December 25, 2011 Next Sunday it’s the turn of the faithful who worship at the 8:00 a.m. Mass to prepare the meals for the residents at the Fortney Hotel. Please consider signing up in the Atrium today for a food item to bring to the church kitchen before 3:30 p.m. next Sunday, January 1. A hot dish, salad, dessert, loaves of bread, butter? Please help. The residents deeply appreciate your kindness, especially during the holiday season.
Thank you for the generous response to the collection for Retired Religious. To date, $2,029.00 has been collected for this very worthy cause.
Please note that there will be no Mass or Communion Service on Monday, December 26th.
Liturgical Ministers: please pick up your schedule for serving in the months of January and February; you’ll find the schedule in the Atrium. Thank you for your service to the parish.
We cancel the Children’s Dismissal on Sunday, 25 December. We will resume the program on Sunday, January 8.
You Can Help Your Marriage – Do you feel alone? Are you frustrated or angry with each other? Do you argue…or have you just stopped talking to each other? Does talking about it only make it worse? Retrouvaille (pronounced Retro-vî) helps couples through difficult times in their marriages. This program has helped 10's of 1000's of couples experiencing difficulties in their marriage. For confidential information about how to register for the upcoming program beginning with a weekend on August 19-21, 2011 in Central WI, Call 1-877-922 HOPE (4673), or visit the web site at www.cwretrouvaille.org (local) or www.HelpOurMarriage.com (International).
Today, another month of the Parish Prayer Calendar is part of our bulletin. Please join the PCCW in daily prayer for special concerns, families, individuals and clergy. If you are new to our parish - welcome as a new member- you will be mentioned specifically next year. If a loved one has joined the Lord or moved from our parish, they will be remembered individually in this year's calendar. In such a prayerful way we can connect with all members of our parish. "O' Lord, let us let YOU do what you want to do through us today."
FINANCIAL REPORT
Weekend 18 December 2011
Adults: $3,933.51
Youth: $10.50
Offertory: $263.25
Christmas: 30.00
Immaculate Conception: $12.00
Religious Retirement: $805.00
Total: $5,054.26
DIOCESAN ANNUAL APPEAL
Target: $41,739.00
Pledged: $24,695.00
Cash to date: $20,453.75
"We Belong To Christ"
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
To date, $343,091.50 has been paid in cash to the Capital Campaign. This parish has responded generously to this worthy effort. Please continue to pay on your pledge. The pledge is a five year commitment. Thank you to all who participated. New pledges may still be made. Call Father Francis for a pledge card.
MASS INTENTIONS THIS WEEK
Saturday, 24 December, + Patt Hansen (Jim & Ann Graham)
Sunday, 25 December, 8:00 a.m.+ Gerald Stoltz & Larry Humfeld (Roger & Joyce Humfeld)
10:30 a.m. +*For the People of Saint Mary Parish
Monday, 26 December – No Mass or Communion Service
Tuesday, 27 December, 8:00 a.m. +Gerald Stoltz
(Mary Gronemus)
Wednesday, 28 December, 8:00 a.m. +Elvera Bekkum (Bekkum Family)
Thursday, 29 December, 8:00 a.m. *For the Members of the PCCW (PCCW)
Friday, 30 December, 8:00 a.m. + Bob Hetzel
(Mary Gronemus)
Saturday, 31 December, 5:15 p.m. +Michael, Doris, Harley, Donald & Kevin Olson (Dennis & Sue Olson, Dan & Stacy Olson, Eric Olson & Jerri Peterson)
Sunday, 1 January, 8:00 a.m. + Storey Meyer
(Leon & Joan Meyer)
10:30 a.m. *For the People of Saint Mary Parish
“Good news and great joy to all the world: Today is born our savior, Christ the Lord.”
Mass at Midnight
“Thou wast born in secret, in a cave, but heaven hath told all of thee, choosing for its voice a star, which hath guided the wise men to worship thee.”
Vespers
“Because of his boundless love, Jesus became what we are that he might make us to be what he is!”
Irenaeus, 3rd Century
“Almighty Father, St. John proclaimed that your Word became flesh for our salvation. Through this Eucharist may your Son always live in us, for he is Lord forever and ever.”
Prayer after Communion on the Feast of Saint John
“God our Father, when your Son was born of the Virgin Mary he became like us in all things but sin. May we who have been reborn in him be free from our sinful ways.”
Liturgy of the Hours
The entire parish staff extends wishes for a very Merry and Blessed Christmas
to all members of our beloved parish!