John Stack Ministries Announcements & Reminders – Page 115 – Stay connected with our Catholic community through weekly Mass announcements and recaps, fostering faith and fellowship in every gathering.

Announcements

Announcements
ByRosemary January 1, 2017
Rosemary's Blessing of The Week

Another fresh new year is here …
     Another year to live!
To banish worry, doubt, and fear,
     To love and laugh and give!

This bright new year is given me
     To live each day with zest …
To daily grow and try to be
     My highest and my best!

I have the opportunity
     Once more to right some wrongs,
To pray for peace, to plant a tree,
     And sing more joyful songs!

William Arthur Ward

John reading from Numbers.

Our Special Thanks
- For the Readings: John & Connie
- For The Team: Kevin
- For the Communion Bread: Alison
- For the Special Communion Cups: Jan
- For the Pictures: Rick & John & Mike
- For the coffee and extras: Mike & Jackie
- For the altar & sound: Jackie & Hue
- For the Music: Ray & Katie
- For all who helped with Communion
Connie reading from Galatians.

Birthdays:   Meredith (last Monday), Connie Bresson (last Tuesday), Hugh Bivona (tomorrow), Tom Fleming (57 Thursday)

Anniversaries

Carol & Richard (41st, Wednesday)

Tom & Teresa Quinn (49th, last Friday)

Rosemary reading her Blessing of The Week.

Please Remember these special people:

For Carol's recuperation from her operation; For Frank's family & friends;   For Tom Good; For Dee; For John Schanot's continued recuperation; For Nadia's recuperation; For a young man who is suffering from depression; For Claire's mom; For Jan’s mom; For Grace's mom and brother in Alberta ; For Cliff & Jean; For Laura's sister Claudia; For Dawn; John Simari’s friend, Ron; For Anthony; For a number of David McKeon's family who are having a rough time with health issues; For Frank & Mary's niece, Lisa, with cancer; For John & Jean's son John Louis; For our good friend Kay in Ontario; For Jackie Urbanzyk's continued recovery;

Ray with Katie on music.

For Geri's friend, Elsa Billman, 88, whose house burned; For Rosemary's sister, Patty and her husband, Lou; For Cathy's uncle, Jim Wright at 90; For Connie's nephew, Fred; For Mary Jane Stevenson's son Philip, 34, sick & don't know why; The Quinn’s granddaughter, Mikayla;   For Maureen’s daughter, Kathleen, with cancer; For Jackie's friend, Barbara, plus Angela; For Sr. Patricia Otillio, a nun I worked with for years in Grand Coteau; John Cade's mother in law, Kalliopi Piskiouli; Frank’s & Mary's niece, Lisa, with brain cancer, Franks brother with advanced Parkinsons; Diane McClurg's mom in Fort Dodge; For Steve Barrett, Rose, & Katie;

Happy Marvelous 49th, Tom & Teresa.

Dick Thompson's daughter, Teri Jill, and Judy's aging parents & daughter of her best friend, Mekala; Barb & Warren's grandbabies, Leighton Elizabeth and Warren Phillip and Ethan Michel, & their friend Chris, plus Barb's dad & niece & Annie & Kyler; Tom and Teresa Quinn's niece, Chawna, with cancer, plus Neva Flynn, Angel, and Diane Kreeitzer; Connie Doherty's mom and her sister, plus Kevin's cousin, Peter; for Mary Ellen & her Margaret, Jim, & Christopher; for our friends, sons, and daughters in the military, including Ryan McClurg and Chebino; cure for autism from Laura Chollick; for our President that he have great success and someday hold his grandchildren in his lap.

Richard, Happy 42nd to you and Carol.

Your Finances, January 1, 2017

Expenses: $570.00

Outreach: $290.00

Thanks for your Generosity, Everybody.

Happy Birthday, Connie, and thanks for all you do for us all.

Have a Great Week, J.S

(214-783-0443)

Thanks, Brandon, for being our Candle Lighter of The Week and even more for being such a neat young man.

