Welcome to our parish! As pastor, I hope we can enrich your experience as much as you enrich ours. Fr. David Ruby

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1 Welcome to our parish! As pastor, I hope we can enrich your experience as much as you enrich ours. Fr. David Ruby The Prayer Shawl Group recently got together at the White Gull Inn for their Christmas party. Sunday, December 24-Christmas Eve 4:00 pm-sister Bay 6:00 pm-fish Creek Monday, December 25-Christmas Day 10:00 am-jacksonport Sunday, December 31-Solemnity of Mary 4:00 pm-fish Creek Monday, January 1-Solemnity of Mary 9:00 am-sister Bay Monday, December 18 Morning Prayer-8:00 am-fc Scandia Advent Group-1:00 pm Stewardship Committee Meeting-3:00 pm-sb AA Meeting-8:00 pm-sb Tuesday, December 19 Scripture Class-8:30 am-sb Pray with the Pastor-8:45 am-sb Pray the Rosary-12 noon-bh Wednesday, December 20 Faith Formation Class-Grades 1-8, 4:00 pm-bh Faith Formation Class-Grades 9-12, 6:15 pm-bh Friday, December 22 Office Closes at Noon Today Sunday, December 24 Christmas Eve Mass-4:00 pm-fc Christmas Eve Mass-6:00 pm-sb Thursday, December 21 for December Bulletin For Online Giving to our parish, please go to and click on Giving to the Parish Electronically on the front page. Stella Maris Mission Statement Stella Maris Catholic Parish prayerfully unites people in the love of Jesus guided by our patron, Mary. Stella Maris Vision Statement We invite all to journey as disciples. By sharing the Gospel, responding to Jesus' love and the gifts God has given us, we welcome all to grow in faith and in our parish life. Website: Third Sunday of Advent-December 17, 2017

2 2 Welcome to Stella Maris in Baileys Harbor, Egg Harbor, Fish Creek, Jacksonport, Sister Bay & Washington Island I do not want to disparage our modern day American culture again in my writing about the difficulty in welcoming Jesus into our hearts as so many people do because the problem is not only materialism. The problem lies deeper within the human psyche and has been around for centuries if not longer. Whether we say Merry Christmas, put up a Nativity scene or acknowledge Jesus birth in some external way, the problem remains. For us to welcome Jesus into our hearts, we must focus on our interior lives more than our exterior ones. Our hearts are inside of us rather than outside of us. Our hearts connect us with the deepest part of who we are, so we can also truly connect with God, others and God s working in this world through people and all creation. When we are exclusively concerned with all the external parts of Christmas, we miss the internal parts. When we feel the weight of all that we must do, it is difficult to simply be. Advent is a time of waiting, listening, being. The best way we can welcome Jesus Faith Formation Friendly Animals The manger scene is probably one of the most recognizable symbols of Christmas. In 1223, St. Francis of Assisi created the first Nativity scene with hopes of promoting the true meaning of Christmas and worship of Jesus Christ. Sixth, seventh and eighth grade Faith Formation students are bringing some Christmas joy to Scandia Village residents on December 20th presenting a manger play from the animal's perspective. The scene features friendly animals: a donkey, a cow, a sheep and a dove. Each of these animals is a respective animal hand puppet via a student voice. This little rhyme focuses on the connection each animal had to Jesus' birth. It begins with a brief introduction from the Innkeeper and then we hear what each animal had to say. The key parts of the play basically went like this: Innkeeper: Jesus our brother, kind and good. And the friendly animals around Him stood Spoke the donkey with a funny frown: I carried His mother up hill and down. I carried her safely to Bethlehem town. The cow all black and white said: I gave Him my manger for his bed. And I gave him my hay to pillow his head. Next said the sheep that was just shorn: I gave him my wool for His blanket warm. He wore my coat on Christmas morn. Now a dove chirped from rafters high. I cooed Him to sleep so He would not cry. We cooed him to sleep, my mate and I. Innkeeper: Yes, every animal by some good spell. In the stable dark was glad to tell of the gift he gave to Immanuel. After this play titled Friendly Animals, residents were each given a popsicle-crafted manger containing baby Jesus (pictured above). May God grant a special Christmas Blessing for all the elderly at Scandia Village and nationwide so they will not be forgotten amid the Christmas festivities. Blessings, Linda Cummer, Faith Formation Coordinator Dear Fellow Parishioners into our hearts is to spend at least 15 minutes a day in silent prayer. We cannot just talk about it or say that it is a good idea, we must do it. If is often good to do it at the beginning of the day so that we make sure that we do it. If for some reason, there is a better time that is fine too. The main thing is that this prayer becomes such a high priority that we know it must be done at a certain time and we just do it. There is nothing fancy that must be done during the time. The most important thing is that we are in solitude, silent and focused on God. We take the time to listen with our hearts deep down inside of our soul. What am I feeling? What is keeping me from being what I am meant to be? What do I need to do about whatever is happening? Most of the time, we will not hear words of any kind. We will simply feel the Lord pulling at our heart strings. We hunger for this time with God. We deeply desire prayer to be fulfilled. Our heart, soul and spirit are restless until they rest in God as Saint Augustine has said. We cannot even