The Second Sunday of Advent – December 4, 2011

 

Ask Father Meyer: What are we to do if the weather gets bad?  When is the Adoration Chapel open and closed?  Is it OK to miss Holy Mass for bad weather?

 

These are good questions.  Here is the policy.  It is posted in the back of all the churches and is also in the Adoration Chapel of the Good Shepherd!

 

Bad Weather Policy

        The elderly and infirmed, and anyone who is unsteady on their feet, should observe special caution when going outside during bad weather; it is a true health threat.  If it is a health threat for them to go outside, they are dispensed from the obligation to attend Mass (it is not a sin). 

        We will never cancel Weekend Mass because of bad weather.  The priest can make it to church (He raffled-off his old car to get a new one with All-Wheel Drive).  Even if the servers, choir, musicians, readers, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, and ushers cannot make it to church due to bad weather, we will still have Mass.  Please do not call the office or rectory to ask if Mass is cancelled.

        If the weather is bad enough for Jennings County schools to close, the Chapel of the Good Shepherd will close.  The priest, or someone appointed, will remove the Blessed Sacrament from the Monstrance and place it in the Tabernacle.   He will move the Blessed Sacrament out of the monstrance, as soon as the announcement of school closing is seen on television/radio.  The Blessed Sacrament Chapel will be re-opened after the 8:45AM Mass (around 9:15AM) the morning that school is back in session.  On the weekends (Friday afternoon-Sunday afternoon), if the weather turns bad, and the chapel is open, please call the chapel phone number and listen to the message- 812-346-4919. 

        If school is closed for bad weather, there are also no sports games or practices, no bingo, RCIA, religious education classes, parish meetings, etc.  All daily Masses at St. Ann and St. Mary’s will be canceled if school is closed for bad weather; however, there will be daily Mass at St. Joseph, due to the rectory being on the property.

        If a bad weather "Emergency" has been declared, you are not obligated to come to Weekend Mass; if you stay home it is NOT a sin.  Please recall that an "emergency" is different than an "advisory" or "warning" which means bad weather is probably on the way.   

SACRIFICIAL GIFTS- from Nov 27

St. Ann (budget $1,300) – $1,231

St. Joseph (budget $2,115)–$1,441.16

St. Mary’s (budget $8,800) - $8,447.00

 

Feast of St. Nick (Nicholas)- Dec 6

Please Note this Catholic Custom in your homes! 

 

The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Patronal Feast-day of the United States of America

~A Holy Day of Obligation~

Wednesday, December 7

5:30PM~St. Joseph  &  7PM~St. Mary’s

Thursday, December 8

6:30AM~St. Joseph, 8:45AM~St. Mary’s & 7PM~St. Ann

 

NEXT WEEKEND- December 10/11 (3rd Sunday of Advent)

Gaudate Sunday- 3rd Sunday of Advent- Rose Sunday

Please wear pink/rose on the 3rd Sunday of Advent. 

 

Saturday Night Live- Dec 10~7:30PM ~ St. Joseph

Food, Games, Talk and fun!

Wear a CRAZY Christmas Sweater- prizes will be awarded!

 

The First Christmas Pageant Ever-Dec 11~3PM

Come and experience in music, word and light the story of the St. Francis of Assisi and St. Clare’s representation of Christ’s Birth.  St. Mary’s Parish Center- presented by St. Mary’s School. 

 

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe at Las ChaLupas- Dec 11

There will be great food deals and devotion to our Blessed Mother.  Look for the coupon in the Bulletin for Dec 10-11.

*Free- Cheese Dip With the purchase of one Entrée

*Free- Churros Dessert with the purchase of one Entrée

*Buy one Entrée and get the Second Entrée Half Price

A Shrine of Our Blessed Mother of Guadalupe

will be erected in the restaurant!

 

Advent Giving is Due- Dec 11

All items and food bags are due back.  Please bring them to the parish halls.  Please remember to NOT wrap gifts!

 

Living Nativity- Dec 11~ 4:30 – 6:30 pm

St. Maurice, in Decatur County.  Come experience a Live Nativity:  Live Animals, Refreshments, Choirs and Actors!     

 

You can’t have a White Christmas ~ Without a Purple Advent!

Nativity Blessing on the 4th Sun of Advent - Dec 17-18

The priest at each Mass will bless the baby Jesus

statues from peoples’ home nativity scenes on

the 4th Sunday of Advent.  This year we will be doing

the same!  Bring your Christ Child to Holy Mass. 

