Pastoral Staff Pastor: FR. LUCIANO CORTOPASSI Luciano.cortopassi@calgarydiocese.ca *Appts to be arranged through the parish office Religious Education: LEANNE PLAMONDON religiousedu@stjamesparishrc.com Youth Ministry Coordinator: AMY HEGGENSTALLER-BOON youth@stjamesparishrc.com Administrative Asst: CHRISTINA SPRINKHUYSEN Submissions for the bulletin go to: St. James Church 338060 32nd St. East bulletin@stjamesparishrc.com (Street Address only) DEADLINE IS THURSDAY 10:00am Okotoks Custodian St. James Church: CHRISTINE GEERS Custodian St. Michaels & Rectory: CATHERINE KLUG SCHEDULE FOR ST. JAMES CHURCH (for the week of Dec 10 - Dec 16): Parish Mailing Address St. James Parish, Site 7, Box 41, RR#2 Okotoks, AB T1S 1A2 Phone: 403-938-3122 Fax: 403-938-0524 Email: office@stjamesparishrc.com Parish Website: http:// stjamesparishokotoks.wordpress.com OFFICE HOURS: Monday - Friday 9:00-12:30 & 1:00-3:00pm *Closed 12:30-1pm for Lunch* *Closed 3rd Friday of the Month Weekday Adoration: *6-9am & 5-7pm*, sign up sheet is in the chapel SCHEDULE FOR ST. MICHAEL S CHURCH: St. Michael s Church Mass Times: Sun: 9:00am Wed: 9:00am Fri: 9:00am Reconciliation Schedule: After weekday Mass Friday only. (Street address only) Solemn Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament Friday following 9:00am Mass Mass Times: Sun: 11:00am & 5:30pm Tues: 7:00pm Thurs 9:30am Sat: 5:30pm Reconciliation Schedule: Tuesday after Mass, 7:30-8:30pm, Wednesday 7:30-8:30pm (during Advent) Saturday 4-5pm Sunday Eve 4-5pm Solemn Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament Tuesday following Mass 7:30-8:30pm 402 Government Road Black Diamond LIVING NATIVITY
Upcoming Events and Activities CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE 2017/18 ST. JAMES CHURCH, 338060 Avenue and 32nd St. East, Okotoks ST. MICHAEL S CHURCH, 402 Government Rd, Black Diamond Christmas Eve December 24th 5:00pm & 8:00pm Christmas Eve December 24th 10:00 pm Christmas Day December 25th 10:00 am Christmas Day December 25th 9:00 am New Year s Eve December 31st 5:00 pm New Year s Day January 1, 2017 9:00 am New Year s Day January 1, 2018 11:00 am Parish Reconciliation Date: Tuesday, Dec 19, 2017 @ 6:30pm. Reconciliation is also available on Tuesdays following 7pm Mass and all Wednesdays during Advent 7:30-8:30 pm. Parish Office Closed - Dec 22nd, 2017 - Jan 2nd, 2018 Sign up for FORMED today, for free! Enter Parish code TPWN47. Complete the registration form to create your own username and password. Access is free! Link: https://formed.org/ Let us welcome, into our parish community, all the children who have received the Sacrament of Baptism today. MARK YOUR CALENDARS The next Christian Women s Fellowship Breakfast is Thurs, Jan 11th, 9-11am at St. Michael s Church Benjamin Heller Ryder & Georgia Van Megen GOD BLESS YOU & CONGRATULATIONS! DECEMBER 23RD Please sign up to join Alberta Children s HOSPITAL Fr. Luciano, on the morning of December 23rd, at the Children s Hospital to deliver the funds raised by our children. All parishioners of St. James & St. Michael s are invited to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation which will December 13th @ 7:30pm be at St. James Church on Tues, Dec 19th, 6:30-8:00pm.
