November 25, 2018 - Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI CATHOLIC CHURCH Parish Office 203 E. Main St., P.O. Box 730, Teutopolis, IL 62467-0730 Office Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9:00 am-4:30 pm Phone: (217) 857-6404 Fax: (217) 857-1031 Parish E-mail: stfrancischurch@mchsi.com Parish website: stfrancischurch.com Facebook: @stfrancischurchteutopolis Submit written bulletin notices by noon Monday. Diocesan website: www.dio.org Diocesan Child Abuse Reporting and Investigation Number (217) 321-1155 Parish Pastoral Team Fr. Joe Carlos, OFM, Pastor Fr. Ken Rosswog, OFM, Associate Pastor Dan Williams, Director of Music Ministry Emilie Esker, Director of Discipleship Anita Broom, Bookkeeper Jane Miller, Part-time Secretary Ron Ruholl, Maintenance Religious Education: Dan Niemerg, Grade School CRE: 857-6477 Maria Kingery, Youth Director & Jr. Hi. & H.S. CRE: 857-1500 Camille Neihls, Part-time Rel. Ed. Secretary: 857-6477 Parish Council Rich Niebrugge Karen Runde Cory Wermert Toby McMahon Donna Niemerg Mark Willenborg Scott Brumleve Jerry Runde, Jr. Tom Uthell 203 EAST MAIN ST., PO BOX 730, TEUTOPOLIS, IL 62467
St. Francis of Assisi Parish Teutopolis, Illinois page 2 From the Pastor PLEASE NOTE: Bishop Paprocki will be here for Confirmation this Saturday,1 December at 4:30. We have 44 confirmandi, so with them, their sponsors, their parents and grandparents and other family members, it will be a full church. Please keep our confirmandi in your prayers as they prepare for receiving the Holy Spirit when they will be anointed with the sacred chrism. Our condolences to the family of Alva Heuerman, whose funeral was this past Monday morning, 19 November. Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine on her. Having just celebrated Thanksgiving Day, many of us gathered with relatives and friends, gave thanks to the Lord, and shared in a delicious meal. It is good to pause, ponder and appreciate all that God has done for us and continues to do. We can give thanks to God for calling young men and women to the convent and the seminary to discern whether God is calling them to make a permanent or life time commitment to serve. There likely are not many parishes in the diocese of Springfield, or probably any diocese in the United States, that have both a young woman discerning a vocation in the convent and a young man in the seminary discerning his call to the priesthood. St. Francis Parish has both! Dominic Vahling, son of Tom and Cindy, has been studying and discerning his vocation for several years now, so most parishioners know about Dominic. Maybe some don t know about Kara Esker, the daughter of Joe and Angie Esker. She relatively recently entered a convent in Alton, and she is discerning how she can best serve God in her life. This is a new life for her, and for Joe and Angie! If you would like to write Kara a note of support and joy, her address is: Kara Esker; St. Francis Convent; 1 Franciscan Way; Alton, IL 62002. I bet she would enjoy hearing from you. She is considering joining the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George. Please keep both Kara and Dominic in your prayers as we continue praying for vocations to the priesthood and religious life. There are still several openings or opportunities to pray before the Blessed Sacrament on a regular basis. We can t start until we have the various blocks of time occupied. We will pray from noon on Monday till 6:00 a.m. Tuesday. Talk with people involved with adoration, and they will tell you they are glad they take the time with the Lord. They experience a sense of peace in their lives. As I mentioned before, we have a different schedule of Masses this week because I have to attend meetings with the Franciscans in St. Louis from Monday to Thursday. Therefore, we will have only two weekday Masses this week: the 6:30 on Monday morning (11/26) and the 8:00 Mass on Friday. There will not be evening confessions on Tuesday and Thursday. The church will be opened each day. I wish I can return with news of a replacement for Fr. Thinh! Pray for our confirmandi, and pray for Kara and Dominic and for vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Christ the King "Hail the King of the Jews." The kingship of Christ has always been different than the world expected. Many of Jesus' disciples hoped for an earthly Messiah who would overthrow the Romans. But, as Jesus says in today's Gospel, his kingdom is "not of this world." And yet it is a very real kingdom. Jesus is a very real Lord. And we are called to invite Jesus to be king of our lives. In the early 20th century, disillusionment with