A Savior has been born for you

Transcription

1 Nativity of Mary Church and School E 36th Terrace Independence, MO Parish: (816) School: (816) Web: My attitude must be Christ s. - Philippians 2:5 Parish Staff Rev. Robert Stone, Pastor Mrs. Mary Parrish, Principal Melissa Clancy, Business Manager New Parishioners If you are new to our parish and would like more information please contact the Parish Office. Pastoral Care Sacraments for the Sick. Fr. Bob Stone, , ext. 404 December 24, 2017 Mass Schedule Monday: 8:30 a.m. Communion Service Weekday: 8:30 a.m. Tuesday - Friday Saturday: 4:00 p.m. Sunday: 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Holy Day: 8:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Confessions Saturday: 3:00 p.m. or by Appointment Pastoral visits to the Homebound and Hospitals. Paula Cassity, , ext. 401 Emergency Assistance Contact St. Mary s Food Pantry and Clothes Closet Youth Ministry Debbie Page, , ext. 408 School School, Early Childhood and Extended Care Carmen Wolfgeher, Sacrament Preparation Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, Confirmation, Adult Initiation (RCIA), and Matrimony Contact the parish office for information Music Ministry Maria Milazzo, , ext 407 Parish Ministry Council Chris Walter - Chair Diocesan Victim s Advocate Kathleen Chastain or chastain@diocesekcsj.org Ombudsman Jenifer Valenti, or JeniferValenti@att.net A Savior has been born for you

2 DECEMBER 24, THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS EVE MASS INTENTIONS Sat., Dec Vigil of the Fourth Sunday of Advent 4:00PM + O.L & Kathryn Nauser & Harold Knipp Sunday, Dec The Fourth Sunday of Advent 9:30AM Sunday + Don Hodes Christmas Eve Mass + Al & Mary Flowers, Barney Breunig + Jackie Crabtree & Lucille Payne Monday, December 25 - Christmas Midnight Mass 12:00AM + Jay Totta & Caterina DiGaetano Monday, December 25 - Christmas 10:00AM + Caterina DiGaetano & Daniel Rich Tuesday, December 26 - St. Stephen, the first martyr + Virginia McMenamy Wednesday, December 27 - St. John the Apostle + Elvera Hensley, Alice & James Turner & The Poor Souls in Purgatory Thursday, December 28 - The Holy Innocents + Oscar Byrd & Mary Therese Carroll Friday, December 29 - St. Thomas Becket 8:30am + Don Hodes Sat., Dec Vigil of the Feast of the Holy Family 4:00PM + Sir Knight Harold D. Knipp Sunday, December 31 - The Feast of the Holy Family 8:00AM 10:30AM + Harold Knipp + Al Flowers & Caterina DiGaetano A CHILD HAS BEEN BORN FOR US, A SON IS GIVEN TO US; AUTHORITY RESTS UPON HIM; AND HE IS NAMED JESUS. READINGS OF THE WEEK FOR DECEMBER 26-31, 2017 Monday: Vigil: Is 62:1-5; Ps 89:4-5, 16-17, 27-29; Acts 13:16-17, 22-25; Mt 1:1-25 [18-25] During the Night: Is 9:1-6; Ps 96:1-3, 11-13; Ti 2:11-14; Lk 2:1-14 Dawn: Is 62:11-12; Ps 97:1, 6, 11-12; Ti 3:4-7; Lk 2:15-20 Day: Is 52:7-10; Ps 98:1-6; Heb 1:1-6; Jn 1:1-18 [1-5, 9-14] Tuesday: Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59; Ps 31:3cd-4, 6, 8ab, 16bc, 17; Mt 10:17-22 Wednesday: 1 Jn 1:1-4; Ps 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12; Jn 20:1a, 2-8 Thursday: 1 Jn 1:5 -- 2:2; Ps 124:2-5, 7cd-8; Mt 2:13-18 Friday: 1 Jn 2:3-11; Ps 96:1-3, 5b-6; Lk 2:22-35 Saturday: 1 Jn 2:12-17; Ps 96:7-10; Lk 2:36-40 Sunday: Sir 3:2-6, or Gn 15:1-6; 21:1-3; Ps 128: 1-5 or Ps 105:1-6, 8-9; Col 3:12-21 [12-17] or Hb 11:8, 11-12, 17-19; Lk 2:22-40 [22, TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION Children of the parish are somewhat focused on Santa Claus these days, who is keeping an eye on who's naughty and who's nice. Santa Claus, with his heavenly patron Saint Nicholas, has been more or less in charge of gift-giving to American children for a hundred years or so. In other places, perhaps more attentive to our Christian tradition, there are different gift-bearers. In Greece, Saint Basil delivers the presents on his feast day, December 31, and makes sure everyone is sprinkled with holy water. The Baby Jesus is in charge elsewhere, called the Christkind in Austria and Belgium, El Niño Jesús in Columbia, and Le Petit Jesus in France, where he shares his duties with Père Noël. In the Czech Republic almost everyone is atheist, but Jeíek, the infant Jesus, brings gifts to one and all. In Poland the "Star Man" is said to bring the gifts, although often he turns out to be the village priest in disguise. Saint Nicholas, not his Americanized cousin, is the giver in Holland, where he wears a bishop's miter, and in Russia, where he wears a bishop's crown. Soviet Russia tried to dethrone Saint Nicholas and promote Grandfather Frost, but no one was much fooled by this attempt to squeeze religion out of Christ's birth. One country has a saintly woman in charge of the gifts, Saint Lucy, honored in Sweden on December 13, when children serve their parents breakfast in bed, and others awake to news that they have been nominated for a Nobel Prize. Some children have a second round of gifts on Epiphany, when the magi assume the gift-giving duties. In general, the gifts of Christmas are simple pleasures, not great heaps of treasures. Once upon a time, a new pair of socks or an orange was enough for us. No matter what gifts we receive, all of them are to point us to the true gift, and the true giver. -Rev. James Field, Copyright (c) J. S. Paluch Co.

