ST. ALOYSIUS CHURCH & ST. MARY’S CHURCH OF PARIS, IL www.stmaryschurchparis.org DECEMBER 09, 2018 SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Don Farris Russ Keske Ron Crandell Richard Hilliard Linda Ballard Joe Morrisey Joe Henson Lenny Magers Amanda Barrett Gary Hayes Keith Kraemer Larry Elsberry Anne Toensing Becky Westerfield Steve Osborne John Yuza John Tinsman Karen Stark Penny Ring Gerry Wagner Charlotte Crippes Randy Swinford Betty Henson Dean Ballard Jim Sullivan

Altar Schedule Dec. 15th & 16th Organist: Priscilla Hutton

Saturday 5:30pm Lector: Jim Moore Cantor: Mary Ann Sullivan Altar Servers: Lane & Levi Happ EMC’s: Joy Stewart, Doug Happ Gifts: Step Family Greeters: Sandy Shanks, Ann Staats

Sunday 8:30am Lector: Dave Sullivan Cantor: Choir/Virginia Holley Altar Servers: Nick Fomera, Caleb Lawson

EMC’s: Pam Warren, Rose Marie Ketner

Gifts: Kevin & Penny Ring Greeters: Greg & Mary Ann Sullivan

Collection Counters: Julie Gross, Bob Bailey, Diane Hall

Dates & Events

Monday, December 10 ~ Office Closed 6:00 pm Choir Practice Tuesday, December 11 8:15 am Mass - St. Mary’s 3:00 pm 24 Hr Adoration Begins 6:30 pm Children’s Choir Rehearsal 7:00 pm KC Meeting

Wed., Dec. 12 ~ Our Lady of Guadalupe 8:15 am Mass - St. Mary’s 12:00 pm Noon Prayer Lunch 3:00 pm 24 Hr. Adoration Ends

Thursday, December 13 8:15 am Mass - St. Mary’s Friday, December 14 No Mass/Ador. - St. Mary’s 10:00 am Peter Rooney Funeral Saturday, December 15 8:15 am Mass - St. Mary’s 9:00 am Advent Study 1 - 3 pm Altar Society Cookie Sale 5:30 pm Mass - St. Mary’s

Third Sunday of Advent, December 16 7:00 am Mass - North Arm 7:45 am Choir Practice - St. Mary’s 8:30 am Mass - St. Mary’s 9:45 am PSR, JR/SR High 9:45 am Children’s Choir Rehearsal 11:15 am Mass - St. Mary’s

Decorate Church after Mass

Last Week’s Collection

ST. MARY’S SUNDAY OFFERING $ 10,898.35 DEBT $ 1,030.00 ACSA $ 270.00 RET. FOR RELIGIOUS $ 45.00 CHRISTMAS $ 20.00 FLOWERS $ 665.00 ST. ALOYSIUS SUNDAY OFFERING $ 678.00

24 HOUR EUCHARISTIC ADORATION

St. Mary’s Church

Every Tuesday starting at 3pm and ending on Wednesday at 3pm.

Everyone is welcomed and invited to spend some quiet time with the Lord anytime during these 24 hours. “Every time we look at the Blessed Sacrament our place in heaven is raised forever.” St. Gertrude, Quotes on the Most Blessed Sacrament, Reprint by permission of therealpresence.org

December 12

Rose Marie Ketner

December 16

DeAnn Cash

Marge Chapa

Sheree Hutchings

Maria Pia Vitale

December 17

Sue Halloran Lucy Tarr

December 18 Pauline Anderson

December 19 Betty McGinness

Lavera Bryan Bruce Ogle William Hewitt Brenda & Donnie Mullenix

Rita Lo Mike Miller Christina MacReynolds Joel Rivera June Deffenbaugh Pat Sweeney Barry Harmon Pauline Anderson Jim Ayers Alan Russell Betty Englum Anne Johnson Vic Lynch Jim Spencer Mike David Darrel Pitman Fr. Zimmerman Rosemary Elsberry Patsy Jared Debbie Simmons Victor Wagner

Please pray for the sick & recovering...

And all relatives & friends who are ill or experiencing difficulties in their lives –

that they may know the healing of God. Our Expectant Mothers:

Julie (Magers) Yawanis, Shaun Sullivan, Shelbi (Keys) Rhoads, Stephanie Tracy

We pray that God will bless and protect them during this time of waiting.