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.
Read More Announcements
Reminders

Reminder for Sunday, January 1, 2017
ByRosemary December 28, 2016
Welcome, Everybody, and Happy New Year.

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

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

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

And from Nora and Charlotte, also, "Happy New Year, Everybody."

Readings:

Numbers 67, 22-27,  The Lord bless you and keep you.

Psalm 67,  May God bless us in his mercy

Galatians 4, 4-7,  God sent the spirit of his son into our hearts.

Luke 2, 16-21, The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God.

The Offertory Gang. Back row, McClurgs, Ryan, Grace, Erin, & Diane. Front row, Dick & Judy, Mary & Frank. Ryan & Dick: Air Force chums.

Community Activities:

ROMEO MEET: Friday, December 30, Jason's Deli, Collin Creek Mall, west side of Central, 1:00. Welcome all wakos, you will fit right in.

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

Sez Everett (son of Kristin & Josh), "Who is this Santa Clause? I've never heard of him from where I come."

What is going on in Our Catholic World
1. What is the status of Bethlehem, National Catholic Reporter, December 19, 747 words, Download BETHLEHEM STATUS 12-29-16
And sez Emily (daughter of Stephen & Kate), "Where I come from I never heard of this Santa Clause either. He looks funny to me."

True?

Sharks are as tough as those football fans who take off their shirts during games in Chicago in January, only more intelligent.

Dave Barry

Who let that little mouse loose? Is that our Genevieve trying to learn to overcome stage fright? Not only climbing those stairs, but chattering away to those on the stage the whole time.

See you Sunday.

J.S., 214-783-0443

It does not get better than what we see here.

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 and Happy New Year, Everybody.
Read More Reminder for Sunday, January 1, 2017
Homilies

Christmas Eve Mass & Homily, December 24, 2016
ByRosemary December 25, 2016

Readings:

Isaiah 9, 1-6,  The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.

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

Titus 2, 11-14,  The grace of God has appeared.

Luke 2, 1-14, In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus.

Christmas Eve, 2016, Welcome.

Isaiah observations:

What: This is again Isaiah I (one of three). Isaiah 1 criticizes the people for their sinful ways and forecasts doom, which will come in the form of the Babylonian Captivity.

When: Isaiah was warning the people ahead of the Captivity, ca. 555 before Christ. It was during the Captivity when the book of three authors was put together.

Today's selection: One of the all time beautiful passages promising light to people who have walked (or lived) in darkness.

All of today's readings are consoling and dear.

Cody with his kids Ben and Olivia.

A Christmas Story

Despite the fact that I have told this story previously, I like it so much and it is so relevant, I would like to repeat it.

I remember my first Christmas adventure with Grandma. I was just a kid. I remember tearing across town on my bike to visit her on the day my big sister dropped the bomb: "There is no Santa Claus," she jeered. "Even dummies know that.”

Jennifer and her beautiful little one say, "Merry Christmas."

My Grandma was not the gushy kind, never had been. I fled to her that day because I knew she would be straight up with me. I knew Grandma always told the truth, and I knew that the truth always went down a whole lot easier when swallowed with one of her "world-famous" cinnamon buns. I knew they were world-famous, because Grandma said so. It had to be true.

Grandma was home, and the buns were still warm. Between bites, I told her everything. She was ready for me. "No Santa Claus?" she snorted…."Ridiculous! Don't believe it. That rumor has been going around for years, and it makes me mad, plain mad!! Now, put on your coat, and let's go."

The Beautiful Claire and her beautiful daughter, Chloe.

"Go? Go where, Grandma?" I asked. I hadn't even finished my second world- famous cinnamon bun. "Where" turned out to be Kerby's General Store, the one store in town that had a little bit of just about everything. As we walked through its doors, Grandma handed me ten dollars. That was a bundle in those days. "Take this money," she said, "and buy something for someone who needs it. I'll wait for you in the car." Then she turned and walked out of Kerby's.

Carrie and Paul with her granddaughter, her daughter and husband.

