St. Bernard Parish 2040 Hillside Ln. Green Bay, Wisconsin (920) December 9 & 10, 2017

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1 St. Bernard Parish 2040 Hillside Ln. Green Bay, Wisconsin (920) December 9 & 10, 2017 Parish Office (920) Religious Education Office (920) Office Hours: Monday - Thursday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Friday - 8:00 am - Noon School Office (920) Pastor Fr. Mark Vander Steeg Deacon Keith Holschbach Deacon John Laurant Deacon Larry Mastalish Deacon Bernie Terrien Pastoral Associate Sr. Caroline Castellini OP Music & Liturgy Coordinator Joe LeBeau Business Manager Ginny Gigot School Principal Crystal Blahnik Parish Nurse Ann Kaufmann Director of Religious Education Adam Horn Adult Faith Formation/RCIA Joanne Griesbach Youth Ministry & Confirmation Callie Kowalski R.E. Assistant Jeannine Hadzima Receptionist/Office Tina Drewiske Publications/Office Lori Froelich Sacrament of Reconciliation Saturday: 2:30-3:30 pm Sunday: 5:30 pm Sacrament of Marriage Contact the Parish Office at least 6 months prior to the date. Sacrament of Baptism Contact Deacon Larry Mastalish at

2 ST. BERNARD PARISH PAGE 2 Mass Intentions The saving graces of the Mass are for: Monday, December 11 8:45 am Word/Communion Service Tuesday, December 12 8:45 am Word/Communion Service 2:30 pm Bornemann Nursing Home Word/Communion Service Wednesday, December 13 8:45 am the souls of Ronald & Leona Lelou the soul of Tom VanPay Thursday, December 14 8:45am the souls Theophile & Mary Balza the soul of Grace Balza Friday, December 15 8:45 pm the soul of Gene Knox Saturday, December 16 2:30 pm Confessions 4:00 pm the soul David Strebel Sunday, December 17 8:00 am the soul of John Tilkens 10:00 am the soul of Ervan Gauthier The soul of Cheryl Gauthier 5:30 pm Confessions 6:30 pm for the People of St. Bernard Parish Baptisms We welcome those who were baptized recently: Nora Jean Kiernan Berkley Marie VandenBush Nolan William Massart Jett Axel LeClair Logan Joseph Conard Hallie Elaine Liegeois Wedding Banns I Elizabeth Bergeson & Albert Usobiaga I Kelly Filipak & Kyle Heyrman In Sympathy We extend our sympathy to the families and friends of Delores Wanish and Helen Evrard. Please keep them in your prayers. The Parish Office will be CLOSED Thursday, December 14, from 11:00 to 12:30 pm Your Financial Stewardship For the week ended Dec 3, 2017 Weekly Envelopes... $ 23, Offertory Loose... $ 1, Weekly Joyful Giving Budget... $ 20, Last week I preached on the hope that Advent would provide some opportunity for all of us to pray more. I was told many moons ago as a young priest, when in doubt, pray more not less. Those words have rang more and more true as the years have gone by. Rare, if ever, has been the situation where I have found I prayed too much. I was very gratified to see that so many of our Advent scripture booklets had been taken last weekend. My hope (and prayer) from the start had been that many people would take the time to try and pray. In a new way, a deeper way, longer, whatever. Just pray. The reality is that weekly Sunday Mass is not enough for a spiritual life to grow. We need Sunday Mass and indeed need to come to be fed by the Eucharist, but the truth is that the Sunday Mass is not enough to satisfy our whole spiritual life. It is to be the source and summit of our spiritual life. That is, the beginning and the end of our spiritual life each week. But our own prayer life and spiritual walk with the Lord needs to fill the in-between. Discernment of spirits when we pray is a key part of our conversing with the Lord. Discerning what might be from God and what is not, is important for our intimacy. We can all misread what we think is God. Here are some key pointers. God will never condone sin. So if ever we feel challenged to tackle some area of our life that is fallen or full of shadows, God is definitely at least in union with that thought. Though it should be added that God does this with love. It is never God s intention that his challenges drive us away from him. He always moves in love, with a desire that we tackle things with him. He is at our side, never our opponent. He also never gives a pass on sin. It is also true that God will never speak contrary to the Church. The two are one voice. Any truth of the Church is revealed by God. Our call is always to move into union with the Church. If we are hearing anything contrary to the Church, it s not God. What is often needed here is a bit of compassion toward ourselves for thinking what we think, some patience, and some humility. God is calling us to think differently in these circumstances. It takes time, study and a willing, humble and obedient heart. God is calling us to a truer love, often more challenging in some way. Lastly, he is the God of reconciliation. The Cross is the height of reconciliation. Our life too finds its answers here. All that leads to peace, justice, reconciliation, forgiveness and generosity, always in union with truth, is most likely at least in union with God s desires. This encompasses marriage, family friendship, the workplace and the world. Keep praying, keep talking to God, and we will all be at a better place come Christmas. I encourage you to pray more with me, not less. Fr. Mark Vander Steeg

