St. Agnes Catholic Church

Transcription

1 St. Agnes Catholic Church November 15, 2015 Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time 2314 Third Avenue, Scottsbluff, Nebraska (308) Mailing address: PO Box 349, Scottsbluff, NE Fax: Website: Parish Office Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 9am - Noon & 1pm - 4pm Rev. Vincent L. Parsons Pastor Rev. Michael E. Wetovick Associate Pastor Rev. Mr. Daniel Gilbert Deacon Sr. Vera Meis, C.S.J. Pastoral Minister Mass Schedule: Saturday: 4:00 pm Sunday: 8:00 & 10:30 am (October - May) Sat. 6pm; 8:00 & 10:00 am (June - September) Mon, Tues, Wed, Friday 7 am Sacrament of Reconciliation Saturdays one hour prior to evening Mass or by appointment ( ) Sacrament of Baptism Please call the Parish Office Pre-Baptism Class is held quarterly: Nov 1, Feb 14, May 1 Sacrament of Matrimony: Please call the Parish Office for appointment. (4 months marriage preparation required.) Sacrament of the Sick: Call ext. 2 anytime to reach a priest Mon^[y, Nov_m\_r 16, 2015 Daily Mass (7:00am) Mass Intention: Herb Meis by Virginia Ferguson Communal Rosary (4:45pm) Liturgy of the Hours (5:05pm) Tu_s^[y, Nov_m\_r 17, 2015 Daily Mass (7:00am) Mass Intention: Dan Temple by Leo & Phyllis Temple Tues Morning Discussion Group (8-9:30am) Garden Room Liturgy of the Hours (5:30pm) RCIA (7pm) Garden Room W_^n_s^[y, Nov_m\_r 18, 2015 Daily Mass (8:15am) Mass Intention: Chris Koenig by Felix & Lucille Koenig Liturgy of the Hours (5:30pm) Finley Lynn Staman Baptized Upcoming Events Thurs^[y, Nov_m\_r 19, 2015 Mass at Golden Living (9:30am) Liturgy of the Hours (5:30pm) Fri^[y, Nov_m\_r 20, 2015 Daily Mass (7:00am) Bishops & Priests of Diocese Liturgy of the Hours (5:30pm) S[tur^[y, Nov_m\_r 21, 2015 Weekend Mass (4:00 pm) Mass Intention: Ellen Gion by Alan & Sharon Doll Sun^[y, Nov_m\_r 22, 2015 Weekend Mass (8:00 am) Mass Intention: Iris Macken by Jeff & Laura West Weekend Mass (10:30 am) Mass Intention: For the Parish

2 Saint Agnes Catholic Church Today s Readings Daniel 12:1-3 Psalm 16 Hebrews 10:11-14 Mark 13:24-32 Parish Administration (308) / (308) (fax) Pastor Rev. Vincent L. Parsons (ext. 2) pastor@st-agnes-church.com Associate Pastor Fr. Mike Wetovick Pastoral Minister Sr. Vera Meis (ext. 4) srvera@st-agnes-church.com Director of Religious Education Mrs. Terri Calvert (ext.5) dre@st-agnes-church.com Church Office Manager Mrs. Danni Koeteman (ext. 3) office@st-agnes-church.com Head Teacher Mrs. Julie Brown ( ) office@stagnesonline.org School Office Manager Mrs. Margie Dishong ( ) office@stagnesonline.org St Agnes School Foundation Alyssa Harvey, director ( x2) aharvey@stagnesonline.org P[g_ 2 Y_[r \ Nov_m\_r 15, 2015 Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time I received a note from a parishioner after mass this weekend. With his permission, I share it with you. A few weeks ago, as I sat in church at the 8 a.m. mass, I was struck by the mystic silence that followed communion. Preceding the silence are the fading noises of people returning to their seats, servers putting things back in place, and finally the priest sits, and, although it is only a short time before he rises again for the concluding prayer, it seems much longer like dead air on TV or on the radio. During that mystic moment I found myself sinking into a silence of my own, one that took me deeply within a silence that seemed to transcend the physicality around me. I was focused on the Eucharist: What brand of bread could taste so sweet? What miniscule quantity could be so filling? Before I could answer myself, the sound of a baby s cry jostled me back to reality. As I drove home, I thought about the sound of that baby s cry the SOUND OF NEW LIFE! Of course! We are renewed in Christ through the Eucharist. It took a baby s cry to remind me: the sacred noise that silence makes I can only echo these sentiments. Just that ineffable silence in which my desire for God and His desire for me were able to be one. May we all know that Holy Silence in our lives Tr_[sur_s from our Tr[^ition Eastern Christians developed very different traditions for confessing sin. They see the priest as a witness to God s action, a physician, if you will, rather than a judge. A person confesses sin to God while standing in front of an icon of Jesus, face to face. Without a grill, in the full light of day, near a table with an open Gospel book, the penitent asks the Lord for mercy. A priest standing to the side might offer counsel and confirm God s gift of forgiveness. Rather than list sins and offenses, an Eastern Christian is more likely to speak of a disposition of heart toward God and neighbor, and the desire to forgive those who have wronged them. Remarkably, although only a priest can pronounce the prayers of forgiveness, lay people, including married men and women, single Christians, monks, and nuns, may witness the confession. This is akin to the ancient Celtic practice of a soul friend as a spiritual mentor. Bishops may bless anyone with sufficient theological knowledge and discretion to do this. Eastern Catholics in the United States have largely drifted away from this tradition and toward Latin Rite customs such as confessional screens, set formulas and prayers, and penances. Today, in the interest of preserving the authentic tradition of the Eastern Church, there is a move to restore the older form. Rev. James Field, Copyright J. S. Paluch Co.

