Saint Joseph Church

Welcome to Saint Joseph Catholic Church

106 North Meramec Avenue Clayton, Missouri 63105-3788

Rev. Nicholas E. Kastenholz, Pastor Rev. Thomas J. Schaab, Senior Associate Deacon Del Leonardo Parish Office: 314-726-1221 Parish Fax: 314-721-5110

Parish e-mail: pat_stj@hotmail.com Parish website: www.stjosephclayton.org Rectory Hours: 8:30-4:00 pm, Mon-Fri Religious Education — PSR Debbie Wilmarth, CRE, PSR Principal deb.cre.stj@gmail.com School Office: 314-727-9059 Director of Music — Dr. Adam Thomé stjmusicclayton@gmail.com Director of Maintenance — Steve Topping 314-726-1221

Mass Schedule Sunday 7:30 am, 9:00 am, and 11:00 am Mon, Wed, Fri 6:30 am, 12:00 noon Tues, Thurs 8:00 am and 12:00 noon Saturday 8:00 am and 5:00 pm (Sunday Vigil) National Holidays See bulletin Holy Days of Obligation See Bulletin

Eucharistic Adoration Monday, Wednesday 7:00 am until 12:00 noon Tuesday, Thursday 8:30 am until 12:00 noon

St. Joseph Parish Council Members

Fr. Nick Kastenholz, Pastor Frank Hackmann, Education Commission Al Barbieri, Finance Commission Sharon Skrivan, Social Concerns Commission Larry Stewart, Anne Shapleigh Denny Staub, Barbara Summers, Christie Murphy, Fred Yap

St Vincent de Paul Emergency Assistance -

For assistance for food, util it ies etc. , please call 289-6101, box 2208. Our St. Vincent de Paul Society will respond promptly. You may make an appointment to meet with a member on Wednesday morning through the same number.

Rosary Weekdays 11:40 am

Thursday after the 8:00 am Mass

Perpetual Help Devotions Tuesdays after 8:00 am and 12:00 pm Masses

Sacrament of Reconciliation Weekdays 11:15-11:50 am Saturday 4:00-4:45 pm

Baptism The Sacrament of Baptism is administered on Sunday at 12:00 pm. To register for the Baptismal Instruction Program and schedule a Baptism, please call the Office.

Marriage Preparation

Couples are asked to contact the Parish Office 6 to 12 months before setting the date.

Download Our FREE Parish Phone App!

St. Joseph app is now available to download for iPhone and Android smart phones. Stay connected with our par-ish throughout the week with instant notifications, an easy-to-access event calendar, and the ability to quickly reply to or share messages via Facebook or Twitter. Also enjoy a bunch of additional features like prayers, daily readings, helpful reminders to silence your phone before Mass or Confession, and much more. Download our app today at myparishapp.com or search your phone's app store for myparish. OR, EVEN EASIER, go to our website, Stjosephclay-ton.org and click on the icon, it will take you directly to the app.

Make, track, and schedule parish donations directly from your computer.

Just log onto our website www.stjospehclayton.org

and follow the link.www.stjosephclayton.org

OR, you can scan this code and it will take you directly to the site. If you are new to Online Giving, register by enter-ing our church ID of 1593.

