Saint Joseph Church Clayton, MO

Transcription

1 Saint Joseph Church Clayton, MO Third Sunday of Advent December 14, 2014 My soul rejoices in my God (Luke 1:46-50, 53-54)

2 Welcome to Saint Joseph Catholic Church 106 North Meramec Avenue Clayton, Missouri Rev. Nicholas E. Kastenholz, Pastor Rev. Thomas J. Schaab, Senior Associate Pastor Deacons Albert Williams and Del Leonardo ~ office ~ fax pat_stj@hotmail.com ~ Rectory Hours: 8:30-4:00 pm, Mon-Fri Religious Education (RCIA and PSR) Terri Venneman, Director of Religious Education ~ office ~ fax Music Director -- Tom Taylor ~ Director of Maintenance -- Steve Topping ~ Marriage Preparation Couples are asked to contact the Parish Office 6 to 12 months before setting the date. Mass Schedule Sunday 7:30 am, 9:00 am, and 11:00 am Mon, Wed, Fri 6:30 am, 12:00 noon Tues, Thurs 8:00 am and 12:00 noon Saturday 8:00 am and 5:00 pm (Sunday Vigil) National Holidays See bulletin Holy Days of Obligation See Bulletin Eucharistic Adoration Monday, Wednesday 7:00 am until 12:00 noon Tuesday, Thursday 8:30 am until 12:00 noon Baptism The Sacrament of Baptism is administered on Sunday at. To register for the Baptismal Instruction Program and schedule a Baptism, please call the Office. Sacrament of Reconciliation Weekdays 11:15-11:50 am Saturday 4:00-4:45 pm Rosary Weekdays 11:40 am Thursday after the 8:00 am Mass Perpetual Help Devotions Tuesdays after 8:00 am and Masses The Deadline to submit an ar cle for the bulle n is Monday at 10 am Fr. Nick Kastenholz, Pastor Parish Council Chairperson Frank Hackmann, Education Commission Al Barbieri, Finance Commission St. Joseph Parish Council Members Sharon Skrivan, Social Concerns Commission Betsy Barbieri Marion O Gorman Anne Shapleigh Denny Staub, Barbara Summers Tom Taylor & Terri Venneman, ex-officios St Vincent de Paul -- Emergency Assistance - For assistance for food, utilities etc., please call , box Our St. Vincent de Paul Society will respond promptly. You may make an appointment to meet with a member on Wednesday morning through the same number.

3 Third Sunday of Advent December 14, 2014 Hello, It is the third week of Advent and the candle for this week is the one we remember most, the pink, or rose colored candle that means to REJOICE. This is also called Gaudete Sunday which is simply the Latin word for rejoice. We know that we are still waiting, but the time is coming near so we rejoice in anticipation. I think this is a very fitting thought to have after our previous two weeks of hope and preparation. Rejoice may seem to some to be a bit premature, since we are not at Christmas yet, but I consider that it takes the hope from the first week and gives it a firmness in our expectation. Not quite to the point of presumption, since we are doing our preparation still, but with maybe a little more trust that recognizes the blessings that God has given us up to this point and looks forward to what is to come. This doesn t deny our sin and our continued need for preparation, but it also doesn t just dwell on our sins either. Christians are meant to be a joyful people; it doesn t mean that we are perfect, or that we don t have need to still prepare, grow, and improve and be more open to God s help, but we prepare with eager anticipation for what is to come. Hopefully this joy is a part of all of our continued preparation for the coming Christmas. Peace, Fr. Nick Notes From The Pastor's Pen As described last week by the finance council in their letter and in their words at Mass one of the goals over the last year has been to be more transparent to the parish community about the parish finances. Along with contributions and income the other key piece of finances is always expenses. The weekly financial listing we have been putting in the bulletin has informed you about the current status of our offertory, but I also plan on informing you regularly as to our total income and expenses. While our income is still below budget, you can also see that we have also been working to keep our expenses down. NOTE while there is a budgeted negative net income through November, the yearly budgeted net income is 0. November 2014 MONTH YEAR TO DATE Actual Budget Variance Actual Budget Variance Income 54,453 54,619 (165) 248, ,195 (26,045) Expense 51,222 57,169 (5,947) 258, ,191 (32,803) Net Income 3,231 (2,550) 5,781 (10,238) (16,996) 6,758 (deficit) Mass Intentions Monday, Dec. 15 6:30 am Helene Schweitzer Fred & Betty Faller Tuesday, Dec. 16 8:00 am Deceased Members of the Maloney Family Francis Flynn & Family Wednesday, Dec. 17 6:30 am Poor Souls William Moran Family Intention Thursday, Dec. 18 8:00 am Victor N. Shalhoob Bernardo-Reyes Family Friday, Dec. 19 6:30 am Lucille Bommarito Allan Koken Saturday, Dec. 20 8:00 am Margaret Kurrus 5:00 pm Jack & Shirley Murphy Sunday, Dec. 21 Fourth Sunday Of Advent 7:30 am St. Joseph Parishioners 9:00 am Mary Isabel Bone 11:00 am Richard Klein

