0-u

Second Sunday of Advent December 8, 2013

April 24, 2011 , 2010
Saturday, December7th 5:00 PM Cheryl Zeigler-Eherle+ Sunday, December 8th 9:00 AM For the People of the Parish 11:15AM Betty Walker & All Departed Souls+ Monday, December 9th 8:30 AM Mia Preston Intention Tuesday, December 10th 8:30 AM Jim Hokes+ Wednesday, December 11th 7:00 PM Alexander & Florence Kaniecki+ Thursday, December 12th 9:00 AM Helen Murawski+ Friday, December 13th 8:30 AM Stanley & Mary Stypa+ Saturday, December 14th 5:00 PM William Vizer+ Sunday, December 15th 9:00 AM For the People of the Parish 11:15 AM Edward P. Novak+ Liturgical Minister Schedule Saturday, December 14, 2013, 5:00pm Lector: Betty Ross Servers: C. Dunn / M. Levanoff E.M.s: G. Wood / R. Hirsch Sunday, December 15, 2013, 9:00am Lector: Damon Linder Servers: M. Linder / K. Hokes E.M.s: R. & C. Cooke, A. Froelich, C. Stupi Sunday, December 15, 2013, 11:15am Lector: Gary Burky Servers: M. Haburay / X. McLain E.M.s: G. Mason, C. Zumack, C. Jones

You may remember that December 8th is the feast of Mary under the title of The Immaculate Conception, and because she is the patroness of the United States, this particular feast of Mary is a holy day of obligation. Since it falls on the Second Sunday of Advent this year, the feast is moved to Monday, December 9th, however there will be no obligation to attend Mass on Monday. Teaching parishioners about the liturgical prayer of the Church known as the Liturgy of the Hours so that they may incorporate this prayer both in their personal life and in the communal life of the parish, is something of my parting gift to St. Stephen. This is something I have wanted to do for you for a long time and so I used the opportunity of my Doctor of Ministry project to bring this prayer to the parish. My hope is that this prayer which is said at different hours of the day (morning, daytime, evening & nighttime), will be as helpful to you as it has been for me and so many others. At my ordination almost 28 years ago this month, I promised to pray for the Church and for the world in this way. In praying with the whole Church for the salvation of the world, we become ever more conscious that we are not saved alone, that we share in the mission of Jesus himself who as Priest prayed for us and for all. Please feel free to borrow one of the books of the breviary known as Shorter Christian Prayer which are on the book shelves in the back of the church. Pray this prayer at home. Pray it together in the parish, especially before Mass or meetings. And when you do, please remember to include me in your prayers, as I will continue to pray for you when I pray this way each day.

Readings for the Week of December 8, 2013 Second Sunday of Advent Is 11:1-10; Ps 72; Rom 15:4-9; Mt 3:1-12 Monday The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Patronal Feastday of the USA Gn 3:9-15, 20; Ps 98; Eph 1:3-6, 11-12; Lk 1:26-38 Tuesday Is 40:1-11; Ps 96; Mt 18:12-14 Wednesday Saint Damasus I, Pope Is 40:25-31; Ps 103; Mt 11:28-30 Thursday Our Lady of Guadalupe Zec 2:14-17, 10ab; Jdt 13;Lk 1:26-38 Friday Saint Lucy, Virgin and Martyr Is 48:17-19; Ps 1; Mt 11:16-19 Saturday St John of the Cross, Priest and Dr. of the Ch. Sir 48:1-4, 9-11; Ps 80; Mt 17:9a, 10-13 Sunday Third Sunday of Advent Is 35:1-6a, 10; Ps 146; Jas 5:7-10; Mt 11:2-11 Sunday

Sunday, 10:00am 10:00am Monday, 7:00pm 7:00pm Tuesday, 7:00pm Wednesday 7:30 am 5:30pm Thursday, 6:45pm Friday, Saturday, 8:00pm

December 8th Offertory Counter Team 1 PSR (Hall) Morning Prayer (Church) December 9th Guitar Group Practice (Church) Boy Scouts/Webelos (Hall) December 10th Choir Practice (Church) December 11th Eucharistic Adoration Stephens Meals & More (Hall) December 12th SFO Meeting (Church Meeting Room) December 13th No Events Scheduled December 14th AA Meeting (Hall)