St. James Parish THIS WEEK IN OUR PARISH Page 3 Mass Times & Mass Intentions Sunday - Dec 10 9:00am - St. Michael s Shawn Bews 11:00am - St. James Bishop Eugene Cooney 5:30pm - St. James People of the Parish Monday - Dec 11 NO MASS Tuesday - Dec 12 7:00pm - St. James Ted Linehamm Wednesday - Dec 13 9:00am - St. Michael s Holy Souls in Purgatory Activities For The Week 2nd Collection for Mission Mexico Coffee Sunday following 9am Mass, St. Michael s Church St. James KofC Pancake Breakfast following 11am Mass, St. James Parish Hall Reconciliation prior to Mass 4-5pm, St. James Church Jr. High Youth Night after 5:30pm Mass, St. James Church, St Joseph Room. This week s youth meeting will include a homemade or re-gift exchange. St. Mary s Advent Concert Gr. 1&2 6:30-8pm, St. James Church Reconciliation after Mass 7:30-8:30pm Adoration following 7pm Mass RCIA 7-9pm, St. James Church, St. Br. Andre Room RCIT 7-9pm, St. James Church, St. Joseph Room Acoustic Choir Practice 10-11:00am, St. James Church ECSS Gr. 1 Advent Concert 6:30-7pm, St. James Church RCIC Session #2 6:30-8:00pm, St. Raphael & St. Joseph Rooms Black Diamond KofC Meeting 7-9pm, St. Michael s Church Christian Yoga Ministry 6-7pm, St. James Church, St. Kateri Room Parish Advent Mission with Michael Chiasson 7:30pm, St. James Church Reconciliation 7:30-8:30pm, St. James Church (During Advent) Thursday - Dec 14 9:30am - St. James Ken Lyster Friday - Dec 15 9:00am - St. Michael s Ron Bennett Saturday - Dec 16 5:30pm - St. James Bishop William McGrattan Sunday - Dec 17 9:00am - St. Michael s Juliette Lewis 11:00am - St. James Fr. Gracjan Burkiciak 5:30pm - St. James People of the Parish Senior s Group 10:30am-12:00pm, St. James Church Hall 2nd Sunday Choir Practice 7-8pm, St. Michael s Church Rivers of Living Water Prayer Group 7pm, St. James Church, St. Br. Andre Room. Come join us in songs of praise, talks & prayer time. Stay for coffee & fellowship. HIS Choir Practice 7:30-10pm, St. James Church Parish Office Closed Adoration following 9am Mass Youth Music Practice 3:30-5pm, St. James Church Living Nativity 4-9pm, St. James Field & Parish Hall Gift Cards available after Mass Gift Cards available after all Masses at St. James Church Knights Breakfast following 9am Mass, St. Michael s Church Coffee Sunday following 11am Mass, St. James Parish Hall Reconciliation prior to Mass 4-5pm, St. James Church Sr. High Youth Night after 5:30pm Mass, St. James Church, St Joseph Room * Low Gluten Eucharist is available at every Mass Located Center aisle behind the Priest
Page 4 St. James Parish - Sacramental Preparation 2017-2018 *Please Note: if your child has not received any sacraments at St. James or St. Michael s Church a copy of their baptismal certificate must be given at time of registration. CONFIRMATION 2018 For students in Grades 6,7,8 and up. ALL CLASSES WILL BE MONDAYS 6:30pm- 8pm. Parent & student to attend each session. Cost $40. Monday, January 15 @ 6:30pm Commitment Mass Jan 20 & 21 Please attend one of the following Commitment Masses: Sat 5:30pm or Sun 11am or 7pm at St. James or 9am at St. Michael s Monday, January 29 @ 6:30pm Monday, February 12 @ 6:30pm Monday, March 5 @ 6:30pm Monday, March 19 @ 6:30pm Monday, April 9 @ 6:30pm Monday, April 23 @ 6:30pm Retreat & Rehearsal: Saturday, April 28 @ 9am-1pm Celebration of Confirmation with Bishop William McGrattan - Friday May 4 @ 7pm FIRST COMMUNION 2018 For students in Grades 2 & up. ALL CLASSES WILL BE MONDAYS 6:30pm-8pm. Parent and student are to attend each session. Cost $30. Monday, March 26 @ 6:30pm Commitment Mass Apr 14 & 15 Please attend one of the following Commitment Masses: Sat 5:30pm or Sun 11am or 7pm at St. James or 9am at St. Michael s Monday, April 16 @ 6:30pm Monday, April 30 @ 6:30pm Monday, May 14 @ 6:30pm Retreat & Rehearsal: Saturday, May 26 @ 9am-12pm 1st Communion Sacramental Mass: Saturday & Sunday, June 2 & 3, 2018 (at all Masses) Rite of Christian Initiation of Teens (RCIT) 2017-2018 This program is designed for all youth from grades 7-12 who desire to receive the Catholic Sacraments they have missed and for any youth who wish to be fully initiated into the Catholic Church. Sessions will take place bi-weekly on the 2 nd & 4 th Tuesdays, from 7-9pm at St. James Church. Please contact the Parish Office for more information at 403-938-3122. Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) 2017-2018 Registration is ongoing for all those interested in learning more about the Catholic Faith. Inquirers are instructed in the Catholic Faith and introduced to the life of the Church. The sessions are Tuesdays from 7-9pm at St. James Church. For more information please call the Parish Office at 403-938-3122. BAPTISM PREPARATION Registration takes place at the Parish Office before the session. A Baptism Preparation session is required for the baptism of your first child. (Baptisms take place the 2 nd and 4 th Sundays of each month after the 11am mass in Okotoks, and at the 9am mass in Black Diamond. *Saturday @ 5:30pm also available. Cost is $20.00. Next Sessions : Saturday, January 20, 2018 @ 1pm Wednesday, February 28, 2018 @ 7pm (If your child is older than seven years and in need of baptism, please contact the parish office at 403-938-3122.) *NEW* As per Diocesan guidelines, the following documents are now required when requesting baptism: Birth Certificate of child Baptismal Certificate of parent(s) Annotated Baptismal Certificate of Godparents MARRIAGE PREPARATION Phone the Parish Office at least 6 months before marriage and make an appointment. Marriage preparation sessions are mandatory for those preparing for marriage. Sessions run Friday @ 7-9pm and continue Saturday @ 9am-4pm on the following dates: Next Session : February 2 & 3, 2018 Includes follow up meetings with Sponsor couples. Cost is $150.00 per couple. *Contact Leanne Plamondon, our Religious Education Coordinator, at the Parish Office for more information about the sacraments. By Phone: 403-938-3122 or by email: religiousedu@stjamesparishrc.com Rite of Christian Initiation of Children (RCIC) 2017-2018 This program is designed for all children from grades 2-6 who desire to receive the Catholic Sacraments they have missed and for any children who wish to be fully initiated into the Catholic Church. ALL CLASSES WILL BE WEDNESDAYS FROM 6:30-8pm. At St. James Church. Wednesday, Dec 13 @ 6:30pm Wednesday, Jan 17 @ 6:30pm Wednesday, Jan 31 @ 6:30pm Baptism Date: Saturday, Feb 10, 2018 @ 5:30pm
ADVENT RECONCILIATION SCHEDULE: Tuesday 7:30-8:30 p.m. St. James Wednesday 7:30-8:30 p.m. St. James Friday 9:30-10:00 a.m. St. Michael's Saturday 4:00-5:00 p.m. St.James Sunday 4:00-5:00 p.m. St. James PARISH RECONCILIATION DATE: TUESDAY Dec 19 th 6:30-8:00 p.m. St. James (with many priests) 2018 Sunday Missals Sunday missals are available for sale, they are $4.00 each and can be found on the table in the Narthex. *Missals for Young Catholics: $8.00 House Blessings will take place during Advent and Lent. Please email religiousedu@stjamesparishrc.com or call the Parish Office at 403-938-3122 to set up a time. In 2017 Christmas day falls on a Monday, which affects how you will celebrate Sunday Masses. When Christmas is celebrated on Monday, Sunday is the original and primary feast day for the Christian people, and the heart of the liturgical year. Christmas, the celebration of the incarnation of the Son of God and of his birth as our Saviour, is a distinct feast. For this reason, the two celebrations should be kept distinct. It is therefore recommended that no Sunday Mass be celebrated on Sunday evening, in order to avoid any confusion between the two celebrations. Please Note: it is not possible to fulfil both the Sunday and Christmas obligations in just one Mass. But there are several ways you can fulfil the obligations for the weekend of December 23, 24 & 25, please see the graphic below. 4th Sunday of Advent & Christmas Day Mass Combinations: Option 1 - Sunday Morning + Christmas Day Mass Option 2 - Sunday Morning + Sunday Christmas Eve Vigil Option 3 - Saturday Evening + Sunday Christmas Eve Vigil Option 4 - Saturday Evening + Christmas Day Mass LIVING NATIVITY Saturday, December 16 th, 2017 4:00pm - 9:00pm at St. James Church Please join us for a moment of spiritual reflection in preparation for the birth of Jesus. St. James Parish in Okotoks is building the Town of Bethlehem in the field next to the church. There, you will see real people interacting in elements of that time; a bakery, a pottery booth, a wine shop, a spice shop, a wool shop, an inn, a prison, a Roman Solider hut (with real horses), a carpenter s workshop, a blacksmith, a tax collector s office, a candle shop, shepherds, and a stable with the Holy Family. There will also be choirs singing carols to add to the festivities. Food and beverages will be available for a small price, and donations will be accepted to help cover the costs of the event. Mass will be celebrated at 5:30pm. Invite your family & friends, and follow the signs to the Town of Bethlehem to join us for an evening of fellowship and spirituality.
