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Announcements

Announcements
ByRosemary December 26, 2017
Rosemary's Blessing of The Week:

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

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
Mary Jane reading from Titus.

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

Anniversaries:

Tom & Theresa Quinn, (50^th, Saturday}

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;

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;

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.

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.

Hi, Tara & Dana & Dawson.

Have a Great Week, J.S.

(214-783-0443)

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.

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.
Read More Announcements
Homilies

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

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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

Read More Sunday Homily, December 17, 2017, 3rd Advent B
Announcements

Announcements
ByRosemary December 17, 2017
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.

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
Rob reading from 1 Thessalonians.

Birthdays: Allen Strker & Ben Porter

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;

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;

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.

Happy Birthday to you, Ben, and thanks.

Your Finances, December 17, 2017

Expenses: $2160.00

Outreach: $ 666.00

Thanks for your Generosity, Everybody.

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)

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.

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

Reminder for Sunday, December 17, 2017, 3rd Advent, cycle B
ByRosemary December 13, 2017

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

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, 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

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 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 for Frank and Mary.

See you Sunday.

J.S., 214-783-0443

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, Everybody.

And peace to you, too, Buddy

Read More Reminder for Sunday, December 17, 2017, 3rd Advent, cycle B
Homilies

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

"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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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

Read More Sunday Homily, December 10, 2017, 1st Advent B
Announcements

Announcements
ByRosemary December 10, 2017
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.

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.

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
Mary Jane reading the Beautiful Isaiah #2.

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

Anniversaries:

Shonda & Cody (1^st, last Sunday)

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;

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;

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.

Welcome Home, Mark

Your Finances, December 10, 2017

Expenses: $850.00

Outreach: $635.00

Thanks for your Generosity, Everybody.

Welcome, Miles & Linda with our dear Beth.

Have a Great Week, J.S.

(214-783-0443)



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.

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

Reminder for Sunday, December 10, 2017, 1st Advent B
ByRosemary December 6, 2017
Say Beth & Emma, "Welcome in, Everybody."

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

Just Us Ladies Into Eating Together, The Christmas Party.

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.

Sorry, Romeos, None of us guys invited. Can you believe!

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), Jamuary Lunch TBA

Offertory Team, Ken & Cindy & Diane. Says Ken, our food delivery man, we donated 303 lbs. of food to the food bank, 3rd best ever for us.

Love for Kids picnic: December 9

Dickenson Trip: February 23- March 3

Jackie & Rick: have a nice bedroom they would like to put up for rent, $500 per month. Location: Garland, near a DART train station. Good News: 2 roomies found, one man, one woman.

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

What is going on in Our Catholic World:
1. Married Priests being considered, The Telegraph, November 2, 285 Words, Download MARRIED PRIESTS 12-7-17
2. Arms Race, National Catholic Reporter, November 30, 923 words, Download ARMS RACE 12-7-17
3. Change the wording of the Our Father? Should we do it as a community? National Catholic Reporter, December 6, 543 words, Download OUR FATHER WORDING CHANGE 12-7-17
The Girls, Carol, Barb, & Claire.

True?

Aging: Eventually you will reach a point when you stop lying about your age and start bragging about it.

Bill talking up this Saturday's Love for the Kids Picnic and the February 23rd trip to Dickenson, TX to do rehab work together with the 100 more or less students & faculty (Jim Maher) from St. Bonaventure U. near Buffalo, NY. Bill's Alma Mater.

See you Sunday.

J.S., 214-783-0443

After all these years, a standing ovation? Doesn't count if I have to beg for it.

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.

Advent Peace Kerry & Nina, Patricia & Bernadette.

Advent Peace Judy & Mary, Sydney, Hugh & Cathy, and Everybody.
Read More Reminder for Sunday, December 10, 2017, 1st Advent B
Homilies

Sunday Homily, December 3,2017, 1st Advent, B Cycle
ByRosemary December 3, 2017

"Welcome in, Everybody," sez Our Dearest Tori, official hospitality team leader.

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

Yes, here we have our official disrupting team planning their activities for this morning.

Readings:

Isaiah 63, 16-17, 64, 2-7,    Why do you let us wander, O Lord

Psalm 80, Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.

1 Corinthians 1, 3-9,   I will give thanks to my God always

Mark 13, 31-46,, Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time comes!

Thanks, Zoe, for being Our Official Candle Lighter of The Week.

Isaiah observations and reminders–

Who: Guess which of the 3 composers put this section together. A clue: chapter number. Like, chapter 63. A pretty high number, yes, Isaiah number 3.

Where is he: if the author is number 3, he is back with the people in Jerusalem, a Jerusalem totally destroyed by the Babylonians.

Today’s message: because he is back in Jerusalem, you would expect happiness. On the contrary, he is bemoaning the state of affairs and is blaming himself and everybody’s sinfulness for the destruction. But in the end he reminds Yahweh that they are his special people. So…?