Fourth Sunday of Advent December 24, 2017

Sunday, Dec. 31 The Holy Family of

Jesus, Mary & Joseph

7:30 am Ozzie Barron

9:00 am St Joseph Parishioners

11:00 am Floro-Leonardo Fam

Wednesday, Dec. 27 St John, Apostle &

Evangelist

6:30 am John & Colleen

Campbell Intention

12:00 pm Mickey Williams

Tuesday, Dec. 26 St Stephen, 1st Martyr

8:00 am Barie Mendelsohn Joy

12:00 pm Carol Plog

Monday, Dec. 25 The Nativity of The

Lord

7:30 am Dr. Sam Hardy

9:00 am Mary Regina Heger

11:00 am Thomas N. Taylor

Mass Intentions

Thursday, Dec. 28 The Holy Innocents,

Martyrs

8:00 am Al & Connie Brandel

12:00 pm William Henry Wagner Matthew Craig Parsons

Saturday, Dec. 30

8:00 am Poor Souls

5:00 pm Angelo Vricella

Friday, Dec. 29

6:30 am Helene Schweitzer

12:00 pm Patricia Wright

Notes From The Pastor's Pen

Eucharistic Adoration

Living in this hurried, noise-ridden and complex world, Eucharistic Adoration allows time for peaceful reflection. It is an opportunity to be filled with the insatiable love of Jesus Christ who waits for us and is ever ready to pour forth His abundant grace.

The schedule for this devotion at St. Joseph Church is Monday through Thursday following Holy Mass until noon.

Please call Bebe Kennedy, 314-721-5920 if you have any questions.

Merry Christmas, OK, it isn’t yet, but it is tomorrow (or Christmas Eve tonight) already. Amidst all of our preparations maybe this Bible passage will put us in the right frame of mind for what we are to prepare for.

MT 1:18-25 The Birth of Jesus. Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:

“Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son,

and they shall name him Emmanuel,”

which means “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home. He had no relations with her until she bore a son, and he named him Jesus.

May you and your families have a Merry Christmas.

Peace,

Fr. Nick

The Deadline to submit an

ar cle for the bulle n is

Monday at 10 am

We Pray For Our Loved Ones

May God provide

health and comfort to

Chris Tinker

Larry Stewart

Fran Staub

Jessie Collins

Mike Proctor

Mimi Menousek

Betty Graffy

Von Venice Adams

Rachael Schopp

Nick Seay

Barry Andrews

Fran Hagan

John Welch

John W. Paquet

Roger Drone

Joan Harrison

Annette DeGreeff

Betty Notter

Eugene Shalhoob

Sr. Eleanor

Maria Guehlstorf

Michael Phelps

Lajuana Hinch

Ethan Rose

Tracy Petit

Mary E. Gerrow

Leroy Ettling

Gene Larcade

Rest In Peace Let us pray for all of our deceased parishioners, relatives, benefactors and friends. We remember all of our loved ones who have gone before us and pray that they are celebrating with our Lord in heaven.

READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: Vigil: Is 62:1-5; Ps 89:4-5, 16- 17, 27-29; Acts 13:16-17, 22- 25; Mt 1:1-25 [18-25] During the Night: Is 9:1-6; Ps 96:1-3, 11-13; Ti 2:11-14; Lk 2:1-14 Day: Is 52:7-10; Ps 98:1-6; Heb 1:1-6; Jn 1:1-18 [1-5, 9-14] Tuesday: Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59; Ps 31:3cd-4, 6, 8ab, 16bc, 17; Mt 10:17-22 Wednesday: 1 Jn 1:1-4; Ps 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12; Jn 20:1a, 2-8 Thursday: 1 Jn 1:5 — 2:2; Ps 124:2-5, 7cd- 8; Mt 2:13-18 Friday: 1 Jn 2:3-11; Ps 96:1-3, 5b-6; Lk 2:22-35 Saturday: 1 Jn 2:12-17; Ps 96:7-10; Lk 2:36-40 Sunday: Sir 3:2-6, 12-14 or Gn 15:1-6; 21:1-3; Ps 128: 1-5 or Ps 105:1- 6, 8-9; Col 3:12-21 [12-17] or Hb 11:8, 11-12, 17-19; Lk 2:22- 40 [22, 39-40]

A Peek at the Week Ahead

Monday, December 25 Christmas Masses: 7:30, 9:00 & 11:00 am

Tuesday, December 26 NO RCIA

Wednesday, 27 NO Cornerstone Mtg NO Choir practice

Christmas Day Mass Schedule: 7:30, 9:00 & 11:00 am

Epiphany Open House We invite everyone to the Parish House after all masses on Sunday, January 7th

as we begin the Celebration of 2018. All Are Welcome!!! Fr. Nick and Fr. Schaab

The Clergy and Staff of St. Joseph wish you a Blessed Christmas,

and may 2018 be filled with joy and peace!

