42021 Highway 621 Gonzales, LA 70737 A People Set Apart

December 11, 2016

Parish Staff Pastor ……………….......…...Rev. Rubin Reynolds Administrative Assistant….........….Julie Carpenter Administrative Assistant…….……..Sandy Dardeau Bookkeeper/Director MDO.….Renae Schexnaydre Business Manager ………..........Heather Melancon Consultant on Call ………….....Sammy Chestovich Director of Christian Formation….........Mary Kruse Maintenance Supervisor …..……....…..Ron Duhon Pastoral Associate ...…...…...….Robin Richardson PSR Secretary …………….………..Sharon Buquoi Asst. Director MDO ……….……………Vicki Poché Jr. Youth Director ………………....…....Dana Millet Sr. Youth Director………..….…...….Garrett Tregre

Mass Schedule Saturday Vigil Mass:.……......…..……...…4:00 pm Sunday Masses …..............8:00, 9:30 & 11:00 am Monday, Wednesday - Friday…...….........8:30 am Tuesday—Communion Service …............8:30 am

Reconciliation Saturdays: 3-3:30 pm and before daily Mass. Other times by appointment with priest.

Parish School of Religion Principals: Patricia Sanchez……...……....…....….High School Flory Reynolds……......... Middle & Primary School

Parish Office Hours Monday - Thursday…..............8:00 am to 5:00 pm Friday……………………………….8:00 am to Noon

Telephones Parish Office…..……….....….….… (225) 647-8461 Fax………………………....…..........(225) 647-5125 E-mail:…….……...…....…..........stmark@eatel.net

New Parishioners: Please complete the registration form which can be found on our website and return to the parish office.

Church Certificates: For all sacramental certificates, contact Julie Carpenter at 225-647-8461

Sacrament of Baptism: Baptisms are held the First Sunday of each month, following 11:00 a.m. Mass. Parents of infants and children under age 7 are to attend 1 Baptism Seminar. (If pregnant, attend as early as possible during the pregnancy.) Baptism Seminars are held on the Tuesday following the first Sunday of the month at 6:30 pm. *Baptism of children 7 years and older must go through the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults adapted for Children. Contact Mary Kruse at 225-647-8461

Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA): For adults inquiring about becoming Catholic and baptized Catholics who lack Confirmation and Holy Communion, contact Donna Chestovich at 225-938-0985.

Sacrament of Matrimony: Couples need to contact the parish office six months prior to their planned wedding date.

Christian Burial: Families should contact the parish office, as soon as possible, prior to making other funeral arrangements.

Pastoral Care of the Sick: Contact the office in regards to those who are seriously ill, hospitalized and homebound. Emergency calls are made immediately.

Vocations for Priesthood and Religious Life: Contact the office of Vocations and Seminarians at 225-336-8779 or visit their website at www.diobr.org.

Prayer Line Request: Contact the Parish Office……225-647-8461

Visit our website: www.stmarkgonzales.org for vital information or like us on Facebook

Tuesday December 13 St. John Prairieville Wednesday December 14 St. Michael Convent Thursday December 15 St. Mark Gonzales Tuesday December 20 St. Theresa Gonzales

Advent Penance Service Schedule

All services are at 7:00 p.m.

W

Wednesday, December 14th

Schedule of Events

Note: Including Renovations

$ 9,111.92 $ 6385.70 $ 2,729.22

Building Fund

November 2016

Monthly Note -/+

Fiscal Year 2015—16: Stewardship of Treasure 22nd Sunday, November 27, 2016

Thank you for your generous stewardship contributions.

Weekly Budget - /+

Offertory $ 8,881.50 $ 12,917.00 $ (4,035.50)

Maintenance $ 2,548.50 $ 3,125.00 $ (576.50)

Pop Coin $ 118.00 $ 118.00

Total $ 11,548.00 $ 16,042.00 $ (4,494.00)

12/10 12:00 pm KC/Auxiliary Christmas Party for Flood Victims

12/10-11 All Masses KC Calendar Sales

12/11 9:30 am Blessing of the church with reception

12:00 pm Primary Youth Group

12/12 7:00 pm Healing Hearts

12/13 9:00 am Blue Army

10:00 am Moms & Tots

10:00 am Senior Citizen’s Meeting

6:00 pm Adult Choir Practice

6:30 pm Usher’s Meeting

12/14 6:00 pm RCIA

7:00 pm Christmas Concert

12/15 7:00 pm St. Mark Reconciliation

12/18 3:30 pm Junior Youth Group & Altar Server Christmas Party

6:00 pm Senior Youth Group

Please pray for the soul of:

Dorella Helg

Who passed away November 26, 2016

We will continue to remember her family, friends and loved ones in our prayers.

