November 29, 2009 First Sunday of Advent page 1 St. Francis of Assisi Parish Teutopolis, Illinois
St. Francis of Assisi Parish Teutopolis, Illinois page 2 MEDITATION This is my prayer: that your love may increase. (Philippians 1:9) As a cloistered nun, Therese Martin knew that she would never become a missionary. Still, she wanted to do something great for God, so she decided to devote herself to loving other people as Jesus loved them. In the simplest ways, she found opportunities to love from smiling at a cranky nun to silently forbearing when another sister splashed her with laundry water. Love became her little way to God. Therese s little way offers one powerful way to live out St. Paul s prayer for the Philippians that their love for one another would increase so that they could become pure and blameless for the day of Christ (Philippians 1:10). Paul knew that the more we love our brothers and sisters, the closer we get to God. So the challenge in today s reading is to learn how to recognize opportunities to love so that we can become holy. For example, we can listen more attentively as our spouse shares about his or her day. We might make it a point to compliment our children when they act generously. We can refrain from criticizing a relative whom we don t understand. We can decide to forgive when someone hurts us instead of letting resentments build. Perhaps, like Therese, we can reach out in love to that very person we find most irritating. There s no doubt that love can be demanding, but when we try to love as Jesus loves, we are blessed. Our actions not only please God, they can also heal relationships, foster family unity, and even lead others to Christ. It s amazing that little acts of love can have such farreaching, even eternal, ramifications. But that only goes to show how influential anyone can be when they try to stay close to the Lord. May the Spirit open our eyes to the marvel of our calling as Christians! Jesus, I know that every act of love builds your kingdom on earth. As I prepare for your coming at Christmas, inspire me to love others as you love me. THE WORD AMONG US 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. Diocese - www.dio.org; Baptisms Congratulations to those recently baptized: Alexis Isabella Bloemer, daughter of Zachary Bloemer and Laura Heuerman Olivia Aryn Kemme, daughter of Brett and Hollie (Herboth) Kemme Adelaide Seryn Ruholl, daughter of Paul and Mandy (Sasse) Ruholl Happy December Birthday! to all celebrating birthdays this month. Happy Birthday Fr. Jeff Holtman, O.F.M. November 30 Advent Evensong An Advent Evensong, Sunday, December 13, at 4:00 pm at Holy Cross Church of Wendelin. A candlelight service with Scripture, organ, English carols, and Austrian Christmas music sung in German, by the Wendelin Kloepfen Singers. Director: Fr. David Braun. All are welcome. St. Francis CCW Christmas Party St. Francis CCW Christmas Party will take place Monday, December 14, 2009. All women of the parish are invited to the annual party starting at 6:30 pm at the Grade School Gym. Please bring a covered dish and $3.00 gift exchange (optional). Turkey, homemade noodles, rolls, drinks, and table service will be provided. Come join us for an evening of entertainment, good food, fun and fellowship. Hope to see you there. 20th Annual National Night of Prayer for Life Come Pray With Us! December 8/9, 2009, 9 pm Tuesday to 1:00 am Wednesday at St. Anthony Memorial Hospital Chapel.