I was only eight years old. I'd often gone shopping with my mother, but never had I shopped for anything all by myself. The store seemed big and crowded, full of people scrambling to finish their Christmas shopping.

For a few moments I just stood there, confused, clutching that ten-dollar bill, wondering what to buy, and whom on earth to buy it for. I thought of everybody I knew: my family, my friends, my neighbors, the kids at school, the people who went to my church.

Hi to the Great Gerwer Clan.

I was just about thought out, when I suddenly thought of Bobby Decker. He was a kid with bad breath and messy hair, and he sat right behind me in Mrs. Pollock's grade-two class. Bobby Decker didn't have a coat. I knew that because he never went out to recess during the winter.

His mother always wrote a note, telling the teacher that he had a cough, but all we kids knew that Bobby Decker didn't have a cough; he didn't have a good coat. I fingered the ten-dollar bill with growing excitement. I would buy Bobby Decker a coat!

Sir Charlie helping his grandson light up the candles.

I settled on a red corduroy one that had a hood to it. It looked real warm, and he would like that.

"Is this a Christmas present for someone?" the lady behind the counter asked kindly, as I laid my ten dollars down. "Yes, ma'am," I replied shyly. "It's for Bobby."

The Nativity Scene.

The nice lady smiled at me as I told her about how Bobby really needed a good winter coat. I didn't get any change, but she put the coat in a bag, smiled again, and wished me a Merry Christmas.

That evening, Grandma helped me wrap the coat (a little tag fell out of the coat, and Grandma tucked it in her Bible) in Christmas paper and ribbons and wrote, "To Bobby, From Santa Claus" on it.

The music team of Shonda, Ray, and David with a special welcome back to Wendy.

Grandma said that Santa always insisted on secrecy. Then she drove me over to Bobby Decker's house, explaining as we went that I was now and forever officially, one of Santa's helpers.

Grandma parked down the street from Bobby's house, and she and I crept noiselessly and hid in the bushes by his front walk. Then Grandma gave me a nudge. "All right, Santa Claus," she whispered, "get going."

John reading the second half of the Eucharistic prayer.

I took a deep breath, dashed for his front door, threw the present down on his step, pounded his door and flew back to the safety of the bushes and Grandma.

Together we waited breathlessly in the darkness for the front door to open. Finally it did, and there stood Bobby.

The Team, Georgie, Kevin, Mike, and John

Sixty years haven't dimmed the thrill of those moments spent shivering, beside my Grandma, in Bobby Decker's bushes. That night, I realized that those awful rumors about Santa Claus were just what Grandma said they were — ridiculous. Santa was alive and well, and Grandma and I were the proof.

I still have Grandma’s Bible with the coat tag still tucked inside: $19.95.”

And The Angels.

Read More Christmas Eve Mass & Homily, December 24, 2016
Announcements

Announcements
ByRosemary December 25, 2016
Grace reading from the Great Prophet Isaiah

Our Special Thanks
- For the Readings: Claire & Grace & Mike
- For The Team: Georgie & Kevin
- For the Communion Bread: Alison
- For the Special Communion Cups: Jan
- For the Pictures: Rick & Connie & Mike
- For the coffee and extras: none this afternoon
- For the altar & sound: Jackie & Hue
- For the Music: Ray & David & Wendy & Shonda
- For all who helped with Communion
Mike reading the second reading, this one from Titus.

Birthdays:   Meredith (Monday), Connie Bresson (Tuesday), Amanda Baach (Thursday), T.J. Gleason (21, Saturday)

Anniversaries

Tom & Teresa Quinn (49th, Friday)

Claire reads the Nativity Narrative from Luke while the Narrative is acted out on the stage behind & to her left.

