This week I have quite a few important items to mention. First, I have some sad news to convey.
Fr. Millard
As many of you have already heard, Fr. Mike Millard passed away on the morning of Wednesday, December 6th, in Tucson. Fr. Millard served as the pastor of Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Church as well as Saint Ann from 2006 to 2012. The funeral liturgies will be taking place in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Let us pray that Fr. Millard, through the mercy of God, may now rejoice to see God face-to-face, a reality too sublime for words, and one which we all await in this Advent Season. May he rest in peace.
When a loved one passes away, it is customary and good to have a priest offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for the repose of that person’s soul. This is done so that, if the deceased be in Purgatory, we may aid them by our prayers. Whenever a priest of our diocese passes away, every other priest in the diocese offers three Masses for the repose of his soul. If you consult the week’s schedule, you’ll notice that I’ll be offering those three Masses this week for Fr. Millard. You are invited to join me, especially on Wednesday night, as I celebrate a Memorial Mass for Fr. Millard.
Penance Services in Our Parishes.
As we prepare to meet the newborn Christ at Christmas, we ought to do so with a clean conscience. Fr. Teji, from Parshall, will be joining me to offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation here in Stanley this Sunday night, December 10th, at 7:00 p.m. In Berthold, I will be in the confessional from noon until at least 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, December 17th.
Upcoming Holy Days
With the calendar as it is this year, the 4th Sunday of Advent falls on Sunday, December 24th. That means that we have an obligation to attend one weekend Mass and one Mass for Christmas. The U.S. Bishops have clarified that we cannot fulfill our two obligations by attending one Mass, for example, on Sunday afternoon or evening. It is their desire that we celebrate the fullness of Advent as well as Christmas. Therefore, our schedule for the 4th Sunday of Advent and Christmas is as follows:
Masses for 4th Sunday of Advent:
5:00 p.m. Sat, Dec. 23rd, Stanley,
7:30 p.m. Sat, Dec. 23rd, Berthold
8:30 a.m. Sun, Dec. 24th, Stanley
Masses for Christmas:
4:00 p.m. Sun, Dec. 24th, Berthold
12:00 midnight Mon, Dec. 25th, Stanley
10:30 a.m. Mon, Dec. 25th, Stanley
Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
In addition, January 1st is the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God. Normally, this is a holy day of obligation. But this year, since it falls on a Monday, it is not an obligation for us to attend. However, it’s certainly a good idea! Our Mass schedule for that feast is as follows:
Masses for Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
5:30 p.m. Sun, Dec. 31st, Berthold
10:30 a.m. Mon, Jan. 1st, Stanley
I pray you are all having a blessed Advent Season!
-Fr. Jason Signalness
Help religious communities.
Your generous contribution helps us to care for our retired sisters and enables our younger sister to continue in active ministry,” writes a religious sister. Your gift to today’s collection for the Retirement Fund for Religious helps provide medications, nursing care and more for thousands of senior sister, brothers, and religious order priests. It also helps ensure younger members can continue the good works of their elders!
S.A.C.K
Stanley Area Cares of Kids
Nearly one in six children in America live in a household that struggles to put food on the table, that means they struggle with hunger sometime during the year. The Stanley Park District, Mountrail County Health Foundation and the Stanley Public Schools have teamed up with local churches to help with the fact that there are children in our area who are not getting the nutritious food they need on a regular basis. Established in the summer of 2017. S.A.C.K. , which just received its 501c3 non-profit status, will offer a supply of nutritious meals and snacks for children over their weekends and extended break, free of charge, Elementary students will be bringing home a prebagged sack. The sacks are distributed by their teacher on the last school day before the weekend or break. In the near future, at the high school, there will be an actual space where the food will be stocked and the student may come in and shop for the food they need at a time that works for them. Any child enrolled in the Stanley School District is able to receive these weekly sacks of food. Please pray fully consider donating the needed food it takes to feed over 30 children from 13 families each week. Black totes are located in your church lobby or at the front of Cash Wise. We thank you so much for your help on this.
Saint Gianna's Maternity Home!
Saint Gianna's Maternity Home is here to help women who are pregnant and need a safe place to live.
Sometimes expecting a child can be overwhelming especially if the mother is not getting the support or help she needs from family members or from the father of the child. We believe every mother deserves to give birth with dignity and respect.
At Saint Gianna's Maternity Home every mother will find love and support in a spiritual and family-type environment. Saint Gianna's offers a beautiful home to live in, clothing, assistance in finding a good doctor, educational opportunities including the chance to learn job skills and parenting skills. With God's grace, good things can come from even the most difficult situations. Saint Gianna's is here to stand by all mothers so that they can find the right solutions for themselves and their children.
A collection for Saint Gianna’s Maternity home will consist of gift cards this year. These gift cards are helpful in helping many mothers as they move out on their own.
Unfortunately, we will not be making the journey to Saint Gianna’s home in Minto. Please drop off gift cards in the Christmas box in the Hall.
Gift Card suggestions:
· stamps (for postage)
· Gift cards Huggies Pampers of all sizes
· Gift cards for mothers to purchase personal items
· Gift cards for grocery stores
· Gift cards to gas stations
· Paper & household products such as toilet paper, paper plates, paper towels, napkins, tinfoil, baggies of all sizes, cleaning supplies, etc.
· Monthly donors
· Donations towards our Educational Fund
Sam’s Club
Amazon
Cenex
Visa Cards
Wal-Mart
Herbergers
J.C Penny’s
Shopko
Gordmans’s
Kohls
K-Mart
Thank you for your generous gifts.