Our Military: Simon Holzer, Heath Goodwin,

Joe Jenness, Richard Scott, Justin Vice, Joe Kachmar, and Joshua Provo.

Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us.

For any changes or additions to this list,

Please call 466-3355 or email: stmaryschurchparis@gmail.com

God knows where we are – and comes. This is divine

revelation: God coming, God showing, God being with

us. Always! Let us, therefore, wear the cloak of justice and

the hat of God’s glorious splendor. That is, let us still dress

like Christ – just as we were first clothed in him at Baptism –

and radiate his presence – just as we were first illumined by

him in that sacramental bath.

John the Baptist calls us, today, to conversion. What will

I do?

How can I wear mercy like a comfortable cloak, a

well-worn hat?

How can my daily life shine in more merciful ways?

Daily Mass Intentions

Monday, December 10

No Mass

Tuesday, December 11

8:15 am Hayden Felgenhauer

Wednesday, December 12

8:15 am Sarah & Bob Mattingly

Thursday, December 13

8:15am Fr. Zimmerman’s

80th Birthday

Friday, December 14

No Mass

Saturday, December 15

8:15 am Craig Catanzariti

5:30 pm Micki Englum

Sunday, December 16

7:00 am Max & Marguerite Lenderman

8:30 am Connie & Ruth Ashley 11:15 am For the People of St. Aloysius & St. Mary’s

The 2nd Sunday of Advent symbolizes Faith with the

“Bethlehem Candle” reminding us of Mary and Joseph’s

journey to Bethlehem.

This weekend, 12/8-12/9, is a special collection to support the Retirement Fund for Religious. Envelopes are in your packets and in the Gathering Space. Thank you for your generosity!

A substitute for ADORATION is needed on

Wednesday, December 19th from 2-4 am.

Please call the office if you are available.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patronal Feastday of the Americas – Wednesday,

December 12, 2018 God comes to the poor. God

came, through the Virgin of Guadalupe, to poor Juan

Diego. God was manifest, kindly present in a miraculous image and a cloak full of roses. God

comes to us, comes to me. What will I do to show I am also full of God’s good grace?

“Word of Life”

“‘Perhaps one of your friends has become pregnant unexpectedly. As someone who has been there, I

encourage you to support your friend in her new journey of being a mother. Not sure how to help or what to say?’

Learn ten tips at www.usccb.org/support-her.”

“10 Ways to Support Her When She’s Unexpectedly Expecting”

USCCB Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities

Our Dearly Departed

Peter J. Rooney

Eternal rest grant unto him , O Lord,

and let perpetual light shine upon him.

May the souls of all the faithful departed, through

the mercy of God, rest in peace.

ST. ALOYSIUS CHURCH & ST. MARY’S CHURCH OF PARIS, IL www.stmaryschurchparis.org DECEMBER 09, 2018 SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Dear brothers and sisters,

This Sunday is always John the Baptist proclaiming the Messiah. It is wonderful and we can sense the joy of the

Baptist. God is sending a Redeemer. We know that it does not turn out to be the kind of Redeemer for which many

were hoping. This Redeemer is not a man of power and might in the way of the world.

Listen to the Prophet Baruch once again: God is leading Israel in joy by the light of his glory, with his mercy and

justice for company. The Redeemer will bring joy, mercy and justice. Jesus teaches us how to live in joy with

mercy and justice by his humility and poverty. This is not the kind of redemption for which people hope.

The Letter to the Philippians tells us: the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the

day of Christ Jesus. The good work begun in us is faith, not power and might. Faith in a God who loves us. Faith in

a God who sends us His Son to free us from sin.

The Gospel of Luke today gives us the words of the Baptist: Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.

John the Baptist proclaims a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. It is the poor and the outcast who

follow him. Occasionally a person of wealth and power gets interested in him. Some people seem to think that he is

a fanatic.

This Advent presents us with the normal challenge of our faith: Who do we say that Jesus is? Who is Jesus in my

life here and now? Do I want a Redeemer? What kind of a Redeemer?