4 We Pray For Our Loved Ones May God provide health and comfort to: Joan Rice Dave Rowan Layne Knight LaJuana Hinch Sam Hardy Catherine Mullins Charles Collins Larry Stewart, III Ray Chiostri Robyn Street Olive Hagen Eugene Shalhoob John Saner Voelker Barbara Lindsay Maria Guehlstorf Patrick Hale Angela Color Drenna Muldoon Shirley Toon Clifford Parr Mary Jane Zoernig Sr. Eleanor Madelyn Ibeling Michael Phelps Colleen Woodard Communion to the Sick or Homebound We are happy to bring communion to those confined to their homes. Please contact the Parish Office for arrangements. Anointing of the Sick If you or a loved one seeks the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, contact the Parish Office to make arrangements. Sunday Offerings Dec. 6-7, 2014 Sunday Envelopes 8, Loose 1, Online Giving,,,, Holy Day Weekday noon Masses Total for week 11, YTD Budget 249, YTD Actual 200, YTD Operating Surplus/(Deficit) (48,713.94) We welcome to the St. Joseph Parish Family, through the Waters of Baptism: Miles Henning Carlson, son of Michael and Shannon Carlson. Congratulations to the happy family! Rest In Peace Let us pray for all of our deceased parishioners, relatives, benefactors and friends. We remember all of our loved ones who have gone before us and pray that they are celebrating with our Lord in heaven. Heavenly Father, I am not sure how to start. But I will take a step in faith today. Show me what you have for me to do, and how my gifts can bear fruit for your kingdom. A Peek at the Week Ahead Monday, December 15 1:00 pm Prayer Group, Madonna Rm 4:30 pm Play Practice, Church 5:15 pm PSR, S 7:00 pm HS PSR, Centennial Rm 7:30 pm Adult Choir Friday, December 19 7:30 pm Cursillo, PH Sunday, December 20 No Classes Christmas Break Begins Make, track, and schedule parish donations directly from your computer. Just log onto our website and follow the link. READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: Nm 24:2-7, 15-17a; Ps 25:4-5ab, 6, 7bc-9; Mt 21:23-27 Tuesday: Zep 3:1-2, 9-13; Ps 34:2-3, 6-7, 17-8, 19, 23; Mt 21:28-32 Wednesday: Gn 49:2, 8-10; Ps 72:1-4ab, 7-8, 17; Mt 1:1-17 Thursday: Jer 23:5-8; Ps 72:1-2, 12-13, 18- Friday: Clayton Optimist Christmas Tree Lot The Clayton Optimist tree lot is open for business through Saturday, December 24th. The location is 7500 Forsyth Blvd, across from the Washington University Building (old Famous-Barr) and behind the Ritz Carlton. We have 5 12 Fraser Fur, White Pine, Balsam and Douglas Fir, as well as pine roping and wreaths. Proceeds go to charities (i.e. St. Joseph Institute for the Deaf, etc.) We hope to have you drop by, take a look, and drive off with one of our beautiful trees! Open Hours: Weekdays 3:30 8:00 p.m. Sat. & Sun. 9:00 a.m. 8:00 p.m. 19; Mt 1:18-25 Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25a; Ps 71:3-4a, 5-6ab, 16-17; Lk 1:5-25 Saturday: Is 7:10-14; Ps 24:1-4ab, 5-6; Lk 1:26-38 Sunday: 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Ps 89:2-5, 27, 29; Rom 16:25-27; Lk 1:26-38

