St Patrick CoCathedral December 17, 2017 Pastor Fr. Robert D. Grosch Weekend Masses Saturday 5:00 PM Sunday 8:00AM &10:30 AM No 10:30 Mass on Christmas Eve Christmas Eve Masses 4:00 PM and 10:00 PM Monday at 9:00 AM New Year s Day Mass Monday at 9:00 AM Daily Mass TuesdayFriday 12:10 PM Reconciliation Saturday 3:004:00 PM or by appointment Advent Penance Services December 20 St. Bernard Parish 7:00 PM December 21 St. Pius S (westend) 7:00 PM 215 N. 31st St. Billings, MT 59101 (406) 259-3389 Ofice Hours Mon.Fri. 8:304:00 Closed 121pm Bulletin deadline is 10 AM Monday : Email to stpatbulletin@gmail.com www.stpatrickcocathedral.org
Mass Intentions December 1924 Tue. 12:10 pm Norma DeVan M & M Fargo Wed. 12:10 pm Breast Cancer Cure BJ Sletta Thurs 12:10 pm Shirley Heffner 7 Children Fri. 12:10 pm Chuck & Marynell Heringer Heringer Family Sat. 5:00 pm Gail Lang Bieda Walshe Sun. 8:00 am St. Patrick Parishioners 4:00 pm L.R. Sr. & Jr.& Angela Rector M. J. Haumesser 10:00 pm Janie Hackert A Friend STEWARDSHIP REPORT December 10, 2017 Plate Collection $ 13,494.02 Contributions YTD $ 228,117.53 Campaign for Human Development $ 5.00 Retirement for Religious $ 1,906.00 LITURGICAL MINISTERS December 23 December 24 5:00 pm 8:00 am Sacristan Vicki Margery Judy Steve Min Co Danny Joan Allen Host 2 Jeannine N. Michelle W. PB 2 Tricia M. Joan Keefer PB 3 Tom L. Brett W. PB 4 Murnell F Mike M. PB 5 Linda Casey Max W. Lector 1 Margie M. Ziggy Z. Lector 2 Conrad Donna A POF Jordan Maddie Altar Servers Emma Lou Sydney Alex Benner Lillian Smith December 1824 Theresa Martin 18 Paula Twichel 18 Edward Parisian 19 Rose Lewison 19 Christina Soueidi 19 Holly Konen 19 Cheryl Brutlag 19 Elizabeth Stroebe 19 Bret Janecek 19 Charlotte McGillis 19 Gerald Miller 20 Ella Morone 20 Amelia Varela 20 Elizabeth McNamer 21 Thomas Cooper 21 Brock Whittenberger 21 Lyn McGarvin 22 Diane Dahy 23 Lynne Beeter 23 Adam Pivonka 23 Lois Leone 24 Robert Guiles 24 Clark Irion 24 Todd Thelen 24 Jaymz Partida 24 ElizabethTate Williams24 If you don t see your birth1day here, we don t have it in the ofice. Please let us know if we miss you! YOU ARE NUMBERED AMONG THE SAINTS AND OF THE FAMILY OF GOD EHPES 2:19 LIVE THE LITURGY INSPIRATION FOR THE WEEK John the Baptist came to testify to the light, who is Jesus Christ. Like John, we are called to testify to that same Light. We do so by living lives of faith and bringing the joy of the Gospel to everyone we meet. We are people of joy who rejoice at his birth and eagerly await his coming again. We share that joy by tending to the needs of the poor, helping those who are broken, and witnessing to the freedom that a life in God brings. May we take our task of being joyful witnesses to the good news seriously as the celebration of Christ's birth fast approaches. 2018Care & Share Assessment $ 77,968.00 2018 Remaining Care & Share $ 24,439.54 Ofice Staff Pastor Fr. Robert Grosch 14 Hospital/Jail Min. Fr John Houlihan 10 R.C.I.A./ Baptism Sr. Jeanne Tranel 16 Dir. of Lit. & Music Jan Wood 13 Dir. of Religious Ed Mary Gilluly 22 Stephen Ministry Doris Choriki Parish Ofice Margery Chansler 10 Bookkeeping Deborah Ligget 18 Maintenance Sup. Rosie Schuff 6987398 Annulments BJ Sletta 6908016
