ST. JAMES THE APOSTLE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Rev. James Michael Jankowski Shared Pastor with St. John Neumann Rev. Lijo Abraham, O.SS.T. Shared Parochial Vicar with St. John Neumann Deacon James Marek Office Staff Faith Formation Director Arsenia Eagan Administrative Assistant Birdie Ray Business Manager Pam Hunter Custodian Arnel Biares Director of Music Susan Briare Parish Office: 1920 N. Martin Luther King Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89106 Ph: (702) 648-6606 Fax: (702) 648-0352 Email: stjames@sjtac.org Website: https://sjtac.org Office Hours: Monday Thursday 9:00 am - 3:00 pm Sunday: 9:00 am - 11:00 am Office is closed on Fridays and Saturdays BUILDING FOR GOD S GLORY Ministries and Organizations Parish Pastoral Council....Meets 2 nd Wednesdays at 5:30pm Finance Council......4 th Wednesday at 5:30pm Choir...Practice each Thursday at 6:59pm Women s Auxiliary......2 nd Sunday following 11:00am Mass Knights of Columbus. 3 rd Saturday at 11:30am Knights of Peter Claver 4 th Saturday at 9:30am Knights of Peter Claver-4th Degree.. 4 th Saturday at 12pm Gracious Ladies-4th Degree....1 st Saturday at 11am Ladies Auxiliary of Peter Claver......3 rd Sunday at 12:45pm Spiritual Enrichment Committee..1 st Saturday every other month 10am Sandwich Making Ministry.1 st & 3 rd Sunday following 8am Mass Free Lunch for Neighbors... Wednesdays at 10:30am (sponsored by the KPC and Ladies Aux) Nevadans for the Common Good (Interfaith).4 th Thursday at 5:30pm Special Events... Revival in February Gospel/Jazz Brunch 3rd Sunday in October Not Listed: Bible Study Group, Outreach, Liturgy Committee, Junior Knights and Daughters of Peter Claver. Please see bulletin for dates and time. December 2, 2018 MASS SCHEDULES Sunday 8 a.m. (Community Choir) & 11a.m. (Gospel Choir) Reconciliation (Confessions): By Appointment Please call the office RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM ****************************************** Wedding Information Please contact the office 6 months in advance and before any dates are considered. ***************************************** Baptismal Information Please contact the office 3 months in advance and before any dates are considered.
~~ Sunday, December 2, 2018 ~~ ~ FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT SUNDAY~ THE PROMISE OF JUSTICE We are in fairly good company when we ask God for justice. Often enough we hear and agree with the lament of the people of Israel asking God why the wicked prosper. However, when we call out for justice, we usually want someone to get his or her comeuppance. God s justice is something other than this, of course. God s justice comprises a wonderful rightness between God and humankind. Today, Jeremiah looks ahead to a time when a just one will sprout from the shorn-off stump of Jesse of the house and family of David. Life was not fair in Jeremiah s time. Israel s kings held the promise of God s fidelity, but it was difficult to see how God s promise could be realized through them. Nevertheless, Jeremiah lifts his voice and announces that the Promised One will come. Luke s Gospel echoes that announcement, and Paul is filled with sturdy encouragement. And so Advent begins with a promise ST. JAMES THE APOSTLE CATHOLIC CHURCH MISSION STATEMENT Rooted in the Catholic Faith, in order to build up the reign of God, the mission of St. James the Apostle Catholic Church is to live out the message of Jesus Christ by worshipping God by serving the world. Teresa Bass Anthony Canapa Yakkia Comminey Ernest Huey Shirley Morris Catherine Tasker JoAnn Polk If you would like to add a family member to our prayer list, you may do so by contacting the parish. St. James needs to collect 7,500.00 each week in order to meet our operating expenses. Please help us meet this goal November 18, 2018 Second Collection - Campaign for Human Development: 533.00 Ordinary Offering: Land Debt: Outreach/Poor: Food Rebates Gift Shop 4,818.00 2,390.00 265.00 39.28 184.00 November 22, 2018 Thanksgiving Day: 583.00 November 25, 2018 Ordinary Offering: Land Debt: Outreach/Poor: Flower: Gift Shop 3,493.00 525.00 60.00 95.00 84.00 May God Bless your generosity Please don t forget to include your envelope number on your offering contributions. Thank you Why Register In the Church Many people attend Mass here at our church, but are not registered parishioners. It is important to be registered and use your offering envelopes so that if you ever request a letter, whether it s for being a godparent, sponsor, marriage, confirmation, tax statement or any other purpose, we can check our records and see that you attend Mass here. This would also benefit you if you would like to have your child enrolled in next year s Religious Education Program. If you are not registered in the church, we cannot issue or sign any type of letter stating that you are a member of the parish, even if you attend Mass here. If you would like to register and receive offering envelopes, you must complete our registration form. You may also use the parishioner s updated form (green) located on the church lobby shelf for any changes to your address, email or phone number. If you have any questions, please contact the office. Reminder: If you would like to use your debit/credit card for your weekly offering, please stop by the church office. You can also set up automatic deposits from your bank to the church. St. James Parishioners We want to keep all parishioners informed of parish activities and other important information regarding our community. Email is a great way to communicate with you. We will try to minimize the number of emails sent out. If you are currently not receiving any of the St. James emails, please check with the parish office to see if we have your correct email on file. Thank you! Fingerprinting Schedule Sundays 9:30 am until 10:30 am on December 2nd and December 9th Please pick up a fingerprint packet in the parish office and complete prior to having your fingerprints done. Thank you!
