ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST CATHOLIC CHURCH

Transcription

1 Welcome to ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST CATHOLIC CHURCH 115 Plymouth St., Plymouth, Wisconsin FATHER PHILIP D. REIFENBERG - Pastor Saturday Mass 4:00 p.m. Sunday Mass 9:30 a.m. with Children's Liturgy of the Word 6:00 p.m. 2nd and 4th Sunday Weekday Mass 8:00 a.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday Eucharistic Adoration 3:30-6:30 p.m. Mondays in Church Confession 9:30 a.m. 2nd and 4th Saturday Mission: We, the faith community of St. John the Baptist Parish, believe that we are called daily to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ: to learn, to share, and to live the message of Jesus. Guided by the Holy Spirit, we recognize that we are unique with diverse gifts from God and that we are to develop these gifts to nurture and strengthen our faith community Advent and Christmas Schedule Advent Penance Service December 17 / 6:30 p.m. Christmas Eve Vigil Masses December 24 / 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. Christmas Day Mass December 25 / 9:30 a.m.

2 St. John the Baptist Parish Third Sunday in Advent December 16, 2018 Dear Parishioners: This weekend marks the Third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday, which draws its name from the latin version of the Mass s entrance antiphon, Rejoice [Gaudete] in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice! Indeed, the Lord is near. It s one of the two times each year on which I am honored to wear the Ed Pfeifer Memorial Chasuble [def: the colored outer garment worn by the priest], given to me nine years ago by Ed s widow, Dolores, as a memorial after his funeral because, she said, he was tired of hearing me grouse about never having been assigned to a parish that had rose-colored (i.e., pink) vestments for the priest to wear on Gaudete Sunday (and Laetare Sunday, the Fourth Sunday in Lent), and as a parting gesture he d wanted to shut me up! [Ed and Dolores were a wonderful couple. They looked sort of like American Gothic sans pitchfork. They were in church for Mass at Nativity of the Lord Parish in Cudahy on my first morning there: Tuesday, June 18, They came up afterwards and thanked me for having the Mass, adding that that day was their fifty-ninth wedding anniversary. They were almost daily communicants, and we were able to celebrate six more wedding anniversaries together before the Lord called Ed home, shortly after Thanksgiving in Dolores joined him in the Kingdom in I think of them often: his corny jokes, and her rolling her eyes in mock embarrassment; their gentleness; their deep love for each other, and their unshakable faith in God and the Church. Priests can be dressed in chasubles usually white ones when they re in their coffins. I think I ll add a note to my funeral plans directing that I be dressed in the Ed Pfeifer Memorial one when I m laid out. Why not? I expect to be rejoicing on that occasion!] Gaudete Sunday feels like the middle of the Advent Season, but don t let yourselves be fooled: next Sunday is the Fourth Sunday and Christmas comes two days later. Indeed, the Lord is near! Or, at least, the celebration of His birth. It will be here before you know it. A few days ago, the Catholic Stewardship Appeal office sent out its report for the 2018 CSA campaign through the month of November. Archdiocese-wide, we re within striking distance of reaching this year s goal of $7.7 million with one month to go. Almost 29,000 donors have pledged over $7.56 million so far. As for us, both STA and SJB are well over the top of our respective goals, SJB by more than 10% and STA by almost 20%. With a target of $87,500, 317 St. John the Baptist parishioners (slightly more than one out of every five households) have pledged $96,654. STA had already topped its goal of $23,000 back in April, but parishioners kept on giving. To date, they ve contributed more than $27,000, with slightly better than one out of every four households chipping in. These dollar figures are phenomenal, and all the more so because they were achieved with substantially less than half of our people participating. Seems to me that s somewhat akin to folding a fitted sheet with one hand tied behind your back! Good work, Folks! If you haven t contributed yet and want to jack up the participation rate and bottom line, there are still two weeks left in the 2018 CSA. Father Phil In Loving Memory Our parish family extends its sympathy to the families of Jacqueline Keyes and Margaret Dorn Buss May they, with God s Blessing, rest in peace. Welcome to the Newest Members of our Catholic Faith Family Baptized Sunday, December 16, 2018 Emerson Christofer Rutta Son of Christopfer and Nicole Rutta and Corinne Ann Brath Daughter of Clayton and Marla Brath May they and their families enjoy the Blessings of the sacrament and continue in God s Love throughout their lives.

