 |
 |
December 2, 2007 |
|
|
December 2, 2007 |
EUCHARISTIC ADORATION After the 8AM Mass on Fridays in the chapel
ROSARY 7:00 PM Fatima Prayer Group on Monday After the 6:45 AM and 8 AM Masses Monday thru Friday and after the 8 AM Mass on Saturday.
Moms and children’s Rosary group every Friday from 10AM to 11:30AM. Call MaryAnn at 922-3461 before you come for the first time.
RECONCILIATION Thursday, December 6, 4:30PM- Fr. Mick 7:30PM- Fr. Armstrong Saturday, December 8, 3 PM- Fr. Armstrong
READINGS FOR SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9 1st Reading: Is. 11:1-10 2nd Reading: Rom 15: 4-9 Gospel: Matthew 3:1-12
ADULT EDUCATION Monday Evenings, Adult Bible Study from 7:00 to 8:00p.m. in the school library.
THANK YOU to Mike Pitzer Remodeling for advertising in our bulletin.
COFFEE & DONUT SUNDAY, December 9, after all the morning Masses.
Catholic Bible Study for adults every Monday at 7:00PM in the undercroft Holy Family Room.
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) every Tuesday at 7:30 PM, in the Holy Family Room.
PREP (Parish Religious Education Program) every Sunday, after the 9:30AM Mass. For info call Deacon Bob Schroeder at 922-4759 |
Designate a gift to Saint Antoninus Church in your will and give witness to your faith.
come to your home! We encourage parishioners of all ages, those with families and those living alone, to participate in this special mission of praying for vocations. Our new coordinators for the Traveling Chalice program is Joe and Mary Beth Nolan. Call them at 451-7435 or e-mail at MBNOLAN@cinci.rr.com.
BABYSITTING FOR THE 9:30AM MASS, SUNDAY, December 9 Adult Volunteers: Judy Bonhaus, Joan Friedman
Student Helpers: Leanne B., Anna H., Noah L.
Don’t forget to send in your St. A 200+ Raffle tickets. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Dear Parishioners, Today, we begin the Advent season full of hope and expectation. With the rush of the Christmas season, it is very easy to forget what this is all about. Perhaps you have heard or seen those phrases like "Keep Christ in Christmas," which was in response to "X-mass;" or "Jesus is the reason for the season" in response to stores displaying their Christmas wares soon after Labor Day; or "The Holiday" and you wonder just which one. It is all too easy to forget Whom we celebrate and why we long for His return in glory. This year I would especially ask all of our parishioners to set up the Nativity Scene in their homes. Last year, I was a little surprised and a little saddened when I visited one of the lower grades in our parish school. When I asked the children about the Nativity Scene in their homes, only half responded that they had one. I quizzed them further just to make sure they knew what I was taking about. Indeed, they did know what I was talking about and hence I was a little sad that this beautiful and simple devotion begun by St. Francis was beginning to slip away in our Catholic homes. So in the rush of Christmas, buy yourself a Nativity Scene if you don't have one. If you do have one, be sure to set it up. Even if you live alone, there is every reason for all of us to be reminded of this astounding fact of our religion: The Second Person of the Trinity became flesh in the womb of the Virgin Mary; He dwelt in her womb as in a Tabernacle for nine months; He was born of her whom no man knew. That's the reason for the season. That why we celebrate "Christ"mas. That's why we wish everyone "Merry Christmas." That is why I think Advent is so full of hope and expectation. +++ Several people recommended that I go see the film "Bella." It is a beautiful story, beautifully told. I would especially encourage parents with teenagers to go see it with them and to discuss the movie afterwards. |
++++ Saturday, December 8, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is a holyday of obligation. It is always observed in our country as an obligation because the Immaculate Conception is the patroness of our country. As a Catholic it is important for us to be able to defend this article of our faith as it is so easily misunderstood and often ridiculed. The Immaculate Conception of Mary is often confused with the Virginal Conception of Jesus. The Immaculate Conception of Mary means that she was conceived by her parents, Sts. Joachim and Ann, in the usual way but from the first moment of her existence she was free from all stain (macula= stain: immacula = no stain) of original sin. The Virginal Conception of Jesus means He was conceived by the Power of the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary, without the agency of a man. Immaculate Virgin, Patroness of the United States, pray for us. Rev. Christopher Armstrong
During the month of November, traditionally devoted to the Poor Souls in Purgatory, I used the following prayer at several of the parish school Masses. It is said that Our Lord revealed to St. Gertrude the Great that 1,000 souls were released from Purgatory every time it was said with devotion. Because I received a number of requests for the prayer it is printed here below-
Prayer of St. Gertrude the Great O Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the holy souls in Purgatory and for sinners everywhere – for sinners in the Universal Church, for those in my own home and for those within my family. Amen.