December 2, 2018 St. James the Apostle Church Page 3 Sunday: December 2, 2018 First Sunday of Advent Land Debt Collection Mass ~ 8:00 am CCD ~ 9:15am - 10:30am Fingerprinting ~ 9:30 am - 10:30 am Mass ~ 11:00 am (Sandwich Ministry following) KPC Jr Daughters Fundraiser Chicken Dinners sale following Mass Confirmation Extension ~ 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Thursday: December 6, 2018 Bible Study ~ 4:00 pm RCIA Session 5:30 pm Gospel Choir Practice ~ 6:59 pm Friday: December 7, 2018 Immaculate Conception Vigil Mass - 6:00pm Saturday December 8, 2018 Immaculate Conception (Day of Obligation) Mass ~ 9:00 am Christmas Practice ~ 10:30 am - 11:30 am Thank you Steve Okosisi and family for providing donuts and coffee today! The Junior Knights and Daughters will be selling Chicken dinners to eat in or take out this Sunday, December 2nd after the 11 am mass (12:30pm). The cost is 12. If you donate a winter clothing item for children - age 0 to 17, the cost is 10. The clothes will be going to Child Haven. Stop by and take Sunday dinner home. ST. JAMES ANGELS Mabel Hoggard s Elementary School 1st Graders (ages 6 and 7 years old) Our Angel Tree is located in the vestibule. Please take one of the angels and purchase a non-violent toy and return it to St. James unwrapped no later than Sunday, December 16, 2018. Thank you for your Support! Confirmation students will be wrapping the gifts. Respectfulness in the Sanctuary and the Vestibule Please refrain from talking during Mass. Also the vestibule is an extension of the Sanctuary when Mass is going on. There are parishioners and little ones in the vestibule who want to participate in the Mass but need to sit in the vestibule. If there is a need to discuss other matters, please do so outside. Thank you. December 2, 2018 8:00 am: Pearl Aikens 11:00 am: People of the Parish READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: Isaiah 2:1-5; Psalm 122:1-9; Matthew 8:5-11 Tuesday: Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17; Luke 10:21-24 Wednesday: Isaiah 25:6-10a; Psalm 23:1-6; Matthew 15:29-37 Thursday: Isaiah 26:1-6; Psalm 118:1, 8-9, 19-21, 25-27a; Matthew 7:21, 24-27 Friday: Isaiah 29:17-24; Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14; Matthew 9:27-31 Saturday: Genesis 3:9-15, 20; Psalm 98:1-4; Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12; Luke 1:26-38 Sunday: Barack 5:1-9; Psalm126:1-6; Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11; Luke 3:1-6 Military Greeting Cards We have a parishioner who has volunteered to send Christmas greetings to your loved ones in the military. If you have someone you would like to receive a message from St. James, please submit their name and mailing address to the parish office. St. James Land Status Initial Loan: 375,783.88 Monthly Payment of 3,788.75 (began Dec. 2012) Est. Balance as of October 31, 2018: 177,706.97 PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL (PPC) Commi ee Liaison/Assignments Fr. Jim Jankowski - Pastor Brenda Dumas - PPC Chair - Evangeliza on Lavonne Lewis - PPC V.Chair Stewardship & Parish Life Vincent Barte, Jr. - PPC Secretary/Communica ons Dwight Dorman - Parish Life Donald Bernard - Liturgy Lillie Wya - Liturgy Stacey Hunter - Chris an Forma on Linda Culliver - Communica ons Patricia Pat Richardson - Parish Life David Bechtel - Social Jus ce & Community Engagement Fr. Lijo Abraham ( Advisor) D. James Marek (Advisor non-vo ng) Pamela Hunter (Advisor (non-vo ng) I will raise up for David a just shoot; he shall do what is right and just in the land. Jeremiah 33:15
