Author: Rosemary

  • Announcements

    ByRosemary

    Rosemary's Blessing of The Week:

     

    May an abundance of gratitude burst forth in our minds and hearts as we remember all the blessings in our life.
     

    May we slow our hurried pace these days so we can be aware of, and enjoy, what we can too easily take for granted.
     

    May we always be open, willing and ready to share our blessings with others and never forget the God who loves us lavishly and unconditionally.
     

    And  may we remember that our thanksgiving is incomplete until we pay it forward by doing for others what they cannot do for themselves.
     

    Amen.

     

    From a prayer by Sr. Jean Amore CSJ,  Sacred Heart Academy,  Hempstead, N.Y.

     

     

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    Patricia reading from Genesis.

     

     

    Special Thanks to these special people:

    •    For  the Readings:    Patricia & Jackie
    •    For The Team:      Leo 
    •    For the Communion Bread:   Alison
    •    For the Special Communion Cups:  none today, too cold
    •    For the Pictures:   Rick & Connie & Mike 
    •    For the coffee and extras: Mike & Jackie
    •    For the altar & sound:  Jackie & Hue
    •    For the Music:     Ben & David & Shonda
    •    For all who helped with Communion 
    •     Special thanks to All who helped with the marvelous Christmas Even celebration, including Claire, John & Alison & Sabrina, Barb Senter; Jackie; John & Mike; Georgie, Buddy, & Leo; Hue; and, of course, Shonda & Wendy, Ben & David

     

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    Jackie reading from Hebrews.

     

     

    Birthdays:  Meredith (last Tuesday), Connie Bresson (62, last Wednesday), Hugh Bivona, (Tuesday), Tom Fleming (59, Fridday

     

    Anniversaries:

    Carol & Richard, (42, Thursday),

    Tom & Theresa Quinn, (50th, last Saturday)

     

     

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    Rosemary reading her Blessing of The Week.

     

     

    Please Remember these special people

     For John O'Donnell;   For Carol's rcuperation; For Tom Good & his operation recuperation;     For Dee and her daughter, Lisa; For John Schanot's continued recuperation;  For Nadia's recuperation;  For a young man who is suffering from depression;    For Claire's mom;  For Cliff & Jean, plus Jean's brother Terry;   For Rosemary's niece, Beth and her partner, Sarah with cancer;   For Laura's sister Claudia; For Dawn;    For Anthony & Sabrina;   For John & Jean's son John Louis;   For our good friend Kay in Ontario;    For Rose's daughter in law Jamie; For a young father of two & married, Paul Day, struggling with a heart condition;

     

     

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    Thanks, Ben, for being our Candle Lighter of The Week.

     

     

    For Rosemary's sister, Patty and her husband, Lou;  For Cathy's uncle, Jim Wright at 92;   For Connie's nephew, Fred;  For Mary Jane Stevenson's son Philip, 34, sick & don't know why;           For Jackie's friend, Barbara, plus Angela & her mom;    For Sr. Patricia Otillio, a nun I worked with for years in Grand Coteau;   John Cade's mother in law, Kalliopi Piskiouli;    for Frank’s brother with advanced Parkinsons;      For Steve Barrett, Rose, & Katie;

     

     

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    Happy Birthday, Connie, and thanks for being The Best.

     

     

    Dick Thompson's daughter, Teri Jill, and Judy's aging parents;  Barb & Warren's grandbabies, Leighton Elizabeth and Warren Phillip and Ethan Michel, & their friend Chris, plus Barb's  Annie & Kaitlen; Tom and Teresa Quinn's niece, Chawna, with cancer, their granddaughter, Mikayla;   plus Neva Flynn, Angel, and Diane Kreeitzer;   Connie Doherty's mom and her sister, plus Kevin's cousin, Peter; for Mary Ellen;  For a number of David McKeon's family who are having a rough time with health issues; for our friends, sons, and daughters in the military, including Ryan McClurg and Chebino; cure for autism from Laura Chollick; for our President.

     

     

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    Happy 50th, Teresa and Tom.

     

     

    Your Finances, December 31, 2017

    Expenses:   $765.00

    Outreach:   $350.00

    Thanks for your Generosity, Everybody.

     

     

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    Thanks, Emma, for being The Best.

     

     

    Have a Great Week, J.S.

    (214-783-0443)

     

     

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    Thanks to you, also, Harper, for being The Best.

     

     

    JSM Mission-Faith Statement  

        Help create a Catholic Community that welcomes all God’s People,  provides for & challenges spiritual & total growth.  

          Reaches out to help people who are disadvantaged & make the world  we live in a better place to live.

