“Arise and Eat, Else the Journey Will Be Too Great for You.” (I Kings 19:7)

The Traveling

Chalice

TRAVELING CHALICE/VOCATION THOUGHTS

TRAVELING CHALICE Reflections:   "The chalice was placed in the center of our kitchen table.  As a family, we prayed for vocations at meal time and for those we know in the priesthood. We talked with our children about their different talents and how they can be used to help others.  We talked to them about keeping their ears open when they pray. 

'You never know where God will lead each of you.' ".

The Traveling Chalice will be hosted by Jerry and Nicki Notermann and their children

this week.  We are grateful for their witness to all of us of the opportunity and need to pray for priests and religious and for a generous response to those vocations.

—The Vocations Committee

—The Vocations Committee 

Mass Intentions Week of December 3

Sat.        Dec. 2          5:00 pm      Father Ralph Goman

Sun.       Dec. 3        10:00 am      †Albert Miller                                                   2:30 pm      People of the Community

                               6:00 pm      People of the Parish

Tues.     Dec. 5          5:30 pm     Communion Service

Wed.     Dec. 6         10:00 am     Communion Service

Thurs.    Dec. 7          5:30 pm     †Joe Hoffmann

Immaculate Conception of Mary

Holy Day of Obligation

Friday.   Dec. 8         11:30 am     People of the Parish

                               7:00 pm         Good Health

Sat.        Dec. 9          8:00 am      Good Health

                                5:00 pm      People of the Parish

Sun.       Dec. 10      10:00 am      †Marcelyn Wright

             Hispanic      2:30 pm      People of the Community

                               6:00 pm      †Pat Maxwell

Readings for the Week

Monday:        Is 2:1-5; Mt 8:5-11

Tuesday:        Is 11:1-10; Lk 10:21-24

Wednesday:   Is 25:6-10a; Mt 15:29-37

Thursday:       Is 26:1-6; Mt 7:21, 24-27

Friday:           Gn 3:9-15, 20; Eph 1:3-6, 11-12;

                     Lk 1:26-38

Saturday:       Is 30:19-21, 23-26; Mt 9:35 — 10:1, 5a, 6-8

Sunday:         Bar 5:1-9; Ps 126; Phil 1:4-6, 8-11; Lk 3:1-6

ADVENT begins today!  As always, it is 4 weeks long, but it is a very short 4 weeks this year.  The fourth Sunday of Advent is also Christmas Eve day.  Plan your schedules now for Sunday Mass and Christmas Mass.  This glitch in the calendar is a challenge to families for Mass attendance as well as for the Christmas gatherings.  Imagine what this glitch is to liturgy planners and decorators!  Nevertheless, Advent is a time of preparation.  Most of us think of that as preparation for Christmas Day and the birth of Jesus, remembered and relived with joy.  It is a day of gifts, dinners, visits, cleaning, traveling.  But the other preparation is as important:  preparation for Christ's return at the end of time.  Notice this in the readings for this Sunday and next Sunday.  They speak not of Bethlehem but of Parousia, Christ's return in glory, the beginning of God's kingdom in all its glory.  Welcome to Advent.

The Holy Day of Obligation honoring Mary under her title and privilege called the Immaculate Conception is special because she is the patroness of the United States.  Often and especially on this feast, we call upon the Mother of Jesus to watch over and intercede for the needs of our country and each one of us in the United States.  Make a special effort to honor this holy day at Mass.  Our parish celebrates Mass next Friday, December 8, at 11:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. 

I celebrated my 69th birthday this past week, and I thank so many of you for your cards and greetings on this achievement!  My radiation treatments will end at the end of this week, the same day as the holy day honoring Mary.  Even though the prayers offered for me (so often through the intercession of Mary) and the support of so many people have made this 8 1/2 week journey "not so bad," I will be very glad when it, and the side effects from radiation, are over.  My oncologist-radiologist doctor reminded me recently that the effects will wear away gradually, up to 6 months possibly!  I will be merging into the Mass schedule beginning mid-December, and back full time by Christmas.  So many of my contemporaries have said in one way or another, "We are growing old gracefully and together!"  Such companionship, and your companionship, make the journey easier and faith-filled.  God has a reason, and we open ourselves to that mystery to find it.  Thank you for all you have done in helping me find the reason.                

—Father Ralph

Christmas Poinsettias Delivery

Please pick up your Christmas poinsettias after Mass on Saturday, Dec. 2, 6–6:30 pm, and after 10 am Mass on Sunday, 11–11:30 am, in the Church Library. Thank you for making this year, our 14th, a most successful St. John’s fundraiser!