P O B O X 6 7 · I R E L A N D , I N 4 7 5 4 5 - 0 0 6 7 P H O N E : ( 8 1 2 ) 4 8 2 - 7 0 4 1 FA X : ( 8 1 2 ) 4 8 2 - 3 6 9 9

Parish Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00am to 4:00pm Website: http://stmary.irelandindiana.com

St Mary Church - 812-482-7041

Fr. Joseph F Erbacher, “Fr. Effie”, Pastor, Ext 33 ……………………………..………...jerbacher@evdio.org

Deacon John Huether………..jhuether@evdio.org

Dianne Gogel, Secretary, Ext. 21……………………... dgogel@evdio.org

Sherri Hartley, Secretary, Ext. 22…………………….. chartley@evdio.org

Stan Heim, Property Manager, Ext. 36…………….. sheim@evdio.org

Martha Schmitt, PCL, Ext. 45…………………………... mjschmitt@evdio.org

Charlene Sermersheim, Music…..…812-482-7837

Annette Witte, Cleaning …………..…812-630-7870

Parish Contacts

Bereavement Meals, Sherri Hartley……………….. ……………………………………………….…...812-482-7041

Church Decorations, Janet Schitter …………………………………………………....812-482-3500

Finance Council, Audrey Wehr…..…812-639-3393

Holy Trinity Catholic School, Lauren Emerson ………………………...……………...812-482-7041, Ext 40

Ireland K of C, Grand Knight, Allen Reckelhoff ……………………………..……………....….…812-631-4449 Ireland K of C Building Rental - Allen Reckelhoff …………………….…………….……….……….812-631-4449

Parish Nursing, Deb Brescher….…...812-639-1882

Parish Council President,Pat Gress.812-639-0795

Prayer Line, Bev Himsel……………....812-639-1384

St Anne’s Society, President, Lynn Mehringer…. ………………………………………...…….…..812-631-4849 Director of St John Bosco Youth Ministry - Angie Greulich……………………………..812-481-2442 812-639-4227

St. Mary’s Mission Statement: St. Mary Church is a community of faith united in Eucharist and committed to seeking God through prayer; sharing our gifts of time, talent and treasure; providing formation and education for children and adults; responding to the needs of people by sharing our faith and resources. We are dedicated to living and proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

St. Mary Church

Fourth Sunday of Advent December 24, 2017

Readings for the Week of December 24, 2017

Sunday: 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16/Ps 89:2-3, 4-5, 27, 29 [2a]/Rom 16:25-27/Lk 1:26-38 Monday: Vigil: Is 62:1-5/Ps 89:4-5, 16-17, 27, 29 [2a]/ Acts 13:16-17, 22-25/Mt 1:1-25 or 1:18-25 Midnight: Is 9:1-6/Ps 96:1-2, 2-3, 11-12, 13 [Lk 2:11]/Ti 2:11-14/Lk 2:1-14 Dawn: Is 62:11-12/Ps 97:1, 6, 11-12/Ti 3:4-7/Lk 2:15-20 Day: Is 52:7-10/Ps 98:1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6 [3c]/Heb 1:1-6/Jn 1:1-18 or 1:1-5, 9-14 Tuesday: Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59/Ps 31:3cd-4, 6 and 8ab, 16bc and 17 [6]/Mt 10:17-22 Wednesday: 1 Jn 1:1-4/Ps 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12 [12]/Jn 20:1a, 2-8 Thursday: 1 Jn 1:5--2:2/Ps 124:2-3, 4-5, 7b-8 [7]/Mt 2:13- 18 Friday: 1 Jn 2:3-11/Ps 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 5b-6 [11a]/Lk 2:22-35 Saturday: 1 Jn 2:12-17/Ps 96:7-8a, 8b-9, 10 [11a]/Lk 2:36 -40 Next Sunday: Gn 15:1-6; 21:1-3 or Sir 3:2-6, 12-14/Ps 105:1- 2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9, [7a, 8a] or Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5 [cf. 1]/Heb 11:8, 11-12, 17-19 or Col 3:12-21 or 3:12-17/Lk 2:22-40 or 2:22, 39-40

St. Mary Church Mass Schedule Saturday 4:30pm Sunday 7:00am and 10:00am Tuesday (12-26) there will be no Mass Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 7:30am *There will be no morning Mass on funeral mornings. Also when school is cancelled or delayed because of the weather, there will be no morning/evening Mass.

