St. Anthony of Padua

6750 State Road Parma, Ohio 44134 Schedule of Liturgies

Saturday Evening: 4:30 P.M. and 6:00 P.M. Sundays: 8:00 A.M., 10:00 A.M. and 12 Noon Monday through Friday: 7:00 A.M. and 8:00 A.M. Holy Days : Vigil Mass: 5:30 P.M. 7:00 A.M., 9:00 A.M., 5:30 P.M. and 7:00 P.M.

Sacrament of Reconciliation: Saturdays 3:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M.

St. Anthony of Padua

6750 State Road Parma, Ohio 44134

(440) 842-2666 Parish Website: www.stanthonypaduaparma.org School Website: www.stanthonyofpaduaschool.org ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA CHURCH PARMA, OH

Wedding Banns BANNS III Brian Palsa & Kim Scercy

MONDAY, DECEMBER 26, St. Stephen, The First Martyr. 7:00AM Michael Starr 8:00AM Richard Matthias

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 27, St. John, Apostle & Evangelist. 7:00AM Martha Kamber 8:00AM Gromek Irene Knight Richard Knight WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, The Holy Innocents, Bertha Langlotz Martyrs. 7:00AM Helen Wasko Janice M. Petruska 8:00AM Karie Cotillo

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29 7:00AM Tom Fanous Contributions for December 17/18, 2016: 8:00AM Dottie Nechvatal Total Offering: $12,476.25 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary Sunday Collection: $8,854.00 & Joseph Faith Direct Offering: $3,622.25 7:00AM Hank Dickey

8:00AM William Janette Sunday Poor Box: $100.00 1:00PM Palsa / Scercy Wedding

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31 4:30PM For People of the Parish (living & deceased) 6:00PM For People of the Parish (living & deceased) 7:00PM Holy Hour SUNDAY THOUGHT Christmas 2016 SUNDAY, DECEMBER 31, Solemnity of Mary, The Holy Mother of God. 8:00AM For People of the Parish (living & deceased) On this Christmas Day it should give us great hope and 10:00AM For People of the Parish (living & deceased) consolation that Jesus lived a family life for all but 12:00PM For People of the Parish (living & deceased) three of His thirty-three years of His life on earth. He along with Mary and Joseph would have been well Please Pray For: Ruth Abbott, Martha Ashton, Ed & Helen versed in both the joys and challenges we often face Bartkiewicz, Irene Bednar, Maxine Cerny, Joe & Marcia Demko, together with our own family members. The new Ray Dmytriw, Margaret Double, Norbert Erker, Rita Fecek, Greg arrival of a child brings Joy; the inconvenience of a Findura, Anne Kilbane-Friedl, Sandra Friedl, Frances Funtek, Sam Gappa, Robert Gielski, John Gladden, Rose Marie Hewitt, Ron birth in a stable probably not so desirable; the well- Hicks, Celeste Hurley, Marian Jarabek, Colleen Jarvis, Millie Jasany, wishes of shepherds heartwarming; the murderous Janet Johnson, Pat Jones, Ted Kaliszewski, Michael Kaliszewski, threats of King Herod heart wrenching. The expected Betty Kilbane, Robert Klimo, Donald Kotarsky, Cynthia Kufleitner, and the unexpected are the daily routine of family life. Karen Kulju, Andrea Lagzdins, Robert Laheta, Dorothy Laquatra, Isidoro LaRosa, John Lieske, Michael Lieske, Corinne Lipinski, Through it all Mary and Joseph face each joy and Helene Lucey, Elizabeth Madar, Thomas Madej, John Martin, potential sorrow as an opportunity to find new ways to Edward & Josephine Maskulka, Emmett & Lenore Masterson, love. Many things affect a family: sickness, loss of a Claudia & Russell Mazanec, Peyton McCarthy, Rosemarie Medvin, job, promotions, marriages, births and deaths. Each Helen Marie Mendyka, John Metzger, Theodore & Dorothy Nagy, Jane Najlepszy, Mary Niec, Rose Nosse, Dora Oney, Agnes Padar, holds their own opportunity to bind members of a Carrie Piechowski, Deanna Pisano, John Precario, Mary Jane family more closely together or irreparably apart. Pray Precario, Christopher Reeves, Ed & Leigh-Ann Revay, Vinny Ruvo, to the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph for the Frances Rymut, Mary Sabo, Lorraine Schmidt, Robert & Teresa Setele, Margaret Sheridan, Joe Skerl, Helen Smith, Doug Stos, courage and strength to approach every family situation Sylvia Stibley, Phyllis Tomaselli, Shirley Trausch, Alice Tucker, as God’s gift calling us to greater holiness in Him. Loretta Vacca, Frank Viccarone, Annie Vorndran, Cathy Yappel, Andrew Yaronczyk, Christopher Yurko, Amanda Hope Zmecek.

