St. Anthony of Padua Bulletin
December 14, 1997

Third Sunday of Advent

"Be glad and exult with all your heart," (Zep 3:14). Rejoice in the Lord always! I say it again. Rejoice!" (Phil 4:4). "Give thanks to the Lord, acclaim his name; among the nations make known his deeds, proclaim how exalted is his name. Sing praise to the Lord for his glorious achievement; let this be known throughout all the earth," (Is 12:4-5).
Why all this rejoicing? Why all this praising of God? Why get all worked up when the state of the world, the condition of our society, and the situation in our neighborhood can seem so depressing, so bleak, so dismal, so hopeless?
Precisely because "the Lord, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior; he will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in his love. He will sing joyfully because of you," (Zep 3:18). "He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire," (Lk 3:16). "Great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel!" (Is 12:6).
So, "dismiss all anxiety from your minds. Present your needs to God in every form of prayer and in petitions full of gratitude," (Phil 4:6). And ask Jesus the question which the crowds put to John: "What ought we to do?" (Lk 3:10), and take seriously the answer you receive because it will make the difference between life or death, peace or anxiety, joy or sorrow.
Listen for Christ's answer to you which comes through the Holy Eucharist when we give praise to God the Father "through, with, and in" Jesus Christ who emptied himself to be fully present to us and unite with us to form "one body, one spirit" in him.
Listen for Christ's answer to you which comes in the Sacred Scripture which you hear at Mass and read at home.
Listen for Christ's answer to you which comes through family and parish and neighborhood.
Listen for Christ's answer to you which comes in both the joyful and tragic events of your life.
Listen for Christ's answer to you which comes from the people you meet, especially those who turn you off or those you'd rather avoid.
Listen carefully, because the coming of the Word-made-flesh is not just a Baby in a manger nor only a pious moment. The Word is made flesh everywhere around you! Are you ready to hear him and follow him?

--Father Benet OFM
P.S. Take time TODAY to fill out the reservation form for the Parish Family Christmas Party on December 27 at 5:30pm.

Offering

Envelopes $4,452.89
Loose Collection 521.85
Children's Envelopes 5.50
Immaculate Conception 1,067.00
TOTAL: 6,047.24
COMPLIANCE WITH THE BUDGET:

This Week Cumulative
(12/07/97): (Week #23):
$5,453.06 $125,429.38
$6,047.24 105,693.46
$+ 594.18 -19,735.92
"Present your needs to God in every form of prayer and in petitions full of gratitude" (Phil 4:6). Following the call of stewardship is our grateful and joyful response to God for all the blessings in our lives.

WE MADE IT!!! With last week's appeal for the Capital Campaign we exceeded our target of $91,245.00 by $1,810.00, totaling $93,055.00 in pledges and overshooting our goal by two percent. THANK YOU!!!

DID YOU KNOW???

A Brief Look at the History of Christmas (Part 1)
The early church seems to have little or no interest in the actual date or circumstances of Jesus' birth. ... They celebrated the mystery of the resurrection weekly [Sunday] and annually [Easter] a few hundred years before a tradition of commemorating his birth became popular.
Martyrs and saints were honored with annual anniversary festivals before the anniversary of the Lord's birth became a tradition.
Eventually, the Church's desire to live out liturgically the entire Christ-mystery led to a Nativity festival.
The actual date of Christ's birth is unknown. The gospels do not record it, nor is there any early tradition to identify it.
Modern scholarship identifies only the approximate year, probably 8-6 B.C.E. with adjustments to our modern calendar taken into consideration.
There are two traditional dates: December 25 in the Western Church and January 6 in the Eastern Church. Both have been celebrated by the Church as memorials of Jesus' birth, the latter becoming the feast of Epiphany.
Neither of them, however, is recognized as the actual date today. (More next week. Greg Dues. Catholic Customs and Traditions.
--compiled by Brother Richard OFM

Parish News
CHRISTMAS BASKETS: 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) before December 17. 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.
CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS: Please fill your envelope for Christmas floral decorations and return it in the weekend collection or to the friary. 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.
CELEBRATING ADVENT: 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.
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) at 8:30am after the 8:00am Mass. A SPECIAL REMEMBRANCE AT CHRISTMAS: On sale at the parish office is the two-set video documenting the tragic fire and miraculous rebuilding of St. Anthony's for $40.00; call Gerry at 353-7470.

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
ADVENT HOME MASSES on (December 18, 19, 22, & 23. Reserve at least one of the evenings of December 18, 19, 22, or 23 at 7:00pm for an Advent Home "Posada" Mass as we accompany Mary and Joseph to the church for the celebration of Christmas. Anyone is welcome at any or all of the Masses. The homes for the four Masses are as follows (contact the host of your choice to RSVP):
Thursday, December 18, at the Penrose Home (3117 Osage, 2nd floor); call Pattie at 773-1061.
Friday, December 19, at the Mogab Home (4222 Minnesota, Apt. H); call June at 352-6315.
Monday, December 22, at the Forchee Home (3428 Montana); call Gerry or Phyllis in the evening at 481-2815.
Tuesday, December 23, at the Geldmacher Home (4347 South Compton); call Steve or Sue at 481-8651.

(lss206) 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.

Christmas Party

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). (Fill out the form inserted into the bulletin and return it as quickly as possible.)

Happy New Year

THE ANNUAL NEW YEAR'S EVE BINGO, sponsored by the Men's Club, will begin on Wednesday, December 31, at 6:00pm; doors will open at 3:30pm.

