Fourth Sunday of Advent. December 24th, ST. PAUL THE APOSTLE CATHOLIC PARISH AND CATHOLIC SCHOOL

Transcription

1 ST. PAUL THE APOSTLE CATHOLIC PARISH AND CATHOLIC SCHOOL 18 N Woodlawn Joliet, Il Parish Office: Parish Fax School: Religious Education Youth Ministry: RCIA (Roberta Lemke) Parish parishsec@stpauljoliet.com Saturday: Sunday: Weekday mass: Wednesdays Holy Days: MASS SCHEDULE 4:30 PM 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 10:30 AM 7:30 AM Monday through Friday except 8:15 AM when school is in session Varies by Holy Day of Obligation The Catechism of the Catholic Church clearly states that On Sundays and other holy days of obligation the faithful are bound to participate in the Mass (#2180) and goes on to state that Those who deliberately fail in this obligation commit a grave [mortal] sin. (#2181) Saturday: SACRAMENT OF PENANCE 8:30 am or by appointment BAPTISMS Baptisms are scheduled on the Second Sunday of the month at 11:30 AM based on parental requests. Participation in a Parent Preparation Program is mandatory before the baptism of the child. Our preparation Program is held on the first Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM. Attendance at Sunday Mass on the day of the Baptism is Mandatory. Please call the Parish office to schedule a baptism. WEDDINGS All weddings are scheduled by the Pastor of the Parish. Office staff cannot schedule a wedding and a wedding is not considered to be officially scheduled until the couple receives written confirmation from the Pastor of the Parish. Couples desiring to be married need to speak directly with the Pastor BEFORE reserving a hall. Only the Bride or Groom may request a date for their wedding. Diocesan policy requires that a 6 month (minimum) preparation process be completed prior to the celebration of all weddings. Weddings are not scheduled on Sundays. R.C.I.A. The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is an ongoing formation process for adults who are interested in becoming a Catholic and adult Catholics who would like to receive the sacraments of Confirmation and/or First Eucharist. Please call the Parish Office for additional information. ANOINTING OF THE SICK Parishioners who are seriously or critically ill, or have surgery scheduled should receive the Sacrament of Anointing and Healing. Please call the parish office to request this sacrament. Regular visits are also made by our Pastoral Staff and Ministers of Care to bring Holy Communion to hospitalized or homebound parishioners. Anyone desiring such a visit should call the Parish Office. PARISH REGISTRATION New parishioners are always welcome! You may register in person or by calling the Parish Office. Rev. John Klein, Pastor, Ext. 243, frjohn@stpauljoliet.com Rev. John Belmonte, S.J., Resident, Ext. 230 Rev. James Lennon, Weekend Celebrant Deacon John Freund, jfreund@dioceseofjoliet.org Michele Kmety, Parish Secretary, Ext. 200 parishsec@stpauljoliet.com Joe Stengele, Business Manager, Ext. 203 jstengele@stpauljoliet.com Al Kramerich, Facilities Manager, Ext. 407 akramerich@thestpaulschool.org Corie Alimento, Principal, Ext. 401 calimento@thestpaulschool.org Jennifer Jones D.R.E., Ext. 301 jjones@stpauljoliet.com Jeremy Hylka, Dir. Of Liturgy & Youth Min. Ext. 320 jhylka@stpauljoliet.com Lydia Saldanha Director of Music, Ext. 202 lsaldanha@stpauljoliet.com Fourth Sunday of Advent December 24th, stpauljoliet

2 FROM FATHER JOHN: Now there were shepherds in that region living in the ields and keeping the night watch over their lock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said to them, Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will ind an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests. (Luke 2:8-14) Merry Christmas!!! The world is illed with excitement, joy and awe as we celebrate Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I cannot begin to tell you how much I love celebrating Christmas with all of you as we gather together to celebrate the Sacred Liturgy, giving thanks to God for all the graces that He has bestowed upon us this year. Christmas season is always a time of such great joy, wonderment, festivity, good cheer and excitement. The Shepherds hearts and souls were illed with this joy, wonderment and excitement when the angel appeared before them announcing that a Savior was born. So much so, that they immediately left where they were at to Journey to Bethlehem (King David s city) to see the infant. When the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us. So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, re lecting on them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them. (Luke 2:15-20) C.S. Lewis wrote in Mere Christianity that if we Look for Christ and you will ind Him. And with Him, everything else. The shepherds looked for Christ and found Him and they knew that they had found everything. We need to do, during this Christmas season, the same thing that the shepherds did so long ago. We need to look for Christ as they did! God Himself came to dwell among us as our brother, our wonder counselor, our redeemer and our savior. Christmas is a celebration of the mystery, wonder and beauty of the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus. It is a great mystery that puzzles us; it puzzles us with the paradox of the God of Gods, the Lord of Lords, the King of Kings entering into our human condition, becoming like us in every way except sin. The following is from Pope St. John Paul II s Christmas homily at Midnight Mass Homily in the year On this night, the ancient yet ever new proclamation of the Lord s birth rings out. It rings out for those keeping watch, like the shepherds in Bethlehem two thousand years ago; it rings out for those who have responded to Advent s call and who, waiting watchfully, are ready to welcome the joyful tidings which in the liturgy become our song: Today is born our Savior. The Christian people keep watch; the entire world keeps watch on this Christmas night this proclamation, with its inexhaustible power to renew us, echoes once more on this holy night with special force: this is the Christmas of the Great Jubilee, a living remembrance of Christ s two thousand years, of his wondrous birth, which marked the new beginning of history. Today the Word was made lesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). Today. On this night, time opens to eternity, because you, O Christ, are born among us, coming from on high. You came to birth from the womb of a Woman blessed among all women, you the Son of the Most High. Once and for all your holiness made all time holy: the days, the centuries, the millennia. By your birth, you have turned time into the today of salvation. We celebrate Christmas because we have received the greatest gift in the history of the human race, in the history of the entire universe. In the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus, in the birth of the baby Jesus, we receive the gift of sharing in the Divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share in our Humanity. We receive the gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus. And this gift, my friends, is what makes Christmas so very, very special. My hope for you and your family is that Christmas brings you an ever-deeper relationship with the Lord our God; a relationship that brings great joy, peace, wonder, and excitement into your life.

