Gaudete Sunday

December 16, 2007 – Advent III – Gaudete
Today is the Third Sunday in Advent. Christmas Confessions will be heard before and during all Masses. Children’s Confessions are at 10:30 AM. Our special Children’s Christmas Collection for: Fr. Leslie’s African Mission will take place in church and in the Catechism classrooms. The Blessing of Expectant Mothers follows all Masses. Today is our St. Gertrude the Great Craft, Bake Sale, and Raffle—and your last chance to purchase raffle tickets before the drawings after the 11:30 AM Mass. Please visit Helfta Hall after Mass and enjoy the many delicious home-made baked goods, find “just the right” Christmas gift for that special someone and, maybe, win a prize at the raffle drawing. Support our parish and our school and have a wonderful time. Advent Vespers are sung at 4:45 PM with Benediction.

Ember Days
Wednesday, Friday and Saturday (December 19, 21 and 22) of this week are the Church’s winter Ember Days during which we offer special prayers and sacrifices for priests and clerics preparing for ordination. Unless legitimately excused, all Catholics between the ages of 21 and 59, inclusive, are bound by the Church’s laws of fast, and all who have attained their 7th year must keep the abstinence (meat once at the principal meal on Wednesday and Saturday.)

Church Decorating
Tomorrow we start decorating the church for Christmas. The men will begin putting up the major decorations (roping, wreaths, trees, lights, etc.) on Monday, the 17th and Tuesday the 18th, in the late afternoon and/or evenings (6:00 PM). Ladies, we will do the “finishing” work from Wednesday the 19th thru Saturday the 22nd. We hope this will allow more of you to pick a time convenient for your busy schedule to come and help. If you can come, please call Katie 513-251-3895, Sister 513-703-1330 or the Church Office 513-645-4212. We need to know, and we need your help!

Poinsettia Memorial
We are welcoming contributions to defray the cost of the Christmas flowers. If you wish to make your donation in memory of a loved one, please fill out the special Poinsettia Offering envelope available in the vestibule and pews. To have your loved one included in the special Christmas memorial program, please turn in your envelope by this Wednesday, December 19th.

Christmas Mass Novena
Remember your loved ones in our Christmas Novena of Masses which begin Christmas Day — the perfect gift! Envelopes may be found in the vestibule and the Gift Shop. Fill them out and return them to the Church Office or the collection basket. Envelopes must be turned in by Wednesday, December 19th.

2008 COLLECTION ENVELOPES
THE 2008 COLLECTION ENVELOPES ARE AVAILABLE IN THE VESTIBULE. PLEASE PICK UP YOUR ENVELOPES TODAY.

2008 ROMAN CATHOLIC CALENDAR
THIS YEAR’S CALENDAR IS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE IN THE BOOK STORE. THE PRICE IS $6.00. EVERY CATHOLIC HOME SHOULD HAVE A TRADITIONAL CALENDAR.

NEXT SUNDAY
NEXT SUNDAY IS THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF THE MONTH. A SPECIAL SECOND COLLECTION, FOR ADULTS, WILL BE TAKE UP FOR: FR. LESLIE’S AFRICAN MISSION. VESPERS AND BENEDICTION ARE AT 1:10 PM. SET YOUR MISSAL: DECEMBER 23RD. FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT, WITH THE COLLECT OF THE BVM IN ADVENT, AND AGAINST THE PERSECUTORS. PREF: TRINITY.

UPCOMING EVENTS

DECEMBER 23RD: SPECIAL CHRISTMAS COLLECTION FOR A POOR AFRICAN MISSIONARY
NEXT SUNDAY WE ARE COLLECTING A SPECIAL CHRISTMAS ALMS DURING ALL MASSES FOR FR. ELDRED LESLIE, AN ELDERLY, POOR MISSIONARY PRIEST IN SOUTH AFRICA. HE IS FAITHFUL TO THE TRUE CHURCH AND MASS, AND LIVES IN VERY DIFFICULT CONDITIONS. A TRULY WORTHY PRIEST AND CONFESSOR OF THE FAITH, FR. LESLIE KNEW OUR OWN DEAR FR. RANDOLPH AND IS LIKE HIM, A CONVERT TO THE FAITH. HIS ONLY REQUEST IS FOR MONEY WHICH CAN BE USED TO GIVE ALMS TO THE POOR UNCLOTHED, SHOELESS CHILDREN WHO BESIEGE HIM WHENEVER HE STEPS OUT OF HIS HOUSE. PLEASE BE GENEROUS. “AND OPENING THEIR TREASURES, THEY OFFERED HIM GIFTS…”

DECEMBER 17TH – 22ND: CHRISTMAS CHURCH DECORATING

JANUARY 4TH: OPENING OF 40 HOURS DEVOTION

IN YOUR CHARITY…
PLEASE PRAY FOR HENRY SIEVERDING, RECOVERING FROM A STROKE, EILEEN BARTELS, WHO IS VERY SERIOUSLY ILL, AND BEING KEPT ALIVE WITH MANY TUBES AND MACHINES, AT GREAT PAIN. PRAY FOR HER TO HAVE A PEACEFUL DEATH. ALSO FOR GLORIA MADAFFARI, HOME BOUND AFTER A BAD FALL, AND FOR ALL OF OUR SICK AND SHUT-IN.

CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE

• MONDAY, DECEMBER 24TH –
CHRISTMAS EVE SCHEDULE – MORNING
8:00 AM: THE OFFICE OF PRIME
9:00 AM: HIGH MASS
1:15 PM: 1ST VESPERS OF CHRISTMAS

CHRISTMAS EVE SCHEDULE – EVENING
8:30 PM: THE OFFICE OF MATINS
10:30 PM: CAROLS
10:45 PM: ENTRANCE OF THE BISHOP, BLESSING OF THE CRIB & VESTING
11:15 PM: MIDNIGHT MASS FOLLOWED BY THE OFFICE OF LAUDS
A POTLUCK SUPPER FOLLOWS MIDNIGHT MASS. IF YOU ARE PLANNING ON COMING, PLEASE BRING A DISH TO SHARE.

• TUESDAY, DECEMBER 25TH –
CHRISTMAS DAY
9:00 AM: LOW MASS & BENEDICTION, WITH STRING QUARTET
11:00 AM: LOW MASS WITH CAROLS
3:30 PM: VESPERS OF CHRISTMAS DAY

NEW YEAR’S SCHEDULE
• TUESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2008 –
FEAST OF THE CIRCUMCISION – NEW YEAR’S DAY
9:00 AM: HIGH MASS
11:00 AM: LOW MASS & BENEDICTION