Worship and Word. Fourth Sunday of Advent Sunday, December 22, Prayer List Illness

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1 Fourth Sunday of Advent Sunday, December 22, 2013 Worship and Word This Sunday s Readings Next Sunday s Readings Isaiah 7:10-14 Sirach 3:2-6, Romans 1:1-7 Colossians 3:12-21 Matthew 1:18-24 Matthew 2:13-15, Gather Book 1000 Gather Book 1007 Readings for the Week of December 22, 2013 Monday Saint John of Kanty, Priest Mal 3:1-4, 23-24; Ps 25; Lk 1:57-66 Tuesday 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Ps 89; Lk 1:67-79 Vigil: Is 62:1-5; Ps 89; Acts 13:16-17, 22-25; Mt 1:1-25 or 1:18-25 Night: Is 9:1-6; Ps 96; Ti 2:11-14; Lk 2:1-14 Wednesday The Nativity of the Lord Dawn: Is 62:11-12; Ps 97; Ti 3:4-7; Lk 2:15-20 Day: Is 52:7-10; Ps 98; Heb 1:1-6; Jn 1:1-18 or 1:1-5, 9-14 Thursday Saint Stephen, The First Martyr Acts 6:8-10, 7:54-59; Ps 31; Mt 10:17-22 Friday Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist 1 Jn 1:1-4; Ps 97; Jn 20:1a and 2-8 Saturday The Holy Innocents, Martyrs 1 Jn 1:5 2:2; Ps 124; Mt 2:13-18 Prayer List Illness Chuck Anastacio, Ann Bozich, Mary Agnes Bussing, Randy Carter, Shelbi Crouch, Florence Dufek, Rod Farmer, Ron Forrester, Debbie Grush, Jim Guthrie, George Hill, Jan Hosp, Richard Kallock, Rita McAtee, Angie Meyer, Fran Misuriello, Theresa Oakley, Madeline Owens, Mary Lou Pearson, Jay Peterson, Joe Pieczko, Delores Sidor, Judy Sieferman, Connie Smith, Dean Stanley, Larry Tenner, Ed Williams, Patty & Gene Wood, Ginger Arnot MONDAY, December 23, :00 a.m. Vivian & Cyril Noronha by Anne TUESDAY, December 24, :00 p.m. Special Intention 6:00 p.m. Robert M. Horlander by the Horlander family 10:00 p.m. For the Parish WEDNESDAY, December 25, :30 a.m. Janet Kirch by Bernie Kirch & family 10:30 a.m. Steve & Mary Seward, Jerry Cahill by the Cahill family THURSDAY, December 26, 2013 FRIDAY, December 27, :00 a.m. Deceased members of Byfield & Zore families SATURDAY, December 28, :30 p.m. Norma Dewitt by Al & Doris McCormick SUNDAY, December 29, :00 a.m. For the Parish 8:30 a.m. For Inocent Tandjonce Abala and Special Intention by David Magnilgava Abala 10:30 a.m. Emmett Al Thompson by Tom Whittsett Noon Mary Thomson by Grandchildren & Great Grandchildren 5:30 p.m. Special Intention Fourth Sunday of Advent December 22/23, 2012 Gospel: Matthew 1:18-24 Theme: Jesus is God made flesh. (Emmanuel = God is with us!) Question for Children: When you pray, how do you hear God s voice in response? Question for Youth: God speaks to us in our intuitions and imagination, as he did to Joseph in this dream. What is your experience of hearing God speak in this way? What is God asking of you? Question for Adults: What experiences do you have of God speaking to you and directing your life and work? How does God speak to you in prayer? As we draw close to the Feast of the Nativity, we hear the great stewardship proclamation twice in today s second reading from the Letter to the Hebrews: Behold, I come to do your will, O God! Who is this Jesus? Who are we that we should follow him? Many want him as a friend, a guide, a king, an advocate. We long to see the face of God. Jesus reveals the nature of God, the servant sent to give us new life in Him. Take time to ponder: Do we have the courage to follow Jesus? To show others the face of God? To say to the Lord: Behold, I come to do your will?