authority of all kinds was growing. Revolutions, atheistic thinkers, and World War I contributed to a rejection of faith. In 1925, Pope Pius XI called the Church and the world back to a sense of hope in Christ. He instituted the solemnity of Christ the King on the last Sunday before Advent. How is Jesus king of your life today? God Bless Those Serving our Country. Anthony Vahling, Jeremy Deters, Cody Bushue, Jared Apke, Andrew Isley Holy Day Mass Schedules Immaculate Conception Mass Schedule Friday, December 7, 5:30 pm, at St. Francis 7:00 pm at St. Rose Saturday, December 8, 8:00 am at St. Francis Christmas Mass Schedule Christmas Eve, December 24, 4:00, 6:00 and 10:00 pm at St. Francis 5:30 pm at St. Rose Christmas Day, December 25, 9:00 am at St. Francis 10:00 am at Rose Mass Intentions Monday, November 26, 6:30: Louis Buenker, Jr. death anniversary Friday, November 30, 7:55: Mary Ann Wall Saturday, December 1, 4:30: Richard Thoele Sunday, December 2, 7:00: Pro Populo Sunday, December 2, 10:30: Joe and Betty Runde Protecting God s Children Workshop St. Isidore Parish, St. Aloysius Hall Monday, February 4th at 6:30 pm Call 217-925-5788 to register
November 25, 2018 - Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe page 3 Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Liturgy Schedule 34th Week in Ordinary Time November 26 - December 2 Mass at 6:30 am No Mass No Mass No Mass St. Andrew Mass at 7:55 am Confirmation Mass at 4:30 pm First Sunday of Advent Mass at 7:00 & 10:30 am Confession Schedule No Confessions on Tuesday and Thursday Saturday, December 1-3:00-4:00 pm Liturgy of the Hours with Friars Monday-Friday -- 11:45 am & 4:45 pm Pray for the Sick Please remember in your prayers: Jack Hardiek, Devin Mette, Margaret Pruemer, Will Niccum, Joe Ruholl, Bill and Rosie Myers, Lorraine Deters, Craig Lindvahl, Claude Brumleve, Scott Repking, Andrea Wernsing, Elizabeth Weidner, Paula Spencer, Jody Furlano, Mark Roedl, Linus Willenborg, Norma Weber, Pat Poston, Cheryl Huber, Peyton Esker, Dorothy Gardewine, Michael Habing, Rose Walsh, Connie Wessel, Brian Miller, Lisa (Vahling) Harter, Cole Wellbaum, Kyndal Dasenbrock, Dianne Schabbing, Clarence Miller, Lisa Vahling, Norma Buhler. Homebound Ministry Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion to the Homebound for Sunday, December 2nd, are Deb Blankenship 663-0862 and Brenda Henry 857-3964. Attention Parents of Altar Servers: Just a reminder that when your child is scheduled to serve Mass, they should be in the sacristy at least 15 minutes before Mass is scheduled to begin. This will help the sacristan greatly and give the server plenty of time to help the sacristan and priest in preparing for Mass. Thanks for your help in this matter. Help Wanted St. Francis parish has an opening for a cook to prepare the noon meals for the friars on Fridays and Saturdays, and to fill in as needed for our current cook, Liz Wernsing. This is an hourly position. If you are interested please call Fr. Joe Carlos at 217-857-6404. Parish Calendar Tuesday, November 27 Guitar practice, 6:30 pm Wednesday, November 28 Children s choir, 3:30-4:30 pm Young adult choir, 6:00-7:15 pm Confirmation practice, 7:20-8:30 pm Rosary, 8:00 pm, chapel Thursday, November 29 Adult choir, 7:00 pm Saturday, December 1 Confessions, 3:00-4:00 pm Confirmation, 4:30 pm Mass Sunday, December 2 Secular Franciscans meet, 1:00-2:00 pm, St. Clare Attention Parishioners There are 113 children in grades 1 and 2 preparing Christmas Shoeboxes filled with gifts for the poor children of the world. The cost to mail these is $9.00 per box. We still need $444.00 to cover this cost. If anyone would like to help the children in these two grades ship their shoeboxes, please consider placing your donation in an envelope marked Shoebox and drop it in the collection basket on the weekend. If writing a check, please make the check out to St. Francis Church and in the memo write Shoeboxes. This way you can take part in the Shoebox project along with the children. Thank you greatly for your help. Donations for Flowers We are accepting donations for flowers for Christmas and special occasions during 2019. Please put your donation in an envelope marked FLOWERS, and place it in the collection basket, or drop it off at the parish office. If the donation is being made in memory of a loved one, please note this on the envelope also. Stewardship of Treasure Sunday Total Fiscal 11/18/2018 Year 220 Adult envelopes $6,954.84 $135,456.84 Online giving $1,617.00 $33,555.00 Other $439.00 $17,207.41 TOTAL $9,010.84 $186,220.25 Assisi to Africa $508.00 $13,075.00 Campaign for Justice and Hope $1,035.00
