Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church As a parish of the Catholic Diocese of Charleston, Our Lady of Grace seeks to know and share God's Word, live as a community of Christian disciples, devoutly celebrate the Holy and other sacraments, provide a prayerful environment for all people, and serve the poor and those in need in Christ's Name. In this way of life, Our Lady of Grace Parish looks to Mary of Nazareth as its model and patron. The Most Rev. Robert E. Guglielmone, DD Bishop of Charleston Our Lady of Grace 7095 Waxhaw Highway Lancaster, SC 29720 Phone: (803) 283-4969 GraceWePray.org Office Hours: Monday - Thursday 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Friday 8:00 am - 1:00 pm Rev. Jeffrey F. Kirby, STD Parish Priest PARISH REGISTRATION We welcome new families to Our Lady of Grace. Registration Forms are available online or in the Narthex of the church. You may call the church office to have a registration form mailed to you. ANOINTING OF THE SICK The sacrament is available upon request after any or by appointment. ADORATION Adoration is every Wednesday during Lent and begins at 9:30 am and ends with Benediction at 5:30 pm.
Christmas - December 25 2016 Weekly Parish Calendar December 24 - January 1, 2017 Saturday, Dec 24 Sunday, Dec 25 Christmas Day Monday, Dec 26 Tuesday, Dec 27 Wednesday, Dec 28 4:00 pm 6:00 pm 8:00 pm 10:00 pm 10:00 am 9:00 am 9:30 am-5:30 pm - Children s Choir - Saint Cecilia s Choir - Adult Choir - Congregational Singing - Congregational Singing No Parish Office Closed No Parish Office Closed Eucharistic Adoration WEEKLY OFFERING The adjustment to the Year To Date (YTD) is based on the mortgage payment and expenses with the new building, full time pastor, staff and services and programs of the Parish. PARISH FINANCIAL REPORTS Annual Need: $496,400 WEEKLY MONTHLY YTD (4.33 weeks) NEED* $9,545 $41,330 $238,625 RECEIVED** $24,037 $57,215 $210,455 Thursday, Dec 29 11:00 am Difference $14,492 $15,885 ($28,170) Friday, Dec 30 Saturday, Dec 31 Sunday, Jan 1 New Years Day 4:00 pm 7:00 am 9:00 am 11:00 am No *Includes monthly payments for $1,500,000 loan **Includes Regular Offering and Building and Capital Campaign Funds *Monthly Calendar available on our website Please note that the Parish Office will be closed December 23 through 27 in observance of Christmas. Intentions This Week Saturday, December 24, 2016 4:00 pm Joseph & Mollie Savoy 6:00 pm Anne Keenan Maynard 8:00 pm Mary Cahill 10:00 pm For the Parish Sunday, December 25, 2016 10:00 am Thomas McNamara Monday, December 26, 2016 11:00 am Agnes Maher Tuesday, December 27, 2016 9:00 am Chester McKee Wednesday, December 28, 2016 9:00 am Francis & Frederick Knowles Thursday, December 29, 2016 11:00 am Bette DeKoker Saturday, December 31, 2016 4:00 pm Deceased members of the Zimmerman Family Sunday, January 1, 2017 7:00 am Nolan Family 9:00 am For the Parish 11:00 am George Buhler Please note that the parish bulletin will now only list the intention of the itself. Online Giving Our Sunday Visitor (OSV), an opportunity to help plan your annual giving. You may specify a fund, the amount and frequency as well as other variations to fit your budget. Try it out with your end of the year donations. Simply go to osvonlinegiving.com/4245 If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to stop by the Parish Office. Offertory Processions Offertory Processions occur at the 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM Sunday es. If you've requested an intention for one of these es and would like to "bring up the gifts," please let an usher know at the respective. Homebound Parishioners If there is anyone at home who cannot attend due to illness or age, please call the church office at 803-283-4969 or Mary Ann Mervak at 803-616-1267 to make arrangements for an Extraordinary Minister to visit.