3 DECEMBER 9 & 10, 2017 PAGE 3 The Second Sunday of Advent Prepare the way of the Lord. - MARK 1:3 We are called to live a holy life. We are all called to invite others to live holy lives. Living a stewardship lifestyle, being grateful and generous with our gifts, does just that - it puts us on the path to holiness and it invites others to be holy, too. Religious Education News Adam Horn R.E. Director The Week Ahead: December 13 Grade 1: God Chose Mary and Joseph Grade 2: Jesus Promised the Gift of Himself Grade 3: God Created People to Share His Life Grade 4: We Show Our Love for God Grade 5: We Receive Holy Communion Grade 6: We Live the Commandments Today Grade 7: Miracles Signs Jesus Worked Grade 8: The Church Grows Freshmen: God Our Father Sophomores: The Last Things Juniors: The Eucharist Youth Ministry Callie Kowalski Scrip-Great Christmas Gifts Buy a gift card, save on shopping. Many vendors to choose from, $5-$100 cards available. Check out the Special Order forms for additional vendors available, at the SCRIP table in the Narthex or at the Parish Office. Thanksgiving Baskets Thank you to the youth from St. Bernard who helped prepare the Thanksgiving Food Baskets. Meet the major people and events that make up our true story - the Story of Salvation. Join in with fellow parishioners for a weekly BIBLE STUDY Times and Locations: Tuesday 10:00-11:00am Parish Office Tuesday 6:30-7:30pm Church Library Wednesday 5:00-6:00pm-Church Library Thursday 1:00-2:00pm Church Library For Information or to Sign up: Contact Joanne Griesbach: or Joanne@stbernardcong.org or see the parish website

4 THE SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT PAGE 4 We would like to thank the following for helping to make our Thanksgiving Basket Project a success: the Knights of Columbus for their generous donation; 3 rd & 4 th grade Girl Scouts for decorating the boxes and donating apples, Religious Education students and St. Bernard Day School students for the food; the day school teachers for their donation of potatoes and pie crusts, the volunteers who picked up the food, and the day school students who sorted the food, the youth group who packed baskets, stocked the pantry shelves and brought the baskets to the families vehicles, to the family who delivered baskets to needy families, finally the school staff who helped make this a success. Thirty-two baskets were prepared for families in our area. Social Justice Human Concerns Thanksgiving Committee LOVE LIFE MINISTRY would like to give our heartfelt THANKS to everyone who has contributed to our ministry. The United Way Box received over 3000 actual diapers, which were donated directly to Love Life. The Baby Shower was a real blessing. All the items are so gratefully appreciated by our Mothers and their Babies. Thanks again for your thoughtfulness. St. Bernard School Crystal Blahnik-Principal Date Night - December 15 (Marriage Enrichment Program) Christmas Party Join the party...as we prepare for Christ s birth and celebrate marriages. NO CHILDCARE THIS MONTH 6:30-7:00 Refreshment Bring your favorite Christmas Treat Program 7:00-8:30 Christmas trivia-(it will be hilarious), White Elephant Exchange.Bring (if you wish) a cheap, silly, fun, ridiculous or just lying around the house wrapped mystery gift to be exchanged. Please register at: htt:// Christmas Giving Tree Thank you for responding to the needs of our area children and adults. If you still need to bring the gifts you purchased, please bring them to the Church or Parish Office. The gifts will be distributed this Saturday, December 16. Thank you for your generosity during this Christmas Season. The History of the Diocese of Green Bay Books are for sale at the Parish Office. $35.00 Hardcover $20.00 Hardcover comic style GRACE Annual Appeal Consider the gift of education in your year-end charitable giving. Your gift to the GRACE Annual Appeal will offer the blessing for any families who desire a Catholic education for their children. Many of us in our parish communities have been blessed with the gifts of Catholic education, and can carry on what we have learned and witnessed in our faith in giving back to our GRACE Catholic schools. Donations can be mailed to GRACE Annual Appeal, 1087 Kellogg Street, Green Bay, WI or online at Thank you for your prayerful consideration to GRACE as a priority in your year-end charitable giving.

5 PAGE 7 Deck The Halls at St. Bernard Parish The church environment, whether it is flowers, trees, banners, candles, etc., is an ongoing ministry throughout the year. As we prepare to transform our worship space into an environment suitable to welcome our Savior, many of us may have someone we would like to remember in a special way. All donations will be recognized in the bulletin in January. Please complete and return this form (in an envelope marked Deck The Halls in the collection basket or bring to the parish office Please remember Requested Please find enclosed: $ AREA CONFESSION SCHEDULE St. Bernard Sat. 2:30-3:30 pm Sun. 5:30 pm St. Philip the Apostle Sat. 3:15-3:45 pm (Eng) Sun. 10:30-10:55 am (Span.) Holy Cross Prince of Peace Thurs. 5:00-6:00 pm Resurrection Sat. 3:15-3:45 pm St. Francis Xavier Cathedral Sat. 2:15-3:30 pm Wed. 6:00-8:00 pm St. Mary of the Angels Sat. 3:30pm Sun. 8:30am St. Matthew Sts. Peter and Paul Sat. 3:30 pm Sun. 7:30 am, 9:30 am, 12pm St. Willebrord Mon.-Fri.7:00 am, 11:30am, Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help Sun.-Fri. 10:00-10:45 am Sat. 9:15-10:45 am