St. Jerome

Celebrations Mass Schedule

Sunday Masses– Main Sanctuary

First Saturday 7:00 am (Grotto)

Saturday Vigil 6:00 pm

Sunday 8:30 am, 11:00 am

Sunday 5:00 pm

Weekday Services– Ave Maria Chapel

Tues.– Mass 5:30pm

Wed.– Mass 7:00am & 5:30pm

Thurs.– Mass 5:30pm

Friday – Mass 7:00am & 12:15pm

Holidays

See Bulletin or Website

Sacraments and Prayer

Baptism Preparation classes held the third Thursday of each month,

6:30-8:30pm in Jordan Hall.

Reconciliation Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday 5:00-5:30pm and

Sunday 7:45-8:15am, 10:15-10:45am, 4:15-4:45pm.

Marriage Contact Fr. Selvaraj at least 6 months in advance.

Rosary Saturday at 5:25pm before 6:00pm Mass.

Third Sunday at 7:50am before 8:30am Mass.

Third Sunday at 10:20am before 11:00am Mass.

First Fridays at 11:30am in the Ave Maria Chapel.

Eucharistic Adoration — First Friday, see page 3.

Fridays from 7:30am—Noon

Parish Contacts Parish Staff

Rev. Rakshaganathan Selvaraj, Pastor

Rae Carter, Greg George, Ray Jones, Deacons

Karen Fell, Business Manager

Christine Moore, Director of Religious Education

Daryl Nagel, Senior Youth Minister

Luci Lamers, Junior Youth Minister

Louis Leanos, Stewardship Director

Liz Rogers, Music Director

Brenda Macy, Secretary

Alan Nolan, Maintenance Manager

Patrick Rodriguez, Maintenance Assistant

Bill Parrish, Finance Committee

Don O’Toole, Van Use Coordinator

Preschool Staff

Bobby Jetelina, Director

Tiffany Burch, Julie Berger, Teachers

Peggy Steffek, Stacey Rainey, Sr. Frisca Guria, Aides

Pastoral Council pastoralcouncil@stjeromewaco.org

Jeff Bauer Bill Moyer

Peter Campbell Anne Peter

Amanda Chasteen Brenda Rieger

Emily Hunter Richard Skurla

Ed Jasek

Parish Office Hours: 8:30 am-5:00 pm, Mon.-Fri.

Bulletin Deadline: 4:30 pm on Friday

December 31, 2017 The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

9820 Chapel Road, Waco, Texas 76712 • Church Office 666-7722 • Fax 666-4848 • Brooks Hall 666-6222 • CCE Office 666-6222

Scripture Verse When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the

Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.

The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and

the favor of God was upon him. - Lk 2:39-40

Vision Statement To love the Lord with all our hearts, minds and souls

and to love our neighbors as ourselves.

Catholic Church

Welcome to St. Jerome Catholic Church • Waco, Texas 2

Readings for the Week of December 31, 2017 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

Monday: Nm 6:22-27/Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8 [2a]/Gal 4:4

-7/Lk 2:16-21

Tuesday: 1 Jn 2:22-28/Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4 [3cd]/

Jn 1:19-28

Wednesday: 1 Jn 2:29--3:6/Ps 98:1, 3cd-4, 5-6 [3cd]/Jn

1:29-34

Thursday: 1 Jn 3:7-10/Ps 98:1, 7-8, 9 [3cd]/

Jn 1:35-42

Friday: 1 Jn 3:11-21/Ps 100:1b-2, 3, 4, 5 [2a]/

Jn 1:43-51

Saturday: 1 Jn 5:5-13/Ps 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20

[12a]/Mk 1:7-11 or Lk 3:23-38 or 3:23, 31

-34, 36, 38

Next Sunday: Is 60:1-6/Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13 [cf.

11]/Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6/Mt 2:1-12

Saturday, December 30, 2017 6:00pm Greater Respect for All Human Life

Sunday, December 31, 2017

8:30am † Travis Wayne Hubble

11:00am † Dr. George Nixon, Jr.

