St. Michael & St. Francis Xavier Bulletin December 17 & 18, 2016 Pastor: Fr. Harry Tully
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Fourth Sunday of Advent
INTO OUR HOMES
Only a few days remain before the world will pause for the celebration of Christmas. Over the course of the past year we have been nourished at the table of God’s word and feasted on the Gospel of Saint Luke. We have listened to parables, been summoned to take up our crosses and follow Christ, and been schooled in the way of discipleship. Since the beginning of Advent the Church has turned our attention to Matthew’s Gospel. Today Matthew opens the doors of Saint Joseph’s house, as well as his dreams, and tells the story of the events leading up to Jesus’ birth. The final line of today’s Gospel is worth noting: “When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home” (Matthew 1:24). Today is a day to consider our devotion to and appreciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in our faith lives. Today is a day for us to take her into our homes.
PREPARING A PLACE FOR CHRIST’S BIRTH
Mary stands as a reminder that nothing is impossible with God. This young woman’s life was thrown into confusion when the angel announced that she, although a virgin, would be the mother of God’s Son. She is the one to whom we can look when our lives are thrown into confusion. She gave herself over to the power of God. This did not mean that she would live her life free from fear and pain. We all know the rest of the story—how she would watch her son suffer and die. Mary is a source of comfort for all who have lost children. We can look to her for comfort in times of grief and pain. How fitting that we focus on the Virgin Mary on this final Sunday of Advent. When we open the doors of our hearts and welcome Mary into our lives, what we really do is prepare a place where the Lord is born to us again.
Today’s Readings: Isaiah 7:10–14; Psalm 24:1–6; Romans 1:1–7; Matthew 1:18–24
Fr. Harry Tully, PastorEmergency #812-218-9219 or 502-931-1499
Website - www.stmichaelstfrancis.com 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, IN 47126, 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 / 12/19 / Mon / No MassSt. FX
St. M / 12/20 / Tue / No Mass
St. FX
St. M / 12/21 / Wed / 5:00 PM / Mass
St. FX / 12/22 / Thurs / 4:30PM
7:00PM / Mass
Penance Service
St. M / 12/23 / Friday / 12:00 PM / Mass
St. M
St. FX / 12/24 / Sat / 4:00PM
4:30 PM
7:00PM
9:30PM / Program
The Jones Family
En Español
Robert Masters
12/25 / Sun
St. M / 11:00 AM / For the People of St. Michael & St Francis Xavier
Dear Parishioners,
Already! It's the 4th Sunday of Advent and there isn't much more time. While there is a full week to go there is no more 'putting off' either we are ready or not! I'm not just talking about December 25! When the great guest arrives and knocks will we fly to the door excitedly or hesitatingly to welcome Him? It's not about the tree or decorations, the meal or the presents, it's about you and me and the Prince of Peace, the King of Kings, the Lord of Life.
Since some will be away next weekend, I want to assure of my prayers for a 'Wonder Full' Christmas and God's blessing of peace, health and happiness. May our Lord and Savior grant you the joy of knowing His great Love! 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 EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER
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: 9-11:30AM or 12:30-3PM Mon. Wed. & Fri
HTTP://www.catholicfamilyfaith.org/ 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: For the People of St. Michael & St. Francis Xavier
Sunday 11:00 am: Mr. & Mrs. John Gellhaus Sr.
Sunday 12:30 pm: The Latino Community
Christmas Information
“The Christmas Story” before the Christmas Eve Mass @ 4:00pm. Times and dates to remember: A dress rehearsal Practice on Sunday, December 18th @ 9:30AM.
Saturday, December 24th@3:45pm. Is the time to arrive for Children to be at St. Michael for program!
Live Nativity Scene @ St. Francis Xavier Dec. 22nd & 23rd from 6-8pm.
Flower Offering at St. Michael
Envelopes are in the back of Church for Christmas Flower Offering for Memory of or in Honor of someone special.
Thanks to the Knights of Columbus for sponsoring the Christmas Party for the parish of St. Michael. Everyone had a very nice time.
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. www.stmichaelstfrancis.com.
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 www.stmichaelstfrancis.com.
Bible Study Class Update Classes are on Monday nights at 6:30-8:00pm in the Rectory meeting room.
