The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) December 25, 2016

THE GIFT OF GOD’S WORD On this day of gifts and gift‑giving, it seems appropriate that we take a moment to reflect on the great gift of God’s Word. Because it is crea-tive, God’s Word always points to its author, al-ways calls us to respond. Because it is powerful, God’s Word can link the sublime with the ridicu-lous, the transcendent with the immanent, the di-vine with the human. Because it is graceful, God’s Word establishes a relationship of deep intimacy between us and God. At the heart of God’s Word lies a tantalizing tension between the mysterious and the mun-dane. In our liturgical celebration, this unre-solved tension both reveals the meaning of life for us and calls us to respond, to act upon that meaning. Once accepted and opened, the gift of God’s Word is a gift that keeps on giving and keeps on calling us to give in return. It dares us to be like the gift‑giver and to become gifts for others, not only at Christmas, but at every moment of life.

Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.

St. Anthony Catholic Church PARISH OFFICE: 364-6150 FAX: 364-0969 SCHOOL OFFICE: 120 W. Park Ave. Phone 364-1952.

**In case of an emergency Email: frneusch@gmail.com or 806-570-5706** Parish website www.stanthonyscatholicparish.com

Parish Office Address 114 Sunset Drive in Hereford, Texas 79045 PARISH PASTOR — Rev. Fr. Anthony Neusch DIOCESE of AMARILLO — Bishop Patrick Zurek

Sign up for R.C.I.A and Small Groups Adult Faith Formation email janiebanner1@wtrt.net or call 364-6150 or 364-7626

Send bulletin art & articles to Jasmin Enriquez at jme.stanthonys@gmail.com by NOON Wednesday morning of week prior. Parish Office is open Mon. 10AM– 12PM, 1PM-5PM, Tue.—Thurs. from 9AM-12PM, 1PM—5PM w/ early closing on Fridays 9AM-12PM, 1PM-4PM during School

Session. Closed holidays, holy days and for some funerals & staff meetings. WELCOME NEWCOMERS: Please notify the church office of your arrival or if any changes in phone or address are made.

CONFESSION: Wednesdays @6:30am-7am & 6-6:45pm. Thurs@6:30am-7am. Fri.@7am-8am. Sat. @4-5:30pm. and Sun.@7:45am-8:45am and after the 9 AM Mass until 11 AM. Any time by appointment. Call the church office. NO confessions ON TUES. Priest’s day off .

BAPTISM PREPARATION CLASSES: 4th Wed of each month. MUST Pre-Register in the church office. Watch Bulletin for dates

WEDDINGS: Couples must be members of the Parish. To begin wedding preparation, please call for an appointment with the pastor at least six months prior to planned wedding date. Pick up a marr iage packet with all the wedding guidelines from church secretary.

SACRAMENT OF THE SICK: Call 364-6150 day or night. OR during office hours to schedule the Sacrament of Anointing prior to surgery or if health is serious or an accident has occurred. It is a Sacrament of healing and comfort, not necessarily of the dying.

The Nativity of the Lord DEC. 25 2016 Second Collection for Retired Fund for Religious

NO RCIA this week, have a MERRY CHRISTMAS! NO Elementary F.F.C MERRY CHRISTMAS. NO Study of Weekend READINGS in Library. MERRY CHRISTMAS Vocations Crucifix: 7PM: Monica & Emilio Hernandez Midnight Mass: Pedro & Elvira Enr iquez 10AM: Joe & Leslie Freitas NO HOLY HOUR MONDAY— 7:15AM Mass NO School all week! Church Office closed all week, except by appointment. TUESDAY—5:30PM Mass 7-8 AM Men’s Lectionary Study Group: A/R. NO 24hr. Adoration WEDNESDAY— 7:15AM Mass 7PM Baptismal Class: Library. NO Wednesday morning study next two weeks. The first Wednesday of January will be our return Epiphany Party. All are welcome to begin a new year of study and prayer from 9:30-11 am in Antonian Room. YES Wednesday “Unleashed Study” 5:15-6:15: A/R NO J r . High and High School F.F.C. THURSDAY—7:15AM Mass FRIDAY— 8:15AM Mass NO Book STUDY. See bulletin for 2017 January new book study. Call Janie to order a book for you! "WHY STAY CATHOLIC?"