     

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    Thanks, Leo, for being a Great Help on this cold and drizzlie day.   We even got snow on the way home.   Those light shoes?  Guess.

  • Reminder for Sunday, December 31, 2017, Holy Family

    ByRosemary

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    Hi, Emma, and Happy Christmas.  You look gorgeous.

     

     

    Welcome: Catholic Mass with coffee & juice, and pastries, some bought, some home-made.  

    Time: 4:00; Celebrate with the Community & Stack

    Place: Sigler Elementary, 1400 Janwood Drive, Plano, TX 75075

                           

     Note for bad weather Sundays:  If you wonder if we will have our celebration, call me (214-783-0443) and I will record a message.   I will also get a phone tree moving.  Check the directory for phone numbers.  If we know for sure the Saturday evening before, I can also post a blog.

     

     

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    Hi, Nora, I hear Santa  is coming to visit you tonight and maybe even this evening.

     

    Readings:

    Genesis15, 1-6; 21, 1-3    Look up at the sky and count the stars.  Just so shall your descendants be.

    Psalm, 105,  the Lord remembers his covenant forever.

    Hebrews 11, 8, 11-12, 17-19  By faith Abraham obeyed.

    Luke 2, 22-40,   Simeon & Anna meet Jesus

     

     

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    Quiz: how many people are singing in the photo.

     

     

    Community Activities:  

    ROMEO MEET: Friday, December  29, Jason's Deli, Collin Creek Mall, west side of Central, 1:00.  Welcome all wakos,  you will fit right in.  Apologies for the mix up last Friday.

    JULIET LUNCHEON, (aka.,just us ladies into eating together),  January Lunch, TBA

     

    Dickenson Trip:  February 23- March 3

     

     

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    Those Bresson kids.

     

     

    What is going on in Our Catholic World:

    1    The cruelty of the tax plan, NationalCatholic Reporter, December 14, 666  words,    Download THE CRUEL BUDGET 12-28-17- 

    2.  Jesuit parishes as sanctuaries, National Catholic Reporter,   December 21, 654 words,    Download SJ PARISHES SANCTUARIES 12-28-17

    3.   How to reform the Vatican, National Catholic Reporter,  December 21, 255 words, Download REFORMING VATICAN 12-28-31

     

     

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    I think I see some shepherds.

     

     

    True?

    The belief that there is only one truth, and that oneself is in possession of it, is the root of all evil in the world.

    Max Born

     

     

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    Under that bush, could there be a Cathy?

     

     

    See you Sunday, December 31, 2017

    J.S., 214-783-0443

     

     

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    Sez Sam, "Where is that Santa character?"

     

     

    JSM Mission-Faith Statement

    Help create a Catholic Community that welcomes all God’s People, provides for and challenges spiritual and total growth.

    Reaches out to help people who are disadvantaged and make the world we live in a better place to live.

     

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    Sez Tori,  "He's coming, Sam.  You just watch."

     

     

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    "I've seen him," says Zoe

  • Homily for Christmas Eve, Sunday, December 24,2017

    ByRosemary

      Kids 1

     

    The Living Nativity.  

     

    Readings:

    Isaiah 9, 1-6,    The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light, upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shown.  (Wow!  Beautiful)

    Psalm, 96,  Today is born our savior, Christ the Lord.

    Titus 2, 10-11,  The grace of God has appeared.

    Luke 2, 1-14,   The Nativity story.   (Lovely)

     

     

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    What do we have here?  A donkey, a giraffe, an Addie?  

     

     

    Isaiah observations:

     

    This is Isaiah 1, a beautiful, hope filled piece.

     

     

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    Ever see a prettier Mary?  Hi, CC.

     

     

    The Daily Nativities bringing Peace, Joy, & Gratitude

    I would like to talk a few minutes this evening about celebrating the Nativity.  We do this once a year.  I propose that we can celebrate the Nativity, not once a year, but everyday.  The Nativity is an event that gives me peace and joy and a sense of gratitude.  These nativities happen daily. 

     

     

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    Hey, who let this character in?  Got a gift for me Santa?

     

    Two examples.

    There is a little widow lady named Joyce who lives right across the street from Rosemary & me.  She is on the southeast corner of Tulip Lane & Camellia.  We are on the northeast corner.

    Joyce is 89 years old and Aviana & I visit her every morning.  In fact, we give her our newspaper after we have read it.

     

     

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    Has Santa run out of presents?  No way!

     

     

    A week ago Joyce walked over to The Tom Thumb on the corner of Preston & Royal, a ten minute walk from our corner.  After buying bread and crossing over Preston at the light, Joyce was crossing Royal at Camellia.  As she walks to the median, she steps into a pile of leaves thinking it was flat.  