Sunday, December 31, 2017

Virgin Mary, Mother of God

New Year’s Eve Vigil 5:00 pm FTP

Monday, January 1, 2018, New Year’s Day

10:00 am FTP

Tuesday, January 2, 2018 5:30pm † Marcella Kaska

Wednesday, January 3, 2018

7:00am † James Herbert Schiltz

5:30pm Rebecca Langford

Thursday, January 4, 2018

5:30pm Derek Collisson

Friday, January 5, 2018

7:00am † James Herbert Schiltz

12:15pm † Donald Lape

Saturday, January 6, 2018 7:00am Special Intention

6:00pm † Peggy Foy—1st Anniversary

Sunday, January 7, 2018

8:30am † Dalton & Joyce Tynes

11:00am Greater Respect for All Human Life

5:00pm FTP

Our condolences are extended to

parishioner Lana Catalina and family

on the loss of her mother, Willette Jerden.

† † † †

May Willette’s soul rest in God's eternal peace.

Our Gifts to God

A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will

himself be refreshed. Proverbs 11:25

December 11—December 17

Envelopes (139)…………….….…….$12,380.00

Checks……………………….……….$2,852.00

Cash……………………….….……....$1,000.81

Children’s Collection……….….….. ...$46.68

Online Collections (45)..………….… .$3,277.08

Total………………………….......…..$19,556.57

Building Fund………..$1,233.00

Thank you for your generous support of St. Jerome’s

and may God bless you. Fr. Raj

Week at a glance:

Sun., December 31, New Year’s Eve

3:00pm, Band Practice, Sanctuary

Mon., January 1—New Year’s Day!

Offices Closed

Tues., January 2,

9:45am, Bible Study, 3AA

11:45am, New Horizons, Jordan Hall

6:30pm, Bible Study, Jordan Hall

Wed., January 3,

Thurs., January 2,

6:00am, TMIY, Brooks Hall

6:30pm, KC Business Meeting, Raphael Hall

Sat., January 6,

8:00am, TMIY, Jordan Hall

4:00—9:00pm, Private Gym

Sun., January 7, 2nd Collection—Building Fund

9:45am, CCE, Brooks and Annex

3:00pm, Band Practice, Sanctuary

6:15pm, SYG & JYG, MTC

The Sanctuary Candle is burning this week

in loving memory of Bob Ryan.

Please Note: Fr. Raj will be in India from Jan. 8th until

Feb. 16th. There will be Communion Services during

the week with no Reconciliation on Tues. or Thurs.

December 31, 2017 3

Worship Life and Faith Formation Ministries

Liturgy of the Hours Liturgy of the Hours are prayed each morning in the Ave Maria Chapel, before Mass or at 7:00am. Please join us.

Eucharistic Adoration First Friday Eucharistic Adoration—Next devotion begins January 4th at 6:00 pm in the Ave Maria Chapel and

ends Friday January 5th at 12:00 Noon. Weekly Friday Morning Adoration—Every Friday morning from 7:30 am to

12:00 Noon in Ave maria Chapel. Starts Friday September 8th and runs through Friday December 1st. Resumes again in

January.

R.C.I.A. January 1 – The Solemnity of Mary

In the 4th and 5th centuries debates about the nature of Christ raged in the Church. The debate was about the relationship of

Christ's divine and human natures. At the center of this debate was the title of Mary. Since at least the 3rd century, Christians

had referred to Mary as theotokos, meaning "God-bearer." Related to theotokos, Mary was called the mother of God. The

patriarch of Constantinople from 428-431, Nestorius, objected and suggested that Mary was only the mother of Jesus' human

nature, but not his divine nature. Nestorius' ideas were condemned at the Council of Ephesus in AD 431, and again at the

Council of Chalcedon in AD 451. The Church decided that Christ was fully God and fully human, and these natures were

united in one divine person, Jesus Christ. Thus Mary could be called "mother of God" since she gave birth to Jesus who was

fully divine as well as human. Class Topic 1/3: No class – New Years holiday

Baptism Class Jordan Hall, 6:30pm. Classes are held on the 3rd Thursday of each month. This class is required for parents who wish to

have their child baptized. The next class will be this Thursday, January18, 2018.