Page 6 DECEMBER 10, ADVENT II St. Augustine knew what sort of person he ought to be when as a youth he prayed for purity but not yet! Some changes happen overnight while others unfold gradually. In the confessional we can admit our failings and struggles confident that the Lord is patient and wants us to come to repentance. Action Item: Find an opportunity each day to extend God s patience to others and to yourself. OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED FROM DECEMBER 22ND TO JANUARY 2ND, 2018 The Christmas Liturgy Schedule is now available in the Narthex. All ministers are asked to please sign their names where they can help. Ministry Adoration Bereavement Ministry Children s Liturgy Coffee Sunday Couples for Christ Program Finance Council Girls T&T K of C - St. James K of C - St. Michael s Men s Prayer Group Music Ministry Parish Pastoral Council Pastoral Care Prayer Chain RCIA Rivers of Living Water Prayer Group Senior s Group St. James Boy s Youth Group St. James Catholic Women s League St. James Women s Coffee & Connections St. Vincent de Paul St. Vincent de Paul - Black Diamond Stewardship Youth Music Ministry Youth Ministry Contact Information Renee Fietz rfietz@telus.net 403-995-2029, Cell 403-880-5937 Barbara Zimmer zimmb@shaw.ca NEW LEADER NEEDED Dana Wiens coffeesunday@shaw.ca Julius Strachan 403-630-5291 julius_strachanjr@yahoo.com Dave Wilson 403-995-2201 NEW LEADER NEEDED Elie Plamondon weatherfordman@hotmail.com Ernie Bird birdnest2011@hotmail.com Stefan Schwarz 403-850-2057 stefrschwarz@gmail.com Leanne Plamondon 403-938-3122 Mary McGinness 403-995-0202 Vi Lake vilake@telus.net Leanne Plamondon religiousedu@stjamesparishrc.com 403-938-3122 rolwinfo@shaw.ca religiousedu@stjamesparishrc.com NEW LEADER NEEDED Shirley Mutschler bsmutsch@telus.net Virginia Battiste 403-933-2947 virginiabattiste@hotmail.com Julie Ann Heggenstaller 403-938-0562 jheggenstaller@gmail.com John Walsh 403-933-4955 Colleen Mortimer colleenmortimer6@gmail.com Jasmine Siqueira jasminensq@gmail.com 403-999-1321 Amy Heggenstaller-Boon youth@stjamesparishrc.com
ST. JAMES FINANCIAL CORNER Sunday Collections FINANCIAL FACTS Nov 26, 2017 Collections: Preauthorized: $6,423.00 $1,662.46 Dec 3, 2017 Collections: Preauthorized: Total: Goal: $8,085.46 $8,269.00 Total: Goal: Building Fund Dec 3, 2017 Month to date: Monthly Payment: $10,022.43 $8,269.00 Together in Action $803.00 $803.00 $7,289.00 Mortgage Balance: $537,229.71 Children s Collection $8,359.97 $1,662.46 2 Week Goal: $2,032.00 Collections: $5,240.00 (Nov 26 Dec 3) Over/(Short): $3,208.00 Alberta s HOSPITAL Nov 1 to Nov 30, 2017 Year to date Sold Proceeds to the Parish FINANCIAL STATEMENT JAN - OCT 2017 Total/Income 438,236.00 $27,394.70 $5,745.00 $48,545.00 $3,640.88 Stewardship Reflection: YTD 2017 YTD 2016 BUDGET 2017 433,801.00 TIA 2017 Goal $48,764.00 Safeway/Sobeys & SaveOn Gift Cards Children s Week: $98.55 Year to date: $4,333.23 To be donated the morning of Saturday Dec 23rd, 2017 INCOME Your 2018 Donation Envelopes are ready to be picked up in the Narthex. Don t start using them until Jan 18 448,415.00 December 10, 2017-2nd Sunday of Advent Prepare the way of the Lord - MARK 1:3 We are all called to live a holy life. We Expenses: are all called to invite others to live holy Salaries 169,414.00 204,226.00 202,130.00 lives. Living a stewardship lifestyle, Operating 209,012.00 180,423.00 179,682.00 being grateful and generous with our Programs 44,299.00 33,899.00 33,642.00 Total Expense 422,725.00 418,548.00 415,454.00 19,688.00 32,961.00 Net Income 11,076.00 gifts, does just that it puts us on the path to holiness and it invites others to be holy, too. http://archstl.org/stewardship/page/bulletin-inserts
Heavenly Pies Meat & Fruit Variety Proceeds support Knights of Columbus Charitable Projects. For varieties of Meat & Fruit Pies call 660-2949 "Orders delivered after most Sunday morning masses" Leonie Lyttle is offering Guitar Lessons for Seniors, starting January 2018, during the Seniors group, which meets on Thursdays following the 9:30am Mass. To Register, call Leonie at 403-558-3638. Any monetary donations for Christmas Poinsettias would be greatly appreciated and can be dropped off at the Parish Office or mark an envelope with Christmas Flower donation and put it in the collection basket. Thanks so much! Please support these Advertisers, who have supported us!