Parish Staff. Mass Schedule Rev. Robert Stone, Pastor

Nativity of Mary Church and School 10017 E 36th Terrace Independence, MO 64052 Parish: (816) 353-2184 School: (816) 353-0284 Web: www.nativityofmary.org My attitude must be Christ s. - Philippians 2:5 Parish Staff Mass Schedule Rev. Robert Stone, Pastor New Parishioners Monday: Weekday: Saturday: Sunday: Holy Day: If you are new to our parish and would like more information please contact the Parish Office. Confessions Mrs. Mary Parrish, Principal Melissa Clancy, Business Manager Pastoral Care Sacraments for the Sick. Fr. Bob Stone, 353-2184, ext. 404 Pastoral visits to the Homebound and Hospitals. Paula Cassity, 353-2184, ext. 401 Emergency Assistance Contact St. Mary s Food Pantry and Clothes Closet - 252-8649 Youth Ministry Debbie Page, 353-2184, ext. 408 School School, Early Childhood and Extended Care Carmen Wolfgeher, 353-0284 Sacrament Preparation Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, Confirmation, Adult Initiation (RCIA), and Matrimony Contact the parish office for information Music Ministry Maria Milazzo, 353-2184, ext 407 Parish Ministry Council Chris Walter - Chair Diocesan Victim s Advocate Kathleen Chastain 816.392.0011 or chastain@diocesekcsj.org Ombudsman Jenifer Valenti, 816-812-2500 or JeniferValenti@att.net Saturday: 8:30 a.m. Communion Service 8:30 a.m. Tuesday - Friday 4:00 p.m. 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. 8:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. 3:00 p.m. or by Appointment

JANUARY 28, 2018 - THE FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME MASS INTENTIONS READINGS OF THE WEEK FOR JAN. 29 - FEB. 4 Sat., Jan. 27 - Vigil of the 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time 4:00PM + Michael Kern Sunday, Jan. 28 - The 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time 8:00AM + Josephine Rader 10:30AM + Harold Knipp & Caterina DeGaetano + Curtis Lee Dotson Monday, January 29 COMMUNION SERVICE Tuesday, January 30 Nativity of Mary School Wednesday, January 31 - St. John Bosco Nativity of Mary Parish Thursday, February 1 + Charles Patton Friday, February 2 - The Presentation of the Lord Intentions of Mike Singleton Sat., Feb. 3 - Vigil of the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time 4:00PM + Phillip & Mary Pappas Sunday, February 4 -The 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time 8:00AM + Linda Perez 10:30AM + Joseph Giacone & Vincent Triolo PLEASE PRAY FOR: Vern/Margaret Ault Marla Herbst Mike Rooney Maxine Breunig Vicky Hohlbaugh Mike Singleton Sara Breunig Cynthia/Dennis Jones Patrick Singleton Steve Christensen Paula Kienberger Bernice/Norm Steffen John Clarke George Lambros George Timko, Jr. Kelly Cook Dan Mangold John Tuccillo Bob DeSchepper Betty Mascal Carol Byrd Weaver Roni Durkee Jack McEnroe Alyssa Webb Mary Enyart Juan/Mary Perez Beth Whorton Garry Gagnon Carlos Pinon Daniel Wheeler Barbara Garrett Steve Reasoner Ayden Wright Monday: 2 Sm 15:13-14, 30; 16:5-13; Ps 3:2-7; Mk 5:1-20 Tuesday: 2 Sm 18:9-10, 14b, 24-25a, 30 -- 19:3; Ps 86:1-6; Mk 5:21-43 Wednesday: 2 Sm 24:2, 9-17; Ps 32:1-2, 5-7; Mk 6:1-6 Thursday: 1 Kgs 2:1-4, 10-12; 1 Chr 29:10-12; Mk 6:7-13 Friday: Mal 3:1-4; Ps 24:7-10; Heb 2:14-18; Lk 2:22-40 [22-32] Saturday: 1 Kgs 3:4-13; Ps 119:9-14; Mk 6:30-34 Sunday: Jb 7:1-4, 6-7; Ps 147:1-6; 1 Cor 9:16-19, 22-23; Mk 1:29-39 TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION This is the year of St. Paul, and so one of the most visited churches of Rome is also one of the most beautiful: the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. Like so many other churches, it was founded by the master-builder (or financier) Emperor Constantine about the year 315. Paul was martyred outside the walls of the City of Rome at a place called Tre Fontaine, probably on June 29, in the year 65, perhaps the first anniversary of St. Peter's crucifixion. Christians buried him in a quiet place about two miles away, and visited to pray. Constantine was running low on bricks, apparently, because the first church was tiny. In 386 it was demolished and today's basilica begun. This vast and towering space looks much the same today as it did in the fourth century. The centuries have not been kind to ancient Rome, but until the early 1800s St. Paul Outside the Walls survived beautifully, perhaps because it has been assigned for nearly a thousand years to Benedictine monks. It was therefore a vibrant place of daily prayer even through the centuries when Rome was a poor and nearly abandoned city. In 1823 a great fire resulted from a botched repair job to lead on the roof, and St. Paul's was destroyed. It is said that the whole world contributed to its restoration. Even the Russian czar and the viceroy of Egypt gave alabaster, malachite, and lapis lazuli for the pillars and the tabernacle. Several of the precious mosaics were able to be restored, bringing the ancient basilica back to life. One of the great treasures of the basilica is a set of prison chains, said to have been worn by the Apostle in the last days before his martyrdom. Unlike other Roman churches, St. Paul's stands in a garden-like suburban neighborhood, surrounded by stately palm trees, gardens, and parks. Rev. James Field, Copyright (c) J. S. Paluch Co.