Georgie reads The Blessing Prayer of the Advent Candle while her sister Zoe does the lighting.

Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come

I confess that every time I hear this line or ones like it, I have to speak about it. I think I have spent the majority of my years as a Jesuit priest & psychotherapist trying to encourage no fear relationships with our God. There were historical reasons why so much emphasis in the Bible is on fear and punishment.

For me it is not a relationship where God is eagerly looking for bad behavior so you can be thrown into the fires of hell, forever. It is, rather an invitation to all the ways God is bending over backward to delight, to surprise, bring joy to all God's people. I call them consolations moments.

Rosemary's shirt to me, similar to the shirt she designed and painted for her sister, Clare.

Here are 5 examples that happened to me while Rosemary & I spent Thanksgiving with her two sisters, the husbands, and the daughter of Joe & Clare, Beth, and Beth's partner, Sarah. All in Joe & Clare's house in Hilton Head.

First, the Thanksgiving meal, always a consolation moment. A lot of my favorite items. There were two special moments. One was that Rosemary gave her sister, Clare a T- shirt with all 7 of her grand kids painted on the front and the word MomMom on the back. It is similar to the T shirt Rosemary painted for me.

Talbird Live Oak tree, Hilton Head Island. Check Thursday's blog for more pix.

Also, towards the end of the meal Joe asked everybody what was their blessing of the year. Sound familiar. It was a most touching consolation moment. Mine? You know well! Rosemary. As usual, I got too choked up to say her name.

Secondly, there is a rustic seafood restaurant on the edge of the marshes that every Thanksgiving Day serves all customers gratis. A token of thanks. When the hurricane messed up the restaurant pretty badly, the residents of Hilton Head pitched in and helped to rebuild the restaurant. A consolation moment.

Want to stop for a little sunbathing? Plenty of room. This was my biking friend. Rosemary even wants to take his picture. "Smile now."

Thirdly, biking the marvelous wooded paths on the island. The natural beauty is gorgeous. Again, two consolation moments. The first is the Talbird Oak. Every day I rode, I would stop under the enormous drooping branches of this centuries old Live Oak. A consolation moment.

The other biking event had to do with an alligator. There are lots of man made ponds on the island in the plantations. And in those ponds are alligators who like to sun bathe on the shores. I have a personal relationship with one of those alligators. I see him or his parents every year.

No fun on this island at all!

There is a tarmack path that runs along the south west side of a pond with a fountain in the middle. The path is not real close, maybe 40 yards away. The trouble is, the path winds back & forth along the pond's side. It is my last day riding before departing. A warm afternoon ideal for sun bathing. So I decide I will stay on the road until I pass the popular place for my friend, then take a little spur path back to the main path that will put me about at the head of the pond.

I get to the path and think I'll stop to see if the alligator is sunning in one of his usual spots. No sign of my friend. I put my foot on the pedal to begin riding, but take one last look around. There, even closer, in front me, the alligator lying parallel to the path.

Talking of food, our Advent Food Drive.

A consolation moment? Absolutely! For being watchful and alert enough to get moving and get out of there.

Finally, consolation moments knock me over here, with help coming from Emma and Leo, Buddy and Georgie, Zoe, Tori and Harper.

How are you watchful and alert enough to spot those consolation moments?

The Best Music Team! A three-some or a four-some?

Read More Sunday Homily, December 3,2017, 1st Advent, B Cycle
Announcements

Announcements
ByRosemary December 3, 2017
Rosemary's Blessing of The Week:

Here is a prayer said to be written by St. Thomas Moore reminding us to live joyfully.

Prayer to live Joyfully:

Grant me, O Lord good digestion and also something to digest.

Grant me, O Lord a healthy body, and the necessary good humor to maintain it.

Grant me a simple soul that knows no boredom, grumblings, sighs or laments.

Grant me, O Lord, a sense of humor.

Allow me grace to be able to take a joke–to discover in life a bit of Joy and to be able to share it with others.

Amen

Mike reading from the Great Prophet Isaiah (3)

Special Thanks to these special people:
- For the Readings: Mike & Geri
- For The Team: Buddy & Georgie
- For the Communion Bread: Alison
- For the Special Communion Cups: Mike & Judy
- For the Pictures: Rick & Mike & Connie & Rosemary
- For the coffee and extras: Becky & Tom & Geri
- For the altar & sound: Jackie & Hue
- For the Music: Ben & David & Wendy
- For all who helped with Communion
Geri reading from 1 Corinthians.

Birthdays: Emma (8, last week), Grace LeBlanc, (Monday), Cathy Bambaneck (Monday), Patricia, (7 years no smoking), & her Fred (70, same day)

Anniversaries:

Shonda & Cody (1^st, Sunday, today)

Brent & Meredith (5th, last week, the 1st of December)

Denni & Tom, (42^nd, Wednesday)

Rosemary reading her Blessing of The Day.

