St. John Vianney Catholic Church th Avenue North, South St. Paul, MN Office: (651) Fax: (651)

Transcription

1 St. John Vianney Catholic Church th Avenue North, South St. Paul, MN Office: (651) Fax: (651) Together Renewing our commitment to God and our community. Masses: Daily (Tues Friday) 7:30am Saturday 5pm, Sunday 8:15 & 10:30am Confessions: Saturday 4pm, Thursday & Friday 7:00am

2 FAITH Dear Parish Families, The parish staff after looking at different advent resources and booklets usually given out at the beginning of the advent season that help you to enter deeper into the season, decided that we would write in the bulletin our own advent reflection each week. This is intended to unite our parish through common reflection and learning as well as help families go deeper spiritually this advent. Advent is the beginning to the church s liturgical year. It is the four weeks leading up to Christmas! In our culture the Christmas music and lights go out after Halloween apparently, as if Christmas was already here. The season of advent is a season of preparing ourselves to receive the Lord. How should one prepare for the coming of Jesus? My recommendation is for family prayer time, reflection, and an advent wreath! Traditionally each candle on an advent wreath represents something different. The first Candle represents the prophet s candle. The prophet s candle represents the promise of God to send a messiah. One of my favorite scriptures on the coming messiah is from Ezekiel. Some of the Jewish people has been exiled from home by King Nebuchadnezzar of the Babylonian empire (597 BC). He called the scattered Jewish faithful (diaspora) to return to God and keep the faith. That God would save them from their sins and its effects, if they repented. In chapter 34, verse 15 of Ezekiel God prophesized through Ezekiel that I myself will pasture my sheep; I myself will give them rest. God clearly states he himself will lead his people. For the Jewish person the LORD was the divine leader of his people. For God has led them out of Egypt into the Promised Land. He gave them a covenant to live by and a promise of his favor. However back then God was so transcendent, so otherworldly that to see God was to perish. The idea that God himself would be fully present to them was incomprehensible and to this day for many still is incomprehensible. That regular men and women are so loved and cared for despite our sin and brokenness that the God of the universe would leave heaven and come Sheppard us. Our lord went so much further than just leading us, he died for us so that we might live and he became food for us. So that each time we celebrate mass we may commune with the Lord of the universe. That we receive our God as nourishment for body and soul. This week please read and reflect how God has kept his promises not only to the world but how God is working in your families lives. Read from the prophets which I will list some suggested reading below. Pray as a family each day thanking and praising God for his new covenant. Pray asking the lords to open your hearts better to receive him more fully in your family and daily life. Suggested reading: Isaiah 7:14, Zechariah 9:9, Ezekiel 34, ~Christ s Peace Neal Maxwell Mass Schedule & Intentions MONDAY NOV 30 NO MASS TUESDAY DEC 01 7:30 AM WEDNESDAY DEC 02 7:30 AM THURSDAY DEC 03 9:00 AM SR. BERNADINE FRISCHMON+ FRIDAY DEC 04 7:30 AM CLARENCE ERNST+ SATURDAY DEC 05 5:00PM HAROLD SCHLEMMER+ SUNDAY DEC 06 8:15AM ANDRINA KUECHLE+ 10:30AM JEAN VAN HALE+ Liturgical Minister Schedule: DEC 5TH 6TH Ushers Lectors Altar Servers 5:00 PM 8:15 AM 10:30 AM Jody Tom Van Hale Ken Schult Griffin Norb Quast Chris Walker 1st come 1st serve Kristi Luskey 1st come 1st serve Sam Goaley 1st come 1st serve Visit the SJV Giving Tree in the Mary Kane Commons and spread joy & love this Christmas!

