Weekly Schedule: December 9, 2012 Sunday, December 9 Second Sunday of Advent Bar 5:1-9; Ps 126; Phil 1:4-6, 8-11; Lk 3:1-6

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2 Weekly Schedule: December 9, 2012 Sunday, December 9 Second Sunday of Advent Bar 5:1-9; Ps 126; Phil 1:4-6, 8-11; Lk 3:1-6 Breakfast with Santa after 7:45 7:45 am (Fr. Scott Winchel) Mass for the People and 10:30 Masses PH 10:30 am (Fr. Jerry Ragan ) Cecilia Downen CCD 9:00 am - 10:15 am SMCS Fr. Charlie s 85 Birthday Party after 12:15 pm (Fr. Charles Hughes) Dick Mulherin 12:15 Mass PH 17 th Anniversary Church League Basketball Practice 6:00 pm (Fr. David Arnoldt) Ann Turbyfill 1:30-5:30 pm G Most Rev. Bishop Gregory John Hartmayer, OFM Conv / Timothy Eyrich, First Theology* Monday, December 10 Is 35:1-10; Lk 5: :00 am Patty & Peggy Armstrong Knox Buckley Tuesday, December 11 Memorial of St. Damasus I, Pope Is 40:1-11; Mt 18:12-14 or (Memorial: Acts 20:17-18a, 28-32, 36; Jn 15:9-17) 7:00 am Patricia Bearden MDO 9:00 am - 2:30 pm SA Senior Mass & Luncheon 10:30 am PH Edith Moore SMCS Basketball Practice 3:00-7:45 pm G A = SJC Atrium AC= Adoration Chapel AH=Annunciation House MR1=Meeting Room 1 MR2=Meeting Room 2 YC=Youth Center (1 st Floor) Senior Center Open 9:00 am - 2:30 pm MDO 9:00 am - 2:30 pm SA Walking Aerobics 9:00 am PH Bridge 10:00 am SC Rev. Francis Pellissier, GHM & Very Rev. Gerald Ragan, VF / Patrick Tunnell, First Theology* Rev. Kim Son Nguyen & Rev. Romanus Ezeugwu / Tony Visintainer, First Theology* Wednesday, December 12 Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe Zec 2:14-17 or Rev 11:19a, 12:1-6a, 10ab; Lk 1: :00 am Cathy Covert 5:15 pm Dick & Anne Chamberlain Saturday, December 15 Sir 48:1-4, 9-11; Mt 17:9a, Pat & Jim O Meara Church League Basketball Games 9:00 am - 3:00 pm G Irish American Christmas Dinner 12:00-11:00 pm PH 5:00 pm (Fr. Jerry Ragan) Myrtle T. Blount Reconciliation 3:45-4:45 pm C Baptisms celebrated during 5:00 Mass C Rev. Victor Seidel, ST & Rev. Brett Brannen / Anthony Mercer and Brian Nafarrete, First Pre-Theology* Sunday, December 16 Third Sunday of Advent Zep 3:14-18a; Is 12:2-3, 4, 5-6; Phil 4:4-7; Lk 3: :45 am (Fr. Scott Winchel) Mass for the People CCD 9:00 am - 10:15 am SMCS Baptisms 1:30 pm C 10:30 am (Fr. Michael Lubinsky) Jim Cullum Children s Liturgy during 10:30 Mass PH Men s Basketball 5:30-7:00 pm G Baptisms celebrated during 12:15 Mass C Deanery Spanish Mass 6:00 pm 12:15 pm (Fr. Jerry Ragan) Walter Stair Church League Basketball Practice at St. Joseph Church 6:00 pm (Fr. David Arnoldt) Shirley Dimenna 1:30-5:30 pm G Most Rev. Bishop J. Kevin Boland, DD & Rev. Xavier Kumbalaparampil / Rev. Mr. Jacob Almeter, Fourth Theology* BR= Bride Room C = Church CAF=SMS Cafeteria CL= SMS Computer Lab G = School Gym MC = SMS Media Center N = Nursery NX= Narthex O = Office PH= Parish Hall R = Rectory SA = St. Anne s Hall SMCS Commission 5:00 pm PH Rosary Ministry 6:00-8:00 pm AH Cursillo 7:30 pm SC Senior Center Open 9:00 am - 2:30 pm MDO 9:00 am - 2:30 pm SA Walking Aerobics 9:00 am PH Bridge & Christmas Party 9:30 am SC SMCS Basketball Practice 3:00-7:45 pm G Rev. John Johnson & Rev. Francis Patterson / Chris Hassel, Second Pre-Theology* Sequence 10:00 am SC Rosary & Miraculous Medal Novena 4:30 pm SJDC Legion of Mary 6:30 pm SA Cub Scouts 630-8:30 pm CAF SC= Senior Center SH = Scout Hut SJC = St. Joseph Center SJDC = St. Joseph Day Chapel SMCS = St. Marys Catholic School UR= SJC Upper Room Baptisms 1:30 pm C Men s Basketball 5:30-7:00 pm G Deanery Spanish Mass 6:00 pm at St. Joseph Church Middle School Youth Night 7:30-9:00 pm CAF/G High School Youth Night 6:30 pm YC Second Wednesday, Where Psychology Meets Christ 6:45 pm CL Parish Choir Rehearsal 7:30 pm PH Thursday, December 13 Memorial of St. Lucy, Virgin & Martyr Is 41:13-20; Mt 11:11-15 or (Memorial: 2 Cor 10:17--11:2; Mt ) 7:00 am Mary Cooney Rotchford Senior Center Open 9:00 am - 2:30 pm RCIA Our Lady of Guadalupe Dinner 8 th Anniversary MDO 9:00 am - 2:30 pm SA 6:30 pm PH Bridge 10:00 am SC Co-ed Vollelyball 7:00 pm G John Quinn Scarf Tying Class 11:00 am SC Prayer Group 7:30 pm SA SMCS Basketball Game 5:00 pm G Spirit & Truth 7:30 pm AH Youth Holy Hour 9:00-10:00 pm AC Rev. Donal Keohane & Rev. Lorenzo Garcia / Drew Larkin, Second Pre-Theology* Friday, December 14 Memorial of St. John of the Cross, Priest & Doctor of the Church Is 48:17-19; Mt 11:16-19 or (Memorial: 1 Cor 2:1-10a; Lk 14:25-33) 7:00 am Emerson Bussey, Jr Walking Aerobics 9:00 am PH (40 th Anniversary) SMCS Basketball Practice 3:00-7:45 pm G Mitchel & Lisa Bussey Celetic Christmas Program 7:00 pm PH Rev. Weston Lamb & Rev. Joseph Smith / Johnathon Brett and Patrick May, First Pre-Theology* *= Please pray daily for our Priests & Seminarians. =Deceased =Living St. Mary on the Hill December 9, 2012 The first reading at Mass today is from the Book of the Prophet Baruch. The Prophet is filled with hope and joy as he assures the Israelites in exile that God will bring them back to the