Because of his Boundless Love, Jesus became
what we are that he might make us what he is.
Irenaeus, 3rd Century
December 13 – December 20, 2015
Weekly Activities
Sunday, December 13 following 10:00 a.m. Mass ~ Pastor’s reception for parish volunteers in the rectory
Monday, December 14 at 6:30 p.m. ~ Phase I of Decorating our Church (please use wheelchair ramp side door).
Tuesday, December 15 at 6:30 p.m. ~ Decorating of Church continues
Tuesday, December 15 at 7:00 p.m. ~ Choir Rehearsal in St. Charles Hall
Wednesday, December 16 at 7:00 p.m. ~ Parish Council Meeting in St. Charles Hall
Thursday, December 17 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*
Saturday, December 19 from 9:30 a.m. to 12 Noon ~ Helping Hands Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall
Saturday, December 19 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall*
*In response to requests from our players, we have instituted age restrictions for admission to Bingo. As of Thursday, October 15, we no longer admit children under 8 years of age.
We now have a Bingo camera with TV monitors and electronic verification!
To check the Red, White & Blue and progressive Share-the-Wealth carry over amounts
and progressive numbers for this week, click HERE and visit our Facebook page.
Mass Intentions
Sunday, December 13 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – Dan Stabler (Requested by Ed Marien) and Norine Hackney (Requested by the Dunnigan Family)
Monday, December 14 ~ St. John of the Cross ~ Communion Service at 11:00 a.m. in Daily Mass Chapel
Tuesday, December 15 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Mary Lou Riso (Angela Jost)
Wednesday, December 16 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Catherine M. Maher (Estate)
Thursday, December 17 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Anna Snyder (Estate)
Friday, December 18 ~ Mass at 11:00 a.m. – Winifred Enright (Estate)
Saturday, December 19 ~ Vigil Mass at 4:30 p.m. -Deceased Members of Ryan, Reilly, Reynolds and Pfeiffer Families (Estate of Mary Reilly)
Sunday, December 20 ~ Mass at 10:00 a.m. – For the Intentions of the Ejimadu Family in U.S.A. (Fidelia and Family) and Leonard Dinder (Richard Plunkett)
Readings for the Week of December 13
Sunday: Zep 3:14-18a; Is 12:2-6; Phil 4:4-7; Lk 3:10-18
Monday: Nm 24:2-7, 15-17a; Ps 25:4-9; Mt 21:23-27
Tuesday: Zep 3:1-2, 9-13; Ps 34:2-3, 6-7, 17-19, 23; Mt 21:28-32
Wednesday: Is 45:6b-8, 18, 21b-25; Ps 85:9-14; Lk 7:18b-23
Thursday: Gn 49:2, 8-10; Ps 72:1-4, 7-8, 17; Mt 1:1-17
Friday: Jer 23:5-8; Ps 72:1-2, 12-13, 18-19; Mt 1:18-25
Saturday: Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25a; Ps 71:3-6, 16-17; Lk 1:5-25
Sunday, December 20: Mi 5:1-4a; Ps 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19; Heb 10:5-10; Lk 1:39-45
Photo credit: Bonnie Hodur Williams
News from our Parish Community
Father Reger invites dedicated parish volunteers to the Rectory for coffee and … after services on the weekend of December 12/13 so that he might thank you for your ministry to our church community during the past year. He looks forward to greeting readers, choir members, Eucharistic Ministers, ushers, Saturday sacristans, bereavement committee members, food pantry volunteers and coordinators for Family Promise and the Peaceprints Prison Project.
Phase I of Decorating our Church will take place Monday, December 14 and Tuesday, December 15 at 6:30 pm. Please join us! There are many tasks to do; with willing hearts and hands along with Christmas Spirit, we should accomplish them easily. Thanks so much! Please use the side entrance near the wheelchair ramp to enter the church.
The Parish Council will meet at 7:00 p.m. this Wednesday, December 16.
