The Evangelizer. St. John the Evangelist 115 Second Street North Wahpeton, ND Advent Dear Parishioners,

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1 The Evangelizer St. John the Evangelist 115 Second Street North Wahpeton, ND Advent 2018 Dear Parishioners, Congratulations on living another week by the grace of God. I know first hand how much pressure you are under in our culture with so many choices of activities which are good but often come in direct conflict with your decision to put God first in your life. Just tonight, a little child was being taught by her dance instructor that dance class was more important than her attendance at preparation for Confirmation and First Holy Communion, "If your child misses practice, she can t be in the performance." What a choice to put on a child! What is a parent to do? God bless that parent who is doing her best to get her child to Sacramental preparation and still make dance class. That is just one example of conflicts that are forcing us to make choices about what are the priorities of our lives. What practices are going to be for our long term salvation and which seem like a big deal now but really won t matter much ten years from now? As unpopular and socially unacceptable is the question, the question is ours to face. How many of our young have been led away from their obligation to give themselves to God at Sunday Mass by the bad practice of us adults? My prayer is that each of us might realize how critical our choice is for our salvation and how profoundly our choice affects those around us, especially our young. We can help our children, our teens, our twenty and thirty somethings make the religious choices that will affect them forever. They may resist, but they may follow eventually if we lead consistently. To do nothing, however, will be our sin to bear. If we believe in God, God must be first in our lives. He gave us all we are. Our job is to be grateful and be at His service. It s keeping the third commandment, "Keep Holy the Lord s Day." The one activity that puts God first is attending Sunday Eucharist every possible Sunday. The very word "Eucharist" means "Thanksgiving." Our Sunday giving thanks is where our relationship with Jesus is fed. We give God ourselves and God our Father feeds us Jesus. Every Sunday we present ourselves and our family to God, give Him thanks and put Him back into first place for another week: "Here I am, Lord, how can I help?" If we get nothing else accomplished in our week, we believers get to Mass with our family every possible Sunday. We need to see each other there. We know how important it is for our kids to see us in the bleachers for their game. Sitting in the pews is infinitely more important. Developing and practicing the regular habit of attending Sunday Eucharist is an essential practice of our Faith. To use the Gifts of the Holy Spirit in our care for others is our work. To be fed the Body and Blood of Christ every week is the food for that work, getting us through this life to our salvation. Nothing is more important than this working relationship with our Lord. Jesus hungers for us and wants us to hunger for Him! Again, I am so grateful to God for your choosing to be here! See you Sunday as we begin Advent. Fr. Dale Your Pastor,

2 One of the most common stumbling blocks that many non-catholics have is their mis-understanding of our devotion to our blessed mother Mary. The rationalization of this misunderstanding comes from Exodus 20:5 where God is speaking about idols and says You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God. In some of our behavior as Catholics, we could be adding fuel to the fire to support their misconception. One does not need to search very long to find images of adults and children kneeling before a statue of Mary in prayer. Any non-catholic could easily conclude that we are bowing down to worship Mary when they see these types of pictures. Another example, if you are driving down I94 between Orlando and Disney you will see the Catholic Church which provides liturgies for all tourists. The name of the church is Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe. Practice like this can easily be misunderstood by our non-catholic brothers and sisters. If you go to Disney and get the opportunity to attend the Holy Land Experience take my advice, don t go. Unless you want to see the garden of eden bus stop or stick around till 7:00 PM where Jesus returns in all of his glory you will have better things to do in Orlando. I got free tickets and it still wasn t worth it. In one of the exhibits. called the bible room, there was a decent display of scripture throughout history and some good information on the development of the bible. What struck a chord with me however was that on one wall they painted the words of the Magnificat. You know, the prayer Mary said after the annunciation. It took a few seconds to recognize it but I quickly realized that v 1:47b was omitted, where Mary says and all generations will call me blessed. I also find it interesting that many of us Catholics have difficulty explaining this to our Christian neighbors. Yet it is quite easy. Here is how it can be done. First, keep it simple and second use scripture. I always start by saying something like this I saw a sign a few weeks ago that had a picture of Mary and in big letters below it said- Hellooo honoring is not worshiping. I stress that Catholics don t worship, they honor and then I use scripture to explain it. In all of the bible there is only one time when an angel honored a person. Guess where? Luke 1:28 when the Archangel greets Mary. Two important Catholic teachings are in this one profound statement. 1) An angel honors a human and 2) Gabriel affirms the Catholic teaching of the immaculate conception because for Mary to be full of grace means that she could not have the stain of sin. Finally, the only thing Mary wishes of us is to know her son. Remember that even Jesus follows her orders. Remember the first miracle of Jesus turning water into wine? Who told him to do it? And finally, The role of Mary is to help us be better Christians, not only through her intercessions but also through her example. Let us honor her, ask her for support and learn from her example of surrendering ourselves to the will of God. Finally, let us not be ashamed, or afraid to share this wisdom with others. Fr. Tony Welle

