Saint Sebastian (Martyr, 288 A.D.) Patron of Athletes & Soldiers

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1 January 22, 2012 Third Sunday of Ordinary Time Saint Sebastian (Martyr, 288 A.D.) Patron of Athletes & Soldiers On the 20 th of January we celebrated the feast of the holy martyr, St. Sebastian. Quite the story! He observed the awful persecution and suffering of the early Christians and wanted to be of assistance to those on death row. So he joined the Roman army and with outstanding valor and courage he won the favor of the Emperor. He was then able to obtain the prestigious rank of a Captain of the Praetorian Guard. Now with his position he was able to be at close quarters with the condemned Christians and was able to pray with them and offer them encouragement to stand firm in their faith. Sebastian had a double identity. He masqueraded as a soldier of the emperor while he secretly was truly enlisted as a Soldier of God in the army of Christ the King. In time he was caught and dragged before Emperor Diocletian. After being bitterly reproached by the emperor he was sentenced to death. He was taken and shot by the archers. A Christian named Irene, claimed his body for burial and found him still alive! She nursed him back to health. Sebastian then went back to the court and confronted the emperor on the evil he inflicted on the Christians. The emperor at first thought Sebastian was a ghost, but after he overcame his fear, he sentenced him to a second execution for being a Christian. Sebastian was beaten to death with clubs, a martyr for the sake of the Lord and His kingdom. He is honored as the patron saint of soldiers and athletes for his perseverance and valor. So many of us are being called to take our stand in the world for God s Law and the values of the Gospel. Many would rather be politically correct ; not be bothered ; or just don t care, - leaving evil unchallenged and unabated in our world! Let us pray through the intercession of Saint Sebastian that we are fired up for our faith and that we receive the grace to boldly bear witness to the Gospel for the sake of our children and children s children.

2 January 22, 2012 Third Sunday of Ordinary Time This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel... Come after me... and they abandoned their nets and followed Him. (Mark 1:14-20) If we ever realize how phenomenally important the present moment is, we would invest in it wholeheartedly. Jesus in the Gospel of Mark this weekend tells us, This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. The old proverbial sayings remind us: It is no use crying over spilt milk ; The past is dead, it is history; the future is unborn, it is mystery; the only moment that matters is the Present. Scripture itself teaches us about God who gave His Name to Moses in the burning bush, saying that His Name is I AM (YAHWEH). He is the God of the present. His Name is not I Was or I Will Be, so if we are looking for God or His Kingdom we will only find Him in the living moment He offers to us, right NOW. Many people live in the past with dashed hopes, with regrets of things they should have done or should not have done; with the pain of rejection; with the sting of resentment; with the emptiness of remorse. They are so overcome with those past events that the present moment is paralyzed and stifled from actually being lived to the fullest. Joy eludes them, meaningful and lasting relationships fall apart and there is growing restlessness and lack of peace in their lives. The second half of this weekend s Gospel is a call from the Lord, by Name to be a part of his kingdom. This call we all received by the Lord first in Baptism and then again by name in Confirmation. Jesus call is indelibly marked on our soul, reminding us and calling us daily to enter into His Kingdom, to let the past be surrendered to Him, to let our body, mind and soul in each moment of now be filled with the light and hope of the Holy Spirit and to find joy, laughter, peace and love again. If we are not experiencing His presence and the gifts of His Kingdom in our hearts and daily life, with its ups and downs, then perhaps we only offered lip service to his call and have not entered with him into the Now of His Kingdom. How do we use the Now to enter into God s Kingdom? Some of us need to use the now to repent from sin and seek reconciliation; some need to examine their consciences to make amends for wrong-doings; still others need to offer forgiveness for past hurt; some of us need to find grateful hearts for blessings received and to share from their bounty with others; while others may need to develop a personal and intimate relationship with the Lord and grow in the wisdom of his ways. Pray to the Lord of the harvest to lead young men and women to embrace His call to serve Him as priests and consecrated religious and that our fine men and women are encouraged and supported to generously answer His call. Now is the moment of grace being offered to us; this is it! From now on let us take up every opportunity here at our parish to become a Kingdom People, living our faith fully, and providing laborers for His Kingdom. Fr. Francis Nigli