Christian Formation Adult Faith Formation: On Christmas hiatus. Details to follow after the New Year. RCIA: Still in organization phase. Details this Spring. Grades 6-12 EDGE and Life TEEN: On Christmas hiatus, Groups on break until Sunday, January 8. K-5th Grade Faith Formation: On Christmas hiatus. Classes resume on Wednesday, January 11 at 4:00 pm and 6:30 pm. Merry Christmas to all of our Christian Formation families! From Father Kirby Merry Christmas to All Discipleship Group for Young Men Our Lady of Grace Parish is pleased to host a Father Kolbe Discipleship Group for Young Men. The group meets weekly and is a program of spiritual formation for serious young men in 8th to 12th Grade who want to learn more about their faith and the spiritual life. Led by Father Kirby, Mr. Bill Rusciolelli, and Mr. John Schmugge, the group helps young men to deepen in their relationship with the Lord Jesus and his Church. The group will meet every Sunday at 1:00 pm in the Parish Hall of Our Lady of Grace. Lunch provided. The next meeting will be on January 8, 2017.
Christmas - December 25 2016 Why do we call Mary the Mother of God To understand the title, Mother of God, we must first clearly understand Mary s role as mother of our Savior, Jesus Christ. As Catholics, we firmly believe in the incarnation of our Lord: Mary conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Confer Luke 1:26-38 and Matthew 1:18-25.) Through her, Jesus Christ second person of the Holy Trinity, one-in-being (consubstantial) with the Father, and true God from true God entered this world taking on human flesh and a human soul. Jesus is true God and true man. In His person are united both a divine nature and a human nature. Mary did not create the divine person of Jesus, who existed with the Father from all eternity. * One of the most important reasons we call Mary the Mother of God is because we know Luke 1:43 is referring to Mary to be the Mother of God and it is summed up in the Catechism of the Catholic Church: Called in the Gospels "the mother of Jesus," Mary is acclaimed by Elizabeth, at the prompting of the Spirit and even before the birth of her son, as "the mother of my Lord." In fact, the One whom she conceived as man by the Holy Spirit, who truly became her Son according to the flesh, was none other than the Father s eternal Son, the second Person of the Holy Trinity. Hence the Church confesses that Mary is truly "Mother of God" (Theotokos). (CCC 495) ** *http://catholicstraightanswers.com/why-do-we-call-mary-mother-of-god/ **http://www.catholic.com/magazine/articles/how-can-mary-be-god%e2%80%99s-mother Just in case you were wondering Attending on Sunday is a fulfillment of one s obligation. On behalf of the entire staff of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, we would like to wish you Blessed and Happy New Year to you and your family.
Eucharistic Adoration Do you know someone away from the Catholic Church? Only one-third of Catholics attend on a regular basis - Let s invite them back! Visit CatholicsComeHome.org to: View the TV commercials that are helping bring hundreds of thousands of souls back home to Church. Learn and grow deeper in your faith, support this ministry, and share the web page with your friends and family Like CCH on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ catholicscomehome.org Help bring your friends and loved-ones back to the Catholic Church! Social Media Advent what an auspicious time of the Liturgical year to begin our Eucharistic Adoration Ministry called the St. Bernadette Society! We invite you to spend an hour with Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament on Wednesdays during Advent ending on December 28 (the Octave of Christmas Feast of the Holy Innocents). Adoration begins at 9:30 am and ends with Benediction at 5:30 pm. Two adorers are needed for each one-hour time frame. Sign up information is available in the Narthex starting today. Please direct your questions to Judith Blake (judith.maupin@gmail.com - 803-802-9757). This is a personal invitation to you from Jesus. He waits for us in this sacrament of love. (St. John Paul II, Dominicae Cenae). Charlotte March for Life We re pleased to announce that our parish has gone social and we have a brand. Our new website is GraceWePray.org You can now follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. We ve made it easy to remember, whether you re on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram you can easily find us as simply as searching @gracewepray. And don t forget to use the hashtag #gracewepray. Facebook.com/gracewepray Twitter.com/gracewepray Instagram.com/gracewepray The 11th annual MARCH FOR LIFE Charlotte will be held on Jan. 13, 2017. The day will begin with a for the Unborn at 9:00 am at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. At 11:00 am, all will gather at the parking lot across the street from the Catholic Diocese at 1123 S. Church St. in Charlotte. At noon, everyone will march to Trade and Tryon where Fr. John Eckert, Pastor of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, will preach. The march then continues to the court house at 401 W. Trade Street where there will be a prayer vigil. Check out the March for Life website at www.marchforlifecharlotte.org for more information and a complete schedule of events.
