Archdiocese of Galveston Houston St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church 816 Park Dr. La Porte, Texas 77571 281-471-2000 Fax:281-471-9365 Website:www.stmaryslaporte.com E-mail: stmaryslpcc@sbcglobal.net Parish Office Hours Monday - Friday 9:00 am-12:00 Noon 1:00 pm-4:00 pm CCE Office Hours: Sunday 8:30 am-12:00 pm Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord December 25, 2016 Sacrament of Baptism Baptisms are celebrated on the 1 st Sunday of the month. Classes are held on the 2 nd & 3 rd Tuesday of each month. Please come by the Parish Office to register or call for more information. Reconciliation The Sacrament of Penance is offered on Saturdays, from 4:30p.m. to 5:30p.m. or by appointment. Sacrament of Marriage Please contact the Parish Office at least (6) six months prior to your desired wedding date to arrange a meeting with Father Tony or one of the Deacons. If you want a Mass, you must call Father Tony. Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults Are you a non-catholic who is interested in joining the Catholic faith? Are you a baptized Catholic who has never received the sacraments of 1 st Communion and Confirmation? If your answer is yes to either of these questions, call the Parish Office. Sacrament of First Communion First Communion candidates must be baptized, at least in the second grade, and have been attending CCE classes for two full years previous to their receiving the Sacrament. Adults needing First Communion should refer to the rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. Sacrament of Confirmation Confirmation candidates must have previously received the Sacraments of Baptism and First Communion. They must have faithfully attended Life Teen for at least one full year prior to beginning preparation for the Sacrament (more than three absences without a valid excuse can alter the process). A signed form stating that the parent/guardian and the candidate understand all requirements is also necessary before the preparation begins. Adults needing confirmation should refer to the Rite of Christian initiation of adults. Eucharistic Celebrations Saturday: 6:00 p.m. Sunday: 7:30 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 12:30 p.m. (Spanish) 4:00 p.m. Life Teen Mass Weekday Masses in St. Joseph s Chapel Monday (No Mass) Tuesday 12:00 noon Wednesday 8:30 a.m. & (1st Wednesday Only 6:30 p.m.) Thursday, & Friday 8:30 a.m. Parish Staff Rev. Tony A. Castro, Pastor Deacon Hector Cantu Deacon Julio Matallana Deacon Stan Avallone Bookkeeper-Patty Detweiler Bulletin/Sacramental Records Cheryl Frobenius Maintenance-Humberto Villalobos Parish Secretary-Debbie Heasty Receptionist-Peggy Holland C.C.E. Director-Jessica Jaramilllo EDGE Director-Renee Cortez Life Teen Director-Shari Davis Vision Statement St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception is a Catholic Community of Believers called to serve Christ by gathering together at the Lord s Table in worship and praise, by serving our brothers and sisters in Christ, and by being a welcoming beacon of light to all. We are many parts, yet one body in Christ.
SOLEMNITY OF THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD Tuesday, Dec. 27: 12:00pm Danny Medellin By:Jaime & Christina Vasquez Wednesday, Dec. 28: 8:30am Birthday Celebration Lorna Guzman Donnelly By:Rick & Leslie Guzman Thursday, Dec. 29: 8:30am Friday, Dec. 30: 8:30am Saturday Dec. 31: 6:00pm Sunday, Jan. 1: 7:30am 10:00am 12:30pm Christmas Schedule Saturday Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve): 6:00pm Children of the Parish Sunday, Dec. 25 (Christmas Day): 12:00am (Midnight ) Birthday Celebration Zosimo Dapitan By:Marden Distefano 7:30am People of the Parish 10:00am Charlotte Boudreaux By:Rosie Merdian 12:30pm Robert Terry By:Rick & Leslie Guzman No 4pm Mass Christmas Day Children s Pageant 6pm Mass Christmas Eve Christmas Eve @ 5:15pm meet in the Parish Hall Rm #3 For information contact Vanessa Lara @ 281-253-9405 Raymond Zann By:Francis Zann Mel Skaggs By:Walter & Bonnie Hayes Raymond Zann By:Francis Zann Amanda Kempf Chollett By:Kempf Family Delia Lopez By:Robert & Diana Ortiz People of the Parish No 4pm Mass New Year s Day DIOCESAN SERVICES FUND Parish Goal 2016 $52,000.00 Total Amount Pledged $54,588.76 Total Amount Paid $ 50,993.76( 98.06%) Total # of Participant 158 HIS MERCY ENDURES FOREVER For those of you who have already