SAT. 5PM LITURGY DEC. 31, 2016 Vocation Crucifix taken by Copeland Family

Octave day of the Nativity of the Lord, Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God. JAN. 1, 2016

NO RCIA, see you all next week! NO Elementary F.F.C. in school classrooms. NO Study of Weekend READINGS in Library Vocation Crucifix: 8:45AM Mass: Volunteer 11:30AM Mass: Danielle & Rick Bar tels NO HOLY HOUR

LITURGY INTENTIONS

ALTAR SERVERS

Mon.7:15AM Randy Krieghauser RIP Tues. 5:30PM Nick Schalfer RIP Wed.7:15AM Karen Carlin Health Thurs. 7:15AM Phil Berend RIP FRI. 8:15AM Persecuted Christians SAT. 5PM Coletta Diller RIP SUN. 8:45 AM People of the Parish SUN. 11:30AM Philip Foster RIP

Lector Schedule for Dec. 31/Jan. 1:

5 PM Mass: Monica Hernandez and Julie Lueb

8:45 AM Mass: Thomas Albracht and Monica Valdez

11:30AM Mass: Rober t Br ibesca and Jack Detten

Mon.7:15 AM Volunteers Please Tues.5:30PM Jonathon Nanez, Jeremiah Nanez and Josef Grotegut Wedn.7:15AM Camryn Blair and Kyndal Blair Thurs.7:15AM Azalea Alaniz and Arissa Alaniz FRI. 8:15AM Greg Urbanczyk and Colton Urbanczyk SAT. 5PM Pete Rodriguez, Avery Rodriguez, Abby Rodriguez and Johan Grotegut SUNDAY 8:45AM Rachel Betzen and Volunteers please. SUNDAY 11:30AM Arissa Alaniz, Azalea Alaniz, Cadence Copeland and Jasmine de la Cruz

STEWARDSHIP of TREASURE Dec. 17/18 2016

Envelopes– 59 Loose Checks–28

Envelopes/Checks $8,546.00

Plates $728.75

Children $93.25

Total $9,368.00 Extra Collection Retirement Fund $175.00 Christmas Flowers $230.00 Life Poverty Line $30.00 FINAL Total = $9,803.00

All Altar Flowers, are in MEMORY of Garry Yosten donated by Linda Yosten and family, thank you and have a Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion Schedule for Dec. 31/Jan. 1:

5 PM Mass: Jennifer Casarez, Lisa Garcia, Audrey

Meador, Jens Brorman and Helen Noyes (L)

8:45 AM Mass: Al Simnacher (SC) Brenda Yosten (SC)

Ray Berend (SC) Robert Zepeda (SC), Vanessa Torres,

Charlene Sanders, Pat Simnacher (L) SICK CALL ONLY: Claudia Garcia, Frankie & Roni Vallejo

11:30AM Mass: Aida Lemus, Aracely Correa,

Teresa Garth, Teresa Munoz, Mary Ann Ramirez,

Suzanne Carrasco (L) FRIENDLY REMINDER NO ADORATION. Adoration will resume January 3rd &

4th. Have a Blessed Merry Christmas

and a Happy New Year!!

Retirement Fund for Religious Second Collection: Aging religious need your help. Sen-ior Catholic sisters, brothers, and religious order

priests have offered their lives in services to others—educating the young, comfort-ing the sick, seeking justice for the op-pressed. Today, many are frail, elderly, and in need of assistance. Your gift to the

Retirement Fund for Religious helps to furnish medications, nursing care, and other necessities. Please give generously to today’s second collec-tion.

NOTE for Wednesday Ladies Lectionary STUDY Group We started a book called "Resisting Happiness" by fun author Matthew Kelly. After looking at the weekly Readings, we read chapter by chapter and discuss how we can be better versions of the Christians we have been. We excitedly invite new members to Wednesday class. The new books are $3 each. Janie Banner, Adult Faith Formation Co-ordinator 364-6150 or -7626. Class will resume in the first week of January!

" W H Y S T A Y C A T H O L I C ? "

We will begin the NEW Year 2017 with this new book (10 ordered): "WHY STAY CATHOLIC?" by Mi-

chael Leach. We meet FRIDAY mornings in the Antonian Room from 7-8:05, starting promptly at 7 with prayer and go chapter by chapter through the book together. If you wish to

join the group, please get your book from Ama-zon.com and be here JAN. 6th! Coffee is always on! In Christ, Janie Banner - Parish Adult Faith

Formation Coordinator

54 rosaries were prayed for Vocations, the last several weeks. Thank you all so much!

