Holy Spirit Catholic Church December 24, 2017 From The Pastor s Desk Pastor, Rev. Joseph C. Lee Parochial Vicar, Rev. Eugene Okoli Deacon, Al Evans Deacon, Charles Ruelas Deacon, Paul Wood Adult & Family Director, Richard Johnson.x23 Adult & Family Associate, Melisa Limones x26 Baptism/First Communion, Lisa Estrada x12 Business Administrator, Ann M. Picha...x44 Business Associate, Mary Jorgensen.x17 Childcare & Safe Environment, Sharon Bush...x19 Children's Faith Formation, Deborah Pearson x14 Community Life, Cindy Meyer x24 Music Director, Felipe Ramirez..972-298-4971 Outreach Coordinator, Open..972-298-4971 Parish Office, Mary Gruhlke..x10 Parish Resource Associate, Veronica Houston.x30 Pastor's Office, Cathy Ordemann.x11 R.C.I.A., Lindee Greer x43 Youth & Young Adult Ministry, Devyn Buschow.x16 Youth Ministry, Rachel Cromwell..x45 Saturday Sunday Monday - Saturday WELCOME! We invite you to become a member, by registering at the Welcome Table in the Narthex after Mass, or by visiting the Parish Office! Parish Office Hours: Monday-Thursday: 9:00 am-12:00 Noon; 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm Friday: 9:00 am -12:00 Noon Please contact the following staff members for questions about: Becoming Catholic: Lindee Greer, x43 Baptism & First Communion: Lisa Estrada, x12 Confirmation: Devyn Buschow, x16 Funerals: Please contact Funeral Home or Parish Office 5:30 p.m. 8:00 a.m., 9:30 a.m.,11:30 a.m., 5:30 p.m. 8:30 a.m. On some of our significant birthdays we tend, first of all, to look back at what has been. When we turn thirty or fifty or seventy-five, we naturally look to the past years and ask ourselves how it all has gone. We may ask what value our life has had. What have we created? What good have we done? And no matter how difficult life has been, we always seem able to find some good if we only look hard enough. As we celebrate Jesus birthday, we have many of those same questions. Of what value has Christianity been? As Christians what have we created in our world? What good has come about because of Jesus who came to live and die with us? To begin to even answer those questions in any detail would take days and days, if not weeks and months. But even without going into detail we can easily see that the world is radically different since Jesus Christ came as one of us. Jesus changed the world by creating a community based on love. We call this community the Church. We, the pilgrim people of God, have been given the great responsibility of continuing the presence of Christ in the world. And so when we celebrate the birth of Christ, we are actually celebrating the birth of community that has been given the responsibility of continuing Christ s presence in the world. They used to say of the early Christians: See how they love one another. So much love has been poured out in our world in the name of Jesus. Jesus Christ continues to live today through the love we give to one another. It is no exaggeration to say that God comes to us through us. Jesus became present to us through Mary at the first Christmas. He now becomes present to us through the kindness and care we offer each other. Our gifts to one another this Christmas day should be a reminder of the gifts of love and caring we offer to each other. As we have heard it said so often about gifts: It s not the gift that matters it s the thought that counts. And the thoughts and feelings behind our gifts are hopefully one of caring and affection and concern. Since all real love is participation in God s love, so our love then becomes a way for God to be present to others. As we leave this church today and return to our families and friends, I hope that we will be able to know in our hearts that we are part of this great history that began two thousand years ago. As we share our love today with one another, we continue to make Jesus Christ alive and well in our world. May you all have the best Christmas you have ever known! Wednesday Saturday 6:00 p.m. 3:30-5:00 p.m.