JANUARY 28, 2018 - PARISH NEWS Did You Know Cinnamon Buns and Sticky Buns will be available next weekend, February 4th, beginning at 8:00 a.m. until sold out. Stop by the cafeteria and take home some freshly baked, homemade rolls. EUCHARISTIC ADORATION FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2ND FROM 9AM TO NOON All are invited to come spend some quiet time with Jesus. Come anytime during the 3 hours and stay for as long as you wish. If you would like to sign up for a specific time there is a sing up sheet on the kiosk in the back of church. Devotional candles are kept in the kiosk. If you would like to light one just ask an usher for assistance. There is a slot and envelopes available in the kiosk to place your $5 donation. If you have a suggestion, concern, or comment you would like the Parish Ministry Council to address there are cards on the kiosk for you to fill out and drop in the slot. Gluten-free hosts are available. Talk to Fr. Bob before Mass. We have 2 wheelchairs and hearing assist devices available for your use during mass. Please contact an usher. NATIVITY OF MARY CONTRIBUTION REPORT 1/13/2018 & 1/14/2018 Envelopes $ 7,237.50 Plate $ 677.00 Church Debt $ 162.00 Pisces Fund $ 300.00 Utility Fund $ 60.00 EFT $ 1,270.00 Credit Card $ - Online Giving $ 134.53 Poor Box $ 50.00 Total $ 9,891.03 Tuition/Registration Fees 17-18 $ 7,517.34 You are invited to the Mass, Reception and Dinner honoring the Sacrament of Marriage February 12th - Avila University The cost is $40 per person and Features Food Stations with Beef Tenderloin Father Sunoi Thomas OSB Celebrant, Homilist, and Dinner Speaker 5:00 p.m. Mass Orscheln Memorial Chapel, Avila University 6:00 p.m. Reception Whitfield Center, Avila University 6:45 p.m. Dinner Whitfield Center, Avila University Dinner reservations and payment due by February 7th. (Call Roger Tilling, 524-8572, with special dietary needs) Mail to: Roger Tilling, 13023 Pratt Rd. Lee s Summit, MO 64086

