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shenrectory@msn.com
www.CatholicCharitiesDM.org
515-244-3761
St. Mary's Catholic Church Saturday - Dec 10 3:30PM - Confessions 4:30PM - Mass for Peg Callahan+ Sunday - Dec 11 6:30AM - Mass for People of Faith Community 8:30AM - Mass in Hamburg 10:30AM - Mass for James Busick+ Monday - Dec 12 No Mass - Fr. Raphael Day Off Tuesday - Dec 13 12:10PM - Mass for People of Faith Community Wednesday - Dec 14 12:10PM - Mass for Jennifer Olsen 7PM - Finance Meeting - Parish Hall Thursday - Dec 15 12:10PM - Mass for Tim Johnson+ Friday - Dec 16 12:10PM - Mass for Wayne Graham+
Saturday - Dec 17 3:30PM - Confessions 4:30PM - Mass for Evelyn Saner+ Sunday - Dec 18 6:30AM - Mass for People of Faith Community 8:30AM - Mass in Hamburg 10:30AM - Mass for Glennys Anderson+
Tithes $2657.00
Plate $ 288.55
December 11th, 2016 Third Sunday of Advent
Welcome to St. Mary's on this 3rd
Sunday of Advent. Another name for this Sunday of Advent is Gaudete or Rejoice Sunday. This name is taken from the entrance antiphon, which is itself a quote from Saint Paul's Letter to the Philippians: "Rejoice in the Lord
always." Our Advent season of preparation is already halfway over.
How have your preparations gone so far? It is never too late to prepare for the coming of God in our hearts, so let us pray today for hearts ever more open to
the presence of God.
Heart for Christ’s Coming
Father, just as You sent John the
Baptist to prepare the way for
Jesus, help me to clear the path in
my heart, too. Show me the
distractions in my life that block
me from all-out worship of You
this Advent. Lord, I await Your
coming! As I celebrate the first
Advent––the first coming––I look
toward the day where I will see
You face to face. I imagine what it
will be like. Give me a heart, Lord,
that looks for Your coming on a
daily basis. Help me to live my life
where I'm constantly seeking Your
presence. My offering to You
today is my righteous life for I
know I am only clean because of
Jesus. Show me today how I need
to be refined, purified, forgiven.
Give me the strength to ask for
forgiveness and to then change my
ways.
WHAT'S HAPPENING AT ST. MARY'S
Gospel Lesson "Strive to enter through the narrow gate, lection 2230
Ministers of Service Saturday Dec 17
4:30PM Mass
Erwin Aust Karen Haigwood Angie Trowbridge Joan Bloom
Lector Terry Engelmeyer Kristie Konz Erwin Aust
Ushers Steve Huerter Barb Huerter
Larry Shum Leroy Vrbsky
Altar Servers Jacob Rystrom Quentin Slater
Shut-Ins 1. Linda George *if you are unable to do shut-ins, please find a replacement or call the office.
Cantors 4:30PM - Deb Meyer 10:30AM - Tommy Hanna
Money Counters Pat Aust & Mem Laughlin
Cycle A -- Reflections on the Readings Third Sunday of Advent
Isaiah 35:1-6,10; Psalm 146; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11
Amos preached social justice. Hosea demonstrated compassion. Jeremiah was undaunted in the pursuit of truth. The Hebrew Scriptures prophetic books challenge us to witness these values in our own time. Prophets are deeply involved in society's concerns. The author of Isaiah 35, in the sixth century B.C., encounters a dispirited community of exiles. Defeated in battle and driven from their homeland, they are without hope. The prophet responds by recalling the joyous memories of the exodus from Egypt. A second exodus is in store, symbolized by the healing granted to the blind, the dead, the lame, and the mute. The author of James tells the suffering Christians to be like the Palestinian farmer who eagerly anticipates the winter and spring rains. Suffering demands patience. This was the case for the Hebrew Scriptures prophets who spoke out in spite of persecution. Modern prophets must be equally strong. Matthew initially describes John the Baptist as a fiery preacher of judgment and reform. Now he addresses the Baptist's dilemma during his imprisonment. John learns that Jesus is not preaching fire and brimstone but curing the sick, raising the dead, and consoling the poor. John must have wrestled with this seeming contradiction, yet he remained true to his personal call. As a result, John found himself not in Herod's palace but in Herod's prison. Baptism is a call to a prophetic career. The expression may vary with each individual: speaking out against injustice; denouncing leaders interested only in personal gain; offering hope to the distraught; embracing the lonely and the sick. These examples may not seem as dramatic as the adventures of an Isaiah or a John the Baptist, yet they are in that same great prophetic tradition. To be prophetic is to become involved.