    Nope, it was the curb and Joyce falls face down on the cement of the median.  She gets right up and is bleeding all over herself from where her sunglasses had cut around her left eye.  Not the eye itself, but her face.

     

     

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    Thanks, Emma, for doing your Candle Magic again.

     

     

    At this point Joyce says all these people literally stopped their cars and ran to her.  Some wanted to call an ambulance for her.  Others offered to drive her home.  “No,” she said, “I am okay and only live right there,” and she points to her house.

    One guy, however, puts his arm around her waist and offers to walk her home.  She accepts and gets home.

     

     

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    "All I want for Christmas?  Yes," says Vivian, my front tooth."  And Viki, her mom agrees

     

     

    Want to know what really touched her?  Yes, all the people who ran to help her, leaving their cars right there on extremely busy Royal Lane. 

    Those people were a Nativity event for Joyce.  And guess what.  She has  great peace, joy, and gratitude.

     

     

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    The Team, Georgie & Buddy, Leo & Mike.

     

     

    The second example of a nativity happened to me Thursday.  I went to the main Dallas recycle dump on Harry Hines & Webb Chapel.  I get on the ramp and start unloading empty paint cans, old phones, and stuff that had accumulated for a year or more.

    Coming up and helping me was a tall, old black guy, probably older even than I am.   I’m thinking this guy should be retired and at home with his grandkids.  I take the stuff out of the van, he takes  it and puts it in the correct container.  I am most touched.

     

     

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    And the Rest of The Team.

     

     

    I wish him Happy Christmas and I start to get into the van.  “He deserves a tip,” I think and look into my bill fold.  5 bucks, maybe.  No luck.  No fives, no tens even.  Only a 20.  “Rosemary is going to kill me,”  So I walk over and shake his hand, the 20 in the shake. 

    He, of course, tells me how I do not need to do this a bunch of times.  But finally he is all gratitude.  I get into the van quickly so he won’t see my tears.

     

     

     

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    Jack & his sister Sophia, who dances, like to all the music their dad (Ben) is playing.

     

     

    A daily nativity event.  I gave him a 20.  I took from him peace, joy, and gratitude.

    Where is the Nativity Event in your life this season?

     

     

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    Merry Christmas, Carrie.  Merry Christmas, Paul.

  • Announcements

    ByRosemary

    Rosemary's Blessing of The Week:

    None today because a man in a red suit crashed the party. 

     

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    John reading from The Great Prophet Isaiah.

     

     

    Special Thanks to these special people:

    •    For  the Readings:   Claire, John, & Mary Jane
    •    For The Team:     Buddy & Leo & Georgie
    •    For the Communion Bread:   Alison
    •    For the Special Communion Cups:  Jan & Charlie
    •    For the Pictures:   Rick & Connie & Beth 
    •    For the coffee and extras:  None today
    •    For the altar & sound:  Jackie & Hue
    •    For the Music:     Ben & David,  Shonda & Wendy
    •    For all who helped with Communion 

     

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    Mary Jane reading from Titus.

     

     

    Birthdays:  Meredith (Tuesday), Connie Bresson (62, Wednesday)

    Anniversaries:

    Tom & Theresa Quinn, (50th, Saturday}

     

     

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    Claire reading Luke's Nativity narrative.

     

     

    Please Remember these special people

     For Myron's dear wife, Chris & the family;   For two moms who recently died, Connie’s mom and Marilyn’s mom;   For John O'Donnell;   For Carol's rcuperation; For Tom Good & his operation recuperation;     For Dee and her daughter, Lisa; For John Schanot's continued recuperation;  For Nadia's recuperation;  For a young man who is suffering from depression;    For Claire's mom;  For Cliff & Jean, plus Jean's brother Terry;   For Rosemary's niece, Beth and her partner, Sarah with cancer;   For Laura's sister Claudia;   For Dawn;    For Anthony & Sabrina;   For John & Jean's son John Louis;   For our good friend Kay in Ontario;    For Rose's daughter in law Jamie; For a young father of two & married, Paul Day, struggling with a heart condition;

     

     

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    Here they are, Folks, the Ekes, Marlene & Zaile, Davis & Billy, Ashley & Cindy, and Jeremy.   And there are more.

     

     

     

    For Rosemary's sister, Patty and her husband, Lou;  For Cathy's uncle, Jim Wright at 92;   For Connie's nephew, Fred; For Mary Jane Stevenson's son Philip, 34, sick & don't know why;     For Maureen’s daughter, Kathleen, with cancer;      For Jackie's friend, Barbara, plus Angela & her mom;    For Sr. Patricia Otillio, a nun I worked with for years in Grand Coteau;   John Cade's mother in law, Kalliopi Piskiouli;    for Franks brother with advanced Parkinsons;      For Steve Barrett, Rose, & Katie;

     

     

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    Remember when Sabrina was The Most Active Altar Helper?  Here she is graduated from University and working.   Plus, John & Alison.

