Living the Word of Christ Together Pastor: Deacons: Office Administrator: Rectory Phone: Office Phone: Fax: e-mail: website: Father Bruce Riebe Bill Fredrick, Robert Kirschner Michele Wiltshire 440-526-1818 440-526-0016 440-526-6464 stjoebyz@sbcglobal.net www.stjoebyz.com I hope your preparations for the celebration of the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord are going well. We kind of put the cart before the horse so to speak with all of our merriment at work, school and church. Ideally it serves to highlight the specialness of Christ becoming Incarnate. In the midst of this, hopefully we are readying ourselves spiritually as well. The article below is taken from St. Jude Church in Fredericksburg, Va. It is fitting and quite well put for next weekend s doubleheader! Christmas is probably the only Holy Day of Obligation of which no one needs reminding. And as you know, Christmas begins with the Vigil Mass of Christmas Eve. But approximately once every seven years, Christmas falls on a Monday and the Vigil masses fall on Sunday evening. When this happens, people invariably ask, Does Christmas Eve count as a Sunday? Or do I need to go to Mass twice? Here s your answer, boldly and clearly: Christmas Eve does not count as Sunday Mass and even though it falls on a Sunday, Christmas is Christmas and Sunday is Sunday. As a member of the Catholic Church, you are obliged to attend both Sunday Mass and Christmas Mass. At this point I am tempted to say, It s not so bad! This only happens once every seven years! But the truth is, attending Mass is not a burdensome obligation which merits an apology from the priest. Attending mass is a prayer, a gift from Christ to your soul, and a privilege for which we owe God an inestimable debt of gratitude. We attend mass on Sunday to honor the resurrection of Christ from the dead, and on Christmas to honor his birth. These are two separate events, two separate celebrations, and two separate prayers. It just so happens that this year, they fall on two consecutive days. Don t think of it as a double obligation. Think of it as a double blessing, because it is! This is a good time to mention that as of January 1 the donation to light a candle will go to $3.00. If you check recent financial reports you ll note that we re not recouping the cost. I ve been here over twenty years and the price has remained the same. It s wonderful that so many people light vigil candles so that their prayers remain in God s presence for seven days. I hope the practice continues even though the amount increased.
December 17, 2017 Glory to Jesus Christ! Liturgy Schedule Monday December 18 8:00 a.m. Charlotte Picha by Michael/Anne Andrako Tuesday December 19 8:00 a.m. Collin Zack by Jim/Darlene Hritz Wednesday December 20 8:00 a.m. Elmer Vagvolgi by Debbie Vagas Thursday December 21 8:00 a.m. Eleanor Vagvolgi by Debbie Vagas Friday December 22 8:00 a.m. Health of Wally Kuhen by Joe/Marie Lupia Saturday December 23 4:00 p.m. Intention of the Parishioners Sunday December 24 10:30 a.m. Frank Matyas, Sr. by Mary/Nick Lizanich Vigil Liturgy (Nativity of Our Lord) 10:00 p.m. Intention of the Parishioners (Liturgy on Christmas Day will be at 10:30 a.m.) Altar Servers Lectors Greeters December 23 4:00 p.m. J. & J. Kodek R. Evans J. & J. Foreman December 24 10:30 a.m. G. Karaffa, N. Jaryga, N. Fredrick J. Weitzel & M. Cohn A. Loya & T. Macik December 24 10:00 p.m. B. Dirda, B. Hotaling, S. Katrenich K. Strobel & J. Carrig A. Steen & J. Loya It is Christmas every time you let God love others through you. Yes, it is Christmas every time you smile at your brother and offer him your hand. Mother Teresa Giving Tree Unbelievable! All the tags were stripped from the Giving Tree! Representatives from Mary Queen of Peace School in Cleveland will pick up the gifts on Monday. Many blessings for your St. Nicholas Spirit of Giving! (The gift cards will be distributed within St. Joseph to families in need of some assistance.) Envelopes/Liturgical Calendars We once again thank John Hopko (Hopko Funeral Home) for providing the 2018 Byzantine Liturgical Calendars. Feel free to pick one up as you grab your envelopes for the new year on the table in the vestibule. If you have been attending St. Joe s and would like to join, please fill out the requested information on the sheet near the envelopes. If there weren t envelopes for you, please contact Father so the situation can be remedied. Stewardship Campaign All parishioners should ve received a Stewardship Campaign form in the mail. Our assigned goal remains $14,000.00. Let s all show support for Bishop Milan, our new administrator, for this much needed appeal. Pledge forms can be returned via U.S. mail or the collection basket. Checks should be made payable to St. Joseph Church (we will forward a lump sum to the chancery). Periodic reports will be listed in the Byzz Line as we march toward that goal! Confession Opportunities There s some additional time slots for confessions in preparation for the Feast of the Nativity. December 23 3:00-3:45 December 24 9:30-10:15 and 2:00-4:00 Volunteer Banquet Invitations Invitations for the January 13 Volunteer Dinner can be found in the mail slots.