Third Sunday of Advent December 11, 2016

Those whom the LORD has ransomed will return and enter Zion singing,

crowned with everlasting joy. — Isaiah 35:10a

Mark your calendars for the St. Mark Annual Christmas Concert scheduled for Wednesday, December 14th at 7:00 PM.

Check out page 5 of the bulletin for a schedule of December Christmas activities at St. Mark.

There are a still a limited amount of Script gift cards available in the parish office. Stop by and see if we can help with your shopping needs.

Announcements

Youth Poster Contest

Join the Knights of Columbus “Keep Christ in Christmas” Poster Contest for all boys and girls from ages 5 through 14! Design a poster to reflect the theme “Keep Christ in Christmas” for a chance to win $25 prize money! Winning entries advance through district/regional and state competitions to the international level. The winning entries will serve as the basis for a series of international “Keep Christ in Christmas” posters, with creative credit going to the artists. Please pick up the “Keep Christ in Christmas” Poster Contest Entry Form in the church lobby or office for details. They are due back to the Jr. Youth Group meeting by December 18th or the church office by December 19th.

Direct questions to Eric Kehn at stmarkyouth@eatel.net or (225) 936-3178.

Stop by and visit the St. Mark Gift Shop for your Christmas, Baptism, Confirmation, and Birthday shopping. They have medals, necklaces, bracelets, Tiny Saints, Rada knives, T-Shirts, and more. Hours are before 4:00 pm mass on Saturday and from 8:45 to 11:00 on Sundays.

Healing Hearts

When: Next Meeting is Monday, December 12, 2016 (2nd Monday of each month) Where: St. Mark Pavilion Time: 7:00 p.m.

If your would like to be on an e-mail reminder list please e-mail Robin Richardson at stmark@eatel.net or call the parish office for more information. An e-mail will be sent the week before the next meeting.

Please know that you do not have to journey alone.

Primary Youth Group December 11th— 12:00 pm

Open to all 2nd & 3rd grade students— Small Meeting Room in the Activity Center

*** Remember to bring your bag lunch!

Junior Youth Meeting & Altar Server Party December 18th—3:30 pm

Open to all 4th - 7th grade students—In the Pavilion

Senior Youth Meeting— (Date Change) December 18—6:00 pm

Open to all students grades 8th—12th—In the Pavilion

St. Mark High School Parish School of Religion Sunday—6:00—8:30 p.m.

Mark Your Calendars

January 8, 2017 March 12, 2017

February 12, 2017 April 9, 2017

You’re Invited to The St. Mark Annual

Christmas Concert Wednesday, December 14th ~ 7:00 pm

Bring family and friends and join in the fun! All are Welcome!! Children should pick up a bag of straw & instructions in the vestibule.

They are to sit with their family and will be called forward to place straw in the manger while all join in singing Away in a Manger.

Christmas Flowers

Those who would like to make an offering for Christmas flowers in memory of their loved ones,

may do so by placing their donation in a marked en-velope and dropping it in the 1st collection. Please write the names clearly on your envelope for whom

the donation is made.

Please welcome these children to St. Mark Parish through the sacrament of Baptism.

Let us all pray for their continued spiritual growth.

Bailee Marie Brignac Daughter of Brian & Julie Brignac

Oren Joseph Clements Son of Christopher & Shnoa Clements

Jake Dean Stuntz Son of Shane & Jessica Stuntz

Thomas Trent Williams Son of Joshua & Lainee Williams

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS

2017 CHARITY CALENDAR ON SALE AFTER ALL MASSES

DECEMBER 3RD &4TH AND 10TH &11TH

$20 $15,890 IN Cash Prizes!

A Prize a Day! You Are in 365 Drawings. Win as often as your name is drawn. Only 3200 Calendars Will be Sold.

All Proceeds Will Go to the Knights of Columbus and Their Charities.

Make Checks Payable to KC Charity Calendar

Please support St. Mark Council 8147 and all the Calendar Advertisers

Guide Book & Directory Advertising Opportunity

We are in the process of updating our annual Guide Book & Directory for the church. This book will contain everything pertinent to our church: the various ministries, organizations, committees, activities, functions and events plus a complete directory of all members. This book is being provided and direct-mailed to each family at no cost to our church, and it is again being subsidized by local businesses that advertise. If you own or manage a business and would like to find out about advertising in our book, please call the Church Office at 225-647-8461.

Recent survey results by Guide Book Publishing show that 92.1% of families would rather patronize a Guide Book & Directory advertiser over a non-advertiser. It “will pay” to advertise in our Guide Book & Directory.

Aging religious need your help. Senior Catholic sisters, brothers and religious order priests have offered their lives in service to others-educating the young, comforting the sick, seeking justice for the oppressed. 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 first collection. Envelopes can be found in the vestibules.

