Parish Bulletin

Now that Thanksgiving is over, the traditional Christmas shopping season has begun. This year, as we have done for the past 52 years, the parish is holding its Christmas Bazaar. Why not do some of your Christmas shopping there for that gift which is just a little more unique than most. Please carve out some time to attend the Christmas Bazaar this coming Saturday, December 2, 2006 from 8:30 – 4 p.m. in the school.

The parish is very grateful to Jimmy Diggs for chairing this monumental task and for all those who are working to make this event successful. The Christmas Bazaar is a major fundraiser for the parish. Any assistance you can give to it is most appreciated. Please see more information about the bazaar on the front cover of the bulletin.

PERPETUAL ADORATION UPDATE! The following hours have only one scheduled adorer. We would like to have at least two for each hour:

Masses are 7:00 & 9:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Confessions 8:45 - 9:15 a.m. and 6:15 – 6:45 p.m.

Following the 8:00 a.m. Mass and Rosary, please pick up a folder with the prayers and come to the front pews. Everyone interested in the devotion is welcome to join in prayer.

CHRISTMAS SPIRITUAL BOUQUETS are available at the Parish Center or in the back of the church.

MASS INTENTIONS are of such high volume that it occasionally becomes necessary to send them to missions who can respond to them in a timely fashion. The following intentions have recently been sent: Mary Anne Rosinsky, Joseph P. Haselberger, Jr., Nancy Loftus, Catherine Schumann, Barbara Metzger, Andrew DeBlase, Catherine Hindman, Elanor Zuckowski, Emma Hardesty, Fred Schwartz, Olive May Young, Diane Maletsky, Ruth Dotson, Ed Ashwell, Kathy Scott, Patty Seaver, John Nolan, Anna Sorka, Catherine Goeller, Doris John, David Costello (2), William Murphy, Sr. (2), Steve Lewis (2), Lawrence Ewing (2), Dr. James Divirgilio, Gordon Mueller and Special Intentions.

THE WEEKLY OFFERING: Weekend of Nov. 19, 2006 will be reported in next bulletin due to our printing deadline.

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.

Your gift of time, talent and financial support greatly enhance St. John’s ability to provide effective ministry here. If you did not receive our Parish Annual Report and would like a copy, please contact the parish office at 410-876-2248 to request one.

School Calendar

Nov. 27 – PTF General Meeting – 7:30 p.m. – Portico

Nov. 29 – Academic Team Mtg. – 8B – 3:15 – 4 pm

Nov. 30 – Progress Reports distributed

Dec. 1 - School Closed

INNISBROOK ON-GOING FUNDRAISER: Check out the website for gift giving ideas. The school receives 50% of all sales.

The school is participating in the grocery bonus programs for Giant, Martin’s and Safeway. Forms for this program are located at the entrances of the church. Please take a flyer for the appropriate store and fill out the information requested. You can place the forms in the collection basket or drop them off at school during the week. Call Darlene at 410-876-7031 or 410-848-1508.

GROCERY CERTIFICATES PROGRAMS: 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% on all sales. Cards are for sale in the school office as well as the Portico Book + Gifts Store.

CONGRATULATIONS to those who were received into the Church this weekend at the 11:15 Mass. Our prayers are with you as you continue to grow in your faith.

WHY CATHOLIC…Mon., Dec. 4

There will be a facilitator meeting for Why Catholic at 7:00 p.m. in the St. Therese Room of the Parish Center. Even if you haven’t attended one of the training sessions, but still want to help as a facilitator, please attend the meeting. For info, call Paul Gallagher.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION classes resume on Tues., Nov. 28th. However, there will be NO classes on Thursday, Nov. 30^th due to setup for the Christmas Bazaar.

CONFIRMATION PARENTS: If you were unable to attend the parent/candidate meetings on Nov. 14 & 16, there will be one final

meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 28 at 7:00 p.m. in the cafeteria. If your child is registered for confirmation classes and you did not attend the prior meetings, you MUST attend this meeting before classes begin.

YANKEE CANDLES: Thank you to everyone who helped with our Yankee Candle Fundraiser. We were able to raise over $4,000. All those who placed orders will be notified as to the exact delivery date, which will be sometime after Thanksgiving.

— LIFE TEEN (Grades 9 - 12) —

Sun., Nov. 26: “Hot Spots” Prayer is tough isn’t it? Don’t you wish you could understand it better, learn more ways of praying or simply how to make praying easier? Join Life Teen this evening as we tackle the subject of prayer and give you the tools you need to make your prayer life extraordinary!

Sun., Dec. 3: “Knot my Family” Have you ever fought with your parents? Wish your folks just understood you a little better? Maybe

wish they saw things from your perspective? The holidays bring more stress to a family than usual. Join us this evening to talk about ways to try and help relieve this family stress and truly let Christmas be a time of peace for both you and your family!