The Men s Club annual Night at the Races is January 27. Horses are available for $20. Tickets are also $20. Ads are being accepted for the race program. Contact Chuck Ricco (216-215-8482) or any Men s Club member. On Break for Christmastime Sandwich Making There will not be any sandwich making for the next two Saturdays. The assembly line resumes on January 6 at 10:00 (after liturgy). ECF Classes ECF classes are in recess for the next two Sundays. Sessions resume on January 7. Lector Schedules New lector schedules are available in the mail slots. Anyone interested in this ministry should contact Father for training purposes. Building Commission Meeting The Building Commission will meet on Thursday at 6:00. Altar Servers The Altar Servers Christmas Party is Wednesday. Participants should meet in the Activity Center at 4:30 or travel directly to the Golden Corral in Sagamore Hills by 5:00. Pick-up time at church is 8:00. (There is a $5 gift exchange.) The Ladies Auxiliary would like to thank those who purchased cookies last weekend and especially those who stepped up to bake! The Garfield Hts. Knights of Columbus Council would like to thank everyone who participated in the Coats for Kids project. The pick-up was made this past week. Your Weekly Offering December 10, 2017 Sunday: 10 Student Envelopes: Cash: Candles: Holy Days: Flowers: Building Fund: Christmas: In Memory Bertha Galaida: Total: $3,518.00 11.50 174.00 116.00 91.00 250.00 4500 25.00 300.00 $4,530.50 Have you remembered St. Joseph Church in your Will and/or Trust? Wedding Jubilarian Celebration Bishop Milan Lach S.J. will honor Cleveland area wedding jubilarian couples this afternoon at the Cathedral in Parma starting with prayers at 3:00, followed by a festive banquet and program. We congratulate the following St. Joseph couples. 25 th Paul and Victoria Filippi Jeff and Lori Jaryga 50 th Tom and Bonnie Ciresi Henry and Barbara Fortlage 65 th Joe and Helen Kochis May God grant to His Servants many more years of peace, health and happiness! GCU Cash Giveaway Winners from the GCU Holiday Cash Giveaway will be listed in next week s Byzz Line. Congratulations, Kalea! Kalea Percic won first place in Life Works Ohio Art, Essay and Poetry Contest. Her drawing was chosen to be featured in their 2018 calendar. The drawing is on display in the Education Center Showcase along with further details about Life Works Ohio and how you can purchase a calendar. Check it out!
First Corinthians 13 Christmas Version by Sharon Jaynes If I decorate my house perfectly with lovely plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights, and shiny glass balls, but do not show love to my family I m just another decorator. If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals, and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family I m just another cook. If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home, and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family it profits me nothing. If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties, and sing in the choir s cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point. Love stops the cooking to hug the child. Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband. Love is kind, though harried and tired. Love doesn t envy another home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens. Love doesn t yell at the kids to get out of your way. Love doesn t give only to those who are able to give in return, but rejoices in giving to those who can t. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. Love never fails. Video games will break; pearl necklaces will be lost; golf clubs will rust. But giving the gift of love will endure. PARISH INFORMATION ACTIVITY CENTER & HALL RESERVATIONS: 440-526-0016 PRAYER FOR THE WEEK: 440-526-6464 (24 hours) CONFESSIONS: One half hour before liturgies for fifteen minutes and by request MEN S CLUB: 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. LADIES AUXILIARY: 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. A-OK CLUB: 2nd Monday of the month at 7:00 p.m. COFFEE SOCIAL: Every Sunday after liturgy EASTERN CATHOLIC FORMATION (ECF) CLASSES: Sundays 9:00 a.m. 10:20 a.m. BULLETIN INFORMATION DEADLINE: Tuesday noon
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