December 2, 2012 - First Sunday of Advent page 2 St. Francis of Assisi Parish St. Francis of Assisi Parish Teutopolis, Illinois Teutopolis, Illinois Newly Confirmed on November 28, 2012 Alissa (Ann) Apke Roy (Leonard) Beckman Danielle (Dorothy) Bergfeld Leighton (Thomas) Blankenship Emily (Elizabeth) Buhnerkempe Patricia (Rose) Campbell Madison (Elizabeth) Cowman Riley (Joseph) Drees Benjamin (Nicholas) Feldhake Thomas (Paul) Flach Brandon (Arthur) Funneman Janelle (Alva) Gebben Tyler (Joseph) Gebben Chelsey (Marie) Hardiek Austin (Henry) Hartke Nicholas (Joseph) Hoedebecke Karli (Madonna) Isley Evan (Richard) Koester Reid (John) Koester Kylie (Marie) Lewis Cassidy (Marie) Lohman Clint (James) Lohman Jennifer (Ann) McMahon Mitchell (Anthony) Meinhart Aaron (John) Murdock Colin (Michael) Niebrugge Kylie (Elizabeth) Oseland Richard (Anton) Overbeck Nicholas (Christopher) Pals Karson (John) Pruemer Tanner (Luke) Pruemer Elizabeth (Anne) Ruholl Nicholas (Michael) Ruholl Tori (Grace) Ruholl Anne (Catherine) Runde Cody (Michael) Runde Ryan (John) Sandschafer Michelle (Marie) Schmidt Abigail (Marie) Schumacher Taylor (Rose) Swingler Jordan (Paul) Thoele Lea (Jo) Thoele Sara (Dorothy) Thoele Sarah (Martha) Thoele Morgan (Therese) Walk Megan (Christina) Weichman John (William) Wendt Brock (Richard) Wente Jacob (Matthew) Wente Carrie (Rose) Westendorf Jason (Leo) Westendorf Rachel (Grace) Westendorf Kaitlyn (Eleanor) Will Katie (Marie) Wortman Alexander (James) Zwettler Congratulations!
St. Francis of Assisi Parish Teutopolis, Illinois page 2 From the Pastor Friar Visitors. On December 4, Fr. Carroll Mizicko will be bringing a group of his senior parishioners to the Monastery Museum for a tour. Fr. Carroll is the pastor of St. Augustine of Hippo Church in East St. Louis. Advent. Today is the first Sunday of Advent. Some Advent materials are available in church. There s much more available on line. Slow down, wake up, watch for and welcome the Lord. Mission Trips. Sacristan Gabe Rauch is preparing to go on a medical mission trip to Honduras early in the new year. At a recent meeting, the parish staff agreed to cover Gabe s registration expenses for this important venture. Parish member Paul Rhodes is preparing to go on a medical mission trip to Haiti. Besides providing some chiropractic care, Paul hopes to study the local agriculture to see what might be suggested to improve the diet and the economic condition of the residents. December Travels. I am scheduled to be in Nashville, TN, from December 7 9 in order to participate in the 80 th anniversary celebration of St. Vincent de Paul Parish. Without a break, I have to be in Milwaukee December 10 14. Our Provincial Council will be joining the councils from throughout the country to meet with the Minister General who is coming over from Assisi. If weather and time permit, I will make a side trip up to Manitowoc, WI, to visit the new home of our retired friars. On December 26, Br. Tom and I will head up to visit our family in northern WI. We should be back in T- Town no later than the evening of 1/2/13. Immaculate Conception. Sunday, December 8, is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception the patronal feast of the United States. Usually, when a holy day of obligation falls on a Saturday, the obligation is dropped. That is not true for the feast of the Immaculate Conception. Masses for the holy day of obligation will be celebrated at both St. Rose and St. Francis on December 7 at 7:00 p.m. On December 8, the Masses at SFA will be at 6:00 and 8:00 a.m. Parish Office 203 E. Main St., P.O. Box 730, Teutopolis, IL 62467-0730 Office Hours: Mon. -Fri. 9:00 am -4:30 pm Phone...(217) 857-6404 Fax...(217) 857-1031 Parish E-mail...stfrancischurch@mchsi.com Parish website: stfrancischurch.com Submit written bulletin notices by noon Monday. Diocesan website: www.dio.org Pat Kornfeld, Victim Assistance Coordinator.