December 2, 2018 St. James the Apostle Church Page 4 FAITH FORMATION OFFICE The Faith Formation Office hours: Tuesdays and Wednesdays ~ 9:00 am -3:00 pm Thursdays ~ 1:00 pm - 7:00 pm December Calendar 2 - Catechism Classes ~ 9:15am 2 - Confirmation Extended Class ~ 1:00pm 6 - RCIA Session ~ 5:30pm 8 - Christmas Play Practice ~ 10:30pm 9 - Catechism Classes ~ 9:15am 9 - Confirmation Classes ~ 1:00pm 13 - RCIA Session ~ 5:30pm 15 - Christmas Play Practice ~ 10:00am 16 - Group Celebration ~ 9:15am 16 - Confirmation Classes ~ 1:00pm 20 - RCIA Session ~ 5:30pm 22 - Christmas Play Practice ~ 10:00am 23 - NO CATECHISM CLASSES 27 - NO RCIA SESSION 30 - NO CATECHISM CLASSES It s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas We will begin practice for the children s Christmas Pageant on Saturday, December 8, 2018, at 10:30am. Each year the children of St. James tell the biblical story of the Birth of Christ at our 7:00pm Christmas Eve Mass. We will need narrators, readers, innkeepers, shepherds, angels, and of course, Mary and Joseph. We need your children to participate. This is the best way for the children to understand the true meaning of Christmas. Dec 02: Dec 03: Dec 08: Dec 09: Dec 10: Dec 11: Dec 12: Dec 14: Dec 16: Dec 19: Dec 24: Dec 25: Dec 26: Dec.27: Dec 28: Dec 31: BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES Month of December Gail Boler, Oscar Sanchez Patricia Fautt Mary Jennings, Paul Anthony Palmore Michael Nwokike, Juliette Nganje Shirley Morris, Cameron Mauyao Pete Willis, Keyotte Wilson-Porche, Damien Garcia, Cassandra Brown Pauline Sanchez-Allen Jacqueline Brown, Dedra Geran, Thomas Nicholson Margarita Estrada Andrew Garcia, Maria Escamilla Hugh Jones, Julien Castro, Aazalea Johnson Gloria Smith, Anniv: John & Bettie Bodley Our Lord Jesus Christ, Bev Heislen Dr. Christine Clark Betty Allen, Margaret Johnson Cathy Anshutz, Marissa Villano Christian Neal If your birthday or anniversary date is missing and you are a registered parishioner, please contact the church office. Catholic Stewardship Appeal (CSA) We need your support December 31st will end our 2018 CSA St. James the Apostle s 2018 assessment is 37,342.00. We received pledges in the amount of 31,670 from 73 parishioners and have payments of 26,273.75. We are encouraging our 300 registered households to participate in making this a successful Love your neighbor as yourself appeal. No gift is too small and no gift is too large! Thank you for your prayers and continuous support. Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) If you are 18 years of age or older, or know someone who is, and would like to become Catholic, the Church has a special program to help you through this process. Also, if you were baptized into the Catholic faith but have not received your Sacraments of Confirmation or First Eucharist, this program is for you as well. Please contact Ms. Eagan in the Faith Formation office for more details. Sacraments of Baptism and Matrimony If you would like to have your child baptized or would like to be married in the Church, you must complete the preparation process. Contact Ms. Eagan in the Faith Formation office for details. Victim Advocacy Number If you believe you are a victim of sexual and/or physically abused, please call our 24hr-hotline at 702-235-7723. Christmas Food Baskets Items for Christmas due: December 16, 2018 5lb Flour, 5lb Sugar Cooking Oil Box Corn-Bread Mix Can Green Beans, Can Corn Can Sweet Potatoes Small Box Macaroni & Cheese Small Bags of Rice Gravy Mix, Stuffing Mix Chicken Broth Cake Mix, Cake Icing Can Milk Can Cranberries Perishable Items (please do not bring until due dates) Eggs (dozen) Butter Dinner Rolls (dozen in a package) Thank You for your support. Outreach Committee
December 2, 2018 St. James the Apostle Church Page 5 ~~ Pastor s Message ~~ Dear Parishioners and Friends of St. James the Apostle, #75! In my nearly 2 ½ years as your pastor, this bulletin letter marks my 75th letter to you. Being that I m not able to be with you every weekend, this is the best way that I can communicate with you on a fairly regular basis. I hope you find these little missives helpful as we continue to move forward together. THANKS FOR ATTENDING THE MINISTRY FAIR! Many of you made the effort to browse through Imani Hall last Sunday and see the various ministries and organizations present here at St. James. Your sisters and brothers put in a great amount of effort to present the many ways to get involved in our parish family beyond the foundation of our Sunday worship. It s my hope that those who are not