496 East Washington Street • Chagrin Falls, Ohio 44022

OUR PARISH MISSION STATEMENT

St. Joan of Arc Parish is a growing community of

Roman Catholic Christians in the Chagrin Falls area.

We are a diverse, gifted and joyful people who

share a common belief in the Word of Jesus Christ.

Our Mission, like that of Jesus Christ and His apostles,

is to proclaim the Kingdom of God through living the gospel

and to grow in faith, holiness and service.

WE GATHER AS A CHRIST-CENTERED COMMUNITY TO:

CELEBRATE our faith and the presence of God in the

Eucharist and in one another.

IMITATE our Savior in His service to others.

TEACH our beliefs at all levels.

WELCOME the participation of all in our Christian fellowship.

Visit our Website www.stjoanofarcchurch.org

Parish Office ........................................................ (440) 247-7183 Parish E-mail .................................... stjoanchagrin@gmail.com Parish Website ........................................ stjoanofarcchurch.org

Music Ministry Office ......................................... (440) 935-2232 Rel. Education Office/Sr. Judy Bucco ............... (440) 247-3606 Sr. Ann Marie Kanusek, SND ............................ (440) 247-1141 School ................................................................... (440) 247-6530 Youth Ministry Office ......................................... (440) 247-4316 stjoanofarcym@gmail.com Rev. Gary J. Malin, Pastor Sr. Judith Bucco, SND, Director of Religious Education Mrs. Shelley DiBacco, Principal Rev. Mr. Jeffrey Dunlop, Permanent Deacon Rev. Mr. Dennis Guritza, Permanent Deacon Sr. Ann Marie Kanusek, SND, Pastoral Associate Miss Melissa Olenik, Coordinator of Youth Ministry Mr. Patrick Wickliffe, Director of Music

Rev. Damian J. Ference, Weekend Celebrant Rev. John R. Olsavsky, Former Pastor, Retired

Weekend Mass: Saturday Vigil - 4:30 p.m. Sunday - 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., and 12:00 noon

Weekday Mass: Monday, Thursday & Friday - 8:00 a.m. Tuesday - 9:00 a.m. (during the school year)/8:00 a.m. Summer Legal Holidays - 9:00 a.m.

Baptism: At most weekend Masses or on most Sundays at 1:00 p.m. Contact Parish Office.

Reconciliation: (Confession) Saturdays 3:30 p.m. until all are heard. in Advent and Lent from: 3:15 to 4:00 p.m.

Sacrament of Marriage: Please contact a priest or deacon at least one year before the anticipated date.

Sponsor Certificates: Certificates may be obtained by registered, practicing members of our parish who have received the three sacraments of initiation: Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist (and married in the church, if married). Please contact the Parish office.

New Parishioners: Welcome! Call the Parish Office to register.

Sessions in the Catholic Faith (RCIA): Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m., (September thru May).

Care of the Sick and Elderly: Please inform us of persons sick or aged who are unable to

come to church or who are hospitalized.

Funerals: Please contact the parish office before scheduling or publishing (generally through a funeral director). Bereavement committee available for hospitality.

December 17, 2017 - Third Sunday of Advent “What do you have to say for yourself?” (John 1:6-8, 19-28) Sooner or later we are all going to have to answer the question of the Levites: “Tell us who you are. What do you have to say for yourself?” We can supply our names, occupations relationships to others, the numbers and statistics that identify us. We can produce cards, bank books, degrees, awards. We can boast of our successes, even admit our failures. But we will never approach the originality of John’s answer “I am not the Messiah.” It is the perfect answer! In John’s humility is real understanding. Jesus, who is among us unrecognized. Who I am as a Christian is properly defined by who I am not. John’s role in history becomes the foundation for a real and healthy spiritual life for each of us. What are you doing to announce Isaiah’s year of favor to the oppressed? Use Paul’s exhortations as a checklist. How freely is the Spirit moving in your life? How does John’s self-understanding challenge yours? (Reprinted with permission for “God’s Word Is Alive” 23rd Publication © 1998)