(217) 321-1155 Hygiene Alert. We're getting into cold and flu season. Please remember to protect your health and that of others. Proper steps would include: If you have a serious cold or the flu, please stay home on Sunday. You are not obligated to attend Sunday Mass if you are sick. Be aware that others might not want to shake hands during the Sign of Peace. They might be protecting YOU. Please don't attempt to force others to shake hands against their will. If you are coughing or sneezing, please don't receive Communion from the cup otherwise your fellow communicants might be reluctant to receive. Use the hand sanitizer that is available in several places in the church. Let's do our best to keep each other healthy over the next few months. Thanks! Fr. John Mass Intentions Monday, December 3 6:30 am: Genevieve Schniederjon + 12:10pm: Herman & Stella Mette + Tuesday, December 4 6:30 am: AID 8:05 am: Genevieve Schniederjon + Wednesday, December 5 6:30 am: Genevieve Schniederjon + 8:05 am: Genevieve Schniederjon + Thursday, December 6 6:30 am: AID 12:10 pm: Rose Hawickhorst + Friday, December 7 6:30 am: Genevieve Schniederjon + 8:05 am: Genevieve Schniederjon + 7:00 pm. Pro Populo Saturday, December 8 6:00 am. Genevieve Schniederjon + 8:00 am: Pro Populo 5:30 pm: Genevieve Schniederjon + Sunday, December 9 7:00 am: Mildred Thoele + 8:45 am: Chuck & Tudie Kreke + 10:30 am: Pro Populo
December 2, 2012 First Sunday of Advent page 3 Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Liturgy Schedule 1st Week of Advent December 3 9 St. Francis Xavier Mass at 6:30 am & 12:10 pm St. John Damascene Mass at 6:30 & 8:05 am Mass at 6:30 & 8:05 am St. Nicholas Mass at 6:30 am & 12:10 pm St. Ambrose Mass at 6:30 & 8:05 am Vigil Mass at 7:00 pm Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Mass at 6:00 & 8:00 am & 5:30 pm 2nd Sunday of Advent Mass at 7:00, 8:45, 10:30 am Confession Schedule Saturday, December 1-3:30-4:30 pm Liturgy of the Hours with Friars Monday-Friday -- 11:45 am & 4:45 pm Protecting God s Children training will be Monday, January 14 th in St. Clare Hall from 6:00-9:00 p.m. There will be no session during the month of December. Pray for the Sick Please remember in your prayers: Cathy Green, Renae Roepke, Eddie Siemer, Cheryl Ann Huber, Chris Utz, Anna Habing, Mack Kitten, Jim Koester, Tom Vonderheide, Jack Hardiek, Chuck Stevens, Toby McMahon, Mary Lynn Hartke Stewardship of Treasure Sunday Total Fiscal 11/25/2012 Year 322 Adult envelopes $12,076.50 $180,387.50 Other $589.21 $11,592.30 TOTAL $12,665.71 $191,979.80 GOAL $9,900.00 $217,800.00 Parish Calendar Monday, December 3 Catholicism, 7:00pm, St. Clare Tuesday, December 4 Secular Franciscans meet, 6:00pm, St. Clare RCIA, 7:00pm, Museum Meeting Room Wednesday, December 5 Children s Choir, 3:30pm Grades 11 & 12 Confessions Jr. High and H.S. Religion Thursday, December 6 Catholicism, 10:00am, St. Clare Confessions, 3:30-4:30pm Finance Council meets, 6:00pm, St. Clare Parish Council meets, 7:00pm, St. Clare Adult and Teen Choir, 7:00pm CHWC mtg., 7:00pm, TGS cafeteria Friday, December 7 Vigil Mass, 7:00pm Baptism Prep, 7:00pm, St. Isidore Teen Center open Saturday, December 8 Immaculate Conception Holy Day of Obligation, Masses at 6:00 & 8:00am Scrip cards sold after 5:30 Mass Sunday, December 9 Scrip cards sold after all Masses Catholicism, 8:00pm, St. Clare Planning Marriage Steven Habing and Kerrie Herd Friday, December 7, 2012 4:00 pm Special Collection Retired Religious Support elderly religious. A parishioner writes, As a Catholic school student from grades K-12, I was formed to be the person I am by many religious brothers and sisters, and I am forever grateful. Show your thanks for the senior Catholic sisters, brothers, and religious order priests who made appositive difference in so many lives. Please give generously to next week s collection for the Retirement Fund for Religious. Attention Homebound Holy Communion will be brought to you on First Friday, December 7th. No Communion to you on Sunday, December 9th.