CALLING ALL “SINGING SAINTS”

THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF ST. ANTHONY CATHOLIC SCHOOL WILL BEGIN WITH THE CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK LITURGY ON JANUARY 29, 2017 AT 11:30 A.M. THE LIT-URGY PLANNING COMMITTEE WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME ALL FORMER SINGING SAINTS CHOIR MEMBERS TO BE A PART OF THE LITURGY. IF YOU WERE A PART OF THAT CHOIR, PLEASE CONTACT MRS. LUEB BY E-MAIL AT nalueb@yahoo.com or by phone at 806-364-4548 AND LET HER KNOW IF YOU WOULD BE INTERESTED IN SINGING FOR OUR CELEBRATION. It would involve a practice Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m. right before the Mass.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS Knights of Columbus are selling sausages $5 per pound, they have regular sausage and jalapeno and cheese sausage. If you have any questions please call Albert Schoenenberger, (806) 344-2253 or (806) 289-5341.

LOST and FOUND: A small wooden rosary was found last Wednesday in the Rectory Chapel after Adoration and a green and orange Gerber sippy cup was found after Mass last week.

RCIA GRATEFULLY THANKS ... for deli-cious breakfast foods made with God's love and shared during December: JR & Rachel

Garman, Lupe & Augustine Castillo, Harri-son & Mayra Parsons, Dwight & Patty Jesko, Ei-

leen & Larry Alley,Rudy & Suzanne Carrasco, Joan & Carl Strafuss, Lisa & Dennis Artho, Sharon

Cramer, Mary Ann & Noel Esqueda, Judith & Chris Grotegut, Steve and Margo Cortez and Annette Albracht and Tommy. We cannot do what we do

without you on our Team! GOD BLESS YOU greatly! Anyone wishing to join in this "food ministry", please call Janie @364-7626, Lisa @344-5374 or Annette Albracht at 360-4186. THANK YOU to the following Catechists who taught on faith topics and fed the in-

quiring minds of those in RCIA during December: Elaine McNutt, Laurie Paetzold, Lisa Blakely. Your

gifts of knowledge, time and faith shared, certainly grow God's Kingdom. GOD BLESS all with a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! In His Name, With

His Love, Janie Banner, Lisa Blakely and RCIA 2016-17

Dear friends of St. Anthony’s I would like to thank everyone for the cards, visits and acts of kindness dur-ing my stay at Westgate Nursing home. I appreciate the people bringing Holy Communion and Fr. Tony's visits, a special thank you to Roy Reinart who came nearly every day. I am home now and would enjoy you stopping at our house anytime. Have a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year! Thanks again, Herb Vogel.

New Years Eve Dance! The Knights of Columbus are selling raffle tickets for $50, 1 ticket gets 1 person into the New Years Eve dance! First place prize is a 58” Hustler Zero Turn Mower, second place is a $2,500 travel voucher and third place is a $500 prepaid Visa card.

The dance will be held at the St. Anthony’s School GYM, starting at 7PM to 1AM , music by Lee Scheetz & Borderline. All proceeds are to benefit the Knights of Colum-bus. If you have any questions please contact J.R. Garman at (806) 346-6029.

DEATH ANNOUNCEMENT: Anthony Paschel,

86, passed away Monday, Dec. 19. A rosary was said,

Wednesday, Dec. 21 and a Mass was celebrated

Thursday, Dec. 22. Anthony served in the Army in

Korea in 1952. Surviving members of our parish are is

daughter Margaret Schoenenberger and son Ralph

Paschel, our thoughts and prayers are with the

Paschel family during this difficult time.

DECEMBER and JANUARY CALENDAR DEC. 26-30—Church office closed ALL week, except by appointment. DEC. 25/28—NO F.F.C Classes. DEC. 28— Baptismal Class at 7PM; Library DEC. 31—New Years Eve Mass at 5PM JAN. 1—New Years Day Mass at 8:45 AM and 11:30 AM JAN. 1—NO R.C.I.A or F.F.C JAN. 2—NO School and Office Closed. JAN. 2—Stewardship Mtg. Library. 6:30 PM JAN. 4—F.F.C resumes: 6:45pm—8:15pm JAN. 5—PTO Mtg. 6:30 PM JAN. 7-15—Fr. Tony gone on vacation. JAN. 10—100th Year Committee Mtg., 7PM: A/R JAN. 16—Cemetery Board Mtg. 6:30PM: Library JAN. 17—Parish Council Mtg., 6:30PM JAN. 25—Fr. Tony out of town JAN. 28—Walk for Life in Amarillo. JAN. 29—NO Elementary F.F.C