responded with a gift, please accept our sincere gratitude. If you have made a pledge, but have not yet completed it, please do so by December 31st. Our parish will receive a portion of the amount donated to DSF over our parish goal. Thank you for your generosity. To give online, please visit www.archgh.org/dsf. December 17 & 18, 2016 Weekly Goal $12,000.00 Regular Collection $8,046.00 Our Lady of Guadalupe $267.00 Parishioner Updates ~ 2016 Tax Statements If you have changed our address, phone number or marital status, please contact the parish office as soon as possible. If we do not have the correct contact information, it will cause a delay in receiving your tax donation letters in January. The following items are not tax deductible: Masses, stipends, purchase of raffle tickets, items purchased at the Bazaar; silent auction, live auction, tickets for games etc. If you have any questions, please contact the office. Please Note All 2016 donations must be in the office by Dec. 30th. Any donations received on or after Jan. 1st will be posted in 2017. Remember, you must be registered in our parish to receive a Tax Statement. Registration Forms are available in the Office or in the Church by the main doors. Non-Taxable Charitable Distribution If you are in need of taking a Required Minimum Distribution from your 401k, 403b, IRA before the end of the year, please consider making a Qualified Charitable Distribution to our church. When you make a Qualified Charitable Distribution, directly to a qualified charity, the money you donate will not be taxed. To qualify, you must be at least 70 1/2 and the transfer must be made directly to the church. St. Joseph s Chapel Scheduled Adoration Will Resume Jan. 3rd 2
Dear parish family, Christmas 2016 The blessings of Christmas are tied to our response to the Christ Child born in Bethlehem more than 2,000 years ago. When we read the Christmas story from the Bible, there are at least three ways which we can respond to Him. One response was given by the innkeeper when Mary and Joseph wanted to find a room where the Child could be born. The innkeeper was not hostile; he was not opposed to them, but his inn was crowded; his hands were full; his mind was preoccupied. This is the answer that millions are giving today. Like a Bethlehem innkeeper, they cannot find room for Christ. All the accommodations in their hearts are already taken up by other crowding interests. Their response is not atheism. It is not defiance. It is simply preoccupation of a lot of things and the feeling of being able to get on reasonably well without Christianity. Another response was given by King Herod. His answer was one of hostility. In his raging jealousy, when Herod heard that a King had been born, he said, "Destroy Him! Let Him die while He is still in His cradle." The world objects to the Messiah. A reigning Christ, a life-changing Christ--that is what is unacceptable to millions of people. That is a menace to their way of life. It strikes at the roots of their independence. But another response was totally different. It came from an old priest in the Temple by the name of Simeon. He took the Christ Child in his arms and said, "My eyes have seen your salvation." Simeon's answer was the response of commitment. This is the response I pray that all of us will make. Christmas should not just be a symbolic feast of God s presence or just a ritual commemorating the birth of the Lord. It is the Feast of God taking on a real body in the person of Jesus. In this body Jesus offered Himself to His Father. Christmas should be a feast of our consecration to God, and we live out that consecration at this time through the birth of Christ. Now is the time to love one another as He has loved us. Christmas is not an empty feast; it demands a commitment on our part as believers and people of faith. Our savior was born to a virgin who said yes to God, telling us that the savior will dwell and be made flesh in us as individuals in our humble obedience to His will. And he came to be born in the real human family, telling us that salvation of the society rests on saving the family which is the very foundation of humanity and society itself. It cannot be saved without Jesus, our Lord and savior, be honored and glorified there Christmas blessings to all! Fr. Tony Querida familia parroquial, Navidad 2016 Las bendiciones Navideñas están ligadas a nuestra respuesta al Niño