St. Francis of Assisi Parish Teutopolis, Illinois page 4 Help Needed for the Holy Day We are in need of Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion for the 7:00pm Mass on Friday, December 7th, the 6:00am Mass on Saturday, December 8th and the 8:00am Mass on Saturday, December 8th (Feast of the Immaculate Conception). Please come to the sacristy before Mass to see where you are needed. Thank you for your help! Giving Tree. Gifts going to the area nursing homes and group homes are due back to the church by next Sunday, December 9! Didn t get a tag yet? No problem! Just snag one off of a tree at any entrance of church, purchase a requested gift or something similar, wrap it & return it by next Sunday! We ll be sorting and delivering the gifts on December 10 beginning at 9 am in church! Anyone interested in helping is MORE than welcome! Thanks for your generosity! Scrip Cards. Looking for a gift for someone? Heading out to shop? Taking someone out to dinner for the Christmas season? Scrip Cards are being sold at the St. Clare Hall following all Masses. Take care of your shopping needs or prepare in advance for those upcoming expenditures by buying your cards this weekend! Christmas Cookies and Candies. CHWC students would love to do your Christmas baking! We ll have decorated Christmas Cookies and Candies for sale on December 15 & 16 following all Masses! Enjoy great treats and help the youth program at the same time! RCIA continues to meet after the 8:45 Mass in the Museum Meeting Room on Sunday mornings. A second meeting time is Tuesday evenings at 7:00. Please add to your prayer list those persons seeking a deeper relationship with God. Next week s topic is prayer/rosary. Bible Study will continue after the New Year. The program, Catholicism, is being offered at several times during Advent. We hope you take advantage of this opportunity during the Year of Faith to deepen your understanding and commitment to your faith. A great Advent project and one that celebrates the Year of Faith is the video series, Catholicism, by Fr. Robert Barron. Please join us at one of the several times this is offered. (See parish calendar for this week s dates.) You will be pleasantly surprised. Religious Education News GRADE SCHOOL-Grade 3 Christmas Gift & Giving store for the local missionaries and their missions takes place this week Tuesday-Grades 2, 5, 3S; Wednesday- Grades 1, 6, 3K; and Thursday-Grades 4 and 3M. Thanks to all parents, children, all those who have donated items to sell and those who have offered to help. God bless you for your spirit of giving! PRE/K Sunday morning religion classes take place in the Museum Dining Room. The children will be practicing for the Epiphany Program, which will take place on Sunday, January 6. Parents will be receiving a letter of explanation today at the end of class. The informative letter will be mailed to those who are unable to attend the class session. JUNIOR HIGH Classes resume for junior high students at the regular time (7:20) at the junior high building. Grade 8 students begin their booklet on the Question of Morality, in preparation for the Sacrament of Reconciliation which takes place on Wednesday, December 19 at the Junior High Building. Grade 7 students continue their preparation for the Sacrament of Reconciliation by studying the questions and answers in the chapters of the Did Adam and Eve Have Bellybuttons? book. HIGH SCHOOL Congratulations to our sophomores who received the sacrament of Confirmation. May you call on the Holy Spirit to help guide you through life. YOUTH NOTES. Youth Councils meet TODAY, Sunday, December 2 in the Teen Center. Junior High meets at 6:30pm and high school meets at 7:30pm. Come for games, prayer & planning! It will be a good night! Don t miss it! FALALALALALALALA! Jump into the Christmas spirit with CHRISTMAS CAROLING around town! We ll meet at the Teen Center on December 16 at 6:30 pm and walk around town caroling. We ll be back at the Teen Center by 8:00pm for hot chocolate and snacks! Junior High, High School, college students, and families are invited for the night of merriment & fellowship! Spread the joy wherever you are! CHWC Meeting: All Catholic Heart Work Campers We will be having a meeting on December 6 at 7 pm in the Teutopolis Grade School Cafeteria to discuss cookie sales and also to pass out tickets for the Taste of Teutopolis and to receive financial updates. Please be there to add your input and pick up your tickets.