Scripture Study and Continuing Adult Education Morning group meets in the Annex from 9:45 to 11:30 am. Evening group meets in Jordan Hall from 6:15 to 8:15 pm.

Contact: Joan Potter at 254-420-1868 or Deacon Greg George at 254-424-3061. All are invited.

Adult Sunday School Classes Join us on Sunday mornings from 9:45-10:45am in Raphael Hall while CCE classes are meeting. We will not meet the week

of the MOSTJ pancake breakfast each month.

That Man Is You Thursday Morning -- Brooks Hall, 6:00 am to 7:30 am. Saturday Morning -- Jordan Hall. 8:00 am to 9:15 am. For more

information call Bill Leek 254-716-3416.

Prayer Line

To request prayers for your intentions, please call Susan Voneida at 254-776-3339.

Ethics and Integrity in Ministry All clergy, religious, seminarians and employees, and all volunteers serving in ministry to minors or the vulnerable, will

need to attend an EIM Workshop.

Octave of Christmas and Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

January 1, 2018—Collect Prayer

O God, who through the fruitful virginity of Blessed Mary bestowed on the

human race the grace of eternal salvation, grant, we pray, that we may

experience the intercession of her, through whom we were found worthy to

receive the author of life, our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son. Who lives and

reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

St. Jerome Catholic Church • Waco, Texas 4

Parish Life and Community Outreach Ministries

Social Awareness Christmas Project Thank you for all the donations we received for the Family Abuse Center! We donated five car loads of gifts! It was very

much appreciated! Have a Blessed New Year!

Life after Loss Loss is an inevitable part of life, and grief is a natural part of the healing process. Dealing with a significant loss can be one

of the most difficult times in a person’s life. The Surviving Loss ministry provides emotional and spiritual comfort and

support for those who experience loss. For information on support sessions, please call the church office at 254-666-7722 or

send an email to survivingloss@stjeromewaco.org.

Knights of Columbus Council 13005

Please see St. Jerome’s website for a complete KC Calendar of Events. To join the Knights, please contact Pat Flavin at

254-235-1893.

Men of St. Jerome (MOSTJ) Our Pancake Breakfast includes two kinds of pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage, biscuits and gravy, fruit, chocolate milk,

orange juice and coffee. Our next pancake breakfast is Sunday, January 11th in Jordan Hall at 9:30 am. We’re always look-

ing for men to help. Call Bill Leek at 254-716-3416 for information.

St. Jerome Women's Society We are starting off 2018 with an exciting program. Our very own Don Moore, who currently is going through the process of

becoming a Deacon for our parish, will be our guest speaker. He will tell us of his journey and his experiences during this

amazing process. You do not want to miss this. As usual, delicious and plentiful treats will be available. Time is 6:30pm on

January 15th. Happy New Year!

Waco Catholic Moms Group We meet in Jordan Hall every other Thursday from 7:00-9:00 pm. Our group also hosts play dates, moms nights out, and

much more! For more information, contact Andrea Guajardo at 281-415-6475 or wacocatholicmoms@gmail.com. We hope

you can join us!

Pro-Life Living out Christmas in the New Year—Each year the Octave Day of Christmas falls on the first day of the New Year, on

which we also celebrate the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God. Her open heart and courageous “yes”

to God show us how to live year-round—with hearts open to the Lord, following where He leads. We are called to place our

trust in Him, to enter compassionately into the suffering of others, and to love one another as Christ loves us. Like Our

Blessed Mother welcomed Jesus, we are called to cherish and protect the gift of human life, at every stage and in every cir-

cumstance. One way to live out the message of Christmas and follow Our Lady’s example is to join 9 Days for Life, a digital

pilgrimage of prayer and charitable action. The U.S. Catholic bishops invite you to join thousands of Catholics nationwide

from Thursday, January 18 – Friday, January 26. Join today at www.9daysforlife.com!

