Parish Staff. New Parishioners If you are new to our parish and would like more information please contact the Parish Office.

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1 Nativity of Mary Church and School E 36th Terrace Independence, MO Parish: (816) School: (816) Web: My attitude must be Christ s. - Philippians 2:5 Parish Staff Rev. Robert Stone, Pastor Mrs. Mary Parrish, Principal Melissa Clancy, Business Manager New Parishioners If you are new to our parish and would like more information please contact the Parish Office. Pastoral Care Sacraments for the Sick. Fr. Bob Stone, , ext. 404 Mass Schedule Monday: 8:30 a.m. Communion Service Weekday: 8:30 a.m. Tuesday - Friday Saturday: 4:00 p.m. Sunday: 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Holy Day: 8:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Confessions Saturday: 3:00 p.m. or by Appointment Pastoral visits to the Homebound and Hospitals. Paula Cassity, , ext. 401 Emergency Assistance Contact St. Mary s Food Pantry and Clothes Closet Youth Ministry Debbie Page, , ext. 408 School School, Early Childhood and Extended Care Carmen Wolfgeher, Sacrament Preparation Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, Confirmation, Adult Initiation (RCIA), and Matrimony Contact the parish office for information Music Ministry Maria Milazzo, Parish Ministry Council Chris Walter - Chair Diocesan Victim s Advocate Kathleen Chastain or chastain@diocesekcsj.org Ombudsman Jenifer Valenti, or JeniferValenti@att.net

2 FEBRUARY 11, THE SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME MASS INTENTIONS READINGS OF THE WEEK - FEB , 2018 Sat., Feb Vigil of the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time 4:00PM + Naomi Baker Sunday, Feb The 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time 8:00AM 10:30AM + Rose Florido Monday, February 12 Tuesday, February 13 + Jack & Josephine Studer & Pete Quiroga COMMUNION SERVICE COMMUNION SERVICE Wednesday, February 14 - Ash Wednesday 6:30PM + Ruth Gordon Thursday, February 15 Friday, February 16 COMMUNION SERVICE Intentions of Jerry Haney Sat., Feb Vigil of the 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time 4:00PM + Donald & Ruth Gordon Sunday, February 18 -The 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time 8:00AM 10:30AM + Thelma Bruehl + Dee Dee Maddox & Beth Daniels + Caterina DiGaetano & David Frew PLEASE PRAY FOR: Vern/Margaret Ault Vicky Hohlbaugh Mike Rooney Maxine Breunig Cynthia/Dennis Jones Mike Singleton Sara Breunig Paula Kienberger Patrick Singleton Steve Christensen George Lambros Bernice/Norm Steffen John Clarke Dan Mangold George Timko, Jr. Kelly Cook Betty Mascal John Tuccillo Bob DeSchepper Jack McEnroe Carol Byrd Weaver Roni Durkee Debbie Page Alyssa Webb Mary Enyart Juan/Mary Perez Beth Whorton Garry/Emily Gagnon Carlos Pinon Daniel Wheeler Barbara Garrett Steve Reasoner Ayden Wright Marla Herbst Monday: Jas 1:1-11; Ps 119:67-68, 71-72, 75-76; Mk 8:11-13 Tuesday: Jas 1:12-18; Ps 94:12-13a, 14-15, 18-19; Mk 8:14-21 Wednesday: Jl 2:12-18; Ps 51:3-6ab, 12-14, 17; 2 Cor 5: :2; Mt 6:1-6, Thursday: Dt 30:15-20; Ps 1:1-4, 6; Lk 9:22-25 Friday: Is 58:1-9a; Ps 51:3-6ab, 18-19; Mt 9:14-15 Saturday: Is 58:9b-14; Ps 86:1-6; Lk 5:27-32 Sunday: Gn 9:8-15; Ps 25:4-9; 1 Pt 3:18-22; Mk 1:12-15 TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION Today's Gospel centers on the plight of a leper and Jesus' response of healing. In Hawaii, the bacterium that causes leprosy probably entered from China in the mid- 1800s, and the native islanders were susceptible to the dreaded disease. In 1866, the government literally dumped the sufferers on a remote and virtually inaccessible island peninsula with towering cliffs. Thrown off ships into the sea, the sick people were told to swim for the beach and head for caves, and for seven years the only supplies were similarly cast into the sea to drift ashore. It was then, 1873, that a thirty-three-year-old Belgian priest, Damien de Veuster, went voluntarily to Kalaupapa. Before long, he cajoled the government into funding his mission and its hospital, built a village with proper homes and sanitation, and recruited Mother Marianne Cope to bring sisters from Syracuse, New York, to nurse the sick. Damien, who eventually died of leprosy, has been canonized, and Mother Marianne as well. Although leprosy has been curable since the 1940s, today a few patients remain in their lifelong home, now a national historic site. The peninsula is still utterly isolated from the outside world, and the speed limit for the few cars there is 5 mph since there's nowhere to go! The hospital is still well-staffed and equipped, but access is regulated and visitors must take an official tour, often involving a descent down the cliffs by "Molakai mule." There are few places on earth that evoke the healing power of Jesus, or our call to follow the Healer, more than Damien's beloved island mission. Rev. James Field, Copyright (c) J. S. Paluch Co.