Sacrament of Reconciliation at St. Mary Church First Friday 7:00-7:20am Saturday 3:00-4:00pm *On Saturday when there is a wedding, there will be no confessions.

Anointing of the Sick: Notify the parish office if there is a need for Fr. Erbacher to administer Anointing of the Sick.

Sacrament of Baptism: Baptisms will take place the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month with Fr. Erbacher or Deacon John. Call the Parish Office to make an appointment.

Sacrament of Marriage: Parishioners who wish to be married at St. Mary Church are asked to contact the parish office six months prior to setting a date. This will provide time for prayer, preparation and paperwork.

Homebound Parishioners: Communion calls are made on Monday mornings to parishioners’ homes. Call the parish office if you would like a visit from our Eucharistic Minister.

Gift Bearers: If you would like to carry up the gifts at offertory, please let the ushers know.

Mass Intentions

Confessions on Saturday, December 23, 3:00-4:00pm Sat-Dec 23 4:30 pm Helen Gress Sun-Dec 24 7:00 am Members of St. Mary Parish 10:00 am Tom Renner ________________________________________________________________________________________

Christmas Eve, December 24 (Sunday) 4:00 pm Lawrence & Bernita Stenftenagel - Fr. Erbacher “Effie” 6:00 pm Mary & Herman DeKemper Family - Fr. Ackerman 9:00 pm Flower Donors - Fr. Erbacher “Effie”

Christmas Day, December 25 (Monday) 7:00 am John & Dottie Jerger Family - Fr. Ackerman 10:00 am Morris & Millie Weidenbenner - Fr. Erbacher “Effie” _____________________________________________________

Tues-Dec 26 No Mass

Wed-Dec 27 7:30 am Ralph & Joyce Knust Thurs-Dec 28 7:30 am Emil Goeppner Fri-Dec 29 7:30 am Ray & Sally Stenftenagel

Sat-Dec 30 4:30 pm Greg, Dick & Alvina Leinenbach Sun-Dec 31 7:00 am Members of the Parish 10:00 am Leroy Schnaus

Monday, New Year’s Day, January 1 8:00 am Arthur Mathies

January Area Events 8: Deadline to register for the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace Univer-

sity being held January 16-March 20 at St. Celestine Dining Hall.

$100 per individual or family/engaged couple for the class and mate-

rials. Call St. Isidore Office at 812-634-1875 or register.

New Members Welcome - Registering in a parish is a declaration of

your desire to be part of a Catholic community and a commitment to

the life of a parish family. Being a registered parishioner makes

things easier when it is time for infant Baptism, religious education

registration, weddings, when asked to be a baptismal or confirmation

sponsor, rental of parish buildings. buying a burial plot and even fu-

nerals.

We are often asked by other parishes to provide affidavits for baptis-

mal and confirmation sponsors. We can only do this if a person is a

registered, active, and contributing member in our parish. How do

you know if you are already registered? A registered parishioner re-

ceives all parish mailings and monthly tithing envelopes. Registration

forms are available by calling or stopping by the church office.

Building For Our Future - New Church Campaign

Campaign Goal……………………………………………....$ 6,000,000.00 Amount in Pledges……………………………………….…$ 5,260,254.12 Cash Collected to date………..……………………..…..$ 2,410,933.04

(These totals are as of December 15)

St. John Bosco Youth Ministry

St. John Bosco Catholic Youth Ministry reaches out to youth in

grades 6 through 12 from St. Mary, Holy Family, Precious Blood,

and St. Joseph. Check out more Bosco info and announcements at:

https://saintjohnboscoyouthministry.wordpress.com/

December 29: Middle School Youth Night 6:30-8:00pm in the

Precious Blood Gym & Endress Hall. Wear your best Christmas

Cheer Outfit.

January 3: High School Youth Night 8:30-9:30pm at the Bosco

House.