ST. FRANCIS SERAPH GIVING TREE is in the greeting room. Please take one or more tags and return the gifts no later than Sunday morning, December 16. Kroger cards (available in $10 denominations) can be placed in a Christmas card or a plain envelope. Other items should be wrapped without ribbons or bows. Attach tag to the outside of the gift. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dear Parishioners, Congratulations to our second graders. They received the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time this past Thursday. As part of our preparation for Christmas, grades 3-8 will be receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation on December 12 and 13. Our Christmas performance is this Thursday, December 6. We put on an afternoon performance for the benefit of our senior parishioners beginning at 1 p.m. Everyone is welcome to our evening performance which will begin at 7 p.m.
ADULT SOCIAL GROUP Steering Committee will meet at 1PM in the Holy Family Room on Friday, December 7th. Communion Service and Christmas Party will be on Monday, December 10, at 12:30PM. $8.00p/p by December 6. Bring a $5 gift for the exchange.
Habitat for Humanity needs construction volunteers on December 16, and 22nd. If you are able to help, please call Deacon Bob Schroeder at 922-4759. Call Julie Heil at 922-3848 if you can help with lunch on Dec. 22.
PTO NURSING HOME VISIT will be on Wednesday, December 12th, at noon. Meet at the rectory garage. Small children are welcome to attend. We are asking for donations of gifts of $1.00 or more. Items such as socks, lotion, lipstick, shaving cream, puzzles, Suduko, etc. are greatly appreciated. Please wrap and label gifts “Gentleman” or “Lady”. There will be a collection bin in the greeting room.
HOLY SPIRIT PRAYER GROUP
Each Monday evening, EWTN features a moving conversion story on its program entitled “The Journey Home”. Clergy and laity alike guided by the Holy Spirit, have come from paths as diverse as Protestantism, Judaism and Atheism to meet Our Lord in the fullness of Catholicism’s embrace. Come share such a story on Tuesday, December 4, at 7:30 PM in the chapel as we watch the journey of John Pridmore, a former gangster. You will be inspired.
LAROSA BUDDY CARDS on sale from any 8th grader or call Sue Ulmer at 922-2159. |
SEMINARIAN INTERN, MR. DAVID ENDRES December 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, is a special feast for all of us in the Church. Not only is it a Holy Day of Obligation, but it is the patronal feast of our country since the United States was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of her Immaculate Conception in 1846. Since then Mary has been recognized in particular as our protector and intercessor. The feast also marks a milestone for six of our seminarians on the road to priesthood. On that day, they will be admitted to “candidacy for Holy Orders.” Though these seminarians will not be ordained for a few years, they will declare their desire to dedicate their lives to the service of the Church for the glory of God and the good of souls. They will promise to enter into a period of serious discernment of their vocation. Pray for these men that they receive the grace they need to discern God’s will and be faithful to that call. Mary Immaculate, ora pro nobis!
St. Antoninus Boy Scouts Troop 614 Fundraisers Are collecting used cell phones. Please drop off the used phones in the back of the church in the collection box. Holiday Boutique on Sunday, December 2, from 2PM-6PM in the undercroft.
Cincinnati Metropolitan Orchestra will present their free Christmas concert "A Holiday Treat", on Thursday, December 6, at 7:00 PM at Seton High School Performance Hall.
ADVENT LESSONS & CAROLS will be held on Friday, December 7th, at 7:30PM in the Chapel of Mt. St. Mary’s Seminary. Admission is free.
OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE ROSARY will be prayed at Fountain Square on December 12th, at Noon.
NEW YEAR’S EVE DANCE, December 31, at 8:00 pm to 1:00 am. The cost of $25.00 per person. For info call Jackie Anderson at 451-4264; Lori Rolfes 451-9737; or Lauri Sullivan 451-4142. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The
Traveling Chalice wants to
A NOTE FROM OUR