1 THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD DECEMBER 25, 2016

CELEBRATING THE NEW YEAR’S EVE HOLY Antoninus of Florence, Bishop (1389-1459) HOUR Bring the 2017 by joining with It is said that Antoninus approached the us New Year’s Eve, December Dominicans at the age of fifteen, but Blessed John 31st at 7:00 p.m. for a Holy Dominici refused him, perhaps because of his Hour before Our Eucharistic Lord. Following the 6:00 diminutive size, sending him away with suggestion p.m. Vigil Mass, the Blessed Sacrament will be that he return when he had memorized the Decretum exposed for prayer and quiet reflection in church. It is of Gratian – the equivalent to our present-day Code of a perfect way to say good bye to 2016 and welcome Canon Law. Antoninus returned a year later, having the New Year. accomplished the feat, and was duly accepted by John. Antoninus rose to the post of prior, serving in that capacity in a number of Dominican houses. He CHRISTMAS WISHES worked to further the reforms that Blessed John The St Anthony’s Knights of Dominici had begun. In 1436, Antoninus founded the Columbus council would like to wish convent of San Marco in Florence, where he put Fr. Dale, Fr Peter, the entire staff at St Blessed to work adorning each cell with Anthony’s parish/school and all a scene from the life of Christ. parishioners a Merry Christmas and a Happy and In 1446, Antoninus was chosen as archbishop Blessed New Year in 2017. We hope each and every of Florence. He addressed abuses among the clergy, and spoke against sorcery and usury. Antoninus wrote one of you take the time to enjoy this season with a much-reprinted Summa of moral theology, and family and friends, but most of all, take time to fill served on a commission for the reform of the Roman your hearts with the joy this season brings. We would Curia. He died on May 2, 1459. His funeral Mass was also like to thank Fr Dale & Fr Peter and all celebrated by Pope Pius II, who recorded the state of parishioners for their support during our first four years his affairs at the time of his death: “At this house was of existence. Without you, our council would not be as found nothing except the mule on which he used to successful as it is. We are very grateful and proud to ride and some cheap furniture: the poor had everything call ourselves, St. Anthony of Padua-Parma, Knights of else.” His feast day is May 10th. Columbus, Council 15614. Jim Gresko, Grand Knight.

KINDERGARTEN INFORMATION WEEKLY WORK OF MERCY DAY When opening Christmas presents, ask Parents are welcome to attend an informative someone if they would like to go first. Kindergarten meeting for the 2017-18 school year. You will find this meeting to be quite beneficial. We encourage you or anyone interested in registering their child for Kindergarten to attend:

Date: Tuesday, January 24, 2017 Time: 1:00 p.m. or 7:00 p.m. – which ever meeting works best for you! Place: St. Anthony of Padua School Library The St. Anthony of Padua Parish Office will be closed Friday, December 23 through Monday, December 26 Also, mark your calendar to attend our annual 2016 in observance of Christmas. In addition, our school Open House on January 22, 2017 or office will also be closed Friday December 30, 2016 Sunday, February 5, 2017 from 11:00 a.m. to through Monday January 2, 2017. Our office staff 1:00 p.m. wishes you a very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!

2 ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA CHURCH PARMA, OHIO

SAVE THE DATE HEY CATHOLIC! DID YOU 2017 SAS Athletic Association KNOW… Night at the Races Did you know that Christmas Saturday, February 11, 2017 begins with the vigil Masses on Christmas Eve and concludes on Happy Holidays! the Feast of the Baptism of the St. Anthony Athletic Association. Lord (January 9). During this season, we celebrate the birth of Christ into our world and into our EVANGELIZATION TIP hearts Since Christmas is about the birth of Jesus, wish every one you meet a Merry Christmas.

WEEKLY MASS REMINDER

On Christmas Day, we genuflect at the words “and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man.” This Religious Order of the Week profound gesture reminds us of the significance of the Incarnation. Order: Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine (CSA)

Founder: The Most Reverend Amadeus Rappe, first Bishop of Cleveland.

Charism: Responding to the physical, SOCIAL CONCERNS GROUP emotional, intellectual, and spiritual In January the Social Concerns needs of God’s people. Committee will be sponsoring a “Diaper & Wipe” shower for the Work: Primarily health care, such as St. Metro Health friends of Mothers & Infants. This will Vincent Charity Medical Center and take place the weekends of January 21/22 and January Regina Health Center. 28/29, 2017. Watch the paper for coupons and sales. We will be collecting diapers from preemie size to size Website: http://www.srsofcharity.org 6. More details will follow in future bulletins.