holy city of Jerusalem. They are suffering very much because they are far from their homeland. But their return will be such a joyful event that even the mountains, the valleys, and the forests will do what they can to make the journey easier! In this beautiful vision of the future, the people have God s mercy and justice for company. Advent is a time for making progress on our faith journey. Take time to give thanks for God s mercy and justice in your life. For the people of Israel, coming home from exile was a joyful occasion. Fr. Dave Arnoldt quizzed the altar servers last Sunday about the meaning of the word Advent. The word Advent means to come. Usually we think of Advent as a time to prepare for the coming of Jesus. But we could also think of it as a time for us to come home to what? We can come home in a deeper way to our faith, hope, or love? Come home to our basic values? Come home to our family life? How can you come home to something deeper this Advent? How can you reclaim something you had lost or left behind? How can you return from exile? My coming home experience began during my recent trip to France. Early one morning I was praying before the Blessed Sacrament in Our Lady of Nazareth Chapel at a retreat house in Poissy near Paris. And Jesus gave me a very clear inner calling to give my heart more fully to his Mother. The call was to follow Mary s example and entrust myself completely to the love of God. It is a calling that I know will bring me a great amount of peace. A few days later, I made a little pilgrimage that confirmed my experience at Poissy. It was to the mother house of the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul at 140 Rue du Bac in Paris. The Chapel there on a Tuesday afternoon had standing room only. It was not a small chapel but it was difficult to get in the door. This was the site where the novena of the miraculous medal began after St. Catherine Labouré had a vision of Mary Immaculate in The Church universal was present in that Chapel. There were people from Africa, Asia, and the Americas. They were young and old and all were drawn by the Blessed Mother to pray before the Blessed Sacrament. The scene moved me deeply and I thought of Our Lady of Guadalupe whose feast we celebrate this week. By now, I hope most American Catholics know the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Tradition says that Juan Diego was born in 1474 in Tlayacac, an Indian village fourteen miles north of Mexico City. Christianity was introduced into the area with the arrival of the Franciscan friars. Juan Diego and his wife, Maria Lucia, were among the earliest converts. They had no children, and Maria died in As a widower, Juan devoted more time to prayer and charity. On Saturday, December 9, 1531, walking the fifteen miles to Mass, at Tepeyac Hill Juan encountered a young Indian Lady clothed as a pregnant Aztec goddess. Telling Juan she was the Virgin Mary, she directed him to go to Bishop Juan de Zumarraga and ask that a shrine be built in her honor on this very spot. When the bishop was skeptical, Juan suggested that Mary choose a better speaker, but she sent him back. The bishop asked for a sign. He was finally convinced after seeing a replica of the Aztec Mary on Juan s tilma and cascading from it Castilian roses gathered from the barren Tepeyac Hill. This tilma is still venerated in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City. Juan spent the rest of his life in a hermitage by the shrine. Because of his humility and his love for the Virgin, eight million indigenous people converted to Christianity and the Basilica is a world-renowned place of worship. Juan s life demonstrates that God reveals his Truth to and through little ones. Juan Diego was canonized in 2002, and December 9th was declared his feast day. What s so awesome about this story is that Juan Diego was obedient and faithful even when things weren t going well in his life. Because of his trials his virtue shone even brighter. Eight million Mexicans converted to Catholicism because of the miraculous image of Our Lady, who pointed them toward the true God, her Son. This huge conversion began in 1531, a time when the Protestant reformation was going on in Europe and millions were leaving the faith. In 1999, Pope John Paul II, during his third visit to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, declared the date of December the 12th as a Liturgical Holy Day for the whole continent. During the same visit Pope John Paul II entrusted the cause of life to her loving protection, and placed under her motherly care the innocent lives of children, especially those who are in danger of not being born. She is the Patroness of the Unborn and The Americas and her feast day is celebrated on Wednesday, December 12th. 1. Who are God s little ones? How can I be one of them? 2. How does God use me to bring faith and peace? 3. How can I draw others to Jesus? 4. Where can I establish a hermitage where I can encounter Jesus and Mary?

