Nativity of Our Lord

A child shall be born for us; and he will be called God, the Almighty; every tribe of the earth shall be blest in him.

Dec 17 to Dec 18, 2016 Mass Intentions + Memorial Mass SI – Special Intention Mass

Sat Dec 24 Vigil Christmas Masses 6:00pm ST SI for Knights of Columbus by the K of C 9:00pm SFX + Bill Truelove by Fran Truelove

Sun Dec 25 Christmas Day Masses 9:00am SP + Hugh McDonald Jr. by Jake & Alice Lickteig 11:00am SJ For the people of all 4 parishes

Mon Dec 26 No Masses today.

Tues Dec 27 No Masses today.

Wed Dec 28 Mass will be held at Sunset Manor 6:00pm SJ + Marjorie “Mike” Highberger Thur Dec 29 8:30pm ST Mark Kleinsorge by Margie & Robert Tastove Fri Dec 30 7:00am SFX + Agnes Schiffelbein by Andrea & Chris Jones Sat Dec 315:00pm SP SI for the people of all 4 parishes 6:30pm SJ + Frank Grossman

Sun Jan 1 Solemnity of Mary the Holy Mother of God

8:30am ST + Butch Ludolph 10:30am SFX + Bob & Rose Marie Hoag by Janet Reppert

A message from Father Quentin…

Merry Christmas!

May your Christmas be filled with peace, joy and many blessings!

Welcome to all our visitors!If you are new to the area and would like to join one of our four parishes, or are visiting and need anything during your stay, please notify the office or contact Fr. Quentin directly. God bless!

Please note that next weekend, the Mass schedule will return to the

previous time schedule:

Sat 5:00 pm St. Patrick 6:30 pm St. Joseph

Sun 8:30 am St. Teresa 10:30 am St. Francis

Adoration of the Blessed SacramentSJ 3pm – 11:30pm WednesdaySFX 8am - 10pm Thursday ST 9am – 9pm Thursday

\ Sacrament of Reconciliation 5:30 – 5:55pm SJ Wednesdays 7:30 – 8:00am SFX Fridays 4:30 – 4:55pm SP Saturdays

7:30 – 7:55am ST Sundays 7:00 – 7:55am SFX 1st Saturdays

For a reconciliation time that better fits your schedule, contact Father Quentin directly. Thank you and God bless.

Please pray for all those in need of the Lord’s healing touch… Rachel Belcher, Sonja Brungardt, Kayrn Chete, Kristine Cowan, Fr. Paul Frank, Kiefer Hawkins, Ronald Heinz, Doyle Johnson, Linda Lewis, Johnny Littlefield, Don Meriwether, Jamie Myers, Fr.

Main Office Hours: 8:30am – Noon: Tues - FridayWe’re closed every Monday and observed Holy Days For a meeting time that better fits your schedule, please contact Father or the office directly. Thank you. Bulletin Deadline: All items for the bulletin need to be submitted to the office by 8am each Wednesday morning in order to run in that week’s bulletin. Thanks + Mass Intentions + can be said as a memorial or for special intentions. A typical intention offering would be $10 per Mass. Masses are currently being scheduled for January 2017 and further into the new year. Please contact the office if you would like to place a request. Baptisms – Please contact Father or the office at least 3 weeks prior to scheduling.Weddings – Please contact Father or the office at least 6 months or more prior to scheduling.

Efron Nano, Andrea Quetone, Kenny Singleton, Glenda Thweatt, Roy White, Shane Wille, Steve Wise

Legion of Mary is a group of lay people that pray and serve in our parishes. The group meets at 7pm each Sunday evening at a local parish. If you would like to join or more information about this group, please contact Father directly or Marie Drumm 620-203-8391.

Faith Minute….. “It’s the most wonderful time of the year!”How many times have you heard that song over the past several weeks as the barrage of “Christmas songs” have reached a crescendo on this day? It’s the most wonderful time because it’s the most wonderful day of the year! It is the day where we began to realize the fullness of God’s love by taking on our humanity and pledging to never abandon us! For married couples, Christmas is analogous to our wedding day. We committed the entirety of our being to our spouse and pledged to “take on the other’s humanity” in every aspect. In other words, we committed to bringing joy and happiness to our beloved like the Christ child pledged to bring us joy and happiness.

This Christmas, let’s recommit to bringing our spouse joy and being more concerned with their happiness than our own. This recommitment is the greatest gift we can give.