The Advent Adoration Challenge- Dec 23-24

            Adoration will begin in the morning on Dec 23

            6:30AM-St. Joseph/ 8AM-St. Ann/ 8:45Am-St. Mary’s

            Adoration will end on Dec 24 

9AM- St. Joseph/ 10AM-St. Ann/ 12Noon-St. Mary’s

The Chapel of the Good Shepherd will be closed

Look for Sign-up Sheets soon!

Advent Fallen Away Catholic Program

Please look for cards in the back of the church-

or use the form printed in this bulletin.  Return them

by Dec 18; we will mail them a letter inviting them

back to church. 

 

 

 

Rosary on the Holy Day- Dec 7~6:30PM

Please come and pray the Rosary at St. Mary’s

 

Christmas Gifts and others Items from St. Mary’s School

Gift Cards, Cookie Dough and Trash Bags are in the Office! 

 

Going to Confession this Advent?

Weekly Opportunities for Confession

            Saturday-3:30-3:55PM-St.Mary’s & 6-6:25PM-St. Joe

Sunday- 7-7:25AM-St. Mary’s

Car Pool Confession- Fri. Dec 9,16 ~ 2-3PM – St. Mary’s

Reconciliation Service- Dec 19 ~ 6:30PM

St. Joseph Parish Hall

            St. Ann, St. Joseph and St. Mary’s Parishes

Reconciliation Services at Surrounding Parishes

            Tues Dec 13 ~ 7PM- Prince of Peace- Madison

            Wed Dec 14 ~ 7PM- St. Ambrose-Seymour

            Thurs Dec 15 ~ 7PM- St. Bartholomew-Columbus

 

St. Joseph Choir Rehearsals- Dec 3, 10, 17 ~ 7:30-8:30PM

Choir Rehearsals for Christmas Eve at St. Joseph will be Sat in the choir loft. All singers from age 9 to 99 are welcome. 

 

Christmas Memorials Due- December 17/18

If you would like to make a donation in honor of a loved one, and have the money put toward the Christmas flowers and decorations; please fill out a memorial envelope and return it by December 17/18. 

 

Young Adult Gathering- Dec 17 ~ 7:30PM

Food, Drink, Tree-decorating and Fun!!

St. Joseph Rectory- following the 6:30PM Mass!

 

Christmas Caroling to the Homebound- Dec 18 ~ 3PM

Please meet at St. Mary’s Parish Center.  We will need adults to drive the young people.  Chili supper after the caroling.    

 

Christmas Mass Schedule (Plan Ahead)

Saturday, December 24

    4PM- St. Mary’s, 7:30PM-St. Joseph, 10PM-St. Ann

Sunday, December 25

    12-Midnight- St. Mary’s, 7:30AM-St. Joseph, 9AM-St. Mary’s

             *Both Masses at St. Joseph are at 7:30

 

New Year’s Lock-In Dec 31 ~ 8PM

Holy Mass, Games, Prizes, Dance, Prayer, and lots more!  You are invited to bring your non-Catholic friends.  This is a SAFE and POSITIVE environment for young people! Permission forms are needed! 

 

St. Joseph Square Dance- Jan 7 ~ 7:30PM

St. Joseph will once again host an old-fashioned square dance on Sat Jan 7 at 7:30 PM. All are welcome.

 

Chapel of the Good Shepherd

♦Open Slots: Tuesday 2AM and Friday 11PM

♦The monstrance this month is from St. Ann

 

St. Joseph Vocation Cross Program

Please pray for Oscar & Evelyn Elsner as they have the cross in their home the month of December.

 

Come Spiritually Prepared For HOLY MASS

Readings for Third Sunday of Advent

●  Reading I: Isaiah 61:1-2a, 10-11

●  Reading II: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

●  Gospel:  John 1:6-8, 19-28

 

Please Pray for the Soul of…

♦ Franklin Foga who was buried on November 30th. 

May her soul and all the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace.

 

Advent Homilies On-line

Fr. Meyer’s Weekend Homilies are on the parish websites.  Please be attentive to this during Advent as he preaches on the New Mass Translation and the Mass.  If you miss a weekend installment please listen on-line.  

 

Thanks

♦ Thank you for the food donation. Thank you for all that you do for us. Good Samaritan Food Pantry and Ginger Miller

 

Congratulations

♦To Carter Lee Yeager, son of Vincent Yeager and Autumn Leach, who was baptized on Nov 20 at St. Mary’s.

♦To Lillian Ruth McQuillan, daughter of Leslie Holman, who was baptized on Nov 26 at St. Mary’s.

