313 E. WALL S TREET • JANESVILLE, WISCO NSI N 53545 -3047
December 25, 2016 • The Nativity of the Lord
Rectory 313 E. Wall Street Janesville, WI 53545-3047 Phone ...............................(608) 752-7861 Emergency Only………(608) 620-9910 Fax .....................................(608) 758-0720 Website.............. www.nativitymary.org Pastor ............................. Rev. Robert Butz Email: [email protected]
Dir. of Liturgy ........................... Bob Craig Email: [email protected] Coord. Religious Ed ...Kathy Hookham Email: [email protected] Business Manager ..............Kathy Fisher Email: [email protected] Parish Secretary ..……....Sharlet Collins Email: [email protected]
St. Mary School 307 E. Wall Street Janesville, WI 53545-3047 Phone ...............................(608) 754-5221 Principal ............ Steven Castrogiovanni Secretary ………………...Sue Vodak & Sue Dickman
Religious Education Phone ...............................(608) 752-7861
Prayer Network Mary Ann Venable…..(608) 754-5284 Edna Thorp…………….(608) 752-5559
Nativity of Mary ................ Sat. 4:30 pm Sun. 8:30 & 10:30 am
St. Patrick ............................. Sat. 4:00 pm
St. John Vianney ............... Sat. 5:00 pm Sun. 8:15 & 9:45 am
St. William ........................... Sat. 4:00 pm Sun. 8:00 & 10:30 am
St. Mary - Milton ............... Sat. 4:00 pm
Nourished by the Eucharist and guided by the Holy Spirit, we proclaim the Gospel as good stewards, sharing God’s love. -Mission Statement
Nativity Mary of
News & Notes School News
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Would You Like A Pastoral Visit?
REMINDER: If you, a family member or someone you
know is confined or hospitalized and would benefit from a
pastoral visit, please contact your parish office and let
them know. Staff does not always know of hospital
admissions for a variety of reasons and often has no way of
knowing of other situations in which a parish contact
would be beneficial.
St. Mary School
“We wish you a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!”
SCRIP REMINDER
SCRIP puts your regular shopping dollars to work supporting your parish and school with over fifty retailers ….. grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants, department stores, hardware stores, movie theaters, spas and more!
SCRIP cards are always available in the school office and after Mass twice per month. Next, the weekend of January 7th/8th and 21st/22nd.
Merry Christmas
from Father Rob
and the entire staff at
Nativity of Mary.
Wishing you a blessed day
with family and friends.
The parish office will be closed on Monday, December 26th.
No Mass on Tuesday, December 27th or Wednesday, December 28th.
No Reconciliation on Tuesday, December 27th.
Lord, in this holy season of prayer and song and laughter, we praise you for the great wonders you have sent us: for shining star and angel's song, for infant's cry in lowly manger. We praise you for the Word made flesh in a little Child. We behold his glory, and are bathed in its radiance. Be with us as we sing the ironies of Christmas, the incomprehensible comprehended, the poetry made hard fact, the helpless Babe who cracks the world asunder. We kneel before you shepherds, innkeepers, wisemen. Help us to rise bigger than we are. Amen.
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The Nativity of the Lord
The angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger." - Lk 2:10-12
************************************************************** "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 fulfillment, a holiday of deep and enduring happiness not only because God became man and was born of a woman, but because along with his Incarnation, God brought us freedom. 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. We are free people! We are not slaves but rather the children of God whose priceless inheritance is to dwell in his kingdom for all eternity. 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. We only must be careful not to reduce our celebrating today to something less glorious, something less meaningful, or less profound. This is no mere secular holiday. This is not just a ritual of family gatherings, elaborate evergreen trees and sumptuous meals. Christmas is a holy day and as Christians it is our day in a most definite and undeniable way. The treats and trimmings are all signs that remind us of what lies ahead for those who accept the real gift of Jesus Christ: an unending banquet of eternal delights and divine gifts that will never fail to satisfy. Yes, Christmas is a little taste of heaven, the perfect gift that lies in wait for those who love the Lord.
