Saint Mary Parish 250 Kraft Street, Berea, Ohio 44017-1499 Rectory: 440-243-3877 FAX: 440-891-9417 Website: www.stmaryberea.org Celebrating 165 years of Pastoral Service to the Catholic Community of Berea
Fourth Sunday in Advent December 24, 2017 As we prepare to celebrate Christmas tomorrow, we recognize that the world is imperfect, just as it was when Gabriel came to Mary, and Jesus came to the world. Ready or not, Christ is on his way and our level of preparation will determine just how much we are able to receive. Jesus did not wait for the darkness to disappear to arrive; he came right in the middle of it and filled it with light! May the Lord also be with you as you make your final preparations to welcome the Christ Child. [Celebrating Sunday for Catholic Families]. Bishop Perez was a big hit with our 2 nd Graders last week as he gathered them around his feet to talk with them about the Sacrament of Confession. They were delighted, as of course were their parents and all who gathered at that Pancake Breakfast! It was a great morning! THANKS for our new Leader Bishop Perez and for the many servants, Knights of Columbus, 8 th Graders and committee who prepared and served the Pancake Breakfast! May our Christmas Season be filled with hope and joy! It s going to be a bit crazy in our homes today and tomorrow, but remember to give God thanks for the life and love of the Savior and celebrate with your Church family here in Church as we all welcome the Savior into our hearts! Jesus is the Reason for the Season. Sunday Christmas Eve Masses are at 4pm, 6pm and 10pm! Monday Christmas Day Masses are at 9:30am and 11:30am! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! January 1 st, New Year s Day and the Feast of Mary the Mother of God is NOT a Holy Day of Obligation, but a holy day of Prayer as we begin the New Year Mass on Monday is at 9:30am I am THANKFUL for your Grateful Giving to the Parish this Season. May we truly reflect joy and thanksgiving in all we do in Grateful LIVING! Merry Christmas and many blessings!
Mass Schedule and Intentions Bulletin Prayer List Monday December 25 The Nativity of the Lord Is 52:7-10 / Heb 1:1-6 / Jn 1:1-18 or 1:1-5, 9-14 (16) 9:30 am Priest Intention 11:30 am Priest Intention Tuesday December 26 Saint Stephen, The First Martyr Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59 / Mt 10:17-22 (696) 9:00 am Sonny Laubert Laubert Family Wednesday December 27 Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist 1 Jn 1:1-4 / Jn 20:1a, 2-8 (697) 9:00 am Patty Dwyer Karen & Patrick Alcox Thursday December 28 The Holy Innocents, Martyrs 1 Jn 1:5 2:2 / Mt 2:13-18 (698) 9:00 am David Pitts Pitts & Antczak Families Friday December 29 Fifth Day within the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord 1 Jn 2:3-11 / Lk 2:22-35 (202) Please remember in prayer all who are ill or homebound, especially the following: Jackie Ayala Maggie Armstrong Donna Baker Mary Anne Bialosky William Conroy Chris Copenhaver Owen Dumm Jim Duncan Chuck Duncan Michael Figlar Brian Follen Joan Foust Betty Glynn Gerry Grant Wayne Goforth Katie Halley Bob & Betty Hardman Mark Hill Dennis Jamiot Karen Kljun Jim & Louise Knapik Les Lindenmeier Rob Lucas Karen M. Joseph McLaughlin Tom Nicolay Shem Miller Leo Oblak James Rollin Mary Elizabeth Ryba John Serrao Jeanine Surma Chester Talarczyk 9:00 am Grady Dorsey Kathleen Dorsey Saturday December 30 Sixth Day within the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord 1 Jn 2:12-17 / Lk 2:36-40 (203) 4:00 pm Catherine Konarski Jeanine Surma 5:30 pm Wedding: Timothy Gnezda & Lisa Syroney Sunday December 31 The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph Sir 3:2-6,12-14 / Col 3:12-21 / Lk 2:22-40 (17) 7:30 am For All Parishioner Living and Deceased 9:30 am Rose Marie Rearick Special Intention 11:30 pm Isabel Malloy Marilyn Supple Bible Study, Faith Sharing & Quiet Prayer For the Month of December, there will be NO: Bible Study Quiet Prayer 12 Step Spirituality Prayer Shawl Wedding Banns Timothy Gnezda & Lisa Syroney December 30, 2017 Homebound Ministry Our Homebound Parishioners are very important to us and we want to make sure their spiritual needs are being met. If you or a friend or family member are homebound and unable to attend Mass, we would like to bring the Eucharist to you in your home. Please call Diana Lipfird, the Homebound Parishioner Coordinator, at 532-9491 or e-mail her at dlipfird@gmail.com. We will set up a time and day for the Extraordinary Minister to visit that best fits your schedule. If you are an Extraordinary Minister and would like to be part of our team of taking Communion to the homebound, please call Diana at 440-532-9491. In Your Charity In your charity, please remember the repose of the soul of Rose Marie Rearick. May she rest in eternal peace. Family Perspective Question: What do you call a family that began with a couple who married after a pregnancy was discovered; who had a twelve year old who ran away from home and was eventually executed as a criminal by the state? Answer: Holy. The lesson of today s gospel is: no matter what is happening in your family, The Lord is with you. Seek the Lord and let Him direct your family. Imitate Mary and do not be afraid for nothing is impossible with God.
