St. Michael & St. Francis Xavier Bulletin December 16th 17th, 2017 Pastor: Fr. Harry Tully

Third Sunday of Advent

AN UPSIDE DOWN WORLD

The Church has just celebrated two great Marian feasts: the Immaculate Conception and Our Lady of Guadalupe. It is appropriate in this Advent time that we look to Mary’s great song, the Magnificat, as a lens for today’s readings, and to her life as the first of faithful disciples. In her canticle, Mary describes a world similar to the one for which Isaiah tells us the Spirit anoints the prophet: where the mighty arm of God scatters the proud and lifts up the lowly (the Lectionary, unfortunately, omits this verse today), where the hungry are filled with good things and the rich are sent away empty. This world is upside down from the one most of us experience. But if we are to follow our call to be disciples of Jesus, as Mary did, we must be committed to believing in and proclaiming a world like this.

SENT IN THE SPIRIT

Today we hear from John’s Gospel, which serves as the first of a number of interjections during this year of the proclamation of Mark’s Gospel. (This is because Mark’s is the shortest of the Gospels.) John the Baptist once again speaks of his role as the forerunner, the herald of the light. He himself is not the light, but the one who “makes straight” the way before the Lord. John is describing our own vocation, the one given to us when we were baptized in water and the Spirit. We proclaim the coming of the light by living out our own Spiritanointing to bring glad tidings to the poor, to strive for the world God desires, the one described by Isaiah. As Paul tells us today, it is through our witness that we do not despise the prophetic utterances of John, Mary, and Isaiah, and that we do not quench the Spirit. As we prepare for the coming of the light in whatever vocation God has anointed us for, we must live as Paul insists: in continual prayer, and always rejoicing!

Today’s Readings: Isaiah 61:1–2a, 10–11; Luke 1:46–50, 53–54; 1 Thessalonians 5:16–24; John 1:6–8, 19–28

Fr. Harry Tully, Pastor
Emergency #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-1:30pm
Reconciliation – 4:00 pm Saturday at St. Michael 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 Father Tully 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 / 12/18 / Mon / No Mass
St. FX
St. M / 12/19 / Tue / No Mass
St. M / 12/20 / Wed / 4:30pm / Mass
St. FX / 12/21 / Thurs / 4:30PM / Mass
St. M / 12/22 / Friday / 12:00PM / Mass
St. M / 12/23 / Sat / 4:30PM
7:00PM
Note time change / Calvin & Florence DeVary
En Español
St FX / 12/24
12/25 / Sun
Program
Christmas
Eve Mass
Christmas
Day Mass / 9:00AM / For the People of St. Michael & St. Francis Xavier
St. M / 11:00AM / The Rash & Looney Families
St. M
St. M
St. M
St FX
St. M / 4:00PM
4:30PM
7:00PM
9:30PM
11:00AM / For the People of St. Michael & St. Francis Xavier
En Español
For the People of St. Michael & St. Francis Xavier
For the People of St. Michael & St. Francis Xavier

St. Michael and St. Francis Xavier

Parish App Available!

It is for Apple or Android products. You can download it for free in the App Store or Google Play Store by searching (Northern Clark County Catholics). For questions you can call the Rectory 812-256-3200. We are very excited to be able to offer this to everyone; it is full of helpful information and updates for both Parishes! We hope you will sign up and enjoy the App!

Remember: Faith is a gift from God. Faith Formation is a life-long growth process. We encourage parents to attend Mass with their children. This enables the children to integrate what they learn in their Faith Formation classes with weeklyparticipating in the liturgy.

The Rosary is said at St. Michael at 4:00pm before Saturday Evening Mass and at 10:30 before Sunday Mass.

The Rosary is said at St. Michael for Vision of our Lady of Guadalupe on the 12thof each month at 7:00pm.

ST. MICHAEL

CHARLESTOWN

Eucharist

Sat – 4:30 pm

Sun – 11:00 am

La Misa en Español

Domingo – 12:30 pm

Mass Intentions

Saturday Evening: Kathleen Hodge

Sunday 11:00 am: For the People of St. Michael & St. Francis Xavier

Gift Bearers for this week’s Masses:

4:30 Tim Baltz Family

11:00 Robert Mueller Family

Faith Formation classes are held on Sunday mornings for children Preschool through high school.