Please Remember these special people:

For Carol's recuperation from her operation; For Frank's family & friends;   For Tom Good; For Dee; For John Schanot's continued recuperation; For Nadia's recuperation; For a young man who is suffering from depression; For Claire's mom; For Jan’s mom; For Grace's mom and brother in Alberta ; For Cliff & Jean; For Laura's sister Claudia; For Dawn; John Simari’s friend, Ron; For Anthony; For a number of David McKeon's family who are having a rough time with health issues; For Frank & Mary's niece, Lisa, with cancer; For John & Jean's son John Louis; For our good friend Kay in Ontario; For Jackie Urbanzyk's continued recovery;

"You guys left me behind," says Genevieve, (though not really)

This little girl has a severe case of stage fright, right?

For Geri's friend, Elsa Billman, 88, whose house burned; For Rosemary's sister, Patty and her husband, Lou; For Cathy's uncle, Jim Wright at 90; For Connie's nephew, Fred; For Mary Jane Stevenson's son Philip, 34, sick & don't know why; The Quinn’s granddaughter, Mikayla;   For Maureen’s daughter, Kathleen, with cancer; For Jackie's friend, Barbara, plus Angela; For Sr. Patricia Otillio, a nun I worked with for years in Grand Coteau; John Cade's mother in law, Kalliopi Piskiouli; Frank’s & Mary's niece, Lisa, with brain cancer, Franks brother with advanced Parkinsons; Diane McClurg's mom in Fort Dodge; For Steve Barrett, Rose, & Katie;

Guess who stole the show, the Angel in the Red Dress.

Dick Thompson's daughter, Teri Jill, and Judy's aging parents & daughter of her best friend, Mekala; Barb & Warren's grandbabies, Leighton Elizabeth and Warren Phillip and Ethan Michel, & their friend Chris, plus Barb's dad & niece & Annie & Kyler; Tom and Teresa Quinn's niece, Chawna, with cancer, plus Neva Flynn, Angel, and Diane Kreeitzer; Connie Doherty's mom and her sister, plus Kevin's cousin, Peter; for Mary Ellen & her Margaret, Jim, & Christopher; for our friends, sons, and daughters in the military, including Ryan McClurg and Chebino; cure for autism from Laura Chollick; for our President that he have great success and someday hold his grandchildren in his lap.

Angels, sheep, and a shepherd. What more could a person want on Christmas Eve.

Your Finances, December 24, 2016

Expenses: $1950.00

Outreach: $1490.00

Thanks for your Generosity, Everybody.

That's what! Santa.

Have a Great Week, J.S

(214-783-0443)

Somebody's very first visit to Santa.

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.
Read More Announcements
Reminders

Reminder for Christmas Eve, December 24, 2016
ByRosemary December 20, 2016

"Welcome in and Happy Christmas," from the Dinsmore girls, Donna, Darbianne, and Dana, plus a little friend.

Welcome: Catholic Mass with Nativity Drama and Santa’s arrival

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

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

Thanks, Buddy, for all the good you do for us and for just being a part of our helping team.

Readings:

Isaiah 9, 1-6,  The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.

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

Titus 2, 11-14,  The grace of God has appeared.

Luke 2, 1-14, In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus.

Thanks to you, Kevin, for being such a warm and reliable caretaker of the community, especially of those two to your left and the guy behind you.



Community Activities:

ROMEO MEET: Friday, December 23, Jason's Deli, Collin Creek Mall, west side of Central, 1:00. Welcome all wakos, you will fit right in.

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

NOTE: Please bring poinsettias & flowers to decorate the Christmas Eve scene. Then they can be taken home.

Those two keep showing up everywhere. Karaoke?

Charlie Fechtel & his daughter Samantha, Saturday, Austin. See Sunday homily for explanation.

What is going on in Our Catholic World

Nothing new this week.

Offertory with David & Caroline, Carrie & Paul.

True?

Happiness Doesn’t Make Us Grateful;

Gratitude Makes Us Happy.

– Miya Goodrich

Finally, the Community has found a volunteer to shake Sir Charlie's hand.

See you Christmas Eve, 4:00, Sigler Elementary. Welcome!