Monday, December 25 - Merry Christmas Tuesday, December 26 9:30am - Chapel Wednesday, December 27 9:30am - Chapel Thursday, December 28 9:30am - Chapel Friday, December 29 Saturday, December 30 3:00pm - Church Sunday, December 31 Parish Events Rosary Rosary Rosary Confessions Anniversary Wishes If you will be having a wedding anniversary in the month of December and would like your names listed in the bulletin, please call the parish office (440) 243-3877 or email jabraham1@stmaryberea.org Jeffrey & Diana Tichy December 3rd - 29 years Chuck & Sue Scanlon December 27th - 48 years Joe & Pat Politsky December 28th - 49 years Mother Teresa Christ comes like a little child At Christmas Christ comes like a little child, so small, so helpless, so much in need of all that love can give. Are we ready to receive Him: If Mary and Joseph were looking for a place to make a home for Jesus, would they choose our house and all that it holds and is filled with? Excerpted from: Love: A Fruit Always in Season Daily Meditations by Mother Teresa (Ignatius Press 1987) Weekend Collection From the Desk of Deacon Tom.. Why, Who and What is a Deacon? In the second part of this series I would like to provide some details on who a deacon is, what his background might be and what his life might be like. Deacons are at least 35 years old at the time of ordination. There is no maximum age but he must be able to give at least 10 years of service to the diocese after ordination before retirement (which for the diocese is usually age 75). Deacons may be married or single. If married, he must be in a stable, sacramental marriage and his wife must provide informed, written consent throughout the five year formation period as well as at the time of ordination. If single at the time of ordination, the deacon also takes a vow to live the celibate life thereafter. If the wife of a married deacon pre-deceases the deacon, the deacon vows not to re-marry. While some deacons are retired, most have day jobs. So we have a career and work in the marketplace to support our families, maintain health benefits and provide for our retirement. Some deacons may be employed by the diocese or at a parish but this arrangement is, by far, the exception and not the rule. Even though deacons are ordained for the diocese and generally assigned to a parish, our position is a volunteer one. We don t receive a salary or income from the parish or the diocese although the parish does reimburse the deacon for an annual retreat and some continuing education expenses. The Deacon s Wife is undoubtedly the most unsung hero! She supports him with love, LOTS of PRAYER and sacrifices her time with him so that he may minister to the needs of the parish. While some wives stay in the background and some serve with their husband or separately in various ministries, she always serves as ballast (so that the deacon doesn t get over-extended) and she provides an oasis of unconditional love. She is a true model of Christ the Servant! If you have any questions about Permanent Deacons or may even know someone considering this vocation, PLEASE let me know. Blessings to you and your family! Deacon Tom Collection for 12/17/17: $16,358.42 Thank you!