2 Resources & Development Bingo December 27, 2013 Callers; J Csenar, T Jost, J Perez Team #7 Co-Captains: T Grzgorzewski, M Miranda; Early Setup: M Egenolf; Supply: M Harmon; Salad: M Egenolf; Fryer: M Miranda; Workers: M Bloomer, A Lund, T McKee, S Moran, L Nault, T Righter; K Paddock, A Miranda; Bakers: D Guenin, C Franklin, A Provenzano, B Carrico, T McKee, L Nault; Biscuits: T Richards Parish Stewardship of Treasure Week of December 15, 2013 Weekly Budget $26, Weekly Offering $30, YTD Actual $574, YTD Budget $632, YTD Gain (Loss) ($57,539.39) Endowment $ Special Collection $ United Catholic Appeal (UCA) Christ Our Hope calls us to support Archdiocese ministry needs. The UCA is one way we can share with people in need and provide assistance to all of our ministries throughout the Archdiocese. This year our parish goal is $128,328 and to date we have collected $68,591. Thank you for your prayerful consideration and generosity. Thanks For The Empty Aluminum Cans We recently mailed a check to Catholic Relief Services. They will use this money to provide help to people in need around the world. These people truly appreciate your can donations. Thanks to Zore s Recycling we received $750 for a load of cans collected in the past several months. Zore's was even nice enough to pick up the cans for us with their truck! The green collection bins between the school and the garage always have room for your donations. Faith Formation Adult Faith Corner Today, December 22: Nooma DVD December 29: No Meeting-Christmas January 5: No Meeting New Year We meet from 9:30 to 10:20 a.m. in Damascus in the lower level of the church (unless otherwise specified) Faith Formation CCD Classes: CCD is religion classes held for children 3 years old through elementary grades attending public school. We meet on Sunday mornings from 9:30 a.m. to 10:20 a.m. For further information contact: Sr. Mary Ann DeFazio, at extension 119 or mdefazio@saintchristopherparish.org. Regular Classes: January 12, 19, 26 Parent Advisory Team: January 12 CCD for Parents: January 19 Middle School Youth Ministry Regular Meeting Times 9:30 to 10:20 a.m. January 12, 19, 26: Regular Meetings-PAR January 12: Regular Meeting 9:30-10:20 a.m.-house January 19: Regular Meeting 6:30-8:00 p.m.-par January 26: Regular Meeting 9:30-10:20 a.m.-house Confirmation January 15: Faith Formation Session: bring sponsor or parent in the PAR 7:30-8:30 p.m. January 29: Faith Formation Session: PAR 7:30-8:30 p.m. C.C.D. 4 th Grade Bake Sale a Huge Success! On Sunday, December 15 th, the CCD 4 th graders participated in their annual service project by holding a Bake Sale.and they raised a whopping $377! All the money goes to the St. Christopher Pantry. Since the pantry can get supplies from the local food banks at about 14 cents a pound, our 4 th graders made a fantastic contribution. Thanks to the students, their teachers, & all the wonderful customers who made this a success!

3 Faith Formation Youth Ministry; Pilgrimage For Life: All high school students at St. Christopher are encouraged to join our trip to Washington, DC with the West Deanery for Pilgrimage for Life. Highlights of the trip include the March For Life, a tour of the popular monuments, and a trip to the Holocaust Museum. We will be traveling by charter bus and the West Deanery has two buses reserved. Spots will be limited to those two buses. Seats are awarded on a first-come first-served basis. The cost of the trip is $200. We will be sleeping on air mattresses at a church in Arlington, VA. We will be leaving on Monday, January 20, 2014 at 8:00 a.m. and will be returning on Thursday, January 23, 2014 between 3-6:00 a.m. so you can still attend school. This trip is an opportunity for reflection and prayer about many pro-life issues. In addition to those opportunities we will have the chance to tour parts of Washington, DC. If you would like to attend, please check our website for forms. Turn in forms as soon as possible to reserve a spot. For additional information and details, call Tom Steiner at ext We will need adult chaperones, if anyone is interested please contact Tom Steiner. NCYC Reflections Some of the Youth and Chaperones wanted to share their experience of NCYC with the Parish over the next few months we will include a note from one of them to all of you...thank you for all of your support during our bake sale and for supporting Youth Ministry. Did you travel through downtown Indianapolis at any point on November 21-23? Did you see thousands of teenagers walking around the streets, many of whom were wearing ridiculous looking clothes and accessories? If so, you got a little taste of the National Catholic Youth Conference, more commonly known as NCYC. This year s theme for this joy-filled community was Signed, Sealed, Delivered. At the beginning, I