Mass Intentions & Schedule Sunday, Dec 17 - 3rd Sunday of Advent 8:00 a.m. Living & Deceased of SJA 10:00 a.m. Herbert J. Holzheimer, Jr. (Family) 12:00 noon Marlene Green (Zamiska Family) Monday, Dec 18 - Weekday 8:00 a.m. Rosemarie Zycarro (Zamiska Family) Tuesday, Dec 19 – Weekday 9:00 a.m. Florence Ziska (Ziska Family) Wednesday, Dec 20 - Weekday NO MORNING MASS Thursday, Dec 21 - St. Peter Canisius, Priest & Doctor of the Church 8:00 a.m. Alvin Ortmann (Ortmann Family) Friday, Dec 22 - Weekday 8:00 a.m. Fred Matheson (Bomback Family) Saturday, Dec 23 - Vigil Mass for 4th Sun of Advent 4:30 p.m. Gladys Corry (Blouir Family) Sunday, December 24 - 4th Sunday of Advent 8:00 a.m. Natalie Sykora (Sanborn Family) 10:00 a.m. Living & Deceased of SJA 12:00 noon Rosemarie Zuccaro (Zamiska Family)

Mass Intentions & Schedule Sunday Dec 24 - Christmas Eve 4:00 p.m. Rita & Joseph Seringer (Family) 6:00 p.m. Joe & Glady Corry, and George &Alma Blouir (Blouir Family) 10:00 p.m. People of St Joan of Arc

Weekend Mass Celebrant 12/23-24

4:30 pm Fr. Damian 8:00 am Fr. Damian 10:00 am Fr. Gary 12:00 pm Fr. Gary

Christmas Eve 12/24 4:00 pm Fr. Damian 6:00 pm Fr. Gary 10:00 pm Fr. Gary

(subject to change)

Collection for Sunday December 10, 2017

249 Envelopes Used

Cash/Checks $13,336

ACH 5,720 Total $19,056

This Week’s Readings

Sunday (Is 61:1-2a, 10-11/Lk 1:46-48, 49-50, 53-54; 1 Thes 5:16-24/Jn 1:6-8, 19-28 Monday (Jer 23:5-8/Ps 72:1-2, 12-13, 18-19 /Mt 1:18-25 Tuesday: Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25a/Ps 71:3-4a, 5-6ab, 16-17 [cf. 8]/Lk 1:5-25 Wednesday: Is 7:10-14/Ps 24:1-2, 3-4ab, 5-6 [cf. 7c and 10b]/Lk 1:26-38 Thursday: Sg 2:8-14 or Zep 3:14-18a/Ps 33:2-3, 11-12, 20-21 [1a; 3a]/Lk 1:39-45 Friday: 1 Sm 1:24-28/1 Sm 2:1, 4-5, 6-7, 8abcd [cf. 1a]/Lk 1:46-56 Saturday: Mal 3:1-4, 23-24/Ps 25:4-5ab, 8-9, 10 and 14 [cf. Lk 21:28]/Lk 1:57-66 Sunday: 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16/Ps 89:2-3, 4-5, 27, 29 [2a]/Rom 16:25-27/Lk 1:26-38

Welcome to St. Joan The Lord anoints us, as he did Jesus, “to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the broken-hearted” (Isaiah 61:1, NRSV). We gather here to be strengthened for this work. Welcome!

Today is Giving Sunday!!! Please take a tag, purchase the gift, WRAP THE GIFT and

ATTACH THE TAG TO THE OUTSIDE of the package. IF BUYING A GIFT CARD, PLEASE MARK THE AMOUNT ON THE TAG. Please bring the gift to the Giving Sunday celebration in the parish hall after each Mass. IMPORTANT: If you forgot your gift, please make sure that you bring it back to the parish hall BY 12:00 TODAY! (December 17th)

From the Pastor Greetings of Peace, As we begin this Third Week of Advent, the candles on our wreath are beginning to make

the circle of light even brighter! We light the “rose” colored candle, and we rejoice that the Dawn of our Salvation is near. We are also reminded of the brightness and nearness of God’s light and love. It is amazing that Christmas is only one week away. Wow! Please note our parish mass schedule for the weekend of Dec 23-24 and the Christmas Eve/Christmas Day schedule:

Masses for Sunday (regular parish mass schedule) Sat Dec 23 4:30 pm Sun Dec 24 8:00 am, 10:00 am, 12:00 noon Masses for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Sun Dec 24 4:00 pm, 6:00 mass, 10:00 pm (note: one mass at 4:00 pm, in church) Mon Dec 25 10:00 am, 12:00 noon (note: no mass at 8:00 am on Christmas Day) There is no daily mass on Tuesday December 26. As you are aware, the masses for Christmas are very crowded! Especially the 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm masses on Christmas eve. (Please note that we have one mass at 4:00 pm on Christmas eve. Please take advantage of the “overflow parking” across the street at the Cleveland Clinic and take the “Shuttle” to and from Church for the 4:00 mass.) Let’s also be kind, hospitable, and welcoming to those who come to mass at St. Joan of Arc. Some may be returning home to visit, or from college, or service in the military. Others may be those who come only to mass for Christmas. Even if they sit where you normally sit in church or seem “unfamiliar,” remember “Hospitality” is a wonderful virtue! Thank you. Please know you are in my heart and in my prayers, especially during this Season and these “Holy Days.” Blessings & Peace, and Noel.

Fr. Gary

Donations for Altar Flowers Christmas offerings are now being accepted for the 2017 season. You and your loved

ones will be remembered at the Christmas Masses, and a list of the designated names will be published in the Christmas bulletin. To make a donation, just use the envelope available in your monthly packet. Clearly print the names on the back of the envelope and place your donation in the collection basket at Mass, in the “Flower” box in the Gathering Area, mailed or dropped off at the Parish Office.

Parish News

Baptismal Class All new and expectant parents who have never attended a baptis-mal preparation program are re-quired to do so before the baptism of their child. The next program will be held on Monday, January 8, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. in the Gathering Area. To register, please contact Diana Guritza at 440.552.1046 or dinah627@windstream.com Ministry Schedules The new ministry schedule is ready to be picked up in the servers sacristy and also on the parish website. Oplatki For Sale Oplatki is available in the Gath-ering Area and the parish office for $1 per package of four.

Office of Faith Formation

Advent Prayer Service Our PSR children in Grades 1-6 will participate in a special Advent Prayer Service on Monday, Decem-ber 18, in the Gym from 4:45-5:15pm. We welcome parents to join us in prayer on December 18 during this joyful season of Advent! Christmas Break for PSR, Kin-dergarten, and High School The last class before Christmas Break for Kindergarten-High School is Sun-day/Monday December 17/18. *PSR Classes resume on Sunday/Monday, January 7/8, 2018 for Kin-dergarten-High School. Children’s Liturgy of the Word We will not have Children’s Litur-gy of the Word on Christmas Eve, Sunday, December 24, or New Year’s Eve, Sunday, December 31. We will resume Children’s Liturgy of the Word on Sunday, January 7.

Youth Ministry

7/8 Night: Gingerbread Christmas Party Sunday, December 17, 6:30-8pm, Parish Hall 7th and 8th grade teens, join us for our Christmas party and ginger-bread making contest! Work in teams to design and decorate a na-tivity scene using giant ginger-bread people. The 8th grade leaders would also like to invite teens to bring a cash donation (from their own money!) to be sent in to the “Care Club” of St. Vincent de Paul to help families get food they need this holiday season. Participation is not required to attend this 7/8 Night.

St. Joan of Arc Catholic School News By Mrs. Shelley DiBacco,

School Principal

Faith. Academics. Excellence

Today is Gaudete Sunday or Joy Sunday, the beginning of the third week in Advent. We light the pink candle on the Advent wreath. Pink symbolizes joy, the joy that Jesus is almost here. When

parents get ready to bring a new baby home, they typically paint the baby’s room pink or blue. They do this out of joy for the baby’s arrival. In the same way, the priest wears pink and we light a pink candle to represent the joy we feel when welcoming Jesus during Christmas. We pray that Christ helps us to see that peace is possible.