3 FEBRUARY 11, PARISH NEWS Did You Know Wednesday, February 14th, is Ash Wednesday. It is not a holy day of obligation but it is a day of fast and abstinence. We will have mass and the distribution of ashes at 8:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. The United State Conference of Catholic Bishops defines fast and abstinence as follows: Abstinence - Every person 14 years of age or older must abstain from meat (and items made with meat) on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all the Fridays of Lent. Fast - the norms on fasting are obligatory from age 18 until age 59. When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal. Devotional candles are kept in the kiosk. If you would like to light one just ask an usher for assistance. There is a slot and envelopes available in the kiosk to place your $5 donation. BOY SCOUT LENTEN FISH FRY DINNERS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23 FRIDAY, MARCH 2 5:00PM - 7:30PM Menu will include: fried cod, fried catfish, baked tilapia, boiled shrimp, and fish tacos. Sides include green beans, mac & cheese, fries, cole slaw, and hush puppies. Prices are $10 for adult regular dinners; $13 for combo dinners, and $5 for children. All meals include coffee or tea. Homemade desserts are available for $1. Gluten-free hosts are available. Talk to Fr. Bob before Mass. We have 2 wheelchairs and hearing assist devices available for your use during mass. Please contact an usher. NATIVITY OF MARY CONTRIBUTION REPORT 1/27/2018 & 1/28/2018 Envelopes $ 8, Plate $ Church Debt $ 1, Pisces Fund $ Utility Fund $ EFT $ Credit Card $ 1, Online Giving $ Poor Box $ Total $ 12, Tuition/Registration Fees $ 15, Thank you for supporting our Parish Community and Catholic Education!