3 ADVENT RETREAT Hosted by St. John the Baptist THE GIFT Presented by Paige Katzfey Wednesday, December 19 6:00-7:30 p.m. in the Church Hall Take a moment to re-center. Take a moment to fill up. The holidays can be exhausting yet they don't need to be. This is our time as Christians in the Catholic faith to be filled! Together we focus on what is truly important this Advent season, the Gift that is Jesus and the Gift that you are as well. Give yourself a small gift, the time and space to connect with God in a meaningful way. Refreshments and fellowship following. No registration required. Come by yourself, with a friend, or with your entire family! Truly, all are welcome. Paige joined St Thomas Aquinas and St John the Baptist staff at the start of this school year, coming off the heels of working with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC). While working with JVC, she helped plan and facilitate dozens of retreats from one day to two and a half weeks long, for groups as small as three up to groups as large as three hundred. She is thrilled to have retreat spaces offered for our Catholic family at large, as they are so important in our faith journeys, and is even more excited and honored to be able to facilitate these retreats for us. Spaces Just for You Created by Your Peers * Facilitated by You and Your Peers Bring Friends...Catholic or Not Come for One Day... Or All of the Days Stay for One Hour... Or Two You make it what you want it to be. Board Games / Thurs. Jan. 3 / 6-8pm / SJB Meeting Room Enter Door V / West Church Hall Entrance Movie Time / Fri.. Jan. 4 / 6-8pm / SJB Meeting Room Bring your own blanket and pillow Ultimate Frisbee / Sat. Jan. 5 / 6-8pm / SJB Gym or indoor soccer, kickball, dodgeball, etc. And, if there is interest, we can do it again the next week. Questions? Contact Paige Katzfey x 118 Advent Reconciliation Services St. John the Baptist December 17th at 6:30 p.m. St. Thomas Aquinas Saturday, December 29, following the 5:30 p.m. St. John the Baptist Sunday, December 30 Following the 9:30 a.m. Mass The Gratitude to Greatness Campaign was initiated to help make us more conscious about all aspects of STEWARDSHIP: prayer, action and sharing our financial gifts. As disciples, we are each called to help keep our parish growing and vibrant. The campaign s financial goal was to increase regular giving by $90,000. At this time, we have received pledges which should increase offering by a total of $63,680. Just over 23% of the households in the parish responded. While we did not reach our financial goal, we hope that the program raised awareness of how important parish support is. We recognize that some parishioners choose to be anonymous and we value these gifts also. How much to give rests between each individual and God. The answer can only be found in prayerful, purposeful reflection of the true extent of God s generosity. St. John the Baptists appreciates ALL gifts no matter the size or shape. Advent Prayer Tree As we joyfully await the coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, please place your Advent prayers on our Advent Prayer Tree. Strengthen the bond of prayer that ties us as a family of faith.

4 School News St. John the Baptist Catholic School - 3K-Grade 8 A Message from the Principal St. John the Baptist School is blessed to have a wonderful sense of community. Recently, when meeting with a staff member, I asked this individual what he liked the best about our school/parish. The individual stated that there is a real sense of community and a welcoming feel here. So true! This is so evident as preparations were made for our drama performance taking place this past weekend. So many individuals have been generous in sharing their gifts and talents with Mrs. Erdly and her crew. From helping to paint the set, to designing the many props that the performance needed, how wonderful it has been to have this sense of community! It is this sense of community that enables our students to see and feel the true essence of being a disciple of God. Yours in Christ, Mrs. Amy Nelson Prayer and Worship Committee Faith Formation News Adults, Young and Youth Faith Formation Awaiting His Presence Many of our older students spent the week doing service for others. Our grade school children are anticipating the birth of Jesus. They used class time to talk about Advent and what the birth of Jesus meant to the world. They also enjoyed a little holiday cheer. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests. Luke 2:11-14 Walking With Purpose Bible Study Supported by Knights of Columbus Plymouth Council Thank you to the Knights of Columbus for their generous support of the Walking With Purpose Program. Over 50 women are participating in this bible study. The Knights of Columbus assisted with the purchase of extra study books and supplies for the program. We appreciate your support! Parish Finance As we Await His Presence Let us all remember to take some time out of our busy daily lives and pray on the gifts that are given to us this Advent season. The gift of holiness, the gift of life, the gift of one another, and the gift of our Lord. The Prayer and Worship Committee would like to thank you, the parishioners, of St. John the Baptist, for your great involvement this Advent Season. It is great to see the wonderful response to our prayer trees and all the wonderful prayer stars that are hung on them. Prayer is what continues to draw us together as a family of faith. From all of us on the committee, we wish you a continued Happy Advent, a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year! If you are interested in getting involved in one of the liturgical ministries of our church, please call the parish office or our Director of Liturgy, Scott Dedlow at sdedlow@sjbplymouth.org In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. ~1 Thessalonians 5:18 With sincere gratitude, we extend our thanks for your generous support of St. John the Baptist. Parishioner Offerings (Envelopes) Building & Grounds NOV 2018 July Nov 2018 July Nov 2017 Change Year-todate $54,113 $270,259 $254,281 +$15,978 $12,264 $ 29,537 $ 20,576 + $8,961 Offertory $ 4,663 $ 23,546 $ 26,142 - $2,596

