SUNDAY

  • Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.Isaiah 7:14
  • The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.Luke 2:20
  • So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.Luke 2:4-5
  • For the practices of the peoples are worthless;
    they cut a tree out of the forest,
    and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel.
    They adorn it with silver and gold;
    they fasten it with hammer and nails
    so it will not totter.
    Like a scarecrow in a cucumber field,
    their idols cannot speak;
    they must be carried
    because they cannot walk.
    Do not fear them;
    they can do no harm
    nor can they do any good.    Jeremiah 10:3-5

Mariano P. (Sonny) Garofalo

March 23, 1937 – December 16, 2022

Mariano P. (Sonny) Garofalo was born March 23, 1937 and passed away at 10:00 PM Friday, December 16, 2022 surrounded by his loving family. He was 85 years of age and a U. S. Navy Veteran. He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Rosalie Lamonica Garofalo; Two Sons, Larry M. Garofalo, Sr. and Ronald L. Garofalo; Grandchildren Larry Michael Garofalo, Jr. and wife Dusty, Todd G. Garofalo and wife Megan, Ryan Garofalo, and Fallyn Garofalo Parrett; Great-Grandchildren Wyatt A. Garofalo, Greyson Rose Garofalo, & Caitlynn Shumate; Brothers Nat Garofalo and wife Jeanette, and Joseph Garofalo; Special brother-in-law and sister-in-law Joe & Rose Lamonica; Nieces Kathy Lamonica and Joyce Lamonica Rollins and husband John; Genessa Garofalo Metcalf, and his sister Sara’s children, the Lloyd family (James Lloyd, Jr., Maria Ann, Marion, & Sarah Leah), and many friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, Mariano and Lena Giamalva Garofalo, and his sister Sara Garofalo Lloyd. Visitation at McKneely Funeral Home of Amite on Tuesday, December 20, 2022, from 8 AM – 9 AM for family and 9AM-11:30 AM for friends. Mass will be conducted at 12:00 PM at Mater Dolorosa Catholic Church in Independence beginning at 12:00 PM. Interment will follow at Colonial Cemetery in Independence. Our beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, son, brother-in-law and uncle will be deeply missed and loved forever. He was one of the kindest, most loving people anyone was ever lucky enough to meet.

READ and WRITE SCRIPTURE TODAY

Dec. 18 – Luke 1: 30-34

READ LUKE IN DECEMBER

Dec. 18 – Luke 18

PRAYER FOCUS

Today, let’s pray for the elderly around us as the temperatures around us drop this week and stay cold for a while. Some homes are not well insulated and interiors stay rather cold. The same problem is also occurring in Europe and other places. Pray for the people to stay warm and healthy. If you have a way to help some local people who live in cold homes, I hope your generous spirit will help you to hind a way to help these people.

Local churches will be sharing the Christmas story in various ways today. Get involved, even it only as a listener or watcher.

May you have and share a generous spirit this Christmas season.

Anna Lee