From the desk of our pastor, Father Tony Of the Father’s Love Begotten Aurelius C. Prudentius 413 AD Translated by John M. Neale

Of the Father’s love begotten Ere the worlds began to be, He is Alpha and Omega He is the Source, the Ending He, Of the things that are, that have been, And future years shall see Evermore and evermore.

Oh, that birth forever blessed When the Virgin, full of grace, By the Holy Ghost conceiving, Bare the Savior of our race, And the Babe, the world's Redeemer, First revealed His sacred face Evermore and evermore.

O ye heights of heaven, adore Him; Angel hosts, His praises sing; Powers, dominions, bow before Him And extol our God and King. Let no tongue on earth be silent, Every voice in concert ring Evermore and evermore.

This is He whom Heaven-taught singers Sang of old with one accord; Whom the Scriptures of the prophets Promised in their faithful word. Now He shines, the Long-expected; Let creation praise its Lord Evermore and evermore.

Christ, to Thee, with God the Father, And, O Holy Ghost, to Thee Hymn and chant and high thanksgiving And unending praises be, Honor, glory, and dominion, And eternal victory Evermore and evermore.

SECOND COLLECTION, RETIRED FUND FOR RELIGIOUS : “My birthday is 2-4, 2-4,” explains Sister Anne Mika, a member of the Discalced Carmelites of Danville, Pennsylvania, who was born February 4, 1924. For more than 60 years, she has lived—joyfully lived—the contemplative life of a cloistered religious sister. A native of Chicago, Sister Anne attended Catholic school taught by Felician sisters. When it came time for high school, she took what was then known as a “commercial course,” a curriculum that focused on secretarial and bookkeeping skills. Yet she told her teacher, “I never want to do any kind of bookkeeping—never!” She completed her studies, graduated, and left school to help support her mother and siblings because her father had died. For 12 years, she worked at the Fulton Meat Company. During these years, she knew she had a vocation to religious life but was uncertain which community to enter. “We used to go joy riding on Drexel Boulevard,” she says. “And there was a big sign for the Carmelites, so I wrote and asked, ‘Are you the same ones that the Little Flower (St. Thérèse of Lisieux) belonged to?’” The community replied that Sister Anne was looking for the Discalced Carmelites. Eventually, she found her way to Mt. Carmel, Pennsylvania, where a new foundation of the order was being formed. She entered in January 1953. In 1961, her community built a monastery in Elysburg, Pennsylvania. During her years of religious life, Sister Anne’s various forms of work have included baking altar breads, serving in the community’s infirmary—and bookkeeping, which she contin-ues to assist with today. In 2008, her small community sold their monastery and entered into an agreement to reside in the re-tirement center of the Sisters of Saints Cyril and Methodius in nearby Danville. To the extent possible, the Carmelites maintain their traditional practices of work, silence, reflection, and prayer. Although it is a change from the monastic life she has known, Sister Anne greatly enjoys her new friends. “These sisters are just grand,” she says. “It couldn’t be better here. The next step is heaven.” - - - Please consider donating to the second collection this weekend and to read more stories like this one, head over to www.retiredreligious.org

Christmas Flowers.

Herb & Elizabeth Vogel IN MEMORY of Charles Vogel, Hubert Vogel, Carl & Bernice Vogel,

John & Sherus Adam

Bernard & Wanda Huseman IN MEMORY of Bruce Graham, Juanita Schacher, Arnold Huseman

Nimfa Martin IN MEMORY of Bess A. Padua, Samuel Padua, Naty Bumanglag

Alice Hund IN MEMORY of James Hund

Sandy Stretcher IN MEMORY of Stan Fry Sr., Ed Fry

Christine Marnell IN MEMORY of Jim Marnell

Carl & Joan Strafuss IN MEMORY of Strafuss and Knabe relatives

Yvonne Elliott IN MEMORY of Albert Kunzman and Irene Kunzman

Joe & Debbie Arroyos IN MEMORY of Abigail Arroyos

Larry & Martha Paetzold IN MEMORY of Joe Paetzold

Jerry & Mariellen Homfeld IN MEMORY of of Leo Britten Families, C.F. Homfeld families

William & Marilyn Kahlich IN MEMORY of Arthur Kahlich, Frances Kahlich, Edmund Kitten, Louetta Kitten

Dorothy Shumacher IN MEMORY of Herman Schumacher

Priscilla Lacey & Family IN MEMORY of Edward Lacey, greatly missed father and husband.