December 2, 2012 First Sunday of Advent page 5 Diamond Jubilee. Br. Pauli Johnson, O.F.M. will be celebrating his Diamond Jubilee as a Franciscan on Sunday, December 16th at the 10:00 am Mass at St. Anthony Church in St. Louis. Br. Pauli (who served St. Francis Parish for many years) extends an invitation to all of St. Francis Parish who would like to attend. CCW News Christmas Party, 2012 The officers of St. Francis CCW wish to extend an invitation to all women of our parish to our annual CCW Christmas Party on Monday, December 10, 2012. The evening will begin at 6:30pm at TGS Auditorium. Turkey, dressing, noodles, rolls, drinks and table service will be provided for the dinner. Please bring a covered dish. A $3.00 gift exchange is optional. Please join us for a delicious dinner, fun and fellowship. Donations for Catholic Charities Food Pantry will be accepted and warmly appreciated!! What do we do for the Year of Faith? Check out this free monthly downloadable Year of Faith resource, www.justfaith.org/yofdre. It contains family, teen, parish staff & council member suggestions on what can be concretely done to share our faith during the month. In addition, it offers a short prayer, reflection and opportunity to celebrate our faith. The 23rd National Night of Prayer for Life will be December 8th and 9th in St. Anthony s Memorial Hospital Chapel beginning at 9:00pm. At midnight, Fr. Ralph Zetzl will have Mass. All denominations are welcome to join in prayer any hour that is convenient. With over 50 million abortions performed in America since 1973 we are begging God s forgiveness. Please come anytime between 9:00pm and 1:00am. Thank You for the generous World Mission Sunday contribution of $2,010 from the people of St. Francis of Assisi parish. Worldwide Marriage Encounter. Today St. Paul prays for the Lord to increase our love for one another so that it may abound and he reminds us that we should live our lives to please God. Does your life reflect this? Does your marriage? Gain the tools to live your marriage to please God and to truly love your spouse; sign up today to attend the next Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend. The next Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend in this area is on February 1 3. To register or for more information, call 314-469-7317, or go online to www.stl-wwme.org. First Sunday of Advent Tough economic times weigh on everyone. While some people seem to be able to afford everything, go everywhere, and enjoy what they want, there are so many people that have come to a point in their lives where every penny is pinched and every purchase scrutinized. Data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that consumers are spending less on big-ticket items to afford basics. Households hit by layoffs, the tight job market, and heavy debt burdens are holding back on spending. The savings rate has dropped, indicating that consumers are using up scant resources to stay afloat. Even people who might be able to spend a little more are being cautious, because the economic mood is so gloomy. The words of Jesus in today's Gospel could well characterize the overall global experience, "on earth nations will be in dismay." It might seem a bit odd that we begin Advent, which is a season of hope, with a rather dismal and disturbing Gospel. The end of time is not something that we usually think about to any great extent. We are often more concerned with the anxieties of daily life, as the Gospel puts it. Those daily worries seem like enough for most of us. We don't need to add the end of the world on top of it. But for many people today, in this economic environment, daily anxieties can seem like the end of the world. Bills mount up, tensions grow, jobs or homes are lost. We need this season of hope to renew our own longings and expectations. The prophet Isaiah reminds us that God fulfills his promises. God's mercy endures in every generation, including ours. The actions we take to assist others become an expression of God's mercy and a sign of God's renewing hope. In the weeks to come even a small kindness to someone could help to ease anxiety, and help that person believe that redemption is at hand. 2012 Liturgical Publications Inc Second Hand Rose Resale Shoppe will be hosting Christmas clearance sales December 3-8 and 17-22. The store will be closed to the public December 10-14 to serve those in need for the FISH/Catholic Charities Christmas Store and will be open again on the 15th. from 10:00am 1:00pm. The store will also be closed December 24-25 to observe Christmas and January 1 for New Year s Day. Regular store hours are Monday-Friday, 10:00am-4:00pm and Saturday, 10:00am-1:00pm. Donations of all seasons are accepted Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:00pm and Saturday 8:30am-1:00pm. For more information about Second Hand Rose, please call 217-857-1482.