3 Parish Schedules Mass Schedule & Intentions Monday, January 23 7:00 am + Ray Walnofer Tuesday, January 24 St. Francis de Sales 7:00 am + Rose Anderson Wednesday, January 25 Conversion of St. Paul 7:00 am + John Sojka 8:10 am + Ted Kallhoff 7:00 pm + Leonard Koenig Thursday, January 26 St. Timothy and St. Titus 7:00 am + Jerry Rotherham 4:00 pm + Charles and Mary Neiers Friday, January 27 St. Angela Merici 7:00 am + Dorothy Hammond 8:10 am + Don Vandersnick Saturday, January 28 St. Thomas Aquinas 8:00 am + Dan Barritt 6:00 pm + Irene McKay Sunday, January 29 4th Sunday of Ordinary Time 8:00 am Int. Parish Family 9:30 am + George and Irene Hegemann Amelia 11:15 am Int. Parish Family Upcoming Week Monday, January 23 Tuesday, January 24 1:00 pm Legion of Mary PC Wednesday, January 25 8:10 am JH/HS Mass 1:00 pm Kraft Korner 7:00 pm Religious Ed. 7:00 pm Adult Ed. Thursday, January 26 4:00 am Nursing Home Mass Friday, January 27 8:10 am GS Mass Saturday, January 28 6:00 pm Sunday Vigil Mass Sunday, January 29 8:00 am Sunday Mass 9:30 am Sunday Mass 2:00 pm Prayer Hour CH 4:00 pm RCIA 7:00 pm Adult Ed. 6:30 pm L.I.F.E~Overflows ~ Servers for Daily Mass ~ Mon. Jan 23 7:00 am Zac and Jacob Wiese Tues. Jan 24 7:00 am Garrett Gleason and Brooke Benson Wed. Jan 25 7:00 am Tait and Riley Sibbel Thu Jan 26 7:00 am Paige Tomjack and Kyle Loecker Fri Jan 27 7:00 am Michael and Mackenzie Wecker Sat Jan 28 8:00 am Mariah Fahrenholz and Tyler Regan ~ January 28 & 29 ~ SERVERS 6:00 pm Francisco Perez and Andrew Thompson 8:00 am Alyssa and Jacob Wiese 9:30 am Mariah Fahrenholz and Paige Tomjack MUSICIANS 6:00 pm Contemporary Choir 8:00 am Tom Peters and Brad Blumenstock 9:30 am Danny Leger LECTORS [1st Reading Dt 18:15-20 Ps 95:1-2,6-9 2nd Reading 1 Cor 7:32-35 Gospel, Mk 1:21-28] 6:00 pm Linda Luther 8:00 am Sr. Mary Jaeger 9:30 am Camille Ohri EMHC s 6:00 pm Gene and Cindy Soukup, Millie Wanser, Rod and Joni Isom 8:00 am Steve and Margaret Reiser, DiAnne Gilg, Dick and Mary Mlnarik 9:30 am Kaylee Krotter, Dick Pongratz, Alex Fuhrer, Mel and Camille Ohri USHERS 6:00 pm Pat Cole, Jim Sullivan, Joe Fuhrer, Leo Vandersnick 8:00 am Gary Hostert, Tom Schneider, Chris Kozisek, Tom Davis 9:30 am Tony Allen, Norm Kallhoff, Joe Krotter, Curt Closson GREETERS 6:00 pm Troy Heiser Family 8:00 am Don and Mary Duffy 9:30 am Mary Zakrzewski Vocation Cross & Prayer: Ross and Kelli Tomjack Family ***Vocation Cross and Prayers are in the adoration chapel***