November 29, 2009 First Sunday of Advent page 3 Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Liturgy Schedule First Week of ADVENT November 30 December 6 St. Andrew Mass at 6:30 am Mass at 6:30 & 8:05 am Mass at 6:30 & 8:05 am St. Francis Xavier Mass at 6:30 am St. John of Damascus Mass at 6:30 & 8:05 am Mass at 5:30 pm Second Sunday of Advent Mass at 7:00, 8:45, 10:30 am Confession Schedule Thursday, December 3-3:30-4:30 pm Saturday, December 5-3:30-4:30 pm Liturgy of the Hours with Friars Monday-Friday -- 11:45 am & 4:45 pm Reminder Note! Next week Tuesday, December 8th, is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, a HOLY DAY of obligation. Mass times will be: 7:00 pm (vigil on Dec. 7th), 6:00 & 8:05 am and 7:00 pm on the holy day. Pray for the Sick Please remember in your prayers those who are sick, especially: Sidney Horn, Kris Gouchenour, Rebekah Volk, Sr. Clara Esker, Marilyn Smith, Jodi Waymoth, Evelyn Krone, Agnes Kremer, Steve Sehy, Cathy Green, Dorothy and Ermand Thoele, Joyce Vahling, Mardell Weis, Nicholas Rhodes Stewardship of Treasure Sunday Total Fiscal 11/22/2009 Year 288 Adult envelopes $6,689.50 $146,337.30 Other 496.63 11,681.33 TOTAL $7,186.13 $158,018.63 GOAL $9,300.00 $195,300.00 Campaign for Human Development $1,444.00 Parish Calendar Tuesday, Dec. 1 Grade 3 Christmas Store Wednesday, Dec. 2 Grade 3 Christmas Store Children s Choir, 3:30-4:30 pm, 6:00-7:00 pm, 8:30-9:30 pm Jr. Hi. Reconciliation, 7:20 pm High School religion, 7:20 pm Thursday, Dec. 3 Grade 3 Christmas Store Confessions, 3:30-4:30 pm Friday, Dec. 4 Teen Center open for Jr. Hi. Saturday, Dec. 5 Confessions, 3:30-4:30 pm Teen Center open for High School Sunday, Dec. 6 Youth Councils go caroling; meet 6:00 pm in TC 4-Day Parish Mission Hosted by the quad parishes of Fr. Bud DeGrand Sigel, Green Creek, Lillyville & Neoga. 7:00 pm each night. Pick up information at the church entrances. Question of the Week What gives you hope in the readings of today? Jeremiah 33:14-16 I Thess. 3:12, 4:2 Luke 21:25-28, 34-36 CD of A News Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court St. Francis #1711 Teutopolis will meet on Monday, Nov. 30 at the KC Hall meeting room. A memorial Mass for all deceased members will begin at 7:30 pm. The collection for Catholic Charities will be socks and underwear in conjunction with the warm feet/warm seats campaign. Cochairpersons are Mabel Harris and Millie Nosbisch. Attention Homebound Holy Communion will be brought to you on First Friday, December 4. No Communion to you on Sunday, Dec. 6th.
St. Francis of Assisi Parish Teutopolis, Illinois page 4 Madrigal Dinner Definition: Madrigal Dinner: an American form of dinner theater often held by schools and church groups during the Christmas season. It is set in the Middle Ages, and is generally comedic in nature. The meal is divided into courses, each of which is heralded with a traditional song. A play is performed between courses and a concert of choral music concludes the festivities. Alternate definition for Madrigal Dinner: A fun evening of food and entertainment to benefit the St. Francis Area youth. Dates: Friday, December 11th doors open at 6:30 pm, show starts at 7:00 pm. Saturday, December 12th doors open at 6:30 pm, show starts at 7:00 pm. Sunday, December 13th doors open at 12 noon, show starts at 1:00 pm Location: Teutopolis Grade School Auditorium Tickets: Must be purchased in advance-by reservation only ($20.00 per person) On sale thru December 3rd. Call 217-857-6404 ext. 311 to reserve Polar Express The Teutopolis Park District will be presenting this Christmas movie Sunday, Dec. 6th, beginning at 1 pm at the Grade School Auditorium. You can bring lawn chairs, blankets or sit on the chairs provided. The afternoon is free & their way of saying Thank You. News About Scrip Scrip cards will now be sold at Niebrugge s Country Companies on Main Street, in addition to the Saturday mornings from 8 to noon at the parish office. Giving