Jesús nacido en Belén hace más de 2.000 años. Cuando leemos la historia de Navidad en la Biblia, hay por lo menos tres maneras en que podemos responderle. Una respuesta fue dada por el posadero cuando María y José querían encontrar una habitación donde el Niño pudiera nacer. El anfitrión no era hostil; no se oponía a ellos, pero su posada estaba llena de gente; sus manos estaban atadas; su mente estaba preocupada. Esta es la respuesta que millones están dando hoy. Como un posadero de Belén, no pueden encontrar espacio para Cristo. Todos los alojamientos en sus corazones ya están ocupados por la abundancia de otros intereses. Su respuesta no es el ateísmo. No es desafío. Es simplemente preocupación de muchas cosas y la creencia de poder tener éxito sin el cristianismo. Otra respuesta fue dada por el rey Herodes. Su respuesta fue de hostilidad. En sus furiosos celos, cuando Herodes oyó que un rey había nacido, dijo: " Destrúyanlo, que muera mientras está todavía en su cuna". El mundo se opone al Mesías. Un Cristo reinante, un Cristo que cambia la vida - eso es lo que es inaceptable para millones de personas. Eso es una amenaza para sus formas de vida. Afecta a las raíces de su independencia. Pero otra respuesta fue totalmente diferente. Proviene de un antiguo sacerdote del Templo con el nombre de Simeón. Tomó al Niño Jesús en sus brazos y dijo: "Mis ojos han visto tu salvación". La respuesta de Simeón fue la respuesta de compromiso. Esta es la respuesta que imploro para que todos nosotros hagamos. La Navidad no debe ser simplemente una fiesta simbólica de la presencia de Dios o simplemente un ritual que conmemora el nacimiento del Señor. Es la Fiesta de Dios tomando un cuerpo real en la persona de Jesús. En este cuerpo Jesús se ofreció a su Padre. La Navidad debe ser una fiesta de nuestra consagración a Dios, y vivimos esa consagración en este tiempo a través del nacimiento de Cristo. Ahora es el momento de amarnos unos a otros como Él nos ha amado. La Navidad no es una fiesta vacía; exige un compromiso de nuestra parte como creyentes y personas de fe. Nuestro salvador nació de una virgen que dijo sí a Dios, diciéndonos que el salvador "habitará y se hará carne" en nosotros como individuos en nuestra humilde obediencia a Su voluntad. Y vino a nacer en la verdadera familia humana, diciéndonos que la salvación de la sociedad descansa en salvar la familia que es la base solida de la humanidad y de la sociedad misma. No se puede salvar sin Jesús, nuestro Señor y salvador, para ser honrado y glorificado en la familia. Las bendiciones de la Navidad a todos! Padre Tony
SOLEMNITY OF THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD Activities of the Week Sat. Dec. 24: Children s Pageant 6pm Sun. Dec. 25: Midnight Mass, 7:30am, 10am, 12:30pm(Span.) Mon. Dec. 26: Office Closed Women s AA Rosary Hall 7pm Tues. Dec. 27: Office Closed Wed. Dec. 28:10am Choir Practice Rosary Hall Conf. Rm 6:30pm Thurs. Dec. 29: No RCIA ALTAR FLOWERS 2017 Flower Dates Available Jan. 21/22, 28/29 Feb. 4/5, 11/12, 18/19, 25/26 If you would like to have flowers on the Altar in the upcoming year, please contact Jan Hughes @ 281 402-5401 or 903-780- 5090 to reserve your date as soon as possible. Church Sanctuary Candle Special Intention for Teen Grigory By:Key Family Chapel Sanctuary Candle In Loving Memory of Janet Crather By:Peggy January Altar Duty Assignments Altar Duty: Leslie & Mose Davis Laundry Duty:Mary Edwards Hostess: Gloria Rinche, Angeles Sullivan CATHOLIC CLERICAL STUDENT FUND is a fund set Extraordinary Minister up to help maintain the Seminary where our young men live while they are studying to become priests. Enrollment cards are available for any special occasion @ $3.00 per person, $10.00 per family or $25.00 for a perpetual enrollment. For info. or to do an enrollment please come by the office. Mass Intentions 2017 Giving Tree Angels A very special thank you to our Justice & Peace volunteers and to everyone who participated in our Giving Tree Angel program this year. Through your generosity we were able to help over 20 needy families in our parish community. God s Blessings to you and your families throughout the coming year. Upcoming Baptismal Dates Jan. 8th, Feb. 5, March 5 Baptism classes are on the 2nd Tuesday of each month in English and the 3rd Tuesday of the month in Spanish @ 7pm. Baptisms are the first Sunday of the month after the 10am & 12:30pm Masses. If