begin to encounter God if we do not quiet ourselves down to hear him. We often avoid being quiet because we are afraid of what we will hear. We must put aside those fears and remind ourselves of how much God loves us and wants a relationship with us and simply pray. It may be difficult at first. We may want to give up, but we cannot do that. We must think of the times that we have avoided reaching out in relationship to someone who became significant for us. If we would not have done that, where would we be? They did reciprocate, why would God not do so as well? Is it not worth taking a risk with God and spending time in silence waiting, preparing and welcoming Him into our hearts? I guarantee you that when you try you will not regret it. Nothing fulfills us like the prayer of the heart filling us with God s love. In Christ s love, Fr. Dave Ruby, Pastor Health & Wellness REFLECTIONS FROM YOUR HEALTH & WELLNESS COMMITTEE "The people who live in darkness have seen a great light (Is. 9:1) Lord, I thank You for the gift of sight. May I use it to see the beauty around me. May I look at those with whom I share this journey and embrace their goodness, be sensitive to their needs, and truly strive to be a Christ-bearer to all. "You will find a baby lying in a manger (Lk2:12) Manger comes from a Latin word meaning simply "to eat". Lord, thank you for the food that sustains me! May I make healthy choices and seek to share, in some way, with those who are hungry. And Lord, may I remember to seek nourishment for my spirit in order that I draw closer to You. "Suddenly there was a multitude of heavenly host praising God and saying Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests (Lk2:13-14) Lord, thank you for the gift of hearing. As I hear the music of Christmas let me join the angels in praising You. May the joy and hope which the music celebrates permeate my life. May my ears and heart be open to the gospel message and may it be reflected in my life. "Wise men saw a rising of a star followed it to the place where the child was offered their gifts they were warned not to go back to Herod, so they returned to their home country by another way. (Matt.2:1,9,12) Lord, may the star remind me that God calls each of us according to his or her own personality. May we recognize that God communicates with us in the events of our lives; these are our personal stars! May I truly find God in my living day by day and invite others to join me on my journey. BLESSINGS AND BEST WISHES FROM YOUR HEALTH & WELLNESS COMMITTEE MEMBERS!

3 RETIREMENT COLLECTION-Thank you to all who gave generously last weekend through the Retirement Collection. If you still wish to donate, you may use the envelopes in the pews to share in the care of our retired sisters, brothers and religious order priests, as well as our own diocesan priests. On behalf of them, thank you for your generous care! THE DECEMBER FOOD item being collected is canned fruit for the CARE 24/7 Food Pantry, a ministry of Stella Maris. Donations can be left at the Fish Creek site. HELP KEEP NEWBORNS-TODDLERS stay warm this winter by donating new or gently used clothing. Your donations will be delivered to St. Vincent depaul Society in Green Bay. Drop off locations: Stella Maris-Sister Bay-front entrance and Stella Maris- Fish Creek-side entrance. Collection Dates: December 9th- January 7th. Thank you for helping, Abigail Rebhan/Senior Project CELEBRATE & RESPECT LIFE- He is always with us. Jesus promised this when he gave the disciples the same mission he gives to each of us: Go. Walk with each other. Do not be afraid to embrace God s gift of life. Whatever storms or trials we face, we are not alone. He is with us. USCCB Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities Respect Life Reflection, FATHER RICHARD MAUTHES autobiography Once in Love, Always in Love is finished. If you would like to order a copy, the cost is $20. Please call Andrea at (920) and she will pick one up for you. ON CARE FOR THE COMMON HOME-Educate yourself and others on sustainable living practices and eat less meat. Parish Life & Upcoming Events Third Sunday of Advent December 17, ST. JOHN BOSCO instrumental and vocal Christmas Concert is Thursday, December 21 st at 6:30 at Corpus Christi Church. We would love to have you come and hear the wonderful sounds of Christmas through the voices and instruments of our 4K through 8 th grade students. THE CHRIST CHILD SOCIETY can help with your Christmas Shopping. Use our Christ Child Tribute Card to give a gift of any amount to a child in need, in the name of someone who has no need for more. Please talk to any Christ Child member or call Kathy (920) if you would like some cards. SAVE THE DATE of Thursday, January 18th for the Third Annual New Year, New Friends CCW Luncheon to be held at Alexander s. Details will follow. DOOR COUNTY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY-We are looking for families that need our help. To apply, families need to come to our office, 410 N 14th Ave, Sturgeon Bay and talk to Megan or David to get an application packet. Questions? Call Megan at (920) ext 101 or admin@doorhabitat.org End of Year Contributions Contributions for this year (2017) must be placed in the collection basket by Sunday, December 31st. Any money placed in the collection basket on Monday, January 1 or later will be posted to your 2018 contributions, regardless of the date on your check. Donations that are mailed to the office must have a postmark of December 30th or earlier. December 31 is a Sunday and there is no mail. Any donations postmarked January 1 or later will be posted to your 2018 donations, regardless of the date on your check.

