December 6, 2009: Second Sunday of CALENDAR OF EVENTS

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6 -Christian Mothers Party, 2:00 p.m., Family Center.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 7 -JCDA meeting, 3:45–5:00 p.m., Family Center.

- No Rosary & evening prayer this evening. LITURGY TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8 MASS INTENTIONS & READINGS -Quilting Circle, 9:00 a.m., KC Hall of Fame Room.

Sunday, December 6 (Bar 5:1-9/Phil 1:4-6,8-11/Lk3:1-6) -RCIA Class, 7:00 p.m., Family Center. 8:00 am- For our Parish Family WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9 10:30 am- Joe Zappe -CCD: Grades K – 11 th , 6:00 – 7:10 p.m. Monday, December 7, St. Ambrose (Is 35:1-10/Lk 5:17-26) 7:00 am- Louis, Stazie & Jerome Haas -Spiritual Book Study, 6:30 p.m., Mary’s House.

10:00 am- Special Intention (Hallettsville Rehab) SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12 6:00 pm- Special Intention (Vigil Mass for Holy Day) -Pan Dulce & Coffee after 5:30 pm Mass, Family Center. Tuesday, December 8, Immaculate Conception of Blessed Virgin Mary (Gn 3:9-15, 20/Eph 1:3-6, 11-12/Lk 1:26-38 ) SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13 6:45 am- Dennis Smirak Holy Day of Obligation -Firefall at 6:00 p.m. in church. Parishioners are invited 8:05 am- Georgia Bohuslav to join the youth in Eucharistic Adoration.

12:05 pm- Priests Wednesday, Dec. 9, St. Juan Diego (Is 40:25-31/Mt 11:28-30) AMONG OUR SICK: Hubert Grahmann, Alvin Rosenauer, 7:00 am- Harold & Georgia Ludwig Odessa & Doug Blumberg, Josie Ohnheiser, Mason Leibham, 8:05 am- Pete Steinberg Riley Mika, Mary Bonorden, Annette Krupala, Anthony Corte, Thursday, December 10 (Is 41:13-20/Mt 11:11-15) Amanda Conniff, Margaret Timm, Helen M. Appelt, Michael 7:00 am- Deceased members of John Michna Family Kutac, Rosalie Simpson, Ed Aulick, Paige Haas, Anita Kallus, 10:00 am-Alfred & Josephine Treptow, Hubert Tobola (Stevens) Hubert Etzler, Jeff Zavesky, Renae Ross, Alma Jurena, Kate Friday, Dec. 11, St. Damascus I (Is 48:17-19/Mt 11:16-19 ) Kopecky, Michael L. Drozd, Bill Biehunko, Lindal Finley, 7:00 am- Living & dec. members of Adolf & Minnie Berger Frank Fishar, Pam Dornak, Clayton Patek, Suzanne Romano, 8:05 am- Leo (Buck), Lillian & George Henneke Mary Agnes Grahmann, Alice Kocian, Anita Bohuslav, Betty Saturday, December 12, Our Lady of Guadalupe (Zec 2:14- Toman, MacKenzie Fogle, Henri Mae Patek, Louise Pesek, 17/Lk 1:26-38 ) Doyleen Drozd, Bryce Saldi, Travis Klimitchek, Judith Koerth, 5:30 pm - Herbert, Robert, Wilbert & Heddy Greer, H.G. Cobb Thelma Mikulenka, Louise Tesch, Sharon Grahmann, Sandra Sunday, December 13 (Zep 3:14-18a/Phil 4:4-7/Lk 3:10-18) Henneke, Mary Ann Koenig, Ronald Kanak, Marcella Henke, 8:00 am- For our Parish Family Helen Mitchon, Tillie Schott, Robert Vasek, Georgia Schaefer, Geraline Morgenroth, Joseph Ilardo, Anthony Petru, Dolores 10:30 am- Jim & Josephine Gutierrez

Ludwig, Denise Lewis, Evelyn Kutac, Barbara Tesch, Emil Bulletin Sponsor: In honor of Joe N. Steffek’s 91st Grahmann, nursing home residents, homebound. birthday by John & Frances Bock Family.