GOSPEL MEDITATION Readings for the week of 3rd Sunday of Advent "There is one... coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie." Untying sandal straps was no prestigious job. In the days of John the Baptist, those straps would have been especially unpleasant to deal with. Besides the usual odors that accompany sockless leather footwear, there would have been the grime and dirt from the sandy roads and paths that swirled around the people who went everywhere on foot. Taking off someone's shoes upon their arrival was the task of the lowly servants. So when John says he's unworthy of doing this task for the "one who is coming after me," he is putting himself in a very humble position. And rightly so. John realizes that the Christthe Anointed One, the Messiahis so far above him, so far above any of us, that we are truly unworthy of him. Indeed, the Son of God is not just the greatest of men; he is Godmademan and in his presence we most appropriately should bow in humble homage. Yet this God chose to stoop down to our human level and walk among us. He chose to get his sandals dirty. And still today he chooses to allow us to encounter him as a friend and companion. But as John reminds us by his example, this encounter with the Lord is not the result of our own merits or accomplishments. We are sinners who stand in need of Christ's help. But thanks be to God, he is always willing to extend this help to us. As St. Paul says in today's epistle, "May the God of peace make you perfectly holy." Indeed it is God who does the perfecting, not us by our own power. So let us approach the Lord this Advent season with a spirit of hopeful humility, trusting that God alone can make us worthy of welcoming his Son. Monday: Jer 23:58/Ps 72:12, 1213, 1819 [cf. 7]/Mt 1:1825 Tuesday: Jgs 13:27, 2425a/Ps 71:34a, 56ab, 1617 [cf. 8]/Lk 1:525 Wednesday: Is 7:1014/Ps 24:12, 34ab, 56 [cf. 7c and 10b]/Lk 1:2638 Thursday: Sg 2:814 or Zep 3:1418a/Ps 33:23, 1112, 2021 [1a; 3a]/Lk 1:3945 Friday: 1 Sm 1:2428/1 Sm 2:1, 45, 67, 8 abcd [cf. 1a]/Lk 1:4656 Saturday: Mal 3:14, 2324/Ps 25:45ab, 89, 10 and 14 [cf. Lk 21:28] Lk 1:5766 Next Sunday: 2 Sm 7:15, 8b12, 14a, 16/Ps 89:23, 45, 27, 29 / Rom 16:2527 Lk 1:2638 For more informaon, please contact Sister Jeanne 2593389. In order for us to celebrate the Christmas season RCIA s last class was December 11, 2017 and will begin again on January 8, 2018. Last Bible Study class was on December 14, 2017 and will begin again on January 18, 2018. Thank you and have a very Merry Christmas! Baptism Class: Tuesday, January 16,2018 at 6:00 p.m. December is Safe Toy Month Consider your child s age and development when purchasing a toy or game. Read the instructions and warning labels to make sure it s just right for your child. Before you ve settled on the perfect toy, check to make sure there aren t any small parts or other potential choking hazards. If your children have their hearts set on a new bike, skateboard, scooter or other riding equipment, be sure to include a CPSC certiied helmet to keep them safe while they re having fun. Safe Kids compiles product recalls speciic to children and sends twicemonthly email alerts for recent recalls. Signup for the latest recall information. Go to www.recalls.gov for additional information about product recalls related to kids.
