December 16, 2018 Third Sunday of Advent St. Mary Parish Office 109 4th Street P.O. Box 68 West Point, IA 52656 Phone... (319) 837-6808 Email... westpointstmary@diodav.org Website... www.westpointstmary.org Parish Council President... Bruce Wellman Trustee... Anthony Schulte Trustee... Roger Fullenkamp Saint Boniface Parish Office 609 Washington Street P.O. Box 247 Farmington, IA 52626 Phone... (319) 878-3736 Parish Council President... Gavin Burgess Trustee... Todd Herdrich Trustee... Richard Breckenridge Pastoral Staff Pastor Rev. Dennis Hoffman... (319) 837-8120 Office Phone... (319) 837-6808 E-Mail... hoffmand@diodav.org Rectory Address 603 Bel Air Dr Fr. Dennis Office Hours: Tuesday... 10:30 am to Noon Wednesday... 10:00 am to 11:30 am Parish Coordinator Rebecca Hannum... (319) 837-6808 E-Mail... westpointstmarypa@diodav.org Rebecca s Office Hours Monday-Friday...8:00 am to 4:00 pm Secretary Deb Fullenkamp... (319) 837-6808 Deb s Office Hours Monday-Thursday... 8:00 am to Noon Every other Friday... 8:00 am to Noon Director of Religious Education Dixie Booten... (319) 837-8905 Cell... (319) 371-5043 Email... westpointstmarydre@diodav.org Saint Mary of the Assumption West Point & Saint Boniface Farmington Weekend Mass Schedule Saturday 5:30 pm St. Mary s Sunday 8:00 am St. Mary s Sunday 5:30 pm 2nd & 4th St Mary s Sunday 10:30 am St. Boniface That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. Don t be afraid! he said. I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Saviour yes, the Messiah, the Lord has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! LUKE 1:8-11
Eucharistic Adoration First Friday (WP) 8:00 am-5:00 pm. Confessions Saturday (WP) 4:30-5:00 pm and as announced. Baptisms /Weddings Please fill out a form found on the Parish Website and call St. Mary s Parish Office at (319) 837-6808 to make an appt. with Father Sick Calls: Contact the Parish Office if you or a family member are unable to attend Mass and receive the Sacraments due to illness or age. Please notify the Parish Office if you go into the hospital, we would like to visit you. Parish Prayer Lines St. Mary...Eleanor Menke @(319) 837-6895 St. Boniface.(319) 835-5520/592-3238 Holy Trinity Catholic Schools Website... www.holytrinityschools.org High School (Grades 7-12) 2600 Avenue A Fort Madison, IA 52627 CAO: Michael Sheerin (319) 372-2486 School Board President: Steve Link School Board Vice President: Loren Menke West Point Representative: Ray Menke Elementary (Grades K-6) 413 Avenue C West Point, IA 52656 (319) 837-6131 Early Childhood Center 2040 Locust Street St. Paul, IA 52657 / 2213 Avenue J Fort Madison, IA 52627 Phone (319) 372-6428 Dec 18 Dec 20 Dec 24 Dec 25 Dec 31 DECEMBER PARISH CALENDAR SB Parish Council SM Decorate Church Christmas Eve CHRISTMAS Rosary Makers During the holidays the parish bulletin is due to the publisher early. Please make sure you have anything you would like included in the bulletin to Deb by Noon on the following deadlines. Dec. 30th Bulletin: Thursday, Dec 20th Jan. 6th Bulletin: Thursday, Dec. 27th Information can be sent via phone: 319-837-6808, email: westpointstmary@diodav.org. Parish Offices Closed Saturday Dec. 22rd - Tuesday, Jan. 1st. For Christmas & New Years Video-making Contest for Youth Grades K-12: As part of the Vision 20/20 process all youth (individuals or groups) of the diocese are invited to create a 30-90 second video to celebrate their Catholic faith using one of these themes: 20/20 1. What makes me proud to be Catholic? 2. What about being Catholic brings me joy? 3. In what ways can I share my Catholic faith with others? Entries may be submitted by individuals or groups of up to 25 members. The winning video will be chosen based on clarity, visual appeal, and creativity. The creator/s of the winning video will join Bishop Zinkula for a surprise event. Entries are due by January 15. For contest rules go to https://www.davenportdiocese.org/vision-2020-video-contest. There is a change to the Knights of Columbus Council meeting for December. It is changed to Tuesday, December 18th at 7:30PM. Monthly meetings normally occur the third Tuesday of every month. Food, Fellowship and a Fundraiser...The Knights of Columbus and St. Mary's parish are inviting you to join us for Mass and a Chicken Dinner. All proceeds will go towards The Knights of Columbus goal of providing two $500 scholarships. Sunday, January 27th evening Mass will be held as usual @ 5:30 PM, the Knights will then deliver a Chicken Dinner at 6:30 PM. The dinner will include 2 pieces of Chicken, potatoes and 2 sides or $10 per person or $4 for children 10 and under. To sign up please stop in the back of church after Mass on Dec 22nd, Dec 30th, Jan 6 or Jan 13th to buy your presale wristband. At the time of purchase tell them you would like your dinner to be a delivered to St. Mary's! All are invited to stay and enjoy their dinner in the Ossenbrink Center. St. Mary's will provide refreshments. If you have any questions please contact Mike Linnenbrink @ 316-2115 or Rebecca Hannum at the parish office. As a family of Christians we at St. Mary's are called to donate to those less fortunate than us. In keeping with the theme from The Bishops 20/20 Vision those attending