3 EUCHARISTIC SCHEDULE Call Mass Times at (Watch bulletin for changes) ST. JOHN S CHURCH nd St N, Wahpeton. SUNDAY EUCHARIST AT ST. JOHN S Saturday 5:30 pm Sunday 7:30 am 9:00 am 11:00 am 7:30 pm WEEKDAY EUCHARIST Monday St. John s 9:30 am Tuesday St. John s 5:30 pm Wednesday St. John s 7:30 am Leach Home 10:00 am Thursday (School Mass) St. John s 1:00 pm St. Catherine s 10:45 am Friday St. John s 7:30 am First Saturday St. John s 8:00 am ROSARY AND MORNING PRAYER Monday St. John s 9:00 am Tuesdays after 5:30 pm Mass (Rosary only) Wednesday Cenacle of Life Prayer 8:00 am -11:30 am Friday St. John s 7:00 am IMMACULATE CONCEPTION (Holy Day of Obligation) All Catholics are obliged to attend Mass Friday, December 7 th 5:30 pm (Vigil Mass) Saturday, December 8 th 8:00 am 10:00 am COMMUNAL PENANCE SERVICES In preparation for Christmas, St. John s will offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation at two services. Numerous priests will be available. Sunday, December 16 th 4:00 pm and 6:30 pm CHRISTMAS EUCHARIST CHRISTMAS EVE - December 24 th 5:30 pm 11:30 pm caroling Midnight Mass CHRISTMAS DAY - December 25 th 7:30 am 9:00 am 11:00 am ADORATION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT Monday - 7:00-8:00 pm Tuesday - 4:15-5:15 pm - Patriotic Rosary Wednesday - 8:00-11:30 am Thursday - 2:00-3:00 pm Friday am First Friday 8:00 am - 3:00 pm. SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION Saturday - 4:00-5:00 pm or by appointment. Please call Communal Penance Services during Advent: Sunday, December 16 th 4:00 pm and 6:30 pm Confessions will also be December 20 th and 21 st at 7:00 pm until all are heard and will start at 3:00 pm on December 22 nd. For Priest or EMERGENCY, please call CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS Remember your loved ones with a donation to St. John s Christmas environment in memory of or in honor of someone. A special insert with your loved ones names will be in our Christmas bulletin. Please fill our the information below and return to the Parish Office or in the collection basket by Monday, December 17 th. "In Honor of" "In Memory of" GIVEN BY