Our Spiritual Journey from Advent to Lent ~ During the Advent season, our Parish Council invites you to join your fellow parishioners in reading A Spirituality of Being Human by local author Hugh Brady, D. Min. In Dr. Brady’s own words, “a spirituality of being human…is loving and accepting human nature in its brokenness and in its state of grace. It is awareness of the deeply transformative experience of being human.” A group discussion of the book is planned for the Lenten season, which begins on February 10. Copies of the book are available after Sunday Mass from Dianne Riordan, or you can pick one up at the rectory. The purchase price is $20, with a portion being donated to the Little Portion Friary. There will also be a limited number of copies available to borrow and return for someone else to read.
Change in Time of Christmas Eve Service ~ By now you should have received a letter from Father Reger announcing that this year our Christmas Eve Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 PM instead of the traditional Midnight, with choir preludes beginning at 9:30 PM. We don’t want to disappoint anyone planning to join us for worship on December 24, so please help spread the word about the time change to former parishioners, friends or family members who are not on our mailing list. Click HERE for a complete schedule of our services for the 2015-16 Christmas Season.
Retirement fund for Religious ~ In the United States today, there are more than 33,000 senior Catholic sisters, brothers, and religious order priests. These religious worked tirelessly in Catholic schools, hospitals, and agencies, usually for little to no pay. As a result, many religious communities lack adequate savings for retirement and elder-care. Your gift to the collection for the Retirement Fund for Religious on December 12/13 helps provide medications, nursing care, and more. Please be generous.
The Holiday Prisoner Package Project ~ Those attending Mass this weekend couldn’t help but notice a mountain of boxes in the rear of the church. They contain 2,100 gift bags for inmates at the Albion and Wende Correctional Falcilities which were assembled in our church by volunteers on Friday, December 11 and and scheduled for delivery on Wednesday. Each bag was hand-decorated for the holidays, many with personal messages of hope. This work of mercy was begun by Sister Karen Klimczak and now is continued by Peaceprints Prison Ministries. We thank everyone who gave of their time and energy, especially Jan Burns who coordinates the project each year; and parishioners Amy Johnson who collected more than 4,000 paperback books; our Chief Cocoa Counter, Judy Casassa; and Dan Korchowsky.
Delivering Christmas Gift Bags ~ Many thanks to all who have contributed to the Sodality’s gift collection for our housebound parishioners and those in senior care facilities, especially the person or persons who donated items last weekend. Your generosity eliminated the need for last minute shopping and made it possible to include extra $$$ in each recipient’s small cash gift. The Sodality is very appreciative of the volunteers who will be delivering gift bags and poinsettias and visiting with parishioners in the coming days.
Congratulations to Matthew Woods who was confirmed on November 22! Matthew participated in the Confirmation Program at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Harris Hill. May the Holy Spirit guide and strengthen you, Matthew, each day of your journey of faith.
Congratulations to Jonathan Sands, a Junior at Canisius High School who achieved First Honors during the first marking period.
News from our Vicariate Cluster and the Wider Community
Merry Christmas! May the gift of the Christ child bless you and your family this season. In the spirit of Christmas, consider a donation to the Catholic Charities Immigrant and Refugee Assistance Program. The program helps hundreds of refugees start life anew in the form of housing, furniture, and even gift cards. Have a gift card to spare, or maybe an old table and chairs to re-purpose? Consider donating to people in need in your own diocese. Please call 716-842-0270.
Christmas Crèches on Display ~ Fr. Roy Herberger invites you to experience a display of 560 nativity sets from 59 countries. These international crèches will be shown at Ss. Columba-Brigid Church located at 75 Hickory and Eagle St. (one block south of Clinton). The building is handicapped accessible. The hours are 1 – 4 p.m. every weekend in December (EXCEPT December 26 and 27) and on January 2 and 3. There is no charge, and there is a special section for children.