3 P[g_ 3 Dear Fr. Vince & St. Agnes Parishioners, I want to thank you for the Masses being said for me, and all the prayers being offered for my recovery. Again, I say thank you so much. -Herb Meis Premiere 2015 Aurora Borealis St. Agnes Catholic School Foundation is pleased to invite you to Premiere Join us on November 20th at the Gering Civic Center for a wonderful evening benefitting the Foundation and students of St. Agnes Catholic School. There are a few tickets still available. Purchase online at or call Alyssa at #2 P[rish N_ws LECTORS Nov 14 & 21 4pm Jeff West Nov 14 & 21 8am Sr. Vera Meis Nov 15 & 22 10:30am Jordan Colwell SERVERS Nov 14, 4pm Austin Svitak, Harrison Wells Nov 15, 8am Katherine & Emily Esselstein 10:30am Jazmine Golden, Julian Palmer Nov 21, 4pm Emma Herman, Harrison Wills Nov 22, 8am Tori Bogus, Johnathan Pieper 10:30am Nick & Joseph Maag St. Agnes Parish 100 Years! Love to sing? Choir meets for the Christmas/Advent season Sunday, Nov. 15th at 5pm. Call Chris During the year 2017, we will be celebrating St. Agnes 100 year anniversary! As part of the celebration, we will be having a pictorial directory made, and are planning on each and every parish family having their picture snapped. Registered members of the parish will be receiving a letter in regards to the directory in November. In the meantime, you can go to the parish website to register now for your photo session. St_w[r^ship Sun^[y THIS WEEKEND, Nov_m\_r Every registered parish family received a letter in last week s mail concerning stewardship within our parish. In the letter, you were asked to prayerfully consider what you can do to help St. Agnes be a loving, vibrant community by sharing your time, talent & treasure. Please take time to fill out the brochure from the mailing & return it to the collection basket ASAP. Extra brochures are available at the message centers of the church. Please note, even if you are currently serving as a minister and wish to continue, you still need to fill out the brochure. Thirty-thir^ Sun^[y In Or^in[ry Tim_ Sunday Collections & ATW Giving November 8, 2015 Actual $ ATW $ Budget $ Surplus (Deficit) $ Haiti/Uganda $ November 2015 Totals Actual $ ATW $ Budget $ Surplus (Deficit) $ Next Weekend s 2nd Collection The 2nd collection next weekend is for our parish outreach program, VCNIN. This will be the last collection for Valley Christian Neighbors In Need before Christmas baskets for the needy are assembled in mid-december. Thanks to the generosity of our parish, the program is able to provide baskets for more than 100 families. Readings for the Week Monday: 1 Mc 1:10-15, 41-43, 54-57, 62-63; Ps 119:53, 61, 134, 150, 155, 158; Lk 18:35-43 Tuesday: 2 Mc 6:18-31; Ps 3:2-7; Lk 19:1-10 Wednesday: 2 Mc 7:1, 20-31; Ps 17:1bcd, 5-6, 8b, 15;Lk 19:11-28 Thursday: 1 Mc 2:15-29; Ps 50:1b-2, 5-6, 14-15; Lk 19:41-44 Friday: 1 Mc 4:36-37, 52-59; 1 Chr 29:10bcd, 11-12; Lk 19:45-48 Saturday: 1 Mc 6:1-13; Ps 9:2-4, 6, 16, 19; Lk 20:27-40 Sunday: Dn 7:13-14; Ps 93:1-2, 5; Rv 1:5-8; Jn 18:33b-37