3 DECEMBER 24, PARISH NEWS Did You Know By changing to LED lighting the school alone saved over $600 in electric bills the first, month? The Fr. James L Wallace Knights of Columbus Council #6794 will be conducting a 5 Sunday Month Family Rosary Program and Corporate Communion Mass at Nativity on Sunday, December 31 st in conjunction with the 10:30 a.m. Mass. All parishioners are welcome to participate. The Rosary will begin at 10:05 a.m. with the Corporate Communion Mass beginning at 10:30 a.m. after praying of the Rosary by the Knights and the Nativity congregation. The Knights of Columbus Council #6794 leadership and its members want to take this opportunity to express its sincerest gratitude and appreciation to the members of Nativity of Mary parish for their interest and support of the council s events and activities throughout the year. The council also owes a debt of gratitude to Fr. Stone and the Nativity parish administration and staff for their time in planning and assisting with the councils events. Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year to Fr. Stone, Nativity parish staff and the parishioners of Nativity of Mary parish from the Knights of Columbus Council #6794. NATIVITY OF MARY CONTRIBUTION REPORT 12/9/2017 & 12/10/2017 Envelopes $ 7, Plate $ Worship Space $ 7, Pisces Fund $ 3, Utility Fund $ EFT $ 1, Credit Card $ - Online Giving $ Poor Box $ Total $ 20, Tuition/Registration Fees $ 9, Holy Day $ Religious Retirement $ PLEASE PRAY FOR: Vern/Margaret Ault Cynthia/Dennis Jones Grace Rottinghaus Maxine Breunig Paula Kienberger Mike Singleton Steve Christensen George Lambros Patrick Singleton John Clarke Dan Mangold Bernice/Norm Steffen Kelly Cook Betty Mascal George Timko, Jr. Bob DeSchepper Jack McEnroe Annette Torbert Roni Durkee Mary Pappas John Tuccillo Mary Enyart Juan/Mary Perez Mary Vitt Garry Gagnon Carlos Pinon Carol Byrd Weaver Barbara Garrett Steve Reasoner Alyssa Webb Mike Guthrie Mike Rooney Beth Whorton Marla Herbst Justin Rothove Daniel Wheeler Vicky Hohlbaugh Jeromy Rothove Ayden Wright The 25th annual Support Our Seminarians Benefit Dinner Dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe, Queen of the Americas Friday, January 26, :30-10:00 p.m. Union Station, 30 West Pershing Road, Kansas City, Missouri This event benefits seminarians from the Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kansas, the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph and Conception Seminary College. It promises to be an evening filled with fun and laughter, celebrating our Catholic faith, dining on wonderful food, and socializing with our priests and seminarians! We have wonderful speakers this year, Archbishop James P. Kelleher, Archbishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kansas, Fr. Jerry Arano-Ponce, and Paul Sappington who is in Pre-Theology II at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis. The reservation price is $175 per person at tables of ten people. To reserve your place, or an entire table, or donate to the marketplace or VIP silent auction, contact: Martha Hodes ( or mmmhsos512@gmail.com. Check our new website: We have 2 wheelchairs and hearing assist devices available for your use during mass. Please contact an usher. Gluten-free hosts are available. Talk to Fr. Bob before Mass.

