Mass Intentions
Tuesday, December 27
9:30 a.m. Madaline and Peyton Carr
Wednesday, December 28
9:30 a.m. Robert Russo
7:00 a.m. William Dalton
9:30 a.m. Jean Mayhew
9:30 a.m. Rosario Maranto
Saturday, December 31
8:00 a.m. Helen M. Whiteley
4:00 p.m. Mary and Raymond Garner
4:15 p.m. Julio Mariotti
4:30 p.m. Benedetta and Ronald DiBlasio
6:00 p.m. The Ludwig and Kehring Families
12:00 a.m. Edward J. Heine
Sunday, January 1
7:15 a.m. Mr. & Mrs. Antonio Zito
9:15 a.m. Eugene L. Hartigan
11:15 a.m. Mary Hitzelberger
Please join me in extending congratulations to our parish school for having recently completed the Middle States Reaccreditations Process. Among the commendations our school received were: to the teachers, administration and pastor for providing an atmosphere conducive to Catholic values and traditions; to the teachers for their strong classroom management skills in a quiet orderly atmosphere; to the teachers for recognizing their students as the future citizens of the Church and helping them understand the tenets of their faith. The process also enabled our school to identify areas for continued growth. I am particularly grateful for the dedication and faithfulness of our administration, faculty, students and parents.
Thank you to all who have worked and prayed throughout the Advent season to help prepare our parish for Advent. Please note the Mass schedule of Christmas day is regular Sunday Mass schedule, except there will be no 6 P.M. Mass on Christmas day.
May God bless you,
Of Special Note
THE PARISH OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED, Monday, Dec. 26th and Monday, Jan. 2nd for the Christmas and New Year Holidays.
CHRISTMAS FLOWER MEMORIAL envelopes are available at the doors of the church. Please print or type the names of those loved ones you wish remembered, your donation, envelope number and place in the collection basket or return envelopes to the parish office by 9:00 a.m. Monday, Dec. 19th.
CHRISTMAS SPIRITUAL BOUQUETS are available at the doors of the church or parish office. Offering envelopes may be placed in the collection basket or to the parish office.
Liturgy & Worship
PERPETUAL ADORATION UPDATE! We need volunteers for SWAT (Severe Weather Adoration Team) so we will be able to maintain Perpetual Adoration during inclement weather. These should be people who are either within walking distance of the parish center or have four wheel drive vehicles. We also need someone who is willing to organize and coordinate this team. Please call the parish center if you can assist with this effort.
CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE
Saturday, December 24 ~ Christmas Eve
4:00 p.m. Church
4:15 p.m. The Portico
4:30 p.m. Westminster High School
6:00 p.m. Church
12:00 midnight Church
7:15 a.m. Church
11:15 a.m. Church
3:15 p.m. Church
* The 8:00 a.m. Christmas Eve Mass is a regular Saturday Mass and does not satisfy the Sunday Obligation for attending Mass.
Note: There will be no Confessions before any of the Masses on Saturday, December 24th (Christmas Eve). There will be no 6:00 p.m. Mass on Christmas Day.
Sat., December 31st 8:00 a.m., 5:00 p.m. (vigil)
Note: There will be no 3:15 or 6:00 p.m. Masses on Jan. 1st.
We Pray …
BAPTISMS…Congratulations and welcome to Andrew Jacob Raczkowski, Grace Eleanor Raczkowski, and Mia Claire Raczkowski, children of Deirdre and Mendel Raczkowski; Riley Elizabeth Gippard, daughter of Bernadette Passarello and Kenneth Gippard; and Nicholas Robert Frush, son of Karen L. Frush.
WE PRAY for the REPOSE of Rosie Keen; Ruth Dell; and Rita Warehime and for their families and friends.
MIRACULOUS MEDAL NOVENA ... Thursday Mornings
Immediately following the 9:30 a.m. Mass and Rosary in the church. All are invited to participate.
DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET … Thursday afternoons
At 3:00 p.m. in the church before the Blessed Sacrament and ending with Benediction. All are welcome to attend.