J.S., 214-783-0443

Bill also told a story about how at the Love for Kids picnic he had a bit of a struggle with a little boy who was impatient to ride one of the horses. When he finally rode, as he walked away he stopped, turned around, and said "Happy Christmas, Mr. Bill."

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.

Healing and Life.

Read More Reminder for Christmas Eve, December 24, 2016
Homilies

Sunday Homily, December 18, 2016, 3rd Advent, Cycle A
ByRosemary December 18, 2016

Readings:

Isaiah 7, 10-14,  Ask for a sign from the Lord

Psalm 24,  Let the Lord enter, he is king of glory

Romans 1, 1-7,  Grace to you and peace

Matthew 1, 18-24, Behold a Virgin shall conceive and bear a son.

Say Ray and Genevieve, "Welcome in, Everybody, to the 4th Sunday of Advent. Next time, Christmas Eve, 4:00, in the gym."

Observations on Isaiah:

What: This is Isaiah 1.

When: Isaiah 1 lived before the Babylonian Captivity and predicts the downfall of Jerusalem.

Our selection: Optimistic.

Hi, Cody, Hi, Ben.

Finding The Presence

I would like to speak this morning on finding the presence. What is this? It is a feeling of consolation and peace of heart when something special happens. Around the season of Christmas I tend to reach out for these events, many of which are repeats from former seasons of Christmas.

Leo, our Candle Lighter of The Week.

I've had two of these moments this past week.

The first was our visit to the Meyerson to hear the Christmas presentation Friday night. This event every year puts me in touch with the presence.

First, the concert hall itself is a visual feast, just beautifully decorated. It takes my breath away almost every year when I walk in. It was at its best this year.

Welcome home from college, Darbianne and Dana.

The concert itself is an auditory feast and presents so many of my favorite Christmas carols. This year the conductor, Laurence Loh, was in rare form, teasing the audience, inviting participation, dancing on his podium, and just being congenial.

I was also surrounded by about 30 of my best friends.

So, I felt the presence in my friends, and the visual and auditory artistry.

"Yippee," says Victoria, "My mommy loves me."

Secondly, I had a wedding yesterday, Saturday, in Austin. The presence was everywhere.

First, the bride, Samantha, was the daughter of Charlie Fechtal, a student of mine at Jesuit when I was teaching there as an intern Jesuit priest in the latter half of the '60's. Charlie and his wife, TJ, live in our neighborhood. As I told him during the wedding, I love him as much now as I did then. Even more tears of consolation during this wedding than usual.

Time to celebrate.

After the wedding I was talking with Charlie and a classmate, Mark Goedeke, another guy I have loved. His wife Liz is with us and she reminds me that I had done their marriage also. 43 years ago!! Talk about feeling the presence. Very consoling and very humbling.

Dear old friend, Charlie Fechtel.

A footnote to this homily is that I took the special luxury bus from Dallas to Austin. It has received rave notices from people like Beth & Rob. It lived up to its reputation. 3 hour trip non stop, comfortable seat (19 only in a full sized bus), a stewardess who offer drinks and snacks on the house (or bus). $99, heart of Dallas (Love Field) to heart of Austin (Congress & 2nd).

During this season of Advent, how are you finding the presence?

Mark Goedeke and Charlie.

Read More Sunday Homily, December 18, 2016, 3rd Advent, Cycle A
Announcements

Announcements
ByRosemary December 18, 2016
Rosemary's Blessing:

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.

John reading from The Prophet Isaiah.

Our Special Thanks
- For the Readings: John & Patricia
- For The Team: Georgie & Buddy & Kevin
- For the Communion Bread: Alison
- For the Special Communion Cups: Jan
- For the Pictures: Rick & Connie & Mike
- For the coffee and extras: Mike & Jackie
- For the altar & sound: Jackie & Hue
- For the Music: Ray & David & Bethany & Shonda
- For all who helped with Communion
Patricia reading from Romans.

Birthdays:   Alex Grattifiori (19 Sunday, today) & Ben Porter (Sunday, today)

Rosemary reading her Blessing of The Week with a little help from her friend.

