Holy Rosary Cluster

Saint Peter New Haven, IA

Saint Bernard Alta Vista, IA

Immaculate Conception Riceville, IA

Immaculate Conception Elma, IA

Our Lady of Lourdes Lourdes, IA

Holy Rosary Cluster Office Address: 203 7th Street Elma, IA 50628-8391

Phone: 641-393-2520 Website: http://holyrosarycluster.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HolyRosaryCluster

Staff

Rev. Jerry F. Kopacek, Pastor: dbq075@dbqarch.org

Nancy Theis, Business Manager: dbq075sec@dbqarch.org

Renee Burke, Secretary: dbq075sec2@dbqarch.org

Office Hours The office this week: Closed - Tuesday Staffed: Monday - 9:00 a.m. - Noon Wednesday - Friday 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Marriage Please contact the priest at least six months in advance.

Baptism Baptism Class is required. Make baptism arrangements by phoning the Cluster Office (393-2520) during office hours.

Reconciliation Any time by appointment 15 minutes before weekday Mass in Elma First Friday 3:00 - 3:40 p.m. at St. Peter, New Haven First Friday 4:00 - 4:40 p.m. at Immaculate Conception, Riceville Saturday 3:00 - 3:40 p.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes on weekends when Mass is scheduled. When there is no Mass scheduled at Our Lady of Lourdes, confessions will be at St. Bernard, Alta Vista on Saturday from 5:00 - 5:40 p.m.

December 23, 2018

Ho l y R o s a r y C l u s t e r Mass Intentions For the Week

Monday, December 24 Vigil of Christmas - Is 62:1-5/Ps 89:4-5, 16-17, 27, 29 [2a]/Acts 13:16-17, 22-25/Mt 1:1-25 4:00 PM (Riceville) - Peter Schaefer 6:30 PM (New Haven) - Ray Klaes 10:00 PM (Alta Vista) - Art & Agnes Schmitt Tuesday, December 25 The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) - Is 52:7-10/Ps 98:1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6/Heb 1:1-6/Jn 1:1-18

8:00 AM (Lourdes) - For the People 10:00 AM (Elma) - Mike Mitchell Wednesday, December 26 St. Stephen - Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59/Ps 31:3cd-4, 6 and 8ab, 16bc and 17 [6]/Mt 10:17-22

No Mass - Please pray for vocations Thursday, December 27 St. John - 1 Jn 1:1-4/Ps 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12 [12]/Jn 20:1a, 2-8 No Mass - Please pray for vocations Friday, December 28 The Holy Innocents - 1 Jn 1:5—2:2/Ps 124:2-3, 4-5, 7cd-8 [7]/Mt 2:13-18 No Mass - Please pray for vocations Saturday, December 29 Vigil of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph - 1 Sm 1:20-22/Ps 84:2-3/1 Jn 3:1-2, 21-24/Lk 2:41-52 4:00 PM (Lourdes) - Deceased Members of the Louis Praska Family 6:00 PM (Alta Vista) - NO MASS Sunday, December 30 The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph - 1 Sm 1:20-22, 24/Ps 84:2-3, 5/1 Jn 3:1-2, 21-24/Lk 2:41-52 7:15 AM (Elma) - Ivan Schroeder 9:00 AM (Riceville) - For the People 10:00 AM (Elma Colonial Manor/Word and Sacrament) - LuRae Mohrfeld 10:45 AM (New Haven) - Dale Fox

Dear Parishioners, First, I want to thank those of you who have taken advantage of the extra opportunities for confession during this Advent season. I mentioned in this space two weeks ago that there will be further weekend confession times available starting in 2019; this is the result of reflecting on these first few months of my time here and seeing what is possible and workable. Therefore, beginning the weekend of January 5-6, 2019, I will be available for confessions the following times and places. All these times apply when there is weekend Mass scheduled; there will be no confession time at the parish that does not have weekend Mass. 1. Lourdes--Saturday, 3:00 - 3:45 p.m. 2. Alta Vista--Saturday, 5:00 - 5:45 p.m. When Lourdes has 4 p.m. Mass, Alta Vista confessions will be 5:15 - 5:45 p.m. 3. Elma--Sunday, 6:30 - 7 a.m. 4. Riceville--Sunday, 8:15 - 8:45 a.m. when there is no 7:15 a.m. Mass at Elma Unfortunately, I cannot schedule Sunday morning confession times during the school year for New Haven because the religious education classes are held before the 10:45 a.m. Mass and that is my only chance to visit those classes--and that can happen only when there is no 9 a.m. Mass in Riceville. I plan to offer Sunday morning confession time in New Haven during those months when those classes are not held.