did not know what to expect from NCYC. I wasn t a teenager anymore how was this experience going to relate to me, an adult chaperone? From my past youth group trips as a teenager, I learned that I am not one who thoroughly enjoys expressing my faith in large group rally fashion. I have always found that my prayer has been more personal and powerful in a small group or alone. However, as the first night of NCYC occurred, I found myself inside of Lucas Stadium alongside 25,000 young adults, raising their voices and hands to God, and surrounded by an indescribable passion and love for their Lord. What an amazing testament to the youth of today. I found my spirit vicariously being re-energized through their pure joy for their Catholic faith. The emcee for NCYC was Jesse Manibusan, a Catholic musician and multicultural minister who was very charismatic and, more importantly, connected well with the youth. Each time he spoke, he led them in an interactive word play that became a refrain for the rest of NCYC. It went as follows: JM: Who s the church? Youth: We are! JM: Where is the church? Youth: Right here! JM: How do we live our Catholic faith? Youth: All are welcome! This simple exchange reminds the Catholic youth that THEY are the future of our Church. And it was a beautiful, powerful, and vibrant future that was seen at NCYC one that I am immensely grateful that I got to experience. I am re-vitalized in my own spiritual life, and have a renewed hope for the future of our Church. My final thoughts to you are this: to anyone who stereotypes teenagers as disrespectful, apathetic, or ignorant because they always have their faces stuck in some form of social media... I challenge you to volunteer or chaperone at NCYC in 2015, which will be held again in Indianapolis. Give your young Church a chance to re-vitalize your faith, your spirit, your soul, and your life. Connected in the Spirit Connected In the Spirit The Cohort Team (St. Anthony, Holy Trinity, and St. Christopher) has concluded its work on the response to the preliminary recommendation for our Cohort Model. The response was sent to the Archdiocesan Planning Commission on December 5. Our response to the Preliminary Recommendation is that we adopt the following model: Holy Trinity Parish in Indianapolis will merge into St. Anthony Parish of Indianapolis. The merged parish will continue to worship in the churches of Holy Trinity and St. Anthony. This arrangement will be subject to semi-annual review. At the same time, St. Anthony Parish will enter into a Partnership with St. Christopher Parish in Speedway. There will be a Pastor at St. Anthony, a Pastor at St. Christopher and an Associate Priest. Holy Trinity and St. Anthony will start merging parish operations (in advance of the Archbishop s decision) starting in January The parishes will combine Pastoral Councils and Finance Commissions. Sunday Mass will continue at 10:00 a.m. at Holy Trinity. One weekend Mass will be eliminated from the St. Anthony weekend Mass schedule to accommodate the second worship site at Holy Trinity. After the Archbishop s decision about the reconfiguration of parishes in the Indianapolis Deaneries of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis in the Spring of 2014, the Partnership will begin to discuss the appropriate working group(s) structure (e.g. task force, steering committee, etc.) to develop specificity in plans for Partnership and to prioritize the Partnership initiatives: Strengthen training for liturgical and lay ministries. Plan and implement vocation awareness programs including clergy, vowed religious, marriage and single life. Recognize the gifts of the people from various cultural and ethnic backgrounds and reach out to meet their needs. Coordinate a joint RCIA, Youth Ministry Program, Social Outreach, Adult Religious Education Programs, and promotion of Catholic schools in the area. Develop an integrated and comprehensive catechetical plan for the Partnership. Using available Archdiocesan resources develop a focused and sustainable urban ministry plan for outreach to the unchurched, alienated, and inactive of the area. Sell Holy Trinity s Bockhold Hall, or if not able to sell, demolish Bockhold Hall. The final phase of Connected in the Spirit will involve the implementation of the Cohort Models in all four Indianapolis Deaneries. If you have any questions or would like to volunteer to be part of the partnership transition team in 2014, please direct your message to Dan Krodel at dankrodel@hotmail.com. Look for future updates about the process as we receive new information from the Archdiocese in the spring. Please continue to pray for the success of the Connected in the Spirit process and for the renewal of parish life across the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.

