December 8, 2013 Second Sunday in Advent Living the Gospel with Love and Courage

Transcription

1 Today s Scriptures: Gather #882 December 8, 2013 Second Sunday in Advent Living the Gospel with Love and Courage Masses for This Weekend Saturday, December 7 4 p.m. Rosella Adams (Fr. Crosby) Sunday, December 8 8:30 a.m. Dorothy Wenzel (Fr. Hennes) 10:30 a.m. Josephine Oliva (Fr. Hennes/Deacon Erv) 2 p.m. For The People Of St. Anne s (Fr. Burkhardt) 6 p.m. Elroy & Margie Weisner (Fr. Crosby) Masses for This Week Monday, December 9 7 a.m. Communion Service (Deacon Erv) 5:30 p.m. Immaculate Conception Mass Mary Olson & John Spara (Fr. Hennes) Tuesday, December 10 7 a.m. Fred Wilde (Fr. Hennes) 10 a.m. St. Anne Special Intention Benedictine Center (Fr. Burkhardt) Wednesday, December 11 7 a.m. Joseph Karlen (Fr. Burkhardt) 8:15 a.m. Violet Kitowski - School Mass (St. Michael Celebrant) Thursday, December 12 7 a.m. Peter & Ada Calmes (Fr. Hennes) Friday, December 13 7 a.m. Ruth & David Stencil (Fr. Burkhardt) Saturday, December 14 8:30 a.m. Marie Sattler (Fr. Burkhardt) Advent Communal Reconciliation to Follow Masses for Next Weekend Saturday, December 14 4 p.m. George Geisler (Fr. Burkhardt/Deacon Erv) Sunday, December 15 8:30 a.m. Bob Brennan (Fr. Burkhardt) 10:30 a.m. Ray Clancey (Fr. Hennes) 2 p.m. St. Anne s Parishioners (Bishop Callahan &Thai Martyrs) 6 p.m. Katie Scholl (Fr. Zelinski) Why is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception being celebrated on Monday? In the church, some celebrations are understood to have a priority of celebration over others. A feast would be celebrated before a Memorial; a holy day is celebrated before a weekday in ordinary time. The Second Sunday of Advent has priority over the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Thus the weekend liturgies are using the readings for the Second Sunday of Advent. Since the Immaculate Conception is the national patron of the United States as well as a holy day of obligation, this feast is not simply dropped from the calendar. The church has transferred its celebration to Monday, December 9. When the Feast of the Immaculate Conception is celebrated on its date of December 8, it is a holy day of obligation and it does not lose the obligation even when it occurs on Saturday or Monday. However, when it is transferred to December 9, it loses the character of obligation. With this in mind, the Monday Communion Service is scheduled as normal on December 9. A 5:30 p.m. Mass is also scheduled for those who desire to celebrate this important feast in the church. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend! continued on p. 2

2 continued from cover... Tinsel or straw? Our parish has embarked upon this Advent Theme. The questions to consider: What is the focus of Advent? What is the vision in light of this focus? We are preparing for the second coming of Jesus. Where will we find him? What are the signs that we need to discover in order to know that he is in our midst? These are the questions seeking answers in these first couple of weeks of Advent. The challenge is to refocus our eyes from the decorations/consumerism (tinsel) of Christmas to the stable (straw). What is our image of the stable? What type of environment do we see in the stable? Who is present? Who comes to visit? Why are they changed by this encounter? If Christ is the reason for the season, then wrestling with these questions allows us to reconsider how we know Christ in the midst of Christmas. The Advent Project fits well within our theme. When we consider the stable, can we envision that homeless people might be found in the stable? Would Christ smile upon them? How do we bring this smile of Christ to the homeless within Wausau? Reflecting upon your own answers to these questions, the Mission Service Committee invites support for the installation of showers at the Warming Center, transferred to a new location with Catholic Charities. Your support gives opportunity for a homeless person to have a warm shower, clean clothes for sleeping while their day clothes are washed and sent forth in the morning refreshed. Please consider supporting this project and helping reach the goal to pay for the new showers! Progress is steady for our Diocesan Annual Appeal target. Please remember that reaching our goal by April 1 will result in a greater grant towards our Parish Support of Catholic Schools. Every donation, no matter what size, moves us closer to