3 Fourth Sunday of Advent Christmas Eve - Sunday, December 24th 3:00 PM 5:00 PM 10:30 PM 9:30 PM A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols For more information please visit the Sunday, December 24th Fourth Sunday of Advent 8:30 am Mass Church 10:30 am Mass Church Vigil of The Nativity of The Lord 3:00 pm Christmas Eve Mass Church 5:00 pm Christmas Eve Mass Church 9:30 pm A Festival of 9 Lessons & Carols Church 10:30 pm Christmas Eve Mass Church Monday, December 25th The Nativity of The Lord 8:30 am Mass Church 10:30 am Mass Church Tuesday, December 26th No Mass Wednesday, December 27th 7:30 am Mass Church Thursday, December 28th 7:30 am Mass Church Friday, December 29th 7:30 am Mass Church Saturday, December 30th 4:30 pm Vigil Mass Church Sunday, December 31st The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph 7:30 am Mass Church 9:00 am Mass Church 10:30 am Mass Church Monday, January 1st The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God 9:00 am Mass Church Sunday Offering In Pew Offering-Sunday, December 17, 2017 $ 9, On Line Giving-Sunday, December $ 6, In Pew Offering Weekly Budget. $ 12, Weekly Overage December 17, $ 3, Monthly Total Budget..$ 72, Thank you for your generous support of our parish. God bless you and your family! Christmas Day Monday, December 25 8:30 AM 10:30 AM The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph Sunday, December 31st 7:30 AM 9:00 AM 10:30 AM The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God Monday, January 1st 9:00 AM The Parish Office will be closed December 22nd through December 26th and December 28th through January 1st. There will not be Eucharistic Adoration during this time. LITURGICAL SCHEDULE week of December 24th MONDAY 12/25 The Nativity of the Lord 8:30 AM Intention of the Celebrant 10:30 AM Intention of the Celebrant TUESDAY 12/26 Saint Stephen No Mass WEDNESDAY 12/27 Saint John 7:30 AM Thomas Devine THURSDAY 12/28 The Holy Innocents 7:30 AM Helen Klein FRIDAY 12/29 Fifth Day within the Octave of the Nativity of The Lord 7:30 AM James Allegretti SATURDAY 12/30 Vigil of The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph 4:30 PM Louise Cordano SUNDAY 12/31 The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph 7:30 AM The People of St. Paul the Apostle 9:00 AM Lorenzo J. Filetti 10:30 AM Dr. Mark Robbin

4

5 The Staff and Faculty of St. Paul the Apostle School Wish you and your families a very Blessed Christmas and a very Happy New Year! ONE IN FAITH ONE IN SERVICE ONE IN CHRIST Invest in Kids Act The General Assembly has passed the Invest in Kids Act (Senate Bill 1947) which helps fund non-public education in the State of Illinois. This new school choice legislation has the potential to cover up to 100 percent of tuition and fees at Catholic schools beginning next school year. This is a great opportunity for families who are interested in Catholic education but never thought it would be financially possible. The tuition and fee payments will not be made through state funds, rather through corporate donations totaling $100 million. The Empower Illinois Scholarship Granting Organization has been chosen to oversee and manage this process. Empower Illinois has information available on their website at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic School will be hosting a parent presentation to explain this comprehensive legislation to anyone interested in transferring to a Catholic school as a result of this new legislation. Please join us on Tuesday, January 9 th at 6:30pm in the Activity Center for this special presentation. Please call St. Paul the Apostle Catholic School with any questions in advance of the meeting at