WHAT'S HAPPENING AT ST. MARY'S
Fr. Bob Hoefler’s Prayer “Lord, I don’t know what this day will bring. I accept it as your gift to me and I ask you to help me live it as well as I can with the confidence that
will see me through all that happens-good and bad. Thank you for the peace that faith in you can bring. Help me never to lose faith in you. Amen.” Fr. Bob Hoefler July 10, 1947 – August 7, 2013, beloved pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Des Moines, Iowa.
M ESSAGE FROM BISHOP PATES
“Father Hoefler blessed our community in exercising a priesthood that was sacrificial, generous and effective. May he now enjoy the fullness of life with the Risen Savior forever.”
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3rd Sunday
Leader: Christ is the Light that takes away the darkness All: Come, O Christ, the Light of the world. Leader: The glory of the Lord will be revealed, All: And all will see the saving power of our God. The candle is now lighted Leader: The Shepherd’s Candle, lighted on the Third Sunday of Advent, reminds us of our responsibility to share what we have seen and heard. The Galilean Shepherds who received that first announcement of the Savior’s Birth left their tasks and went with haste to see the Christ Child, and then returned to tell others about the earth- transforming event. Sharing the Good News required no special talent: simply telling others what they had seen and heard, with the conviction of personal experiences. Are we ready to witness to the work of Christ in our lives? All: We rejoice and we are happy, O Lord, for your mercy. So great is your love for us that you gave us the gift of your son. He healed our infirmities, forgave our shortcomings, and showed us the way to you. May we always know the joy and hope of His presence among us. We make this prayer in the name of Jesus, Emmanuel, Our God-with-us. Amen.
Finance Meeting, Wednesday, December 14 - 7PM - Parish Hall
As we ready ourselves for a time of deeper awareness, we ask you to consider a donation for flowers in memory or in honor of a loved one. The flowers will be placed on the altar to enhance the worship area at Christmas.
Please fill out the form and drop it in the Offertory Basket or drop it off at the Church Office. If you have any question, contact Diane at the Church Office.
In Honor/Memory of__________________________________________________
Message from Fr. Raphael Assamah
All too soon we are in the third week of Advent. Christmas is just at the corner. How well have you prepared for Christ’s coming? It seems that as the world becomes supposedly less complicated through technological advances, we still find ourselves waiting. Waiting for that package to arrive that we ordered online in record speed. Waiting in line at the supermarket, waiting to take the plane or through the drive way. Waiting for the phone to ring for an important events. Waiting for that great job to come along. Or waiting for that elusive perfect relationship. It never ends. During the Advent season we symbolically participate in the waiting of the patriarchs, kings, prophets, and priests, as we await Christ's final and glorious return. Through prayer, liturgy, Eucharist, and the signs and symbols of Advent, we groan with Isaiah for a day when weapons will be turned into agricultural instruments. We legitimately cry out Maranatha, Come Lord! With St. Paul. When God the Word became man in Christ, celebrated on Christmas day, the world was sanctified. Something in the fabric of the cosmos shifted as creation became a fitting vehicle for God's redemptive work. Human experiences have been sanctified as well, commemorated in our Church. Yes, as the season of Advent shows, even waiting has become sanctified.