     

     

    Dick Thompson's daughter, Teri Jill, and Judy's aging parents;  Barb & Warren's grandbabies, Leighton Elizabeth and Warren Phillip and Ethan Michel, & their friend Chris, plus Barb's  Annie & Kaitlen; Tom and Teresa Quinn's niece, Chawna, with cancer, their granddaughter, Mikayla;   plus Neva Flynn, Angel, and Diane Kreeitzer;   Connie Doherty's mom and her sister, plus Kevin's cousin, Peter; for Mary Ellen;  For a number of David McKeon's family who are having a rough time with health issues; for our friends, sons, and daughters in the military, including Ryan McClurg and Chebino; cure for autism from Laura Chollick; for our President.

     

     

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    Rosemary (almost a doctor & always gifting us with her marvelous smile) and her mom, Linda. 

     

     

    Your Finances, December 24, 2017

    Expenses:   $2500.00

    Outreach:   $1015.00

    Thanks for your Generosity, Everybody.

     

     

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    Hi, Tara & Dana & Dawson.

     

     

    Have a Great Week, J.S.

    (214-783-0443)

     

     

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    The Best Music, Wendy & Shonda, Ben & David.

     

     

    JSM Mission-Faith Statement  

        Help create a Catholic Community that welcomes all God’s People,  provides for & challenges spiritual & total growth.  

          Reaches out to help people who are disadvantaged & make the world  we live in a better place to live.

     

     

    Meals 2

     

    A beautiful way to spend a late Christmas morning: Meals on Wheels.  Lots  of cars weave through this maze, collecting meals.  Lots of volunteers help guide the cars to their allotted parcels, and the volunteers are almost all Indian, old and young, men & women.

  • Sunday Homily, December 17, 2017, 3rd Advent B

    ByRosemary

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    Says Harper, "Welcome in, Everybody."

     

    Readings:

    Isaiah 61, 1-2, 10-11,   He has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor, to heal the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners.  (Wow!)

    Luke 1,  My soul rejoices in my God  (The Magnificat)

    1 Thessalonians 5, 16-24,  Rejoice always.

    John, 1, 6-8, 19-28  A man named John was sent from God.

     

     

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    And Welcome in to you two, Joe & Brent.

     

    Isaiah observations– 

    Who:   This is Isaiah 3.  Isaiah  1 goes to Chap. 39, Isaiah 2 goes 40-55.  From 40 on we have what is called the Book of Comfort.  Our selection today is all about comfort.  The writer is consoling the Hebrews after returning from Babylon to a destroyed Jerusalem  around 555 before Christ.

    The first marvelous couple of verses are repeated more or less in Isaiah 42, i.e.,  Isaiah 2.  Also, Luke puts these words into Jesus mouth in chapter 4 of his gospel.

     

     

     

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    Tara, Welcome into the U.S from Iran and welcome to our Community.

     

     

     

    Advent Wreaths: This little liturgical practice came to the Catholic liturgy, believe it or not, from the German Lutherans in the 1500's, the time of Martin Luther.  It was more than just decoration.  The circle symbolized eternity.  The greens, Christian life in a dead time of the year.  The candles represent each of the 4 weeks of Advent, each candle symbolizing the greater light brought by Christ.  Their color purple symbolized penance and purification for the Coming.  The Rose  candle says, 'We are almost there!

     

     

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    Zoe, Our Candle Lighter of The Week, lighting all 4 candles for Advent.
     

     

     

    Bring Glad Tidings to the Poor

    In the spirit of Advent, which means in Latin bring to or come to (the Lord), I want to tell you two more stories of being touched by goodness and feeling the Lord’s presence. 

    I am a member of the Dallas North Rotary.  I have been a member since ca.1990, when I was adjusting to life in Dallas after the years in East Africa.  A guy invited me one time and I never stopped going.  Mostly because I have some good friends there, not that I even eat lunch.

     

     

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    Vesting up with the help of Jackie & Georgie.

     

     

    Last Tuesday we were having our usual lunch at a delightful little café called Greek Isles on the southwest corner of Preston & Royal.  We were taking a few minutes to share brags or special news. 

    One guy named Jerry, who may have been a college professor and who may be older than I am, unlikely as that may seem.  Jerry is telling how he went to the Chase Bank on the Northeast corner of Preston & Royal.  He comes out and notices a low tire.  He pulls a screw out of it, drives to the Exxon convenience store across the street, and discovers that the air pump is broken.