If you would like to contribute toward the Radio Broadcast Sponsor: In memory of Joe P. Zappe by Christmas Poinsettias, you may bring your Josie Zappe Family. donation to the Rectory or place it in an

Vigil Light: Living & deceased members of Neskora & envelope & drop it in the collection basket. Thank you!

Hermes Families. For those who have not picked up their picture taken for

Our Gift to God: Envelopes-$4,614; Church Endowment- the parish directory, please pick it up in the foyer of the $70; Loose-$1,505; Children’s-$58; Thanksgiving-$536; church.

Campaign for Human Dev.-$588; Cemetery-$564; The Christian Mothers are updating their records. To Catholic Education Envelopes-$620. verify membership status (dues owed), make address or

November Baptisms: Kayla Ann, daughter of Coy & phone number corrections, or to cancel membership, Shelley Sunderman; Colton Michael, son of Michael & please call Rhonda Brown at 798-1937.

Brooke Dieringer; Jacob Stephen, son of Matthew & Lisa Christian Mothers Christmas Party, Dec. 6, 2:00– Motal; Kenton Allen, son of Kenneth & Lindsey 4:00 pm, Family Center. Members are to bring a Kirkland; Alexander Tandy & Atalaya Lynn, children of dessert & a gift for their child for Santa’s visit. Jason & Pamela Fenner.

KJZT Society #2 Christmas Party, Sunday, Dec. 13, 4:00 Please pray for the repose of the souls of Frank Mikes, – 7:00 p.m. Dinner at 5:00 p.m. provided by the Sr., father of Jimmy Mikes & Sandy Zaruba; and, John Society. Members & spouses are invited. RSVP Hollerich. May they rest in the peace of Christ. by December 9 to Bea Heinzel 798-4186.

From the Desk of Father John Religious Education (CCD) ~~ Office 798-3124

This weekend we celebrate the Second Sunday of Janice Busselman, Coordinator Advent. We also celebrate the Feast of St. Nicholas. Angela McConnell, Assistant According to the old folk tale, St. Nicholas “Svatý Mikuláš” comes from heaven every year on the night of December 9: Teacher In-service, 7:15 – 8:45 p.m., December 5th. He visits the houses of all the children Family Center. accompanied by an angel “andel” and a devil “cert.” December 16: CCD Christmas Mass, 6:05 p.m. The visits were different in each locality. In the poorest December 23 & 30: CCD classes dismissed for Christmas & New Year’s Holiday. areas, children hung socks on the windows or doors at

night and the next morning, they found the gifts for their behavior. Sacred Heart Catholic School ~~ 798-4251

On the other hand, in the richer areas, St. Nicholas visited children personally. St. Nicholas received great December 7: PreK Christmas Program, 6:30 p.m., Gym. respect, the angel represented calmness and peace, and the December 10: 3rd – 4th Grade Christmas Program, 7:00 devil wanted to know if the children had been good or bad p.m., Gym. all year. St. Nicholas asked the parents about the behavior December 13: Band Christmas Concert, 6:00 p.m., Gym. of the children. If he was satisfied with their answer he Refreshments will be served after the concert. Please gifted the children with apples, nuts and sweets. The non- bring a non-perishable food item for LAMB.

behaving children received unbaked potatoes and coals instead of candy or other treats until they learned to Calendar Membership: Nov. 26: Nicole Bell-$100; behave better! Nov. 27: Irene Szwarc-$100; Nov. 30: Jason Bludau, The true story of begins with Nicholas, Houston-$50; Dec. 1: Hubert & Mary Grahmann-$50; who was born during the third century in the village of Dec. 2: Edward & Patty Grahmann-$50. Patara. At the time, the area was Greek and is now on the southern coast of Turkey. His wealthy parents, who raised Prayer Week 2 (2 purple candles lit): him to be a devout Christian, died in an epidemic while Father in heaven, set our hearts ablaze to follow in the Nicholas was still young. steps of John the Baptist. May we bring light & love to all Obeying ’ words to “sell what you own and give we meet, that the darkness of sin & fear may be overcome. the money to the poor,” Nicholas used his whole inheri- In Christ’s name we ask this. Amen. (Candle is left burning during evening meal, at prayers or at bedtime.) tance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering. He dedicated his life to serving God and was made Bishop of K.C.’s & Catholic Daughters Christmas Party, Myra while still a young man. Tuesday, December 15. Social 6:00 p.m. Dinner Bishop Nicholas became known throughout the land 7:30 p.m. Spouses are invited. Ladies are to bring for his generosity to those in need, his love for children, a snack for the social. Donation of $3 per person at and his concern for sailors and ships. the door. Please RSVP by December 11 (KC Hall 798- Under the Roman Emperor Diocletian, who ruthlessly 2311, 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.).

