Saints Mary & Joseph Parish 854-7151

Pastor: Rev. Michael Haag...mhaag30@hotmail.com Deacon: Denny Baker...triparishff@yahoo.com DRE: Jennifer Frericks… jfrericksdre@gmail.com Secretary: Linda Wood...secretaryssmjc@gmail.com Fall & Winter office hours: Mon., Tues., Thurs., & Fri.: 9:00 am-12 Noon Wed.: 1:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. Website: www.macoupincatholicchurch.com

Weekend Mass Times : Saturday (Vigil) 5:30 p.m. -- Sunday 9:00 am Daily Mass: Monday & Thursday: 8:00 am Communion Service: Tues., Wed., & Fri.: 8:00 a.m Confessions: Chaplet of Divine Mercy: Monday 8:30 a.m. Scriptural Rosary: Monday 9:00 a.m. Eucharistic Adoration: Thursday 8:30 a.m.- 12:00 Noon

Dec.16-17, 2017 Dec. 17-18, 2016

Sat. 5:30 pm Sun. 9:00am total

259 111 370

Sat. 5:30 pm Sun. 9:00am total

117 280 397

Weekly Parish offering Week 25 12/17 Total to Date

Weekly Envelopes $6,482.00 $121,082.00

Loose Cash $230.78 $5584.10

Totals $6,712.78 $126,666.10

Budget Goal $5,200.00 $124,800.00

Difference +1,512.78 +$1,866.10

Building fund $7,680.00

Immaculate Conception $160.00

Children’s Home $300.00

Retirement fund for Religious $285.00

Votive Candles $34.25

Christmas Offering $55.00

Parish Liturgical Ministry Schedule – Dec. 30-31, 2017

Music

Greeters

Lector

Eucharistic Ministers

Altar Servers

Dustin White

Carl & Charlene Behme

Steven Boente

Ann Grichnik*, Gary Pellizzaro*, Valerie Knight, Michelle Dyer, Wally Dyer, Lori Egelhoff, Ken Egelhoff

Jacob Egehoff and Brody Harris

Music

Greeters

Lector

Eucharistic Ministers

Altar Servers

Sunday 9:00 am Saturday 5:30 pm

In charity, please remember in your prayers:

… our military personnel, especially: Matthew Gazda, Stefan Gazda, Toni Lane, Bryan Murphy Jr.

… the sick and those in need: Marie France Armstrong, Eugene Bellm II, Sherri Boehm, Norman Bowman, Dave Coonrod, Karen Dworzynski, Karen Etter, Eric Gross, Jennifer Hartsook, Bill Hill, Bill Hoff, Bill Jones Sr., Larry Kaburick, Peg Kahl, Berni Katich, John Kirkland, Donna Leach, Heather Milner, Fr. George Morelock, Very Rev. James Neuman, Charles Pohl-man, Hazel Renz, Jim Rolando, Dawn Roesch, Fred & Betty Roth, Michelle Schudrowitz, Travis Schutte, Sarah Smith, Ben Strode, Paul Walton, Karen Walton, Brayleigh Winters.

Sat. 12/23: 5:30 pm: Eugene Vieceli

Sun. 12/24: 9:00 am: Tom Drew

Sun. 12/24: 5:30 pm: All Souls

Mon. 12/25: 9:00 am: Scott Long Tues. 12/26: 8:00 am Communion Service Wed. 12/27: 8:00 am Communion Service Thu. 12/28: 8:00 am Communion Service Fri. 12/29: 8:00 am: Communion Service Sat. 12/30: 5:30 pm: Suzy Rhodes Sun. 12/31: 9:00 am: Dorothy Pranger

Mass Intentions:

Contemporary Choir

Larry & Shirley Rodgers

Connie Reid

Mark Gillock*, Teri Gillock*, Gabe Long, John Kelly, Elaine Flowers, Sandra Philpott, Barb Jillson