already involved in something might consider giving of their time and talent to help us further the good already being done. Thanks so much to all those who helped set up the event and the many who took time to be present at their table and share the information about the ways in which others can get involved. Remember, everyone can consider joining any of the ministries or organizations any time throughout the year. Watch the bulletin and listen for the announcements year-round when we re asking for more people to get involved. A yes to getting more involved puts a smile on God s face (and mine too!). WHAT WILL GOD THANK US FOR? During Thanksgiving time most of us pause and thank God for the many blessings and ways God continues to sustain and care for us, even in the midst of trials and struggles. In my homily on Thanksgiving Day I asked everyone to consider: What would God thank YOU for? Here s just a few things I proposed for some reflection: Would God be able to thank me for taking at least some time out of every day to be with him? Would God be able to thank me for being a positive and encouraging presence in my parish and local community? Would God be able to thank me for the ways I give of my time and talent beyond my Sunday and Holy Day obligations? Would God be able to thank me for my generosity in my regular financial support of my parish? Would God be able to thank me for my yearly support of the Diocesan Catholic Stewardship Appeal (CSA)? Would God be able to thank me for inviting others to return to the practice of their faith? Would God be able to thank me for being open to the Holy Spirit which sometimes challenges me to change? As we start a new Liturgical Year with the beginning of this Season of Advent, maybe it would be a good time to think of these and other ways we hope God would be thankful for us. In addition, let s also not forget the good things we re already doing. St. James would not be the vibrant community of faith it is without a lot of good already being done. Thank you for ALL the good! May this new Liturgical Year and Season of Advent help us to make new resolutions which would cause God to be even more grateful for what we do to further his kingdom of love on earth. As St. Francis of Assisi would say to his brothers, While we have time, let us do good! Peace always, Fr. James Michael Jankowski Pastor Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, The annual Retirement Fund for Religious collection will be held December 8 and 9 in the Diocese of Las Vegas. Coordinated by the National Religious Retirement Office (NRRO) in Washington, the appeal benefits 31,000 elderly Catholic sisters, brothers and religious order priests. Our senior religious are a treasure. Their dedication and hard work laid the foundation for Catholic schools, hospitals, and numerous social service organizations. Many continue in volunteer ministry today. Their ongoing prayer and witness enrich our faith in countless ways. I am grateful for the service of religious, past and present. Donations to the Retirement Fund for Religious have a far-reaching impact, said Presentation Sister Stephanie Still, the NRRO s executive director. Most importantly, they help communities care for aging members, but they also underwrite initiatives aimed at addressing the underlying causes of the funding shortages. The Diocese of Las Vegas donated 98,777.84 to the last collection. Almost 94 percent of donations aid senior religious and their communities, with the remaining funds used for administration and promotion of the national appeal. We are overwhelmed by the ongoing generosity toward the annual appeal and by the love and thanksgiving for the service of our elder religious, said Sister Still. Our office is committed to stewarding these funds in ways that help religious communities care for older members while continuing to serve the People of God. Please visit retiredreligious.org to learn more. May the Lord continue to bless you and your families, I remain Sincerely yours in the Risen Lord, + George Leo Thomas Bishop of Las Vegas