**Parents: St. John Bosco Youth Ministry is taking registration for

the 1st Annual Middle School Retreat in March. During the weekend

retreat, high school students will lead the youth in games, faith chal-

lenges, bonfires, zip lines and a rope course. Spots are limited so

parents, be sure to register your middle school youth soon. Contact

Angie for questions.

Bosco is using the free app “Remind” this year to keep families in

the loop regarding middle and high school youth events. To be added

to Bosco’s “class”, text@bosco20 to 81010. Everyone is welcome,

but parents and teens are highly encouraged to join!

High School Youth Nights are a time of answering the hard parts

about our faith, growing in our relationship with Jesus, hanging out

with friends and of course, snacks are provided. High school teens

will not only learn about their faith but they will also find out a little

bit of what their personal mission is in life.

“Building For Our Future”

Drop off your aluminum cans on the trailer in the parking

lot.

The “Building For Our Future” Campaign would like to reach out

to former parishioners who might have an interest in giving to the

new church. If you have a friend or relative who you think might be

interested in making a donation, please let the parish office know.

We will be glad to get information out to them.

Embroidered “St. Mary Church” hats in the parish office for $5.

Divine Providence Eucharistic Adoration Chapel has open

hours for adoration. If you are interested in filling any of

these hours, please contact the number or send an email: 812-

630-8382 or dp@adorationmanager.com.

Saturdays 2:00-3:00pm

1st, 2nd, 3rd Saturday of the month 11:00pm-12:00am (midnight)

The Adoration Chapel is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is

located in the Parish Center on the campus of Precious Blood Parish.

Please spend an hour with Jesus.

Fr. Erbacher, “Effie” and the staff of St. Mary Parish would like

to wish everyone a Merry Christmas! We pray that all of you

have the opportunity to spend time with your family and friends.

Thank you for all the kindness, support and generosity you have

shown to St. Mary Parish this past year. Thank you to all the

“behind” the scene help we have at our parish. The choir, cate-

chists, bereavement meal workers, the volunteers who help make

all our Masses special, all the people who helped with the fund

drive and the wonderful parishioners who helped decorate for

Christmas. It is beautiful!!

Be sure and take a few moments and reflect upon the Manger

and the image of our Lord. Parents, please take your children to

the front of church and visit with Jesus. May Christ bring peace

and joy into your lives.

Merry Christmas!!

This Week’s Parish Events

Sunday [12/24]: Sunday Masses will be celebrated at 7:00am and

10:00am. Christmas Eve Masses will be 4:00pm, 6:00pm and

9:00pm.

Monday [12/25]:

Merry Christmas…Bless us Lord, this Christmas with quietness of mind; teach us to be patient and always to be kind. Amen

Helen Steiner Rice

Christmas Day Masses will be at 7:00am and 10:00am. Parish Office is closed.

Tuesday [12/26]: No Mass today.

Parish Office is closed. No Choir Practice tonight.

Wednesday [12/27]: Mass will be celebrated at 7:30am.

Quilting noon to 4:00pm in the rectory basement. St Anne’s Sewing 6:00pm in the Rectory basement.

Thursday [12/28]:

Mass will be celebrated at 7:30am.

Friday [12/29]:

Mass will be celebrated at 7:30am.

January 14: Confirmation at 10:00am Mass. February 17-19: TEC (Teens Encounter Christ). For information or an application go to http://www.switec.org/ March 30: Easter Egg Sale and Bake Sale in the Community Cen-ter Cafeteria. April 5: American Red Cross/St. Anne Blood Drive - 2:00-7:00pm. April 28 & 29: 1st Communion Mass at 4:30pm on Saturday and 10:00am on Sunday. May 20: Graduating Seniors Mass and Meal. July 21-23: TEC (Teens Encounter Christ). For information or an application go to http://www.switec.org/ September 9: St. Mary Church Picnic

Upcoming Parish Events

Prayers and well wishes to Jack Fleck and Amanda

Reckelhoff who will be married on Saturday, January 13.

Keep Jack and Amanda in your prayers. (Pub I)

December 17, $100 Irish Sweepstakes Raffle Winners

are Jesse and Beth Sermersheim.

December 23 and 24, our Mass times will remain the

same for the Sunday obligation: 4:30pm, 7:00am and

10:00am.