Anthony Joiner & Saralynn Joiner

UPCOMING EVENTS Dec. 24, 2017

Christmas Schedule: Sun, Dec. 24, 4 pm - Benld

Sun, Dec. 24, 4 pm - Gillespie

Sun, Dec. 24, 5:30 pm - Carlinville

Sun, Dec. 24, 10 pm - Gillespie

Mon, Dec. 25, 9 am - Carlinville

Mon, Dec. 25, 10:30 am - Gillespie

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

As we celebrate once more our savior’s birth, it is also an opportunity to grow and deepen (or be introduced for the

first time) our relationship with Jesus. An infant demands a change in our lives and sacrifice. However, we also want the

infant to grow up. Why? Because we want a deeper relationship with him/her. An infant does not criticize, challenge,

inspire, frustrate, assist, make choices to love or hate, or accompany us through the good and bad times. If we leave

Jesus as an infant, we reduce our relationship with him to either sacrifice (What does he demand of us now?) or senti-

mentality (Aww! Isn’t he cute?). Jesus grew up and is asking for an adult relationship with us. Are we willing to enter

into this deeper relationship?

We have been praying to the Holy Spirit this past year that we will come to know our Lord Jesus Christ in a personal

way, grow in maturity as disciples of Christ, become actively engaged in the full life of the Church, and joyfully utilize

our gifts to bring about the kingdom of God and the salvation of souls. We are still attempting to do this and will for the

next year. One of the ways we will try to accomplish this is through providing opportunities to encounter Christ

throughout the year. On January 12-14, Ss Simon and Jude will host a Koinonia retreat . This is an opportunity to en-

counter Jesus through meditation on his passion, death, and resurrection. Contact Dcn Denny Baker at 854-7151 to

learn more. Another opportunity is through a parishioner’s generous donation of the book, Rediscover Jesus, to all pa-

rishioners. This book will be offered after mass this weekend and at Christmas. Even if you cannot make the Koinonia

retreat or don’t want to read, I ask and invite you to consider taking advantage of the other opportunities to develop

our relationship with Christ we will be offering throughout the new year.

Finally, enclosed with the book is the prayer to the Holy Spirit we have been praying the past year. For those who have

been praying this prayer this past year, thank you. I realize that all our efforts are doomed to fail without the Holy Spirit

and anything growth is likewise through His grace, mercy, and inspiration. If you have not been praying this prayer this

past year, I ask you to please include it among your daily prayers so that our parishes and ourselves may be renewed.

May the new year bring you closer to Christ,

Fr. Michael B. Haag

The Solemnity of Mary

January 1st

Is Not a Holy Day of Obligation. Weekend Masses will be the usual

times for Saturday and Sunday. There will be an 8:00 a.m. Mass on

Monday, January 1st at

Ss. Simon & Jude.

Saint Vincent de Paul meeting Sunday, January 14, 2018

The next SVdP meeting will be Sunday, January 14that 8:30 am (just before Mass)

in the conference room.

News in Religious Education

—A lifelong journey made together—

PSR and Youth Group Calendar

December Wed. 27th- No Class, Christmas Break

January

Wed. 3rd- No Class, New Years Break Sat. 6th- Confirmation Retreat Wed. 10th- Class Wed. 17th- Class ACRE Test for 5th and 8th Grade Wed. 24th- Class Sat. 27th- 7th Grade PSR Mass, 5:30pm Wed. 31st- Class *Note: Mrs. Frericks will be gone for a few weeks during the month of January for the arrival of Baby Griffin. Please feel free to still contact her via text or email if there are any questions or concerns about anything! * Mrs. Geri Schoen will be taking over the 2nd Grade while Mrs. Frericks is absent, and then Father Mike and Deacon Denny will be working with the Confirma-tion Class. The High School’s schedule remains the same with 2 of our High School teachers taking the

Youth Group News

Little Italy’s of Carlinville Pizza Fun Night! Next one is Wednesday, January 10th. Call and get your dinner there while also helping the Mission Trip!