Liturgy of the Word
DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS … Dec. 19 - 25
Mon. Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25a; Ps 71; Lk 1:5-25
Tues. Is 7:10-14; Ps 24; Lk 1:26-38
Wed. Sg 2:8-14 or Zep 3:14-18a; Ps 33; Lk 1:39-45
Thur. 1 Sm 1:24-28; 1 Sm 2; Lk 1:46-56
Fri. Mal 3:1-4, 23-24; Ps 25; Lk 1:57-66
Sat. Morning: 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Ps 89; Lk 1:67-79
Sun. Vigil: Is 62:1-5; Ps 89; Acts 13:16-17, 22-25; Mt 1:1-25
Midnight: Is 9:1-6; Ps 96; Ti 2:11-14; Lk 2:1-14
Dawn: Is 62:11-12; Ps 97; Ti 3:4-7; Lk 2:15-20 Day: Is 52:7-10; Ps 98; Heb 1:1-6; Jn 1:1-18
WEEKLY OFFERING for Weekend of December 11, 2005:
Envelopes: $25,865.30 Attendance: 3946
Loose: 5,584.16 Poor Box: $1,819.95
TOTAL: $31,449.46
This year’s budget is based on a weekly offering of $30,700.00. Our current weekly average is $27,550.88. Thank you.
VISION 2003 CAMPAIGN UPDATE:
Total Pledged: $ 7,331,949 Goal: $ 10,590,693
Paid to Date: 6,425,408 Pledged to date: 6,425,409
Balance: $ 906,541 Interest Earned: 549,780
Cash needed: $ 3,615,504
THANK YOU to all parishioners who have made a pledge. Memorial opportunities are still available. Please call the parish office to make, renew or extend your pledge.
The collection for the feast of the Immaculate Conception totaled $5,391.76. Thank you for your generosity.
4th SUNDAY IN ADVENT: Let’s fact it . .Gift Giving is Fun!! A gift is as much a blessing upon the giver as it is a joy to the one who receives it! If your Christmas giving pattern this year includes donations to charitable institutions before year’s end, please consider including St. John Church and School among your charitable giving plans. St. John Church benefits from the generosity of its parishioners. The entire community benefits from the meaningful acts of charity accomplished by our many ministries and organizations. Thank you for your generosity at Christmas and always!
School News
School Calendar
Dec. 19 Christmas Program at 6:30 p.m. in the gym
Dec. 21 Christmas Program (snow date)
Dec. 22 Early dismissal at 1:00 p.m.
Dec. 23 Jan. 2 SCHOOL CLOSED
Jan. 3 School reopens for classes
GROCERY CERTIFICATES PROGRAM: Please support the
school by purchasing gift cards for Kohl’s, Boscov’s, and local grocery stores. There is no additional cost involved, but the school makes 5% from all sales. Cards are available in the school office.
INNISBROOK ON-GOING FUNDRAISER. . .Check out the website for gift giving ideas. The school receives 50% of all sales. Shop at www.innisbrook.com. Our school ID # 122169.
Religious Ed./Youth Activities
Religious Education Office: (410) 848-8443
SERVICE PROJECTS: Sign ups for Service Projects will be outside the Religious Ed. Office at school beginning the first night of classes (Dec. 6 & Dec. 8). Please review the service handout to familiarize yourself with the projects prior to signing up.
PARENTS of 2nd GRADERS: Please be sure you have turned in the form requesting your child’s baptismal information.
REMINDER: No Religious Education classes on Tuesday, Dec. 20, Thursday, Dec. 22, Tuesday, Dec. 27 and Thursday, Dec. 29. Classes resume Tuesday, Jan. 3 and Thursday, Jan. 5.
— LIFE TEEN (Grades 9 -12) —
Wed., Dec. 28 – Regional XLT from 7-9 p.m. in the Portico. Our Host: Fr. Leo.
Steubenville 2006 Sponsors Needed: We are looking for parishioners to sponsor a teen for our annual Steubenville retreat. If you can be a full or partial sponsor, please make your check payable to St. John and call or email Marty at mlink@sjwest.org.
— THE EDGE (Grades 7 & 8) —
We meet every 2nd Sunday and 4th Friday from 7:30 – 9:00 p.m. in the Cafeteria. This ministry is open to all 7th & 8th graders.
Dec. 23 – Live Nativity - We need teen volunteers and animals for this event. Parent volunteers also needed for set-up, clean-up & refreshments. Call Kate in Religious Ed. Office if you can help.
Parents and adult volunteers needed. We are still looking for CORE members for THE EDGE. This ministry is a great way to serve the young people of St. John. Commitment is 2 nights a month and an occasional team meeting. Call Kate if you can serve.
Sign up packets for a fun-filled night at Players Family Amusement Center on Jan. 27 are going out this week to all 7th and 8th grade Religious Ed classes and to THE EDGE. Deadline for money and sign up is Jan. 20. Check packet for details.
— YOUTH ALIVE (Grades 5 & 6) —
We meet in the Cafeteria from 7-8:30 p.m. every 1st and 3rd Friday. Bring your friends and join the fun! Contact Kate for details.