6 The Entire FOLLOW Youth Ministry wishes you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year Upcoming Important Dates: January MARCH FOR LIFE IN DC Address: FOLLOW Youth Ministry Center 120 Woodlawn, Joliet, St. Paul Convent Phone: youth@followym.com Web: followym.com Facebook: facebook.com/followym Twi er: followyouthmin Instagram: followym Snapchat: followyouth February FOLLOW RETREAT April 7 - WORSHIP NIGHT CONCERT WITH CHRIS TOMLIN & MATT MAHER June CATHOLIC HEART MISSION TRIP TOLWAUKEE The Religious Education staff and catechists wish you a very blessed Christmas. May the wondrous Christmas gift of God s love fill your hearts. Confirmation 2018 news... There are no REP classes on December 25th and January 1st, Classes will resume on January 8th Confirmation 2018 has been set for Tuesday, May 8 at 6:30 pm with Fr. John presiding. Confirmation practice will be held on Tuesday, May 1 at 6 pm in the Church. Fourth Sunday of Advent 24 December 2017 Secret no more. What may have seemed a big secret, is made known over time by spending time with God (prayer and quiet) and faithful activity (mercy works). As with Blessed Mary long ago, the Holy Spirit is doing something in me, calling me to something important. Can I name it? Will I say yes to it after prayer as Mary did? What does God want me to say or do? How will the Holy Spirit help? Will I do it?

7 Because we are human, we get sick. Sometimes, it s just sniffles or the flu. Many times it s an illness that causes us or one of our loved ones to find that getting to Church is difficult or is not possible. Our Ministers of Pastoral Care are a special group of Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion who visit our homebound parishioners with Holy Communion. If you or someone you know is unable to attend church to receive The Eucharist please contact Anne Prock at or contact Michele in the parish office at St. Paul the Apostle Rosary Group invites you to join them every Friday morning after the 7:30 am Mass in the cry room. Everyone is welcome! The Rosary is the weapon against the evils of today. St. Padre Pio GOD S HOUSE OUR HOME Thank you to all parishioners who have completed and submitted their Commitment Card to the church. For those parishioners who have not yet had the opportunity to submit their card, a letter will be mailed to you with a personalized Commitment Card. It is important that all parishioners complete a Commitment Card as we will be mailing out a Summary Report of the program and need all commitments accounted for in this report. If you have any questions, please contact the parish business office. We also encourage all parishioners to consider our electronic giving method and to setup your reoccurring offertory gifts electronically. Visit our parish websitewww.stpauljoliet.com and click on the online giving link. Please remember the following people in your prayers who are seriously ill or who are suffering from long-term illnesses: Marjorie Aschenbrenner Erin Bartel Patrick Bernard Mason Briese Doug Brusatte Vonna Cantu Eka Cox Laura Criel Judy Damyen Arlene Donohue Harn Family Dorothy Fonza Susan Gentile Matt Gross Judy Hadala Sami Henderson James Hickey Jr. Ann Juhlmann Mary Kaplan Ed Kasheimer Tanja Kempes Rosalee Kinman Mary Lou Kozar Christine Krause Carol Lamirand Brunch Lehman Helen Locher John Matejcak Mike McGowan Sheila Mellor Terry Meyer Maria Moroz John Mowbray Jeanie Nunuue Kurt Palmer Norman Pieper December 30th and 31st Amy Remallard Lorraine Rutkoski Bruce Rutkoski Sr. Lisa Savero Richard Schreiner Kaden Siegel Lorenzo Siletti Tony Simone Paityn Sims Jennifer Stephen JoAnn Sulaica The Sullivan Family Louis Toka Salvatore Ventura Norma Weibel William Wheeler TIME LECTORS EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS ALTAR SERVERS 4:30 pm Roberta Lemke Nancy Suligoy, Janet Militello, Julia Pultorak Abbie Ardaugh, Kyle Simon, Joseph Anzalone, Karen Anzalone Andrew Ardaugh 7:30 am Alice Henderson NOT FILLED, Linda Deiss, Carol Lukowski, Josh Ballantine, Josh Clark Anne Prock, Pat Stroud 8:30 am David Bailey Thomas Bailey, Frank Theobald, Lori Nichols, Emily Bolek, Jenna Bolek, Anne Theobald, Dave Lagger Maura Gregurich 10:30 am Carol Nowak Sunny Hobbs, Annette DeLaurenti, Bill Bayci, Elizabeth Kistinger, Lillie Scherf Sandra Graham, Patsy Boadach Daniel Schalk

8 CHURCH NAME AND ADDRESS St. Paul the Apostle Church # Woodlawn Avenue Joliet, IL TELEPHONE # 203 CONTACT PERSON Michele Kmety SOFTWARE MSPublisher 2010 Adobe Acrobat X Windows 7 PRINTER Brother MFC 8480 TRANSMISSION TIME Tuesday, April 25 SUNDAY DATE OF PUBLICATION April 30, 2017 NUMBER OF PAGES SENT 1 through 8 SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS