Parish Bulletin

Today’s feast of the Epiphany of the Lord concludes the Christmas season for the Church. I want to thank all who have shared so generously of their time and talent to enhance our parish liturgies throughout the Christmas season, and those who decorated our church so beautifully. I am particularly grateful to Pat Mueller who as Chairperson of the Arts and Environment Committee, has directed and coordinated all the decorating of our church for the past several years. Although Pat has decided to step down as Chairperson this year, her leadership will always be appreciated. I also want to thank all the members of the committee for their countless hours of dedicated service. Finally, thank you to all whose donations to the flower memorials at Christmas and Easter helped cover the expense of the decorations.

The parish is looking for a coordinator to help keep the church beautiful and festively decorated throughout the year. If you are interested in this ministry, please contact Fr. Leo for more details.

We wish to thank Pat Mueller for her services during the past years, as we endeavor to continue the quality of ministry that she has shown so well and so faithfully.

PERPETUAL ADORATION UPDATE! The following hours have one scheduled adorer, but we would like to have at least two for each hour: Sundays – 4, 6, & 8 a.m.; and 12,1,3,4,5 & 8 p.m.; Mondays – 1 & 2 a.m.; Tuesdays – 3, 6 & 8 a.m.; and 2, 4 & 11 p.m.; Wednesdays – 1, 2 & 7 a.m.; and 2 p.m.; Thursdays – 12, 1 & 2a.m.; and 12, 4 & 11 p.m.; Fridays – 2, 5 & 9 a.m.; and 2, 6 & 9 p.m.; Saturdays – 12, 2, 3 & 10 a.m.; and 1,2,3,4,5 & 6 p.m. Please call the parish office.

BAPTISMS: Congratulations and welcome to Kristen Maria Lim, daughter of Barbie and Kenneth Lim; Emma Rebecca Lim, daughter of Rebecca & Frederick Lim; and Faith Marie Reisdorf, daughter of Tabitha and Michael D. Reisdorf.

WE PRAY for the REPOSE of Joanne Miller, Margaret Scalabrelli, Richard Bozel, Theresa Ryncewicz, Richard Putman, Joseph Golueke, Eloise Trilling, Tillie Bertrand and Wilda Stallman and for their family and friends.

FLOWER MEMORIALS: The following Christmas flower memorials were omitted from our listings in our Christmas bulletin due to our printing deadline: In memory of William and Ann Wellman, Frank Clark, John Seibert, Frank Trachta, Sr., Lee Trachta, Rose, George and Charles Fischer, Elizabeth and Fred Gill, Anna Kmoch, George, Phillip, Mary and Margaret Buettner, Catherine Yupatoff, James and Henry Buettner, John Pesotsky, Barbara Trachta, John E. Paul, The Kreuger Family, The Paul Family, The Hughes Family, The Prochaska Family, Kathleen McGuire, Vince and Mary Rita Eberling, Janet White, Harry and Hazel McNeal, John Watkins, The Evans and Gallagher Families, The Huerman and Dukehart Families, Robert and Michael Kane, Arthur and Emily Valenzano, Thomas A. Zertler, Philip McCarty, and Msgr. Charles (Buck) Muth.

Immediately following the 9:30 a.m. Mass and Rosary in the church. All are invited to participate.

At 3:00 p.m. in the church before the Blessed Sacrament and ending with Benediction. All are welcome to attend.

This year’s budget is based on a weekly offering of $30,700.00. Our current weekly average is $28,141.29. Thank you.

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.

SPECIAL COLLECTION NEXT WEEKEND: (Jan. 14-15), there will be a second collection for the Special Care for Diocesan Priests. Thank you for your continued support and generosity.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR STEWARDSHIP: With God’s grace and through the generosity of priests, staff and parishioners working together, our church and school have continued to grow in service for 150 historic years! Through your generosity and your gifts of time, talent and financial support, we will continue our historic witness to faith! Thank you for all your many past gifts to your church – please remember St. John Catholic Church & School among your charitable year-end giving plans.

School Calendar

Jan. 9 National Geography Bee – Mrs. Chilcoat’s Room

Jan. 9 Prospective Kindergarten Meeting in Cafeteria – 7 p.m.

Jan.13 Family Fun Night Winter Carnival

Jan.16 SCHOOL CLOSED – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Jan.18 Academic Team Meeting, Room 8B

Jan.19 6^th Grade Field Trip – Walters Art Gallery 9 a.m.-2 p.m

Jan.19 School Board Meeting at 7:30 p.m.

