Most Precious Blood Catholic Church, St. Louis, MO

MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD
December 14, 1997 BULLETIN

Eucharistic Celebrations

Today
8:00 Lorine Vonder Haar
9:30 Teresa Loera Albertson
11:00 Parish Family
Monday
8:00 George Barlow
Tuesday
6:30 JoAnn Brotherton
8:00 Bernard Wamser
Wednesday
8:00 Bridget O'Donnell
Thursday
6:30 Ralph & Ruth Dale
8:00 Ruth Aulbach
Friday
6:30 Anna Mae Hockel
8:00 Nellie Moore
Saturday
8:00 Leon Callanan
5 pm Walter Walkenbach
Sunday
8:00 Parish Family
9:30 George Robben
11:00 Kenneth Moser

Lectors and Commentators

December 20/21
Sat. 5 pm Pat Stamm
Sun. 8:00 Mel Hock
9:30 Sr. Fran Schumer
11:00 Sr. Clare Boehmer

Eucharistic Ministers

December 20/21
Sat. 5 pm Alice Hammerschmidt, Bernadine Rumpsa, Frank Aufmuth, Lois Schoemehl
Sun. 8:00 Pat O'Donnell, Mary Anne Hogrebe, Mary Boehm, Mel & Louise Hock
9:30 Rita Augsburger, Marge Terhaar, Ray Henzler, Paul Farwig, Sally Landro
11:00 Rose & Sam Carosello, Kathy Hardin, Alta & Fred Bonk

Servers' Schedule

December 16-21
Tues. 8 am Scott Smith & Sean Smith
Thurs. 8 am Brad Gaskell & Joe Bonk
Fri. 8 am Matt Guillot & Josh Hamilton
Sat. 5 pm Chris Rumpsa & Ruben Coughlan
Sun. 8 am Karen Strackeljohn & E. Boughman
9:30 Katie Bromeier & Ryan Risk
11:00 Meredith McGinnity & Nicki Ilg

Your Gifts to God and Parish

Envelopes $11,401.00
Loose 188.00
Feast of Immaculate Conception 748.00
School Tuition 8,140.72

Thank you for your generosity!!

"Present your needs to God in every form of prayer and in petitions full of gratitude."

RETURNING GOD'S GIFTS

Due to the fact that our closing date for the Campaign will be December 22, we have decided to ask all the remaining parishioners to help us fill out the intention cards at mass. This will alleviate the problem of making personal calls before Christmas. I hope no one will be offended by the change in procedure and that the remaining families, who have not pledged, will be as generous as possible.
Today at all the masses we will ask everyone to fill out an intention card. Please remember that pledges are made for a three year period and that you can be billed on whatever pattern you want (e.g. monthly, quarterly, annually). This campaign is a real investment in the future of the Church here in St. Louis. We thank the very generous spirit that has already been shown by so many families. It is a real communal effort to sacrifice for the future generations of Catholics. Thank you!
Workers are reminded that the last turn-in date is December 17 at 7:30 pm in the school cafeteria. We will have a party that night to celebrate reaching our goal. We hope all of the workers and captains will join us for the closing celebration.

ADVENT FAMILY SUGGESTIONS

Here are a few more thoughts of things to do for Advent with your families. Preparing for Christmas is meant to be a spiritual experience, too.
1. Reflect on Traditional Christmas symbols around your house: Christmas lights make us think of Jesus - the light of the world, 2) decorative balls represent the world hanging on the arms of Christ, 3) window lights recall the journey of Joseph & Mary and all waiting families.
2. Read a Christmas card out loud at a meal: say a prayer for person who sent it.
3. Give ornaments as gifts: families can treasure these for years to come. Home-made ones make it even more special.

THE GIVING TREE

Gifts will be taken to the needy family today after the 11:00 am mass. Please be sure that your gifts are dropped off this weekend (December 13/14) we need to give time to the families to pick up the items - please note this early deadline.

PSR PENANCE SERVICE

Grades 3-8 will have penance service and individual confessions on Monday, December 15, during their regular class time. As students prepare for Christmas, it is important that adults do to.

ADDITIONAL CONFESSION TIMES

We will have additional times for confessions on Saturday, December 20 from 3:45 to 4:45 pm, on Monday & Tuesday evening, December 22 & 23 from 7 to 8 pm or until all are heard and on Tuesday, December 23 from 2:30 to 3:30 pm or until all are heard.