     

     

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    The Minor Elevation

     

     

    So he leaves his car by the pump and walks over to attend the Rotary luncheon.   I don’t think Jerry has the skill or strength to put on his spare tire.

     I confess that at this point I am thinking that I could run over and put his spare on with no problem.  But I know I did not want to volunteer.  I did not want to leave the people and I did not want to spend the time after the luncheon.

     

     

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    Guess what is coming!

     

     

    Suddenly, before my conscience kicks in, a guy named Gus says he can do it right away.  He gets up, leaves his lunch, and gets the keys from Jerry.   Out of the room he goes.  Gus just happens to be the gregarious, outgoing owner of the Greek Isles.  I was touched at his gesture and embarrassed at mine.

    For me, an Advent moment.

    An amusing footnote.  Gus is the owner of the café, but his son, Chris is the manager.  Gus gave the keys to Chris and I suppose it was Chris who eventually put the spare on Jerry’s car.

     

     

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    Can it get better that this, mom & daughter, Beth & Emma.

     

    The second Advent moment was Thursday night at the Meyerson, the whole event.   Rosemary & I have gone to this Christmas concert for 20 years and every year I am so moved.  It was again this year a visual feast as well as an auditory feast.  Moreover, I was there with over thirty of my best friends.

    It could have been better only if Rosemary might have made it.   That she did stay home in bed to recuperate from her congestion was a blessing in itself.

    Another Advent event.

    Yours?

     

    Doherty's

     

     Kevin is home from college, Everybody, yeah, along with his mom & dad, Connie & John, and special friend, Sandra.

  • Announcements

    ByRosemary

    Rosemary's Blessing of The Week:

      

    God of every nation and people, 

    you have made known your light and love 

    since the beginning of creation, 

    and then to us through Jesus Christ.  

    This Advent, may we be open to receiving 

    your light and love in new ways 

    and to witnessing in our world the unity, inclusivity, mercy and justice 

    that Jesus so desires of us.    

    Amen.

     

    Advent Prayer by S. Jean Amore, CSJ, VP for Mission and Academics, Sacred Heart Academy, Hempstead, N.Y.

     

     

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    Beth reading from The Great Prophet Isaiah (no. 3)

     

     

    Special Thanks to these special people:

    •    For  the Readings:   Beth & Rob
    •    For The Team:     Buddy  &  Georgie
    •    For the Communion Bread:   Alison
    •    For the Special Communion Cups:  Jan & Charlie
    •    For the Pictures:   Rick & Mike & Connie & Beth 
    •    For the coffee and extras:  Mike & Judy
    •    For the altar & sound:  Jackie & Hue
    •    For the Music:     Ben & Shonda
    •    For all who helped with Communion 

     

     

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    Rob reading from 1 Thessalonians.

     

     

    Birthdays:  Allen Strker & Ben Porter

     

     

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    Rosemary reading her Blessing of The Week and also showing the community the gratitude card brought to us from the 60 men at Souls Harbor.   We collected hoodies for the men.  They all signed the card.

     

     

    Please Remember these special people

     For Myron's dear wife, Chris & the family;   For two moms who recently died, Connie’s mom and Marilyn’s mom;   For John O'Donnell;   For Carol's rcuperation; For Tom Good & his operation recuperation;     For Dee and her daughter, Lisa; For John Schanot's continued recuperation;  For Nadia's recuperation;  For a young man who is suffering from depression;    For Claire's mom;  For Cliff & Jean, plus Jean's brother Terry;   For Rosemary's niece, Beth and her partner, Sarah with cancer;   For Laura's sister Claudia;   For Dawn;    For Anthony & Sabrina;   For John & Jean's son John Louis;   For our good friend Kay in Ontario;    For Rose's daughter in law Jamie; For a young father of two & married, Paul Day, struggling with a heart condition;

     

     

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    Thanks, Dearest Zoe, for being our Candle Lighter of The Week.

     

     

    For Rosemary's sister, Patty and her husband, Lou;  For Cathy's uncle, Jim Wright at 92;   For Connie's nephew, Fred; For Mary Jane Stevenson's son Philip, 34, sick & don't know why;     For Maureen’s daughter, Kathleen, with cancer;      For Jackie's friend, Barbara, plus Angela & her mom;    For Sr. Patricia Otillio, a nun I worked with for years in Grand Coteau;   John Cade's mother in law, Kalliopi Piskiouli;    for Franks brother with advanced Parkinsons;      For Steve Barrett, Rose, & Katie;

     

     

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    Happy Birthday, Allen.