Please Remember these special people:

For Carol's recuperation from her operation; For Frank's family & friends;   For Tom Good; For Dee; For John Schanot's continued recuperation; For Nadia's recuperation; For a young man who is suffering from depression; For Claire's mom; For Jan’s mom; For Grace's mom and brother in Alberta ; For Cliff & Jean; For Laura's sister Claudia; For Dawn; John Simari’s friend, Ron; For Anthony; For a number of David McKeon's family who are having a rough time with health issues; For Frank & Mary's niece, Lisa, with cancer; For John & Jean's son John Louis; For our good friend Kay in Ontario; For Jackie Urbanzyk's continued recovery;

The Best, Shonda, Bethany, Ray, & David.

Gor Geri's friend, Elsa Billman, 88, whose house burned; For Rosemary's sister, Patty and her husband, Lou; For Cathy's uncle, Jim Wright at 90; For Connie's nephew, Fred; For Mary Jane Stevenson's son Philip, 34, sick & don't know why; The Quinn’s granddaughter, Mikayla;   For Maureen’s daughter, Kathleen, with cancer; For Jackie's friend, Barbara, plus Angela; For Sr. Patricia Otillio, a nun I worked with for years in Grand Coteau; John Cade's mother in law, Kalliopi Piskiouli; Frank’s & Mary's niece, Lisa, with brain cancer, Franks brother with advanced Parkinsons; Diane McClurg's mom in Fort Dodge; For Steve Barrett, Rose, & Katie;

Can we trust David to take this cupcake home to his son on his birthday today?

Dick Thompson's daughter, Teri Jill, and Judy's aging parents & daughter of her best friend, Mekala; Barb & Warren's grandbabies, Leighton Elizabeth and Warren Phillip and Ethan Michel, & their friend Chris, plus Barb's dad & niece & Annie & Kyler; Tom and Teresa Quinn's niece, Chawna, with cancer, plus Neva Flynn, Angel, and Diane Kreeitzer; Connie Doherty's mom and her sister, plus Kevin's cousin, Peter; for Mary Ellen & her Margaret, Jim, & Christopher; for our friends, sons, and daughters in the military, including Ryan McClurg and Chebino; cure for autism from Laura Chollick; for our President that he have great success and someday hold his grandchildren in his lap.



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



Your Finances, December 18, 2016

Expenses: $ 1,470.00

Outreach: $ 879.00

Our food drive brought in over 280 lbs. of food.

Thanks for your Generosity, Everybody.

Best buddies.

Have a Great Week, J.S

(214-783-0443)

Have a Beautiful & Peaceful Christmas from Cathy & Donna.

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.

Says Zoe, "See you Christmas Eve, 4:00, in the gym, bring flowers for the altar and stage, and get ready for a great Nativity Drama."
Read More Announcements
Reminders

Reminder for Sunday, December 18, 2016, 3rd Advent
ByRosemary December 14, 2016
Says Geri, "Welcome, You Kids, all 1000 of you. We are ready for you." Love for Kids Christmas picnic.

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, John, & Karen getting ready to feed all 1000 kids, plus teachers and chaperones.

Readings:

Isaiah 7, 10-14,  Ask for a sign from the Lord

Psalm 24,  Let the Lord enter, he is king of glory

Romans 1, 1-7,  Grace to you and peace

Matthew 1, 18-24, Behold a Virgin shall conceive and bear a son.

Hi, Tori and Zoe, thanks for being our Candle Lighters of The Week.

Hi, David and Caroline. As always, nice having you here.

Community Activities:

ROMEO MEET: Friday, December 15, Jason's Deli, Collin Creek Mall, west side of Central, 1:00. Welcome all wakos, you will fit right in.

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

Some of the contributions to our Advent Food Drive

You are looking at another Romeos, this one, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Joe, Rosemary's brother in law, is 3rd from left. A breakfast group at another deli.

Christmas at the Dallas Symphony

This Friday: the Meyerson, December 16th at 7:30 pm.