3 FAITH Please pray for the sick who have asked for prayers: Elizabeth Arnold Sr. Mary Madonna Ashton, CSJ Lyndon Baker Dorothy Behrend Cathy Borden Jim Bruhn Chris Cheney Louise Connolly Kevin Conroy Judy Fuglie Greg Gille Simon Scott Yvonne Hain Grayce Hartman Cecelia Arend Mildred Hoff Bill Holzmer Geri Loder Adelaide Kryzer Delores Lindell Myrt Milner Olivia Milner Amanda Morris Bob Bringgold Ed Oster Margaret Overman Linda Pelletier Ken Rouse Jim Schema Julia Schneider Joan Shoberg Marlene Brickley Tom Van Hale Whitey Willer Joan Woods Bill Reynolds Becky Thomas Frank Strut Karen Kapphahn Katy~ Barb Thompson Scott Taterka "The birth of Christ is the central event in the history of the earth -- the very thing the whole story has been about." -- C.S. Lewis Advent is the first season in the church calendar. Since the 7th century A.D., Christians have included this celebration in their preparation for Christmas Day. Beginning four Sundays before Christmas, its purpose is twofold: first, it prepares us for the celebration of the birth of Christ and second, it reminds us that we are eagerly waiting for Jesus' return in glory. The word "advent" originates from the Latin word advenio which means coming to. Advent is the time when we focus on Christ coming to the world. Throughout history, the Israelites anticipated the coming of their Messiah. In the Old Testament, over 400 scriptures and prophecies outline His birth, life, death, resurrection, and return. God had a plan to redeem His people. He declared His plan to His prophets over the centuries and is fulfilling His Word even now. "Prepare the way of the Lord" serves as a main theme of this season. As we get ready for Christmas, we should not neglect to prepare our lives for Jesus, who came as "the light of the world." His light penetrated a dark world, which allowed all to see their Messiah, and the hope of their future.

4 FAITH, FAMILY & FUN Get in the spirit of Christmas! Join the card club for a light tour. The bus will pick us up at Saint John's. We'll go to Summit Ave, Rice Park, Landmark Park and Lake Phalen. This is a 2 hour tour. Cookies and cider on the bus $19.00 Call Liz or Joyce Red Hat Society Christmas luncheon Southview Country Club Wednesday, December 9 12:00 Noon Please bring a wrapped gift for the women at the shelter. Call Fran at or Jan at to reserve your place. $ WEEKLY FINANCIALS $ There is no financial report this week due to the holiday. Look in next week s bulletin for an updated financial report. Thank you. Grant your faithful, we pray, almighty God, the resolve to run forth to meet your Christ with righteous deeds at his coming, so that, gathered at his right hand, they may be worthy to possess the heavenly Kingdom. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

5 ADORATION BAPTISM/RCIA BLOOD DRIVE/MOBILE MEALS COFFEE & DONUTS Ministries and Committees MARY KALISZEWSKI DEACON WRIGHT MYRT MILNER NANCY SCHNEIDER COMMUNITY CARE/LIFE DEB LUSKEY CRAFTERS DECORATIONS EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN FISH FRY FUNERAL LUNCHEONS GIRL SCOUTS CAROL LOKHORST MARGE WILLER MARY ANN NOVOTNY DENNIS MCGRATH BARB REICHSTADT NICOLE SCHEIBER GIFT BEARERS VI STEWART GREETERS KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS LECTORS MUSICIANS NEIGHBORS MARY KALISZEWSKI LARRY BIDWELL ANNE LARSON LORI LENCOWSKI MARY HOLZMER PARISH APOSTOLATE MIKE SMEBY PARISH TRUSTEES TOM BOSER LAURA KOSMICKI PIG ROAST/SJV DAY TOM BOSER PRAYER GROUP PROJECT HOME REDUCE REUSE SALE & SENIOR CONTACT BARB TINUCCI MARY ANN NOVOTNY JOYCE ATHMANN USHERS KEN SCHULT VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR DORIS BRINGGOLD Parish Information Fr. Antony Skaria Office Hours: Monday Friday 8:30am 2:30pm Parish Phone Number: (651) Parish Website: Deacon: (in the office Tuesday mornings) Deacon Scott Wright Phone: (651) Accountant: Patrick Dold Phone: (651) Director of Religious Education Jill Vujovich Laabs Phone: (651) Youth Group Director Neal Maxwell Phone: Maintenance Kent Trkla Phone: (651) Music Director Phone: Excite in me a wonder at the wisdom and power of Your Father and ours. Receive my prayer as part of my service of the Lord who enlists me in God's own work for justice. Excite in me a hunger for peace: peace in the world, peace in my home, peace in myself. Excite in me a joy responsive to the Father's joy. I seek His will so I can serve with gladness, singing and love. Excite in me the joy and love and peace it is right to bring to the manger of my Lord. Raise in me, too, sober reverence for the God who acted there, hearty gratitude for the life begun there, and spirited resolution to serve the Father & Son.

6 St. John Vianney Bulletin # Contact: Jill Vujovich-Laabs Telephone: SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: Please print and send 300 copies. Thank you.