Life Teen is trying to fill our 2^nd bus!! We leave St. John at 6:00 a.m. and arrive in NYC around 10:00 a.m. & head back at 6 p.m. The day is yours to do what you want. The cost is $55.00 per person. Call Paul at 410-848-8443 to register.

Time for our annual winter retreat. Cost is $80 if you register on or before Dec. 3—after that date the cost is $95 – so register now!

FREE PODCAST: If you want to get more out of the Sunday readings, check out www.lifeteen.com and click “podcasts.”

ITALY TRIP: There are still a few openings for our trip next summer, (June 26-July 5^th). You don’t have to be in Life Teen to join us as we travel throughout Italy. Fundraising is ongoing, so there are many opportunities for teens to offset the cost. Call Paul Gallagher for more information.

— THE EDGE (grades 7 & 8) —

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 6^th , 7^th & 8^th graders.

Sun., Dec. 10 - Christmas Party at Thunderhead! Deadline to register is December 1^st. Cost is $10 and you must fill out a registration form. No late registrations can be accepted. Please make sure you get your registrations in ASAP.

Fri., Dec. 22 – LIVE NATIVITY! This is such an awesome way to celebrate Christmas. No rehearsals, no lines to memorize. We need volunteers to set up and serve refreshments, to play parts in the Nativity, and clean up at the end. Also, if you have tame animals that you can bring to help make this scene more realistic please call Kate ASAP. We can’t do this without volunteers!

— YOUTH ALIVE (Grades 5 - 6) —

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.

Fri., Dec. 1- Sorry about the confusion guys!! We will NOT have Youth Alive on this evening due to the Christmas Bazaar! Go with your families to support this parish event!

Fri., Dec. 15 – Christmas Party. Please bring all of your friends to celebrate this very special time of year. Refreshment donations are welcome. Call Kate for more information.

The following items are needed: Kleenex (boxes & pocket size), dish detergent (small) dish cloths, dish towels, pot holders, scotch tape, post-it-notes, hand cream, wet wipes, shampoo, socks, Vaseline, disinfectant hand soap, Chap stick, pens and paper towels. Please drop off donations at the Parish Center.

Every Monday from now until Christmas we will be wrapping gifts from 9-12. Please help us if you can, if only for an hour.

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.

It that time of year again! Boy Scout Troop 420 will be selling locally grown, freshly cut trees and will be located behind the school. Hours are Monday - Friday 5-9 p.m. and weekends 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. Get your tree early and support the scouts!

Join Santa and the Knights of Columbus in the St John's Portico for a great breakfast on Sunday December 3, 2006 from 8:00 am until 11:30 am. Visit with Santa and then have pancakes, French toast, eggs and more. Adults - $5. Children - $3. The Knights of Columbus and Santa appreciate your support. Knights of Columbus Christmas cards will also be available at the breakfast.

Whether you are a Brownie, Cub, Junior, Boy Scout or Venturer, please help us represent St. John's Scouting Spirit at the 11:15 a.m. Mass. Bishop Malooly will be the Celebrant. Please come in uniform and gather at the back of church at 11:00 a.m. In order to reserve enough seating, call Carey Scott at 410-239-6179."It's Never too Late to Join Scouts."

Our next Blood Drive will be from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m. We could use some phone callers. If you can help or to make an appointment call Ted Cook at 410-876-2107. DONATE and give the gift of life.

ANNUAL POINSETTIA SALE…Dec. 9 -10 and 17-18

Don’t forget to stop by after Mass to buy your poinsettias for the holidays. On Dec. 10-11, poinsettias will be sold in the cafeteria after all Masses. On Dec. 17-18 sales will be in The Portico. All proceeds will benefit the Church Building Fund.

WISDOM CLUB CHRISTMAS PARTY…Thurs., Dec. 14

Come celebrate our first Christmas Party in The Portico. We will attend Mass at 11:00 a.m. in the Church and then proceed to the Portico, which will be decked out in its Christmas finery. The Committee has prepared a wonderful program. Lunch by Harry's Caterers, exchange of gifts, entertainment by a choir from Carroll Community College and installation of officers. Please don't miss this opportunity to start the holidays in style. Price $23.00 for members and $25.00 for non-members. Each person should bring a gift to exchange (maximum $10.00). Reservations and money MUST be in by November 30th. For information call Eleanor 410- 875-3336 or Bonnie 410- 705-0786.

HANDICAPPED PARKING … There will be reserved parking for the handicapped in the spaces in front of the entrance to the school cafeteria. The entrance will be marked with signs and we ask that the volunteers and all others not use these spaces.

50/50 RAFFLE – MINIMUM $2,000: Please return sold or unused raffle tickets to the school, parish center or portico. Drawing Dec. 2^nd at 4 p.m. For information or additional tickets contact Jim Diggs at 410-346-6576 or email diggsit@aol.com

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED on Thursday night (11/30) at 5:30 to help move boxes from basement to the school and on Saturday (12/2) at 4:00 p.m. to help clean up after the Bazaar.

STUFFED ANIMALS: Needed: new or clean used stuffed animals, dolls, doll clothes & other stuffed toys. Call Cathy Hoos at 410-876-2442 if you have questions.

STITCHIN’ NOOK BOOTH NEEDS VOLUNTEERS: Donate your time and talent by sewing for the stitching nook, donate craft items or volunteer to work the day of the bazaar. Call Jeanne Gill at 410-596-6280.

RELIGIOUS ARTICLES: Check your attics, basements, closets, etc. for used and new religious articles/rosaries, pictures, bibles, statues, medals, prayer cards, etc. for our 2007 Christmas Bazaar. For information call Nina at 410-635.6422.

HOMEMADE CANDY & FUDGE: Donations of chocolate chips, sugar, Kraft marshmallow crème, peanut butter and nuts needed. Grocery store gift cards are accepted. Call Mindy Wade 410-875-0074.

BAKE TABLE: We need cakes, lots of cookies, pies, bread, brownies, cupcakes, loaf cakes & homemade jams & Jellies. Call Mary Joe Judge, 410-857-5655 or Mary Mussari, 410-848-3354.

NORTH POLE CANDY needs Christmas candy & other wrapped candy. Collections boxes are in the school basement & outside Religious Ed offices. Call Cathy or Ray Arnold 410-876-1978 or Marilyn Young at 410-781-4187.

CHRISTMAS ROOM: New This Year!!! If you have Christmas ornaments/decorations you no longer use and they are in good condition, mark them for the “Christmas Room”and drop them off for Nora Drury. Call Nora at 410-875-9740 if you have questions.

The next meeting of the St. Vincent de Paul Society will take place on Wednesday, December 6th at 7:00 p.m. in the Portico.

ADOPT-A-FAMILY PROGRAM: The Tree of Caring & Sharing will be in the narthex of the church until all tags are taken. The tags on the tree represent requests for gifts of clothing, toys and food for needy adults and children in our area. Please take as many tags as you are able to manage.

A retreat will be held at the Seton Retreat & Conference Center in Emmitsburg, MD from 8:30 a.m-4 p.m. entitled “Spending Advent with Mary…Mary: Woman of the Eucharist.” This retreat is open to Laity or Religious, men and women. Dr.Thelma Steiger, Ph.D., a Theologian, Educator, Spiritual Director, Iconographer who is currently retired to a hermitage, directs the retreat! The cost is $30/person. For more information, call 301- 447-7051 or email: setonretreat@doc.org

This is the second of two retreats to be held at the Seton Retreat & Conference Center in Emmitsburg, MD from 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. entitled “Spending Advent with Mary: The Gospel Made Flesh,” and is also directed by Dr. Thelma Steiger, PhD. The cost is $30/person. For more information, call 301-447-7051 or email: setonretreat@doc.org.

DEACON INFORMATION SESSIONS: The Division of Clergy Personnel is hosting information sessions outlining the admission requirements, screening process and formation program for the Permanent Deacon Program. RSVP to Cindy Orr at 410-547-5550:

Tues., Nov. 28 – 7-9 p.m. at St. Joseph Parish (Hagerstown), Virginia Ave. at Halfway Blvd., Hagerstown, MD.

The Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur are sponsoring an Advent Retreat Day at Holy Trinity Retreat Center, 8400 Park Heights Ave, Baltimore from 10 A.M. until 2 P.M. Presenter: Sr. Edna Maier, SND. Cost: $40, includes lunch. Reservations and/or further information: 410-581-1012. Reservations are requested on or before December 1. All are welcome.

MUSIC FOR THE CHRISTMAS SEASON…Sun., Dec. 10

Music for the Christmas Season will be held at 3 p.m. in Marikle Chapel of the Annunciation, College of Notre Dame of Maryland, 4701 North Charles Street in Baltimore. The concert choir will perform Christmas music. Free admission. For more information, please call 410-532-5386 or visit www.ndm.edu.

Feb. 15-18 – Women’s Cursillo weekend

Sat. Feb. 24 – Session 1 of Pre-Cana

Fri. March 2-3 – Session 1 of Pre-Cana

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

HOW TO REGISTER at this PARISH: All new parishioners who wish to register at the parish are invited to receive a welcoming packet from either the parish office, ushers, school, Religious Education, or Baptism Preparation Class. The welcoming packet will invite you to a “Welcoming and Registration Sunday” which will be held the last Sunday of the month. Interested parishioners will meet some of our parish priests and parishioners, hear about various programs, and receive a more personal welcome into this faith-filled parish.

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.

PORTICO BOOKS + GIFTS: Stretch your dollar this Christmas and support our Parish. Our store is Sales TAX-FREE. Please stop by and check out our St. John Christmas Cards, beautiful pictures of our Altar and Nativity.