5 Birthright Christmas Cards We still have a few packages of this lovely card left! You may purchase them in the Rectory office during business hours. The cost is $10 for a package of 15 cards and envelopes. Checks should be made payable to Birthright Counseling St. Louis. There are two vacancies that need to be filled for Eucharistic Adoration: 8:00-8:30 on Wednesdays, and 10:00-10:30 on Mondays. If you are able to fill one of these time slots, please call Bebe Kennedy, Time to Update the Prayer List It is time to update the names on our prayer list. If a person would like to remain on the list, please call Pat at If we have not been notified by the end of the year the name will be removed. Sunday Worship Dec , :00 pm Catherine Hoff Fred Yap Therese Macan Clare Reid Rosemary Hardy MORE THAN DISCIPLES Each of today s four scriptural roles disciple, prophet, apostle, herald forms a facet of our life in Christ as we live it day by day. Isaiah tells us that a prophet is anointed, as we were anointed at our baptism in water and the Spirit, to bring glad tidings and to promote God s reign of healing, justice, and peace. An apostle, like Paul, is one who is sent. Each of us, in his or her own way, is sent by Christ to be a voice of rejoicing, to encourage prophetic voices in the world, and to make sure that the work of the Spirit thrives. John the Baptist shows us the job of the herald, making the Lord s way straight, announcing the coming of the Light of the world. Today we also hear from Mary, model disciple. Her song, the Magnificat, shows us the world we must believe in and work for: one in which God is praised, where God s favor is bestowed on the humble, where the hungry are filled and the rich are sent away empty, a world that continues to know and rejoice in the mercy of God that lasts for all ages. Copyright J. S. Paluch Co Calendars Are Here! Many thanks to the Lupton Funeral Home for generously providing our 2015 calendars. You may pick up your calendar, as well as a copy of "The Word Among Us" for Advent. They can be found at the entrances to the Church. End of Year Contributions If you wish to make a contribution, by cash, check, or electronic transfer to St. Joseph for the calendar year 2014, it must be received by our office, or postmarked, by December 31, To transfer stock, please contact Patricia Griffaw at at the Archdiocesan Finance Office. STEWARDSHIP REFLECTIONS December 14, rd Sunday of Advent Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 This scripture reading sums up Stewardship. Rejoice always means place your trust in God; He will provide all that you need. Pray constantly means prayer should be a running conversation with God throughout the whole day, every day. Give thanks in all circumstances means even in bad situations, thank God. Suffering a little bit helps build empathy for others in similar situations. 7:30 am Will & Hadley Cytron Greg Browne Betty Torno Stuart Cytron Annette Cytron 9:00 am Thomas Clear John Gillis Terry Carmack Susan Hackmann Michael Clear 11:00 am Elizabeth Cohen Joe Dickmann Anne Pokoski Carolyn Dickmann Roger Drone Deacon Del Leonardoi To become a minister call the Rectory