Come at 5:30 to the condo of Beth & Rob, at 2111 Marilla on the corner with S. Pearl across the street from the Dallas Farmers’ Market.

Attached are instructions on how to arrive at Robinson’s, including how to arrive via DART. Note also that you may leave your car at Robinsons and take the free DART shuttle to the Meyerson (saving you $10 parking). We will depart the Robinsons at 6:45.    Download DART to Robinsons'

So, who are these women??

The Original and Only Juliettes.

What is going on in Our Catholic World
1. Priests are burning out, The Tablet, December 1, 730 words, Download PRIESTS BURNING OUT 12-15-16
2. Vatican burn out, Commonweal, December 3, 730 words, Download VATICAN BURN OUT 12-15-16
Our twice a year reconciliation service. Everyone asks for forgiveness and grants forgiveness.

Please forgive me…

True?

Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.

Statue of Liberty, New York harbor

Please forgive me. You are forgiven.

Please forgive me, Mary. You are forgiven, John.

See you Sunday.

J.S., 214-783-0443

Advent Peace.

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, Everyone.
Read More Reminder for Sunday, December 18, 2016, 3rd Advent
Uncategorized

Sunday Homily, December 11, 2016, 3rd Advent, Cycle A
ByRosemary December 11, 2016

Readings:

Isaiah, 35, 1-6, 10,  Then will the eyes of the blind be opened

Psalm 146,  Lord, come and save us.

James 5, 7-10,  Welcome one another as Christ welcomed you.

Matthew 11, 2-11, Are you the one who is to come?

Treat of The Week: Sabrina is home from college. Welcome home, Sabrina.

Observations on Isaiah 35

What:  The passage is another from Isaiah 1, (Chapters 1-39)

Our selection: Another beautiful passage about a bright future.

Sez Tori, "Yes, Welcome Home, Sabrina."

Then the Eyes of the Blind will be opened

I would like to talk this morning about how once in a while, of course, only once in a while, I can be so blind to other people. This is an old story, but it is right on.

One mild afternoon afternoon I was sitting on a bench in front of Baskin & Robbins on the corner of Preston & Royal, just near our house. In front of me were two handicapped parking spots, both empty.

"Welcome home from me, too, Sabrina."

Suddenly a guy in, say, his early 20’s pulls into one of the parking spots, gets out of his car, and walks into Baskin & Robbins. I am thinking, ‘Hey, this guys is cheating. There is nothing wrong with him and he has no handicapped sticker in his car window.’ I’m thinking, ‘Why did I not give him my opinion while he walked by me? I will give it to him whenever he comes out.’

I wait probably about five minute, when suddenly the door opens. The man emerges holding the right arm of a little old lady who was barely able to walk.

Is that really you, Leo?

Thank God ‘the eyes of the blind will be opened’ before something stupid is said. Classic judging the book by the cover, one of my favorite activities.

Want to know of another place where my eyes are opened every year? The Love for the Kids picnic in Flower Mound.

Love for the Kids picnic, entertainers

Again this year we had about 20 volunteers from our home community. 1000 kids with their teachers and sponsors. There was all the usual activity, horseback riding, bounce units, face painting, people dressed as super heroes.

When the kids walk in they are given a bag of goodies. When they return to their school busses, they find a special gift in their seat.

Bill, the horse whisperer and the kid whisperer, helping the kids ride the horses.

They get lunch, put together by a bunch of our people. People are floating around with bags of popcorn in baskets to give to the kids. Kids who needed or wanted a coat, they could get one. Bike helmets were being given away, good helmets.

I go to give the gift of my time to these kids, but the kids gift me even more. But it is the great number of volunteers that touch my spirit.

So, the question obviously is: who is cuter, the white guy or the pink pig?

That guy outside of Baskin & Robbins, the kids, and the volunteers open my eyes to the good around me.

How are you blind & how are your eyes opened?

Hey, John & Connie, I think those cookies are supposed to be for the kids' lunches, not you guys.