JANUARY 28 - FEBRUARY 17, 2018 CALENDAR Sunday 28 8:00AM Mass 10:30AM Mass Youth Mass 9AM Choir Rehearsal Monday 29 Tuesday 30 Mass 9AM - Quilters 7PM - RCIA Wednesday 31 Mass February 1 Mass 7PM - Altar Society Meeting Friday 2 Mass 9AM - Noon Eucharistic Adoration Saturday 3 3:00PM Confession 4:00PM Mass 11:30AM-1:30PM School Open House 6AM - School VIP Breakfast Catholic Schools Week and Book Fair 8:00AM Mass 10:30AM Mass 4 6PM - PTO Mtg. 5 6 Mass 9AM - Quilters 6PM - PTO Mtg. Mass 7PM Choir Rehearsal 7 8 Communion Serv 7PM - Ministry Council Meeting 9 Communion Serv 3:00PM Confession 4:00PM Mass 10 7PM - RCIA Available 8:00AM Until sold out 8:00AM Mass 10:30AM Mass 9AM Choir Rehearsal 11 12 Noon - 2:00PM 13 9AM - Quilters 7PM - RCIA Mass 6:30PM Mass 14 15 6:30PM - Liturgy Committee Mtg. Mass 5PM Fish Fry 16 3:00PM Confession 4:00PM Mass 17 7PM - Book Club 7PM - Stations of the Cross February 2017 Ministry Schedule February 2018 4:00 PM Mass 8:00 AM Mass 10:30 AM Mass Lectors Joe Arnone Bridget Kahmann Wilma Christensen Donna Arnone Joe Harris Eucharistic Ministers Ushers Servers *Donna Arnone Joe Arnone John Cook Marilyn Mineart Loretta VanBibber *Denotes Captain Grace Arnone Danny Barnes Loretta Polzin Teresa Zaner Henry Becker Truman Diebold Bob DeSchepper Sandy DeSchepper Mercy Kimbrough *Ed Seufert Judy Seufert *Denotes Captain Larry Nauser Nancy Ronan Richard West Beau Flickner Austin Terryberry Carla Brewer Pat Clark Barbara Garrett Susan Hughes Ray Singer *Mary Singer Anita Wheeler *Denotes Captain Helen Austin Tim Lakin Bob Murphy Matt Lakin Ben Winbinger

SCHOOL - JANUARY 28, 2018 Dear Nativity of Mary Parish, This Sunday marks the start of Catholic Schools Week. Every year Nativity of Mary Church and School hold a service project to help those in need. This year we are doing the Souper Bowl of Caring for Harvester s Food Pantry. Instead of focusing on just one food pantry, Harvester s donates to pantries all over Independence. The collection starts on January 27th and ends on February 7th. We are asking for donations in the form of canned soups. Your donations may be put in either the Souper Bowl barrel in church or in the Souper Bowl barrel in the front hallway of the school. Thank you for supporting Nativity of May and those in need. Sincerely, Student Service Are you interested? Nativity of Mary School offers many extra-curricular activities after school including, Art, Service Club, Choir, Musical/Theater, Robotics, Chess, Campfire, Scouts and Bricks for Kidz. These after school activities are a vital part of our school. The students can learn, grow and serve in areas of interest to them, and perhaps even develop a life-long passion! Most of these clubs are run by dedicated volunteers, and we are very thankful for their service to our children. However, a few of the clubs have cost associated with them, either to pay instructors, or for supplies, and we do not want cost to be a barrier. If you would be interested in sponsoring a child for an activity, please email saddison@nativityofmary.org. Thank you for your support of our school!! Nativity of Mary School Facebook Page I am sure that most of you know that Nativity of Mary School has a Facebook Page. This is one place that we share the good news about our school. I recently read that from a marketing perspective the like button may be the most powerful tool Facebook has to offer. In order to utilize this powerful tool we need your help! So please go to https://www.facebook.com/nativity.independence/ and like Nativity of Mary School, and ask 5-10 friends and family members to do the same! We currently have 300 likes on our page and I would love to have over 1,000 likes, but we need your help to make this happen! Thank you! January is a busy and exciting month at Nativity of Mary School. It is a time for us to celebrate and promote our school during Catholic Schools Week, which is January 28th- February 3rd. The theme for the National Catholic Schools Week 2018 is Catholic Schools: Learn. Serve. Lead. Succeed. This fits nicely with our theme of Rooted In Faith, Growing in Knowledge and Serving Others. We are promoting and celebrating the value Catholic education provides to young people and its contributions to our church, our community and our nation. On behalf of the students, staff and families of Nativity of Mary School we want to say THANK YOU to all the parishioners for your unwavering support of our school! Rooted in Faith. Growing in Knowledge. Serving Others. DAY OF GIVING Nativity of Mary School is excited to participate in the National Catholic Educational Association's (NCEA) "Day of Giving" on Tuesday, January 30, 2018. This is a 24-hour campaign for individuals to give to their local Catholic School. This year's donations for Nativity of Mary will go towards new computers for our computer lab! Beginning January 30th at 8:00 am, donations may be made at: https://nativityofmary.giving.factsmgt.com. After the 24-hour period, donations will not be able to be made on this website, but you may go to our school website at nativityofmary.org and make donations there using the "Donate Now" button. Find us on Social Media and look out for fun challenges and help us spread the word!