3 S t e w a r d s h i p December 9, 2012 Parish Stewardship of Treasure Week of 12/2/2012 FY13 Year to Date FY12 Year to Date Contributions $ 89,978 $ 1,624,695 $ 1,6,49,221 Children s $ 77 $ 1,319 $ - Stock/Other $ - $ 49,585 $ 55,508 Total $ 90,055 $ 1,675,599 $ 1,704,729 Budget $ 77,250 $ 1,699,500 $ 1,699,500 Surplus (Deficit) $ 12,805 $ (23,901) $ 5,229 Bequest $ - $ - $ - Memorials/Donations $ 35 $ 3,580 $ 3,570 Special Collections $ 505 $ 18,969 $ 17, (7 thru the website) of 2485 families and 36 children donated the week of November 25, Stewardship Reflection Second Sunday of Advent Today s scripture readings remind us that as we celebrate the Advent season and await the celebration of Christmas, we are to do so actively boldly proclaiming the Lord s praises and giving Him glory in the way we live our lives. Advent is a season of waiting, but the wait is not a passive one. Rather, we are called to be actively preparing the meet the Savior, readying our hearts and our minds for His coming. The gospel for today encourages us, Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight His paths. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The winding roads shall be made straight and the rough made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God. But how do we do so? We live our lives for the Lord. We offer Him ourselves in W o r s h i p gratitude for the many things He has given us and the many things He has done, and, in so doing, we proclaim His greatness to the world, helping others come to recognize His wonder and His majesty. Bear on your head the mitre that displays the glory of the eternal name. For God will show all the earth your splendor: you will be named by God forever the peace of justice, the glory of God s worship. This Advent season offers us a time to reassess how well we are living for God. Is it obvious to everyone we meet that we are stewards of God s many gifts? Does the way we use what the Lord has given us proclaim His praises to the world? Are we ready to greet Him both as we celebrate Christmas and when we meet Him face-to-face when He comes again? Or is there more we can do? Family Advent Penance Service Other Advent Penance Services Thursday, December 13 St. Teresa of Avila 6:30 pm Thursday, December 13 St. Michael s 7:00 pm (Good Shepherd Chapel, Ft. Gordon) Monday, December 17 St. Joseph 7:00 pm Tuesday, December 18 Our Lady of Peace 7:00 pm All are welcome Contributions Please remember to have your 2012 yearly contributions in before December 31, Contributions received after January 1, 2013 will be dated as such. If you have any questions, concerning your pledge for 2012, please call the Parish Office before the end of the year, Retirement Fund for Religious Give to those who have given a lifetime. Senior catholic sisters, brothers, and religious order priests worked for many years for little, if any, pay. Their sacrifices now leave their religious communities without adequate savings for retirement. Your gift to today s second collection for the Retirement Fund for Religious helps to provide prescription medications, nursing care, and more for thousands of elderly religious. Please be generous. Envelopes were provided in your bi-monthly mailing. For more info visit Don t Forget to Turn in Your Commitment Card If you haven t returned your Commitment Card, you still can mail it to the parish. Returning your card is an important part of being an active member of St. Mary on the Hill. Please take this opportunity to express your support for our parish with your time, talent, and treasure! Thank you!! Holy Hour for Vocations Join the St John Vianney Vocations Ministry for our monthly Holy hour for Vocations following the 6:30 pm Mass at St Teresa of Avila Catholic Church on Monday, December 10. All are welcome. A r o u n d T h e D e a n e r y, D i o c e s e, & t h e a r e a Aquinas Christmas Presentation In 1897, 8 year old Virginia O Hanlon asked, Is there a Santa Claus? She had a few friends who were doubters. When she asked her father, he suggested she write to The Sun, a major New York City newspaper at the time. If you see it in The Sun, he promised her, it s so. So little Virginia wrote a letter that put editor Francis Church to the test since his newspaper only deals in cold, hard, facts. Come see how he answers her letter with the truth as AHS Drama and Choir present the charming one-act musical, Yes Virginia, along with holiday music and Christmas carols plus desserts, coffee, and hot chocolate on Sunday, December 9 in the Aquinas cafeteria at 7:00 pm. Tickets are $7.00 for adults and $5.00 for children. Christmas Choir Concert St. Teresa of Avila s Music Ministry will present a Christmas Choir Concert on Friday, December 14 at 7:00 pm in St. Teresa of Avila Church. The Christmas Choir will sing works by Handel, Johnson, Praetorius, and more followed by a dessert reception. Tickets will be available after Mass in St. Teresa s Narthex for a suggested donation of $3 for 1 or 2 for $5. All donations will go towards the Building Fund. Come join us for a fun evening of music and fellowship! For more information, please contact Kimberly (706) ext. 109 or kimberlyroach25@hotmail.com. Attention 8 th Grade Parents! Aquinas High School will be offering placement testing