4 DECEMBER 24, JANUARY 14, 2018 CALENDAR 24 9:30AM Mass for 4th Sunday of Advent Mass Christmas Eve 12:00AM Midnight Mass 10:00AM Mass Christmas Day 25 9AM - Quilters 7PM - RCIA PM - Theology on Tap Confession 4:00PM Mass 30 8:00AM Mass 10:30AM Mass 31 January 1 Communion Serv. 2 9AM - Quilters 6PM - PTO Mtg. 3 7PM - Altar Society Meeting 4 9AM-Noon Eucharistic Adoration 5 Confession 4:00PM Mass 6 7PM - RCIA 8:00AM Mass 10:30AM Mass 7 Communion Serv. Noon - 2PM 8 9AM - Quilters 7PM - RCIA 9 7PM Choir Rehearsal :30PM - PTO Mtg 7PM Ministry Council 12 Confession 4:00PM Mass 13 7PM - Book Club Coping with Life Alone Peer-to-Peer Grief Support Coping with Life Alone is a Beginning Experience grief support program that meets each week for 7 weeks. The program helps those who have lost a love relationship due to death, divorce or separation, move through the experience of grief and loss into a future with renewed hope. St. John Francis Regis Church 8941 James A Reed Road, KCMO Sundays, January 14 through February 25th Sessions will be from 1:30-3:30 p.m. Contact Donna at for information and registration. Please continue to recycle your junk mail, office papers, newspapers, etc. Our recycle bin is in the south parking lot behind school. Please save pop tabs, boxtops and Best Choice barcodes for our school. You can drop them off at the school or church. Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet Mission Advancement Part-time Job Opening The Kansas City Mission Advancement Office of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, St. Louis Province, has an opening for a part-time Mission Advancement Assistant. The Mission Advancement Assistant is responsible for providing administrative support to the Kansas City Mission Advancement Office, reporting to the Kansas City Regional Director of Mission Advancement. The successful candidate will have experience in Microsoft Office, internet, ability to learn and use fund-raising software program, knowledge of basic accounting, planning, categorizing and filing, excellent oral and written communication skills. Before applying, please read entire job posting at: Please apply directly broberts@csjsl.org Applications will be accepted until January 15, 2018

5 SCHOOL - DECEMBER 24, 2017 St. Theresa High School Placement Test Eighth grade girls are invited to take the HSPT at St. Teresa s Academy on Saturday, January 6, Test takers should check-in at 8:15 a.m. in the Windmoor Center (lace-wrapped building). Pizza and drawings for great prizes will be provided immediately following the test. All students applying for admission into the freshman class are required to take this test. The staff and students of the school would like to wish the parishioners of Nativity of Mary a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! We appreciate each and every one of you, and we are very grateful for your support! To register, please visit the St. Teresa s Academy website at and fill out either the online or downloadable application (HSPT registration is part of the application). St. Teresa s Academy is a Catholic, college preparatory high school sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, and committed to excellence in the education of young women. Contact Roseann Hudnall, Admissions Director, at or rhudnall@stteresasacademy.org with questions. Rooted in Faith. Growing in Knowledge. Serving Others.