Roses for Life Sponsored by St. Joseph

Knights of Columbus

The weekend of January 6th & 7th, we will again provide "Roses for Life." Please take a rose from the baskets at entrances to church for the Roses for Life. Sign your name and address and drop it back in the basket, the Knights will make sure they are delivered to our Senators in Washington.

It is very important that we continue to make our Pro-Life commitment known. We must raise our voices for those inno-cents whose voices cannot have yet be heard.

Donations to help defray the cost of this program are gratefully accepted. Drop it in the basket with your rose.

Mass Schedule Solemnity of Mary, the

Holy Mother of God Monday, January 1

9:00 am

THE PARISH OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED DECEMBER

25 THRU JANUARY 1ST.

Sunday Worship Dec. 30-31, 2017

5:00 pm

Altar Servers Holt Schuler

Lectors Rosemary Pickle

Ministers of Communion Rosemary Hardy

Amy David Ramon Floro

7:30 am

Altar Servers Volunteer

Lectors Larry Glynn

Ministers of Communion Betty Torno

Frank Hackmann Greg Browne

9:00 am

Altar Servers Kateri & Claudia Gutting

Lectors John Gillis

Ministers of Communion Roy Blair

Brad Heger Terry Carmack

11:00 am

Altar Servers Lia Favazza

Lectors Flora Wilsker

Ministers of Communion Thom Schwetye Larry Stewart Deacon Del

To become a minister call 726-1221.

Parish School of Religion Update Tonight at 4:30 before the Vigil Mass for the solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord the children from PSR will be presenting a short play about the night so long ago in Bethle-hem. The children have been practicing for several weeks. It is wonderful to see the excited faces of the children as they prepare this gift to the parish. Nativity plays have long been a part of Christian Tradition. The tradition is traced back to the middle ages when choirs and clergy would catechize the people with plays depicting Bible stories. As time went on this became a popular method of catechesis for children. In the United States the Christmas Pageant is part of our vernacular. Everyone knows the Christmas story because they have seen or been in a Christmas Pageant. Share the Christmas story with your children tonight at 4:30, then stay for Christmas Mass.

Have you felt a tugging on your heart? Are you looking for a way to share your love of the Catholic faith with others? Or maybe you’ve thought about teaching PSR? God calls all of us to be active in our own way. St. Joseph Parish School of Religion is a great place to develop your talents. We are not necessarily looking for professional teachers to be catechists. We need people with a love of God and His Church, who are willing to devote some time to pass the faith on to the next generation. If you have ever thought about helping teach catechism classes please consider coming to the Catechist Informational Night on Mon-day January 8th at from 7:00 to 8:00 pm. The meeting will take place in the school for one hour. Get your questions answered, find out about Catechist formation, meet the Coordinator for Religious Education, and see if God is calling you to be a catechist at St. Joseph.

PSR Breaks

PSR Christmas Break is December 24-January 1. Classes resume January 7th & 8th. Martin Luther King, Jr. Break is January 14th and 15th. Classes resume January 21st and 22nd.

Help Ronald McDonald House Charities St. Louis Support Families with Sick Children

Are you looking for a meaningful volunteer opportunity? Did you know that Ronald McDonald House Charities of St. Louis provides both local and out-of-town families with the comforts of home through its Ronald McDonald Family Rooms? Located inside St. Louis-area hospitals, these Family Rooms provide loved ones with daily essentials in a comforting environment just steps away from their child’s hospital room. The Family Room Program is expanding at the end of this year adding a fourth area Family Room at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. The Family Rooms are staffed completely by volunteers, who assist families as they relax and refresh during long days at the hospital. With the expansion, we are in need of additional volunteers to help staff our two Family Rooms at St. Louis Children’s Hospital 9a.m.-9p.m. seven days a week. To learn more about this volunteer opportunity or to get started, please contact Court-ney Fischer, Manager-Family Room Program at cfischer@rmhcstl.com OR (314)400-4329.