6 Ministers for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day If you are unable to Minister at the time you are scheduled -- please find a substitute 5:00 p.m. Mass, December 24 Servers: Volunteer Needed Lector: Fred Yap Extraordinary Ministers: Volunteers Needed 11:00 p.m. Mass, December 24 Server: Joe Dickmann Lector: Anne Pokoski Extraordinary Ministers: Thom Schwetye, Joe Dickmann, Carolyn Dickmann 7:30 a.m. Mass, December 25 Servers: Volunteer Needed Lector: Frank Hackmann Extraordinary Ministers: Betty Torno, Susan Hackmann, Volunteer needed 9:00 a.m. Mass, December 25 Server: Volunteer Needed Lector: Betsy Sampson Extraordinary Ministers: John Gillis, Michael Clear, Dee Joyner 11:00 a.m. Mass, December 25 Servers: Volunteer Needed Lector: Rosemary Pickle Extraordinary Ministers: Larry Stewart, 2 Volunteers Needed If you are able to be a Eucharistic Minister or Server at the above masses where a need is indicated, please call Pat at the Rectory, Bus Trip - 42nd Annual National March for LIfe MISSOURI LIFE CARAVAN is once again organizing buses for the 42nd Annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, Jan. 21, 22 and 23, Join us and thousands of others from across the U.S. for this huge pro-life gathering in the nation s capitol. This trip does not involve overnight stays in hotels, we sleep on the buses. For registration and bus information contact: Phone: , mrl.eastern@yahoo.com. You can also download our registration form at Registration deadline is Jan. 5, GOD S WORD TODAY Last week the letter of Saint Peter reminded us to conduct ourselves in holiness and devotion as we wait for the coming of the Lord. This week the prophet Isaiah tells us what it means to be someone upon whom the Spirit of the Lord God has rested. God s Spirit entered our hearts at the moment of our baptism and that same Spirit s gifts were poured forth abundantly when we were confirmed. As the first reading is proclaimed today, let us pray that we will become people who bring glad tidings to the poor, who heal the brokenhearted, and who announce a year of favor from the Lord. When we take on these baptismal responsibilities, then, as Saint Paul says, the God of peace will make us perfectly holy. Let us pray that as we feast at the table of the word, we will be inspired to announce the presence of the Lord to others. From Saint Margaret Sunday Missal, copyright J. S. Paluch Company

7 POPE FRANCIS SAYS GO TO CONFESSION, BUT WHY BOTHER? Jesus Christ is our Savior, not just our teacher. By saying Jesus is our Savior, that means you have to feel the need for Him. If someone is trapped, or held captive, or in quicksand, they don t need a teacher; they need a savior. To appreciate Jesus we have to move into a space where we understand how stuck we are, how needy we are. Our culture, in a million ways, tells us, You re fine! You re great! Assert yourself and don t let people tell you what to do! But all of that is a lie, and we know it deep down. Only when you hit bottom and surrender to a higher power, as in the Twelve Step programs, are you ready to make progress. The same is true in our spiritual lives. Pope Francis encourages the Sacrament of Confession at every turn. Accurate polling out of Georgetown University reports 75% of Catholics either never participate in the Sacrament of God s Forgiveness or only do so less than once a year. So why does the Church treasure this Sacrament so much despite the failure of so many to ever receive it? First, the Sacrament is a Sacrament of Healing. Confession is a bridge to God s infinite mercy, a path of conversion and forgiveness. The Catechism states, The whole power of the Sacrament of Penance consists in restoring us to God s Grace and joining us with Christ in an intimate friendship. Second, honestly confessing sins to a priest in the Sacrament of Penance requires facing up to the truth that I do sin, feeling honest sorrow in the real Presence of Christ, and resolving not to commit these sins again. While it is true that God can and does forgive venial sins apart from the Sacrament of Penance, the case for the Sacrament rests upon the simple fact that Christ instituted it as the normal, natural means for his followers to use in seeking forgiveness for sin. And if that is what Jesus intended, no Catholic with even a superficial education in the Faith, is entitled to turn his or her back on penance.