As we wait in long lines this Advent season, it is important that we remember the waiting of those expecting the Messiah, and always wait with patience, humility, and expectant hope in a state of prayer. I know it is difficult, but especially during Advent, waiting prayerfully and patiently, in the manner of our Lord and his blessed Mother is a sure way of celebrating Christmas.
Readings for the week of December 11th
Monday: Our Lady of Guadalupe, Zec. 2:14-17 or Rev. 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab. Lk. 1:26-38 or Lk. 1:39-47 Tuesday: Saint Lucy, Virgin and Martyr. Zep. 3:1-2, 9-13, Mt. 21:28- 32 Wednesday: Saint John of the Cross. Is 45:6b-8,18, 21b-25, Lk. 18b-23 Thursday: Is. 54:1-10, Lk. 7:24-30 Friday: Is. 56:1-3a,6-8, Jn. 5:33-36 Saturday: Gn 49:2,8-10, Mt. 1:1-17
WHAT'S HAPPENING AT ST. MARY'S
new din life.
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PARISH INFORMATION Church Office Hours - Mon - Weds - Fri 9-4, Tues 9-1, Thurs 9-5. Deadline for Bulletin news is noon on Wednesday. Baptism - Please contact Father Raphael or the Church Office to schedule a Baptism. A class is offered to first-time parents. Matrimony - Please call Father Raphael or the Church Office at least SIX MONTHS before your desired wedding date and before you make any other arrangements. ANOINTING OF THE SICK - Please contact Father Raphael or Church Office if someone in the parish is in the hospital, and need the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick or if a shut-in is in need of communion brought to them. PARISH REGISTRATION - If you would like to register in the parish, please introduce yourself by stopping by the Church Office. Forms are also available at the back of Church. Completed form can be dropped off in the collection basket. HALL RENTAL SCHEDULING - Please contact the Church Office. All communication must be done with the Church Office to schedule the usage of the Parish Hall. No parishioner is ever to take anything off the church property that is owned by the Church without permission. If you are in need of sacramental records or would like Masses offered for anyone, please contact the Church Office. Envelopes are in back of Church and can be put in collection basket. Masses are $5.00 per Mass. ______________________________________________________________________
Knights of Columbus - Join the Catholic Men's K of C's. K of C #1479 will have a 1st Degree Initiation prior to their Tuesday, December 13th monthly meeting at 6pm at St. Mary's hall in Shenandoah. All prospective new members are encouraged and welcome to attend. Any questions, call Grand Knight, Ernie Aust at 712-215-0553.
__________________________________________________________________________________ We had a wonderful turn out for our Altar Serving Training last Sunday. We had 15 students go through the training. You will start to see some new changes during Mass and hopefully see students Altar Serve during the Saturday night Mass. This brings such a huge challenge as these youth are already coming to class on Sunday morning, asking them to dedicate more time by coming to Mass on Saturday with their busy schedules but we are going to give it a try!
Please join the Religious Education and Youth Ministry students on December 18th as they will be having a Christmas Program after the 10:30 Mass. The Ladies Guild will host a small reception following the Program.
There will be no classes on December 25th and January 1st. Have a blessed holiday!
Please like us on Facebook! Religious Education has their own page. Posts of activities, events, cancellations, etc. will be found here!
St. Mary’s Faith Formation – Shenandoah _____________________________________________________________________
Ladies Guild News - Dana Wenstrand has invited us to her country home for our December Guild lunch outing! This will be Monday, Dec 12th, noon. RSVP to Bernadette, 712-370-2912, by Sunday Dec 11th. No cost for lunch, but if you'd like bring item for our local Food Pantry. Come join us! Ladies Guild will be collecting Christmas gifts for Garden View residents. Mark your gift Man or Woman and put in box at Church entry. Garden View Christmas party is Dec 15th so we will collect gifts thru Dec 12th. This is the only gift some residents receive. Thanks for your generosity!!!