the group discussion it was brought before the parish and finance counsel that we should being doing more to help others in need. Beginning the first weekend of January the second collection at Mass will be donated to charity. Charities will be designated on a monthly basis and posted in advance in the bulletin and announced each month. January all second collection offerings will be donated to the End of the Month Meals that are served in Fort Madison. We thank you in advance for your generous support. Sing for joy, O heavens! Rejoice, O earth! Burst into song, O mountains! For the Lord has comforted his people and will have compassion on them in their suffering. Choosing J*O*Y is being able to see GOD S GOODNESS even when life is hard and messy Here is the thing with Christian joy: Some part of us wonders if the joyful ones are just a bit fake. Or if they re disengaged with reality or if they are naive. Perhaps they stick their heads in the sand. Perhaps they are just a bit dumb about how hard it is in this life, about the heartbreak and the sorrow, about the evil and injustice. Joy must be a bit blind to reality, right? Joy isn t emotionally or spiritually or intellectually dishonest. Christian joy doesn t mean that we are sticking our heads in the sand and saying, it s fine, we re fine, everything s fine while running past the gutter of broken dreams, eyes averted. Joy isn t denial of grief or pretending happiness. Joy is the affirmation of the truest thing in this life. Joy is born, not from pretending everything is fine, but from holding both hope and truth together. Joy is the affirmation of the thing that is truer than any trouble, any affliction: the affirmation that love wins. Jesus is as good as we hope, and everything for which you are longing love, joy, peace, justice, mercy, home, good work is real because it rooted in God s heart for us. Those are gifts from God. God is against the evil and suffering in this world. He is not the origin of evil nor does God use evil as a means to justify some cosmic end. So as the people of God, we are part of the resistance, the overcoming of them, the redemption and hope in the midst of our troubles. Joy is born out of trust and hope and gratitude and faith in the coming of Jesus. We have a reason to rejoice. And it s not denial or innocence or naivety or stupidity. Joy is the affirmation of the truest thing of all: redemption, restoration, reconciliation.
The Advent/Christmas season is a treasured time at Holy Trinity Catholic schools. How blessed we are to teach of the joy and hope in celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ in our schools. The hope of Advent was certainly felt at the "Peace and Harmony" choir concert by the junior high and senior high choirs. At the concert we were all asked to focus on peace and love that we can find in God and remembering those we love at Christmas time. On December 6th, St. Nicholas Day, all Holy Trinity students from preschool - 12th grades were given sweet treats to honor this holy saint. St. Nicholas' love of God and his dedication to giving are wonderful examples of mercy for our students. Our students do so many acts of service in our community, so it was a delight to give to them. Our international student program has enriched many lives in our communities. We are happy to announce that HTC has the opportunity to welcome another student from China for the second semester this school year. However, we need to find a host family for him. He is a sixteen year old boy who would love to attend Holy Trinity Catholic. A monthly stipend is offered for the family who opens their home to this student who is eager to learn in the United States. If you or someone you know is interested please contact Brenda at brenda.graham@holytrinitycatholicschools.org. The Flower Cottage in Ft. Madison (phone #372-3675) will offer poinsettias locally grow at a discount price for churches. The poinsettias come sleeved and the pots will be decorated with foil of your choosing. They will also include a memorial card and deliver them to the church. Please give them our church name along with the person you wish to remember. If you have purchased a poinsettias elsewhere please have it in the Ossenbrink Center by Wednesday, December 19th. As we prepare for Christmas by decorating our homes for the coming of the infant Jesus, why not volunteer to do the same for our church. We are asking for volunteers to help move decorations from storage to the church after 8:45 am Mass on Wednesday, December 19th. Some of the boxes are heavy so it would be nice to have some men volunteers. On Thursday, December 20th at 8:30 am we will need help putting the decoration out. Please volunteer to help us prepare the church for the birth of our Lord, the infant child Jesus. Christmas Mass Schedule Monday, December 24th St. Mary s @ 4:00 pm (Children may bring an unwrapped gift to Baby Jesus such as diapers, wipes, formula, etc.) St. Boniface @ 7:00 pm St. Mary s @ 10:00 pm (Choir sings Christmas Carols at 9:30 pm) Tuesday, December 25th St. Mary s @ 8:00 am Please contact the parish offices or email westpointstmarypa@diadav.org if you would be willing to participate in a ministry for the Christmas Masses.