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 is # 122169.

SERVICE PROJECTS: Anyone who needs to sign up for a Confirmation Service Project should call the Religious Ed. Office and speak to a member of our staff. We will do our best to match you with the project you want.

PARENTS of 2^nd GRADERS: You should have received a letter inviting you to the first Parent Eucharist Meeting. If you have not received an invitation, please contact the office.

CONFIRMATION PARENTS: If you have not paid the additional $40.00 that was due prior to classes, this amount is overdue. Your student will not be confirmed until this is settled.

Sun., Jan. 8 - Life Teen Event. If you want a newsletter, please email Marty @ Mlink@sjwest.org

Mon., Jan. 23 - Any high school youth who would like to travel with Life Teen to the Youth Rally/March for Life on Mon., Jan 23, should sign up with Marty Link in the Religious Ed. Office.

Steubenville 2006: Unchanging - This year Life Teen and all the teens in the parish are invited back to Franciscan University of Steubenville for the annual summer youth conference. Exact dates will not be determined until we have made a full deposit in early January. If you wish to attend you must complete a registration form (located at the back of the church) and make a $60 deposit to reserve a spot. Call Marty in Religious Ed. for more details.

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.

We meet every 2^ndSunday and 4^th Friday from 7:30 – 9:00 p.m. in the Cafeteria. This ministry is open to all 7^th & 8^th graders.

Packets for registration will go out this week. Deadline for registration is Jan. 20^th. Cost of $16 includes the unlimited package of 10 tokens per person. Contact Kate for more information.

The EDGE is still looking for Core members to facilitate the coming semesters of The EDGE. Contact Kate if you can help to serve the young people of our parish in this ministry.

We meet in the Cafeteria from 7-8:30 p.m. every 1^st and 3^rd Friday. Bring your friends and join the fun! Contact Kate for details.

CHILDREN’S LITURGY OF THE WORD is seeking volunteers. Adults and older teens are welcome to join this valuable ministry for the children of St. John parish. If you can help one Sunday a month or would like more details, call Nancy Merrill at 410-876-2173.

Sodality meets for the 9:15 a.m. Mass, (2^nd Sunday of each month), followed by a meeting in the Parish Center. All ladies of the parish are invited. For information, call Mary Jo Judge at 410-857-5655.

Join the Knights of Columbus in The Portico for a great breakfast from 8:00 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. for pancakes, French toast, eggs and more. Adults - $5, Children - $3. The Knights appreciate your support. All proceeds are used to benefit St. John Parish.

Come be a part of a new beginning of The Ladies Auxiliary of the Knights of Columbus. Next meeting is at 7:30 p.m. at Fred and Lynne Dvorak’s house. For details call Lynn at 410-876-1292 or Teri Stachowiak at 410-635-2583.

ST. JOHN ROSES OFFICERS INSTALLATION - LADIES AUXILIARY – KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS…Thurs., Jan. 19

Installation of Officers to be held at 7:30pm in the St. Therese room of the Parish Center. Call Teri Stachowiak at 410-635-2583 to RSVP and for more information.

The next Mass for Renewal of Vows, is Saturday, Jan., 22^nd at 5:00 p.m. Couples are invited to renew their marriage vows on the 4^th Saturday of each month. Please sign up in the Sunday Sacristy or call the parish office.

Sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, at The Portico from 12 noon until ?? Great food, large Cinema type screen, table games, refreshments and unparalled fraternity. $20 per person. Tickets are limited. Call Rich Nestor at 410-751-5258, Lou Stachowiak at 410-635-2583 or Tom Dorwart at 410-871-9208.

The March for Life will take place in Washington, DC. Please plan on attending this national event that coincides with the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion. Our parish will sponsor two buses. Buses will depart from St. John’s at 9 a.m. Please call Sarah Torbeck @ 410-848-90146 to reserve your space.

Ladies: Follow the call of our Holy Father, Pope Benedict and prepare for the Savior by joining a 6 week Lenten Scripture Study. This is sponsored through Filiae Mariae, a free online service provided by the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology and developed by Dr. Scott Hahn. Weekly sessions will be held at St. John beginning the week of January 23. Morning or evening sessions available. To register call Sarah Ritchey at 410-857-0830 or register after Mass the weekend of January 15^th.