Holy Spirit Catholic Church December 24, 2017 Youth Ministry Community Life Ministry Youth Ministry will not meet December 24th or 31st. If you are visiting our parish for Christmas and have a teen 7th- 12th grade who would like to join our youth ministry program please e-mail devynbuschow@holyspiritcc.org for more information! Thank you to everyone who bought poinsettias and who made donations towards our Youth Stand for Life trip! We greatly appreciate your support for our youth! Prayer Before Opening Presents Lord and Giver of all good things, the magi travelled for miles to bring the Christ child the first Christmas presents. So may we, too, remember with thankful hearts the love that comes with each present we open. We also thank you for the love you have for each of us, and we thank you for the many gifts that you give us, especially the gift of life itself. Amen Sunday Morning Food and Fellowship Today: CHRSITMAS BREAK Next Sunday, Dec. 31: NEW YEAR S HOLIDAY A Christmas Prayer God of love, Father of all, the darkness that covered the earth has given way to the bright dawn of your Word made flesh. Make us a people of this light. Make us faithful to your Word, that we may bring your life to the waiting world. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Liturgy Weekly Activities Sunday, Dec 24 4th Sunday of Advent/ Vigil of Christmas 8:00 a.m. Holy Mass People of Holy Spirit 9:30 a.m. Holy Mass Intentions of Mary & Scott Jorgensen 11:30 a.m. Holy Mass Intentions of Obinwanne Family 5:30 p.m. Children s & Youth Choir Christmas Prelude 6:00 p.m. Holy Mass/Children s People of Holy Spirit 9:00 p.m. Holy Mass/Vigil People of Holy Spirit 11:30 p.m. Choir Christmas Caroling prior to Midnight Mass Monday, Dec 25 Nativity of the Lord/Christmas Day 12:00 a.m. Holy Mass/Vigil People of Holy Spirit 10:00 a.m. Holy Mass People of Holy Spirit Tuesday, Dec 26 St. Stephen 8:30 a.m. Communion Service Wednesday, Dec 27 St. John, Apostle 8:30 a.m. Holy Mass Vince Lanza 9:30 a.m. Legion of Mary Thursday, Dec 28 The Holy Innocents 8:30 a.m. Holy Mass Dr. Carol M. Plasket Friday, Dec 29 St. Thomas Becket 8:30 a.m. Holy Mass Jack Anderson 9:00 a.m. Holy Hour Saturday, Dec 30 6:00 a.m. Holy Mass Martin Molina 3:30 p.m. Confessions 4:00 p.m. Choir Practice 5:30 p.m. Holy Mass Eddy Coto Sunday, Dec 31 The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph 8:00 a.m. Holy Mass People of Holy Spirit 9:30 a.m. Holy Mass People of Holy Spirit 11:30 a.m. Holy Mass People of Holy Spirit 5:30 p.m. Holy Mass/NY Eve Vigil People of Holy Spirit Solemnity of Blessed Virgin Mary, Monday, Jan. 1 10:00 a.m. The Pastoral Office will be closed for Christmas, December 25-29 and January 1. The Staff wishes you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. May God Bless you throughout this season and always. Weekly Readings Sunday, Dec 24 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Rom 16:25-27; Lk 1:26-38 Monday, Dec 25 Is 52:7-10; Heb 1:1-6; Jn 1:1-18 Tuesday, Dec 26 Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59; Mt 10:17-22 Wednesday, Dec 27 1 Jn 1:1-4; Jn 20:1a, 2-8 Thursday, Dec 28 1 Jn 1:5--2:2; Mt 2:13-18 Friday, Dec 29 1 Jn 2:3-11; Lk 2:22-35 Saturday, Dec 30 1 Jn 2:12-17; Lk 2:36-40 Sunday, Dec 31 Sir 3:2-6, 12-14; Col 3:12-21; Lk 2:22-40 Altar Flowers & Mass Intentions: If you would like to dedicate a mass, lamp or donate flowers in honor or memory of a loved one, please contact Mary Gruhlke, x10 in the Parish Office. The Sanctuary Lamp will burn this week in Appreciation and Thanksgiving to Michael Merriam by his Champions Cove Friends.
Holy Spirit Catholic Church December 24, 2017 There are no Faith Formation classes Sunday, December 24 or Sunday, December 31 in order to celebrate this joyous holiday season. Classes resume on Sunday, January 7, 2018. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from the Faith Formation Office! Attention Parents! On Sunday, January 21, children in Grades Kindergarten through 3rd will be attending Mass as a class, as part of their lessons on the liturgy and sacraments. Additionally, Grades 4-6 will be attending a teaching Mass in the gym. Please mark your calendars NOW so as not to forget. It will be imperative that your children arrive to class on time (that s 9:15 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.) to attend Mass and ensure an orderly flow for seating. Children arriving after 9:25 a.m. or 11:25 a.m. will be sent with their parents to attend Mass as a family. We appreciate your cooperation very much! This trip to Mass has become a much anticipated part of our curriculum and enjoyed, we hope, by the children. Parents, you are also cordially invited to attend our teaching Mass in the gym. Catechists, don t forget our annual Epiphany Coffee Bar and voluntary Secret Santa Gift Exchange is scheduled for Sunday, January 7 from 8:30-11:30 a.m. in the Dining Room. We also bid a very fond farewell to Stephanie Macias, PK4 catechist at 11:15, who will be leaving us for the hills of Tennessee! We will miss Stephanie s shining smile that has been a constant for the past 10 yrs. Best Wishes on this new chapter in your life, Miss Stephanie! Don t forget that while you re out shopping for those last minute Christmas gifts, if you happen to come across a great deal on Star Wars items and would like to help us out with our Catechist Appreciation Dinner on Monday, January 22, 2018, we would greatly appreciate it! If you would like more information about our Catechist Appreciation Dinner, please contact Princess Leia, aka, Deborah. We had a great time at our Santa s Christmas Workshop on December 16! We thank all the adults and teens who helped out at this children s event. Parents, we hope you enjoyed the afternoon out, as well... SACRAMENTS & SUCH. Children in First Communion preparation with be Celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Wednesday, January 10 at 7 p.m. followed by a reception in the Narthex. Please contact Lisa with any questions. The next Parent & Student session for the Sacrament of Confirmation is Sunday, January 14 from 1:30-3:45 p.m. in the gym. Contact Devyn for more information.