“Your own quiet, patient presence can provide important support as your loved one prepares emotionally and spiri-

tually for his or her passing.” USCCB Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities

To join our ministry, please contact Maureen Adams at 903-229-7283 or email: maureen.adams50@yahoo.com.

Columbarium For information on our Columbarium, go to: https://www.stjeromewaco.org/columbarium. To purchase a niche, please call

Bobby Jetelina at (254) 776-2312 or Mary Cunningham-Hilliard at (254) 722-7896.

Pot Luck Dinners Join us for our fun and relaxing January potluck. This will be held after the 6:00pm Mass on January 20th. You can drop off

your main dish, salad or dessert in Jordan Hall before Mass. Come and enjoy community at its best.

New Horizons Happy New Year! Our next meeting is a Brown Bag Lunch and Bingo on Jan. 2nd, 11:45am in Jordan Hall. All seniors are

invited.

Attention Seniors (50+)

PICKLE – BALL—I am trying to set up a senior citizens league which would start in Jan. We would play in the Mother

Teresa Center Gym. If you are interested, please call Bill McBride at 224-6418 or E-Mail at bill_mcbride@baylor.edu.

December 31, 2017 5

Birthdays (January 10—17)

May God bless you and give you health, wealth, and prosperity.

Jan. 10—William Myers, Gloria Smith, Ronald Rieger, Lee Ward, Jose George, Jonathan Chavez,

Ximena Bustamante, Emily-Lan Nguyen.

Jan. 11—Sergio Rodriguez, Rene Oehm, Paul Beseda, Jeremy Wilkey, Anya Ocampos, Grace Contreras,

Bruno Olvera.

Jan. 12—Lana Catalina, Michael Borucki, Kandace Menning, Craig Kamradt, Alyssa Laurenti, Emilie Marek,

Andrew Block.

Jan. 13—Carol Morin, Theresa Feller, Mark Leger, Kathleen Olivarez, Karen Lopez, Brent Williams,

Trainor Thyen.

Jan. 14—Thelma Bounds, Jill Halter, Margaret Whiteside, Daniel Kirzeder, Megan Marek, Marie Sample,

Amanda Henry, Melody Alvelo, Gianna Uren, Nathan Byerly.

Jan. 15—Fred Tomchesson, Laurel Fette-Wright, Andrea Garza, Ernesto Fraga.

Jan. 16—Catherine Settles.

Jan. 17—Claude Parker, Deborah Eaton, Rory Sehon, Michelle Conlon, Megan Vrana.

Parish Life Ministries and Community Events

Formed (The Catholic Faith on Demand) To register for a free account go to formed.org. Our Parish Code to register is 8NCKHW and is free to all our parishioners.

RED-C Catholic Radio Tune in to 98.3 FM for RED-C Catholic Radio in Central Texas. To listen live online go to http://www.redcradio.org/.

Cedarbrake Retreat Center Benedictine Spirituality 101 Retreat will be held on Saturday, January 13. St. Benedict’s rule and way of life is just as

relevant today as it was in the 6th century. Beverly Collin, assistant director and 3rd order oblate, will present this day. The

cost is $40 and includes lunch.

Austin Catholic Men’s Conference No Man Left Behind, Saturday, February 17, 2018—St. Jerome Parish, with the Knights of Columbus and men’s

groups, is offering a limited number of tickets for only $27, a huge discount. To register at the discounted price, call Mike

Kelly at 254-644-2272. For more information visit the Conference web site at www.centexcatholic.com

A Prayer Each Day—-Living with Christ

Jan. 1—Mary, I love you. Mary, make me live in God, with God, and for God. Mary, pray for me and for the departed.