Not only were the kids given jackets & coats if they were needed, but bike helmets were given and fitted to the kids' heads. These were good helmets, like Specialized.

Read More Sunday Homily, December 11, 2016, 3rd Advent, Cycle A
Announcements

Announcements
ByRosemary December 11, 2016
Rosemary's Blessing:

Gracious God, slow my pace and soften my heart this Christmas.

Keep me

from rushing through the season, but missing the Way . . .

from decorating the tree, but missing the Light . . .

from wrapping the gifts, but missing the Gift.

www.PrayersAtWork.com

Denni reading from The Great Prophet Isaiah.

Our Special Thanks
- For the Readings: Denni & Tom
- For The Team: Georgie & Buddy & Kevin
- For the Communion Bread: Alison
- For the Special Communion Cups: Jan
- For the Pictures: Rick & Connie & Mike
- For the coffee and extras: Mike & Jackie & Mary
- For the altar & sound: Jackie & Hue
- For the Music: Ray & David & Bethany
- For all who helped with Communion
Tom reading James.

Birthdays:   T.C. Fleming (Sunday), Loretta Garcia Williams (Monday), Allen Stryker (Saturday)

Rosemary reading her Blessing of the Week

Please Remember these special people:

For Carol's recuperation from her operation; For Bill Carey, who had open heart surgery; For Tom Good; For Dee; For John Schanot's treatment; For Frank with Hospice; For Nadia's recuperation; For a young man who is suffering from depression; For Claire's mom; For Jan’s mom; For Grace's mom and brother in Alberta ; For Cliff & Jean; For Laura's sister Claudia; For Dawn; John Simari’s friend, Ron; For Anthony; For a number of David McKeon's family who are having a rough time with health issues; For Frank & Mary's niece, Lisa, with cancer; For John & Jean's son John Louis; For our good friend Kay in Ontario; For Jackie Urbanzyk's continued recovery;

Happy Birthday, Cathy.

For Rosemary's sister, Patty and her husband, Lou; For Cathy's uncle, Jim Wright at 90; For Connie's nephew, Fred; For Mary Jane Stevenson's son Philip, 34, sick & don't know why; The Quinn’s granddaughter, Mikayla;   For Maureen’s daughter, Kathleen, with cancer; For Jackie's friend, Barbara, plus Angela; For Sr. Patricia Otillio, a nun I worked with for years in Grand Coteau; John Cade's mother in law, Kalliopi Piskiouli; Frank’s & Mary's niece, Lisa, with brain cancer, Franks brother with advanced Parkinsons; Diane McClurg's mom in Fort Dodge; For Steve Barrett, Rose, & Katie;

Happy Birthday to you, too, David.

Dick Thompson's daughter, Teri Jill, and Judy's aging parents & daughter of her best friend, Mekala; Barb & Warren's grandbabies, Leighton Elizabeth and Warren Phillip and Ethan Michel, & their friend Chris, plus Barb's dad & niece & Annie & Kyler; Tom and Teresa Quinn's niece, Chawna, with cancer, plus Neva Flynn, Angel, and Diane Kreeitzer; Connie Doherty's mom and her sister, plus Kevin's cousin, Peter; for Mary Ellen & her Margaret, Jim, & Christopher; for our friends, sons, and daughters in the military, including Ryan McClurg and Chebino; cure for autism from Laura Chollick; for our President that he have great success and someday hold his grandchildren in his lap.



Happy Retirement, Joe, and may your golf be blessed with many birdies.

Your Finances, December 11, 2016

Expenses: $5230.00

Outreach: $ 530.00

Donated: $2,000 to Souls Harbor.

Thanks for your Generosity, Everybody.

Happy 4th, Mary, to you and Ray.

Have a Great Week, J.S

(214-783-0443)

Happy Homecoming to you, Sabrina. This is to lure you into coming back home even more often.

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.

Sez Genevieve, "Welcome back next week, Everybody. Only how many days until Santa comes?
Read More Announcements