St. Michael & St. Francis Xavier Bulletin December 10 & 11, 2016 Pastor: Fr. Harry Tully
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Third Sunday of Advent
GOD’S FAVOR
Jesus was deep into his work when John the Baptist was imprisoned for speaking truth to power. John’s disciples were immersed in their own lives when his imprisonment was visited upon them. They didn’t have the luxury of hindsight, and they were visibly shaken by John’s imprisonment and certain fate. They came to Jesus to ask John’s question and their own, “Are you the one?”
As evidence of his identity, Jesus recites the signs of God’s favor. The words he uses echo those of Isaiah. These are the very words from the first reading, and they are fresh in our minds. Jesus does not give us abstractions or high-sounding ideas. He does not speak of a God who reigns in highest heaven. He speaks of a God who acts on our behalf. John’s disciples can see that God’s power plays itself out in compassion. We are invited to see this, too. Not only that, we are invited to be the instrument of God’s compassion, just as Jesus was.
GOD’S WORK
Jesus also takes time to sing the praises of John, this principled man who does not change with the wind. Jesus reiterates that there is no greater person born of woman than John the Baptist. His was the privilege of heralding the coming of the Savior. But greater than this, Jesus pointedly adds, is John’s participation in the reign of God.
Our role is not to announce the coming of the Lord, but to receive the Lord whom John heralded. If the earth is to bud forth a Savior in our time, it will have to be through our healing mission that is his work. For John, this work cost him his life. We have the vocation of continuing this costly work. Especially during this season, we are asked to recall our commitment to healing, reconciliation, and peacemaking. This is a rejoicing Sunday because we can see and taste Christmas. This is a season of joyful anticipation as we consciously look for ways to be active, effective members of the reign of God.
Today’s Readings: Isaiah 35:1–6a, 10; Psalm 146:6–10; James 5:7–10; Matthew 11:2–1
Fr. Harry Tully, PastorEmergency #812-218-9219 or 502-931-1499
Website - E-Mail -
St. Michael - 101 St. Michael Drive, Charlestown, In 47111 Ph. 812-256-3200
Office Hours – 9:00 am-1:30 pm Tues. Wed., & Fri.
St. Francis Xavier – 101 North Ferguson, Henryville, IN47126, Ph. 812-294-4682
Office Hours – Thursday 10:30am-2:00pm
Reconciliation – 4:00 pm Saturday or call the Rectory
Marriage – Please contact the pastor a year in advance. Advent and Lent are not times for celebrations.
Baptisms of Infants or Adults Joining the Church – Must be a practicing/registered member for three months. Please contact the DRE: St. Michael–Juliann Eickholtz, St. Francis–Father Tully
New To The Parish: Please call the office to register. Please introduce yourself to the pastor at mass.
Parishioners Who Are Ill: Please call the pastor if a relative or friend is sick.
Bulletin Announcements: Get all bulletin announcements to the office in writing by Tuesday evening.
Los Enfermos Es muy importante comunicarse con el Padre (debido a las leyes privadas, los hospitales no se comunican con las iglesias).
Doctrina Cristiana: Las clases de educación religiosa para niños son cada domingo de 9:30 a.m. - 10:50 a.m. en la escuela. Recuerden que la Arquidiócesis requiere que los que van a recibir los sacramentos estén inscritos en las clases de religión.
Monaguillos: Los niños que quieran ayudar como monaguillos en el altar tienen su ensayo el segundo domingo de cada mes después de la misa de 11:00 a.m. Estos niños y niñas tienen que haberhecho la Primera Comunión. Los interesados comunicarse con Pbro.
Mass Schedule Mass Intentions
St. M / 12/12 / Mon / No MassSt. FX
St. M / 12/13 / Tue / No Mass
St. FX
St. M / 12/14 / Wed / 5:00 PM / Mass
St. FX / 12/15 / Thurs / 4:30PM / Mass
St. M / 12/16 / Friday / 12:00 PM / Mass
St. M / 12/17 / Sat / 4:30 PM / For the People of St. Michael & St. Francis Xavier
St. FX / 12/18 / Sun / 9:00 AM / Heilbron & Viola Adams
St. M / 11:00 AM / Mr. .& Mrs. John Gellhaus Sr.