Ministry Schedules The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph - Weekend of December 31st & New Year s Day Mass Lector Cantor Extraordinary Ministers Servers 4pm J Guerrieri S Scanlon (H) Deacon Tom, B Cully, C Garr A McGinty (C) M E Nichols, P Pacer, D Goss G Butcher, S Butcher M Smith New Year s Eve 7:30am M Dole K Zanotti (H) V Follen, L Madzy, L Durica J Draves (C) D Lipfird, J Haas, E Southworth B Cashman, D Sawyer L Przybys 9:30am J Irvin M Reid (H) G Irvin, K Laneve, R Laneve, L Alton (C) C Scanlon, D Vlk, M Laneve C DiSanto, Deacon Tom C Jamison 11:30am S Hritz (H) P Harris, D Bajc, J Bajc, C Whiteman (C) R Davenport, M Patena, E Davenport D Hickey, P Hickey L Patena New Year s Day 9:30am C Rose (H) K Laubert, Deacon Tom, K Laubert M Laubert (C) M A Deimling, A Laubert, M Laubert J Laubert, R Koehl M Laubert Please Note: The Parish Rectory Office will be closed for the Christmas & New Year Holiday from Monday 12/25/17 through Tuesday 1/2/18. Happy Birthday to Fr. John Wednesday 12/27/17 Wishing you a Beautiful and Wonderful Birthday full of many Blessings! Music Ministry and Liturgy Notes By Angela Kovacs Director of Music and Liturgy DECEMBER 24 A ONE-DAY WEEK After all of the hard work that everyone has done, we ve finally made it to the Fourth Sunday of Advent! For those who are looking for more time, however, you re out of luck. Since Christmas Eve lands on a Sunday, the Fourth Sunday of Advent is only celebrated at the Vigil and on Sunday morning. The 11.30am mass is cancelled today due to the sheer number of masses that will be had in 48 hours! Note that both Advent and Christmas celebrations are a day of obligation, so I may be seeing some of you twice in one day! Happy end of Advent and beginning of Christmas to everyone! There will be no rehearsals this week for all Music Ministry members. Please enjoy the break, rest up, and I will see everyone the following Sunday! Thank you again! Don t forget to mark your calendars! The St. Mary Hymn Fest is on Epiphany Sunday, January 8 at 3.pm. We will be celebrating the story of Christ s birth with scripture and song. Don t miss this amazing experience! Choir Rehearsal Schedules: Traditional Choir meets to rehearse on Tuesday evenings at 7.30pm. Youth Choir also rehearses on Tuesdays at 5.30pm. If you are interested in participating in any of these choirs, cantoring, or playing an instrument during mass, please call or see Ms. Angela Kovacs after mass up in the loft. The Music Ministry office number is 440.243.3877 ext 27.
Religious Education News To find all the upcoming activities for both PSR and Sacramental Preparation join us at our parish website (www.stmaryberea.org) From the entire REO Team Merry Christmas to you all! May the blessings of the baby Jesus be with you and yours throughout this happiest and holiest season and throughout the new year! Calendar of Events 1 st Semester is complete See you next year! PSR 1/08/2018 6:45pm St. Mary School 2 nd Semester Begins; PSR in Session 1/13/2018 9:00am - St. Mary Church 1 st Reconciliation (PSR) 1/15/2018 NO PSR (Martin Luther King Holiday) 1/20/2018 9:00am St. Mary Church 1 st Reconciliation (SMS) 1/21/2018 10:30am Fr. Garrity Center First Sacraments Session #4-6:00pm Fr. Garrity Center Confirmation Session #4 1/22/2018 6:45pm St. Mary School - PSR in Session 1/29/2018 6:45pm St. Mary School - PSR in Session 2/05/2018 6:45pm St. Mary School - PSR in Session Sacramental Preparation Please remember to turn in any missing documentation (Baptism Record, Discipleship Sheet, Sacramental fees) as soon as possible. Without this documentation you will not be allowed to receive the Sacrament. Calendar of Events January 13, 2018 January 20, 2018 January 21, 2018 February 16, 2018 Event February 18, 2018 February 23, 2018 May 6, 2018 May 12, 2018-9:00am First Reconciliation (PSR) - 9:00am First Reconciliation (SMS) - 9:30am Sacramental Sunday Mass - 10:30am - First Sacraments Session 4-6:00pm - Confirmation Session 4-5:00pm Confirmation Social - 9:30am Sacramental Sunday Mass - 10:30am - First Sacraments Session 5-6:00pm - Confirmation Session 5-5:00pm Confirmation Social Event - 11:30am First Holy Communion - 4:00pm Confirmation Sacramental Sunday Our next Sacramental Sunday is today, January 21 st at the 9:30am Mass. Greeters should meet in the Resurrection Chapel at 8:45am for your door assignment. First Reconciliation Schedule Change January 13, 2018 First Reconciliation (ALL PSR students) January 20, 2018 First Reconciliation (ALL SMS students) Both services will begin at 9:00am in the Church. Discipleship Events January 21 st First Sacraments Holy Eucharist Session #1 SPIRITUAL event; Candidates will be able to support this session by helping setup, support and cleanup of this session. The session will end at 12:00pm. February 16 th - Confirmation Service Social Event (Fr. Garrity Center) Parish Fish Fry; Candidates will be expected to help setup, guide, control and cleanup area; this event is expected to end by 8:00am. February 18 th First Sacraments Holy Eucharist Session #2 SPIRITUAL event; Candidates will be able to support this session by helping setup, support and cleanup of this session. The session will end at 12:00pm. For the complete schedule of events and activities for Confirmation a/or First Sacraments go to http://www.stmaryberea.org/sacramental-prep