Faith Formation Classes have begun! If you missed registration it’s not too late to sign up!

Our calendar & registration forms are available online at

Classes begin at 9:30 am Please be on time. It means to come 5-10 minutes early.

Children’s Liturgy of the word is held during the 11:00am. Mass, during the readings, gospel and homily. If your child has not yet received First Communion, they are welcome to attend.

Assistants are needed each week!

Please keep in your prayers our First Reconciliation students: Jonathan Carrillo, Axel Diaz, Alexis Lopez Garcia, Aurora Mendiola, LillianaMendiola, Tyler Mendiola, Jorge Reyes Nino, Jesus Diaz, Fernando Diaz and Avery Allgeier, St. John Paul.

Calendar

December 17thwill be counted as class as class, we need a reader, choir singers, shepherds & angels for the Christmas Program

December 17-Session Fourteen Practice for Christmas Program (Dress Rehearsal) at 9:30am. This is counted as class time

December 24th at 3:45 pm. is the time for the child/children to be at St. Michael

4:00pm. Christmas Program

4:30pm. Christmas Family Mass

December-24-31 (Christmas Break)

January 7-Session 15

Choir Practice

Come join us for Christmas Day Mass

Choir practice on Thursday December 21st

at 6:00pm. Like the “Little Drummer Boy”, let this be our gift to the Christ Child.

St. Michael Ministries Schedule

Sat. Dec. 23,4:30pm– St. Michael

Eucharistic Ministers: G. Minnick & S. Seals

Servers: Volunteer

Gift Bearers: Adam Allgier Family

Cantor: Bridget Meyer

Musician: Bridget Meyer

Lector: Steve Buit

Sun. Dec. 24, 11:00 am – St. Michael

Eucharistic Ministers: S. Fouts & M. Edmonds

Servers: J. Worley

Gift Bearers: Adam Doherty Family

Cantors: Jan Meyer

Musician: Bridget Meyer

Lector: Michael Howard

SundayDec. 24, 4:30pm Christmas Eve-St Michael

Eucharistic Ministers: S. Seals & M. Edmonds

Servers: Volunteer

Gift Bearers: Lawrence Lyons Family

Cantors: Youth Choir/Jessica Sarver

Musician: Nancy Kinder

Lector: Mary Pat Beach

MondayDec. 25, 11:00am- Christmas Day St. Michael

Eucharistic Ministers: Volunteers

Servers: Volunteer

Gift Bearers: Volunteers

Cantors: All Cantors

Musician: Bridget Meyer

Lector: Chuck Ledbetter

ST. FRANCIS XAVIER

Henryville

Eucharist

Sunday 9:00am

Sunday Mass Intention:

Patrick Phillips

Gift Bearers for this week’s Mass: Tim & Cindi Walker Family

St. Francis Xavier Ministries Schedule

Sun. Dec. 24, 9:00am

Eucharistic Ministers: Tom Mayes, Darlene Reul & Lawrence Yochum

Servers: Kayla Martin, Ben Ulrich & Allison Banet

Ushers: Bill Short & Jacob Coomes

Gift Bearers: Dan & Kim Young Family

Lectors: Philip Carter

Sun. Dec. 24, 9:30pm Christmas Eve-St. Francis Xavier

Eucharistic Ministers: Dan Young, Kim Young & Toni Allen

Servers: Conner Martin, Andrew Banet & Clayton Higdon

Ushers: Buddy Barrett & Butch Furnish

Gift Bearers: Randy & Robyn Allen Family

Lectors: Jack Murphy

St. Francis Xavier Faith Formation Calendar

December 17- Class

December 24-NO CLASS Winter break

December 31-NO CLASS

Collection

December 910

St. Michael $ 2,997.18

St. Francis Xavier $ 2,126.00

Fish Fry at St. Francis Xavier

The first Friday of every month, 5-7pm St. Francis will host a Fish Fry. The menu includes fish, fries, slaw, fried biscuits, drink and desserts. Thanks to everyone for your support!

Confirmation Teamis meeting and planning for the first class. The next meeting will be Sunday, January 14th at 2:00pm, at St. Michael. If you are interested in helping with this importation sacrament please see Fr. Tully or call Julianne. As we invite young people to prepare to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, we must encourage them to develop their relationship with Jesus Christ,so that they can movefrom a place of inherited faith to a place of established, personal faith.