Activities in Our Parish
CHILDREN’S LITURGY COMMITTEE invites children to participate in the Christmas Eve Liturgy at 4:30 p.m. at Westminster High School. Children are needed as readers and to portray characters in the Christmas Pageant. Call Marty Devilbiss at 410-346-7012.
EVERGREENS NEEDED to help decorate the Church for Christmas. Greens can be dropped off on Dec. 19 or 20. Contact Pat Mueller at 410-876-2596 for more information.
CHRISTMAS TREE SALE . . . Now thru Dec. 24
Boy Scout Troop 420 is selling locally grown, freshly cut trees behind the school. Hours are Monday - Friday 5-9 p.m. & weekends 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. Xmas wreaths are also being sold by Richard Lyons to help fund his eagle scout project to provide stations of the cross around the retention basin for an outside prayer area. Please support these endeavors.
ANNUAL POINSETTIA SALE . . . Dec. 17 and 18
On Dec. 17-18, sales will be in The Portico. All proceeds will benefit the Church Building Fund.
LIVE NATIVITY NEEDS VOLUNTEERS. . .Fri., Dec. 23
THE EDGE needs parents to help with set-up, clean-up, and to serve refreshments on Fri., Dec. 23. Call Kate at 410-848-8443.
NEW YEARS EVE CELEBRATION . . . Saturday, Dec. 31
Welcome the New Year with adult friends at St. John Portico from 9-1. Call Mary or John Coakley at 410-876-7033 for more details.
RENEWAL OF MARRIAGE VOWS. . Sat., Jan. 22
The next scheduled Mass for Renewal of Vows, will be Saturday, Jan., 22nd. Couples are invited to renew their marriage vows at the 5:00 p.m. Mass on the 4th Saturday of each month. If you wish to participate, please sign up in the Sunday Sacristy or the parish office prior to Jan. 22.
WELCOMING COMMITTEE... Sun., Jan. 29
The next scheduled Welcoming Session will be on Sunday, Jan. 29 in The Portico at 10:30 a.m., due to the Christmas holiday. Any one interested in registering with the parish should attend.
WINTER DAY OF RECOLLECTION. . . Sat., Jan. 28
All Liturgical Ministers, Health Care Ministers, Religious Ed. Teachers and Assistants, Life Teen Core Leaders, Masters of Ceremony and Prison Ministers are encouraged to attend this annual day of recollection at Carroll Community College from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. This is a unique opportunity to grow in your faith and ministry. The topic for the day is: “The Sacraments of Initiation.” Fr. Rick Hillgartner will be the presenter and will help us deepen our understanding of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. There will also be time for small group discussions, individual ministry meetings, and a continental breakfast & lunch. A postcard with RSVP details will be sent out in early January.
PRO-LIFE COMMITTEE. . . Sun., Jan. 29
“Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive.” Mt. 21-22. The St. John Pro-Life Committee will be sponsoring a parish-wide Spiritual Adoption Program beginning on Sunday, Jan. 29, 2006. This is a nine-month, pro-life initiative developed by the Archdiocese of Baltimore for the purposes of praying for the unborn, providing education about prenatal development and helping mothers in need. Parishioners will be asked to pray daily for one unborn child. Each month a thank-you note from the unborn baby will be posted, along with an appropriate poster that depicts the developmental progress of the unborn child. At the end of nine months a birthday party or baby shower will be given in honor of all the babies. Parishioners will be invited to bring in gifts, which will be donated to the local pregnancy center. Additional information about the Spiritual Adoption Program may
be viewed at hhtp://archbalt.org/respect-life/spiritual-adoption/
Christmas Bazaar Report 2005
Angels, Inc.................................. 1,443.74
Bake Table................................... 1,374.70
Basket Boutique.......................... 1,940.60
Bingo............................................ 267.59
Books/Tapes............................... 3,617.39
Candy/Fudge............................... 2,698.00
Cookies......................................... 1,163.50
Face Painting............................... 91.55
Grand Raffle................................. 6,754.00
Jewelry Boutique........................ 661.15
Luncheon..................................... 2,736.75
Market Place................................ 4,013.58
North Pole Candy....................... 856.85
Plants/Posies............................... 2,039.25
Quick Café.................................... 1,572.05
Religious Articles....................... 2,204.08
Santa Pictures.............................. 1,045.50
Stuffed Animals.......................... 1,054.92
Toys.............................................. 600.00
Basket........................................... 370.00
Donut/coffee............................... 150.75
Total.......................................... $36,655.95
THANK YOU to everyone for making the Bazaar such a success!
THANK YOU to all the blood donors that came out in spite of the inclement weather. We received 88 pints of blood. We still need phone callers. Please call Ted Cook at 410-876-2107.