persecuted Christians, Bishop Nicholas suffered for his Victoria Diocese Pastoral Institute 6-week Scripture faith, was exiled and imprisoned. He was released later course “Trinity” taught by Ron Friedel at the Chancery & and he died December 6, AD 343 in Myra and was buried via distance learning to Hostyn on Tuesdays 9:15–11:30 in his cathedral church. The anniversary of his death a.m. & 7:00–9:15 p.m., January 5 – February 9. For infor- became a day of celebration, St. Nicholas Day. mation or to register, call Barbara Parkan at 573-0828. St. Nicholas is patron of sailors and protector of children and ferrymen. Choose Life: Writing in the Michigan Law Review about Next Saturday, we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Oregon’s assisted suicide law, two physicians stated that reasonable sounding safeguards, which proponents said were Guadalupe, the Patroness of the Americas. We will have there to protect patients, do not appear to have achieved that the Spanish Choir at the 5:30 Mass on Saturday. After- purpose and are easily circumvented. “As a result , Oregon wards we will have some Pan Dulce (sweet bread) and physicians appear to have been given great power without being coffee in the Family Center. in a position to exercise it responsibly.” NRL News , June, 2008. Let us pray for all those involved with providing and performing

The Youth ConneXion abortions.

SACRED HEART CHURCH ENDOWMENT FUND

In memory of Emilie Bitala: December 13: Youth meet in church at 5:00 p.m. Firefall Leo & Evelyn Hoffer 20.00 at 6:00 p.m. High School Youth Christmas Party in the Sherry Hale 10.00 Youth House after Firefall. Peoples State Bank 10.00 Music Practice : Mondays, 6:00 p.m., Youth House. In memory of Beatrice Melnar:

Marcus Melnar 20.00

FINANCIAL REPORT – OCTOBER, 2009 2nd Sunday of Advent

Church Income: The very music swells and lifts at the beginning Sunday Collections $ 24,209.50 of George Frederick Handel's Messiah as the tenor Other Donations 3,586.00 sings, "Every valley shall be exalted." The staccato World Mission Collection 479.00 of "ev-ry va-al-ley" jumps up the scale as though the Religious Articles 1,003.90 music itself is lifting up the valleys making a level Family Center Rent 565.00 path and a smooth highway. Performances of the October Interest 688.23 Total Church Income $ 30,531.63 Messiah abound this time of year in concert halls, churches, and on television. Lis-ten closely, and you Church Expense: Salaries $ 6,578.15 may even hear selections punctuate the piped in Utilities 2,145.15 music of malls and department stores. Church Expense 1,290.12 What is fascinating is that most people associate Rectory Expense 176.87 one of the most famous selections from the Messiah Office Expense 1,004.76 with Christ-mas. But the renowned "Hallelujah" Religious Articles 1,053.73 chorus is not part of the Christmas section of Family Center Expense 378.66 Messiah. It comes at the end of part two, the section Repairs & Maintenance 643.00 devoted to Christ's passion, death, and (hallelujah!) Special Collections 479.00 resurrection. There is a certain wisdom in associating Building Insurance 1,650.19 this Easter message with the Advent – Christmas Total Church Expense $ 15,399.63 season. It is Christ's resurrection from the dead that School Income: is the origin of our faith. And while we prepare to Tuition: K-12 th $ 47,242.50 Tuition: PreK 6,275.00 celebrate His birth, what we are ultimately called to Field Trips 104.00 do is to be ready for when He comes again. Bus Fees 150.00 The prophet's message that "all flesh shall see the Extended Care 2,355.00 salvation of God," is a reminder in this Advent Catholic Education Envelopes 1,275.00 season of where we are really headed. It's likely that Memorials 530.00 we're getting into our cars a little more often these Athletics 2,000.00 days heading to stores and parties and Christmas Donations 45.00 events. We hope that the road we travel will be Miscellaneous 3,379.00 smooth. But the prophet's vision isn't about highway Total School Income $ 63,355.50 projects. It is about eternal salvation. Maybe School Expense: when we get behind the wheel each day this Salaries $ 71,992.31 month we can just say a little prayer asking Contracted Services 903.84 Office & Teaching Supplies 1,697.26 God to keep us on the right path. 2009 Liturgical Publications Inc Extended Care Supplies 107.72 Postage 378.73 SACRED HEART CHURCH ENDOWMENT FUND Staff Development 35.00 In memory of Ben Spanihel: 25.00 Public Relations 410.90 In memory of Gus Cudlum Werner: 25.00 Testing 299.00 In memory of Ignac Krejci: 25.00 Textbooks 2,845.97 In memory of Ludwig Pete Steinberg: 25.00 Library Expense 1,336.91 Knights of Columbus Council 2433 Utilities 5,651.06 In memory of Beatrice Melnar: Plant Repairs 2,246.88 Ben & Mary Lee Brosch 10.00 Bus & Van Expense 1,906.06 Mr. & Mrs. Thomas J. Sitka 15.00 Payroll Taxes 5,366.93 Annie & Dorothy Svetlik 15.00 Medical Insurance 12,338.04 Robert & Barbara Grahmann 10.00 Retirement Fund 3,456.68 R. L. & Elsie Orsak 15.00 Property Insurance 2,597.13 Dr. & Mrs. Walter Brzozowske 20.00 Convent Expense 755.79 Gladys Vrazel 10.00 Acquisition of Equipment 1,491.00 In memory of Oscar Barta: Technology 304.47 Melinda Wycoff, Cathy McVey, & Marathon Expense 3,675.00 Charlotte Whitten 100.00 Miscellaneous 499.17 Peoples State Bank 10.00 Total School Expense $120,295.85 Doris Opela 10.00 Jimmy & Barbara Lloyd 15.00 Parish Income $ 93,887.13 Knights of Columbus Council 2433 25.00 Parish Expense - 135,695.48 In memory of Dennis Appelt: Parish Deficit $ (41,808.35) Peoples State Bank 10.00