on one of the date below: February 2, :30-11:30 am All tests are administered at the high school with a $20 fee payable at the time of the test. Students who earn a composite score of 98 or 99 on a test administered in December may receive a $1,500 4-year renewable scholarship. Parents are invited to attend the Parent Forum during the first hour of the test sessions. Information about school programs will be presented by administrators, parents, and students. A question and answer session will follow. Due January 18, 2013: New Student Applications & Leadership Scholarship Applications Discover the Aquinas Advantage On-Line Certificate in Pastoral Theology in Spanish Directed to enrich the formation of catechetical and ministry leaders serving the Spanishspeaking community. Upon completion of 18 online courses, over a period of 3 years, the student earns a Certificate of Pastoral Theology from the School of Ministry of the University of Dallas. There are no academic or legal prerequisites in order to register. Registration open November 28 - December 10, The Annual tuition is $670 (or $56 a month) and includes 6 on-line courses per year and basic course books. There is a possibility of partial scholarships. For more information talk with your Pastor or contact the Office of Hispanic Ministry hm@diosav.org or call (912) Christmas Play!!!! The Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary and the children of St. Teresa of Avila (4921 Columbia Rd., Grovetown) present Christmas In America on Sunday, December 16 at 2:00 pm in St. Teresa s church sanctuary. A young Latino American family celebrates the birth of Jesus including their wonderful Mexican tradition of Las Posadas, the reenactment of Mary and Joseph looking for a place to stay in Bethlehem. Desserts and hot cocoa will be served after the show. A love offering will be taken up for a family in need. For more information contact Lorin Crawford , Brenda Collazo or Colette Keogh Save the Date!! The next Women s Retreat will be held Saturday, February 9, 2013, from 8:30 am - 3:30 pm at St. Teresa s. The topic will be the Unfinished Parable presented by Sisters Rosina Bayliss and Geraldyne Yerg. Tickets will be on sale in December and January. Save the Date The Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians (LAOH) and the Mens Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) will present an evening of food, Irish music and Irish fun on Saturday, February 23, 2013 at the Augusta Elks Lodge. The catered event will begin at 6:00 pm. The featured entertainment will be the Thistledown Tinkers - a powerful music duo featuring Trip Rogers and Tom Eure from N.C. Their music includes traditional and new Irish, Celtic and Scottish music. The Irish Dancers of Augusta will also be performing. Tickets can be purchased from any LAOH/AOH member through February 23, Only 300 tickets will be sold. Cost of the ticket is $25.00 per person. We look forward to presenting this show and hope you will join us in our celebration of Evening in Ireland. Contact Karen Brooks at (706) or kandvbrooks@yahoo.com for more information. Men s Vocation Discernment Retreat VIVA FIDES - Living Faith Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Macon Friday, December 14 - Saturday, December 15 For single men Catholic young man, what does it mean to live faithfully? How does living faithfully have everything to do with Jesus call in your life? Find more this Christmas break at our vocation retreat - Eucharistic liturgies, adoration, inspiring discussion, and prayer. For more information and register online at Advent Concert Series Sunday, December 16, 4:00 pm at the Church of Most Holy Trinity will feature The Cecilia Ensemble directed by Dr. Joel Scraper performing Advent Music of the Renaissance. Annual Retreat for Divorced Catholics Saturday, February 16 at Villa Marie Center in Savannah. Register on line or call the Family Life Office at Other half-day retreats will be held around the diocese later in the spring. More information is at Pro-Life WEEKLY: Every Saturday Morning, 9:00 AM through 12:00 noon- At a Preferred Health Center, 2903 Professional Parkway, the West Augusta abortion clinic, for prayer and silent witness. Please contact George Vozniak at or Charleen Luther at Every Wednesday 6:30-8:00 am, Prayer at Planned Parenthood. Every Saturday Morning, 10:00 am Mass at Most Holy Trinity (prayer for pro-life issues and anyone touched by abortion). MONTHLY: First Tuesday of each month - Pro- Life Rosary and Prayer - 11:30 am in front of Planned Parenthood, followed by Mass at the Most Holy Trinity at 12:15 pm. First Saturday of each month - Mass at Saint Mary on the Hill,, followed by a Pro-Life Rosary at Preferred Health Center (approximately 10:15 am) First and Third Fridays of each month - Crosswalk, a family pro-life gathering, from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm, at Planned Parenthood. Please contact Gary Garner, at Third Monday, 7:00 pm, Pro-Life Committee, Conference Room at St. Patrick s Hall, Most Holy Trinity. Contact Paul Rowan, Abortion Alternatives: Birthright of Augusta: LOVE; Birthright National: ; Augusta Care Pregnancy Center: ; Care Net/Heartbeat Hotline: HELP. Post Abortion Alternatives: Rachel s Vineyard: 877-HOPE-4-ME.