you are baptizing here, you need to fill out a registration form for your child s baptism, and we will need to make a copy of their birth certificate from the state before you attend the class. To register please call the office. MINISTRY SCHEDULE DECEMBER 30, 2016 & JANUARY 1, 2017 SATURDAY 6:00pm Altar Servers Lauren Lara, Payton Lara Lector Dennis Swenson Commentator Victoria Swenson Extraordinary Ministers Walter Hayes, Isabelle Salas SUNDAY-7:30am Altar Server Natalie Molina Lector Susie Burgess Commentator Sheridan Lewis Extraordinary Ministers Evarist Coryat, Kelli Shipp SUNDAY-10:00am Altar Server Dylan Rowan Lector Wayne Christensen Commentator Debbie Wade Extraordinary Minister Maria Reyes, Herlinda Robles SUNDAY-12:30pm(Spanish) Altar Server Adrian Rodriguez, Alejandro Rodriguez, Jasmine Rodriguez Lectors Oliviaj Rodriguez, Ernestina Leyva Carlos & Graciela Cirnigliario No Life Teen 4pm Mass New Year sday If you have a deceased loved one, or would like to remember someone on their special occasion please call the office to schedule a Mass Intention. We are only allowed to schedule one intention per Mass. All Mass Intentions need to be paid for one week prior to the scheduled Mass, or you will have to re-schedule the Mass at a later date. The Stipend for each Mass is $5.00. Please do not approach Fr. or one of the Deacons prior to Mass to schedule an Intention. Misas por Intenciones 2017 Si tiene un ser querido que haya fallecido o desea recordar a alguien en una ocasión especial, favor de llamar a la oficina para programar una misa por una intención. Solo nos está permitido programar una intensión por misa. Todas las misas por una intensión deben estar canceladas una semana antes de la fecha programada o tendrá que programar nuevamente la misa para otra fecha. El estipendio para cada misa es de $5.00. Por favor, no le pida al sacerdote o diácono por la intención de una misa sin haberla programado en la oficina primero. 4
SOLEMNITY OF THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD Please Pray For Our Troops and Donna Henson, Ida Trejo, Tanisha Taylor, Evelyn & Jerry Vidos, Bethany Salinas, MaKinzi Peterson, Aliyah Mendez, Jessica Redow, Edward Salinas, Ashley Paulissen, Candelaria Ortiz, Diana Villarreal, Rebecca Ramos, Mike Rupley, Jordan Binkley, Craig Wade, Jennifer Wade, Bob & Barbara Jennings, Lloyd Wells, Dianne Lemons, Paula Lambright, Jennifer Minor, Jarred H., Cindy & Dave Schmitz, Faith A., Tami Sills, H. C. Wade, LeeAnn & Family, Dennis, Peggy & Erica Hargens, Ruth Christian, Marilyn James Martin Muetzel, Ron Balsam, Laura Lewis Rocchino, Carlota Carmona, Jesse Lopez, Diann Verret, Mike Rupley, Chuck Thompson, Debi Cariaga, Michael Kelly, FrancisWilliams, Joe Sturm, Sally Johnson, Tim Sumski, Murphy Guillory, Gayle Phillips, Britton Phillips, Alberto Rodriguez, Lee Molina, Gabriella Mendoza, Judy Irlbeck, Luck Lewallen, Rose Ellen Pena, Sherry Paschal, Baby Lucas Riley, Gary Tandy, Joseph Morgan, Pedro Sanchez, Monica Lesenski, Ana Baez, Marybeth Hays, David Copous, Daniel Vasquez, Pedro B. Sanchez, Gloria Pena, Karen Bounds, Kim Mobbs, Marcey Salinas, Edward Salinas, Nell Martin, Angela Catlun, Continue to Pray for Carlos Smith, Jane Middleton, Rosa Reyes, Tom Noonan, Deacon Tom Lewis, Gene Contreras, Romeal Nolan, Becky Melchor, Aaron Rodriguez, Irene Templet, Jose Molina, Preston Wolf, Lawretta Foots, Marcos Vasquez, Clarence Clipper, Gavin Binkley, Clarence Lewis, Kay Gold, Red Cornejo, Kathryn Coleman, Marita Hooper, Linda Jaramillo, Lois Johnston, Minnie Lopez, Deacon Merce Leal, Margarita Klock, Sue Crockett, Joanne Jarrell, Joanie O Neal, Ben Munoz, Diana Ortiz, Bob Davis, Janet Hoffpauir, Nick Martin, Teresa Eidt, Barry Armstrong and those requesting prayer via our web site. Remember Our Shut-Ins Joe & Josie Funda, Ophelia Pinard, Ann Blair, Soledad Hernandez, Elida Peterson, Carolyn Douglas, those battling terminal illness and the residents of La Porte Care Center and Parson s House Please Note: Names on our Please Pray For list are left on for four weeks. If someone needs to be put back on the prayer list or added please call the Church Office. Los Testigos del Poder de Dios Nuestra Asamblea de Oración les invita a reunirse como hermanos en Cristo para ALABAR, BENDECIR, y GLORIFICAR a nuestro Dios, Padre, Hijo y Espiritu Santo. Vengan pequenos y grandes todos los viernes de 7:30-9:00p.m. en la capilla de San Jose. Encuentro Martimonial Mundial Los invita a vivir un Fin de Semana Conoce como puedes vivir mas intima y profundamente tu relacion. AQuieres recuperar la relacion con tu esposo (a)cunado eran novios. 