4 FEBRUARY 11 - MARCH 3, 2018 CALENDAR Sunday 11 8:00AM Mass 10:30AM Mass 9AM Monday 12 Noon - 2:00PM Tuesday 13 9AM - Quilters 7PM - RCIA Wednesday 14 Mass 6:30PM Mass Thursday 15 Friday 16 Mass 5PM Fish Fry Saturday 17 3:00PM Confession 4:00PM Mass 7PM - Book Club 7PM - Stations of the Cross 8:00AM Mass 10:30AM Mass 9AM Mass 9AM - Quilters 7PM - RCIA 20 Mass 5:30PM - Finance Council Meeting 7PM 21 Mass 6:30PM - Liturgy Committee Mtg. 22 Mass 2PM - School Stations of the Cross 5PM Fish Fry 23 3:00PM Confession 4:00PM Mass 24 7PM - Station of the Cross 8:00AM Mass 10:30AM Mass Mass 9AM - Quilters 27 Mass 7PM 28 March 1 Mass 7PM - Altar Society Meeting Mass 9AM Eucharistic Adoration 2 3:00PM Confession 4:00PM Mass 3 7PM - RCIA 2PM - School Stations of the Cross 5PM - Fish Fry 7PM - Stations ST JOSEPH TABLE - SAVE THE DATE - MARCH 17-18, 2018 The St. Joseph Table will be open after all Masses and the Spaghetti Dinner will be after the 10:30 am Mass Sunday. Anyone interested in baking cakes or cookies, please contact Maria Milazzo at mmilazzo@nativityofmary.org. More information to come! HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS The Children's & Youth Choirs have been invited to sing "God Bless America" for the Harlem Globetrotters on Saturday, February 24, 2018 at the 7:00 pm game at the Sprint Center! You may purchase tickets through Nativity at a discounted rate of $ If you are interested in tickets, please contact Maria Milazzo at mmilazzo@nativityofmary.org no later than Monday, February 12th. LENTEN STATIONS OF THE CROSS Stations of the Cross will be held every Friday during Lent in the church at 7:00 pm. You can head right on over after the Fish Fry! We hope you can join us. LENTEN MUSIC PRAYER SERVICE - SAVE THE DATE - WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, :00 PM Join us for an evening of Lenten prayer and song as we reflect on our Lenten theme: "Return to God with your whole heart." All are invited.

5 SCHOOL - FEBRUARY 11, 2018 Mrs. Carma Hobgood, the middle school Language Arts teacher, has been offered an amazing opportunity for this summer. Mrs. Hobgood will be a facilitator at Envision s Junior National Leadership Conference in Washington DC. For over 30 years, Envision has delivered transformational leadership experiences for high-aspiring students. Nativity is proud of its teachers and their commitment to personal and professional growth. We can t wait for Mrs. Hobgood to bring back to Nativity all she learns through the Envision Junior Leadership Conference! THE ENVISION PHILOSOPHY Learning by doing breeds passion A variety of experiences is the spice of life Big, juicy questions drive deep thinking and leaps of learning Portable skills unlock the future Building and following a roadmap leads to achievement