6 DECEMBER 24, THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT Fullness is an experience we glimpse only briefly in this world. Once in a while, the tank is full of gas, the pantry shelves are stocked, our appetites are completely satisfied. But then the world keeps spinning, and we have to search out more gas, more groceries, more food. God designed us to be satisfied with nothing less than eternity; God alone provides fullness. Today's readings praise God for being everything, at all times, to everyone. King David learns that God alone has the power to order history to fulfill the divine plan. Saint Paul praises God's glory "forever and ever" for bringing salvation not just to the Israelites, but to all nations. Sweetest of all, Mary learns that God has filled her with grace. Mary is uniquely capable of holding God's fullness in her flesh--a fullness so vibrant that it becomes a child, our Lord Jesus Christ. POSSIBILITIES "What could happen?" That question affects each of us differently. Some of us are thrill-seekers, diving into unfamiliar territory with no regard for obstacles or dangers; others have learned from painful experience that the future may hold suffering or disaster. This last, brief Sunday of Advent emboldens us. Our readings remind us that our God is the God of possibilities. And while God's care does not guarantee that we will not encounter suffering, we can absolutely count on God's power to raise us to glory. GLORY BE! Truly, God creates us for glory. The burdens of daily life can shrink our hopes, but we must remember that we are made for nothing less than infinite glory. Who could have believed that the beleaguered Israelite nation could defeat all of its enemies? And yet our first reading today proclaims that God gave David "rest from his enemies on every side." Who could hope to unify the entire world in obedience to one Messiah? And yet Saint Paul insists that the "only wise God" has revealed salvation through Jesus to all people. Who could expect one young woman to decide the course of human history? And yet the angel tells Mary that her yes will establish a kingdom to endure forever. We know, of course, that Israel did not maintain its peace. Even today, that area of the world is far from stable. We also recognize the wide variety of world religions that do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as the true savior. Though God has set us on the path to fullness and glory, we are still broken. Our danger lies not in hoping for too much, but in trusting too little in God. God can resurrect any darkness--replacing terror with peace, healing ancient wounds, uniting families, bringing stability to chaos. This is the message of Christmas. God can, and will, do everything to cover the world in love. Copyright (c) J. S. Paluch Company In today s Gospel reading we hear proclaimed the story of the Annunciation, when the angel of the Lord announced to Mary that she would give birth to Christ through the intercession of the Holy Spirit. Mary allowed God s messenger to speak to her. She was attentive, not afraid to enter into a dialogue, then unconditionally obedient. Mary s acceptance of this mystery is a stewardship model for us. Good stewards remain open to the incursions of divine life into the normal course of their daily lives. How open are we to the promptings of the Holy Spirit in our own lives? What might we do this last week of Advent to be more attentive to the Lord? Catholic Stewardship December 2017 e-bulletin In the midst of a season of abundance, do not forget the poor in our community. The Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph is committed to combating sexual abuse in the Church. If you are a victim of sexual abuse, or if you observe or suspect sexual abuse: 1. Call the Missouri Child Abuse Hotline at (if the victim is currently under the age of 18), and 2. Contact your local law enforcement agency or call 911, and 3. After reporting to these civil and law enforcement authorities, report suspected sexual abuse of a minor or vulnerable adult to the Diocesan Ombudsman, Jenifer Valenti, at or JeniferValenti@att.net, if the abuse involves a priest, deacon, employee or volunteer of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph. The Diocese has a sincere commitment to providing care and healing resources to victims of sexual abuse and their families. Please contact Victim Advocate, Kathleen Chastain, at or chastain@diocesekcsj.org for more information.

7 I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you. Luke 2:10-11 A Blessed and Merry Christmas! Fr. Bob and The Staff of Nativity Parish and School