In every difficulty and distress, come to our aid. Remember me and help me always to remember you. Pray for us, O

holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen. St. Philip Neri

Jan. 2—O Lord, the helper of the helpless, the hope of those who are past hope, the savior of the tempest-tossed, the

harbor of the voyagers, the physician of the sick. You know each soul and our prayer, each home and its need. Become

to each one of us what we most dearly desire, receiving us all into your kingdom, making us children of the light. Pour

on us your peace and love, O Lord our God. Amen. Orthodox Liturgy of St. Basil

Jan. 3—Teach us, good Lord, to serve you as you deserve, to give and not to count the cost, to fight and not to heed the

wounds, to toil and not to seek for rest, to labor and not to ask for any reward, save that of knowing that we do your will.

Amen. St. Ignatius of Loyola

St. Jerome Catholic Church • Waco, Texas 6

† God Bless Pope Francis, Bishop Joe Vasquez, our Pas-

tor, Fr. Raj, and our Deacons. † Our military men & women: protection, courage & safe

return; & for their families. † President Trump & staff: guidance, wisdom, and

protection; protection for the U.S. † Peace on Earth.

† Abby & Brandon that they are always loved. Jr. to find

a job soon. † Rest in peace, dear Bob Ryan.

† God bless & be with Fr. Raj at this time. Freedom from

pain & healing for daughter. Protection & direction for

son & daughter. Safe travel Carol & holiday travels.

Move for Nancy—God’s help. † GC, BC, and JH, healing.

† Thanks & praise to our Lord Jesus Christ for a success-

ful family Christmas party and everyone safely home.

Thanks & praise for all the amazing blessings this last

year with new grandchildren and good health. For

adopted grandchild healthy normal well formed. No

danger or harm to mother & child, mind, body & soul. † Kathleen, Danny, Mary, Freida & both Weldons,

Sophie, Christopher & Jane. May God be with them

thru their sickness and by His healing hands on them

and make them whole & complete. † John Anthony & Connie the loss of their son, may his

soul rest in peace. † A healthy & prosperous year for us all. My whole fam-

ily, friends, & loved ones. May God bless us all & pro-

tect us from all that is evil. † Chuck R., Liz G., to get well.

† All those dealing with cancer; for continued good

health & good spirits for my Mother; thank you for my

job; that my sister’s challenges are eased; for my

nephew & his kids; St. John Paul II, keep me in your

care; St. Jude, pray for me, for all those awaiting trans-

plants, and for world peace. † Thank you, St. Jude, St. Teresa & Blessed Mother for

answered prayers for good health. For Joanna H. to re-

cover from her fall. † Healing prayers for my cousin Kathy and for my

brother following surgery. † Heal George. Thank you for Ashlie’s job.

† My sister who is fighting cancer.

† My granddaughter to be well and get over the flu.

† Good health & happiness for my family.

† My 2 grandchildren to join the church.

† That we all have a good Christmas; my family has a

safe trip; children & husband. † Repose of the soul of Kenny Lenart.

† G. strong relationship. Children to be good adults.

Lord, help me to remember that nothing is going to

happen to me today that You and I together can't handle.

Sick in Our Parish

Please pray for the sick in our parish, especially:

Mary Clark, Scotty Crow, Ignacio Estrada,

Carol Friedman, Ursula Gunn, Joan Jasek,

Deacon Ray Jones, Theresa Julian, James Kreder,

Carl Kuhnle, Linda McDorman, MaryAnn Prochaska,

Mary Ann Rodriguez, Betsy Schwager, Elly Smallwood,

Betty Strom, Wesley R. Strom, and

Francis (Ski) Trzcinski.

Prayer Requests

PLEASE PRAY FOR:

Health. † My grandson Branson, son David, brothers Jeff & John,

thank you for our successful family business!! † Mom to be less stressed.

† B & G’s relationship.

† Special intentions.

† My nephew & sister, healing during Christmas.

† Help Margarito with his finances.

† Christian to have a good outcome on his surgery.

† Healing of all those who came to the healing service.

† Bless my sons Erik and Eryn, all my family and friends,

all during this Christmas Season, and the world with

peace. † Repose of the soul of Harry Treese.

† Children & grandchildren back to church. Healing for

Lauri T. & Melissa T. † Repose of the souls of Erma Scholl & Rush Piland.