our goal! A wish of God s peace is extended to the family and friends of Edna Kolberg. Her funeral was on Friday, November 29. May our prayers support and encourage those who mourn. May she rest in peace! May the blessings of God be showered upon you this week! Fr. Al Readings for the Week of December 8, 2013 Sunday: Is 11:1-10/Rom 15:4-9/Mt 3:1-12 Monday: Gn 3:9-15, 20/Eph 1:3-6, 11-12/Lk 1:26-38 Tuesday: Is 40:1-11/Mt 18:12-14 Wednesday: Is 40:25-31/Mt 11:28-30 Thursday: Zec 2:14-17 or Rv 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab/ Lk 1:26-38 or Lk 1:39-47 Friday: Is 48:17-19/Mt 11:16-19 Saturday: Sir 48:1-4, 9-11/Mt 17:9a, Next Sunday: Is 35:1-6a, 10/Jas 5:7-10/Mt 11: ADVENT COMMUNAL PENANCE SERVICES It is very important to take advantage of the opportunity for reconciliation during Advent. In addition to their regular confession schedules the following parishes will offer an additional Communal Penance Service with the Sacrament of Reconciliation at the times and dates below. Several additional priests will be available to hear confessions. Holy Name Sunday, 12/8 3:00 p.m. St. Agnes Tuesday, 12/10 6:30 p.m. St. Anne Saturday, 12/14 9:30 a.m. St. Matthew Sunday, 12/15 6:30 p.m. St. Therese Monday, 12/16 6:30 p.m. Resurrection Saturday, 12/21 10:00 a.m. St. Michael Thursday, 12/19 6:30 p.m. Sociables will meet Tuesday, December 10th in the South Gathering Space at 1:30 p.m. Seniors, join us! Bring snacks. Questions? Call Ruth Josiger at Support elderly religious. Help aging sisters, brothers, and religious order priests. Each year the need to provide for our elderly (members) becomes more pressing, and we are ever more grateful for these providential funds, writes a religious sister about the financial assistance received from the Retirement Fund for Religious. Your donation helps provide necessities such as prescription medication and nursing care. Please give to those who have given a lifetime. Mitten Tree St. Anne Parish will be having a Mitten Tree in the west entrance. The tree was put up the Monday after Thanksgiving and donations will be given to several local and national charities. The majority of clients will be adult males. Thank you! PCCW/Fatima Council: All women of the parish are invited to our PCCW/Fatima Council meeting on December 18th at 7 p.m. in the South Gathering Space. We will be entertained by St. Anne s Junior Choir, learn more about the Wausau area St. Vincent De Paul Society, play bingo and have Christmas refreshments. It would be much appreciated if you could bring at least one or more items from the list below for the Benedictine Center. These items will be used for bingo prizes. Long necklaces, bracelets Socks Candy bars Coin purses Little flower pots Small figurines Small cans of soda Mittens Dollar Store items Booties Small bags of chips or pretzels No stuffed animals, note pads or books. Thank you for all of the things you do for our community! [

3 Stewardship of Treasure Amount collected Nov , 2013 $7,249 Monthly ACH divided by number of weeks $2,975 Total Collected $10,224 Amount Needed Each Week $18,714 Shortfall $8,490 Amount collected Nov. 30-Dec. 1, 2013 $11,662 Monthly ACH divided by number of weeks $2,380 Total Collected $14,042 Amount Needed Each Week $18,714 Shortfall $4,672 Diocesan Annual Appeal Report (last update 10/20/13) Target $101,693 Received $29,838 Amount Due $71,855 Participants 218 Non-Participants 1,409 Per IRS rules, all payments receive by December 31, 2013 will be posted to your contribution statement for If the check is postmarked and mailed by December 31, 2013 you will receive the credit for Any donation brought to church or the office on January 1 or later will be posted in This is true even if the check is dated December Please make sure to have your donations for 2013 mailed or brought into the parish office by December 31, A Few Dates to Keep in Mind As the Advent Season continues and Christmas breaks come upon us, we wanted to remind you of a few details for the weeks ahead: Wednesday, Dec. 11, Faith Formation (FF) Sessions as scheduled Wednesday, Dec. 18, FF Sessions as scheduled Wednesday, Dec. 25, NO Faith Formation, since it is Christmas Day Wednesday, Jan. 1, NO Faith Formation since it is New Year s Day Wednesday, Jan. 8, Faith Formation resumes January 8 is the Parent-only session for Embrace Parenthood to be held at Newman Catholic High School Mark the calendar for Wednesday, Jan. 29, the Middle School and High