Our Lady of the Snows Trip! St. Nick Night

Night of Service

Thank you to the Verticchio family for providing the bus trip to the Our Lady of the Snows Shrine! The children who stayed behind for the St. Nick Night had a great night filled with a movie about St. Nick, presents in their shoes, and a night to learn more about our faith through Christmas! The older youth that stayed behind were a big help in decorating the church and doing service to other areas in the building! Overall the night was a fantastic opportunity for learning, worship, fun, service, and fellowship! Thank you to all who played a part in making this night so fun and special!

Ss. Mary and Joseph Nativity Play 2017

Narrators: Rowan Nepute, Emily Barbre, Patrick Dunn, and Allie Killam

Joseph: Auggie Rowe Mary: Clara Boyett Angel Gabriel: Avery Troutwine

Wise Men: Ellie Behme, Dawson Wise, and Rylan Wise

Inn Keepers: Lucas Boyett, Blakely Swan, and Harper Ryan

Shepherds: Murphy Rowe, Avery Suits, Ella White, Drake Peterson, Barry Hart

Animals: Zoey Killam, Addison Swan, Brooks Ryan, Callen Rowe, Henry Frericks, Charlie Behme, Jonathan White, Bram Peterson, and Thane Peterson

Helpers: Lisa Wise and Austin McMillan and all parents!

Angel Choir: Stevie Harding, Charlie Harding, Mary Behme, Josie O’Brien, Maize Harris, Lexie O’Brien, Lanie O’Brien, Anna Petrovich, Rowan Nepute, Megan Dunn, and Jacob Petrovich

Pianist: Dustin White Director: Jennifer Frericks

Fourth Sunday of Advent Parish Notes and Community Events Dec. 24, 2017

Bulletin Update!

Starting January 1, 2018 we will no longer have an insert in the bulletin. We are currently working on the new layout so at this moment it is not finalized. However, there will no longer be a PSR page in the weekly bulletin. In it’s place will be a monthly newsletter on the last Sunday of each month. In the mean time, please be sure to check the website! The website contains weekly sermons, a calendar of events, Mass times, all the PSR news-letters, and much, much more!

www.macoupincatholicchurch.com

Koinonia Weekend January 12-14, 2018. (register by Jan. 5,2018 )

Name:_____________________________________________

Address:____________________________________________

City:_______________________________________________

Phone:______________ __________________

Allergies/special diet:_________________________________

Email:______________________________________________

Koinonia Weekend

As we have been announcing in the bul-letin, Our tri-parish community is hosting a Koinonia weekend, January 12-14, 2018.

Please don’t forget to sign up!

We promise this will be a worth while experience and You will not be disap-pointed. Sign up sheets, with an explanation of what Koinonia means, are in the narthex, or you can call the office at 854-7151 or use the form below.

Attention Parishioners The Mass on Sunday Morning, Dec. 24th is the 4th Sunday of Advent.

The Christmas Masses are: Dec. 24th, 5:30 p.m. and Dec. 25th, 9:00 a.m. Volunteers are needed for both the Christmas Masses. Sign up sheets are in the Narthex on the counter below the bulletin board. Please help out if you can.

Update on the Capitol Campaign Pledges

To Date there have been a total of $303,521.00pledged.

$143,120.00 has been collected so far leaving a balance of $160,391.00 to be Collected.

Thank you for your generosity!

Fr. Mike will be gone next week visiting his parents If there is an emergency contact Deacon Denny

The Solemnity of Mary

January 1st is NOT a Holy Day of obligation this year. Weekend Mass will be the usual times for Sat-urday and Sunday. There will be an 8:00 am Mass on Monday, January 1st at Ss. Simon & Jude in Gillespie.

Christmas is the perfect time to celebrate the love of God and family and to create memories that will last forever. Jesus is God's perfect, indescribable gift. The amazing thing is that not only are we able to receive this gift, but we are able to share it with others on Christmas and every other day of the year.

Are you part of the INN crowd or are you one of the

STABLE few?