Announcements for all 4 parishesFr. Quentin’s Open House will be held on Friday, December 30th from 3 – 10pm at the rectory. Everyone is welcome to stop and visit!Flock Note sign up reminder – if you are not receiving the 4 parish emails that include the bulletin, updates from Father, or information about the parishes, then please notify the office. We will need your email address so that we can add you to the notification list. This contact will be the quickest way to receive winter weather updates. Thank you! We have a temporary website set up as the new one is still being created. If you need to review a bulletin or check on a Flocknote reminder, you can go to this website address and see the information. www.st-francis-joseph-patrick-teresa.org Join FORMED today for many options to grow in the faith. It is a Free registration! Please go to www.formed.org and use the 4 parish code K97VG2 and register your family for this wonderful opportunity. Merry Christmas!

Please note that the main office will be closed from Friday, Dec. 23 through Wednesday, Dec. 28 for the Christmas holiday. If you have a sacramental emergency contact Fr. Quentin directly. Thank you!

Winter Weather Updates: During bad weather, we will notify you of our 4 parish Mass status by Flock Note and area News broadcasts. Please check your email and watch local television stations for cancellations. God’s blessings to all for safe travels during this wintertime season.

As you gather this Christmas with your family, whether it be at the table, around the tree, or by the manger scene, recall what gifts and graces you have been given this past year. Recall that your lives are made of days and nights and seasons and years, and we should each mark all our days in praise of God’s graces and mercy.

Prayer for Christmas: Remember us, Or God;

From age to age be our comforter. You have given us the wonder of time, the blessings of the year.

Bless us, your children, at this Christmas time and fill our hearts and the months ahead with the bright hope that is ours in the coming of your son, Jesus Christ. You are our God, living and reigning, forever and ever. Amen.

December EventsOne Thing Remains will be held on Friday, Dec 30 this year. Tony Melendez is the guest speaker and musician. This event is FREE for all families and is hosted by Blessed Sacrament Church & School and will begin in the gym at 3pm with a Nacho Bar dinner at 5:30pm and then from 7-8:30pm join us for Adoration, Benediction and Reconciliation with Archbishop Naumann in the church.

January Events TEC (Teens Encounter Christ) at Prairie Star Ranch is a retreat that explores the Paschal Mystery through a series of talks, reflections

and reconciliation. Cost is $110 per person and is for ages 16 – 21yrs. There is also an adult session. To register or for more details visit: www.archkck.org/TeensEncounterChrist 2017 TEC dates held at Prairie Star Rach include: Jan 14-16 and March 11-13.

"Open to Life: How Jesus through His Church Transforms Persons with Same-Sex Attraction." Come join us and hear Andrew Comiskey and others share how the Church is Good News for persons with SSA. Wed, Jan. 18, 2017, 10am to 1pm, St. Andrew the Apostle Church, 6415 NE Antioch Road, Gladstone, MO 64119. $20/person includes lunch and Open to Life booklet. Register at www.desertstreams.org/events. Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend will be held in Kansas City on Jan 27-29. For more information or to apply, please visit our website: www.wwme4youandme.org or call Tony & Barb Zimmerman, 816-741-4066 or email directly tonybarbz@prodigy.net

February EventsFebruary 4 & 5 – Rural Outreach Youth Ministry Training for parish grants. Please watch the bulletin for more information for this wonderful opportunity for your Youth Ministry program. Join us for the second annual HISTORY AND HERETICS SYMPOSIUM held at the Liberty Theater in Fort Scott, KS February 17-18th, 2017. Speakers include Christopher Check of Catholic Answers, Dale Ahlquist of the American Chesterton Society, Kevin O'Brien of Theater of the Word, and Anthony Esolen (author of Ten Ways to Destroy the

Imagination of your Child) to offer us Restoration of the Imagination. For more info and to register, visit: http://prairietroubadour.org

February Events continuedJr. High Youth Rally will be held on February 26. Cost will be $23 per attendee including chaperones. This is for all 6 – 8th grades. Contact your parish Youth Minister for more information.