4 St. Mary on the Hill December 9, 2012 Youth Events December Calendar: 2 nd Sunday (9 th ) Master s Table Soup Kitchen (10:30 am - 1:00 pm) - MS Youth Night (7:30-9:00 pm) Wednesday (12 th ) HS Girls/Guys Group Thursday (13 th ) Youth Holy Hour Wednesday (19 th ) No HS Girls/Guys Group (Christmas Holiday) Thursday (20 th ) Youth Holy Hour 4 th Sunday (23 rd ) No MS Youth Night (Christmas Holiday) Wednesday (26 th ) No HS Girls/Guys Group (Christmas Holiday) Thursday (27 th ) Youth Holy Hour National March for Life in Washington, DC: We will leave Thursday, January 24 and return Sunday the 27 th. Call Michael to reserve your spot and get more info. Words for the Week How can we restore the culture of life in America? It s simple, really - not easy, but simple: by practicing our faith. ~ CatholicCulture.org Young Adult Ministry Spirit and truth Come and join us Thursdays from 7:30-9:15 pm at the Annunciation House (2561 Central Ave., on the corner of Central & Arsenal). Young Adult Adoration Hour We are covering the adoration chapel every Sunday, 1:00-2:00 pm. Come to pray and be with Jesus! Visit YAM website at or us at info@augustayam.com. EVOLVE Middle School Youth Night (6 th -8 th Grade) from 7:30-9:00 pm in the Gym Next one - This Sunday, December 9 usually 2 nd and 4 th Sundays after Youth Mass Food, P & W Music, Small Groups, Games Master s Table Soup Kitchen - Usually every Second Sunday (December 9). Come Serve at the Master s Table Soup Kitchen (behind the Civic Center). To serve, please Belinda at bwaters@knology.net. Call Michael for more info High School Youth Nights & Small Groups - Typically Wednesday Nights in the Youth Center (corner of Arsenal Ave. and Central Ave.) 6:30-7:30 pm - Girl s Small Groups; 7:30-8:30 pm - Girls & Guys - Eat, Play, Hang; 8:30-9:30 pm - Guy s Small Groups Upcoming Events for YAM Thursday, December 13 - Discussion led by former Executive Director of Golden Harvest Food Bank, Mike Firmin. And as always, we ll have dinner and adoration. Thursday, December 20: Christmas Party: White Elephant gift exchange! Augusta Y.A.M. is a Catholic ministry that seeks to bring all Christians into contact with Christ and His Church through events, fellowship, speakers, and ministries in the Augusta area. We offer opportunities for young adults to meet others with similar values, make new friends, have fun, and grow in faith. Y.A.M. is affiliated with the Diocese of Savannah and is supported by the parishes of the Augusta deanery. Movie Ratings The following movies have been evaluated by the Catholic News Service according to artistic merit and moral suitability. The reviews include the CNS rating and the Motion Picture Association of America rating. (see website Anna Karenina A-III adults. (R) Rise of the Guardians A-I general patronage (PG) The Collection O morally offensive (R) The Sessions O morally offensive (R) Flight O morally offensive (R) Skyfall A-III adults. (PG-13) Killing Them Softly O morally offensive (R) Somewhere Between A-II adults and adolescents (Not Life of Pi A-III adults. (PG) Rated) Lincoln A-III adults. (PG-13) The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn -- Part 2 A-III adults. The Man With the Iron Fists O morally offensive (R) (PG-13) Red Dawn L limited adult audiences, films whose Wreck-It Ralph A-II adults and adolescents (PG) problematic content many adults would find troubling (PG-13) St. Mary on the Hill December 9, 2012 Children s Liturgy Sunday, December 16, we will celebrate the Children s Liturgy of the Word during the 10:30 am Mass. This is for children in kindergarten, first or second grades who have not celebrated their First Communion. The children will begin the 10:30 am Mass with their parents and then will be dismissed and taken to the Parish Hall for their own age appropriate Liturgy of the Word. They will rejoin their parents in the Church for the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Homebound Visitation If there are parishioners who are homebound, in a nursing facility, or in the hospital and who wish pastoral visits and Holy Communion, please have a family member contact the Parish Office by calling (706) or Sister Josephine at josephinemfic@knology.net. We rely on family members to notify us if there are patients to be visited. Please keep the office informed. Blessing Non-Catholics and others unable to receive Eucharist are welcome to come forward to receive a blessing. Please indicate so by crossing your arms in front of your chest. F a i t h F o r m a t i o n Baptism Preparation Classes typically are Baptisms scheduled for the first Sunday of the month. The next Baptism Preparation Class is Sunday, January 6 at 1:30 pm in the Parish Hall (Please note change in location). Please call the office to register for classes, Baptisms normally will be held the third weekend of the month at the 5:00 pm and 12:15 pm Masses. Please call the office to register. Second Wednesday: Where Psychology Meets Christ Wednesday, December 12, :45 pm in St Mary s School Computer Lab TOPIC: A Time for Connecting with Each Other and with God. PRESENTER: John C. McCormack, Ph.D. We all need to belong to someone. Yet, our relationships with each other and with God break down daily, a simple consequence of being human. The challenge is to connect again, and not lose faith in each other or in God. Come, meet with us at the intersection of science and faith. We have much we can learn from each other. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them Matthew 18:20. Perpetual Adoration - Adorers Needed! 11:55 pm - 1:00 am Tuesday, Thursday 1:00-2:00 am Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Friday*, Saturday 2:00-3:00 am MONDAY,* Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday 3:00-4:00 am Monday, Tuesday,* Wednesday, Friday, Saturday 4:00-5:00 am Sunday, Saturday 5:00-6:00 am Sunday, Saturday 7:00-8:00 am Thursday, Saturday 8:00-9:00 am Sunday 9:00-10:00 am Monday, Saturday 10:00-11:00 am Saturday 1:00-2:00 pm Sunday, Monday, Friday, Saturday 2:00-3:00 pm Saturday 3:00-4:00 pm Sunday, Thursday 4:00-5:00 pm Tuesday, Saturday 5:00-6:00 pm Saturday 6:00-7:00 pm Tuesday, Saturday 7:00-8:00 pm Saturday 8:00-9:00 pm Sunday 9:00-10:00 pm Friday, Saturday 11:00 pm - Midnight Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday * WE HAVE NO ONE TO COVER: 1:00 2:00 am Friday 2:00 3:00 am Monday 3:00-4:00 am Tuesday BIG NEED for a partner/sub: 4:00 5:00 am Saturday 9:00-10:00 am Saturday Perpetual Adoration needs a strong boost in adorers. Please prayerfully consider adding an hour of adoration to your week. Call Paul or Mary Ellen Zielinski to sign on and begin enjoying a life filled with more blessings and peace. God truly does give back abundantly to those who spend time with Him. Wedding Banns Catherine Brett Bentley, St. Mary on the Hill, Augusta, GA and Zachary Jordan Sasser, Savannah, GA Emily Mary Stambuk and Stephen John Kerstiens, both of St. Mary on the Hill, Augusta, GA Engaged Couples - Mandatory Marriage Preparation Retreat The next Engaged Couples weekend will be at St. Mary on the Hill on January 18 and 19, This certification is required to get married in the Catholic Church. Advance registration is required to attend. Please remember that this certification is mandatory. For more information or registration, call the Church Office at

5 St. Mary on the Hill December 9, th or 50 th Wedding Anniversaries in 2013 The diocese will celebrate World Marriage Day on Sunday, February 10, 2013 with the Anniversary Mass at 11:30 am at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Savannah. Invitations will be mailed from the Diocesan Office for this celebration. Couples celebrating their 50 th or 25 th wedding anniversaries in 2013, please call the church office by Friday, December 30 and provide your names and complete addresses or send the information directly to the Family Life office at 601 E. Liberty St., Savannah, GA or sign up on line at www. diosav.org/familylife. C o m m u n i t y SR. MASS & LUNCHEON Tuesday December 11 10:30 am BRIDGE & CHRISTMAS PARTY Wednesday December 12 After we play our Wednesday bridge game, I ll have some festive eats for you. SIGN UP: Scarf Tying Class Thursday December 13 11:00 am Marianne Maxwell will teach us all the ins & outs of tying scarves. There will be door prizes & special refreshments including WINE to celebrate the holidays. January 8 January 10 January 14 January 16 January 22 Senior Center SIGN UP Tuesday Music Live Being Prepared for a Hospital Stay Income Tax Tips Beginners Bridge Lessons Tuesday Music Live Senior Center Calendar for December is available in the Narthex. 100 Years of Catholic Education on the Hill Next year will be the 100 th Anniversary of Catholic Education on the Hill. The Sisters of St. Joseph were present even before our parish was established, teaching young Catholics the faith. John Scherer has agreed to head up the efforts to celebrate this wonderful milestone. If you would like to be a part of this committee by helping with research and writing and taking oral histories or planning the party, please call the Parish Office ( ) and leave your name and contact information. Anyone that might have any memorabilia that could be borrowed for this event, please call the Parish Office. White Tablecloths The Parish s white tablecloths have been misplaced. If anyone has knowledge of where they may be, please call the Parish Office at Retrouvaille ( re-tro-vi ) A Life Line for Married Couples Without attention and care, marriages wither and eventually die. Is your marriage tearing the two of you apart? Have thoughts or words of separation or divorce entered your life? Has it been too long since you have known the joy of a loving relationship? Retrouvaille has been helping couples rebuild a loving relationship since Our next Retrouvaille Weekend will be February 8-10, 2013 in an Augusta Hotel. For additional information or to register call (800) More info at org. Space limited. Register early. New Members We welcome the following new members to our Parish Community: Kelly Bussert Estelle Duch Ryan and Rachel Haag, Cecilia, Neil, and Rosalynn Joey and Maryanna Hamilton, William and Annabelle Barrett and Mackenzie Harju Leon and Christine Litwinski, Rebecca and Leon Biagio Prestifilippo Samantha Red Mary Anne Riley Matthew and Kayla Smith Holly Tabernik William and Paula Thomas, William and Kirby Ladies Out to Lunch Join our Ladies Out to Lunch Thursday, December 13 at 11:30 am Join us for our Pot Luck Lunch at the Knights of Columbus Please call Jane Cashin or Ellen Burroughs for Reservations Secular Franciscans A secular Franciscan is a person devoted to the ideals of St. Francis of Assisi, fully part of the world, they seek to live the spirit of this special son of God and provide example of what it means to be joyous in their love of God in service to another. A new discernment group will start in January. If interested, call Janet Hulshoff OFS at Advent Candles Advent Candles are for sale in the Church Office $5.00 per box (set of four). Come by soon before they are sold out! St. Mary on the Hill December 9, 2012 Breakfast with Santa This Sunday, December 9 in the Parish Hall The Knights of Columbus will serve a delicious pancake breakfast after the 7:45 am and 10:30 am Masses. $5.00 for an individual and $15.00 for a family Pictures with Santa will be taken ($5.00 donation). All are welcome! 8 th Graders: If you would like to help as an elf for Breakfast with Santa, please contact Leigh McCormack, leighmc127@yahoo.com or , to volunteer. This service does count for Confirmation service hours. Father Charlie Hughes 85 th Birthday! Please come help celebrate Father Charlie Hughes 85 th Birthday This Sunday, December 9, after 12:15 Mass Reception in the Parish Hall Join Us for Cake and Punch Rosary Ministry of Our Lady Where: Annunciation House on Central Avenue When: Tuesday, December 11, 6:00 until 8:00 pm (usually on the 2 nd Tuesday of the month) For more information, please call James Tanner, (706) or jetanner1950@peoplepc.com. Give the gift of LOVE! Looking for a special gift for your spouse this Christmas?! Give the gift of LOVE! A certificate for the Living in Love Weekend Retreat here at St. Mary s Church on February 16 and 17, 2013 It is the gift that keeps on giving! Visit for more information. Bulletin Deadline The bulletin deadlines for the following bulletins are: December 23, 2012 bulletin is noon on Thursday, December 13, 2012 December 30 bulletin is noon on Tuesday, December 18, 2012 January 6, 2013 bulletin is noon on Thursday, December 20, Information may be sent to the church office via mail, fax, or at smbulletin@knology.net. Service A Celtic Christmas Friday, December 14, 2012 at 7:00 pm in the Parish Hall featuring celebrated performer & host of Georgia Public Radio s The Green Island Radio Show Harry O Donoghue and Acclaimed Singer, songwriter and guitarist Carroll Brown Come enjoy an evening of Irish, Southern, and traditional Christmas songs and stories. Presented by a pair of consummate performers whose musicianship and on stage camaraderie make for a unique and fun filled evening. Tickets available in the Parish Office for $15 each. For more information, contact Parish Office at or smoth@knology.net. Congratulations Dr. Rhee Fincher Congratulations to Ruth-Marie (Rhee) E. Fincher, M.D. of the Medical College of Georgia at Georgia Health Sciences University. Rhee was awarded the 2012 Abraham Flexner Award for Distinguished Service to Medical Education. This award is given annually to an individual for extraordinary contributions to the medical education community. The award is the AAMC s most prestigious honor and recognizes the highest standards in medical education and honors individuals whose impact on medical education is national in scope. Elijah Cup at the 6:00 PM Sunday Mass The Elijah Cup program is a ministry to foster and support priestly and religious vocations. The Elijah Cup is a chalice that is presented to a family, couple, or individual each Sunday at the offering of the gifts. The chalice is taken home and used as a focal point while praying for our current and future priests, deacons, and sisters. The chalice is returned the following Sunday. Sign up in the Narthex or contact Miriam Cortez-Cooper at (706) or by mcortezcooper@gmail.com. Georgia s First Catholic Radio Station Saint Paul Radio, WKER, 91.1 FM Tune in you ll be glad you did. It s 911 for your soul! Catholic Social Service Please help Catholic Social Services to respond to the poor who come for assistance in their struggle with hunger, homelessness, unemployment, utility cut-offs, illness,... and the pressure, pain, and anxiety nurtured by their poverty. Your giving will help us to provide the most basic of human needs to these, our brothers and sisters. Please mail your donation to Catholic Social Services, th Street, Augusta, GA Thank You!!