Please Remember these special people

For two moms who just died, Connie’s mom and Marilyn’s mom; For Aggie's 99 year old dad who just 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; For Myron Hubble;    For Carol's recuperation; 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;

Happy 8th Birthday, Dearest Emma.

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;

Happy 5th Anniversary, Meredith & Brent. How come you two are so happy this morning? Especially Mr. Brent.

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.

Happy 42 Anniversary to you, Tom and to Denni. This is for both of you. I will check with Denni.

Your Finances, December 3, 2017

Expenses: $5365.00

Outreach: $1090.00

Last Week, November 26, 2017

Expenses: $1810.00

Outreach: $ 590.00

Thanks for your Generosity, Everybody.

Happy Birthday, Grace.

Have a Great Week, J.S.

(214-783-0443)

Happy Birthday, Cathy. And, Harper, you are a lucky girl to have such a nice (maybe,sometimes) grandmother.

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.

Happy 7th Anniversary of No Smoking, Patricia, and Happy 70th to Fred, both on the same day.

Sez Our Dearest Harper, "See you next week, Everybody."
Read More Announcements
Reminders

Reminder for Sunday, December 3,1017, 1st Advent
ByRosemary November 29, 2017
Who is this new guy with the beard! Welcome Home from college, Kevin,

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

John & helpers Leo, Mary, & Frank.

Readings:

Isaiah 63, 16-17, 64, 2-7,    Why do you let us wander, O Lord

Psalm 80, Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.

1 Corinthians 1, 3-9,   I will give thanks to my God always

Mark 13, 31-46,, Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time come!

Emma, our dear Candle Lighter, doing her magic,

John Cade's great Homily: MASS 11/26/17 – Last Sunday (34^th) in Ordinary Time

     Feast of Christ the King

Today, on the last Sunday of the liturgical year and the Feast of Christ the King the entire liturgy shouts out that Jesus was like a shepherd with his flock. One of his dreams was that his followers would be like shepherds in how they lived their lives.

When do we see God? We see God when we see someone being a good shepherd, caring for another. Both Ezekiel and Matthew give down-to-earth examples of what this looks like—like feeding the hungry or caring for the stranger and for the sick, like visiting the imprisoned, the hurting, the outsider.

Connie reading. A first time? Usually working the camera.

For early followers of Jesus expecting an earthly kingdom, it took a while to figure out this new kingdom was not about being on top politically, but a whole new way of living in relationship with others, seeing others as brothers and sisters, worthy of acceptance and love and the sharing of peace.

A little story: Kalliopi, my mother in law treated me to breakfast for my birthday yesterday. As we walked up a ramp to the Original Pancake House, there was a man sitting on a bench. He obviously was in need—clothing, belongings with him, alone—

A first time also, John? Congratulations.

Kalliopi said something to me in Greek and I understood enough to tell she knew he was needy. Inside we could still see him through a window. He removed the coat/robe he was wearing, he had coffee and some food.

As we left we stopped to greet him and ask if he had enough food and he said yes. We asked if he needed financial help and he nodded yes. We gave him some cash and he expressed thanks.

You, too, Frank, thanks.

I could see Kalliopi’s pleasure that we could help him even a little. When I told Lambrini the story, she said that her mother always was quick to give help to anyone she saw as needy.

Thanksgiving is my favorite American holiday because it celebrates what all major world religions and religious teachers have taught: We are all sisters and brothers, we are all called to be good shepherds, tending to the needs of others, especially the hungry, the alone, the outsiders, the strangers. Next Sunday we will have our own community food drive (with Ken) to help feed the hungry.

Happy Anniversary, John, to you and Michelle.

Ezekiel and Jesus and the author of Psalm 23 all show us the way of God. They call us to treat the needy as a good shepherd would treat the needy of his flock. In the new kingdom there is forgiveness and peace and acceptance and love.

In this last Sunday of the liturgical year we remember again that a good king, a good shepherd, is “gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in kindness.” This is the life we are called to live.

Question for today: How are you shepherded in your life, and by whom? And whom do you shepherd?

Communion for Hugh & Sydney.

Community Activities:

ROMEO MEET:   Let’s skip November 24 & December 1. Everybody is traveling.

JULIET LUNCHEON, (aka.,just us ladies into eating together), Friday, December 1st. Contact Marilyn Ackerman.

Communion for All

Love for Kids picnic: December 9

Dickenson Trip: February, more TBA

Jackie & Rick: have a nice bedroom they would like to put up for rent, $500 per month. Location: Garland, near a DART train station.

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Cupcakes are good for Catholic knees, Mike. You will notice improvements the first bite.

What is going on in Our Catholic World:
1. Nothing special this week.
Emma, your singing is a great gift to our community.

True?

To know someone here or there with whom you feel there is understanding in spite of differences or thoughts unexpressed–that can make of this earth a garden.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Our Father.

See you Sunday.

J.S., 214-783-0443

Peace, Everybody.

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.
Read More Reminder for Sunday, December 3,1017, 1st Advent