St. M / 12.30 PM / En Español
Dear Parishioners,
As we begin this third week of holy Advent I hear the words of St. James echo words most parents have spoken to their children especially around this time of year, "brothers and sisters be patient!" In our experience of the daily grind it is no wonder the virtue of patience is so difficult to live. We are encouraged to hurry up, get things done, and then we will be satisfied and can relax. But in reality we don't want to wait at least not too long. In this day and age, in our society everything is instant, at the push of a button, the flip of a switch. And if the button doesn't work, or the person behind the counter isn't getting our order right we wave good bye to patience. I'm guilty of that a lot. So to be reminded to be patient is a challenge I am sure we all need even in regards to waiting for the good things God has in store for us. This "Gaudete" Sunday is a time for relaxing and realizing that our time is God's time and His time is eternal. How much greater our joy will be when our patience is rewarded. So be patient, brothers and sister as God has even greater 'things' awaiting us who wait faithfully for Him!
Thanks to all who have filled out and sent in the pledge cards for the United Catholic Appeal. There is still time if you haven't been able to do so. There are pledge cards available and what better time to express our thankfulness for God's goodness than by generously, helping the Church bring Him to others through the various ministries of the Archdiocese. God bless us all with patience and peace I this time of His advent.
Fr. Tully
The 2017 Calendars are at the church doors. Help yourself to the calendars they are donated to us by Grayson’s Funeral Home.
St. Michael ParishFall 2016Parish Goal / $10,651
Amount Pledged / $8,880
Total $’s Received / $4,090
% of Goal / 83%
Parish Households / 193
# of Pledges / 57
Parish Participation / 30%
St. Francis Xavier ParishFall 2016
Parish Goal / $5,448
Amount Pledged / $3,595
Total $’s Received / $2,125
% of Goal / 66%
Parish Households / 90
# of Pledges / 20
Parish Participation / 22%
ST. MICHAEL EARLY CHILDHOODCENTER
812-256-3503 Rita Poff Director
Mon-Fri. 7AM-6PM
Infant Care/Day Care: Full or part time
Before & After Care: ages 6-12
Summer Camp: ages 6-12
Pre-School: 9-11:30AM Tues. & Thurs.
Pre-K: 9-11:30AMor12:30-3PM Mon. Wed. & Fri
This is a good website. It is new & filled with catholic resources. It’s easy to navigate, so go & explore.
ST. MICHAEL
Charlestown
Eucharist
Sat – 4:30 pm
Sun – 11:00 am
La Misa en Español
Domingo – 12:30 pm
St Michael parish is in need of Mass Intentions.
Mass Intentions
Saturday Evening: Faye Gellhaus
Sunday 11:00 am: For the People of St. Michael & St. Francis Xavier
Sunday 12:30 pm: The Latino Community
Faith Formation Classes are held on Sunday mornings for children three years of age up through high school. If your child does not attend a Catholic school, they should be enrolled in the FF program. Registration forms are available on the parish website. .
Pre-school to Grade 12. There is still time for additional students to join us. We are learning and deepening our knowledge of our Catholic faith-So we encourage parents who might be thinking about it, to go ahead and enroll their children and teens in our program. Our calendar and registration forms are available at .
Bible Study Class Update Classes are on Monday nights at 6:30-8:00pm in the Rectory meeting room.
Faith Formation Calendar:
December 11th- Session 15 Rosary & Music/ Christmas Practice, 11:00 Mass, Youth Choir, Gift Bearers Grade 2
December 11th- Confirmation CHOSEN Lesson 17-18
December 18th- Session Sixteen Christmas Program Practice
December 25th to January 1st- Christmas Break No Class
January 8th- Session Seventeen
Classes begin at 9:30 am. Please arrive 5-10 minutes early so we can start on time.