School Sylvan Hill Tubing night! More information to come in the Formator! For I Was Hungry and You Gave Me Food Wausau is known as a community that is compassionate and generous to those in need. Every week, dozens of volunteers come forward to make and serve evening meals. St. Anne s is one of the churches that provide these meals, which are available to the hungry of the Wausau area. On Thursday, December 26 we will be serving the evening meal at Jubilee House. The Slominski Family will be cooking and serving the meal. They are handling everything, including desserts, so no additional volunteers or dessert donations are needed. We thank them in advance for their generosity. We are always looking for sources for free or discounted food, and for donations toward the cost of these meals. Please contact Ginny if you can help in that way, or if you would like to dedicate a meal in the coming year to honor or commemorate someone.you can reach her at or ginnydimeo@aol.com A very heartfelt THANK YOU to all who donated nonperishable food, personal care items & household products for our Thanksgiving Baskets and to all who gave money to pay for the turkeys and fresh produce that are added to each basket. This year we gave out 115 Thanksgiving Baskets serving a total of 651 people. This included 376 adults & 275 children. All of the receipients were very grateful. This would not be possible without the generous support of our parishoners, the St. Annes school children, the Faith Formation students, the Youth Ministry students & all of their families! We would also like to thank the men who hauled the turkeys & fresh produce on Monday, the men and women who helped us on Tuesday when we gave out the baskets, everyone who helped sort food & pack boxes and anyone else who helped in any way. Thank you, too, for the continuous support from U.S. Foods for the fresh produce. We especially want to thank Timm Hollis for all his help. God Bless You All St. Anne Circle of Joy Just A Reminder: The Circle of Joy will meet on Monday December 16th, at 1:30 p.m. in the North Hall to pack cookies & other treats for delivery to the shut ins.

4 The Wausau Community Warming Center has been blessed with an outpouring of used clothing donations. So many donations that we have reached our capacity and we are no longer able to accept used clothing. We are still in need of non-perishable food items such as breakfast cereals, hot chocolate, pop tarts, chewy granola bars and canned goods. We also need new clothing such as undergarments, long underwear and socks. Lastly, we are seeking volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Catholic Charities at Help Wanted: I am looking for a Babysitter for my two almost 8-month-old twin girls. My current babysitter is quitting December 23rd. I am flexible on the hours. Right now I am looking for only 20 hours a week. Either you can come to my house or they can come to yours. I am willing to have more than one person. If someone can do only Mondays, and another on Tuesdays that works for me. Currently, I have a lady that comes to my house on Mondays, Tuesdays (8:30 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.) and Wednesdays (2-4:45 p.m. Please contact Danielle Huntington (I am the youth minister at St. Agnes in Schofield and a St. Anne s parishioner.) Holiday Choir Concert: St. Mary s, Marathon, is having a holiday choir concert that will take place on Dec. 15 at 6:30 p.m. in church. It will feature all 5 parish choral groups, along with the first ever cantata performance for St. Mary s Emmanuel - Celebrating Heaven s Child. The concert will be in church and is free. Everyone is welcome. Please join us for New Traditions, Reflecting and Remembering. We cordially invite your family to a Holiday Memorial Program remembering your loved one through Reflections, Scripture and Song. Thursday, Dec. 12 at 6:30 p.m. Memories Ballroom in Marathon. Special music guest is Brother George and the Sisters of Song. Please RSVP by Dec. 9 to Peterson/Kraemer at or petersonkraemer@aol.com. Love St. Anthony Spirituality Center? So do we. All retreatants and friends are invited to join us in a celebration on Sunday, Dec. 15. The celebration will begin with 10 a.m. Mass during which the Capuchins will officially and prayerfully hand over the Center to its new Board of Directors. There will be time afterwards to say goodbye to the Capuchins and welcome to the Board during an Open House until 3 