Angel Tree

Thank you to everyone for who took an ornament this year.
Please bring gifts unwrapped in a garbage bag by December 17th. Gifts will be handed out on December 18th, before school lets out for Christmas break. Gifts can be dropped off at the school building Monday - Friday before 6:00 pm. or during mass. Please make sure the numbered label ornament is on the outside of the bag.

2018 Calendars are at the Church doors. Help yourself to the calendars they were donated to us by Grayson Funeral Home!

Explanation of our Special Collection

Religious Retirement:Provides support for thousands of elderly Catholic sisters, brothers and religious order priests.

Collection Envelopes are in the Church Lobby!

Penance Services Schedule

Dec. 19, 6-7pm. at St. Anthony of Padua, Clarksville

We ask parishioners to please bring a non perishable item to be donated to the North Clark Outreach Center and for The Food Pantry in Henryville. There is a box for donations in the back of church. Thank you for your contribution.

Third Sunday of Advent

Theme: John baptized with water, but the Messiah will baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Advent-The twofold character of Advent calls us to prepare for the remembering of the Word made Flesh at Christmas, and directs us to wait with alertness for Jesus’ second Coming.

Step 1: As you hear this reading what words or phrases strike you? What in this reading touches your heart?

Step 2: Look into your life.

Children:What do you remember from stories about your Baptism? What does your Baptism mean to you now?

Youth & Adults: Why is it so important to keep promises which you have made? How can you live the promise of your Baptism each day?

Special Thanks!

To the Knights of Columbus for hosting a wonderful Christmas party. It was enjoyed by many of the parishioners. It was a special time to visit with friends and enjoy a delicious meal!

ST.MICHAEL EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER

812-256-3503 Rita Poff Director

Monday - Friday 6:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Infant & Toddler Care: starting at 6 weeks
Childcare: 6 weeks - 12 years old
Before & After Care and Summer Camp: KG - 5th grade
Preschool, Pre Kindergarten & Kindergarten 2017-2018 School Registration now in progress.
Preschool: Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday
8:15 am - 11:15 am & 12:15 pm - 3:15 pm
Pre-Kindergarten: Monday - Thursday
8:00 am - 11:30 am & 12:30 pm - 4:00 pm
Kindergarten: Monday – Friday 8:20 am - 3:00 pm

As Catholic Christians, we are called to care for one another, to be responsible together for the blessings that God gives us. Thank you for choosing to support the United Catholic Appeal.

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: Alan Axsom, Margie Axsom, Jeff Axsom, Linda Bissell Belser, Tina Blackwell, Dick Bolton, Donna Bolton, Danny Brafford, Glen Cole, Liz Cooper, Margie Cox, Ted Dean, Bernice Donahue, Gordon Dragoon, Daniel Dunn, Jeanette Drury, Bettye Ferguson, John Ferguson, Christine Flum, Eunice Frazier, Erik Furnish, Bill Hawkins, Shannon Hawkins, Dan Hayden, Luis Hernandez, Sandy Hostettler, Hilda Howard, Maefiel James, Brenda Karns, Jim Kinder, Raymond Kopp, James Korty, Joe Ledbetter, Kay Ledbetter, Leland Lynch, Vicki Mader, Terry Lynn Maples, Beverly Martin, Bill Martin, Kil Master, Jeanie McCartin, Kina McKinney, Michael Murphy, Esther Toby Nelson, Ian Newland, Mitch Newland, Clayton Parker, Dylan Patton, Katelyn Phillips, Nancy Rash, Carroll Schafer, Marie Schafer, Dave Schlageter, Billy & Lisa Siewart, Dorothy Smith, Miriam State, Jim Sturgin, , Joseph Douglas VanDyke Sr.,Melissa Villegas, Lynn Vogt, Isabell Wade, Chris Wafford, Jude Walter, Flo Wessel, Paula Westerhouse, George & Rose Wimsett Family, Hadley & Maverick York, Emma Yount. Names will remain on the list for 6 months unless you tell us to remove them or request that they be kept longer.

The Knights of Columbuswould like

to thank everyone who attended the Christmas Party! It was a great success.