4 5 Third Sunday of Advent-December 17, 2017 Worship and Music Column The Third Sunday of Advent is often called Gaudete Sunday from the Latin word for rejoice. The readings for this Sunday deal with rejoicing in the Lord Christian joy as well as the mission of St. John the Baptist and his connection with Advent. Theologian Henri Nouwen described the difference between joy and happiness. While happiness is dependent on external conditions, joy is "the experience of knowing that you are unconditionally loved and that nothing -- sickness, failure, emotional distress, oppression, war, or even death -- can take that love away." Advent is both a time of joyful waiting and joyful giving. As you joyfully prepare for Christmas, remember to pray, remember to give thanks to God for his many blessings and try to reach out to others who are lonely or having difficulties. This time of year can be really hard for someone who is hurting. Be willing to share of yourself and the real joy you are feeling with others. ********* Our beautiful Advent banner, designed by parishioner Ryan Miller, has been gracing our churches for the past few weeks and calls us to be prepared. A special thank you to Ryan for sharing his creativity and talents with his fellow parishioners! Here are Ryan s thoughts on his design: I drew inspiration from this year s theme for Advent of being prepared and awake. As we anticipate Christmas, the four preceding weeks of Advent open the mind s eye, the soul s eye, the heart s eye, so we may wholly see the awesomeness of Christ. Let the starlight burn brightly and fully in our minds, our souls and our hearts as we are evermore watchful and ready. Advent Candle Bearers If you or your family would be willing to carry up a candle and place it in the Advent wreath, for the last weekend of Advent, at any of our open churches, please contact Mary Gomoll at (920) or marygomoll@gmail.com. Thank you! Liturgies of the Week Saturday, December 16-Third Sunday of Advent Fish Creek 4:00 pm-dr Jerome Koessl Sunday, December 17-Third Sunday of Advent Jacksonport 8:00 am-dr Don Biemeret Sister Bay 10:00 am-dr Richard Gadient Washington Island 3:30 pm-dr Members of Stella Maris Monday, December 18 Fish Creek 8:00 am Morning Prayer Tuesday, December 19 Sister Bay 8:00 am-dr Don Steller Wednesday, December 20 Sister Bay 8:00 am-dr Bill Duquaine Thursday, December 21-St. Peter Canisius, Priest and Doctor of the Church Sister Bay 8:00 am-dr Thomas Norman Duemling Friday, December 22 Sister Bay 8:00 am-dr Family of Cyril & Helen Vertz and Gabriel & Ione Biemeret Saturday, December 23-Fourth Sunday of Advent Washington Island 10:30 am-dr Members of Stella Maris Fish Creek 4:00 pm-dr Don Biemeret Sunday, December 24-Fourth Sunday of Advent Jacksonport 8:00 am-dr Judy Anschutz Sister Bay 10:00 am-dr Noni Zito Sunday, December 24-Nativity of the Lord (Christmas Eve) Sister Bay 4:00 pm-dr Don Brink Fish Creek 6:00 pm-dr Roy Kinsey Monday, December 25-Nativity of the Lord (Christmas Day) Jacksonport 10:00 am-dr William Anschutz DR=Fr. David Ruby Gordon Schram-Sturgeon Bay Winona Smith-Ellison Bay Robert Davis-Ephraim James Jauquet-Fish Creek Readings for the Week of December 17 Sunday: Is 61:1-2a, 10-11/Lk 1:46-48, 49-50, [Is 61:10b]/1 Thes 5:16-24/Jn 1:6-8, Monday: Jer 23:5-8/Ps 72:1-2, 12-13, [cf. 7]/ Mt 1:18-25 Tuesday: Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25a/Ps 71:3-4a, 5-6ab, [cf. 8]/Lk 1:5-25 Wednesday: Is 7:10-14/Ps 24:1-2, 3-4ab, 5-6 [cf. 7c and 10b]/Lk 1:26-38 Thursday: Sg 2:8-14 or Zep 3:14-18a/Ps 33:2-3, 11-12, [1a; 3a]/Lk 1:39-45 Friday: Saturday: 1 Sm 1:24-28/1 Sm 2:1, 4-5, 6-7, 8abcd [cf. 1a]/Lk 1:46-56 Mal 3:1-4, 23-24/Ps 25:4-5ab, 8-9, 10 and 14 [cf. Lk 21:28]/Lk 1:57-66 Next Sunday: 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16/Ps 89:2-3, 4-5, 27, 29 [2a]/Rom 16:25-27/Lk 1:26-38 Liturgical Publications Inc