From Jan REJOICE ALWAYS! This Sunday of Advent was formerly known as Gaudete Sunday, a Latin word meaning rejoice, taken from the irst word of the Latin entrance antiphon. Today, however, the liturgical books no longer assign any special characteristics to this day; Advent is no longer divided up, as it were. The whole season is one of joyful waiting. Often on this Sunday we relect on the joy in our lives. What does today s scripture tell us about joy? Isaiah says that we have been sent to bring good news: we have been sent to share joy. He himself rejoices heartily in the Lord. Paul says, rejoice always. We rejoice with Mary singing the responsorial psalm, My soul rejoices in my God. The life of John the Baptist, despite his sacriices and hardships, was full of joy. We like John the Baptist, Isaiah and Mary must be joyilled witnesses to Jesus. In these days, that often takes courage and intentional commitment. It requires that we be rays of sunshine to a sometimes dark world. Advent Action: What could I do (perhaps anonymously) to bring joy to someone this week? Christmas Poinsettias I would like to order poinsettias to decorate the sanctuary for Christmas. Please include $ 15.00 per poinsettia. In Memory or Honor of: Requested by: Thank you for donating to the Jesse Gift Tree. If you have not done so, please ill out and return the Contribution form to the ofice. This form is not for tax reasons; it is to help the Young Family Head Start program maintain its government funding. The forms will be in the gathering area. Adoration Chapel at St. Vincent Hospital Chapel Kathleen Simpson 6965984 Centering Prayer Sat. 9:00am, Parish Center Catholic Daughters of America 2nd Tuesday St. Thomas Community Center Financial Counseling Bill Belinski at 2593389 Knights of Columbus Grand Knight: Josh Twichel 2521602 Deputy Grand Knight: Aldo Rowe 8606363 Parish Council 1st Sunday of the month 11am Parish Nurse Ministry Blood pressure checks on 1st Saturday before and after5:00 Mass and on 1st Sunday of the month after morning Masses. Call 2593389 if you would like a visit from the Parish Nurse during or after your hospitalization. Stephens Ministry 1st Saturday 12 Youth Room Ultreya Tuesday night 7pm Church Hall
Community Volunteers Needed! To help with Children s Liturgy of the Word. Volunteer one Sunday a month at the 10:30 a.m. Mass to help our children break open the word of God in ways they can understand! This is an approximately 20 minute commitment one Sunday each month (when you are here, anyway!). Volunteers will receive training and the reward of relationships with our youngest parish members! Please call Mary at 2593389 for more information! Thank you for considering this very important opportunity to serve our littlest members! Are you still looking for the perfect Christmas gift for a family member or friend? We have a catalogue illed with ideas that can be embroidered with the St. Patrick s logo! Come check out the catalogue in the main ofice! Faith, Hope and Love... Are these present in your marriage? Have you given up hope that they can be? In 1 Corinthians 13:13 Jesus tells us the greatest of these is Love. Living in a marriage that is missing love can be difficult. If you have given up hope that your marriage can and will get better, ask your spouse to consider attending a Retrouvaille program. Retrouvaille is an international Christianbased ministry that offers a threestage program to help couples improve their marriages. First, a weekend program is attended, followed by postweekend meetings. Finally, an ongoing monthly small group of couples gather for support and growth. If improving your marriage is important to you, reach out today. For more information about an upcoming Retrouvaille Weekend program for couples, contact registration team: at18004702230 or visit our website: www.retrouvaillemt.org or www.helpourmarriage.com The Christmas Pageant is almost upon us! Signups will begin this week, and mandatory practices will be this weekend after the 10:30 a.m. mass! We will need shepherds, and Kings and a whole host of other characters! Mary, Joseph and lead angel must be older (3rd grade & up). To sign your child up for participation, call, text or email Aubrey May, 8613469, or aubreymay@hotmail.com! Elegant Afternoon Tea Hosted by Sisters in Faith of St Bernard Church, 226 Wicks Lane. January 20, 13 pm. Bring your little girls, Nieces, or Grand Daughters for savories, sweets, tea and entertainment! Call Alice for more information 2482420. World Wide Marriage Encounter is offering a Marriage Encounter weekend in Billings on the weekend of January 2628. I will be a team priest on this weekend and will be providing additional information in the near future and hopefully a lyer. This is to alert parishes, especially in the Billings area, to this great opportunity for married couples. Couples who have made the weekend can attest that the time spent on a weekend truly enhanced their relationship. If anyone would like additional information please call Paul and Tracy McElvery at 3076892820 5
Each week, the children and youth in Religious Education learn the psalm for the coming Sunday and work on learning a prayer together before going to their classrooms. Thank you to Aubrey May for leading us in our opening gathering time and to Elizabeth & Veronica Johnson for accompanying us as we learn the psalm! SPY NEWS A special thanks to our amazing ofice volunteers for cutting out our project for the Advent learning centers. Three new Altar Servers were trained last week thanks to Dave & Thomas Johnson. Shawn Rogina, Annaliese McCormick and Sam Cooper are eager to serve in this important church ministry! St. Patrick s youth and religious education celebrated St. Nicholas Day in the traditional manner on December 6, with the children leaving their shoes outside the classrooms to be illed with treats! They also learned about St. Nicholas and his helper, the donkey! Thanks to Heidi Verdon and Nanette Getz for acting as St. Nick s helpers!