St. Mary Catholic School News Corner Educating the Mind, Nurturing the Soul Mr. Andrew Carner, Principal I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a healthy & peaceful New Year. Thanks to all of you for your support to St. Mary School. As I m sure you have seen from our monthly school newsletters and weekly emails, we have been very busy at St. Mary! I would like to thank the students and teachers for all of their dedication and hard work. I would like to offer a special word of thanks to the members of the SMS PTO whom have put a tremendous amount of time and energy into organizing the school social events & fundraising calendar. All of their fundraising, work, and support are invaluable to the school community; as is all of the support from you the parents and parishioners who back these events. I am so grateful to all of you for your continued support to SMS. I wish you and your families all the joy of the festive season. Enjoy your Christmas break, be safe, and we will see everyone back at school on January 3 rd. Mr. Andrew Carner Principal Important Dates to Remember: 01/03/18 - Classes Resume Band Practice / 3:30p.m. 01/04/18 - Ski Club / 3:30p.m. 01/05/18 - First Friday Adoration Fr. Marty Stewardship $1.00 Dress Down Day Classroom of Champions / 3:30p.m. Power of the Pen / 3:30p.m. Academic Achievements St. Edward High School Honor Roll: Devin Crowder Ryan Evensen-Hein Vincenzo Fabrizi Peter Haas, Jr. Carter Jacobs Chase Justice Camden Mitchell Noah Rios Anthony Ritson Brandon Sherrard Ryan Slattery Joseph Straub John Tinter Jacob Vlcek Joseph Zacharyasz Padua Franciscan High School Honor Roll: Charles Beatty Allison Carner Nicholas Goss Matthew Laneve Nicholas Latone Rosalina Roman Emily Southworth Casey Tamulewicz Patrick Waters
Dear Parishioners, Family and Friends, It s TIME for a NEW CHURCH DIRECTORY! It has been since 1990 that St. Mary has published a Church Directory. With our Grateful LIVING initiative taking shape now is the perfect time to showcase families, individuals, staff and the amazing events that make our Church a vibrant community of faith. Publishing this directory will not only update our office database, but also create a meaningful keepsake for you and your family. To make it happen we need your help. Our goal is to include all members of our Parish family in a complete directory. It will require effort on your part (and on ours) to make this goal a reality. We will do our best to keep it simple. We ll even provide the professional photography! Your photo session is FREE and everyone who is photographed by Universal will receive a complimentary 8X10 portrait and a directory. A win-win! Your time is valuable so we are offering five ways to schedule your family photo session. Use the one that best suits your needs. Call the Parish Office Visit the Parish website Visit the Universal Church Directory website Stop at the sign-up table after Mass on the weekend Submit a recent photo to the Parish Office I know a project such as this is a HUGE undertaking, but the potential for outreach for ministry and growth is even BIGGER! Help us make it a reality. Turn the letter over and make your January appointment TODAY. THANKS in advance for your support in helping to make the new Church Directory a reality! Father John and Staff THE STEPS TO SIGN-UP: You can call the Parish Office at 440-243-3877 The Parish Staff can book your photography appointment. Call during office hours for assistance. You can SIGN-UP from the Parish website www.stmaryberea.org and follow the link; www.ucdir.com and on the sidebar ENTER the St. Mary Berea Church code: oh2066 and then ENTER the St. Mary Berea Church Password stmaryberea. The photographers calendar will appear on the screen and you can CLICK the day, date and time most convenient to you and your family. You can SIGN-UP from the Universal Church Directory website and TYPE IN www.ucdir.com and on the sidebars ENTER the St. Mary Berea Church oh2066 and then EN- TER the St. Mary Berea Church Password stmaryberea. The photographers calendar will appear on the screen and you can CLICK the day, date and time most convenient to you and your family. You can GO the UCD Information Table in the Mother Teresa Vestibule of the Church BEFORE or AFTER any weekend Mass and SIGN-UP. You can SUBMIT a recent photo of your family or SEND it electronically to the Parish website link. It s that simple. Universal Church Directories will be on site for photographs beginning January 10 th, 2018. 50/50 Side Boards Raffle Baskets Plinko Come Ready To RACE! St. Mary Athletic Commission Presents NIGHT AT THE RACES Saturday, January 20, 2018 Doors open: 6:00pm Race Start: 7:00pm The Fr. John M. Garrity Center 250 Kraft Street, Berea Ohio $30.00 per person / Tables of 8 or 10 available Tickets will be sold at CYO Home Games (at the Fr. John M. Garrity Center) and after Mass Starting in January. Or, call the Parish Rectory Office 440-243- 3877 or Buy tickets online using your SportsPilot account: https://reg.sportspilot.com/106012/leagues Monies Raised Support our Athletic Teams And a Special Fund to provide BLEACHERS for the Fr. John Garrity Center. CYO sports are a significant part of a Parish Ministry to its young people. DON T FORGET TO BUY YOUR HORSE! $10/ horse $30.00 Includes great Food from Stancato s, Beer, Wash