On Thursday, December 14th we enjoyed the Choral and Band Christmas Concert performed by students in Kindergarten through 8th grade. Thanks to Miss Meyer, our Music and band teacher, for directing the choral concert

and the band and to Mr. Anderson, our strings director, for directing the orchestra. The singing and playing were wonderful. My hat’s off to them and the homeroom teachers for the extra time given for such a fine program. Although we have just three days of school this week, our students will be busy. On Monday, December 18th, we will gather one last time as a school community to light the fourth candle of our Advent wreaths.

On Tuesday, December 19th we will start our day with an all school Mass at 9:00 a.m. Our Christmas parties will take place on Wednesday, December 20

th at 2:15 p.m. There is a Skating

Party on Friday from 10:00AM until 12:00PM. Classes resume on Wednesday, January 3rd.

- Shelley DiBacco

Calendar of Events Sunday, December 17th

Masses: 8 am, 10 am, 12 noon 10:00 am PSR (School) 11:00 am Gr. 7 & 8 PSR (School) 12:00 noon HS Theology (Library) 2:00 pm CYO Games (OC) 6:30 pm Youth Ministry (Hall) Monday, December 18th 4:30 pm PSR (School) 6:15 pm CYO (OC) Tuesday, December 19th 3:00 pm CYO (OC) Wednesday, December 20th 9:00 am OSOB (Hall) 3:00 pm CYO (OC) 7:00 pm RCIA (Rectory) Thursday, December 21st 3:00 pm CYO (OC) 6:30 pm Children’s Choir (Church) Friday, December 22nd 3:00 pm CYO (OC) Saturday, December 23rd Vigil Mass: 4:30 pm 3:15 pm Confessions (Church) Sunday, December 24th

Masses: 8 am, 10 am, 12 noon Christmas Eve Masses: 4 pm, 6 pm, 10 pm 3:15 pm Children’s Choir Practice (Church)

St. Joan of Arc Christmas Children’s Choir

All SJA Day School

Children &

All PSR/SJA Parish Children Welcome

The Christmas Children’s choir

will sing at the 4pm Mass in Church on December 24th,

2017.

Rehearsal is Thursday, December 21st from 6:30-

7:30pm in Church.

Warm-up on Christmas Eve begins at 3:15pm.

If your child can’t make the rehearsal, he or she can still

participate on Christmas Eve!

If your child would like to join, please contact Patrick

Wickliffe 440-247-0371 pwicklif@gmail.com

Family Perspectives

John the Baptist was a man of faith “sent by God to testify to the Light so that all might believe.” Men: when others see you as a brother, son, husband, uncle, step-father, or grandfather, what do they learn from you about caring, responsibility, commitment, nurtur-ing and love? Are you a witness to the Light?

Area News 2018 MARCH FOR LIFE BUS TRIP, 1 NIGHT HOTEL STAY Make this the year you take two days to take the message to our nation's capitol that we are a coun-try that supports the life of even its most vulnerable citizens. Leave Sacred Heart of Jesus, 1545 South Green Road, South Euclid, Ohio 44121 at 7 AM, January 18, sight-see upon arrival, overnight stay in a hotel, ride the Metro to Mass the morning of January 19, Rally and March in the afternoon. Board the bus after the March for late night return to South Euclid. Bus fare is $65. The rate per room is $114.

Rooms sleep up to 6 people.

Reserva-tions and infor-

mation: (216)932-9515 or heightsarea4life@gmail.com . Reservation deadline December 17. Call today!

Symbols of the Season

We all know about the advent wreath as a church symbol, lighting a candle each Sunday through Advent. The rose can-dle and rose sash on the banner represent Gaudete Sunday (the third Sunday). Gaudete means “rejoice” and we celebrate that the birth of Christ is very soon. The priest wears rose vestments as well.

The statue of Mary is veiled in blue cloth, a “powerful Advent image and sign of her trepida-tion and tranquil joy during her pregnancy.” Source: To Crown the Year, Peter Mazar.

Christmas Eve Mass At 4:00 PM

The Parking Lot Will

Be Full

Take advantage of the shuttle van. Park at

the Cleveland Clinic Medical Center

551 E. Washington Street.

Fast & Convenient!