4 P[g_ 4 Nov_m\_r 15, 2015 Members of St. Agnes Church will be ringing bells for the Salvation Army on Friday, Dec 18 and Saturday, Dec 5 at Kmart. If you would like to help, please plan to sign up in the Gathering Space after Masses Nov 21/22 or Nov 28/29. One hour slots are available & although 1 person can handle the job, 2 people per slot makes it more fun! To sign up via phone, call Jean Ahrens ( ). Searching for the perfect stocking stuffer or an advent calendar? Shop with the Catholic Daughters after Masses next weekend, November 21 & 22 You are invited to join us! The Court of St. Jude #2053 meets Thursday, November 15 th in the Garden Level (basement) of St. Agnes Catholic Church. The Rosary is prayed at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting begins at 7 p.m. Who We Are: One of the largest national organizations of Catholic women in the world dedicated to strengthen their spiritual life through Christ and His Church Founded in 1903 by the Knights of Columbus in Utica, New York Organized in 42 states, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Virgin Island and Guam Catholic lay and religious women, 18 years or older, who love and support the Church and wish to participate in social and charitable activities, are welcome Altar Society News The Altar Society serves the parish community in a variety of ways. Traditionally, all women of the parish belong to this organization. This special ministry is for all women of our parish, no matter age, occupation, gifts, or time one has available. We encourage all women of the parish to sign up for one committee of Altar Society. Please provide both your address and phone number to help us better organize committees. Once committee members are established, an organizational meeting will be set up. Thank you for your dedicated service to St. Agnes! Altar Society Committees include: Reception Committee: This committee is responsible for planning and hosting at least 4 church receptions including RCIA, confirmation, first communion, and senior breakfast. Ideally this committee needs at least 20 members to adequately provide for each reception. Socials Committee: Altar Society will host just 2 yearly meetings, or socials. There will be one spring social and one fall social. This committee is responsible for planning and hosting these socials. Soup Supper Committee: Altar Society will host just 2 Lenten soup suppers this year following Stations of the Cross. This committee is responsible for organizing these suppers. Fall Dinner Committee: Fall Dinner is the biggest yearly event for the Altar Society. All members of Altar Society are encouraged to help with this event, but this committee specifically is responsible for the organization of the Fall Dinner. Funeral Committee: This committee hosts funeral receptions for the parish. Altar Society is a very vital ministry for St. Agnes. Obviously, the more members each committee has, the less time and responsibility each individual member will need to provide. Again, all women of our parish are encouraged to sign up for one Altar Society committee. Thank you for your time and dedication to St. Agnes! For more information about Altar Society, or to sign up for a committee by phone, please call Nichole (402) or Robin Please clip & place in the collection basket Even though you may currently be serving on a committee, please renew your commitment by filling out this form. Name Phone Address Committee I d like to serve on Comments:

5 Coming to St. Agnes December 2015! More details coming to your house in this week s mail!

6 P[g_ 6 Nov_m\_r 15, 2015 R_ligious E^u][tion Progr[m dre@st-agnes-church.com Religious Education Office Celebrating Sunday for Catholic Families Thirty-Third Sunday of Ordinary Time Gospel: Mark 13:24-32 On the Way to Mass: We proclaim Jesus Death and Resurrection until he comes again. Would you like to see him come again? On the Way Home From Mass: Is it important to know when Jesus will come back? What can we do while we wait? Living the Word: Write the word PAROUSIA across the middle of a piece of paper or card stock. Gather in your sacred space and read 1 Corinthians 15: Explain that the Greek word Parousia describes the time promised by Jesus when he will return in glory. Ask of ideas about what our new lives will look like when God is all in all. How will it be different from our lives now? Draw pictures of what that time might look like around the word PAROUSIA and leave the paper next to the Bible this week. Celebrating Sunday for Catholic Families Facebook Find Us On st_agnes_church Parish Website Grade School (pre-school 5th grades) Formation Sessions will begin on Sunday, October 4th from 9:15-10:15 a.m. in the school building. November Sunday Schedule: 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, & 29th - no formation sessions - Thanksgiving Middle School Formation Sessions (grades 6th-8th) meet from 7-8:15 p.m. in the school building. November Wednesday Schedule 4th, 11th, 18th, & 25th - no formation sessions - Thanksgiving High School (CYM) Formation Sessions will begin Wednesday, October 1st in catechist s homes from 7-8:30 p.m. November Wednesday Schedule 4th, 11th, 18th, & 25th - no formation sessions - Thanksgiving 11th Grade CYM Schedule: 4th & 18th Confirmation 11th - CYM (Note: all sessions will be in the Garden Level at 7 p.m.) No formation session on the 25th - Thanksgiving Unwrap the gifts of the Holy Spirit At Baptism, we receive seven special gifts from the Holy Spirit. They are strengthened at Confirmation. These gifts are given to us and our children to help us live as followers of Jesus. They help us to build up the Body of Christ, to respond to the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives, to make good choices, and to serve God and others. When we make children aware of these gifts, they can fully unwrap and use them throughout their lives: Wisdom Allows us to grow in understanding and to better judge all with which we are challenged because of our relationship with God. Understanding Gives us a deeper insight into our faith and into Sacred Scripture. Right Judgment or Counsel Opens our hearts to God s voice and make choices to live as a follower of Jesus. Fortitude Strengthens us to follow our conscience and convictions no matter the cost. Knowledge Enables us to correctly judge truths of faith and choose the right path to lead to God. Piety Leads to a genuine love and devotion for God and religious observance. Fear of the Lord Inspires us to be constantly in awe of God and respectfully aware of our dependence upon him. Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments (Psalm 112:1). Partners in Faith - November 2015