† Son, N., safety, good health, happiness, guidance. Daily

thanksgiving, good health, faith. † The selling of the house in Killeen soon.

† Healing of our family.

† Special intentions, daughter’s health, job, Christmas

traveling, family, & finances.

Collection Envelopes

All envelope users will have a new envelope number.

For the first month, please write your name on the out-

side of the envelope. It is especially important to write

your name if you give cash each week. Please write a

separate check for the 2nd collections.

Please Note: When donating to the Building Fund,

please write a separate check. The Building Fund has

a different bank account number and deposit slip.

December 31, 2017 7

Faith Formation for Youth

CCE News 7 Jan, Sun – First day of CCE back from Christmas

7 Feb, Wed, 6:30pm – First Reconciliation Parent Meeting in Brooks

17 Feb, Sat, 9am – noon Reconciliation Mini-Retreat for all First Communicants

PLEASE NOTE that the First Communion Mass has been changed to Sat, 21 April at 3pm.

Trivia Corner: Which flower and which plant are symbols of Christmas?

“Carnation is known as a flower of rejoicing because of the legend that it first appeared at the birth of Christ.” The Poinset-

tia is known as the “flower of the Holy Night” is the Mexican Christmas Plant. (The Catholic Source Book, p. 457)

Contact info: Christine Moore, DRE, 254-666-6222, religious-education@stjeromewaco.org

Senior Youth Group Thursday, Jan. 4: Ice Skating all day in College Station. Leave the church at 12:00pm. Return early evening (6:30 pm?).

Bring $20.00-$25.00 for skating and meal.

Sunday, Jan. 7: Praise and Worship, 7:00-8:00 pm. Combination of Christmas Carols and contemporary Christian songs.

Catch up with us on our Instagram site. Follow us at “Stjeromesyg”.

Contact info: Daryl Nagel, Youth Minister 666-7722, office 254-715-8610, cell, E-mail: syg@stjeromewaco.org

Junior Youth Group For more information, visit the following website: stjeromewaco.org/junior-youth-group.

Contact Luci Hays, Junior Youth Minister at 817-914-2810 or email: jygstj@stjeromewaco.org for more information.

Sacrament Preparation

First Communion or Confirmation: Two years of preparation required.

Contact: Christine Moore (First Communion) at 666-6222 or Daryl Nagel (Confirmation) at 666-7722.

Altar Server News Please arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled mass. Dress & meet in the vestry 5 minutes before mass to

receive a blessing from Fr. Raj. If you are unable to serve, please find a replacement.

Contact info: Marian Khoury or Kristina Neal at khoury05@gmail.com or kristinaneal@twc.com

St. Jerome’s Little Flowers Girls Club “Little Flowers Girls' Club is a Catholic club for girls ages 5 and up that teaches virtues through scripture, saints' biographies

and the Catechism of the Catholic Church... this beautiful, authentically Catholic program, has delighted and instilled in our

girls a love of our Catholic Faith for nearly 20 years.”~ www.beholdpublications.com

We meet one Saturday morning a month. Club meetings began in September. Contact Renee Clayton at:

renee.clayton82@gmail.com, (509) 263-4501.

St Jerome Scouts, Troop 456 Boy Scouts—for information on how to join go to stjeromewaco.org/boy-scouts.

Cub Scouts—email hewittpack456@gmail.com.

Little Lions Learning Center News Little Lions Learning Center received a donation from the Catholic Education Foundation of McLennan County and was

very much appreciated. We will be closed for the Christmas holidays between December 25 and January 5.

We will reopen on January 8th. There are a couple of spots open in the four year old class only.

Contact info: Bobby Jetelina, LLLC Director, 254-666-6222, Directorlllc@stjeromewaco.org

December 31, 2017, The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

COLLECT PRAYER

O God, who were pleased to give us the shining example of the Holy Family, gra-

ciously grant that we may imitate them in practicing the virtues of family life and in the

bonds of charity, and so, in the joy of your house, delight one day in eternal rewards.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of

the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.