Scripture Focus on Faith
Readings for Sunday, December 25, 2016 The Nativity of the Lord Vigil: Is 62:1-5 / Acts 13:16-17, 22-25 / Mt 1:1-25 Night: Is 9:1-6 / Ti 2:11-14 / Lk 2:1-14 Dawn: Is 62:11-12 / Ti 3:4-7 / Lk 2:15-20 Day: Is 52:7-10 / Heb 1:1-6 / Jn 1:1-18
Readings for Next Sunday, January 1, 2016 Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God Nm 6:22-27 / Gal 4:4-7 / Lk 2:16-21
Please Pray For Our Parishioners:
Barbara Allen, Bill, Bill Bever, Dena, Alice Figi,
Linda Fredell, Jackie H., Paul Holznecht, Gerri,
Ellen Kotche, John (Floyd) McNally, Ted Nagel,
Shirley R., Madelynn Schieve,
Colleen Schroeder, Kelly Dooley Trewartha,
Peter Weirich, Lola William, Avalon Widner,
Lucille Willegal
Traveling Chalice
Full Year of Prayer Planned
This week the Traveling Chalice will be hosted by
Joyce Reuter.
Any questions regarding our Traveling Chalice program may be
directed to: Colleen at 868-6386 OR
Sacraments
Anointing of the Sick:
Infant Baptism: Registered members of the parish are welcome to arrange for their baby’s baptism by signing up for the necessary preparation program for parents.
RCIA Please call anytime if you would like to discuss Catholicism and see how joining the Church may offer you a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ.
Catholic Women’s Club Contact Jennifer McBride at 741-8909 or Beth Konkol at 754-1304 for more information.
Knights of Columbus Meetings held 2nd Thursday of the month at 7:30 pm. Contact Greg Kraft at 754-5615 for more information.
Bulletin Deadline Mondays at 12:00 noon. Please contact the Rectory at 752-7861.
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What’s Happening
E.C.H.O. Needs Life is an ECHO — what you send out, you get back!
Pork N Beans Dish Soap Peanut Butter Shampoo Soup & Crackers Toothpaste Tuna Toothbrushes Beef Stew Deodorant Oatmeal Diapers/Size 3-5
ECHO Christmas Dinner
Sunday, December 25th 11:00 AM—1:00 PM at St. William Catholic Church 1820 Ravine Street in Janesville. Call 754-5333 for delivery, transportation, or any questions.
Open to the entire community! Please join us!
The House of Mercy Homeless Center is a 25-bed temporary shelter for single women and families. At any given time, roughly half of our residents are children. In addition to shelter, the center also provides support services and case management with the goal of finding permanent and sustainable housing. The center needs to be staffed by volunteers around the clock to assist residents, receive donations, and answer phones. Due to limited staff availability, overnight and weekend volunteers are vital to the functioning of the House of Mercy to be there when staff cannot be. Overnight volunteers are provided a suite where they may sleep after 10pm and remain in the building for emergency needs only and are encouraged to contact an on-call staff member if needed. If you are interested in taking a tour to learn about us and our needs or learning more about volunteering, please contact us at 608-754-0045 or walk in to meet us at 320 Lincoln Street in Janesville. The House of Mercy Homeless Center could not exist without support from our community as donors and volunteers.
“The desert and the parched land will exult; the steppe will rejoice and bloom.” As we await the coming of the Lord, let us rejoice and encourage our marriages to bloom by
participating in a Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend on January 20-22 in Brookfield, WI or February 10-12 in Geneva, IL. Early registration is highly recommended. For more information visit our website at: alifetimeoflove.org or call (888) 574-5653.
Wisconsin Right to Life will have a bus going to Washington, DC for the January March for Life, January 25-19, 2017. The cost is $300/person. If you wish to donate towards teens, college students and others to go on the bus, please contact Pat Hawthorne at (608) 756-5194. Otherwise, for more information on the trip, please contact Bev Searl at [email protected] or (920) 960-6615. Please call as soon as possible to let her know that you are interested in going.