5 Third Sunday of Advent-December 17, Pastor Reverend David Ruby pastorsm@dcwis.com Egg Harbor Office (920) PO Box 49, 7710 State Hwy 42, Egg Harbor, WI churchoffice@dcwis.com Fax (920) Web site: Office hours: (Mon-Fri) 8:00-12:00 & 12:30-4:30 Pastoral Associate Becky Nash pastoralchurch@dcwis.com (920) Bookkeeper/LoSEC (Local Safe Environment Coordinator) Jim Slomski bkchurch@dcwis.com Receptionist/Secretary/Bulletin Editor Lorie Orthober churchoffice@dcwis.com Normal Bulletin Deadline - Tuesday, 9am Faith Formation Coordinator-Linda Cummer cummerlinda@gmail.com (920) Maintenance Coordinator-Jim Charles maintchurch@dcwis.com (920) Faith Community Nurse-Bonnie Mirkiewicz nursesm@dcwis.com (920) Wedding Coordinator-Burnie Cerra ma8cer@aol.com (920) Secretary Trustee-Michelle Piatek piatmch@aol.com Treasurer Trustee-Richard Dannhausen hrdannhausen@gmail.com Pastoral Team Leadership Chair-Paul Lisspliss@newwis.com Finance Council Chair-Peg Berezewski mberezewski@robertmorris.edu Deacon David Kowalski-inoiamdjk@yahoo.com Health & Wellness Committee livinghealthyisaprayer@gmail.com Parish Membership Stella Maris Parish is delighted when new people want to join our parish and gladly welcomes them into our faith community. Contact the parish office. Infant Baptism The baptism of new babies and young children revitalizes our faith community. Please contact the parish office to make arrangements for baptism. Adult Initiation The Catholic Church is always enriched whenever any adult chooses to be Catholic. Adults wishing to be baptized, or baptized adults wishing to be confirmed, the RCIA program is available. Reconciliation God s great mercy is something to be celebrated. Ritually we Catholics experience God s unconditional love in the sacrament of reconciliation. Our pastor is available for this sacrament on the 1st Thursday of the month from 5:00-6:00 pm at our Baileys Harbor site (except holidays) and by appointment. Sacrament of Matrimony A faith-filled wedding is a joyful time for the couple and the parish. Our parish wants to have all weddings here be the best possible. The couple must meet with the pastor before a date can be reserved. Please contact the parish office at least 12 months in advance to begin preparation. Ministry to the Sick Everyone needs extra compassion and care when his or her health is not at its best. As a parish, we try to meet that need. Communal anointing Masses take place twice yearly, with individual anointing done when requested. Parishioners in the hospital, nursing home or other institution are encouraged to notify the office to arrange for visits or communion. Devotions MORNING PRAYER: Monday-8:00 am, Fish Creek SCRIPTURE CLASS: Tuesday mornings after the 8:00 am Mass in Sister Bay. Please join us for a closer look and discussion on the Book of Revelations. Visitors are always welcome. ROSARY: Tuesday-Noon in Baileys Harbor. Rosary for Life-2nd Tuesday of month, Noon, Baileys Harbor RECONCILIATION: Usually the 1ST Thursday of the month from 5-6 pm in Baileys Harbor or by appointment. Please cut out this coupon and present it next time you Patronize One of our Advertisers. Thank You for advertising in the Stella Maris Parish church bulletin. I am patronizing your business because of it! Offertory Contributions Dec. 9-10, 2017 Actual Budget Stewardship Envelopes $ 4, $ 6, ACH $ $ WeShare $ $ Offertory $ $ 1, Totals $ 6, $ 8, /18 Actual YTD $330, /18 Budget YTD $336, /17 Actual YTD $320, Total Attendance last week-430