Christmas Information
“The Christmas Story” before the Christmas Eve Mass @ 4:00pm. The Youth of our parish are invited to participate regardless of the school they attend. We need a reader, choir singers, shepherds & angels! Times and dates to remember:
Sunday, December 11th@ 9:30 AM.: After Music & Rosary (Practice)
Sunday, December 18th @ 9:30AM.: Will be the dress rehearsal.
Saturday, December 24th@3:45pm. Is the time to arrive for Children to be at St. Michael for program!
Please let Nathan Fouts or Jenny Lethem know if your children would be able to participate.
Assistants are needed each week. We encourage parents to attend Mass with their children. This enables the children to integrate what they learn in their Faith Formation classes with weekly participation in the liturgy.
We ask parishioners to please bring a non perishable item to be donated to the North Clark Outreach Center. There is a wooden box for donations in the church lobby. Thank you for your contribution.
Confirmation News: MAKEUP CLASSESWILL BE SUNDAYDECEMBER 11th at 9:30 A.M. THIS ALSO MEANS THE NEXT REGULAR CLASS WILLALSO BE SUNDAYDECEMBER 11th at 2:00P.M. THIS MEANS TWO CONFIRMATION CLASSES IN ONE DAY IF YOUHAVE TO MAKE UP ANY CLASSES.
Our next lesson is Sunday, December 11th @ 2:00p.m., in the St. Michael Multipurpose Room. Please be on time. If you are absent, please contact Juliann for the makeup DVD'S. Please be working on those service hours. Don't forget to read Lesson 17"Who’s calling?" and Lesson 18 "Are you talking to me?" Please have your homework up to date. We will be asking for service hours update. Retreats are an important part of the Confirmation process and our candidates need to sign up with the New Albany Deanery ( The parish picks up ½ of the cost. Parents and sponsors please talk to your candidate and bring registration to Juliann.
Remember Sacrament Preparation, the Faith Formation Commission and the Archdiocese states that a child must be enrolled and attend classes a year before receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation, First Eucharist, or Confirmation. For Confirmation you must be in Grade 10, registered and attend Faith Formation this year.
Please keep in your prayers our Confirmation Candidates: KyBaltz( RCIA), Abigail Banet, Jacob Coomes, Madison Coomes, Jovanny Alexis Guzman, Amanda Hernandez, Gage Higdon, Megan Jackson, Johnie Wayne Kinser, William Martin, , Aaron Ulrich.
Please keep in your prayers our First Reconciliation students: Luis Gomez, Andres Gomez, Ernesto Hernandez, & Ava Lathem.
St. Michael Ministries Schedule
Sat Dec. 17,4:30pm– St. Michael
Eucharistic Ministers: M.P. Beach & C. Ledbetter
Servers: C. Ledbetter
Gift Bearers: Rusty Pike Family
Cantor: Tim & KyBaltz
Musician: C. Eickholtz
Lector: Steve Buit
Sun. Dec. 18, 11:00 am – St. Michael
Eucharistic Ministers: J Dean, C. Dunn & M. Cox Servers: Volunteer
Gift Bearers: Neal Bryant Family
Cantors: S/S Buit Musician: N. Kinder
Lector: Michael Howard
The Rosary is said at St. Michael at 4:00 before Saturday Evening Mass and at 10:30 before Sunday Mass
ST. FRANCIS XAVIER
Henryville
Eucharist
Sunday
9:00am
Sunday Mass Intention:
Norma Higdon
St. Francis Faith Formation Calendar
December 11th Class
December 18th No Class-Christmas Break
December 25th No Class
St. Francis Xavier Ministries Schedule
Sun. Dec. 18, 9:00am
Eucharistic Ministers: Janice Furnish, Anne Harbeson & Mike Harbeson
Servers: Aric Lyons, Amora Lyons & Aaron Banet
Ushers: Anthony Harbeson & Mike Harbeson
Gift Bearers: Brian & Jennifer Haycraft Family Lector: Joe Banet
Collection
December 3 & 4
St. Michael $ 3,281.32
St Francis Xavier $ 1,567.00
To everything there is a season and a time to every
purpose under heaven a time to be born a time to love a time to heal a time to die and a time of peace.”