6 P r a y e r R e q u e s t s Rest In Peace Please remember in your prayers those who have died recently: Jeanne Cooney, sister of Ellen Cooney; Christine Aldrich. Our prayers are with these families during this difficult time. Tom Almeter Amee Atkinson Jane Barrett Patricia Beckworth Mary Beier Carol Bennett Lee Bennett Barbara Benton Shirley Bernhard Amy Fegan Blank Alvin Blount Nikki Boudreaux Melissa Broce Lois Brooks Tom Brusnahan Mary Anna Buckley Lucius Bultman Jack Burke Loretta Burke Henry Caputo Robert Carstarphen John J. Cashin, III Shane Claber Elizabeth Cook Heath Cundey Kathy Cundey Richard Crawford Ida Damiano 2 nd CPO Nick Bogue - Overseas MAJ Amanda Bryan - Afghanistan CPT Thomas William Cayia - Afghanistan CPT (SEL) Nicolais Chighizola - Iraq CPT (SEL) Laura Lammert Chighizola SPC Sean Domzalski - Afghanistan SGT Howard Fitzhugh Pray for the Sick of Our Parish Marianna Daskal Victor Della-Giustina Doreen Duffy Wendy Dutch Leonard Fiedorczyk Carol Franklin Don Frew Michael Fritz Joe Fulghum Fr. Carl Gleason Allison Godden Tyler Golden Mary Ann Golshir George Greene Bonnie Griffin Theresa Griffin Mike Hagler Arlene Hally Henry Hamilton Carolyn Harding Jerry Hatch Tony Henderson Jean Hill Cathy Stafford Hutcheson James Hutto Jackie Jackson Mary Jackson Melissa Jacobs Carmen Jammaul Sue Jamroga Mary Margaret Johnson Stanley Juras Sr. Anna Bridget Kearns Connor Keck Annette Keener Jennifer Barrett Kiel Mary Alice King Leon LeBlanc Gavin Lively Chandlar Long Josie Long Tom Lovelace Kathy Mahoney Neal Mann Hugh Markowsky Jordan Martin Earluth McArthur Christine McGee Myrna Montalvo Lou Montini Lee Murphy Lisa Murray Dr. Bill Neumann Lester Neville, Jr. Bryon & Avery Noland Shauna Occhipinti Tiffany Odom Kellie Ohlinger Bill Parris Opal Paul Harry Paulos, Sr. Harry Paulos, Jr. Ruth Pearson Emma Philpot Peyton Pilcher Corey Pogue Peg Polonus Doris Andreni Portka Irvon Plummer Jim Quick Adrian Ramp Hannah Reed Madden Reid Kathryn Rhodes Deloris Robinson Rosemary Roper Wanda Roper Bernice Ryan Agnes Sacco Simone Schelling Dan Scherer Alice Schmid Elizabeth Schweers Gladys Scott Pray for the Military LT Col Michael Gill - Iraq DCFR Kristen Jacobson E6 Jason Jones - Afghanistan LT Kelly Lammert - Ramstein Jimmy McArthur - USA SSGT Jared McMahon SGT William Morgan - Afghanistan Judy Frances Seniuk Nancy Sheehan Brennan Simkins John Simms-Lee Frankie Smith Julia K. Smith Dr. Peter J. Stager Peggy Stephens Robert Stewart Warren Stewart Joy Stigall Jaime Sutton Dawn Them Chuck Thompson John Trevor Turner Ben Ventress Grace Villanueva Heather Vinson Rosie Walling Jordan & Joanna Watwood Eva Cruz Wheeler Delores Widdowson Ruth Wise Phil Withers Cason Wright Please remember to call the church office if you or a family member can be removed from this prayer list. CPL Philip Andrew Rast - Iraq CPT Andrew Rupp - Tikrit CPT Jennifer L. Rupp - Baghdad Brandon Terrette - Afghanistan Jacob Watson - Afghanistan Please remember in your prayers our parish family and friends, and those involved in the war on terrorism. If you have a loved one in need of prayers, please call the Parish Office ( ). Names of the sick will be listed for two weeks unless we are informed otherwise. Sallie Cayia Mackenzie Harju Pray for Expectant Mothers Alicia Hickok Heather Killips Elizabeth Olon Anne Marie Patterson Kristin Ryan Jennifer Splichal Emily Stevenson Please pray for our expectant mothers and their babies. If you are a member of St. Mary s and expecting a baby, please call the Parish Office to add your name to the Elizabeth Ministry list. Intercessory Prayer Team at St. Mary on the Hill is ready and willing to pray for the needs of our fellow parishioners. If you or someone you love has a prayer request, please call or send an . This powerful team of more than 65 members can lift you and your needs in prayer. Contact Mary-Garner Merz or mgmerz123@knology.net. December 9, 2012 St. Mary on the Hill December 9, 2012 Mission for the Week When you catch yourself being selfish, not following directions, or using hurtful words, stop. Say you re sorry, ask for forgiveness, and then try again.