March 18, 2007 – Lent IV – Laetare
Today is Rose or Laetare Sunday, the Fourth Sunday of Lent. The Rose vestments, flowers and organ are emblematic of joy at the closeness of Easter.
Today is also Confession Sunday. Confessions will be heard before and during all Masses. Childrens’ Confessions will be heard at 10:40 AM.
Sunday Serving Classes continue today at 10:40 AM.
The Blessing of Expectant Mothers is available at the Communion rail after all Masses.
Festive First Vespers of St. Joseph and Benediction are at 1:00 PM.
Monday – Saint Joseph’s Table
Plan to celebrate St. Joseph’s Day with us tomorrow, March 19th. St. Joseph’s Bread will be blessed and distributed after the High Mass at 11:30 AM. Bring some food for the poor to be put at the St. Joseph’s Table in Helfta Hall, and stay for a Parish Potluck and Festive Vespers and Benediction. Those who attend St. Joseph’s Day may consider themselves dispensed from the fast.
Stations In Lent
At 3:00 PM on Wednesday, we offer the traditional Children’s Stations of the Cross and Holy Communion.
At 7:30 PM every Friday in Lent we offer the Stations of the Cross, Sermon, Sorrowful Mother Novena and Blessing of the Sick, Benediction and Holy Communion.
Sorrowful Mother Novena
Join us every Friday evening after the Stations of the Cross and Sermon for the Sorrowful Mother Novena and Blessing of the Sick. Call or write in to the office the first names of those who are sick, and those for whom you would like us to pray.
Christ the King Day of Recollection
• March 23rd – Friday: Our regular Lenten Friday evening program of Mass at 5:45 PM; Parish Potluck Plus Supper at approximately 6:45 PM, featuring Pasta Night; and finally Stations of the Cross, Sermon, Sorrowful Mother Novena and Blessing of the Sick, Benediction and Holy Communion beginning at 7:30 PM.
• March 25th – Sunday: At 12:45 PM a delicious Sunday Spaghetti Dinner will be offered as a little fund raiser – $5/adults; $3/children; $20/family – followed at 2:00 PM by the Medieval Play Everyman, presented by the students, staff and volunteers of St. Gertrude the Great School.
This special Sunday Afternoon will end with the First Vespers of the Feast of the Annunciation and Benediction.
Holy Name Society Meeting
Tuesday, March 20th, the Holy Name Society is meeting in Helfta Hall at 7:00 PM. Refreshments will be available after the meeting. If you have any questions please contact Rusty Halm: 513-324-4269.
Lenten Potluck Plus Supper
The Friday night Lenten Parish Potluck Plus Suppers continue, following the Mass and before Stations of the Cross. There’s always plenty of food, and each week the attendance is growing. Won’t you join us?
March 30th: Fish Night
Next Sunday
Next Sunday is the Fourth Sunday of the Month.
Set your missal: March 25th. Passion Sunday, with the commemorations of Our Lady and All the Saints and for the Living and the Dead. Psalm 42 omitted at Prayers at the Foot of the Altar. Doxology (Glory Be) omitted. Pref: Holy Cross.
Holy Helper Volunteers
Saturday, March 24th: PLEASE NOTE: Next Saturday is the day we cover all the statues and pictures in church. We need a good crew of volunteers – both men and women – to get the job done. The covers will be ironed, marked and ready for hanging.
The following Saturday, March 31st, we need a crew of adult men and boys to strip, cut and bundle palm for Palm Sunday.
Easter Novena / Memorial Flower Offerings
Envelopes for the Easter Novena of Masses and Flower donations are available in the vestibule and from the ushers. The Novena of Masses will be said daily beginning with Easter Sunday. Names of loved ones for the Memorial Flower Offerings will be listed in the Easter bulletin. Envelopes for the flower offerings must be returned by Monday of Holy Week to be included in the Easter bulletin. Please be generous.
Reminder
Parents, please remember to take your children to the bathroom before Mass. Children should only leave Holy Mass for an emergency, not for a little break from time to time. Children are forbidden to use the water fountain during Mass — parents and ushers please note! Our Blessed Savior suffered three hours of burning thirst at Calvary, which is the Mass.
Upcoming Events
• March 26th – Monday: The Feast of the Annunciation. The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed after the 11:30 AM High Mass for an afternoon of pro-life adoration and reparation. Closing Benediction is at 5:30 PM, with the final Mass at 5:45 PM.
The Paschal Sacraments
• First Testing & First Confessions: Saturday, April 21st. (Baptismal Certificate must be presented before testing, and form filled out.)
• Obligatory Day of Recollection for all First Communion Children: Thursday, May 24th.
• Confirmation: Saturday, May 26th.
• First Holy Communion: Sunday, June 10th.
Parents, please remember to submit to the Office by March 25th, the Baptismal certificates of children not baptized at St. Gertrude the Great. If your child is not enrolled in the school or Sunday School, please let us know if you are planning on bringing him to be tested in April. Unless we have the Baptismal certificate, we will be unable to do the necessary testing. Sometimes it is difficult to tell if a child is ready for the Sacraments. Please consult the priest. The Church earnestly desires all children to receive Our Lord as soon as possible.
Our First Annual Jog-A-Thon
Time is moving on. April 28th will be here before you know it. By now, you should have forms that have been filled out and some checks and/or cash. Please turn in all forms and money to the church office or give them to Marlys Arlinghaus or Conne in the Book Store. We need everyone in the parish to get involved in this great event. The Jog-A-Thon is scheduled for April 28th, and that’s not very far off. This can be a really great fund raiser if everyone takes part. If you need additional sponsor forms or flyers you will find them in the Book Store.
Spaghetti Dinner and A Play
Sunday – March 25th
Join us at 12:45 PM
for a delicious Spaghetti Dinner
that is being offered as a little fund raiser:
$5/adult; $3/children; $20/family
At 2:00 PM
the students, staff and volunteers of
St. Gertrude the Great School
will present the Medieval Play
Everyman.
This delicious, delightful and entertaining afternoon concludes with First Vespers of the Feast of the Annunciation and Benediction.