St. Francis of Assisi Parish Teutopolis, Illinois page 4 Religious Education News Parents: Please make sure your children are dressed warm enough to play outside for morning supervision. Thanks! Preschool/Kindergarten: Religion class resumes during 10:30 Mass on December 2. Also, the students will start practicing for the Epiphany play held on January 6, 2019 after 10:30 Mass. Grade 3: Bake Sale for the Missions is on December 6 in the TGS Cafeteria. We will need grade 3 parents to bring cakes and candy for this bake sale. Donations for Christmas Shoebox Mission Project needed. We are still in need of money to send the Christmas Shoeboxes to the needy. We still need $444. Please, help send Christmas joy to these children. Junior High and High School: Classes will be held in the grade school from 7:20 8:30 pm. If your child will be absent from religion, let the office know (857-6477). Junior High: Personal Safety videos will be shown during religion class on November 28 th. Sophomores: Please turn in your Confirmation service hours and record forms to the church office or drop them in the collection basket. They are due! Confirmation practice is scheduled for November 28 th from 7:20 to 8:30 at church. (Note the time change.) Sponsors need to be present. Confirmation is this Saturday, December 1 st at 4:30 Mass. Come Holy Spirit! Adoration With the change in the Mass schedule, exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament will begin at NOON on Mondays and continue until Jesus is reposed at 6:00 a.m. Tuesday mornings. Many slots are open throughout the day. Please sign up at the Church entrances, by emailing stfrancisadorers@gmail.com, or by calling Cindy Vahling at 217-857-3904. Jesus is wanting to spend time with you! Assisi For Africa What can you do with 42 hectares (about 80 acres)? At present, we know we cannot do much. In fact we could probably do nothing without the help of KCC Mining Company that sends its tractor to prepare 5 hectares for corn, beans and soya. It also gives us seeds and fertilizer and even some pigs that have already begun to reproduce. But I do know how to get to our farm that is 15 kilometers (9 miles) from the center of town. How? By walking, or, if we are lucky, by bicycle, or if we are really lucky, by motorcycle or a vehicle. We really need some transportation. Anyone have any old pickup trucks? May God bless these farming efforts in the Congo! Fr. Damien. Scrip Cards make great Christmas Gifts! CHWC youth are selling scrip cards after weekend Masses, now through Christmas. They will be in St. Clare hallway. You can also pick up your cards at Niebrugge Financial through the week and at the parish office on Saturday mornings. Scrip cards are gift cards to places you normally shop already, but they also give a benefit to our youth. Please consider stopping by to pick up your scrip gift cards today! Cardinal Calendars The Catholic Heart Work Campers are fundraising for their next experience in Fremont, Nebraska. Keep selling those Cardinal calendars! We ordered extra! Payment is due upon delivery, December 12, before religion in the TGS cafeteria. Christmas Cookie and Candy Sale will be December 15 and 16 after all Masses! Come enjoy homemade, decorated cookies and candies. CHWC families will be providing the cookies and proceeds will go towards their trip. Thanks for supporting the youth of our area! Taste of T-Town CHWC students and the Dieterich Bank invite you to The Taste of T-Town on Saturday, January 12, 2019, at the Teutopolis Banquet Hall! Enjoy a variety of foods, entertainment & great company at the community event! Tickets are now available in advance from any CHWC student, parish office or the T-Town branch of Dieterich Bank. Giving Trees Our Giving Trees are up. If you would like to give a gift to someone in a nursing home or group home in the Effingham area, please be sure to get your tag from the Giving Trees located at the church entrances! Wrapped Giving Tree gifts, (each with the tag taped to the front) are due back into church by December 9 and can be stacked in front of Mary s altar. We will be delivering gifts to the various group homes and nursing homes on Monday, December 10. Anyone, who would like to help sort and deliver, is encouraged to call the parish office to sign up! Thanks for brightening the Christmas season for those who need you! Help Needed! We are still in need of altar servers for Christmas. Needed are: 10 torchbearers and 3 servers for 10:00 pm Mass on Christmas Eve. 1 server for 6:00 pm Mass on Christmas Eve. If you are able to help serve at any of these Masses, please call Barb Runde at 821-9950. Thank you!