SACRED HEART CHURCH ENDOWMENT FUND In memory of Elizabeth Kleiber: In memory of Elizabeth Kleiber: Doris Opela 20.00 Clarence & Gladys Dittrich 10.00 Vaclav & Vickie Netardus 5.00 Growing inFAITH ™ Discovering hope and joy in the Catholic faith. FAITH December 2009

One Minute Celebrate Christmas like the first one Meditations Celebrating Christmas can be others who would otherwise celebrate anything but peaceful. Between the alone. Mary’s faith extra spending, shopping, and Praise God like the angels. “And Like us, Mary got confused by holiday activities leading up suddenly there was a multitude of the God’s instructions. When the to Christmas, we may be heavenly host with the angel appeared and told her of more stressed at this angel, praising God” her role in God’s plan, she time than at any (Luke 2:13). There is was “greatly troubled” and other time of year. an abundance of confused enough to ask, Yet Jesus amazing Christmas “How can this be …?” (Luke certainly hymns and carols 1:29, 34). Even the full doesn’t want to sing out explanation was too it that way. praise. Renew enormous for her to He spent the tradition of completely understand. It his first caroling in your was Mary’s great faith in day on neighborhood God that caused her to say, Earth in a manger. or host a “Yes,” to whatever he asked. His first outfit was caroling party by little more than inviting family The Advent wait wrappings of cloth and friends to share their joy through We spend Advent waiting and his first gifts weren’t entertaining. song. for something wonderful to Why not learn from the first Christmas Give gifts from the heart. The Magi happen. Yet in our impatience how to truly celebrate his birth? “opened their treasures and offered him to get to that something Surround yourself with family. Jesus gifts” (Matt. 2:11). What gifts can you wonderful, we can forget that spent that first night in the company of offer from your treasure of talents? the wait can be wonderful, his parents. Their gifts to him were Remember, gifts from the heart are too. Try taking it one week at simple: love and attention. Celebrate more valuable than anything you can a time and wait, hope, Christ’s birth with family or invite find in a store. prepare, and rejoice at the miracle of Christ's birth. A Catholic difference Why Do Why do Catholics As Catholics, we are never believe Mary was born alone in our Catholics efforts. We are Do That without Original Sin? members of the Church, the body of The Catechism teaches help necessary for the task Christ, and that God gave Mary all ahead. together we the gifts necessary for her While we are cleansed of make a real to become mother of our original sin at Baptism, difference. Savior. In fact, when the Pope Pius IX infallibly angel addressed affirmed that Mary's Mary as "full of grace" in role in Jesus’ work Luke 1:28, he meant that was so crucial that it kept Mary had the special divine her from original sin at the outset. © Copyright 2009 Success Publishing & Media, LLC Growing in Faith™ December 2009 Page 2 Give gifts of love this Christmas Jesus came to us out of love. He suffered and died Reach out to the suffering. Many people are struggling on the Cross out of love. During Advent and financially this year. Even if you are one of them, Christmas, why not find ways to share Jesus’ consider calling your parish office or Catholic gift of love with others? “This is my Charities (800-919-9338) to find out how you can commandment: love one another as I love you” help someone who is worse off. That’s a great gift (John 15:12). of love. Look for the lonely. Christmas can be a sad Offer time. This is one of the most precious time for those who are alone. Gifts of love can ways to show you care. Spending time with be as simple as baking Christmas cookies, someone else - even when you may not sending a card with a personal note, or offering have it to spare - is a gift of love that will to share a Christmas meal. not be forgotten.