5 Church Security During Masses * Reminder* Beginning the first week in January the main church entrance doors will be unlocked for the duration of Mass, while all other entrance doors will be locked ten minutes after the beginning of Mass. Late-comers will be directed by signs posted at those doors to use the main entrance if they are late. While we want to and need to be a welcoming and physically accessible place, we must do what we can, to whatever extent possible to lessen our vulnerability to acts of violence. Thank you for your understanding. Thank you! Have you noticed the new video screen in our gathering space? We thank Pastoral Council member / Stewardship Committee Liaison, Bill Marklein and his wife Stacy for the donation of the TV. The intent of the TV is to highlight current and upcoming events and provide another means of welcoming guests, and sharing in our parish family celebrations such as baptisms, weddings and anniversaries. Next time you re come to church don t forget to take a peek! Join the Sheboygan Southside Community for a Concert featuring MJM7 January 6, 2019 at Immaculate Conception 1395 Humboldt Ave, Sheboygan WI Mass at 10:30 a.m. / Potluck Lunch after Mass / Concert at Noon MJM7 is a Catholic family band comprised of Michael James Mette and 4 of his daughters: Gabriella (15), Trinity (13), Charity (11), and Cecilia (10) who join him on stage. The Mettes' gifts of music, joy, & family life offer the boldness and innocence of youth with the wisdom and depth of lived experiences. The events fall somewhere between a rock concert and a parish mission, with vibrant lights, powerful music, faith sharing, and an invitation to prayer. The music is uplifting without being preachy, creating an environment that is engaging without being confrontational. The concert empowers all ages to pray more fully and worship more freely. Bring a friend! You won t want to miss this unique event. If you are able, please bring a dish to pass, which can be plugged in before Mass if necessary. The concert is at Noon and is free. Donations are accepted. Safeguarding Sessions The "Safeguarding All of God's Family" program of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee is designed to protect our children and all in the church family from sexual abuse and related dangers. Components of the program include attendance at a Safe Environment awareness session and state and national background checks. Upcoming sessions Blessed Trinity 319 Giddings Ave., Sheboygan Falls Thursday, December 20, :45 11:45 a.m. St. John the Baptist 115 Plymouth St., Plymouth Wednesday, January 2, 2019 SJB Business Office / 5:30-8:30 p.m. The link to register for either session can be found on the SJB website: We strongly encourage all parents or adults who may be interested in volunteering to participate in the Safeguarding program. We want you to be an active participant in our children s education and community. Our school and faith formation programs are dependent on and enhanced by volunteers.