ECHO Free Food for Seniors (60 years old & over) The “Stockbox” program through Hunger Task Force of Milwaukee is a monthly box consisting of cereal, canned goods, pasta or rice, canned meat and 2 pounds of cheese. Registration & distribution at ECHO, 65 S. High Street in Janesville, Monday thru Thursday from 1-3 PM. Wisconsin identification is required for sign up. Income for 1 person can not be more than $1180 per month. Spouse may also receive box if combined income does not exceed $1579. Questions, call Marge or Fran (608) 754-5333.
Lessons & Carols with the Madison Diocesan Choir and special musical guest,
the Saint Maria Goretti Catholic School Cardinal Cantors Sunday, January 8, 2017 at 1:30 PM The Epiphany of the Lord St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church 5313 Flad Avenue in Madison A freewill offering will be taken to support the Diocesan Choir & St. Maria Goretti Catholic School.
Mass Intentions = Living Sunday, December 25 10:00 AM Richard McCann Monday, December 26 No Mass Tuesday, December 27 No Mass Wednesday, December 28 No Mass Thursday, December 29 8:15 AM Francis & Elizabeth Fuller Friday, December 30 8:15 AM Sandra Gensler Grefsheim Saturday, December 31 4:30 PM Ray & Anna Madden Sunday, January 1 8:30 AM Parishioners of Nativity of Mary 10:30 AM Felisa Booc
Cluster Corner
Parish Event Calendar
Monday, December 26 11:00 AM Centering Prayer, Nativity House Tuesday, December 27 10:30 AM Faith Sharing Group, Nativity House Wednesday, December 28 6:30 PM Sanctuary Choir Practice 7:15 PM Loft Choir Practice Friday, December 30 8:45-9:45 AM Holy Hour (Adoration) Saturday, December 31 9:30 AM Reconciliation, Church Sunday, January 1 9:30 AM Knights of Columbus Rosary, Church
ALL ACTIVITIES ARE OPEN TO MEMBERS
OF ANY PARISH IN THE CLUSTER
Dec 26 11:00 AM Centering Prayer, Nativity of Mary, Nativity House Dec 27 10:30 AM Faith Sharing Group, Nativity of Mary, Nativity House Dec 27 12:00-5:00 PM Adoration, St. William Dec 29 9:00 AM-2:45 PM Adoration, St. Patrick Dec 30 8:45-9:45 AM Holy Hour (Adoration), Nativity of Mary Dec 30 9:00 AM-2:00 PM Red Cross Blood Drive, St. John Vianney, Marian Hall Call 1 (800) RED CROSS
Monday 12/26
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday New
Year’s Eve
Sunday New Year’s
Day
Nativity of Mary
8:15 am 8:15 am 4:30 pm 8:30 & 10:30 am
St. John Vianney 8:15 am 8:15 am 8:15 am 5:00 pm 8:15 & 9:45 am
St. Patrick 5:15 pm 8:00 am
8:30 am 8:00 am 4:00 pm 7:30 & 10:00 am
5:00 pm en
Español
St. William 5:15 pm 7:30 am 7:30 am 7:30 am 8:00 am & 4:00 pm
8:00 & 10:30 am
St. Mary’s Hospital –Jsvl.
St. Elizabeth Nursing Home 7:00 am 7:00 am 7:00 am 7:00 am 7:00 am 9:15 am
St. Elizabeth Manor-Footville 9:15 am 9:15 am 9:15 am 9:15 am 9:15 am 11:00 am
Sunday, January 1st Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God
Nativity of Mary New Year’s Eve 4:30 PM New Year’s Day 8:30 & 10:30 AM
St. John Vianney New Year’s Eve 5:00 PM New Year’s Day 8:15 & 9:45 AM
St. Patrick New Year’s Eve 4:00 PM New Year’s Day 7:30 & 10:00 AM 5:00 PM en Español
St. William New Year’s Eve 4:00 PM New Year’s Day 8:00 & 10:30 AM
The parish office will be closed on Monday, December 26th. No Mass on Tuesday, December 27th or Wednesday, December 28th.
No Reconciliation on Tuesday, December 27th.