JANUARY 28, 2018 - THE FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Authority is seen negatively by many, perhaps most, in today's culture. This perception is the result of humans misusing authority, lording it over people, having an undesirable impact on their personal, professional, and civic lives. So when we read in today's Gospel that Jesus "taught them as one having authority," we might initially bristle. Of course, the authority that is attributed to Jesus is different. This is divine authority. God, the author of all, acts out of love for all. God respected the people's request for a prophet in the time of Moses. They promised to listen to him and to adhere to God's laws, knowing that the law was created for their good. This is the sort of adherence of which Saint Paul speaks as well when he tells the Christian community in Corinth to adhere to the Lord without distraction. As people who commit to living and growing in faith, we give God authority over our lives, knowing that God will guide us to truth, life, and love. GOD IS GOD God does not lord divine authority over us, even though God is Lord of heaven and earth. God wants what is best for all of humanity and for all of creation. God desires that we live for God and for others. Jesus teaches as "one having authority and not as the scribes," because Jesus is the source of whatever authority the scribes had, whether they carried out their authority well or not. Those who heard Jesus speak were in the presence of the very truth of God's love. There is no greater authority than this. There is more, however. We are given free will, and may choose to live as God desires, or to walk away from the path of holiness. The Israelites to whom Moses spoke had failed to live God's law of love in the past, and recognized their need for someone to speak the words of the Lord to them. In the simplest of terms, they understood that God is God, and that they were not God. WE ARE NOT GOD We are not God. In our hearts, we know this. And yet, how often do we act as though we think we are? We might go to God in moments of weakness, difficulty, or trial and ask God for help, yet much of the time we go our own way. We hold onto a false sense of control, rather than finding freedom in reliance on God. Salvation history, as recorded in sacred scripture, shows us that there has been this tendency in humanity throughout the ages to try to be God, rather than to be like God. Such thinking does not work out well in the end. We are not God! Jesus came to express the depths of God's love. The authority with which he spoke and taught, healed and expressed forgiveness, is the authority of one who understands that love is the answer. Christ shows us the real transformation that is possible when we give God the authority. "Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Copyright (c) J. S. Paluch Company Our Lady of Lourdes Adult Faith Formation Committee is sponsoring a new Adult Bible Study using Bible Basics for Catholics A New Picture of Salvation History as a reference text. It will begin Monday, January 29, 2018 at 6:30 pm in the Parish Hall. This is a great opportunity to study the Bible together. Everyone is welcome. U. S. Bishops Pastoral Letter on Stewardship What identifies a steward? Safeguarding material and human resources and using them responsibly are one answer, so is generous giving of time, talent, and treasure. But being a Christian steward means more. As Christian stewards, we receive God s gifts gratefully, cultivate them responsibly, share them lovingly in justice with others, and return them with increase to the Lord. Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing. Mother Teresa The Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph is committed to combating sexual abuse in the Church. If you are a victim of sexual abuse, or if you observe or suspect sexual abuse: 1. Call the Missouri Child Abuse Hotline at 1.800.392.3738 (if the victim is currently under the age of 18), and 2. Contact your local law enforcement agency or call 911, and 3. After reporting to these civil and law enforcement authorities, report suspected sexual abuse of a minor or vulnerable adult to the Diocesan Ombudsman, Jenifer Valenti, at 816.812.2500 or JeniferValenti@att.net, if the abuse involves a priest, deacon, employee or volunteer of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph. The Diocese has a sincere commitment to providing care and healing resources to victims of sexual abuse and their families. Please contact Victim Advocate, Kathleen Chastain, at 816.392.0011 or chastain@diocesekcsj.org for more information.

We want to serve you! St. Michael the Archangel Catholic High School desires to help you or someone you know who is in need! Any parishioners in need of 10-12 students to assist with cleaning, painting, general organizing or yard work on February 21-22 please contact Jana Burns, 763-4800. Supplies must be provided by the parishioner. Thank you for your support. Music Valentine's Day Fundraiser Nativity of Mary, we have a Valentine's Day Fundraiser coming your way! The Cocoa Exchange is a business that makes not only chocolate but also cocoa-based products like dressings, baking mixes, spices, and more. As a fundraiser, The Cocoa Exchange gives back 25% to non-profit organizations. This Valentine's Day, buy your student, a teacher, a loved one, or yourself some yummy chocolate and support your music program! See the attached order form for more details. More info about The Cocoa Exchange can be found at www.mytcesite.com/abbyscocoa.