281-948- 8690, 281-948-8640, Marco & Mercedes Arrona, marco-51@sbcglobal.net Te invitamos a una Hora Santa en comunidad Todos los mièrcoles De 7-8 p.m. En loa Capilla de San Josè. Para más información Pueses comunicarte con Marta y reino Fernández 832-985-1799. RCIA Classes Started RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) Are you a non-catholic who is interested in joining the Catholic faith? Are you a baptized Catholic who has never received the sacraments of 1st Communion and Confirmation and are over the age of eighteen? If your answer is yes to either of these questions you may be interested in joining our RCIA program on Thursday evenings @6:45pm in the Parish Hall Conf. Rm. Class will resume Thurs., Jan. 5th. For information about the RCIA program, call the office or email Tracy, stmarys rcia@yahoo.com. Men s Retreat Holy Name Retreat Center Jan. 6, 7 & 8, 2016 Men of the Parish: People of faith have gone into the desert and mountains on retreat to be sensitive to the presence of God for thousands of years. Today, you have the opportunity to say no to the busy -ness created in your life and simply say yes to the part of yourself that needs a time and space for deeper communion with God. Holy Name Passionist Retreat Center, located on 10 beautiful acres in Houston, provides that time and space to be with God in a more intimate way. Our theme this year, Behold: A Retreat with Our Lady ~ Mother, Intercessor and Disciple. The retreat starts at 6 pm with supper on Friday evening, Jan. 6 th to Sunday with noon Mass, Jan. 8th. Private rooms/ private baths. Cost: $210/Seniors: $195. For further information, contact Retreat Team Leaders Ruben (713-858-0154; or Hector (281-470-9810). Additional information and registration available online at: www.passionist.org/holyname; phone 713-464-0211. Car-pooling/transportation can be arranged as needed. Spend a Weekend with Us And the word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, Merry Christmas! Give your children the best gift of all-the growing love of their parents. Explore more by attending a WorldWide Marriage Encounter weekend. Some upcoming dates are Feb. 17-19 or March 24-26. For more information contact Brian & Tina Little @ 281-773-4014 or go online to www.houstonme.org. The Gabriel Project is designed to help women and teenagers who are in a crisis pregnancy. If you are in need of assistance or know someone who is, please contact Belinda @ 713-805-4961 or the Church Office. Come Pray With Us... Monday, October 9th - Please join us in praying the Holy Rosary, asking for our Blessed Mother s intercession for the unborn, elderly, disabled, sick and all special intentions in St. Joseph s Chapel @ 7:00pm. 5
FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT Join Us St. Mary s Music Ministry Sat. 6pm Mass Rehearsals before Mass at 5:15 Contact Kathy McBride 713-628-8387 Sun. 7:30am Mass - Rehearsals before Mass at 7am Contact Yvonne Fisher 832-581-5974 Sun. 10:00am Mass - Wed. 6:30-9pm Rosary Hall Contact Annelise Lagasse 281-459-6453 Sun. 12:30pm Spanish Mass- Contact Jose Vazquez 832-868-4081 Sun. 4pm Life Teen Mass- Rehearsals-Sunday 2pm Contact Alex sttheresa.prolife@gmail.com READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59; Ps 31:3cd-4, 6, 8ab, 16bc, 17; Mt 10:17-22 Tuesday: 1 Jn 1:1-4; Ps 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12; Jn 20:1a, 2-8 Wednesday: 1 Jn 1:5 2:2; Ps 124:2-5, 7b-8; Mt 2:13-18 Thursday: 1 Jn 2:3-11; Ps 96:1-3, 5b-6; Lk 2:36-40 Friday: Sir 3:2-6, 12-14 or Col 3:12-21 [12-17]; Ps 128:1-5; Mt 2:13-15, 19-23 Saturday: 1 Jn 2:18-21; Ps 96:1-2, 11-13; Jn 1:1-18 Sunday: Nm 6:22-27; Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8; Gal 4:4-7; Lk 2:16-21 Guidelines for Preserving Cremation Ashes For many centuries the Catholic Church only permitted burial of the body as the best way that showed respect for the loved one and expressed hope in the resurrection. Today, for economic and other reasons, many people are choosing cremation as the best option for their family. However, the Catholic Church has recently felt it needed to express AGAIN, the guidelines for preserving the cremated ashes and at the same time respect for a