In addition to these new opportunities for confession, the other usual times will still be available: fifteen minutes before weekday Masses in Elma, and the First Friday times in New Haven (3:00 - 3:40 p.m.) and Riceville (4:00 - 4:40 p.m.) in Riceville. Celebrating this sacrament is one of the most important things I do as a priest, and I am very glad to be available at these times. As I've said before, you are also and always welcome to schedule a time for confession; just give me a call. There is absolutely nothing to fear from this great sacramental gift of the mercy of God! - Fr. Kopacek

Early Bulletin

Deadline

January 6 bulle-tin - need items by Wed., Dec, 26

Thank you!

New Haven December 24, 6:30 PM

Alta Vista December 24, 10:00 PM

Lourdes December 25, 8:00 AM

Deanna Machin (EM) Shannon Paulus (EM) Frank Theis (EM) Nancy Theis (EM) Ben Hartogh Family (G) Greg Adams (L) Ryan Adams (L) Ginger Meirick (Sac.) Lee Fox (S) Mary Ann Fox (S) Kaylee Klaes (S) Addison Jacobs (S)

Lyle Ries (EM) Tom Recker (EM) John Kramer (EM) Cletus/Carol Bullerman (G) Tom Frantzen (L) S/B Mahoney (Sac.) Jackie Pickar (S) Megan Pickar (S) Jim Geerts (U) Linda Geerts (U) Steve Gebel (U) Randy Brus (U)

Elaine Farrington (EM) Doris Anderson (EM) Francis Nibaur (EM) Peggy Nibaur (EM) Bill/Cathy Chihak (G) Ron Praska (L) Clem Havlik (L) Patrick Boyle (S) Reed Boyle (S) Miranda Buckley (S) Franny Smith (U) Ted Roberts (U) Denny Ptacek (U)

Riceville December 24, 4:00 PM

Becky Miller (EM) Holly Marr (EM) Kate Lee (EM) JoLynn Eastman (EM) Bill Hemann Family (G) Tom O’Keefe (L) Juliet O’Keefe (L) Volunteers (Sac.) John O’Donnell (S) Brynn Hemann (S) Tyler Sprung (S) Madison Mauer (U) Brooke Dvorak (U) Taylor McElroy (U) Jack Adams (U)

Elma December 25, 10:00 AM

Sandi Burke (EM) Sue Miller (EM) Tom Miller (EM) Scott O’Brien Family (G) Dave Fangman (L) Dawn Klein (L) Marina Burke (S) Chloe Burke (S) Pat Burke (U) Renee Burke (U) Dan Gardner (U) Diane Gardner (U)

C l u s t e r News

Liturgical Ministers - December 29/30

Pray For Those in Need Denny Burke, Therese Collins, Andrea Erion, Sara Folkers, Dick Gebel, Ken Gebel, John Hartogh, Joann Heying, Rose Heying, Maureen Jennison, Joe & Elsie Ludwig, Ann Foxen Maas, Phil McCarville, Gladys McGrane, Pat Smith, Mary Beth (Womack) Wagner

Ministry to the Sick and Hospitalized One of the most important elements of parish life is ministry to the sick and the hospitalized. If you would like to receive the sacrament of anointing of the sick or would like to have Fr. Kopacek visit you while sick or hospitalized, please call the cluster office and let him know. He will be more than happy to see you. Call the office at 641-393-2520.

Retirement Fund for Religious You can donate to the Retirement Fund until January 27. Your gift will provide necessities to Senior Catholic sisters, brothers and religious order priests. Please give generously. Make checks payable to your parish, put in memo, ‘Retirement Fund for Religious’. Envelopes are available in the entrance of your church.

Lourdes Saturday, 4:00 PM

Elma Sunday, 7:15AM

Riceville Sunday, 9:00 AM

John Ludwig (EM) Jim Marik (EM) Ron Praska (EM) Marge Ludwig (EM) Tom Shatek (L) Pauline Shatek (L) Denny/Marie Smith (R/G) Will Ludwig (S) Grant Ludwig (S) Les Opat (U) Joe Smith (U) Jerry Smith (U)

Pat Burke (EM) Dennis O’Brien (EM) Ann O’Brien (EM) Bruce/Callie Weigel (G) Russ Murphy (L) Dale Roethler (L) Teresa Klobassa (R) Brooklyn Burke (S) Shane Burke (S) Tom Miller (U) Sue Miller (U) Roger Dunn (U) Margaret Dunn (U) Tom/Sue Miller (VC)