7 P[g_ 7 Thirty-thir^ Sun^[y in Or^in[ry Tim_ Raising the Bar with the Faith and Life series! We are in our fourth week of using the new curriculum for grades Pre-K - 8th. The feedback from catechists and families has been very positive! Each week a grade will be featured in the bulletin outlining the curriculum. This week Fourth Grade is featured. Jesus Our Guide is the title of the fourth grade curriculum. This year through studying the development of salvation history, students will come to a better understanding of God, his plan for man, and our relationship with God. Students develop a better understanding of their purpose and goal in life and a deeper appreciation for the Church as the very means that God has given us on our pilgrimage to heaven.. Creed/Scripture: Students develop an understanding of the mystery of Christ through age appropriate teachings on Church doctrine and scriptural references. Sacraments: All of the sacraments are presented in the fourth grade curriculum. The sacraments emphasized in fourth grade are the Sacraments of Initiation and the Sacrament of Penance. Christian Living: Throughout the fourth grade, students develop an understanding of the dignity of the human person. Students learn to live out their faith and respond to what they learn by forming a moral conscience and living out their call to justice and service by imitating the life of Jesus. Special emphasis is given to the Ten Commandments. Prayer: Throughout the fourth grade curriculum students develop a prayer life that includes participation in the Mass as the greatest prayer, and praying traditional Catholic prayers. In the fourth grade, special emphasis is given to spontaneous prayer. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. In a time when it was a challenge to follow God s way, Joshua made a deliberate declaration that he and his family would serve the Lord (Joshua 24:15). Here are some ways you and your house can know and serve the Lord: 1. Family prayer time. At least once a day, pray as a family. Consider the format P-R-A-Y: Praise God for his goodness, Repent of the times you failed to love God or each other, Ask for the things you need, Yield and listen for God s voice. 2. Experience Mass each week. Help your children meet Christ up close and personal at Mass every week. Let nothing come in the way of your weekly appointment with the Lord. 3. Keep a family gratitude journal. At mealtime, take turns writing a line or two about how God blessed you each that day. 4. Participate in your parish. Make a point of taking your children to First Friday observances, feast days, and May crownings. These are wonderful expressions of our Catholic spirituality. Partners in Faith - November 2015 Meet the Confirmation Candidates Mykel Garcia My name is Mykel Garcia. My parents are Michael and JoAnn Garcia. I have two brothers and one sister and one foster brother. I attend Gering High School where I am a Junior. I am involved at GHS as the Wrestling Manger, Art Club, Heath Professions Club, and Spanish Club. After receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation I plan to become involved in the music ministry program at St. Agnes. Save your Coins! This year on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings we will be collecting coins for Tiny Hands International. This organization is based out of Lincoln, Nebraska and has a voice for the oppressed. This organization works in two ways: Human Trafficking and Children s Ministries. For more information on this organization go to tinyhands.org. Let s work together to make a difference in a child s life today!

8 P[g_ 8 Nov_m\_r 15, 2015

9 November 15, 2015 UPCOMING EVENTS Monday, November 16th Pre-K & Kindergarten Friendship Feast Wednesday, November 18th All School 8:15 AM Bring a canned good * St. Agnes School Annual Hot Dog Lunch For students Friday, November 20th Premiere Event Gering Civic Center AFTER 3 CLOSES AT 5:00 PM Happy Fall y all! Rick Forsstrom of the Knights of Columbus presented Maria Ayala (5th grade) and Jacob Mark (2nd grade) with the Virtuous Student of the month award at the monthly golden rule ceremony on November 5th. Virtuous students do an excellent job of following the golden rule and exhibiting virtuous behavior both inside and outside the classroom.