p.m. Questions? Call or info@sarcenter.com. [ The Catholic Daughters will meet at 6 p.m. at St. Therese Church on Monday, Dec. 9th for a Christmas Party. Please remember to bring a non-perishable food item or a paper or cleaning product for a donation to The Neighbors Place. Please come hear the angels sing Newman Catholic Schools Christmas Programs NCES: St. Mark - Dec 10th 6:30 p.m. 2nd-5th Grades NCECC: St. Therese - Dec. 6th 3 p.m. - Child Care and 4K NCES: St. Anne - Dec. 12th - 6:30 p.m. - 3rd 5th grades; Dec. 17th 6:30 p.m. - Kindergarten through 2nd Grade NCECC: St. Michael - Dec. 16th 6:30 p.m. - Child Care, Preschool and 4K NCMS and NCHS - Dec 9th 6:30 p.m. Newman Catholic Campus (5:30-6:30 p.m. NCHS/MS Open House) Thank You! The 26th NCS Winter Wonderland Auction was once again a fabulous success, raising over $228,000 in support of NCS programs and operations. The outpouring of support for our Catholic school system was heartwarming. We truly have committed parents and past parents, a generous business community, devoted staff, loyal alumni and benefactors that believe in Newman Catholic Schools. God Bless you all! St. Agnes Sweet Shoppe - Saturday, Dec. 14 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Abts Hall. Doors open at 10:30 a.m. Sale begins at 11 a.m. No early sales! Let us do your holiday baking! Fancy cookies and candy available by the pound. Also a luncheon with homemade chicken soup, sandwiches and homemade pies as well as a raffle with a top prize of $500 plus additional cash and other great prizes. Advent Outreach Project Warming Center Shower Room Our Advent Outreach Project, called Showered with Blessings, hopes to raise $4,500 to fund the cost of a Shower Room at the Catholic Charities Warming Center. If you wish to donate to this project, please take an envelope (with a blue water drop) from one of the displays in the West and South Gathering Spaces. Envelopes are also available at the parish office. Please make the check out to St. Anne s, and on the memo line, write Warming Center. Return your envelope marked Warming Center to the basket in the display, to the parish office or put it in the collection basket at Mass. Please put your name on the envelope so that we can acknowledge your gift. All donations are tax deductible. There are gift cards available for those who wish to donate in honor of a loved one. Thank you for your generosity. If you have any questions, please contact Jennifer Kareken at the parish office x303.

5 Low gluten hosts available: If you need a low gluten host, please take one of the cards from the basket at the entrance. Come up the center aisle for Communion and show the Communion Minister the card. They will provide a special dish from which you can take a low gluten host. Parish Nursery: Children months are welcome in our 8:30 a.m. Sunday Parish Nursery located downstairs from McKillip Hall. Ask an usher for directions. Newspaper Sales: There are Sunday newspapers for sale at the West & South Entrances. $2 ea. St. Anne Parish Office Hours: Our parish office is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. except during holidays. Mass Bags Still Available Jesus has been damaged, but his Mass bags are still available for our children ages 2-5. Children are able to take a bag at the beginning of Mass, look at the books and activities, drawing and returning the bag at the end of Mass. We have received some good feedback and some beautiful drawings. For questions please contact Melanie Guckenberg Every weekend, St. Anne Parish uploads one or two homilies to our website. Want to learn more about the Mass readings? Our homilies are an excellent place to start. Go to for Sunday bulletins, pastoral letters, Spirit newsletters, Faith Formation resources and so much more! Telephone and Front Desk Reception: When we are unable to answer the phone, we ask that you be patient when after 6 rings, an automated attendant answers your call. Please listen carefully to the options listed in the greeting, choose an option, then leave a message. Leadership Reports: Ever wonder who does what and what is really going on behind the scenes? Stay up to date on our monthly Leadership Reports. They are online! Bulletin submissions must be received at least two weeks prior to the publication date. bulletin@ stanneswausau.org. Questions? Contact Jennifer Switlick at the parish office ( ) or the bulletin editor Cheryl Mathis (cherylm@stanneswausau.org). [phone: ] 3