4 Parish, School & Community News Please Pray for the Sick Please remember in your prayers Jamie (Lihs) Volpp and twins Molly and Miya, Janice Wanser, Mary Lou Butts, Delphine Schmidt (mother of Mary Novak), Fern Berg, Jeremiah Krueger, Eva Ruzicka, and all those with long term illnesses. Baptisms We welcome Andrew Kevin Leger, son of Danny and Jill Leger, who has become a member of God s everlasting family through baptism. Religious Education Wed, Jan. 25th: Mass and Benediction led by the 7th/8th grade class. Please arrive to the church by 7 pm and sit with your family. L.I.F.E~Overflows: For High School (9-12 grade) in Youth Room. Sunday, January 22-No Overflow March for Life Sunday, January 29 meet at 6:30pm Semper Fidelis ALWAYS FAITHFUL Last call for pledge cards! With our small team of Co-Chairs and solicitors we have tried our best to call or meet up with as many parishioners as possible before our Feb. 1st deadline. To expedite the process we chose to send a Semper Fidelis pledge opportunity to many of you by mail. We look forward to your participation in our St. Patrick s and St. Mary s faith mission. Many Thanks to All for your dedication and generosity. God Bless You! Sacrificial Sunday Giving (1/16/12) Give to the Most High as He has given to you, generously, according to your means. Sirach Total Weekly Needed for Budget Amount 14, Actual Amount Received 9, Plate (Without Envelope) Total Collection for the week 10, Under Amount (-3,991.09) Current Sunday Under (-24,740.36) One Rose, One Life The One Rose, One Life Campaign sponsored by the Knights of Columbus takes place each January to provide assistance to a host of pro-life organizations throughout the state of Nebraska. The envelopes provided last week for the collection list a number of the beneficiaries of your generosity. Your participation helps to save many children whose lives are threatened by crisis pregnancy situations. Checks should be made out to the Knights of Columbus Pro Life Foundation. Thanks for your support! Our Rose Bouquet Each Year, on One Rose, One Life Sunday, our large Rose Bouquet is displayed on the altar. It consists of one rose for each year since 1973 when abortion was made legal by the US Supreme Court. Seeing it helps remind us to continue praying for the more than 50 Million abortions done since Let us pray also for the conversion of the hearts of the abortionists and for the healing of all persons wounded by abortion. National Day of Prayer This Monday (January 23rd) following the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade, all dioceses of the United States shall observe a Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children. March for Life Please pray for Miranda and Sarah Pribil, Ella Spencer, Brittany and Carissa Soukup, Brooke Jarman, Katie and Mitchel Nelson (of Creighton, NE), and Danny Leger who have made the pilgrimage to Washington, DC for the March for Life.

5 Parish, School & Community News St. Joseph s News Call for Mass updates. Mass Schedule Sunday, January 29 11:15 am Sunday, February 5 11:15 am Sunday, February12 11:15 am Liturgical Ministers Sunday, January 29-11:15 am - Intention Parish Family Lector: Mary Jo Doolittle EMHCs: Jim & Sandra Jarman, Ann DeVries Offering: Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Homolka Sr. Servers: Brant Pavel and Meagan Carr Cleaning: Jo Lynn Cameron Vocation Cross: Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Homolka Sr. Sunday Stewardship Last Week s Collection ( 1/16/12) Budget per week Actual since 07/01/11 11, Projected 11, Under projected giving ( ) Balance to date over 4, Church News Let Vicki Tomjack or MaryJo Doolittle know if you want to be on the Lady of Perpetual Help schedule. Check out the new Lighthouse Media titles!! There are many great ones. A portion of the proceeds supports our church. Your St. Joseph s contribution envelope can be used when you attend Mass at St. Patrick s. Please contact Sandra Homolka at with any news items, prayer requests, or other items of interest to be included in the St. Joseph s section of the bulletin. Please Pray For: Bently James Dexter, infant son of Brady and Brandi Dexter and Don Seier, Ann Mueller s brother, or anyone suffering from a long term illness. May God be there to offer both them and their families comfort and peace. If you have someone you would like added to our prayer list please let Sandra know. Thank you. Need a BOOST in your Faith Life? There s nothing like a good SAINT STORY to put things in to perspective!! Fatima: The Living Message *** St. Philomena Check out these and all the great CD titles today for a $3 donation. CD Seeds Sowing the seeds of evangelization one CD at a time. Remember! Jesus was a Jew!! Sometimes it can be difficult to understand the deep significance of Jesus words because we don t understand Jewish customs and faith. Abraham: Revealing the Historical Roots of Our Faith In this CD, Stephen Ray emphasizes how the innate Jewishness of Christianity and our Old Testament heritage helps us to understand our Faith, the Church, and salvation itself. These are rooted not only in the early Church but 2000 years before that, in Abraham. Check out this CD and other great titles in the back of the church. ***Please place your donation of $3 per CD in the Lighthouse envelope and place in the collection basket, or take it to the Parish Office. Thank you!***** St. Mary s 4th Annual Pink Out! Thursday, January 26th St. Mary s Basketball will play Stuart starting at 4:00 pm. There will be a JV girls game, JV boys game, Varsity girls game, and Varsity boys game. This is also Senior Parent Night! Festivities include free face painting, raffle items to win, a Sloppy Joe Supper served with chips and O Henry bars for $3, and pink ice cream floats for $1. Money raised will go toward cancer research and patient care. Please come out and support this cause! Our Lady of Perpetual Help Icon The Icon will be traveling to the following homes this month: to Dennis Havranek Family to Don Havranek Family to Helen Heese Please contact Camille Ohri ( ) if you would like to host the Icon.