10 What s Happening at St. Agnes School... Celebrating 50 Days of School! St. Agnes Pre-K-2 nd grade students celebrated being 50 days smarter with a number of 1950 s activities. They enjoyed dressing in 1950 s attire and hula hooping, dancing to music of the 50 s, making a craft and drinking root beer floats. What a fun way to celebrate the completion of 50 days of school. After School Pick Up of Students School dismisses each day at 3:15. According to the handbook, students are to be picked up by 3:25. I have made it a habit of waiting until 3:30 before taking students to After 3, but recently more and more students insist they are being picked up by older siblings and are not to go. Please be apprised, I will not wait past 3:30 for student pick up, and students are not allowed on the playground unattended. Therefore, any student not picked up by 3:30 will be taken to After 3 and charged with the time 3:15. Second Step Program The Second Step program for Kindergarten through Grade 5 is a universal, classroom-based program designed to increase students school success and decrease problem behaviors by promoting socialemotional competence and self-regulation. It teaches skills that strengthen students ability to learn, have empathy, manage emotions, and solve problems. St. Agnes School has adopted this program and began its use the first week of November. Parents should watch for information and activities to be done at home that reinforce the school program. Monday 16th Vegetable Omelet Rice Pilaf Steamed Carrots Pineapple Tidbits, Milk Helpers: Jon & Melissa Dudley Hot Lunch Menu for November 16th - 20th Tuesday 17th Hamburger on a Bun French Fries Green Beans Banana, Milk Helpers: Adriana Packard & Mary Anne Saucedo Wednesday 18th St. Agnes Annual Hot Dog Lunch Thursday 19th Thanksgiving Dinner Turkey, Stuffing, & all the trimmings Milk Helpers: Ben Ryschon & Mary Ann Saucedo Friday 20th Chicken & Noodles Mashed Potatoes Broccoli Grapes, Milk Helpers: Anna Grow & Mary Ann Saucedo

11 Classroom News... 1st Grade Class by Brooke Lacy October was full of fun! We went on 4 field trips; pumpkin patch, corn maze, Jungle Book, and the Dragon Acrobats! We celebrated 4 birthdays! We were blessed with the arrival of 3 new siblings just in our class!! We had a fun Halloween Party put on by our awesome room moms, Jill and Sundee! Finally P/T conferences were held that last week. Every one of my students is doing their best and are already making improvements! I m so proud of them! My little mathematicians have begun Mad Minutes and this has become a favorite time of our day! They all know their doubles and have started +1 facts too! They are all beginning to love math! YAY! In Religion, we just learned about Abraham and Noah and how they always obeyed God. Like Abraham & Noah, we need to always obey God, our parents, and our teachers even when we are asked to do things we do not like! In Science, we are learning about technology and the design process. We even got to build our own book stand just using paper and tape! They did a great job and also learned that engineers have a tough job because things don t always work out right the first time! They spent a lot of time rebuilding to get it just right! In Social Studies, we are wrapping up wants vs. needs and consumers vs. producers. Soon we will begin to learn about Squanto and the pilgrims! 3rd Grade Class by Lisa Rogers It s hard to believe we are over one quarter of the way through our year here in third grade! We have been very busy indeed. We enjoyed celebrating Red Ribbon Week and learning about how to make good choices, and we had a blast taking part in the festivities of the week! We had 8 students make the Honor Roll this quarter, and now all of them are fired up to strive toward Honor Roll this quarter. In Social Studies, we are working on a landform dictionary and landform book of 20 different landforms and facts about them. In Science, we continue learning about various tools scientists use and their uses, how they use data, and the various ways of comparing the acquired data. In Reading, we have just finished reading Penguin Chick, an expository piece of text, where we learned the great lengths Emperor Penguins go to in order to protect their newborn chicks from the extreme cold of Antarctica and keep them fed. We continue working on our math facts each day, counting money, telling time, measuring, and calendar skills. We enjoyed another amazing production at the Midwest Theater in October, the Dragon Acrobats. WOW! They were simply amazing to watch! We also attended the Paragon Ragtime with Silent Film performance. We are looking forward to the Hot Dog Feed and are proud to be able to donate money to purchase gifts for those less fortunate than us.