Gwen Hacker IN MEMORY of Morris Hacker, Jesko & Hacker Families IN HONOR of Our Children and

Grandchildren

Leonard & Opal Walterscheid IN MEMORY/HONOR All Deceased & Living members of Walterscheid & Raef

Families

Dorothy Brownlow IN MEMORY of Neal Lueb, Sam & Vickie Valdez, Mary Jane Burrus, Sonny Evers

IN HONOR of Fr . John Valdez, Orville Blum

Ronaldo & Deborah Fetsch IN MEMORY of Felix & Wilhemine Fetsch, Bill Cooper, Bob Mankins IN HONOR

of the 2020 Deaconate Candidates, All of our pr iests.

Raul & Sara Pesina IN MEMORY of Juan & Andrea Pesina, Maria Elena Griego, Mario Gamez IN HONOR of

Pesina & Rocha Family

Keith & Karen Hacker IN MEMORY of Morris Hacker IN HONOR of Gwen Hacker

Edward & Barbara Yavornik IN MEMORY of Abbie Arroyos and Max Middleton IN HONOR of Yavornik

Family and Brown Family

Larry & Eileen Alley IN MEMORY of Lupton Family and Alley Family IN HONOR of Katie Lupton and Shelly

& Ralph Diller Anniversary

Pedro & Elvira Enriquez IN HONOR of Ofelia Soto, Ofelia Enriquez, Jose, Antonio, Jasmin & Javier Enriquez,

Noah & Emma Enriquez

Christmas Flowers.

Daniel & Krynson Jesko IN HONOR of Jesko Family, St. Anthony Par ish Leaders, Wooten Family

Steven & Margo Cortez IN HONOR of All Choirs, Fr. Tony & Staff, St. Anthony’s School & Staff, Family.

Ken & Regina Walterscheid IN HONOR of Walterscheid Family, Franz Family

Dwight & Patricia Jesko IN HONOR of the sick of the parish

Ramon & Carmen Nunez IN HONOR of Nunez Family, Castaneda Family

Frankie & Jerilyn Bezner Jr. IN HONOR of Our Grandchildren, Cole & Rhett Bezner, Franklyn Eliott Laughlin,

Graylen Garman

Gerald & Denise Marnell IN HONOR of Fr. Tony Neusch, Our Children & Grandchildren

Freddy & Marisa Barrera Jr. IN MEMORY of Vicky Barrera, Sammy Gonzales, Emilio Fuentes, Linda Gonzales

Walter Sr. & Teresa Paetzold IN MEMORY of Margie & Nick Schlaver IN HONOR of their children

Elmer & Irene Reinart IN MEMORY of Sidney Reinart, Cory Reinart

Julia Garza IN MEMORY/HONOR of Armando Garza Sr., Manuel Garcia

Lisa Trevino IN MEMORY of Jesus Castillo Sr., Carmen Sierra, Steve Sierra, Joshua Castillo

Linda Castaneda IN MEMORY/HONOR of Jesse, Connie & Mary Castaneda

Augustine & Lupe Castillo Jr. IN MEMORY/HONOR of Augustine Castillo Sr., Maria Louisa Castillo, Severo

Gonzales, Irene

Lydia Claudio IN MEMORY of Refugio Claudio, Manuela Claudio, Martha Claudio, Josefina Claudio, Ricky

Orta, Thomas Encarnacion

Ricardo & Marvel Mendez IN MEMORY/ HONOR of Bibian Perez, Beatrice Gonzales, Melissa Mendez

Jose & Leslie Freitas IN MEMORY of Frank G. Silva, Armando Freitas

J.R. & Rachel Garman DONATION

Kevin & Emily Knight DONATION

JoAnn Jesko DONATION

Thoughts for Reflection: “The mind of Christ is to be learned in the family. Strength of character may be acquired at work, but beauty

of character is learned at home.

—Henry Drummond

Your job is to help your children get to Heaven!

Life