simon & Jude, Apostles - Mass at 8:30 AM at the Jesuit Center (Jabal Hussein).

October 30 Friday Mass (30^th Week in Ordinary Time) - 12:00 noon at Annun­ciation Church (Jabal al-Weibdeh).

November 1 31^st Sunday of the Year; Solemnity of All Saints - regular weekend schedule of Masses.

November 2 Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls Day) - Mass at 8:30 AM at the Jesuit Center (Jabal Hussein).

November 6 First Friday - Mass at 12:00 noon at Annunciation Church (Jabal al-Weibdeh).

November 9 Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica - Mass at 8:30 AM at the Jesuit Center (Jabal Hussein).

November 13 Friday Mass (32^nd Week in Ordinary Time) at 12:00 noon at Annun­ciation Church (Jabal al-Weibdeh).

November 20 Friday Mass (33^rd Week in Ordinary Time) at 12:00 noon at Annun­ciation Church (Jabal al-Weibdeh).

November 21 Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Mass at 8:30 AM at the Jesuit Center (Jabal Hussein).

November 27 Friday Mass (34^th Week in Ordinary Time) at 12:00 noon at Annun­ciation Church (Jabal al-Weibdeh).

November 30 Feast of St. Andrew, Apostle - Mass at 8:30 AM at the Jesuit Center (Jabal Hussein).

December 4 First Friday - Mass (Friday of 1^st Week of Advent) at 12:00 noon at Annunciation Church (Jabal al-Weibdeh).

December 8 Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception - Mass at 8:30 AM at the Jesuit Center (Jabal Hussein).

December 11 Mass (Friday of 2^nd Week of Advent) at 12:00 noon at Annun­ciation Church (Jabal al-Weibdeh).

December 16-24 Pre-Christmas Novena of Masses in Tagalog (Simbang Gabi) - each evening at 7:30 PM at the Jesuit Center (Jabal Hussein).

December 18 Mass (Friday of 3^rd Week of Advent) at 12:00 noon at Annun­ciation Church (Jabal al-Weibdeh).

December 24 Christmas Eve Masses - 7:30 PM in Tagalog (final Simbang Gabi Mass) at the Jesuit Center (Jabal Hussein); [8:00 PM at Mount Nebo (tentative)]; 10:15 PM at De La Salle Church, Frères College (Jabal Hussein).

December 25 Christmas Masses - 9:30 AM in Tagalog at OWWA; 11:30 AM at St. Joseph Church (Jabal Amman); 12:00 noon at Annunciation Church (Jabal al-Weibdeh); 6:00 PM at De La Salle Church, Frères College (Jabal Hussein).

December 26 Mass of the Feast of St. Stephen - 8:30 AM at the Jesuit Center (Jabal Hussein).

December 27 Sunday in the Octave of Christmas; Feast of the Holy Family - regular weekend schedule of Masses.

December 28 Mass of the Feast of the Holy Innocents - 8:30 AM at the Jesuit Center (Jabal Hussein).

December 29 Mass of the 5^th day in the Octave of Christmas - 8:30 AM at the Jesuit Center (Jabal Hussein).

December 30 Mass of the 6^th day in the Octave of Christmas - 8:30 AM at the Jesuit Center (Jabal Hussein).

December 31 Mass of New Year’s Eve - 11:00 PM at St. Joseph Church (Jabal Amman).

January 1 New Year’s Day Masses - 9:30 AM in Tagalog at OWWA; 11:30 AM at St. Joseph Church (Jabal Amman); 12:00 noon at Annunciation Church (Jabal al-Weibdeh); 6:00 PM at De La Salle Church, Frères College (Jabal Hussein).

January 3 2^nd Sunday after Christmas - regular weekend schedule of Masses.

January 6 Mass of the Solemnity of Epiphany - 8:30 AM at the Jesuit Center (Jabal Hussein).

January 8 Mass of Epiphany (from Wednesday) - 12:00 noon at Annun­ciation Church (Jabal al-Weibdeh).

Useful Telephone Numbers

Father Kevin O’Connell, SJ (079) 556-5062, (06) 461-4190 St. Mary of Nazareth Church (Sweifieh) (06) 592-0740 The Latin Vicariate Office (Sweifieh) (06) 592-9546/7 The Vatican Nunciature (Abdoun) (06) 592-9934