Scrip Challenge As of Dec 14th we have raised $1286.42 since 9/26/2020. 43 people/families have created an online account and orders THE TAPROOT are also placed through the office. Team Break Down: Volume 57 Number 1 Team Father John: $617.17 January 2021 Team Father Peyton: $351.87 Team LF School: $171.45 Team Booster Club: $31.90 Office has generated $258.81 with $144.78 of those dollars assigned to the appropriate team. Statistics: 3 people/families have generated over $100 in rebates with the leader at $158.15 6 individuals/families have generated over $80. LI±LE FLOWER CATHOLIC COMMUNITY 9 individuals/families plus the church office have generated $1102.74 of the $1286 in rebates. “THE LIGHT OF THE LOOP” Thank you to all who are participating. This is a powerful 2053 Government Street fundraising tool. We need more people to participate. Mobile, Alabama 36606 www.littleflowermobile.com Michael Brisbane (251) 490-3812 Rectory: 473-3340 Parish: 478-3381 School: 479-7881/5761 Fax: 476-4064 FROM THE DESK OF FR. JOHN: making this another successful Fundraiser. Mary Alice is smiling Happy New Year! I pray that we will all be in a safe place in down on you guys. The winners are: 1) Katie Hyland— 2021; that COVID will cease to be a problem and that all physical, Christmas Shopping Spree; 2) Dodie Ward——Winter Comfort spiritual and mental needs are fulfilled. Blanket; 3) Gwen & Harry Smith—-Irish Christmas Basket; 4) Fr. John Coghlan—Crimson Tide Basket; 5) Dodie Ward— What a marvelous Christmas! Decorations in the church were just Dinner & Robert Moore Shopping Spree; 6) Mary Simpson— grand. Everything was beautiful. It entailed several hours of hard Mr. Claus Basket; 7) Julie Anderson—Mrs. Claus Basket; 8) work I am so grateful to all who accomplished this. Terry McKinney—Sports Basket; 9) Nicole Angel—Christmas The Masses were quite full at 4:00pm and the 5:30pm. In fact, we Wine & Cheese Basket; 10)Myra Sands—Christmas Cookie had we conduct people to the cafeteria where Mass was Baking Basket;11) Fr. John Coghlan—Mardi Gras Basket;12) simultaneously being celebrated. I look forward to this coming Marilyn Wood——Christmas Feast Basket. The Grand Prize Christmas when we can all safely be in one building. winners of $1000 are Ray and Janie Carney. Thank you all for your support! The net profit was over four thousand dollars!! Although 2020 was a difficult year, Little Flower has shown great resilience. We begin a new year full of hope and At all Masses January 2nd and 3rd couples married during the expectations and we are really excited about all the good things month of January, February or March will have an opportunity happening here at Little Flower. Our aid to needy families was a to have their marriage blessed. record high thanks to your generosity. I applaud you for this. You never cease to amaze me with your kindness and your thoughtful Internet fraud seems to be on the rise.My Name has been hearts. used in internet scams and frauds. Please note that I would never request money or favors from anyone via Internet. January kicks off Catholic Charities (January 16 & 17) and Things get a bit hectic around here at times. If Fr. Plessala Catholic Schools Week (begins January 31st). Thank you for your or I have forgotten to thank anyone for the acts of kindness or past years of generosity. I pray that with careful thought you will gifts we received during Christmas please forgive us. Thank you continue to do so this year. Catholic Schools Week highlights the for all you do!! Hope to see you at Mass. value of a Catholic Education. My wish is that every child, especially my little parishioners, experience the benefit of a *Enclosed in this month’s TapRoot are Tithing and Time & Talent forms. Catholic Education. If your child is not in our parish school please Please fill these out and return to the office. No pressure on a tithing take the time to check out this little gem. amount, just let us know that you want to continue to stay on role as a Little Flower parishioner. The “Mary Alice Rice Twelve Days of Christmas Memorial Fr John Raffle” was a huge success. Thank you to the Rice Family and several of our parish groups for their hard work and donations in (1 (2 Catholic Round Table Celebrate Life! The schedule for 2021 is not totally The Mobile March for Life will be on Friday, January 29, 2021. decided because we changed the 2020 The Little Flower Coalition will be marching, schedule frequently due to involved and we want YOU to join us! The