Trees The Giving Trees are at the entrances of church. Make someone happy this Christmas by taking a tag and purchasing a gift for that someone. Just For Fun! Every Catholic home has one, right? A nativity set, that is. We would like to see a picture of the one you display in your home during the Christmas season. How would we do this? We are going to create a photo gallery just featuring nativity scenes on the church s website stfrancischurch.com. You are invited to submit your nativity set picture by e-mailing it to parishoffice@stfrancischurch.com and we ll put it on the website, and you can have fun looking at it and at all the other ones. Some may be quite unique! No names, no votes, no comments Just For FUN! Religious Education News Grade School Christmas Store opens on Tuesday, December 1, for children in GRADE 2----2C, 2B to St. Clare Hall; children in room 2H and 2J to Museum Dining Room. GRADE 1 shops on Wednesday---Gr. 1B and 1D to St. Clare Hall; Gr. 1N and1p to Museum Dining Room. Grade 4 shops on Thursday Gr. 4K and 4Me to St. Clare Hall; Gr. 4Mi and 4S to Museum Dining Room. Thanks to all children, families, helpers who donated their gifts and time to help the local missionaries. Children in grades 4K and 4Me will be viewing the Personal Safety video on Monday, November 30, 2009. They will be receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Monday, Dec. 7. Grade 3 Reconciliation Home Study books are due Friday, Dec. 4. Reconciliation takes place for Grade 3 families on Saturday, Dec. 12. God bless your preparation. PRE/K -classes have begun practicing for the Epiphany skit and program to be presented in Church after the 10:30 Mass on Sunday, Jan. 4. Reception and refreshments follow in St. Clare Hall for families and parishioners. Junior High Classes take place on Dec. 2, 9, and 16. Grade 7 are studying and preparing for the Sacrament of Reconciliation; Grade 8 are studying morality and its implications, using the booklet A Question of Morality. Reconciliation will take place at the Jr. Hi. Building, along with a prayer service and other studies, on Wednesday, Dec. 16. Please Note The new missalettes have been placed in church in the plastic covers. Please do not remove them for any reason. If you need to take a missalette home, there are extras in the cabinet where the Mass intention book is or there are some in the Sacristy. Thank you. Youth Activities The Teen Center is open next weekend. Dec. 4 for Jr. Hi. and Dec. 5 for high school. Jr. Hi. And High School Youth Councils will go caroling on Sunday, Dec. 6th. Meet at 6:00 pm in the Teen Center, begin caroling at 6:30, and enjoy hot chocolate and games afterwards. Holy Humor Why do turkeys gobble, gobble? Because they never learned good table manners.
November 29, 2009 - First Sunday of Advent Page 5 CURRENT ADDRESSES FOR THE RELIGIOUS November 2009 Fr. Edwin Albers, OFM 8525 Valcour St. Louis, MO 63123 314-631-0783 Fr. Paul Habing Pfarrhaus St. Antonius Oewerweg, 40/42 D-28325, Bremen Germany Fr. Sylvano Pera, OFM St. Francis of Assisi Church 203 E. Main St. P O Box 730 Teutopolis, IL 62467 Br. Claver Boerner, OFM Our Lady of Angels Friary at Villa West 100 Stardust Drive Room 96 Sherman, IL 62684 Phone: 217-753-2558 Fr. Maurus Hawickhorst, OFM Convento Sao Francisco Caixa Postal 191 68100-970 Santarem, Para, BRAZIL Fr. Frank Probst, OFM Caixa Postal 601, Aldeia 68040-971 Santarem Para BRAZIL Fr. Joseph Carlos, OFM 19812 E 1000th Ave Dieterich, IL 62424 1-217-925-5579 Br. Tom Eisenmenger, OFM San Miguel Friary 5710 Arlitt Drive San Antonio, TX 78222-4804 Sr. Anita Fearday, ASC Casilla 3619 La Paz, Bolivia SOUTH AMERICA Fr. Cal Giesen, OFM St. Maximilian Kolbe Friary 1 Marquard Circle Crowley, TX 76036-2000 Phone: 817-370-9747 Fr. Jeff Goeckner St. Boniface Church 110 N. Buchanan St. P O Box 423 Edwardsville, IL 62025-0423 Phone: 618-655-9524 Sr. Henriette Hoene, SSND Veronica House, Apt. 218 12284 DePaul Drive Bridgeton, MO 63044 Fr. Irenaeus