St. Anthony of Padua Bulletin
December 7, 1997

Second Sunday of Advent

"I rejoice as I plead on your behalf, at the way you have all continually helped promote the gospel from the very first day" (Phil 1:4).
As I go through my second Advent with all of you at St. Anthony's, I echo the words of St. Paul.
I am so pleased and feel such contentment at the way I see the Spirit working in this community and at the manner which the parishioners of St. Anthony's are opening themselves up to the power of the Gospel in their lives.
I am so grateful for the various levels of cooperation and collaboration, whether it's planning for or celebrating a liturgy, working at bingo, volunteering for a project, or participating in a meeting.
I am proud of the progress we're making in our social outreach and in our neighborhood stabilization and security.
I am so deeply touched by the school children -- by their eagerness to learn, their active participation in the Eucharist, their openness to Jesus and the ways of the Church.
I am so gratified by the involvement of school parents, by the openness of the "old- timers" to "new ways" of doing things, by the responsiveness of people to what I preach and write and how I pastor.
I so deeply appreciate the efforts of my pastoral staff, the administrative and support staffs, the parish pastoral council, the finance council, the parish school board and education council for all they do to support and counsel and help me.
It is this sense of rejoicing that brings me through days the frustration, the times of bleakness, the moments of seeming hopelessness. I have such high expectations. I have such a great need to succeed. I am constantly pulled apart by the tension of wanting to make people happy and compelled to preach the truth of Jesus' message in season and out of season.
Herein lies the secret of Advent. It is the joy of seeing the presence of the Lord definitively unfolding among his people, while at the same time it's feeling so uneasy because there is so much yet to do to discover and uncover that presence in the world of this parish.
I thank you for making my Advent so real!
--Father Benet OFM

Offering

Envelopes $4,124.39
Loose Collection 247.83
Children's Envelopes 8.65
TOTAL: 4,381.87
COMPLIANCE WITH THE BUDGET:

This Week Cumulative
(11/30/97): (Week #22):
$5,453.06 $119,976.32
4,381.87 99,646.22
-1,071.19 --20,330.10
"My prayer is that your love may more and more abound...that with a clear conscience you may learn to value the things that really matter" (Phil 1:9-10). The material things we possess on earth have no worth in the world to come. During Advent, we must focus on love, faith and service. These gifts enable us to enter into a deeper relationship with our God.

DID YOU KNOW???

A Brief Look at the History of Advent (Part 5)
The new liturgy [from France], however, was soon considered authentically Roman. Eventually, it became the liturgy of the whole medieval Latin church. In this way, an Advent of four weeks, with a confused theme of penance and joy, eventually spread from Rome to the universal church. ...
A penitential theme during Advent was more evident until recent times. A tradition of fasting continued until the Code of Canon Law of 1917-1918. Musical instruments were discouraged during Mass, the color purple was used in vestments and decorations, the "Glory to God" was dropped but the "Alleluia" kept, and weddings were prohibited. With some modifications these traditions continue today but without a serious penitential spirit.
Greg Dues. Catholic Customs and Traditions.
--compiled by Brother Richard OFM

NEWS ABOUT PARISHIONERS

SANCTUARY LAMP: One of the sanctuary lamps is lit this week in prayerful remembrance of Henry Marton at the request of the Marton Family.
REGULAR RIDE NEEDED: A parishioner needs a ride to work Monday through Friday from Grand and Meramec to Lucas-&-Hunt and West Florissant. Hours of work are from 7:30am to 4:00pm; call Tom at 352-9415 (home) or 595-8290 (work).

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION:
HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION:

Monday, December 8, is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, celebrating the event when Mary, the Mother of our Savior, was conceived immaculately in the womb of her mother Anne; that is, freed from the stain of original sin. The Immaculate Conception of Mary is the patronal feast of the United States. For this reason is it always a holy day of obligation. Since the vigil of the feast is a Sunday, there will be NO vigil Mass. On the feast day itself, however, Masses will be celebrated at 6:00am, 8:00am, 11:00am (at Chariton Apartments), and at 7:00pm, which will be a special Mass for the benefactors of the parish.

Parish News

FLORAL MEMORIAL: The floral arrangement at the Shrine of the Blessed Virgin on December 8 is given in prayerful remembrance of Anna Maria Conrad, Nora Rooney Ahland, and Wayne H. Ahland by Roland and Theresa Mayer.