Christmas - December 25 2016 Do you live in Sun City Carolina Lakes? Are you aware that one of the many groups that you can join is the Catholic Community Club? The primary goal of this large club is to communicate items of interest to any Catholic in that retirement neighborhood. We also have a weekly Rosary Gathering and a First Friday Study Series as well as socials to help you get to know your Catholic neighbors. Please check it out on the SCCL website and click to become a member and receive our informative e-mails! Questions? Please email sue.delamater@oursuncitycarolinalakes.net If your community has a similar group, please contact the Parish Office to place an ad in the bulletin. OUR LADY OF GRACE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS COUNCIL# 14765 HOLIDAY BUFFET DINNER FUNDRAISER Catered by Stacks Restaurant Thursday January, 12, 2017 Social 5:30-Dinner 6:15 PM PLACE The Lodge at Sun City Carolina Lakes MENU Chicken Marsala, Baked Salmon in a lemon dill sauce, Beef brisket au jus, roasted potatoes, rice, green beans, salad, dessert and iced tea and water PRICE $17.00 per person Children under 12, $10.00 DOOR PRIZES AND RAFFLES Bring your own beverage of choice (BYOB) Contact Bob Michaud at Michaud.bob@gmail.com Telephone 910-599-4039
Hearing Devices Do your wear a hearing aid, or do you need help hearing during? Many hearing aids and other devices do not work properly with the acoustics in the church. We currently have four listening devices that are available to borrow for your use to help enhance your hearing. Please plan to arrive 20 minutes prior to so that our sound technicians are able to assist you with the device. If you would like to purchase your own device to use, you may contact Nick LaMendola at Sweetwater (800) 222-4700, ext 1660. Stop by the Parish Office and pick up an information packet. Special thank you to Tom Ruck for helping to collect information on the most cost effective choices available for purchase. St. Philip Neri Church, Fort Mill, SC Job Posting Audiovisual Ministry Coordinator St. Philip Neri Church, Fort Mill, SC, is seeking an Audiovisual Ministry Coordinator. Please refer to the SPN website (www.saintphilipneri.org) for a job description that may be accessed through a link positioned near the bottom of the homepage. Interested parties should electronically submit their resume (along with three references) to both SPN.Jobs@carolina.rr.com and stphilipneri@comporium.net Candidates of interest will be contacted in January 2017. Would you like to donate stock or mutual funds to Our Lady of Grace? Stock donations may be made for the benefit of a parish to be used for any particular ministry, capital campaign or other campaign. To properly ensure your donation; please call our parish office for detailed instructions. IRA Charitable Rollover Consider an Option in 2017 Why not plan ahead for next year. In 2017, for individuals age 70 ½ and over, you can make a tax free transfer as part of your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) from your IRA directly to Our Lady of Grace. It s a convenient and smart option for supporting the work of the Church. For more information, please contact your tax consultant. Mission Committees & Ministries Columbarium Rich Costantino - 803-283-4969 Extraordinary Ministers Sue Delamater - 803-396-8577 Funeral Ministry Clara DeRosa - 727-457-2952 Greeters Pat Latour - 803-547-0068 Home & Hospital Visitations Mary Anna Mervak - 803-616-1267 Knights of Columbus Roch J. Girard - 803-548-5883 Lectors Babette Sabia - 803-547-0280 bsabia@aol.com Sacristans Eileen Cahill - 803-396-8548 Safety Committee Mary Costantino - 803-283-4969 Sunshine Committee JoAnn Mancina - jman7405@yahoo.com Ushers Bill Boynton - 803-547-0856 Women s Group Regina Smith - 803-548-1759 Parish Pastoral Council Mary Costantino, ex officio Jack Kelly, ex officio Deacon George Johnston Eileen Cahill, Secretary Brett Corbly Natalie Jackson Lou Koch Bob Marino Mary Ann Mervak Jerry Seymour Regina Smith Caroline Weisburg Finance Council Jack Kelly, Chairman Pat Morosky, Secretary Mary Costantino, ex officio Carola Baptiste Eric Lengers Angie Letourneau Mike Mader David Mancina Bill McDonough Bulletin Deadline is 10 days prior to the Sunday bulletin date -longer around holidays.