December 25 is a Holy Day of Obligation. The Mass times are:

December 24, Christmas Eve, 4:00pm, 6:00pm and 9:00pm and

December 25, Christmas Day, 7:00am and 10:00am. Participating

in Mass the evening of December 24 only fulfills one obligation -

The Holy Day and not Sunday.

THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD

"She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will

save his people from their sins." Today we celebrate that the prophetic

dream of St. Joseph was fulfilled! Jesus is born! A Savior has come to

deliver us--Emmanuel, "God is with us." Christmas is a feast of ful-

fillment, a holiday of deep and enduring happiness. Jesus is the long-

awaited Messiah who sets us free from the misery of our own sins.

This is the ultimate gift of Christmas Day.

We exchange gifts today as a sign of our love for one another to be

sure, but also as a concrete, visible way to celebrate the gift that we

have first received from God. On this most festive day of the year, we

are invited to exult in this fact and spare little effort or expense to

show our gratitude and joy.

Christmas is a holy day and as Christians it is our day in a most defi-

nite and undeniable way. Yes, Christmas is a little taste of heaven, the

perfect gift that lies in wait for those who love the Lord.

Liturgical Ministers for December 30 & 31

Servers:

4:30 pm Cody Scherle - Cheyenne Scherle 7:00 am Hannah Schwenk - Grace Weidenbenner 10:00 am Nick Mendel - Brayden Clark

Extraordinary Ministers:

4:30 pm Jill Weidenbenner - Gina Scherle - Ruth Small Adam Schmitt - Patrick Gress 7:00 am Marlene Goeppner - Kathy Burton - Robin Fromme Susan Oeding - Julie Hopf 10:00 am Ronald James - Sharon James - Mandy Harris Amber Leinenbach - Tammy Sermersheim

Lectors:

4:30 pm Cindy Gress 7:00 am LeRay Durcholz 10:00 am Barb Hopf

Lectors Website: http://lectorsproclaim.org (Year B)

Ushers:

4:30 pm Leonard Spellmeyer - Greg Weidenbenner 7:00 am Adam Hopf - John Wilz 10:00 am Dave Hasenour - Stan Vollmer

Sunday School:

10:00 am No Sunday School until 1-7-18

Thank You!! This bulletin is furnished to the Parish without charge. The advertisements that appear completely defray all publishing costs with which the church would otherwise be burdened. Please patron-ize these sponsors as a “Thank You” for their generosity.

Marriage Saving-the Post Session Phase - The post-weekend phase

of Retrouvaille is as crucial to the healing of a troubled marriage as

the initial weekend experience. During the post-weekend sessions, the

weekend technique is further developed and combined with additional

tools to explore other areas of the marriage relationship. The registra-

tion deadline for the January 12 program is January 5. To register call

the Diocese of Owensboro Family Life office at 270-852-8346 or

email: felliott3232@yahoo.com or visit the web site at

www.retrouvaille.org.

Tickets for Holy Trinity Catholic School’s “the HOOT” go on sale

Friday, January 5, from 7:00-9:00am in the St. Joseph Parish Center.

“the Hoot” will be held on January 27, at KlubHaus 61 in Jasper.

Doors open at 5:30pm, dinner at 6:30pm. Tickets will be sold on first

come, first served basis, so get yours before they run out! Tickets are

$30 each. All tickets must be paid for by cash or check at time of

purchase. Checks can be made payable to Holy Trinity Catholic

School.

“the Hoot” is an all adult evening of food, fun and fellowship. The

evening includes dinner, music, cash bar and lively auctions for one-

of-a-kind and priceless items. All proceeds benefit Holy Trinity Cath-

olic School. For updates, visit The Hoot for Holy Trinity Catholic

School on Facebook.

Attention Engaged Couples! If you heard that you and your fian-

cé need to attend a marriage preparation program before the big

day, then you heard right! Our next Unveiled Marriage Prep.

Overnight is February 16 & 17. For details, you can ask your par-

ish staff; call Catholic Charities at 812-423-5456; review Unveiled

online at http://www.ccevansville.org/marriage-preparation.html

or register online at http://wwwccevansville.org/unveiled-

registartion-form.html.