Better Late than Not at All!! The rescheduled Wisdom Club Christmas Party will be held for all those members who paid in advance at Martin’s in Westminster at 11 a.m. Lunch will begin at 11:30 a.m. Don’t forget your gift for the gift exchange ($10 max). For information or questions, contact Eleanor at 410-875-3336.

All Liturgical Ministers, Health Care Ministers, Altar Servers, 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 Hilgartner 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.

The next scheduled Welcoming Session will be on Sunday, Jan. 29 at 10:30 a.m. in The Portico. Anyone interested in registering with the parish should attend this session.

Save the date! 4^th annual event at Westminister High School. Don’t miss this free, fun filled evening! More details later.

THANK YOU . . .Because of the extraordinary generosity of St. John’s parishioners, the Christmas Sharing & Caring Program was able to help 157 families - 506 individuals - (255 of them children), by supplying food certificates and new gifts of clothing and toys for the Christmas Holiday! What a magnificent impact all of you have on the lives of people in need in Carroll County. Thanks and God Bless you for the support you give to our organization throughout the year!

Please continue to help minister to the poor in Carroll County by remembering that next Saturday and Sunday, the 3^rd weekend of the month is Food Sunday. Please bring your donation of non-perishable food to church and place it in the white buckets by the doors. We especially need donations of canned meats, stews, spaghetti sauce, canned pasta meals, jelly, powdered milk, canned fruit and bottled juices. We also need paper goods, such as toilet tissue, baby diapers, paper towels, etc. Thank you for your continued support and generosity.

THE GABRIEL PROJECT offers pregnancy assistance in difficult pregnancy situations. Our 24 hr. Hotline connects callers with a full range of confidential services: crisis counseling; emotional support; emergency needs; medical, legal and adoption information; shelter; help to continue education (college transfers, high school support services, job training); transportation; practical needs; baby and women’s items; post abortion counseling/healing. For information, contact The Gabriel Project at 800-533-0093 or The Pregnancy Center at 800-521-5530.

A Mass honoring Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, the First North American–born Canonized Saint, will be held at 1:30 p.m. in the Basilica at the National Shrine in Emmitsburg, MD on Epiphany Sunday. Light refreshment will be served after Mass. Call 301-447-6606 for further details.

If your relationship has grown cold and distant, if you are separated or thinking about separation or divorce consider our program. Retrouvaille is a Catholic program designed to help hurting couples mend and heal their brokenness. Our next weekend program is February 10-12. All calls and inquires are confidential. For more information call 410-647-0350 or 301-468-6764 or visit the website at: www.retrouvaille.org.

This year’s event will be held at Holy Trinity Spiritual Center, 8400 Park Heights Avenue, Baltimore, MD and will be conducted by Fr. Timothy Kulbicki, OFM.Conv., Spiritual Director, Vice Rector and Director of Continuing Formation at St. Mary’s Seminary. This retreat is a great opportunity for spiritual reflection and renewal. Retreat includes lodging for 2 nights and all meals. Cost is $278 per couple. Grants are available to attend this retreat. For more information call 410-335-2897. Registration deposits of

This is the first of six retreats for Married Couples. Fr. Akers, S.J. will be the Retreat Master. Other weekend retreats are: March 3, March 10, March 24, April 7 and May 5. For more information call Elaine at 410-252-5355.

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.

VOCATION AWARENESS: For 800 years followers of Saint Francis of Assisi have been rebuilding the Church. The Capuchin Franciscans are priests and brothers who serve Christ in the spirit of Saint Francis. Men between the ages of 16-40 are invited to visit a Capuchin friary. Visits to Capuchin friaries in Pennsylvania, Washington, DC and Ohio are held regularly throughout the year. For information call 1-888-263-6227 or visit www.capuchin.com.

BULLETIN DEADLINE: The deadline for submitting notices is 12:00 noon on each Monday for the weekend prior to distribution. Please send articles via email to bulletin@sjwest.org or you may fax articles to 410-857-1519.

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.

TO HAVE SOMEONE WHO IS ILL REMEMBERED during the Prayer of the Faithful at Masses, please call the parish office.

MEMORIAL BRICKS: Memorial bricks on sale until Jan. 15. The cost of the bricks is $75 for a 4x8 and $150 for an 8x8. Forms available at the Parish Center or call Kathy Duex at 410-848-4469.

THE ROSARY PRAYED at a FUNERAL HOME for a deceased loved one is a service offered to parishioners of St. John by the Ladies Sodality. Contact the parish office for this request.

Monday, January 9

Thursday, January 12

Friday, January 13

From the Pastor