4 Lighting the Way to Jesus Advent 2018 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 2 First Sunday of Advent: HOPE candle Jesus is coming. 3 Set up your Advent calendar and/or your wreath to help anticipate Jesus. 4 Thank God everyday for the Gifts He gives us. Write down all the spiritual gifts you have. 5 Sharing can be hard. Show you can share with a happy heart today. 6 St. Nicholas Day Donate new toys/ games to Toys for Tots. 7 Proclaim God s greatness! Tell someone today what God means to you. It gives them hope. 8 Immaculate Conception of Mary Pray a rosary some time each week of Advent or check our gift at FORMED.org 9 2nd Sunday of Advent: LOVE candle Think of the great love Mary & Joseph had for Jesus & how much He loves you! 10 Evergreens are a symbol of God s everlasting love. Each time you see 1 today thank God for his love 11 Encourage Your friends today. 12 Our Lady of Guadalupe. Try Los Posados with your neighbors. Who will welcome Jesus? 13 Hide the Bible verses of Jesus birth around the house. Have a family hunt & then read the story together. 14 Support Advent Almsgiving with your prayer & finances. See newsletter for more details. 15 Join your neighbors/friends to have a food collection. Bring to Church or food pantry. 16 3rd Sunday: JOY Get ready: Parish Confessions at 4& You have been forgiven. Is there someone your should ask to forgive you? 18 We all have talents, given to us by God. Thank Him for them & use them in a special way today. 19 Share a greeting card with someone who could use your gift of friendship. 20 Get ready to see the Savior by helping someone in need instead of buying gifts. 21When asked to do something you don t want to, think of what Jesus did for us & do it with a loving heart. 22 Put away computer games & cell phones. Play a hands-on game with your family today. 23 4th Sunday of Advent: PEACE candle If Advent has been a rush & a blur, prepare spiritually today & a gift for one needy. 24 Some find their way to Jesus thru their friends. Invite a friend to come to Christmas Eve Mass with you. 25 Thank you God Take time today to say of prayer of Thanks. Write thank you cards too. 28Read Luke 1:38 Choose to let God live in you showerofroses.blogspot.com/2 013/01/Twelve-Days- Christmas-Party.html 30 Feast of the Holy Family! Ask God to bless all families & do something together today 31 We are the presence of Christ best when we take care of others. Who needs your help today? 1 Be like Mary, invite Jesus to be present in your heart in a new way today. 2 Have you gotten to check the gift for all ages at: stjohnswah peton.formed.org 3 Jesus is the Light of the World. Take a family walk tonight & see God s lights in the sky. Thank Him. 4 Pray every day for World Peace. 5 Epiphany is tomorrow. The kings are coming!

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7 Lighting the Way to Jesus through Almsgiving Everyone remembers the Shepherds were the first to come see Jesus. Do we also remember the shepherds were also considered among the most lowly at that time. They are a good reminder this Advent to consider who is considered most lowly in our time. Alexander Hamilton wrote in 1772 something that is still true today, O ye who revel in affluence, see the afflictions of humanity and bestow your superfluity to ease then. Say not, we have suffered also, and thence withhold your compassion. What are your sufferings compared to those? Ye have still more than enough left. Act wisely. Succour the miserable and lay up a treasure in Heaven. (1) INTERNATIONAL: December 8-9, we will celebrate Out of Africa, remembering our brothers and sisters in our sister parish & school of Fr. Katanga s village in Bukoba Tanzania. Our goal is to continue sending 60 children, who otherwise would not have the opportunity, to go to school. This spring Fr. Katanga leveraged a plan so our donations for 60 children will actually help 90 kids. Won t you help our parish meet the goal of $2,943. AMERICA S: There are so many needs! How do we choose? Catholic Charities USA is an excellent choice. They particularly are on the disaster relief front with the fires in California, hurricanes in Florida and are continuing to work with the rebuilding of Puerto Rico. If you mark your donation for a specific purpose Catholic Charities will honor that if possible. For more information go to: and look at Disaster Relief. LOCAL: Although it is a very small need in light of the many families whose home has been destroyed, we are creating small Jesus and Me bags for the little ones. Filled with interactive activities, these cloth bags will help the little ones to engage in the Mass. Donations would help us buy the bags and laminate the materials so they last. Donations can be given to the parish but marked Jesus and Me bags. "I see God in every human being. When I wash the leper's wounds I feel I am nursing the Lord himself. Is it not a beautiful experience?" St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta

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9 29 th ANNUAL NATIONAL NIGHT OF PRAYER FOR LIFE ALL NATIONS INVITED! And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us - John 1:14 Just as Jesus became Man at His conception, likewise, when a child is conceived, he/she becomes a member of our human family. This little person now dwells among us. So that our nation and world may accept this truth, conform to God s Laws and protect our unborn brothers and sisters COME PRAY WITH US!!! Join in Unity of Prayer across American and the entire world to restore: LIFE, the FAMILY, the church, & PEACE....Before I formed you in the womb I knew you - Jeremiah 1:5 If my people...humble themselves and pray, and seek my presence and turn from their evil ways, I will hear them from heaven and pardon their sins and REVIVE THEIR LAND - 2 Chronicles 7:12 The world needs the Blessed Mother s intercession!! Saturday, December 8, 2018 Adoration will follow the 5:30 pm Mass St. John s Parish will participate in the 29 th Annual National Night of Prayer for Life 2018 The Annual National Night of Prayer invokes the Blessed Mother under the titles of the Immaculate Conception, Our Lady of Guadalupe, patron of the Unborn, and Our Lady of Fatima. The United States of America was consecrated to the Blessed Mother under the title of the Immaculate Conception in the 19 th century by the American Bishops. The Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC is the National Shrine, which remains a visible sign of the country s dependence on Our Lady, so from coast to coast, faithful Catholics who see what is at stake are responding to Our Lady s call. Everyone is being called to honor the Blessed Mother on Her special feast day, and seek her maternal intercession to heal our nation and world. So come and spend some time in Adoration and praying the rosary with our parish family. The mysteries of the rosary can change our hearts, change our families, and change our world. Our Lady will answer us when we are faithful to prayer. SATURDAY,sDecember 8 th, :30 to 10:30 pm For those who missed the Gosnell movie addressing the issue of abortion and what it does to women, Holy Cross Catholic Church will host a public viewing and post-show discussion from 7:00 to 9:00 pm Monday, December 3 rd at West Acres Cinema in Fargo. For an advanced $6 ticket, call

10 PLEASE TAKE NAMES FROM OUR JESSE TREE! The great tree which greets us at the baptistry is covered with the names of Saint John s parishioners, some of whom we may know well and others we may not know at all. The Jesse Tree tradition is a celebration of the pathways through Salvation History - Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham and Sarah, Isaiah on down to John the Baptist - through whom our God has announced the coming of the savior among us. Now the Savior is among us and seeks to dwell in our hearts. Each year during Advent we invite you to take a tag or two from our tree and do something kind for the person or family whose name you ve picked...become the hopeful pathway of God s Good News to a fellow parishioner! You can simply send a card (some may be provided at the tree), make a telephone call, send a kind , drop off some goodies or a small Kris Kringle gift. You may even invite them for dinner or a cup of coffee. Remember, please be careful of each tag because it bears the name of someone loved by God. If that tag is lost, no visit will be made! SIGN UP FOR "WELCOME" COMING SOON! What is Welcome? It s an experience that helps you discover what s missing in your life and what to do about it. MEN S WEEKEND IS FEBRUARY 23-24, 2019 WOMEN S WEEKEND IS MARCH 23-24, 2019 What can I expect during a Welcome weekend? You can expect that God will touch you where you most need it at this point in your life. Each experience is unique. How long will it last? The weekend will begin on Saturday at 7:30 am and will end by 5:00 pm on Sunday. What about Sunday Liturgy? There will be a special Eucharistic liturgy for those attending the weekend. What is the uniform of the day? Casual and comfortable clothing is the norm. Sunday best is not expected. Who may attend? The weekend is open to all adults of St. John s Parish. What Welcome IS NOT: It is NOT a silent retreat. It is NOT a parish organization. It is NOT a public confession. It is NOT a parish clique. Will I be required to get up and talk in front of people? No one is required to get up and speak. You may share your thoughts, as much or a little as your choose, in a small group with other participants. Where will I sleep? The sleeping accommodations in the St. John s Hilton are a bit unique, but comfortable. You may bring cots or air mattresses and sleeping bags. If for some reason staying overnight doesn t work for you, you are welcome to return home for the night and join us again in the morning. What about meals? Hot meals are served. The food is excellent and the portions ample. There will be regular breaks for coffee, cold drinks and snacks. Special dietary needs can be accommodated. Can I afford the weekend? Absolutely YES! The renewal weekend is a gift from the presenting team. You may, however, make donations should you be so inspired. Who conducts this weekend? The weekend experience is presented by a team of participants from Saint John the Evangelist Catholic Church. What about the weekend after mine? The uniqueness of the Welcome renewal program is its continuation. Participants are usually so inspired and moved, so renewed and uplifted, that they are anxious to share their faith and their experience with others in the parish family. Participants have the opportunity to enter a period of formation, becoming the new team. A Welcome weekend will change your life in ways you never imagined.