Tuesday, December 18 Parishioners Wednesday, December 19 Special Intentions Thursday, December 20 Friday, December 21 Saturday, December 22 Sunday, December 23 St. Mary Mass Schedule Weekend Saturday (WP) 5:30 pm Sunday (WP) 8:00 am, (FA) 10:30 am 2nd & 4th( WP) 5:30 PM Weekday Tuesday (FA) 9:00 am Every Third Tuesday (FA) 7:00 pm Wednesday (WP) 8:45 am 1st & 3rd Thursday (WPCC) 10:00 am Other Thursdays (WP) 7:30 am 1st Friday (DNCC) 10:00 am, (WP) 5:30 pm Other Fridays (WP) 7:30 am Mass Intentions Richard Peitz/ Myranda Gruener Gene Vonderhaar Steve Moeller Ralph & Henrietta Blint FA Parishioners The Parishioners of St. Mary s & St. Boniface pray the rosary for world peace before Mass on Saturday night and Sunday morning. Stewardship of Treasure December 9, 2018 Adults $3,754.00 Offertory $222.00 Second Collection $219.00 HTC $2,769.00 Total $6,964.00 Envelopes 114 St Boniface Adults $1,008.00 Offertory $38.00 Total $1046.00 Envelopes 27 Any donations you would like to make for 2018 should be dropped in the collection basket before December 30th or be post marked by December 28th. Contribution statements will be available in the back of church in late January. Please contact the office if you have any questions. Joy is not the absence of suffering. It is the presence of God. St. Mary Liturgical Roles Saturday, (December 22) at 5:30 pm Lead Rosary Bernice Rickelman Ushers: John Lampe, Cody Hunold Mike & Diane Holtkamp Greeters: Ray & Carleen Krogmeier Servers : Laura & Andy Mehmert, Brandon Delaney Lector: Susan Fedler Gift bearers: Ray & Carleen Krogmeier E. Ministers: Bob & Jackie Schierbrock, Joe Hummel Bulletins: Mike & Diane Holtkamp Carl & Rita Holtz Scrip: Danny & JoAnn Lampe Sunday, (December 23) at 8:00 am Lead Rosary Jackie Pranger Ushers: Joe Moran, Carl Johnston, Paul Walker Greeters: Paul & Bess Walker Servers : Kadin Medland, Clara & Jackson Blint Lector: Marvin Menke Gift bearers: Tad Boeding Family E. Ministers: Steve & Sue Conrad, Eleanor Menke Bulletins: Ben & Leah Link Betty Ellison, Sandy Bethurem Scrip: Tad & Angie Boeding Counters Larry Fedler, Kathy Neuweg, Deina Merschbrock Sunday, (December 23) at 5:30 pm Ushers: Bernie & Ann Abolt Greeters: Bernie Abolt Servers : Tanner & Teagan Snaadt Lector: George Kieler Gift bearers: Goodrich Family E. Ministers: Mya Lawlor, Sarah Schierbrock Bulletins: Bernie & Ann Abolt St. Boniface Liturgical Roles Sunday, (December 23) at 10:30 am Ushers: Josh & Ted Wenke Greeters: Dan Smith Family Servers : Faith Neeley, Ava Tackett Lector: Dave Smith Gift bearers: Jermi & Jenni Wolken E. Ministers: Gloria & Richard Breckenridge Tom Bartholomew Counters Katie Burgess & Sarah Kruse Readings for the Week December 16, 2018 Sunday: Zep 3:14-18a/Is 12:2-3, 4, 5-6/Phil 4:4-7/ Lk 3:10-18 Monday: Gn 49:2, 8-10/Ps 72:1-2, 3-4ab, 7-8, 17/ Mt 1:1-17 Tuesday: Jer 23:5-8/Ps 72:1-2, 12-13, 18-19/Mt 1:18-25 Wednesday: Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25a/Ps 71:3-4a, 5-6ab, 16-17/ Lk 1:5-25 Thursday: Is 7:10-14/Ps 24:1-2, 3-4ab, 5-6/Lk 1:26-38 Friday: Sg 2:8-14 or Zep 3:14-18a/Ps 33:2-3, Saturday: 11-12, 20-2/Lk 1:39-45 1 Sm 1:24-28/1 Sm 2:1, 4-5, 6-7, 8abcd/ Lk 1:46-56 Sunday: Mi 5:1-4a/Ps 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19/Heb 10:5-10/ Lk 1:39-45