November 25, 2018 - Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe page 5 Inspiration for the Week We live in interesting times. Life is constantly changing. While this can be exciting on one hand, change also presents challenges. We live in an age of relativism where people can pick and choose the truths that suit them and build their own system of beliefs. While humans certainly have the freedom to choose, losing sight of long-standing universal truths is not such a healthy course. Jesus Christ our King is our universal truth! He is the God who is nonnegotiable, our non-option! In Christ, we know what truth is. He alone points us to God, our true selves, our proper relationships with one another, and the world in which we live. Christ directs us to the poor and vulnerable and teaches us what God's kingdom is meant to be. Christ is the king who serves others. He gets dirty. He ascends the throne of the cross. We are called to do the same. The Effingham County Christmas Store, a FISH and Catholic Charities tradition, needs your help to fill the semi on Wednesday, December 5, from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm, at Premier Broadcasting, 206 S. Willow, Effingham. Items needed are new hats and gloves, coats, children s pajamas, socks, diapers, family board games, and toys (infant to high school). Gently used coats can be taken to Wiedman Cleaners during the month of November to be cleaned. The food needed is canned soup, canned fruit, boxed potatoes, pancake mix, boxed stuffing mix, pasta sauce, spaghetti, peanut butter, syrup, jelly, and cake mix. Monetary donations can be made during the day or sent prioe to the event to FISH or Catholic Charities and put Christmas Store in the memo. For more information or questions, contact Molly Bushue at 217-254-0777 or email here at MollyBushue@gmail.com The Christmas Store will be held on Friday, December 7, and Saturday, December 8, at the Agracel building. Applications are available at Catholic Charities, FISH, CEFS, Effingham Library and the Health Department. Please return application by November 21. Special Thanks to E-Givers St. Francis of Assisi parish would like to thank the 74 families who are currently giving electronically. You may not see these fellow parishioners place an envelope in the basket every week, but their consistent giving does not go unnoticed in our parish office. Each month our parish receives a steady and predictable stream of income from those donors who have made the commitment to give to God first by having a designated contribution automatically transferred to our parish through our Online Giving Program. We also would like to thank the 100+ families who registered and paid for their children s religious education and vacation bible school online. If you like to learn more about this easy, safe and secure way of giving, please contact Anita Broom at the parish office 217-857-6404 or check out our website at www.stfrancischurch.com and click on What s Happening. EVERYDAY STEWARDSHIP - RECOGNIZE GOD IN YOUR ORDINARY MOMENTS When I was growing up, my parents told me about Elvis Presley, the King of Rock 'n' Roll. He received that title from fans due to the huge effect he had on rock music. When I was a teenager, people called Michael Jackson the King of Pop. The designation was based on the fact that he had so many hits for so many years and because of his power as a live performer. The title of king carries with it a lot of weight and communicates to people that the one bearing the title is at the pinnacle of something, some people, or some reality. I sometimes even like to say that I am King of the House, but my wife can easily remind me that a true king would have servants and would not have to take out the trash by themselves. Touché! There are many kings of many things, but only one King of the Universe. If you were the king of a kingdom, all would be your subjects. In the universe, all creation bows down to this king. No other king stands above him. All belongs to Him, although much is given to each of us as a gift. He gives out of love and our love for Him should cause us to use those gifts for His glory, for we are more than simple subjects. We are sons and daughters of the King. We are royalty due to the mark of Baptism. Elvis and Michael are gone. Monarchs from different eras and places have vanished. However, our King is alive and well, calling us to have full membership in His Kingdom. His name is Jesus. His Kingdom is at hand. --Tracy Earl Welliver, MTS Happy December Birthdays 12/7 James Esker (89) 12/18 Shirley Funneman (85) 12/18 Jeanette Westendorf (85) 12/20 Lawrence Buhnerkempe (80) 12/27 Donald Beckman (81) 12/29 Agnes Ruholl (86) 12/30 Alice Koester (80)