6 FEBRUARY 11, THE SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Imagine waking up one day to find a sore or scab and knowing that your life could be forever changed! From the time of Moses, those who were found with persistent skin diseases (known at the time as leprosy) were separated from the community, isolated from family and friends, judged by others and kept apart. What faith the man in today's Gospel must have had to approach Jesus! He not only put his physical life in Jesus' hands, he trusted that the Lord would look at him with mercy rather than judgment, that Jesus would see him rather than his disease. Jesus looks on us with mercy as well, and waits for us to cry out, "If you wish, you can make me clean." The man is a model of faith, and of the witness of one who cannot help but declare the power of God. He acted as Saint Paul urged the community in Corinth to do, giving glory to God through his actions. OUT AND IN The leper who had been cast out was healed. He was suddenly free to interact with others, to dwell with family, to rejoice in the company of friends. He encountered the healing, merciful love of Christ and found new life. The one who healed him, Jesus, was made to stay outside of the towns and villages to which he went, surrounded by people who needed his healing touch. Jesus' love is greater than whatever might trouble us. He looks with compassion on those who are broken, breaking himself open for the sake of others. Jesus puts himself in the place of those who are in need. Those who are on the margins of life or of the faith community are held closely in the loving gaze of the Lord. Those who are ill are assured of God's care and compassion. Those who are weak find strength in Christ, who is ever ready to attend to the needs of the hurting, lost, and broken. ACT IN FAITH, ACT ON FAITH In what ways are you isolated, hurting, or broken? Does someone else judge you unfairly? Are there circumstances that are beyond your control that overwhelm you or dictate the way you live your life? The Lord waits for your call, your cry in faith. Do you know the healing, compassionate, caring love of God for you, in prayer, sacraments, or the attention of others? Witness to the powerful love of God through your attitudes and words, your actions and interactions with others. Imitate Christ. Show mercy to others. Be a healing presence when relationships are torn apart. Have you encountered the love of God in your life? Give witness to this love at home, work, parish, and the world. Give glory to God as you act on faith. Copyright (c) J. S. Paluch Company The fate of a leper is a great tragedy at any time and place. In Jesus time, lepers were considered condemned, part of the plagues God sent as punishment. They were cast out of society and abandoned. Saint Mark s Gospel reveals the unthinkable. Jesus reaches out and touches a leper. He risks catching the contagious disease and heals the man. As the Gospel story teaches, no one is abandoned by Christ. Are there those in our society or in our personal lives for whom we ascribe no hope, who we have abandoned, treated like lepers? Or as Christ s stewards of our sisters and brothers, do we risk reaching out and touching those who may seem to us to be unclean or not worthy of our time or attention? Catholic Stewardship February 2018 e-bulletin If you judge people, you have no time to love them. St. Mother Teresa The Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph is committed to combating sexual abuse in the Church. If you are a victim of sexual abuse, or if you observe or suspect sexual abuse: 1. Call the Missouri Child Abuse Hotline at (if the victim is currently under the age of 18), and 2. Contact your local law enforcement agency or call 911, and 3. After reporting to these civil and law enforcement authorities, report suspected sexual abuse of a minor or vulnerable adult to the Diocesan Ombudsman, Jenifer Valenti, at or JeniferValenti@att.net, if the abuse involves a priest, deacon, employee or volunteer of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph. The Diocese has a sincere commitment to providing care and healing resources to victims of sexual abuse and their families. Please contact Victim Advocate, Kathleen Chastain, at or chastain@diocesekcsj.org for more information.

7 FEBRUARY 11, THE SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME STA GOLF TOURNAMENT As you look forward to spring, we hope you'll save the date for St. Teresa's Academy's annual Golf Classic, Monday, May 14, 2018 at Country Club of Leawood. Contact Sarah Ralph at sralph@stteresasacademy.org or (816) for more information. HELP YOUR NEIGHBORS IN NEED MOVE FROM CRISIS TO THRIVING. CATHOLIC CHARITIES EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FUND SECOND COLLECTION FEBRUARY 17/18 Utility bills are past due and the electricity gets shut off. There s no food in the kitchen. There s no money for basics like soap, shampoo and toothpaste. Each winter, these situations hit our vulnerable neighbors and create barriers to basic life that they cannot overcome alone. When this happens, it feels like hope is lost. Fortunately, thousands of families find Catholic Charities of Kansas City-St. Joseph, and come to us in their moment of crisis. Here, they find help and hope in these emergency situations. Thanks to your support of the Emergency Assistance Fund, we are able to get them through the crisis and back to a sense of stability. Once their immediate needs are met, Catholic Charities walks with families on their personal pathway out of poverty Helping sustain them until they are self-sufficient and thriving. You ll find a second collection envelope in your packet for the weekend of February 17/18. Please be generous. Your gift to the Emergency Assistance Fund gives the warmth of hope this winter. From crisis to thriving: it s all because of you. STEWARDSHIP PRAYER FOR LENT God of mercy, You have given us this special time to reflect on our lives, embrace the Good News and draw closer to You. During this season of Lent, help us use this time to fast and pray, be more generous and show others how to live in Christ. Let us see each day of this season as a new opportunity to renew our lives and gain a deeper appreciation of Your active presence in our hearts and our community of faith. Give us the grace to see Your face in others, especially the poor and those who suffer. And through your Spirit, enkindle in us the fire of Your love so that we may be better stewards of Your redeeming work throughout the world. We ask this through Jesus, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever. Amen.