CHRISTMAS BASKETS: Requests for Christmas Baskets will be taken until December 12 by Sharon Kitchell (773-3863). Don't forget to take an ornament from the "Giving Wreath" in order to provide an item for the Christmas Baskets. Place your Christmas basket gifts on the step of the St. Joseph Shrine (east side). The baskets can be picked up in the Meramec Cafeteria on Saturday, December 20.

YOUTH GROUP Christmas Get-Together will be held on Sunday, December 14, at 4:30pm in the Youth Center (cookies, hot chocolate, music), leaving at 6:30 to view Christmas lights displays. Make reservations by December 10 by calling Karen Huckeby at 771-8136.

NO CLOTHING! Please do not leave used clothes for the poor at St. Anthony Hall or at the friary. We have no facility here to process this clothing. We urge you to take such items to St. Vincent de Paul Society at 4141 Forest Park Blvd or to call the Society's Thrift Exchange Truck Pick-up at 531-9364.

NEW SIDEWALKS: Do you like the new sidewalks? Thanks to the efforts of Alderman Fred Wessels, these sidewalks are a virtual gift because 50% was paid by the city, 25% by the friary, and only 25% by the parish. A great big thanks to all those who had a hand in making these new sidewalks a reality!

Advent

COME JOIN US! Please make time in your busy schedule for participating in our special parish Advent events:
1. Stay for a few minutes after the 8:00am Mass for the Jesse Tree ceremonies every day.
2. Come to church on Thursday at 6:00pm for Advent Evening Prayer (escort from Chariton available).
3. Call Tom Moran at 353-4791 if you or your family would like to light the Advent Wreath at a Sunday Mass.
4. Reserve at least one of the evenings of Dec. 18, 19, 22, or 23 at 7:00pm for an Advent Home Mass. Homes to be announced next week.

Confession

CHRISTMAS CONFESSIONS: Besides the ordinary times for Confessions (Friday and Saturday at 3:00pm), in preparation for Christmas some special times have been added:
Thursday, December 18 at 6:30pm following the Advent Evening Prayer
Monday, Tuesday, & Wednesday (Dec. 22, 23, & 24) after the 8:00am Mass.

Mark Your Calendar

During these busy seasons of Advent and Christmas you will need to mark your calendars for the special upcoming parish events:
ADVENT HOME MASSES on (December 18, 19, 22, & 23; Mary and Joseph will travel through the parish on their way to the church for Christmas Eve.
CHRISTMAS VIGIL "POSADA" MASS will be celebrated on Christmas Eve at 4:30pm; children are invited to come dressed as angels and shepherds.
CHRISTMAS VIGIL SERVICE AND MIDNIGHT MASS will begin at 11:15pm with carols and readings, followed by the traditional solemn celebration of the Eucharist.
THE PARISH FAMILY CHRISTMAS PARTY will take place on Saturday, December 27, after the 4:30 Mass at 5:30pm in St. Anthony Hall; a buffet dinner will be served; RSVP to Gerry Sippel (353-7470).
THE PARISH "WELCOMEFEST" will be celebrated on Epiphany Sunday, January 4, in St. Anthony Hall from 9:00am to 1:00pm; the gifts and talents of the parish's commissions and organizations will be displayed.

CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS: Your December envelopes include one for Christmas floral decorations. Please fill it as generously as you can and return it with your other envelopes. If you do not have a church envelope, place a plain envelope in the collection basket with your name, address, and "in memory of" on it. Single poinsettias average $10.00; some pots will be multiples. The large flower arrangements are $50.00 each. All other donations will be used for trees and other decorations. A memorial listing will be displayed prominently in the church and will be published as a bulletin insert after Christmas.

ADVENT GIFT TO THE FOOD PANTRY

During the season of Advent we invite groups of families and organizations to go together to prepare one large paper or plastic bag that contains the following:
2 cans of canned meat or fish
4 16-oz. cans of vegetables
4 16-oz. cans of fruit
4 10-oz. cans of soup
1 package of noodles or pasta or macaroni and cheese
1 package of cereal, either dry or cookable
1 package of powdered milk
1 jar of peanut butter
1 family-size bar of soap
2 boxes of pancake mix
2 boxes of instant rice
1 bottle of syrup
Leave the bag at the St. Anthony Shrine (west side), and it will be transported to the Food Pantry.