from Luke 2:41-52, What are the cripture Living in the world & origins of some of S the carols we sing? In this reading, the Holy Family doing his Father’s work. He had went to Jerusalem during the become aware of his duties to his Some of the most popular Christmas year Jesus was twelve. In Father in Heaven, yet he remained hymns date back two hundred years or those days, a Hebrew boy mindful of his responsibilities to more. became a man around the his parents on Earth and Silent Night – Written as a poem in age of twelve and was obediently left with them. 1816 by Austrian priest Joseph Mohr, recognized in a ceremony Christians live in the world, in it came in handy two years we know as a Bar Mitzvah. neighborhoods, schools, and later when his church At this point a Jewish boy workplaces. Jesus demonstrated organ broke. Mohr gave would begin formal his respect for his ties to his the poem to his friend education in the Torah family, yet he continued to Franz Xavier Gruber who and Hebrew Scriptures. pursue his place in God’s plan wrote the melody in time This was an important of salvation. to be played on a guitar time in Jesus’ life. This The lesson for us is that we for . reading said that Jesus stayed don’t have to retire from the world O Little Town of – Rector behind to talk with the scholars and to be holy. Instead, we have to find Phillips Brooks of Philadelphia wrote it teachers, and told his parents he was ways to live a holy life in the world. in the late 1800s after he had visited the Holy Land. He was inspired by the view of Bethlehem from the hills of Palestine. – The words were written Feasts & century). A deacon of the early Church, by Placide Cappeau de Roquemaure, a St. Stephen angered the Jewish wine seller, in 1847 when the parish Celebrations authorities by preaching that the priest asked him to write a poem for Israelites consistently rejected God’s Christmas. December 8 – Immaculate chosen messengers. He was stoned to O Come All Ye Faithful – Englishman Conception of the Blessed Virgin death and became the first martyr. John Wade is credited with writing this Mary. This is the day we celebrate that Dec. 27 – The Holy Family (1st hymn in Latin in 1744. One hundred Mary was conceived in St. Anne’s womb century). On this feast day, we celebrate years later, it was translated into English without original sin. the family of Jesus – by an Anglican minister, Frederick December 12th - Our Lady of three people who Oakeley. Since then, it has been Guadalupe (1531). The Blessed Mother lived for God. By translated into 76 languages. appeared to St. Juan Diego in Mexico. their love of God She asked him to tell the bishop to and support for Our Mission To provide practical ideas that promote build a chapel for her, and had him each other, the faithful Catholic living. carry roses in his tilma (cape) as a sign. Holy Family Success Publishing & Media, LLC When he emptied his tilma before the Publishers of Growing in Faith™ and Partners in Faith™ is a model (540)662-7844 (540)662-7847 fax bishop, it retained the image of the for all http://www.growinginfaith.com Blessed Mother. (Unless noted Bible quotes and references are from Christian the Revised Standard Version and the New American Bible) December 26 – St. Stephen (1st families. © Copyright 2009 Success Publishing & Media, LLC