St. Francis of Assisi Parish Teutopolis, Illinois page 6 Parishioners, please take note: Confirmation will be on Saturday, December 1st at 4:30 pm. All ministries are filled by Confirmation families 4:30 pm Sat. Host *Jane Zuber Tess Probst Lois Meinhart Jamie Niemerg Cup Terry Meyer Jane Meyer Julie Probst Laura Deters 4:30 pm Sat. *Bernard Runde Tim Ordner Chris Deters Toby McMahon Dr. Jerry Runde Dave Tegeler 4:30 pm Sat. Shannon Hinkle Jamie Habing Ministry Schedule for December Servers: Please pick up your schedule from a church entrance. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion 7:00 am Sun. Host *Mary Jane Koester Jean Habing Lenora Drees Cup Joyce Vahling Ruth Drees Dolores Kroeger Nancy Weber Ushers 7:00 am Sun. *Mike Tipton Allen Koester Steve Mette Martin Hutmacher Joe Runde John Runde Readers 7:00 am Sun. Pat Wente Clean Linens - Dolores Kroeger 10:30 am Sun. Host *Angie Koester Pete Bushur Donna Addis Emalie Koester Cup Jane Spiker Carol Heuerman Louise Sheehan Nicole Pals 10:30 am Sun. *Denny Runde Dan Beckman Brian Ruholl Bill Martin, Jr. Greg Addis Jeff Thoele 10:30 am Sun. Sue Esker Patty Ruholl Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe What have you done? That question of Pilate to Jesus is a key? What have you done? On the last Sunday of this liturgical year, it becomes our final exam. It is an essay question with each of us filling it out in different but specific ways. What have I done this past year to bring on the Reign and Kingdom of God? How have I acted with loving-kindness, with God-likemercy? Since my end has not come, what will I do now? December 3rd is the annual observance of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, as proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly 1992. The goal is to promote the rights of persons with disabilities and increase awareness in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life. This year s theme is Empowering persons with disabilities and ensuring inclusiveness and equality. The day is observed all over the world. For more information: http://www.un.org/en/ events/disabilitiesday/ Area Events All Area Veterans are invited to the annual Pearl Harbor breakfast sponsored by the Teutopolis American Legion Post 924. The breakfast will be held on Sunday, December 2nd, 8:00 am at the Teutopolis Banquet Hall. All veterans are welcome to attend the 7:00 am Mass at St. Francis of Assisi church prior to the breakfast. Please join us in commemorating the 77th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor bombing. A Christmas Walk for Life is being sponsored by St. Isidore CCW on Sunday, December 2nd, featuring four beautiful homes from St. Isidore parish and displays at Immaculate Conception Hall, Dieterich. Featured family homes include: Jamie & Crystal Hoene Curt & Sandy Michels Sam & Stacie Bierman Ray & Chandra Niemerg Immaculate Conception hall displays and features include: Tableware settings Live entertainment Raffle items Refreshments Homes open 1:00-4:30 pm; IC Hall 12:30-5:30 pm Ticket price $10.00. Kids $5.00 (ages 8-12). Tickets can be purchased at IC Hall or any of the four homes. Operation Santa Christmas quilt will be raffled off at 5:00 pm. World Youth Day Fundraiser The Mette Family band (MJM7) has been selected to perform at World Youth Day in Panama; however, they will have to cover their own travel expenses to the event. They are hosting a concert at St. Anthony parish center on Sunday, December 2, at 6:00 pm, to help defray the cost. The concert will last about 90 minutes and will include lights and video with an entertaining blend of music and faith sharing. Michael s daughters, Gabriella, Trinity, Charity, and Cecilia will be joining Michael on stage playing a unique blend of alternative rock reflections on their faith. Free will donation. My Memory Worx for Build Up Brain Fitness! Join Kelly Willenborg on Tuesday, December 4th at 6:00 pm at the Effingham Public Library. Attendees will learn how the right type of mental engagement can build our brain reserves and slow down decline in brain function. Register for this free program online at effinghamlibrary.org or call 217-342-2464. Advent Evensong, Sunday, December 9, 4:00 pm at Holy Cross Church, Wendelin. A candlelight service with scripture, organ, English carols and Austrian Christmas music sung in German by the Wendeline Kloepfen Singers. All are welcome.