6 Mass Schedule and Intentions SJB - St. John the Baptist STA - St. Thomas Aquinas, Elkhart Lake Saturday, December 15 4:00pm SJB Cecelia Lagacy and Hilda O Malley 4:00pm SJB Delphine Meuer 5:30pm STA Madelyn Mlada Sunday, December 16 8:00am STA For the People of St. John the Baptist and St. Thomas Aquinas 9:30am SJB Althelia Erdmier 9:30pm SJB Delores Sippel Monday, December 17 8:00am SJB Paul Thomas 8:00am SJB Jim Koene Tuesday, December 18 8:00am SJB Ray, Mike, and LeRoy Thelen 8:00am SJB Deceased Members of the Christian Women of St. John the Baptist Wednesday, December 19 8:00am STA Larry Bray Thursday, December 20 8:00am SJB Delbert Roitt 8:00am SJB Bill Raeder Friday, December 21 8:00am STA For the People affected by the Earthquake in Alaska Saturday, December 22 4:00pm SJB For the People of St. John the Baptist and St. Thomas Aquinas 5:30pm STA For Karene and friends as they prepare to leave for their mission in Tanzania 5:30pm STA Jim Washcovick Sunday, December 23 8:00am STA Donna Vater 9:30am SJB Robert Stoll 9:30am SJB Gabriel Wirtz and Deceased Members of the Herbert and Evangeline Wirtz Family Scriptures Third Sunday of Advent - December 16, st: Zephaniah 3:14-18a (9C) 2nd: Philippians 4:4-7 Gospel: Luke 3:10-18 Fourth Sunday of Advent - December 23, st: Micah 5:1-4a (12C) 2nd: Hebrews 10:5-10 Gospel: Luke 1:39-45 The Week at St. John the Baptist December 16-22, 2018 Sunday... December 16 1:00pm... LTAA Basketball Game/Gym Monday... December 17 3:30pm-6pm... Eucharistic Adoration/Church 5:30pm... Technology Mtg./Library 6:30pm... Advent Penance Service/Church Tuesday... December 18 9:00am... Walking W/Purpose Bible Study/Parish Office 7:00pm... LTAA Boys Basketball/Gym 7:00pm... RISE Grp Mtg./Church Mtg Rm Wednesday... December 19 6:00pm... Walking W/Purpose Bible Study/Parish Office 6:00pm... Advent Retreat/Church Hall 6:00pm... Folk Choir Rehearsal/Church 7:00pm... Adult Volleyball/Gym Thursday... December 20 6:00pm... Classic Choir Rehearsal/Church 8:00pm... LTAA Girls Basketball/Gym Saturday... December 22 9:30am... Private Confession/Reconciliation Rm Volunteer at the Gathering Place ~ Come and spend your winter months at The Gathering Place helping our participants with memory loss. We have an urgent need for volunteers on Wednesdays at our Sheboygan location, but can always use help on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays as well. We are all about having fun and enjoying our day, whether that means, playing games, art, crafts, garage projects, singing, dancing, spending time with preschool or just visiting. You can make a huge difference by just be a friend while they are here. Please call or carolb@stpaulfalls.com to see how you can help. Plymouth High School Winter Choir Concert Monday, December 17, :30 9:30 p.m. Plymouth Comprehensive High School 125 S. Highland Avenue Free and open to the public. Another way to connect with what is happening at St. John the Baptist Parish Find us and LIKE us at

7 St. John the Baptist Parish Information Sacramental Celebrations Eucharistic Liturgies: See the front cover of Bulletin. Baptism: Contact the Parish Office Reconciliation: 2nd and 4th Saturday from 9:30-10:00am in the Reconciliation Room. Marriage: Contact the pastor no later than six months prior to day of the wedding. Very Reverend Philip D. Reifenberg Shared Pastor Parishes of St. John the Baptist and St. Thomas Aquinas Parish Trustees Bill Barbieur Treasurer Tom Paul..Secretary Pastoral Council Chair : Adam Schneider Members: Michael Hartke, Bill Marklein, Tony Mischo, Cheryl Nicholson, Keith Ott, Joel Pierce, Tony Glenboski, Isabel Roy Finance Council Chair : Jim Birenbaum Members: Bill Barbieur, Mark Gumm, Tom Paul, Joel Pierce St. John the Baptist School Amy Nelson..Principal Ann Penkwitz...School Secretary Joel Pierce. School Board Chair St. John the Baptist Faith Formation Amy Albers Director of Faith Formation Nancy Kultgen.Faith Formation Assistant Contacts Cemetery..Parish Office Prayer Needs.Kate St. Vincent de Paul sjbplymouth.org Parish Membership We welcome you to the St. John the Baptist Parish Family. To receive a registration form or to notify us of an address change, please complete the form below. Place the completed form in the collection basket, or return it to the Parish Office (115 Plymouth Street, Plymouth 53073). Name Address: Phone: New Parishioner Address Change Bulletin Deadline Please submit announcements to the parish office by noon on Monday. bulletin@sjbplymouth.org Parish Office Contact Information Hours: 8:30am-Noon and 1:00-4:00pm Phone Website sjbparish@sjbplymouth.org Lisa Schoneman.....Director of Administrative Services Paige Katzfey...Pastoral Associate Katie Kleiber.....Communications Coordinator Julie Krueger.Parish Secretary Scott Dedlow...Building Maint./Dir. Of Music &Liturgy Hearing Assistance: The induction loop system for hearing device users is installed in church. To take advantage of this hearing assistance, please turn your hearing device to the T coil setting and sit in either of the middle two sections of church. St. John the Baptist Bulletin Advertiser of the Week Kleiber Construction, LLC The support of our advertisers helps offset the cost of publishing our bulletin. Please thank them when you can and support them with your business.