Mike Marr (EM) Mary Novacek (EM) Debbie Oulman (EM) Jon Sill (EM) Kenny Marr Family (G) Tim Noble (L) Sheryl Noble (L) Noble/Grady-Mans (Sac.) Ruby Lohuis (S) Lauren Hemann (S) Johnny Adams (S) Terry Byrnes (U) Sara Byrnes (U) Steve Christensen (U) Rosalie Christensen (U)

New Haven Sunday, 10:45 AM

Dan Sullivan (EM) Diane Sullivan (EM) Corky Counsell (EM) Lisa Cockrum (EM) Lance Schutjer Family (G) Lisa Cockrum (L) Shannon Paulus (L) Dean/Bonnie Theis (R) Bonnie Theis (Sac.) Julia Klaes (S) Theo Klaes (S) Corin Johanns (S) Isabelle Jacobs (S)

CHRISTMAS - December 24/25 - Liturgical Ministers

Calendar Events

Weekly Collection

Due to early deadlines the December 23rd bulletin had to be submitted early so the weekend collections for December 15th & 16th were not available. If space is available, we will include the collection for that weekend in the following bulletin.

+ St. Bernard +

Church Cleaners Amy Boehmer, Phil Boehmer, Paula Breitbach are church cleaners the week of December 23. Rosary Society News St. Bernard Rosary Society will have their annual meal in the backroom of Schucky’s, Tuesday, January 8 at 6:30 PM with a meeting to follow. 2019 officers and co-chairs will be recognized and projects for the year will be discussed. All members are welcome to attend. Liturgical List for Holy Day Mass Monday, December 31 at 5:30 PM (EM) Dick White, Cindy/Rick Holthaus (G) Tom/Irene Frantzen (L) Janell Swehla (Sac.) Cindy Holthaus (S) Ethan & Nolan Swehla (U) Steve Gebel, Randy Brus, Dale/Val Kolbet

Simplify by Giving Online Looking for ways to simplify your busy schedule? Try Online Giving. It’s a secure and easy way to tithe and make other contributions. You can even set up automatic payments so you don’t have to worry about remembering when to give. Look for the link on our church website at: http://holyrosarycluster.org and click on the Online Giving tab and then your parish name. If you need help contact Nancy Theis at 641-393-2520.

Beauty in Christ Women’s Conference Looking for the “perfect” last minute gift for the woman in your life? Consider purchasing a ticket for her for a day of prayer, laughter and conversa-tion. The 3rd Annual Archdiocesan Women’s Con-ference: Beauty in Christ, Saturday, January 26, 2019 at the DoubleTree by Hilton, Cedar Rapids. Go to ArchWomensConference.org/registration/.

Offering Envelopes The 2019 offering envelopes are available to be picked up in the church entrances. Please help out the office by writing your Name on your Offering Envelopes. If using a plain envelope please write your Name, Parish and Envelope Number on it. This is a great help and saves a lot of time in the office. Thank You!

+ St. Peter +

Eucharistic Ministers Needed We are in need of Eucharistic Ministers. If you feel a call to serve Jesus and His people by distributing Holy Communion please contact Nancy Theis at 641-393-2520. Thank You Thank you to Carol Sullivan for the Memorial given to St. Peter Church in memory of John Sullivan. The memorial will go toward Religious Education program expenses.

Meetings

Parish Life - Thurs., January 10 at 6:00 PM Faith Formation - Tues., January 15 at 6:30 PM Liturgy Committee- Tues., January 29 at 6:30 PM Meetings will be in the Elma I.C. church basement.

Year End Contributions IRS regulations require that any 2018 contribu-tions must be given or post-marked by December 31, 2018. The parish books close December 31, 2018.

New Year’s Eve Retreat - Cedar Falls Join us December 31-January 1, 2019 at the American Martyrs Retreat House in Cedar Falls. The theme is ‘Making Gratitude an Intention of the Heart’. This retreat is for all ages, single, dating and couples. The fee is $65 per person. Arrival is 5:00 PM New Year’s Eve and departure is at 11:00 AM on New Year’s Day. To register call AMRH at 319-266-3543, email DBQamrhsec@DBQarch.org.

Marriage Encounter Give your spouse the gift of quality time with you by attending a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend. The next weekend is March 8-10 in LaCrosse, WI; Call 563-608-3305, or email iowa-wwme.org or JLJwwme08@gmail.com.

Alta Vista Life Serve Community Blood Drive Saturday, December 29, 2018 from 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM at the Alta Vista Municipal Hall. To make an appointment, contact Doris Miller, 641-364-2872 or visit www.lifeservebloodcenter.org.