loved one. Cremated ashes may not be scattered, divided to be given to each family member, or kept at home. They may not be put in a locket or kept as a memento. Church authorities have stated that cremated ashes be kept in a consecrated place, like a community cemetery or a church cemetery. Many cemeteries have vaults for cremated ashes. This is approved. The backyard is not an approved place for burial. Since this is not a new teaching, but a reminder given to us by the Vatican, we as a faith community, without passing judgment on those who have not followed these guidelines in the past, we must do our best to adhere to our Church s teaching. It is well founded. We become a child of God on the day of our baptism and are not the personal possession of our family. We belong to God. We have been purchased by the blood of Christ, and we belong to Him. He will raise our mortal bodies to be like His in glory (Romans 14:7-9). If you have any additional concerns or questions, please feel free to make an appointment with Fr. Tony at your earliest convenience. TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION An old joke asks, What time is Midnight Mass? The answer is not really obvious, since Christmas is unique in having several distinct celebrations. The readings and prayers vary greatly from hour to hour. The Vigil Mass hinges on the family heritage of Jesus and his origins. The concept of midnight predates clock time, and really has to do with a celebration in the hours of darkness. Years ago, it was not possible to receive Communion without fasting for a full day, so the late hour of this Mass made it possible for the people to receive. The first Mass after sunrise, the Mass at Dawn, was once known as The Shepherds Mass, and later Masses set aside stories of Jesus birth to focus on the key to the day s celebration: John the Evangelist s majestic theology of Christ s identity as the Word made flesh, dwelling among us. One feast, four separate Masses. Only monasteries manage the whole round. Parishioners typically take just one entry point into the mystery. Yet there is much to savor and celebrate in the coming of Christ into the world. Christmas is not a day, but a season. You still have two weeks to send those Christmas cards before you re officially late! James Field, Copyright J. S. Paluch Co. THE GIFT OF GOD S WORD On this day of gifts and gift giving, it seems appropriate that we take a moment to reflect on the great gift of God s Word. Because it is creative, God s Word always points to its author, always calls us to respond. Because it is powerful, God s Word can link the sublime with the ridiculous, the transcendent with the immanent, the divine with the human. Because it is graceful, God s Word establishes a relationship of deep intimacy between us and God. At the heart of God s Word lies a tantalizing tension between the mysterious and the mundane. In our liturgical celebration, this unresolved tension both reveals the meaning of life for us and calls us to respond, to act upon that meaning. Once accepted and opened, the gift of God s Word is a gift that keeps on giving and keeps on calling us to give in return. It dares us to be like the gift giver and to become gifts for others, not only at Christmas, but at every moment of life. Copyright J. S. Paluch Co. St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store Mon.-Wed., Fri., Sat. 9:00-11:00am Store Closed Thurs. & Sun. Our drop-off room is open 24/7. Thank You Today we celebrate the feast of Christmas and hear how the shepherds found Mary and Joseph and the infant lying in the manger. Then they left glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. Through your donations to your St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store, you help those who are poor and suffering to find Emmanuel and enable them to know that God is with us. Volunteers Needed: We are in need of volunteers to work in our store any day of the week. Please contact Norma @ 281-471-1752. 6
No CCE Classes Today Parent Bible Study & Prayer Group Sunday s @ 8:45am (We follow the CCE Schedule) Life Teen Mass 4pm No Class Tonight \ Jr. High Youth Program (6, 7 & 8th Grade) No Class Today EDGE Info. contact Renee @ 832-220-3802 Youth Bible Study Every Wed. Rm 3 @ 7pm Adoration @ Charismatic Center first Wed. of each month. To carpool meet @ St. Mary s parking lot 6pm Info. contact Shari @ 281-470-6066