 

Calendar of Meetings

Faith Formation

SNL- Dec 10 – 7:30 PM at St. Joseph

Various Groups and Ministries

SM BFH Meeting – TBA

SM-SA K of C – Dec 5~7 PM

SJ K of C  - Dec 6– 7PM NOTE TIME CHANGE

SM School Commission- Jan 3, 2012

SJ Rosary Society – Jan 10, 2012 ~ 6:30 PM

Parish Council (PC) and Finance Council (FC) Meetings

SM-FC – Jan 17 6:00 PM             SJ- FC – Jan 24, 2012 ~ 6:30 PM

SM- PC – Jan 17 7:30 PM            SA-PC– Feb 20, 2012 ~ 7 PM

SA- FC – Jan 16, 2012 ~ 7 PM    SJ- PC – Feb 28, 2012 ~ 6:30 PM

 

Pray for those who need healing grace and comfort

A ROSARY will be prayed the First Wednesday of each month

at St Mary’s ~ 5:15PM.  Please join us!

Ruth Evelyn Helm, Marilyn Beesley, Mark Schindel, Cynthia O’Mara, Ted Brunner, Fran Smith, Rita Kruse, Madeline Smith, Marvin Biehle, Mary Frances Siener, Roger Short, Joe Castetter, Don Ellerbrook, Jeff Koors, Patricia Serrano, John Barlow, Josh Day, Jim Gootee, Jay Sears, Mert Wickens, Denise Woodard, Agnes Matern, Gary Johnson, Jack Wickens, Lee Kane, Anna Fisher, T. Irwin, Debbie Ramey, Mark Kirchner, Kim Gerth, Diana Matz, Mary Margaret Bowling, Jodi Ebinger, Dorothy Littrell, Archbishop Daniel Buechlein, Albert Yux, Bonnie Caraway, Star Bertram, Ruth Weber, Josiah Schafer, Elaine Herron, Julie Ried, Matt Frederick, Marie Rogers, Bill Begue, Jane Begue, Judy Kipper, Linda Lamb, Abel Cummings, Beverly Gibson, Bob Hester, Roberta Mosley, Ann Monhaut, Mike Brown, Jenny Bowling, James Cone, Larry Burgmeier, Ruthie Webster, Jim Wooton, Christopher Beesley, Rosie (York) Kelly, Vince Riley, Suzanne Spencer, John Hughes, Ken Biddinger, Scott Newkirk, Jerry Earl, Amelia Reagan, Mike Huckelberry, Mary Ley, Doris Fortner,  Paula Campos, David Quinn, Patty Bower, Dana Hillen, Bobby Stoner, Caleb Brennan, Bonnie Burgmeier, Jacob Grabill, Austin Douglas, Julie Rascoe, Wilma Abney, Richard Brooks, Ruby Kiefer, Sue Ritter  Please let us know when you or your loved one no longer has urgent need to be on this list

 

ADVERTISER OF THE WEEK

Bode Electric, Inc.

812-523-3363

 

Welcome Home Contact Information

 

Name:____________________________

Mailing Address:____________________

_________________________________

 

Status: (circle one) Single-Married-Divorced

 

Return this card or email all info by Sun, Dec 18  sharlot01@gmail.com

 

 

Christmas Masses- Gifts to the Church

 

 

Bequests

St. Joseph

Parish General Fund

Tower Fund

Roof and Gutter Fund

Cemetery Endowment

Youth Ministry

Perpetual Care of Buildings

 

St Ann

Parish General Fund

Cemetery Endowment

Organ Restoration

Youth Ministry

Roof Fund

 

St. Mary’s

School General Fund

  Project Share

  Tuition Assistance 

  School Building Fund

Parish General Fund

  Kitchen Update fund- Parish Center

  Cemetery Endowment

  Adoration Chapel Fund

  Youth Ministry

  Parish Center Roof Fund

 

Parish Council Members and Their Positions

St. Ann: President- Rita Elmore, Vice President- Gary Kreutzjans, Secretary- Greg Kreutzjans, Communication- Chris Kirchner,  Education- Nicole Curry, Spiritual Life- Kevin Hill, Physical Facilities- Steve Gasper, Family Life- Kevin Capes

St. Joseph: President- Becky Vogel, Vice President- Joe Maschino, Secretary- Dave Vogel, Education- Bobby Simmons, Spiritual Life- Jim McNulty, Physical Facilities- Mandy Vogel, Family Life- Marie Baurle

St. Mary’s: President- Amy Kelly, Vice President- Iris Biehle, Secretary- Debbie Hatfield, Matt Harsh, Mike Megel, Gail McCoy, John Leach, Mary Jo Bender, Pat Kirchner