Faith Formation Calendar:
December 18th- Session Sixteen Christmas Program Practice
December 25th to January 1st- Christmas Break No Class
January 8th- Session Seventeen
January 15th-Session Eighteen Rosary & Music Practice 11:00 Mass Youth Choir (Gift Bearers High School)
Classes begin at 9:30 am. Please arrive 5-10 minutes early so we can start on time.
Thank you to last week’s Assistant: Kim Stamper
Thank you to the Youth Choir Organist, Nancy Kinder. Thank you to Youth Choir Director Jessica Sarver, Assistants & Choir Members: John Kinser, Adalyn Lathem, Ava Lathem, Kaylee Kinser , Maelyn Sarver, and Kimberlyn Doherty. Thank you to the gift bearers: Ava Lathem, Adalyn Lathem & Jenny Lathem. Thank you to our server: Dylan Kinser.
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:
One must be in the state of grace to receive the sacrament of Confirmation, which means receiving the sacrament of Reconciliation before being confirmed. St. Michael & St Francis Xavier Confession are on Thursday, December 22nd at St. Francis Xavier at 7:00pm., or every Saturday @ 4:00pm. at St. Michael. It is also offered at retreats. Retreats, reconciliation, service hours, homework and attendance for class sessions are a must to be completed during this sacrament preparation time. Parents and Sponsors please talk to your candidate and check on their progress. Our next Lesson is Sunday, January 15th @ 2:00pm., in the St. Michael Multipurpose Room.
Please be working on those 20 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.
Please keep in your prayers our Confirmation Candidates: Ky Baltz( 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. 24, 4:30 pm– St. Michael
Eucharistic Ministers: M.P. Beach & S. Seals
Servers: D. Kinser & S. Dumeyer
Gift Bearers: The Steve Fouts Family
Cantor: Jessica Sarver & Youth Choir
Musician: Nancy Kinder
Lector: Steve Buit
Sun. Dec. 25, 11:00 am – St. Michael
Eucharistic Ministers: M. Edmond, C. Dunn & M. Cox Servers: J. Worley
Gift Bearers: James Hannigan Family
Cantors: J/M Wafford Musician: Carolyn Eickholtz
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:
Heilbron & Viola Adams
St. Francis Faith Formation Calendar
December 18th No Class-Christmas Break
December 25th No Class
January 1st No Class
January 8th Class
Live Nativity Scene @ St. Francis Xavier Dec. 22nd & 23rd from 6-8pm.
St. Francis Xavier Ministries Schedule
Sun. Dec. 25, 9:00am
Eucharistic Ministers: Jennifer Haycraft, Tom Mayes, & Darlene Ruel
Servers: Connor Martin, Kayla Martin, & Heidi Taylor
Ushers: Victor Jett & Cindy Murphy
Gift Bearers: Betty & Flo Hayes Family Lector: Sara Becher
Thank You for supporting Retirement Fund for Religious.
“Because of your kindness, our elderly sisters will have comfort, security, and joy of living out their remaining years in their home. You truly honor them and their years of service by your generosity.” Religious across the United States offer sincere thanks for your generosity to last week’s collection for the Retirement Fund for Religious.
Collection
December 10 & 11
St. Michael $ 3,967.00
St Francis Xavier $ 1,112.00
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:
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, James Korty, David Lerster, David Long, Jennifer Lynch, 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.
Angel Tree
Thank you to all who helped provide gifts for the Angel Tree. It always warms our hearts in giving at the same time it truly helps those in need.
Upcoming Advent Penance Services:
December 18th, 1:00pm. St. John Starlight
December 21st, 7:00pm. St. Mary, Navilleton
December 22, 7:00pm. St. Francis Xavier Henryville
Save The Date: Birthday Bash will be Saturday, January 21, 2016 after the 4:30pm Mass.
Fourth Sunday of Advent
Theme: Jesus is God made flesh. (Emmanuel –God is with us).
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: When you pray how so you hear God’s voice in response?
Youth & Adults: God speaks to us in our intuitions, as he did to Joseph in this dream. What is your experience of hearing God speak in this way? What is God asking of you?
This Christmas, why not give your spouse the gift that truly lasts - aWorldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend. Married couples go home from aWWME Weekendmore in love with each other than ever!Want to find out more?Marriage Encounter Weekends will be held atMount St Francis Center for Spirituality in New Albanyfrom10-12 February 2017 (just before Valentine’s Day)and from18-20 August 2017.