4 Christian Services There will be a "5th Sunday Collection" for St. Chris SVdP after all Masses on Sunday, Thanks for your generous support of our efforts to assist people living in poverty in the Speedway area. 2nd Saturday each month - January 11 - SVdP Indy Food Pantry. Meet in the St. Chris parking lot at 7:30 am. We work until about noon. 4th Saturday each month - December 28 - Help Feed the Hungry. Pass out food and clothes to homeless people. Meet in the St. Chris parking lot at 7:30 am. We return to St. Chris about 10:30. A good way to spend the Saturday morning after Christmas. Saturday, January 4 Help at the SVdP Distribution Center,1201 East Maryland Street. Meet in the St. Chris parking lot at 7:30 am. We work until about noon. We need help every Saturday at the SVdP Food Pantry and Distribution Center. The hours are flexible to fit your availability. We especially need people to drive Distribution Center trucks and help pick up furniture. They are closed the weekend before and after Christmas. Contact Paul Guenin at or padeceje2@aol.com for further information. SVdP Help Line SVdP Donation Line Answered Monday through Friday 8:30-4:30 The Shawl Ministry will be meeting at the home of Cindy Leppert on Saturday, December 28 at 7:00 p.m. For additional information please contact Cindy at or Jane Gottlieb at Welcome Advent is a time of preparation. Things need to be done! Clean the silver, bring out the best china, Freshen the linen and special food preparation. The special chair and place setting for the guest. Prepare! The still small voice of God seems insistent. Make room in the heart. Seek His face. Hope in the tiny Babe. Welcome Him. Trudy Bledsoe Weekend of December 29, :30 a.m. - Bob Hopper 10:30 a.m. Joe Stevens The van will be picking up people for the 10:30 a.m. Mass on December 25. In order to make sure you have a place on the van, please call Larry Hurst at to let him know you will be riding. Dec 28-5:30 p.m. Dec 29-7:00 a.m. Dec 29-8:30 a.m. Dec 29-10:30 a.m. Dec 29-Noon Dec 29-5:30 p.m. Christmas Eve Liturgies Tues., December 24, 2013 Christmas Day Liturgies Wed., December 25, 2013 Thurs., December 26, 2013 Fri., December 27, 2013 A big thank you to everyone for their generous donations of items for the pantry. We appreciate your efforts to help feed our patrons. St. Christopher Food Pantry Liturgical Commission M Berghoff / S Starsiak D Matter / J Warner B Kruszynski / G Pontones B / D Brown S / K Ramljak Z Evans / B Malatestinic 4:00; 6:00; 10:00 p.m. 8:30; 10:30 a.m. 9:00 a.m. Weekend Liturgies Sat., December 28, :30 p.m. Sun., December 29, :00; 8:30; 10:30 a.m.; Noon; 5:30 p.m. Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God Mass of Anticipation Tues., December 31, :30 p.m. Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God Wed., January 1, :30 a.m. Thurs., January 2, 2014 Fri., January 3, 2014 Holiday Information for the Parish Office: December 23, 2013 December 24, 25, 26 & 27 Closed December 30, 2013 December 31, 2013 Closed January 1 & 2, 2014 Closed January 3, :00 a.m. Around the Archdiocese Saint Joseph's College in Rensselaer, IN is offering the St. Katharine Drexel Grant ($1,000) for students graduating from a Catholic high school or any Catholic student who provides a letter from their parish priest. Three full-tuition awards are also available through the Presidential Scholarship - apply before January 15th. For more information call SJC Admissions at

