Page Two

THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD (CHRISTMAS)

SANTA SOPHIA ACADEMY

A Christmas Message from Father Timothy

At this time of Christmas we cannot but think of the mercy of God that has visited us in the Christ child. In the
fullness of time God entered world history, not with
power and fame, not with wealth and status, but with the
most silent and hidden solitude of the poor and marginalized of society. And yet it was of this poor child that the
greatest event of human history would take place, the
atonement of man with God, and the restoration of grace
and peace to the interior heart of mankind. It was as the
Prophet Isaiah preached . . .
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son
is given; and the government shall be upon
his shoulder, and his name will be called
forth Wonderful, Counselor, Almighty
God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince
of Peace. Isaiah 9:6ff
Yes, there could be no Son without The Father. And
The Father had now sent His Only-Begotten to us to
manifest the truth of salvation and the advent of our God.
No longer was God remote and distant but truly He was
now Emanuel, that is, God with us. As St. Paul writes in
his epistle . . .
In many and various ways God spoke of
old to our fathers by the prophets; but in
these last days he has spoken to us by a Son,
whom he appointed the heir of all things,
through whom also he created the world.
The Son reflects the glory of God and bears
the very stamp of his nature. . . Hebrews
1:1ff
Yes, Christmas is the dawn of our salvation to be
wrought through the Paschal Mystery, all of which began with the Annunciation to a lowly virgin of Nazareth.
God has come into the world to share with us His Divine
Nature through the likeness of sanctifying grace! God
has touched humanity, taking that humanity up to Himself; sharing in our humanity so that we could share in
His Divinity. John, the beloved apostle, had it right
And the Word became flesh and dwelt
among us, full of grace and truth; and we
have beheld his glory, the glory as of the onlybegotten Son from the Father. . . And from
his fullness have we all received, grace upon
grace. For the law was given through Moses;
grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
Jn 1:14ff
Grace and Truth are Gods Christmas gifts to man. Let
us rejoice in these greatest of gifts that raise us above our
fallen humanity to the status of the Children of God, and
heirs to The Kingdom which awaits all
men of good will. A Blessed & Merry
Christmas to you all! -- Fr. Timothy

December 25, 2014

SEEKING WISDOM.
LIVING VIRTUE.
ENCOUNTERING CHRIST.
Learn more at www.santasophiaacademy.org

Contact us to request a pre-admission packet

and to arrange a meeting, a screening test
for entrance, or a tour!
SANTA SOPHIA ACADEMY
LOUISE AMADO PRESCHOOL
for ages 2 - 5
Victoria Simanek, Director
(619) 463-0141 ~ preschool@santasophia.org
SANTA SOPHIA ACADEMY (K - 8)
Karen Laaperi, Principal
(619) 463-0488
santasophiaacademyoffice@gmail.com
Fax: (619) 668-5469
Extended Day Care: (619) 668-5471

We look forward to hearing from you!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
anta Sophia Academy invites you to Seek

Wisdom + Live Virtue + Encounter Christ

through your partnering with us in the education of your child for the 2015-2016 school year.
Pre-admission forms are being taken beginning
January5th, 2015 and wed love to give you a tour
of the campus and our classrooms, answer any
questions you may have and have your family join
ours! Information is available on our website:
www.santasophiaacademy.org. Please join us at
our Open House on Sunday, January 25th, from
8:30 am - 1:00 pm to meet other parents, students,

Merry Christmas and a

Blessed New Year from the
Parish and Academy Staff
The Parish office is closed until Monday, December
29th.The Academy and
CMO offices are closed until
January 5th.

Page Three

THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD (CHRISTMAS)

The Octave Day of the Nativity of the Lord

Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God
January 1st, 2015
4:30 pm - Vigil Mass (Dec 31st)
9:00 am - Mass (January 1st)

December 25, 2014

PARISH OFFICE
Monday - Friday
AFTER DAILY MASS - 4:30 pm
Phone: (619) 463-6629 ~ Fax: (619) 463-8101
parish@santasophia.org
www.santasophia.org
Facebook: SantaSophiaCatholicChurch

RECTORY

Ever since December 25th, we have been celebrating Christ's birth. On the last day of his octave, we

Pastor:
Rev. Jacob Bertrand
Administrator:
Rev. Timothy Deutsch Ext. 100
Business Manager:
Bill Smirniotis Ext. 104
Bookkeeper:
Sana Auro Ext. 105
Portress:
Sara Gonzalez Ext. 100
Administrative Assistant: Maria Belflower Ext. 102
Dir. of Facilities Maintenance Jim Kinney Ext. 108
Priest in Residence:
Rev. John Bosco Ext. 107
musinguzijbosco@yahoo.com

honor His Mother.

MUSIC MINISTRIES

Remember that January 1st - The Solemnity of

Santa Sophia Singers

Santa Sophia Kids Choir
Santa Sophia Liturgical Ensemble

Mary - is a Holy Day of Obligation. As the New

Year begins, look at Mary as a model for renewed

Christian life: in her openness to the Holy Spirit,

Dir. of Liturgical Music:

her radical assent to God's will for her life, her pa-

LITURGICAL MINISTRIES

tience through suffering, and her willingness to

bring the Savior into the world. Those are all
qualities that would make any of us better people
in the coming year.
Baptism: Please contact Father Tim at (619) 4636629 for Baptism preparation information. Parents
are encouraged to begin the preparation process
before their child is born.
Adult/Child Religious Formation: Please contact
Donna Hernandez at the Catechetical Ministry
Office at (619) 463-6011 for more information.
Matrimony: Please contact the Parish Office at
(619) 463-6629 before setting the date, time and
location of your wedding. In the Diocese of San
Diego, couples should plan on a nine month
(minimum) period of marriage preparation.
Funerals: Please contact the Parish Office at (619)
463-6629 ext. 104.

David Stevens Ext. 113

Altar Servers, Extraordinary

Ministers of the Eucharist, Lectors,
& Ministers of Hospitality/Usher
Sacristan:

Rosemary Wellington Ext. 115

CATECHETICAL MINISTRY OFFICE

Baptism Child & Adult Religious Education
Phone: (619) 463-6011 ~ Fax: (619) 668-5458

cmo@santasophia.org
Director:
Bernadette Padlo Ext. 111
Administrative Assistant: Donna Hernandez Ext. 110
Sr. High Youth:
Gennette Medina Ext. 112
Jr. High Youth:
Nathan Johnson

YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY

Ages 18-39
Facebook: EastCountyYoungAdults
Rachel Smith: rach.smith@yahoo.com