Willwoods Married Couples Retreat January 14th—January 15th, 2017

St. Augustine Retreat Center Bay St. Louis, Ms.

Attending a married couples retreat annually is a wonderful way to deepen and renew your love for God and each other. Sign up today for a great start to 2017. To register or for more info call Jason Angelette at 504-830-3716 or visit

www.willwoods.org. Suggested Donation of $275 but not required.

St. Mark December Schedule

Christmas Concert Wednesday, December 14th at 7:00pm

St. Mark Advent Reconciliation Thursday, December 15th at 7:00pm

Adoration Chapel Closes Thursday, December 23rd at 9:00am

Christmas Eve Mass Schedule Saturday, December 24th

at 4:00, 6:00, & 10:30pm

Christmas Day Mass Schedule Sunday, December 25th at 9:30am

(There Will Not be a 8:00 or 11:00 am Mass) (All Masses will be in the Church the week after Christmas)

Adoration Chapel Opens Monday, December 26th at 9:00am

New Year’s Eve and Day Regular Weekend Mass Schedule

Claude Forsythe, Sr., August Joseph Johnson, Jr.

First Reading — The barren deserts will rejoice and flower. Tired bodies will receive strength. Aching hearts will be made glad (Isaiah 35:1-6a, 10). Psalm — Lord, come and save us (Psalm 146). Second Reading — Be patient, for the coming of the Lord is as sure as the rain (James 5:7-10). Gospel — Tell of what you hear and see: The blind regain their vision, the crippled their movement, the deaf their hearing (Matthew 11:2-11).

The English translation of the Psalm Responses from Lectionary for Mass © 1969, 1981, 1997, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved

A SEASON OF HOPE Today we can bask in the imagery that the Mass readings offer us. In particular, Isaiah’s vision of a parched land that blooms with abundant flowers holds a message for each of us. Too often we are just like that parched land. We can

allow ourselves to become absorbed in the waves of consumerism that grip so many. We look for fulfillment in the things that money can buy. Unfortunately, this leaves us like parched land, thirsting for something that money can’t buy. This holy season has much to offer to quench our thirsts. In a word, this season offers hope. We are told that those who are ransomed by God will know joy and gladness. For them, sorrow and mourning will be no more. Let us place our hope in these promises. Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co., Inc.

Monday: Zec 2:14-17 or Rv 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab; Jdt 13:18bcde, 19; Lk 1:26-38 or Lk 1:39- 47, or any readings from the Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary, nos. 707-712 Tuesday: Zep 3:1-2, 9-13; Ps 34:2-3, 6-7, 17-19, 23; Mt 21:28-32 Wednesday: Is 45: 6b-8, 18, 21b-25; Ps 85:9ab, 10 -14; Lk 7:18b-23 Thursday: Is 54:1-10; Ps 30:2, 4-6, 11-12a, 13b; Lk 7:24-30 Friday: Is 56:1-3a, 6-8; Ps 67:2-3, 5, 7-8; Jn 5:33 -36 Saturday: Gn 49:2, 8-10; Ps 72:1-4ab, 7-8, 17; Mt 1:1-17 Sunday: Is 7:10-14; Ps 24:1-6; Rom 1:1-7; Mt 1:18 -24

Readings for the Week (Year C)

Today’s Readings The Sanctuary Light

Saturday, December 10, 2016 4:00 p.m. Mac Delaune fly., JoAnn Sanchez, Audrey Sanchez Watts, Vivian Bourque, Rita Breaux, Eric Eddy, and for our Parish Family (living and deceased)

Sunday, December 11, 2016 8:00 a.m. Stella Lambert 9:30 a.m. Diana DuBois 11:00 a.m. For the People of St. Mark Parish

Monday, December 12, 2016 8:30 a.m. Claude J. Forsythe, Sr., Marguerite Barrios, Eddie Barrios

Tuesday, December 13, 2016 8:30 a.m. Communion Service

Wednesday, December 14, 2016 8:30 a.m. For our Parish Family (living and deceased)

Thursday, December 15, 2016 8:30 a.m. Memorial Guild Friday, December 16, 2016 8:30 a.m. Vivian Bourque

Saturday, December 17, 2016 4:00 p.m. Nathan Bercegeay fly., Carolyn Bercegeay, Allen Bourgeois fly., M/M Lee Decoteau, Clifford Decoteau fly., Donald Forsyth fly., Claude Forsythe, Sr., Newell, Laura & Melvin Boudreaux, Eric Eddy, and for our Parish Family (living and deceased)

Sunday, December 18, 2016 8:00 a.m. Stella Lambert 9:30 a.m. The Ardoin fly. 11:00 a.m. For the People of St. Mark Parish

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