Outreach
* THE ST. VINCENT de PAUL SOCIETY *
Please continue to help minister to the poor in Carroll County by remembering that the 3rd weekend of each month is Food Sunday. Donations of non-perishable food should be placed in the buckets at the doors of the church. Needed items are: canned meats, stews, spaghetti sauce, canned pasta meals, jelly, powdered milk, canned fruit, bottled juices, paper goods, i.e., toilet tissue, baby diapers, paper towels, etc. Thank you for your continued generosity!
In Our Community
Christmas Spiritualism or Holiday MAterialism. . . Thurs., Dec. 22 . . . Join Fr. Jack Lombardi, Chaplain of The National Shrine-Grotto of Lourdes in Emmitsburg, Md., at the Irish Moon Café in Taneytown, MD, for coffee and a discussion on “How to Really Celebrate Jesus’ Birth” or Christmas Spiritualism or Holiday Materialism. Presentation begins at 4:00 p.m. and all are welcome. For details call 301-447-5318.
LIONS CLUB EYEGLASS RECYCLING. . . Dec. 24 and 25
The Deer Park Lions Club is collecting used eyeglasses for recycling in developing countries on the 4th weekend of each month. Eyeglasses can be dropped in the boxes at the doors of the church the weekend of Dec. 24 and 25.
HIGH SCHOOL PLACEMENT TEST FOR DELONE CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL. . . Sat., Jan., 7, 2006
If you are interested in pursuing an education at Delone Catholic High, as a ninth grader, you must take the placement test as part of the admissions process. Call Sister Maria or Mrs. Groft at 717-
637-5969 to register for the test. Registration packets will be distributed the day of testing.
From the Archdiocese
SISTERS OF BON SECOURS VOCATION AWARENESS & HOSPITALITY WEEKEND. . . Jan. 6 - 8
The Sisters of Bon Secours are having a Vocation Awareness & Hospitality weekend at their Provincial House in Marriottsville for single Catholic women interested in exploring religious life. Come and learn about a life of serving God and the Church as a sister. Register at www.bonsecours.org/vocations or call 410-442-0267.
THINKING ABOUT THE PRIESTHOOD?. . .Sat., Jan. 14
There will be a dinner on Saturday, Jan. 14 at 6:30 p.m. with Father Jerry Francik at St. Timothy parish rectory (200 Glade Blvd., Walkersville) for men in the central Maryland region, college age and older, interested in talking with others about the priesthood. For details contact Fr. Jerry at 410-547-5426 or by email: gfrancik@archbalt.org. RSVP to Fr. Andy Aaron at 301-845-8028, by Jan. 11, if you plan to attend.
All married couples are cordially invited to join Bishop Francis Malooly for the special World Marriage Day Mass and Reception at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen, Sunday, Feb.12 at 3:00 p.m.
LONGEST MARRIED COUPLE IN THE ARCHDIOCESE:
Our parish is participating in Worldwide Marriage Encounter’s search for the longest married couple in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. One nominee from each parish will be honored during a special Mass celebrated by Bishop Malooly. Please call or send your name or names of your candidates, married 50 years or more, to the parish secretary no later than January 20, 2006. Please include their names, address, phone number and wedding date.
Reminders
HOLIDAY BULLETIN DEADLINE: Due to holiday schedules, the deadline for submitting your notices for the Sunday, January 1st bulletin is Tuesday, December 20, 2005 at 11:00 a.m.
SUNDAY NURSERY for 1-5 year olds will be held in Classroom 2A of the school during the 9:15 and 11:15 a.m. Masses. For information, contact Peggy Rager at 410-848-0790.
HOLY COMMUNION will be brought to you during Mass, if you are unable to come to the altar. Please inform an usher.
CHRISTMAS WAFERS (Oplatek) are available at the Parish Center and The Portico Bookstore.
TO HAVE SOMEONE WHO IS ILL REMEMBERED during the Prayer of the Faithful at Masses, please call the parish office.
LARGE–PRINT MISSALETTES are available at weekend Masses.
MEMORIAL BRICKS. . . We are selling memorial bricks until January 15. The cost of the bricks are $75 for a 4x8 and $150 for an 8x8. Forms can be picked up at the Parish Center. For information, call Kathy Duex at 410-848-4469.
ALTAR FLOWER MEMORIAL: Our parish invites memorial donations for altar flowers. You may wish to memorialize a deceased loved one, commemorate an anniversary, etc. Your name and the intention will be included in the bulletin the weekend your flowers are placed on the altar. Call the parish office to schedule.