Our God loves us and promises everlasting life in the world to come. In this life He only promises us suffering and

trials—with a deep inner joy and peace if we live in faith. Advent reminds us to purify ourselves from all that is not

of God. John the Baptist points the way for us in Advent: purify, repent and forgiveness. Yet we know that this

message is to prepare us for the coming of One who loves us beyond all we can imagine and who wants us to share

His life forever.

Let us walk the way of the Lord in this Advent and know the presence of the Savior in our lives. Come, Lord Jesus.

Peace and Everything good!

Fr. Valery Burusu

Parochial Administrator

Thank you to all that

supported the Angel Tree!

Advent Study

Please join us for an Advent study called

the “Sacred Reading”. It will be on

Saturdays at 9:00 am beginning

December 1 and will continue through

January 12. The Study will take place in

the meeting room at St. Mary’s and last about an hour.

Priscilla Hutton is facilitating.

We will have copies of the book available in the parish office. You may pick one up anytime after November 21st. RSVP—so we order enough books. If you are unable to attend the study, the book is available to purchase on Amazon.

The class is designed to give us time to ponder and pray along with the weekly scriptures through Advent.

Fr. Zimmerman’s 80th Birthday is Dec.

13th! If you would like to mail a card,

his address is 2601 Montvale Dr., Apt.

319, Springfield, IL 62704.

At The Hall (former KC Hall)

614 N Main St.

Paris, IL

Saturday, Dec. 8th

11 am - 5 pm

Sunday, Dec. 9th 12 pm - 4 pm

Plush Boutique, Homemade Treats,

Bread made by Phil Wright, and so

much more. Please contact Johna

with any questions 822-7623.

Maybe this Advent Season we can take some travel advice from the Magi!

These wise travelers probably set our on their journey long before the Christ child was born.

They kept their eyes focused on a large bright star that led them to Jesus. Our focus, like theirs, should be something larger than the mall and we must keep God as our focus.

The Magi could only take what would fit on their camels, so most of what they had was left behind. Advent is the time to leave behind anything that could slow us down; grudges, unrealistic expectations, unfair demands and most of all sins. Give it all to God in confession and continue along your journey to Christmas.

One Magi traveling alone would never have made it. They needed each other for support and encouragement. Like the Magi we need to travel this Advent as a parish family, for support and encourage-ment to reach our final destination on Christmas day.

Hope kept the Magi going. Many had seen the star, but only these three went in search of the King. To overcome discouragement, the skepticism of others and uncertainty, Christians need hope to make their Advent journey to Christmas and beyond.

So this Advent, keep your focus, travel light,

Travel together, and be a hopeful people.

Help is needed next Sunday, December 16th.

Parishioners, family members and friends are

invited to come and decorate St. Mary’s for

Christmas after the 11:15 am Mass. The more help

we get the easier it will be. Men are encouraged to

bring their tool boxes and a power drill.

There will be two additional opportunities

for you to receive the Sacrament of

Reconciliation during the Advent Season.

There will be confessions on Dec. 18th at 6 pm

and a penance service on Dec. 20th at 6:30

pm. Fr. Koomson from St. Mary’s in Marshall

will be here for confessions on Dec. 20th.

ST. ALOYSIUS CHURCH & ST. MARY’S CHURCH OF PARIS, IL www.stmaryschurchparis.org DECEMBER 09, 2018 SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Altar Society

Looking ahead: Cookie sale will be December 15th, 1-3pm. We need dozens of homemade cookies. We need helpers to decorate on the Friday before at 9:30am; Saturday 11am - 1pm -arrange cookies & make tags -make/serve popcorn & drinks Sat 12pm -1pm -Man the children’s table Sat 1pm-3pm -help Santa

-sell cookies

PSR Classes (PreK-5th grade) & Parents:

"The Lord Keeps His Promises" is the topic for our

next PSR class on Sunday, December 9th.

Classes are in the school on the second

Sunday of each month at 9:45 am.

Children’s Choir Rehearsal will be on:

Tues., Dec. 11 @ 6:30 pm

Sun., Dec. 16 @ 9:45 am

Tues., Dec. 18 @ 6:30 pm

Sun., Dec. 23 @ 9:45 am

We are currently viewing Bishop Robert Barron’s DVD series “The Mass” at 9:45 am in the meeting room on 12/9,1/06 & 1/13. Everyone is welcome to join our Adult Faith Formation group. Each session will include a 20-30 minute DVD and a brief group discussion.