End of Year Contributions If you wish to make a contribution, by cash, check, or electronic transfer to St. Joseph for the calendar year 2017, it must be received by our office, or postmarked, by Dec. 31, 2017.

To transfer stock, please contact Patricia Griffaw at 792-7123 at the Archdiocesan Finance Office.

Thank You for your support.

19th Annual St. Louis Marian Conference to be held on Jan. 12, 13, 14, 2018 at the Renais-sance Hotel, 9801 Natural Bridge Rd., next to the Airport.

Confirmed speakers are: Bishop Robert Her-mann; Father Charles Becker; John Carpenter; Fr. Joseph L. Coffey; Fr. Vincent Lampert, Exhorcist; Fr. Mitch Pacwa, SJ, EWTN; Fr. Tom Sullivan; Fr. Robert J. Brockland, CM; Wayne Weible.

For additional information call 314 401-1707 or visit www.stlmarianconference.net.

EVERYONE WELCOME

Sunday Offerings-Dec. 16-17, 2017

Sunday Envelopes $7,097.00 Loose $839.00 Online Giving $679.00 Holy Day $178.00 Weekday noon Masses $338.50 Total for week $9,131.50 YTD Budget $248,049.00 YTD Actual $226,350.95 YTD Operating Surplus/(Deficit) ($21,698.05)

Marriage on Tap STL

Invites you to enjoy an evening of marriage enrichment:

Our Marriage in God’s Plan

Featuring Jerry and Julie Cinco Jerry and Julie have been married 47 years and have two grown daughters. They are parishioners at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in St. Charles, MO. They made a Marriage Encounter Weekend early in their marriage and heard God’s call to live out their sacrament as a couple. They have faced many ups and downs in their marriage adventure and a ribute their strong marriage to God’s pa ence and constant love for them. Jerry and Julie have made their marriage voca on their life’s work through their involvement in Worldwide Marriage Encounter and in preparing engaged couples for marriage. Their love for one another and for the gi of marriage shines in all that they do.

Tuesday, January 16, 2018, 6:00 p.m. The Pasta House Company ~ Party Room

8213 Delmar Blvd, University City, MO 63130 (just east of I-170)

$20 per person includes buffet dinner featuring Pasta House Salad, Baby Loaves of Bread, Sicilian Grilled Pesce, Penne Primavera, Pasta con Broccoli and Mostaccioli with Meat Sauce.

Price also includes tax and p. Cash bar available.

This evening is open to all married couples. Visit us on Facebook:: Marriage on Tap STL RSVP required; please respond by 1-12-18 to marriageontapstl@gmail.com

Saint Joseph’s 17th Annual Trivia Night Saturday, February 10th, 2018

Doors Open: 6:30

START TIME: 7:00 (promptly)

FINISH TIME : Usually around 10:00

TABLES O F 8 (Please feel free to come as a smaller group, and we will create teams of 8.) COST : $20 EACH, $160 for a table of 8 EARLY BIRDS : If you pay for a table of 8 by Feb. 1, your cost will be only $150. Make checks payable to St. Joseph Parish and mail to Joe Dickmann, 1707 Del Norte, St. Louis, MO 63117.

PR I ZES: Last year we had a very successful gift basket raffle and we plan to do so again.

If you can provide a gift basket or gift-card prizes, please call Joe and Carolyn Dickmann at 314-781-8650.

FOOD : Soda, water and light snacks will be provided. Bring your own food and alcohol if you wish.

TO REGISTER BY PHONE , OR FOR QUESTIONS: Call Joe and Carolyn Dickmann at 314-781-8650 or 314-484-1838.