SPIRITUAL RENEWAL DURING ADVENT

The Marianist Retreat and Conference Center (4000 Hwy 109, 2.5 miles north of I-44) is offering an Advent Retreat December 13-14 on the theme "Celebrating Hope in Our Advent Journey" beginning at 8:30 Saturday morning and concludes on Sunday at noon. Suggested offering: $68.00. Call 938-5390.
The Benedictine Sisters at the Convent of Perpetual Adoration (8300 Morganford) have a recording of Sunday Advent Vespers and Compline done at the Monastery Chapel in Clyde, Missouri in a setting composed by Dr. Mario Salvador from the St. Louis Cathedral Parish. For more information call Sister Cathleen Marie at 638-6427.

Mass Intentions for the Week

Monday, December 8, SOLEMNITY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
6:00 Parish
8:00 Deceased of Struckhoff Family
11:00 (At Chariton Apts.) Dorothy & Mathilda Swehla
7:00 For the Benefactors of the Parish
Tuesday, December 9, Bl. Juan Diego
6:30 Souls in Purgatory
8:00 John Fugina
Wednesday, December 10, Advent Weekday
6:30 Steve Boliance, Jr.
8:00 Edward Jarus
Thursday, December 11, Advent Weekday
6:30 Carlyne M. Ries
8:00 Anthony Mazzola
Friday, December 12, OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE
6:30 Ann Hoeman
8:00 Scott Hoff
10:30 Janice A. Krus
Saturday, December 13, St. Lucy
6:30 Bernadine Mierisch
8:00 Helen Winkelmann
Sunday, December 14, THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT
4:30 (Saturday) Emil Gast
6:00 For the Parishioners
8:00 Loretta Schueck
10:30 Doris DePauli

Liturgical Assistants

December 8, Immaculate Conception

LECTORS:
6:00 Alberta Stackle
8:00 School Children
11:00 Chariton Apartments
7:00 Ed Meyer
EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS:
6:00 Jackie Kappler
8:00 Teachers
11:00 Chariton Apartments
7:00 Wanda Meyer

Week of December 9-14

LECTORS:
6:30 Weekdays, Dec. 9-13: Alberta Stackle
8:00 Weekdays, Dec. 9-13: Joe Sestric
Sunday, December 13-14
4:30 Sandy Montgomery, LaVerne Duvall
6:00 Georgia Berry
8:00 Marie Mergel, Beth Morgan
10:30 Scouts
6:30 Weekdays, Dec. 15-20: Georgia Berry
8:00 Weekdays, Dec. 15-20: Sr. Virginia
EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS:
4:30 Hosts: Pat Nieters, Phyllis Morrison
Cups: Doris Eagan, Esther Ehlen, Joanie Medina, Philipa Krueger
6:00 Jackie Kappler
8:00 Ladies' Sodality
10:30 Hosts: Rich Busiek, Bev Ruzicka
Cups: Patty Penrose, Brenda Boyer, Cheryl Degenhart, Tom Moran, Bob Harre, Dorothy Schaefer

This Coming Week

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21
9:00 a.m. - Mass at Chariton Apartments
Coffee and Donuts after 10:30 Mass
MONDAY, DECEMBER 22
8:30 a.m. - Special Christmas Confessions
7:00 p.m. - ADVENT HOME MASS
7:30 p.m. - Prayer Group (E)
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23
8:30 a.m. - Special Christmas Confessions
6:30 p.m. - Bingo
7:00 p.m. - ADVENT HOME MASS
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, CHRISTMAS EVE
8:30 a.m. - Special Christmas Confessions
11:00 a.m. - A.A. Meeting (W)
4:30 p.m. - VIGIL "POSADA" MASS
11:15 p.m. - Vigil of Carols and Readings MIDNIGHT MASS
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, CHRISTMAS DAY
MASSES AT 6:00AM, 8:00AM, 10:30AM
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26
3:00 p.m. - Holy Hour (Ch)
6:00 p.m. - Selby/Dutton Wedding
8:00 p.m. - A.A. Meeting (F)
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 27
5:30 p.m. - PARISH FAMILY CHRISTMAS PARTY
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 28, HOLY FAMILY
Blessing of Families at each Mass

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St. Anthony of Padua Bulletin December 7, 1997