     

     

    Dick Thompson's daughter, Teri Jill, and Judy's aging parents;  Barb & Warren's grandbabies, Leighton Elizabeth and Warren Phillip and Ethan Michel, & their friend Chris, plus Barb's  Annie & Kaitlen; Tom and Teresa Quinn's niece, Chawna, with cancer, their granddaughter, Mikayla;   plus Neva Flynn, Angel, and Diane Kreeitzer;   Connie Doherty's mom and her sister, plus Kevin's cousin, Peter; for Mary Ellen;  For a number of David McKeon's family who are having a rough time with health issues; for our friends, sons, and daughters in the military, including Ryan McClurg and Chebino; cure for autism from Laura Chollick; for our President.

     

     

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    Happy Birthday to you, Ben, and thanks.

     

     

    Your Finances, December 17, 2017

    Expenses:   $2160.00

    Outreach:   $ 666.00

    Thanks for your Generosity, Everybody.

     

     

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    Welcome again into the U.S., Tara, and welcome to our Community.  Tara and Dana Dinsmore are room mates at Arizona University.

     

     

    Have a Great Week, J.S.

    (214-783-0443)

     

     

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    The Communion Team.

     

     

    JSM Mission-Faith Statement  

        Help create a Catholic Community that welcomes all God’s People,  provides for & challenges spiritual & total growth.  

          Reaches out to help people who are disadvantaged & make the world  we live in a better place to live.

     

     

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    Thanks for coming, Dearest Tori, and see you next week, Christmas Eve, 4:00 P.M.

  • Reminder for Sunday, December 17, 2017, 3rd Advent, cycle B

    ByRosemary

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    Hi, Everybody, Welcome in.

     

    Welcome: Catholic Mass with coffee & juice, and pastries, some bought, some home-made.  

    Time: 9:30; Celebrate with the Community & Stack

    Place: Sigler Elementary, 1400 Janwood Drive, Plano, TX 75075

     

      How many horses

     

    Quiz: how many horses do you see in this picture?

     

     

    Readings:

    Isaiah 61, 1-2, 10-11,   He has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor, to heal the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners.  (Wow!)

    Luke 1,  My soul rejoices in my God  (The Magnificat)

    1 Thessalonians 5, 16-24,  Rejoice always.

    John, 1, 6-8, 19-28  A man named John was sent from God.

     

      Lost

     

    Lost, yes.  Found???

     

     

    Community Activities:  

    ROMEO MEET: Friday, December  8, Jason's Deli, Collin Creek Mall, west side of Central, 1:00.  Welcome all wakos,  you will fit right in.  Apologies for the mix up last Friday.

    JULIET LUNCHEON, (aka.,just us ladies into eating together),  January Lunch, TBA

     

     

    Souls 1

     

    Advent pick up for Souls Harbor, our Number 1 charity.

     

     

    Christmas Eve Mass, Sunday, December 24, 4:00 P.M., Sigler gym.   Note: No Mass scheduled for that morning.

     

    Love for Kids picnic:  December 9, Thanks, All

    Dickenson Trip:  February 23- March 3

    What is going on in Our Catholic World:

    1    Our Father, Lead us not into Temptation, NationalCatholic Reporter, November 11, 345  words,    Download LEAD US NOT 12-17-17      

    2.  Catholics on the tax plan, National Catholic Reporter,   December 13, 666 words,  Download TAX PLAN ON CATHOLICS 12-14-17

     

     

    Trouble

     

    Trouble Makers??  Yes!!

     

    True?

    I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.

    Albert Schweitzer

     

     

    Healing 1

     

     

    Healing for Frank and Mary.

     

    See you Sunday.

    J.S., 214-783-0443

     

      Community singiing

     

    Community singing & sharing.

     

     

    JSM Mission-Faith Statement

    Help create a Catholic Community that welcomes all God’s People, provides for and challenges spiritual and total growth.

    Reaches out to help people who are disadvantaged and make the world we live in a better place to live.

     

    Peace 1

     

    Peace, Everybody.

     

    Peace 2

     

    And peace to you, too, Buddy

     

     

  • Sunday Homily, December 10, 2017, 1st Advent B

    ByRosemary

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    "Welcome in, Everybody," says our dear Michelle, The Great Mom.

     

     

    Readings:

    Isaiah 40, 1-5, 9-11,   Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God

    Psalm 85,  Lord, let us see you kindness and grant us your salvation.

    2 Peter 3, 8-14,  One day with the Lord is like a thousand years.

    Mark, 1, 1-,  He will prepare your way.

     

    Christmas Eve Mass, 12/24/17 at 4:00.

     

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    Our Dearest Candle Lighter, Emma, at work bringing us light.