schedule discussions, sharing, and ending the year of events is as follows: with a session on Advent and Christmas trivia. Despite beginning the fall schedule *9:30 am gathering of the Little Flower late due to C19 and frequent changes in the Coalition in Cathedral Square near the corner schedule, it was excellent, informative, and fun. It is a wonderful thing to be able of North Claiborne and Conti to come together with each other, share and develop our *9:45 am Rally in Cathedral Square faith. Here is something we would like to share with you that we *10:45 am March through downtown Mo- discussed when we did the sessions on the Mass. It shows us just how bile. Bring a big, bright sign to carry letting far back the structure of the Mass goes. It is from the First Apology everyone who sees you know that you are Celebrating Life! of Justin, a Christian Philosopher about 150 A.D. He wrote it as a systematic defense of Christians to the Roman Emperor, Antonius Those who are sheltering at home due to medical vulnerabilities Pius. First, it is important to note that the early Christians were can watch the March on Facebook Live. All are encouraged to Jewish converts and the way they worshiped in the synagogue complete the form on the website (https:// influenced their celebration of the Mass. Justin wrote that the www.marchforlifemobile.org/be-counted-2021) so you can be Christians gathered on the day of the Sun (Sunday) and “the memoirs counted among the defenders of life if you cannot be physically of the Apostles or the writings of the Prophets are read” (Liturgy of the Word.) After the Presider exhorted the” assembly to imitate the present! good examples of the readings” (Homily), bread and wine were brought forward (Presentation of Gifts) and prayers were said, This year, you can also designate half of the cost of the t-shirts and (Eucharistic Prayer.) Justin wrote that the bread and wine were race bibs to a pregnancy resource center of your choice! Be sure to called Eucharist because by the Eucharistic (Thanksgiving) Prayer, this pre-order and wear your shirt with pride everywhere you go! food is changed into the “flesh and blood of the Incarnated Jesus” https://www.marchforlifemobile.org/tshirt (Consecration.) Next, there is a distribution to each and the participation in the Eucharistic elements (Communion.) Justin is There are always very inspiring speakers at the rally, and the March clear “that the food which is blessed by the prayer of His word […] is always fun! Please join us physically if at all possible or virtually if is the flesh and blood of that Jesus who was made flesh.” This is a not. Post on social media wearing your shirts at the March or at very brief and only an excerpt from his First Apology. He includes home, and include the hashtag, #CelebrateLifeMobile so many more things, like the “Kiss of Peace” which is not new as many believe. You can read his entire Apology by Googling (unless you have a set of the writings of the Church Fathers) Justin Martyr’s For more information, visit the website at https:// First Apology. It is long but you will find this and much more www.marchforlifemobile.org/ or email, text, or call me. I can’t wait regarding the Mass in 150 A.D. in chapters 65-68 (these are not to celebrate life with you! Thanks as always for standing up long). Join us in this New Year to learn more about our Catholic for life! 251-490-1528 Faith. Whether you join us or not, may God bless each of you daily Rebecca Graves [email protected] in this New Year! God bless, Round Table Committee (4 (3 Viking News The Men of St. Joseph The mission of Little Flower Catholic School The Advent Season is a wonderful time is to teach, learn and grow through the tradition of faith. that we spent in preparation for the com- ing of Christ, our Savior. In the days leading up to Christmas, we heard about The hustle and bustle of the holidays is John the Baptist who was thought by many behind us and the promise of a quiet to be the Messiah. But he made it humbly new year begins. Students begin the clear that he was just the opening act, in new year with VIRTUAL SCHOOL from th th the hugely transformative event of the January 4 to 8 . All of the birth of Jesus Christ. We pray that we, as Archdiocese schools will be virtual in an the faith leaders of our family, have the abundance of caution and to help will and skill to be good examples of prevent the spread of COVID- 19. Student will return to IN th John’s humility in all that we say and do.