Last weeks collections: 11/24/13 Offertory - $3320.17, CCHD - $480.27, SVDP - $180.22 12/01/13 Offertory - $3348.30, Typhoon Victims - $868.25, SVDP - $245.17. God bless you! Please remember the sick in your prayers: Ron Guidetti, Eleanor Roe, Margie Keep, Freda Brazis; Pat Siddall, Louise Bauer, Tracy Lenhoff, Mary Cooke, Alene & Raymond Smith, Bob Coon, Jim McWeeny, Sr. Clare Ellen Wittman, Ray Hirsch, Marilyn Reith, Lilly Gawlinski, Jared Johnson, Deacon Joe Johnson, Barb Ciuca, Dan Klamert, Nancy Catalano, Jessica Johnson, Lois Yehlik, June Kost, and all those on our prayer board. DEACON'S CORNER: Its that time of the year again. Advent brings the new liturgical year and of course January 1st. brings the new calendar year. The boxes of new collection envelopes can be found in the gathering room. We would really like everyone to use collection envelopes, not only does it make it easier for us in the office to generate a contribution statement for you, but the diocese also likes to know how many envelopes are used. This is used as gauge of parishioner participation. So if you are not using envelopes at this time, please sign-up for them in the gathering room or call the office and we will have a box ready for you by the weekend. Also, on the financial scene, we are in need of more volunteers to count the collections. Jamie Bisher, who has been doing a wonderful job, has had to resign her position due to personal reasons. So if you are 18 years old or older, a registered parishioner and dont need to take off your shoes and socks to count above ten; please consider helping your parish in this very important way. Bulletin Advertising Campaign Coming Soon! Jeff Thomas representing Diocesan Publications (our Bulletin Publisher) will be at the parish soon. He will be renewing present advertisements and seeking new ones. If interested, please call the parish office. Or you may contact Jeff directly at 614738-6150 orjthomas@diocesan.com . We feel this is an excellent service and that the sponsors get good coverage with their ads. THANKS TO YOU and DIOCESAN PUBLICATIONS, the bulletin is published weekly at no cost to the parish. Help aging sisters, brothers, and religious order priests. Each year the need to provide for our elderly (members) becomes more pressing, and we are ever more grateful for these providential funds, writes a religious sister about the financial assistance received from the Retirement Fund for Religious. Your donation helps provide necessities such as prescription medication and nursing care. Please give to those who have given a lifetime. Protecting Gods Children The Diocese of Clevelands Protecting Gods Children program is vigilant in its efforts to raise awareness and protect children from sexual abuse. To report any past or present suspected inappropriate behavior toward children by priests, deacons, religious, lay ecclesial ministers, or personnel associated in any way with the Church, please contact local civil authorities and the Diocesan Response Services office at 216-334-2999 or via email at response_services@dioceseofcleveland.org. Stephens Meals & More Volunteers: Nick & Karen Thomas

Irish Christmas Concert The Music Ministry of St. Columbkille Catholic Church presents our annual Christmas Concert, A Christmas Blessing from Ireland, on Sunday 22 December 2013, at 4 p.m. in the church, at 6740 Broadview Rd in Parma. The concert is free and open to the public; a free will offering will be taken to support the music ministry. A reception will follow in the vestibule of the church. For more information, contact Jon Thibo, Director of Music at St. Columbkille, 216-524-1987, ext. 27. WORLDWIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER Turn a good marriage into a great marriage through a Marriage Encounter Weekend! Recharge your marriage; give your spouse the gift of yourself and your time. The next weekend is scheduled for: 14-16 February 2014 at the Cambria Suites in Uniontown. For more information and reservations please call Dom & Deb Reo at 330-305-9963. You can also register online at: www.wwme.org/new.html. LEADERSHIP FOR A NEW DAY (LFND) ATTN Men & Women in your 20's & 30's: Do you want to integrate mission and values in the workplace? Applications are now being accepted for the first cohort of Leadership for a New Day participants! LFND is an interactive leadership formation. Participants come from a variety of settings: faith-based, public, private, and non-profits agencies. You will meet great people and be paired with professional mentors. There are only 20 slots, which will be filled on a rolling basis. The inaugural class begins January 2014. To learn more, or download an application, visit our website: https://sites.google.com/site/lfndcle/home or find us on Twitter@LFNDCLE or at facebook.com/LFNDCLE. Family Perspectives Parents must be like John the Baptist a voice crying in the wilderness of our consumer society. While society pressures us to shop until we drop the weeks until Christmas, you have the opportunity to prepare the way of the Lord in the lives of your children. JOY TO THE WORLD - WATCH SPECIAL EWTN CHRISTMAS PROGRAMMING EWTN is proud to take you to Rome for LIVE Christmas Day Masses with Pope Francis, and to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. with its magnificent choir. Throughout this Christmas Season, enjoy inspiring musical performances animated features, specials for children and teens, movies and new holiday presentations perfect for the entire family. Watch EWTN (Direct TV 370). Visit www.ewtn.com for more information. Advent Weekend Retreat: And the Word Was Made Flesh. 14-15 December, 2013. Do you want some peace and quiet before the hectic holidays? Are you looking to capture the meaning of Christmas, especially after a major change or loss in your life? How does this important holiday impact your life no matter how you celebrate it? Come and enjoy the beauty of the season in stillness and reflection. Facilitated by Sr. Mary Ann Flannery, SC and Fr. Mathew Roche, S.J. This weekend retreat takes place Saturday 11:00 a.m. through Sunday with departure after 10:00 a.m. Mass. Costs $90, including room and board. To register contact the Jesuit Retreat House at 440-884-9300 or visit www.jrh-cleveland.org