     

    Observations on Isaiah

    Who: number 2 Isaiah, my favorite and a bringer of peace and consolation.  This is despite the fact that Isaiah 2 is composing during the time of the Babylonian Captivity.

    If you are familiar with Handel’s Messiah, you will recognize lines he took directly from this passage.  

     

    Watch out for a line in the letter of Peter, where God is compared to a thief who will come unexpectedly and send you to a bad place.

     

     

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    Thanks for the help with the Offertory, Teresa & Tom, and Leo in the back.

     

     

    The Day of the Lord will come like a thief

    In the spirit of Advent I want to tell you three stories about how the thief came to me in the past week.  This is my kind of thief, one who brings peace and consolation.

     

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    The Best Music with Shonda, Ben, & David.
     

     

     

    There is a person who lives in a suburb not far from our community gathering place here at Sigler Elementary.  In this neighborhood the Dallas Morning News is delivered every morning at 6:10.  The paper is thrown into the lawn from a passing car or pick-up (not like in my days as a paper boy when I walked and took pride in placing the paper right at the front door).  In the neighborhood the first person to fetch the paper walks around and delivers everyone’s paper to their doorstep.  Pretty cool.

    This past Friday morning this person was ready to do the paper delivery, stepped out, and behold, his paper had already been delivered by a neighbor.  This is getting merit by intention, an old Catholic grade school teaching of the Ursuline nuns.  The person?  Our Mike Carroll, a thief who regularly brings peace and consolation to all.

     

      IMG_2311

     

    Communion ready, Claire & Sandra, Geri & Mike & Patricia.

     

     

     

    The name of second thief is unknown.  Andy Sokolowski, one of our stalwart backpackers, told me this.  He & his wife were in their RV looking for a special park in Arizona.  They cannot find it, are sitting at the edge of the road looking at their map, and up comes a black guy who asks if they are lost. 

    Yes!  The guy explains how to get to the park, which involves about half a dozen turns on little roads.  A couple of miles down their road, they are lost again. 

     

     

    Team 1

     

    The real thieves at the Love for Kids picnic bringing peace and consolation.

     

     

    But, behind them comes the thief bringing peace and consolation.  He offers to personally lead them to the park.  The thief of peace and consolation has struck again.

    The third even took place yesterday, yes, the Great Love for Kids picnic at the large ranch west of Flower Mound.  The picnic invites kids from DISD and other school districts.  The schools are mostly from low income neighborhoods.

     

     

    Thief 1

     

    Those thieves were everywhere.   This young teacher is lacing up the shoe of one of her little charges.

     

    Saturday 30 plus buses delivered a thousand pumped kids to a whole swarm of activities.  I watched those kids come into the big rectangular pavilion.  They were so excited.   Immediately they were welcomed with music and special middle school kids who sang and invited the kids to dance.  One the stage was even a Downs Syndrome girl who could really dance.

    Waiting for them were bags of pop corn, kool-ade, face painting and tatoos, horse back rides, and  lunch.  Plus more music and dancing.  Every kid got a new winter coat and they were not all alike.  When the kids got back on their buses, guess what they found. A package of goodies had been put on every seat in every bus.

     

     

      Thief 3

     

    Welcome, All You Kids.

     

    Who made this all possible and did all the work?  A whole big gang of volunteers , among them a big bunch from our community.  They struck again, those thieves of peace and consolation.

    To whom are you a thief bringing peace and consolation?

     

    Yhief 2

     

    These kids looked like middle school level, but could they all sing and dance, and get everyone else dancing.

     

     

  • Announcements

    ByRosemary

    Rosemary's Blessing of The Week:

     

    Sometimes readings in Advent focus mainly on repentance and on waiting for the Savior and Messiah to redeem us from our sins.  Yet, the Jewish people of the Hebrew Scriptures and the early Christians had much broader expectations.  The Savior is the one who comforts and heals us, rescues and unbinds us, enlightens us and lifts us up as well as wipes away our sins.  The earthly life of Jesus was filled with his healing and compassionate acts; his treating outcasts and women with inclusivity, dignity and love; his breaking down cultural, religious and social walls that separate people; and his not only forgiving sinners, but also eating with them.   This is what Jesus wants to do for us.  Advent is a time of becoming more whole, a time of becoming all we want to be and all God wants us to be.

     

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    Rosemary reading her Blessing of The Week
     

     

     

    This Advent, let us believe and trust in the broader meaning of the season.  Deep faith is a creative energy that opens us to participate in what God wants to do for us in our personal lives and through us in our broken world and fragile Earth. The weeks of Advent give us the time to ask: What are the dark places in my life that need God's wisdom, uplifting and light?  What's not OK in me?  What's preventing me from feeling the love, unity and peace I want and God desires for me?  Where do I fall short of witnessing God's inclusive love, mercy and justice?  To each of these questions, we say: Come, Lord Jesus, come!