“Keeping the Faith”

St. Mary’s Altar Society

members invite you to

their annual...Cookie Sale

Homemade cookies for the

Holiday Season

Saturday, December 15

1 pm –3 pm

St. Mary’s Parish Hall

528 N. Main St.

Paris, IL

$6.00 for a Baker’s Dozen

Mr. & Mrs. Santa will be

here to visit with the

children, so bring along

your cameras for pictures.

Overwhelmed with Christmas tasks? Let us help! The St Mary’s Jr. High PSR students will wrap your gifts - please bring them to the meeting room after the 8:30 Mass on

December 16th—you can wait while we wrap them or pick

them up before 10:45. We will accept donations to be used for a worthy cause determined by the students. Thank you!

CHRISTMAS FLOWER ENVELOPES are in the pews.

Your donation towards the cost of our Christmas

decorations will be greatly appreciated. List the

names of family members or friends you would like

remembered at a special Mass at the end of the

year. The names will be listed in the bulletin on

December 30th

.

St. Mary’s will be preparing the manger for the Christ Child.

For each good deed you perform during Advent, we ask that you place one piece of colored paper in the

basket in the back of church. That basket will be brought forward with the other gifts during Mass and the

paper will then be placed in the manger. In this way we will prepare a loving place for Jesus to lie, not only in the manger,

but also in our hearts.

Suggested good deeds:

Smile at someone who looks sad.

Say “I love you” to your spouse.

Buy a gift for the poor.

Say, “Hello,” to your neighbor.

Say a prayer for those you do not get along with.

Invite a friend to attend Mass with you.

Spend time in front of the tabernacle and pray for someone who has caused you suffering.

Music Notes There is excitement in the air here at St. Mary’s Church as adults and children are practicing music to help us celebrate the

Birth of Christ. The Children’s Choir will be singing at the 4:00 o’clock Mass on Christmas Eve. The adult choir will be

singing at the 10:00 o’clock Mass (previously known as the “midnight Mass”) on Christmas Eve.

As I have witnessed and participated in rehearsals this past week, I have continued to ponder the power of music in our

church and our community, I found some comments by Dr. Milo Dodson which expressed my thoughts and feelings about

music. Dr. Dodson is a Catholic, a musician and a practitioner in the field of psychology. Here is what he had to say:

“Sacred Music is soulful and makes the soul full. We can FEEL God’s presence through music. God’s love is the

crescendos and fortissimos within us, allowing us to grow more through His will than we ever could alone.” (Today’s

Liturgy)

Dr. Dobson observed that people exude resilience when they are connected to something they feel is bigger than them-

selves. That can be a connection to a purpose, to others or to a calling that provides satisfaction and meaning. For

Catholics, “something bigger” is God. God is more than a coping strategy, but a lens through which we see life…

“Music is one of the most powerful and beautiful mediums of self expression.” When we express ourselves in a way where

we feel valued and heard, there is harmony between our experience of self and our experience of the world. And that is

quite literally a life changing experience. Knowing God through music is instrumental (pun fully intended) to having peace

in our hearts.” (Today’s Liturgy)

Throughout the ages, we have heard reports of the effects of music. One report refers to Pope Saint John Paul II on the

31st of December 1999 , the Jubilee Year of Redemption. As he slowly walked onto the stage to the thousands of youthful

singing voices, the aging pope acquired a distinct lightness to his otherwise belabored gait, lifted his cane from the floor,

and began conducting the youth in their carol. It suddenly became obvious that their song even had a transformative effect

on this extraordinary man. The Holy Father then said, “You have an important role to play in the Church’s life. You are the

messengers of beauty. The world needs your singing, for the language of beauty moves hearts and contributes to the

encounter to God. The joy that fills you when you sing must radiate around you and spark contagious enthusi-

asm.” (Today’s Liturgy)

We also have an important role to play in the Church. We can be the messenger of beauty. We can “move hearts” and

help others encounter God. We can radiate contagious enthusiasm. How does music affect you? Flahive, P. (2018, December 2). What Now For the Years to Come? : The Next Generation of Liturgical Musicians. Today's Liturgy: A

Quarterly Publication for Liturgy Preparation, 14-15.

Priscilla Hutton

Music Coordinator