Epiphany Sunday

THE PARISH "WELCOMEFEST" will be celebrated on Epiphany Sunday, January 3-4, in St. Anthony Hall after the 4:30 Mass on the 3rd and from 9:00am to 1:00pm on the 4th; the gifts and talents of the parish's commissions and organizations will be displayed.

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, the other in memory of Ruth & Dinty Moore's decesased relatives.
FIRST CONFESSION: Congratulations to our second graders who celebrated the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time on December 7: Zachary Baker, Lauryn Bohn, Samantha Box, Jacob Boxdorfer, Kristen Bozada, Allison Buck, Nicholas Craven, Kelsey Eirvin, Christopher Kamper, Michael Mancuso, Nicholas Muehlheausler, Benjamin Tinker, and Daniel Wildridge.
RESTING IN PEACE:
Doris A. Miles, 61, whose memorial Mass was celebrated on December 9, 1997; Patricia Palermo, 63, buried on December 12, 1997;
Reba Lorraine Smith, 86, buried on December 12, 1997.
QUILT WINNERS: V. Klein (2009 Catlin Drive) on November 27 and Marquette Tire and Battery (4007 Nebraska) on December 4.

Reminder

1. OUR SUNDAY VISITOR: The only regular income for our parish's St. Vincent DePaul Society is the weekly sale of Our Sunday Visitor. With the money gained from the sale, the poor of the parish can be helped. Please purchase before or after each weekend Mass a copy of this highly respected national Catholic newspaper. There's a double benefit for you: outreach for the poor and healthy updating for you!
2. THE WORD AMONG US: This valuable periodical is available to you free of charge in church. It is a most helpful and useful guide for understanding the scripture readings and celebrating the particular liturgical season.

UPCOMING HOLIDAY EVENTS:

1. BREAKFAST WITH SANTA: sponsored by St. Mary Magdalen Parish, Sunday, December 14, 7:00am to noon, in Magdalen Parish Center (4354 South Kingshighway).
2. 2ND ANNUAL CHRISTMAS CONCERT sponsored by St. Hedwig Church Choir, Sunday, December 14, 2:00pm in St. Hedwig's Church.
3. ANNUAL MASS FOR FAMILIES OF DECEASED CHILDREN at the Old Cathedral on Sunday, December 14, at 2:00pm.
4. SPECIAL CHRISTMAS NOVENA at St. Stephen Protomartyr Church, beginning Wednesday, December 17, at 7:30pm, to Tuesday, December 23.

Mass Intentions for the Week

Monday, December 15, Advent Weekday
6:30 Harold Holtz
8:00 Anthony Fischer
Tuesday, December 16, Advent Weekday
6:30 Elonore Neumann
8:00 Magdalen Boliance
Wednesday, December 17, Late Advent Weekday
6:30 Irvin P. DeMange (anniv.)
8:00 For Vocations
Thursday, December 18, Late Advent Weekday
6:30 Dorothy Paulis
8:00 Lucille McGill
7:00 For Parishioners (Advent Home Mass)
Friday, December 19, Late Advent Weekday
6:30 Fr. Columban OFM
8:00 John P. Kane
10:30 Mathilda M. Holdener
7:00 For Parishioners (Advent Home Mass)
Saturday, December 20, Late Advent Weekday
6:30 Helen & Herman Hartlieb
8:00 Helen Winkelmann
Sunday, December 21, FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
4:30 (Saturday) For Parishioners
6:00 Margaret Molloy (anniv.)
8:00 William Chapman
10:30 Violet Yaeger

Liturgical Assistants

Week of December 15-21

LECTORS:
6:30 Weekdays, Dec. 15-20: Georgia Berry
8:00 Weekdays, Dec. 15-20: Sr. Virginia
Sunday, December 20-21
4:30 Pat Nieters, Ed Meyer
6:00 Ken Dames
8:00 Sue & Steve Geldmacher
10:30 Rich & Mary Busiek
6:30 Weekdays, Dec. 22-27: Alberta Stackle
8:00 Weekdays, Dec. 22-27: Joe Sestric
EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS:
4:30 Hosts: Dolores Buescher, Janice Leicht
Cups: Alured McNulty, Robert Donahue, Jackie Schmittgens, Tony Minnick
6:00 Pat Behnen
8:00 Hosts: Sr. Virginia, Valerie Geldmacher
Cups: Linda Kohne, Mike Mount, Debbie Williams, Gene Rombach
10:30 SFO Members

The Coming Week

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 28, HOLY FAMILY
Blessing of Families at each Mass
MONDAY, DECEMBER 29
7:30 p.m. - Prayer Group (E)
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30
6:30 p.m. - Bingo
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, NEW YEARS EVE
11:00 a.m. - A.A. Meeting (W)
4:30 p.m. - Vigil Mass for the Holy Day
6:00 p.m. - Men's Club New Year's Eve Bingo
(Doors open at 3:30pm)
THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 1998, MARY MOTHER OF GOD
No Mass at 6:00am
Holy Day Masses at 8:00am & 10:30am (in church)
FRIDAY, JANUARY 2
3:00 p.m. - Holy Hour (Ch)
8:00 p.m. - A.A. Meeting (F)
SATURDAY, JANUARY 3
5:30 p.m. - "WELCOMEFEST" of Parish Commissions, Organizations, & Opportunities
SUNDAY, JANUARY 4, EPIPHANY
9am - 1pm - "WELCOMEFEST" of Parish Commissions, Organizations, & Opportunities

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St. Anthony of Padua Bulletin December 14, 1997