Kimminau, OFM Holy Cross Friary 724 N. 20th St. Quincy, IL 62301-2463 Br. James Lammers, OFM 161 Vondera Robertsville, MO 63072-2529 Email: jblofm@netzero.com Fr. James Lause, OFM St. Anthony Friary 3140 Meramec St. St. Louis, MO 63118-4399 Phone: 314-353-7470 Fr. Lambert Leykam, OFM St. Maximilian Friary 1 Marquard Circle Crowley, TX 76036-2000 Phone: 817-370-9747 Fr. Bill Rooney, OFM St. Anthony of Padua Friary 4185 Brookway Lane Brooklyn, OH 44144 Phone 216-661-7138 Fr. Luis Runde, OFM St. Michael Church 3713 Harwood Bedford, TX 76021 Phone: 817-283-8746 Cell: 682-234-6655 Fr. Robert Sieg, OFM LaVerna Friary 1834 Kennett Place St. Louis, MO 63104 Phone: 314-773-2055 Sr. Helen Vahling, OSF 3208 Indianwood Lane Joliet, IL 60431-4919 Phone: 815-630-5431 Fr. Tom Vos, OFM Cross in the Woods Friary 7078 M-68 Indian River, MI 49749-9324 Phone: 231-238-8973
St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Teutopolis, Illinois Page 6 2009 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 Grade 3 Christmas Store Baptism Prep 2 Grade 3 Christmas Store Children s Choir Religion Jr/Sr Reconciliation 3 Grade 3 Christmas Store Confessions 4 Teen Center open for Jr. High 5 Confessions Teen Center open for High School 6 Youth Councils go Christmas Caroling 7 Vigil Mass, 7:00 pm 8 Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Mass at 6:00, 8:05 am, 7:00 pm Secular Franciscans meet 9 Children s Choir Freshman Reconciliation Religion 10 11 Madrigal Dinner 12 Grade 3 Reconciliation Confessions Madrigal Dinner 13 Madrigal Dinner 14 CCW Christmas Party Men s Holy Name meet 15 16 Children s Choir Religion Jr. High. Reconciliation 17 18 Adult Rosary Teen Center open for Jr. High 19 Search Confessions CHWC Cookie Sale 20 CHWC Cookie Sale Secular Franciscans meet 21 Children s Choir DeColores Board mtg. 22 Catechist and Mass supervisors mtg. 23 24 Christmas Eve, Mass at 5:30 and 10:30 pm Parish office closes at noon 25 Christmas Day, Mass at 7:00 and 8:45 am Parish office closed 26 Confessions 27 28 29 30 31 New Year s Eve, Mass at 4:00 and 5:30 pm
November 29, 2009 First Sunday of Advent page 5 Ministry Schedules for December Servers: Please pick up a schedule from an entrance of church. *Diane Siemer Jane Zuber Rita Habing Pat Buening 8:45 am Sun. *Carlene Rauch Janet Goldstein Ruth Dasenbrock Angie Sheehan Shannon Hinkle Lisa Starwalt Eleanor Gebben Eucharistic Ministers Denise Weichman Janet Probst Laura Deters Julie Probst Carol Heuerman Cindy Esker John Vogt Charles Runde Vera Runde Annette Schnabel Clare Swingler Theresa Funneman Pat Wente *Jean Habing Linda Hutmacher Lenora Drees 10:30 am Sun. *Mary Lynn Hartke Ron Hartke Cheryl Walker Jack Fuelle Lectors 8:45 am Sun. Phil Hartke Monica Kremer Kdgn/Pre-School Aids for Dec. 6, 13, 20 K Megan Weichman, Michelle Schmidt, Kylie Lewis Pre Emily Buehnerkemper, Caitlyn Hoene, Emily Weichman Clean Linens Vicki Brumleve Mary Jane Koester Dolores Kroeger Jodie Pruemer Kim S. Runde Jane Spiker Cheryl Rauch Louise Sheehan Liz Kremer LaQuita Campbell 10:30 am Sun. Dick Hawickhorst Paula Spencer *Gerald Runde John Pals Mike Pals Brent Weichman Bernard Runde Tony Runde 8:45 am Sun. *Tom Rauch Gabe Rauch Randy Thoele Steve Witges Mike Thoele Gerald Witges 12/5 Brent Weichman 12/12 Bernie Vahling 12/19 Chris Deters 12/26 Johnny Meinhart Ushers *Doug Pruemer Allen Koester Joe Runde John Runde Mark Probst Mike Tipton 10:30 am Sun. *Steve Blievernicht Dan Beckman Michael Horn Doug Mette Denny Runde Tom Niebrugge Gift Bearers 12/6 Bill Hewing 12/13 Doug Pruemer 12/20 Pat Wente 12/27 Joe Runde 8:45 am Sun. 10:30 am Sun. 12/6 Keith Weber 12/13 Bill Schnabel 12/20 Paul Hardiek 12/27 David Zerrusen 12/5 Jody Smith 12/12 Elaine Blievernicht 12/19 Kathy Bloemer 12/26 No Liturgy Christmas 12/6 Marty Siemer 12/13 Michael Horn 12/20 Dan Beckman 12/27 Kevin Mette Children s Liturgy of the Word 12/6 Darlene Buehnerkemper 12/13 Elaine Buehnerkemper 12/20 Carrie Copple 12/27 No Liturgy Christmas