St. Francis of Assisi Parish Teutopolis, Illinois page 6 Q. What significance does the Advent season have for our Christian faith journey? A. Advent is a season of joyful anticipation and expectation. But for what specifically? Certainly not for the birth of the Christ Child-that occurred more than two thousand years ago. This season links us with all those who lived in the era of longing for the coming of the Messiah. But he has come and lived among us. Then what are we joyfully anticipating and expecting? Some are joyfully anticipating the many gifts that they will buy and share with others, along with the many gifts they will receive in return. Others enter into the overblown commercialism-decorating, partying, writing cards, and all the endless customs that go with the season. What if the anticipation and expectation were to focus on how we can continue to make present the living Christ in each and every moment of our daily lives? Yes, Jesus came among us two thousand years ago. But how do we continue to make that presence real in our world? Jesus himself set the agenda for us. We are to proclaim good news to the poor, liberty to captives, sight to the blind, provide food for the hungry, shelter for the homeless, freedom for those who are oppressed and abused. What would the Advent season look like if this, rather than materialism, was the main focus of our joyful anticipation and expectation? Try it and see what results. It may surprise all of us. 2011 Liturgical Publications Inc Teutopolis Park District Classes A 6-week Zumba class will start January 7, 2013 and will run each Monday/Wednesday/Friday from 5:15-6:15 am in the TJHS Cafeteria. The instructor will be Rachel Geving. The deadline to register is December 1st. An 8-week Boot Camp class will start January 7, 2013 and run each Monday/Wednesday/Friday from 5:15-6:15 am in the TGS Gym. The instructor will be Ben Siemer. Deadline to register is December 1st. Registration forms for both of these activities are on the park district website: www.teutopolisparkdistrict.com. Classes are open to anyone interested in getting in better shape! (20 advance registrations needed for each class.) Grade 3-4 Instructional Basketball for 3rd and 4th grade girls and boys of unit 50. Instructions are scheduled for January 7, 9, 11 for girls and January 16, 18, 22 for boys, 3:30-4:45 pm at the Teutopolis Grade School Gym. Cost is $10.00. Sign up deadline is December 15th. Christmas Open House at The Cross on Sunday, December 9th from 1:00-3:00 pm. You are invited to stop by the Welcome Center during the Open House to view more than 50 unique Nativity scenes from around the world. Enjoy free refreshments and Christmas music. Gather your family and friends for this great opportunity to get your hearts prepared for the birth of Jesus Christ. Advent Evensong will be held on Sunday, December 9th at 4:00 pm at Holy Cross Church, Wendelin. A candlelight service with Scripture, Organ, English Carols, and Austrian Christmas music sung in German, by the Wendelin Kloepfen Singers. All are welcome. Engaged Couples We still have openings for the Pre Cana Program which is being offered here at St. Francis on Sunday, January 27, 2013. Please call the parish office to register (857-6404). The next FOCCUS date is scheduled for January 5, 2013. Please register for this by calling the parish office. Need a Christmas Gift? How about a parish directory? Stop by the parish office to purchase one for $10. Catholic Radio. Tune in to Catholic Radio on 91.3 FM WGMR, where you will hear special programs during the season of Advent and Christmas, along with the daily Holy Mass, devotions, Catechetics, live call-in shows, and much more. For a program schedule and a free CD call 314-752-7000 or toll-free 1-877-305-1234 Holy Humor...Ole took Lena out to dance over the weekend. There was a guy on the dance floor living it up break dancing, moon walking, back flips, the works. Lena turned to Ole and said, See dat guy? Tventy-five years ago he proposed tew me and I turned him down. Ole replied, Vell, it looks like he s still celebrating!