PLEASE PRAY FOR HEALTH & STRENGTH:
Carolina Aguirre Martin, Bruce Blair, Alicia Blair, Kayla Bowling, Sherry Buit, Bobby Caudill,Glen Cole, Tom Cooper, Ted Dean, Bernice Donahue, Erik Furnish, Adam Drury, Jeanette Drury, Dorothy Faris, Barbara Garrett, Rita Hamerla, Don Hamerla, Chris Harvey, Sandy Hostettler, Brenda Karns, Nathan Koons, David Lerster, David Long, Terri Lynn Maples, Cheryl Marcilliat, Mary Ann Mattingly, Carol Maymon, Aldine McRae, Kathy Missi, Michael Murphy, Liz Cooper, Esther Toby Nelson, Ian Newland, Mitch Newland, Willard Nolan, Ms. Peyton,David Puzon, Carroll Schafer, Estelle Scott, Danielle Shipley, Clarence Smith, Dorothy Smith, Miriam State, Christy Stepp, Isabella ‘Izzy” Stepp, Jack Stewart, Mark Thise, Bonnie Uptain, Joseph Douglas VanDyke JR., Melissa Villegas, Lynn Vogt, Isabell Wade, Chris Wafford, Logan Westerhouse, Agnes Withers, George Wimsett, Rose Wimsett, Jim Witten, Tim Wolfe, Kay Yotter, Emma Yount, Donnie Zollman. Names will remain on the list for 6 months unless you tell us to remove them or request that they be kept longer.
Aging Religious Need Your Help
Senior Catholic Sisters, Brothers, and religious order Priests have offered their lives in service to others- educating the young, comforting the sick, seeking justice for the oppressed. Today, many are frail, elderly, and in need of assistance. Your gift to the Retirement Fund for Religious helps to furnish medications, nursing care, and other necessities. Please give generously to today’s second collection.
Angel Tree
Please remember a child this Christmas. Please pick one or more ornaments. Don’t wrap the gifts but do mark the bag with the number on the ornament. We would like for the gifts to be turned in by December 12th. Thank you to everyone for helping make this a success each year.
Third Sunday of Advent
Theme: God’s kingdom is close-it is Jesus.
The twofold character of Advent calls us to prepare for the remembering of the Word make Flesh at Christmas and direct us to wait with alertness for Jesus’ second coming.
Step 1: As you hear the readings, what words or phrases catch your attention in this reading, what touches your heart? What image from Isaiah lingers in your memory?
Step 2: Look into your life.
Children: God speaks to you every day. Isaiah tells us our ears and eyes will be opened in Christ to hear God’s voice. What do you hear God saying to you?
Youth & Adults: What is there in this promise from the Prophet Isaiah that gives you hope? How have you seen this promise fulfilled in Christ?
Save The Date: Birthday Bash will be Saturday, January 21, 2016 after the 4:30pm Mass.
Upcoming Advent Penance Services:
December 13th, 9:30-11:30am.@Holy Family School
December 13th, 9:30am. @ Sacred Heart School
December 13th, 7:00pm. Holy Family
December 13th, 6:00pm. @Bradford
December 14th, 9:30-11:30am. @Holy Family School
December 14th, 7:00pm. @OLPH
December 15th, 6:30pm. St. John Paul II @ St. Paul
December 16th, 7:00pm. @ St Mary Lanesville
December 18th, 1:00pm. St. John Starlight
Healing Service
On December 13 at 7:00 PM St. Mary's Parish will host a Healing Service lead by Fr. Vincent Lampert, the Exorcist for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.The service is intended for those who feel oppressed, troubled, or afflicted and who seek consolation from the prayers of the Church.