5 Additions to the Poinsettia Scroll In memory of: John L & Anna Zore, John O. & Shirley Zore, Nancy Zore, Leona Brown, Dante Schiavone, Clarence & Dorothy Ramsey, Wally Gilbert, Mathew Gilbert, Lester Byfield, Bob Byfield, & Mikey Medina. Given by: Byfield & Zore family. In memory of Frank Casper, Bryon Wilson, William F. MacLeod Jr., Mike Kestler, & other loved ones. Given by: Tom & Sharon Wilson. In memory of Louisa Valentine, Phyllis Gunderson, Harold Gunderson, Jack Valentine, Rex Valentine, & Bob Baum. Given by: Patti Valentine. In memory of: Trusnik-Zeronik families. Given by: Mac Shirley Trusnik. In memory of: Dick, Ric & deceased members of Simone/McCullough families. Given by: The McCullough family. In memory of: Ken Ollier, Robert & Betty Ollier, Henry & Kathleen Pithoud. Given by: Ryan, Valerie, & Avery Geraghty. In memory of: Joe Vrabey, Marbant Vrabey, Mary Beaman, & Paul Beamon. Given by: Don & Py Beaman In memory of: Robert & Ki Husa Nolan. Given by: P. Nolan In memory of: Martin Stoy & Moramay Brown. Given by: Cheryl Bilsland In memory of: David J. Killigrew. Given by: Kathy Hoya In memory of: Ryan, Rachel, Susan, Rodney, Thomas, & Mackenzie. Given by: Mom & Dad In memory of: Peter G. & Anna Martich. Given by: Peter R. & Mary K. Martich In memory of: Ted V. Sidor. Given by: Dolores N. Sidor. In memory of: Betty & Ralph Wehnert In memory of: Judy C. Cox, Ralph Long, George Hamilton, Sharon Long, & Rich Schuster. Given by: Randy & Barb Long In memory of: Mary & Joseph Nash, & Mariana & Daniel Oprish. Given by: Thomas & Jean Nash In memory of: McCormick family. Given by: Mr. & Mrs. Alfred McCormick In memory of: Paul Bagley, Karl & Maria Landmann. In memory of: Ragan Ratcliff, Mike Mattingly, Robie Ratcliff In memory of: Frank Ford, Mike Ford, Darma Smoker, Melvin Smoker, & Bill Smoker. Given by: Sam & Jan Smoker In memory of: The Klug family & friends, the Tarwater family & friends, the Schinkle family & friends, Mr. & Mrs Russ Gilespie. Given by: Rita Klug In memory of: Robie Ratcliff family In memory of: Charles Jenkins, Agnes Jenkins, Melissa Jenkins, Aaron Jenkins, Aunt Helen Willett, Connie Schweitzer, Kenny Henry Hesser, Flo Mammaw Hesser, Tiffany Warnholz, Mary Wittman, John Wernholz & Sandy Warnholz. Given by: Cindy, Jonathan, & Kaylee Jenkins. In memory of: Tom Byers, Rosemary Pitts, Frank & Emma Vertacnik. Given by: Tom, Lynn, & Amy Vertacnik In memory of: George Fournier. Given by Doug Collins Family. In memory of: Snyder, Ketterer & Elgin families. Given by: Paul E. Snyder II In memory of: Pauline Standield. Given by: The Costello family. In memory of: Ragan Ratcliff family. In memory of: Ted & Dorothy Hoffman, Lawrence & Clara Feller. Given by: Gary & Carol Hoffman. In memory of: Ignacid Senerador. Given by: Mark & Marshall Santiago. In memory of: Kathleen & Harry Doyle, Charlene & Chuck Cesnik, Frank & Rose Cesnik, Joe Doyle, Mary Doyle, & Margaret Doyle. Given by: The Cesnik family. In memory of: Grant family & Weir family In memory of: James J. Miller. Given by: Marge Miller. In memory of: Alphonse and Anna Stanick. Given by: Mary E. Mauser In memory of: Lorraine & Oris Feuling, Frances & Martin Feuling, & Father Vaughn Brockman. In memory of: Muriel Johnston, Marge Aita, Grace Faessler, Cecelia Moore. Given by: Janet Johnston In memory of: William Kelly Kochell, Michael Kren, & Francis Klepek. Given by: The Kochell family. In memory of: Claude & Mae Campbell, Ted & Alma Moreland, Harley & Mary Quackenbush, Mike Jauregui, Bill & Carolyn Campbell, Connie Quackenbush. Given by: Tom, Cheryl, Stella, & Harley Campbell. In memory of: Jim & Oleta Wood, Ed & Hazel Schette. Given by: Mark & Jean Ann Schute The ANNUAL CHRISTMAS 55 and OVER dinner was happily celebrated again this year. Much gratitude to Angela (Roesler) Nevitt and her group who prepared and cooked the dinner as well as transforming the Cafeteria in their Christmas decorating. Also, special thanks for those in the Youth Group who graciously served the meal, as well as members of St. Chris Choir and the school children who brought cheerful singing to all. And, lastly, we can t forget to thank Santa Claus for his special visit! May Jesus peace and love continue to reign in your giving hands and hearts!