Seminarian of the Week MONDAY, DECEMBER 26 Every week, our parish will promote 7:00PM RCIA - LR vocations by encouraging the community TUESDAY, DECEMBER 27 7:00PM The Way - CM to pray for our diocesan seminarians. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28 7:00PM Knights of Columbus Officers Meeting - SA Please pray for Christian Anderson.

3 ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA CHURCH December 25, 2016

APOSTLESHIP OF PRAYER INTENTION OF PSR AND PRESCHOOL POPE FRANCIS To all our PSR and Preschool families we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May For the Month of January: God’s Peace and Love continue to bless you during this Christian Unity: joyful season and throughout the New Year. Jesus taught that division leads to weakness. He said “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid PSR Calendar for December & January waste” (Lk 11:17). Is this true, even for the Church, December 26 – Christmas Break through which the Kingdom of God is breaking into the January 2 – Christmas Break world? Yes. Unfortunately, the division among January 9 – PSR Resumes Christians makes us weak. We cannot confront the evils January 16 – No PSR, Martin Luther King in our world because our energy is sapped by the January 23 – PSR divisions among us. January 30 – PSR Who is behind division? Pope Francis’ answer is clear: “The devil plants evil where there is good, trying PreSchool Calendar for December and January to divide people, families, and nations.” Weakened by December 25 – Christmas Break division, the People of God become fair game for January 1 – Christmas Break devilish assaults. Satan wants to destroy the Church and January 8 – Class resumes humanity. We cannot ignore our divisions. January 15 – Class Pope Francis said: “Either you are with me, says January 22 – No Class – SAS Open House the Lord, or you are against me. On this point, there are January 29 - Class no nuances. There is a battle and a battle where salvation is at play, eternal salvation. We must always be on guard, on guard against deceit, against the seduction of evil. By means of prayer and works of charity, we CHRISTIAN SPIRITUALITY CORNER can stay close to the one who won the victory over evil and division. Pope Francis exhorts us; “Let us ask the “Today the darkness begins to grow Lord for grace to take these things seriously. He came to shorter and the light to lengthen, as the fight for our salvation. He won against the devil. Please, hours of night become fewer ... Realize that let us not do business with the devil!” the true light is now here and, through the We meet Jesus in both prayer and in whatever we do for the least of our brothers and sisters (Matt. rays of the gospel, is illumining the whole 25:31-45) One concrete way that we Christians can earth.” — St. Gregory of Nyssa come together, even though we are divided by doctrines and the way we worship, is by working together to protect human life. MARRIAGE AND FAMILY In his encyclical The Gospel of Life Pope St. “The sacrament of marriage is not a John Paul II wrote: “Service of the Gospel of life social convention, an empty ritual or increasingly appears as a valuable and fruitful area for merely the outward sign of a positive cooperation with our brothers and sisters of commitment. The sacrament is a gift other Churches and ecclesial communities.” And in his given for the sanctification and salvation of the encyclical about ecumenism, Ut Unum Sint, he wrote: “With increasing frequency Christians are working spouses, …” — Pope Francis, The Joy of Love, 72. together to defend human dignity … Before the world, united action in society on the part of Christians has the clear value of a joint witness to the name of the Lord.” FOOD PANTRY We join Pope Francis this month in praying for As we remember the blessings God bestows on us, Christian Unity. We ask that this prayer may lead us to especially the gift of His only Son, let us remember work with other Christians to meet the challenges facing those in our parish that struggle daily to feed their humanity. families. Our Food Ministry families are grateful for all your donations throughout the year. ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA CHURCH PARMA, OHIO DECEMBER 25, 2016

DEAR LORD, BLESS ALL FAMILIES THIS CHRISTMAS. HELP US ALL TO REMEMBER THIS SEASON THAT YOU CHOSE TO COME TO US AS A HUMBLE BABY. YOU CHOSE TO BE PART OF A FAMILY YOURSELF AND CAME, NOT TO BE SERVED, BUT TO SERVE AND ONE DAY DIE FOR LOVE OF THOSE WHO HATED, DESERTED, AND KILLED YOU. ON THIS CHRISTMAS DAY, MAY WE ALWAYS REMEMBER AMID THE JOYS, FAMILY AND PRESENTS, THE REASON WE HAVE THIS SEASON: THAT YOU, THE ETERNAL SON OF GOD CAME TO LIVE AMONG US AS ONE OF US AND AS A MEMBER OF OUR HUMAN FAMILY.

AMEN.