General Information

Planning a wedding this year?? Engaged Encounter dates have been set for 2017. Contact Fr. Quentin with at least 6 months prior notification of the date you want to celebrate the sacrament of matrimony. Registration forms for Engaged Encounter are located in the back of each church or at the office. Savior Book Store is Now open ONLINE and there you’ll find Bibles, Catechisms and a selection of Catholic books recommended by Archbishop Naumann. Go to www.saviorbookstore.com today and order your options for Christmas Gifts and type advent2016 for 10 % off at checkout and save! The Gabriel Project is for anyone that is pregnant and could use help. Please call 913-602-0306 for help. We are also always seeking more volunteers. Do you have time to give? Let us know by e-mail: volunteer@gabrielprojectkc.com You are all in our prayers! New Archdiocesan Special Needs Ministry is now available and servers persons with disabilities. Call Tom at # 913.647.3054 for special needs support.

Joyful Marriage Project created by Archbishop Naumann is a new program for strengthening marriages. Couples are invited to work together for ideas, prayers and reflections. To participate in this program, go to: joyfulmarriageproject.com God bless your marriages! Retrouvaille Weekend: Does your marriage feel off track? Life can be difficult and so can the challenges faced in marriage. Does the distance between you seem wide or are you separated? Retrouvaille offers hope for a better relationship where you learn the tools of healthy communication, how to re-build intimacy and heal. Couples of all faiths are welcome as well as non-religious couples. For more information visit: HelpOurMarriage.com and know we are praying for you!

Announcements from the Archdiocese of KCK

For more information from the Archdiocese, go to www.archkck.org You will find links for parents, youth, singles/young adults, and many more planned events and opportunities. Thank you for your support.

God’s blessing for a very Merry Christmas!

St. Teresa of Avila Parish Announcements

Feast Day: October 15

St. Teresa of Jesus

Dec 24 – 6pm – Christmas Vigil Mass

Servers Emily Rolf, Hannah Gardner, Katelyn Renyer

Lector Jeff True Cantor Evelyn Ervin Offertory Mike Blaufuss Eucharist Irene Tatsove, LaDonna True, Larry DiekerUshers Cara Bowen, Wilma Setter Hosting NoneCircle None

ServersLector Cantor Offertory Eucharist UshersHosting Circle

St. Joseph Parish Announcements

Feast Day: March 19

Patron saint of fathers

December cleaner: Irene Combes

Dec 25 – 11am – Christmas Day Mass Lector Mary Lou Effinger Eucharist Joe Lichtenauer, Irene CombesOffertory Henry & Melissa Hall

Dec 31 – Sat – 6:30pm Lector Mary Lou Effinger Eucharist Jennifer Stukey, Pete Foltz Offertory Douglas & Tracey Henry

Jan 7 – Sat – 6:30pm Lector Joe Lichteanuer Eucharist Jennifer Stukey, Pete Foltz Offertory Ty & Emily Piper

St. Patrick Parish Announcements

Feast Day: March 17

The Apostle of Ireland

December Cleaners: Joan Gagnon, Ann Collins

Dec 25 – 9am - Christmas Day Mass Lector Dean Stark Eucharist Jackie Klenda & Ann Collins Offertory Jake & Alice Lickteig

Dec 31 – Sat - 5pm Lector Joan Gagnon Eucharist Jackie Klenda & Bonnie Stark Offertory Jim & Cindy Rubick

Jan 7 Lector Jackie Klenda Eucharist Mike Engelken & Cookie Rausch Offertory Kenny7 & Cookie Rausch

St. Francis Xavier Parish Announcements

Feast Day: December 3

The Apostle of the Indies & Japan

New Contribution Envelope boxes are in the back of church. Please pick up your box and if you do not have a box, please feel free to register and take one. Thank you for your continued generous giving! TGC would like to thank everyone that purchased our Brass Christmas Tag/Ornaments. We appreciate your help in our fundraising endeavors and value your continued support. Thank you so very much!

Dec 24 – 9pm - Christmas Vigil Mass Greeters None Offertory Dan & Susan Mueller Lector Kim Beyer Eucharist& Cup

Denise HumlicekKim Beyer, Sharon Beyer

Sacristan Andrea Jones Cross Braden Sloyer Servers Taven Allen, Zalie Allen Ushers Kim Beyer, Doug VanderLinden Hospitality None – Merry Christmas Rosary None – Choir music, please come enjoy!

Jan 1 – Sun - 10:30am Greeters Susan Mueller

Offertory Mark & Kelly Davidson Lector Donna Patterson Eucharist and Cup

Michelle VanderLlinden Donna Patterson, Nichole Louia

Sacristan Andrea Jones Cross Keegan Kuhlmann Servers Sage Kuhlmann, Taven Clay Ushers Jeff Sloyer, Dan Mueller Hospitality None – Happy New Year! Rosary Ray Ryan