     

    Advent Reflection by S. Jean Amore, CSJ, VP for Mission and Academics, Sacred Heart Academy, Hempstead, N.Y.

     

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    Jackie reading the Blessing of the Advent Candles 

     

     

    Special Thanks to these special people:

    •    For  the Readings:   Mary Jane & John
    •    For The Team:     Buddy  &  Georgie
    •    For the Communion Bread:   Alison
    •    For the Special Communion Cups:  Jan & Charlie
    •    For the Pictures:   Rick & Mike & Connie 
    •    For the coffee and extras:  Becky & Tom 
    •    For the altar & sound:  Jackie & Hue
    •    For the Music:     Ben  & David  & Shonda
    •    For all who helped with Communion 

     

      IMG_2537

     

     

    Mary Jane reading the Beautiful Isaiah #2.

     

     

    Birthdays:  T C Fleming (Monday, Loretta (Tuesday), Linda Cardenas (Wednesday)

     

    Anniversaries:

    Shonda & Cody (1st, last Sunday)

     

     

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    John reading from Peter.

     

     

    Please Remember these special people

     For Myron who just moved to the other side last Monday, as well as for Chris & the family;   For two moms who recently died, Connie’s mom and Marilyn’s mom;  For Aggie's 99 year old dad who also recently died;   For Kathleen Macchio & her family;  For John O'Donnell;  For Bill Hammond's recovery from rotator cuff surgery, which is expected to take a whole year, despite the fact he is running a half marathon this morning at the Dallas Marathon;   For Carol's rcuperation; For Tom Good;     For Dee and her daughter, Lisa; For John Schanot's continued recuperation;  For Nadia's recuperation;  For a young man who is suffering from depression;    For Claire's mom;  For Cliff & Jean, plus Jean's brother Terry;   For Rosemary's niece, Beth and her partner, Sarah with cancer;   For Laura's sister Claudia;   For Dawn;    For Anthony & Sabrina;   For John & Jean's son John Louis;   For our good friend Kay in Ontario;    For Rose's daughter in law Jamie; For a young father of two & married, Paul Day, struggling with a heart condition;

     

     

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    Happy First Anniversary, My Dear Shonda, to you and Cody.

     

     

    For Rosemary's sister, Patty and her husband, Lou;  For Cathy's uncle, Jim Wright at 92;   For Connie's nephew, Fred; For Mary Jane Stevenson's son Philip, 34, sick & don't know why;     For Maureen’s daughter, Kathleen, with cancer;      For Jackie's friend, Barbara, plus Angela & her mom;    For Sr. Patricia Otillio, a nun I worked with for years in Grand Coteau;   John Cade's mother in law, Kalliopi Piskiouli;    for Franks brother with advanced Parkinsons;      For Steve Barrett, Rose, & Katie;

     

      IMG_2314

     

     

    Thanks, Dearest Emma, for being our delightful Candle Lighter of the Week.

     

     

    Dick Thompson's daughter, Teri Jill, and Judy's aging parents;  Barb & Warren's grandbabies, Leighton Elizabeth and Warren Phillip and Ethan Michel, & their friend Chris, plus Barb's  Annie & Kaitlen; Tom and Teresa Quinn's niece, Chawna, with cancer, their granddaughter, Mikayla;   plus Neva Flynn, Angel, and Diane Kreeitzer;   Connie Doherty's mom and her sister, plus Kevin's cousin, Peter; for Mary Ellen;  For a number of David McKeon's family who are having a rough time with health issues; for our friends, sons, and daughters in the military, including Ryan McClurg and Chebino; cure for autism from Laura Chollick; for our President.

     

     

      IMG_2315

     

     

    Welcome Home, Mark

     

    Your Finances, December 10, 2017

    Expenses:   $850.00

    Outreach:   $635.00

    Thanks for your Generosity, Everybody.

     

     

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    Welcome, Miles & Linda with our dear Beth.

     

    Have a Great Week, J.S.

    (214-783-0443)

     

       IMG_2310

     

     

    The Minor Elevation.  Good Job, Buddy.

     

     

    JSM Mission-Faith Statement  

        Help create a Catholic Community that welcomes all God’s People,  provides for & challenges spiritual & total growth.  

          Reaches out to help people who are disadvantaged & make the world  we live in a better place to live.

     

    Thief 4

     

    Thanks, Bill, for coordinating & bringing out even trouble makers like Bill & Zaile, Patricia & Fred.