DECORATING CHURCH

We are in need of volunteers to help decorate Church on Sunday afternoon, Dec. 21, at 1:30 pm. It usually takes 3 hours. Families are welcome to come. We will have snacks to help ward off any hunger attacks.

Christmas Schedule

The annual Christmas program will be put on by the Parish School students on Thursday, Dec. 18 at 9:00 am and again at 7:00 pm. Everyone is invited.

Masses on Christmas Eve will be at 5:00 pm and then at midnight. The Midnight mass will be proceeded by a choir recital beginning at 11:40 pm. Christmas day the masses will be at 8:00 & 10:00 am.

ADULT FAITH DEVELOPMENT TALK

Sunday, December 21 after the 9:30 am mass Fr. Ryan will have the next Sunday Morning Conversation Program. The topic will be "The Infancy Narratives". If you want to get more out of reading the story of Jesus' birth or to understand why we have cribs set up the way we do, please join us for breakfast, a presentation and conversation in the school cafeteria.

LITURGY COMMITTEE

Because of the fact that the Committee will be meeting to help decorate the Church on December 21, we will not have our regular monthly meeting in December. Please note this correction to the published monthly calendar.

CUB SCOUT WREATH SALE

The Scouts are selling a variety of fresh cut wreaths. Please keep them in mind in decorating this holiday season. Contact Mark Patterson at 845-7445 or any Cub Scout.

LUCKY SIX REPORT

Lucky Six Club Raffle tickets are $10.00 each. They are good for the whole year, March, '98 through Feb. '99. Remember - 72 chances to win a total of $12,000 in prize money. Parishioners - Sell "8" in "'98"! Let's all make this fund raiser a financial success. Tickets will be mailed the first part of January. If you would like to give these tickets as Christmas gifts, they may be purchased at the rectory from Marion between 8:30 and 4:30 daily.

CHRISTMAS CARDS - COOK BOOK SALE

St. Ann's Ladies Guild has reduced their Christmas cards and Cook Books!! You can now purchase the Christmas Cards for $3.00 instead of $7.00. The Cook books have been reduced to $5.00 from the original price of $7.00. What a bargain!! Call Pat Wortmann at 892-0070 or come to the rectory between office hours.

SOCIAL JUSTICE THOUGHTS

Every possible effort should be made to ensure that migration may bring benefit to the emigrant's personal family and social life, both for the country to which he goes and the country which he leaves. In this area much depends on just legislation, in particular with regard to the rights of workers.

From the Bulletin Editor

Liturgical Publication, the company that prints our bulletin, will be closed Dec. 24 & Dec. 31. All articles for the weeks of Christmas and New Years must be in no later that 9 am, Monday, Dec. 22 & Dec. 29.

In Appreciation

I want to thank all of the parishioners, parish organizations, and the schools for the tremendous out pouring of support at the death of my Mother. My family was overwhelmed by all the mass cards, spiritual enrollments and donations to the school fund in memory of my Mother. Over $1,000 was donated to the school in her honor. I am sure she was pleased. We also thank you for praying with us at the funeral liturgy as we said good-bye and commended her to God's loving care. The luncheon which followed was a real out-pouring of love. I cannot express how deeply I was touched by your care and concern. You have given me a memory for the rest of my life. Gratefully,
Fr. Pat Ryan

Community News

RETREAT ON CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER

- for lay people, religious on January 2-3, at King's House in Belleville. Call 1-800-397-0584.

SERENITY RETREAT

- January 16-18 at the Cenacle. Call 381-7070.

CHRISTMAS CONCERT

- sponsored by the Young Catholic Musicians at Seven Holy Founders Church in Affton on December 28 & 29, from 8:30 to 10 pm. Featured guest narrators are: Mayor Clarence Harmon (Sun) and Wendy Wiese (Mon). To order tickets ($6), call 231-7464.

SUNDAY EVENING MASS FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

-
December 21st at 7 pm at Our Lady of Providence, 8866 Pardee Rd. Rec night follows in the gym until 9 pm. For info call Fr. Doherty, 843-3570.

MEETINGS OF FAMILIES OF ALCOHOL, DRUG & GAMBLING ADDICTS

- Offered by the National Council on Alcoholism & Drug Abuse held on Tuesdays, 6:30 to 7:30 at Unity-Hyland Behavioral Health, Building A, 10020 Kennerly Rd. Call 525-4400.

MEETINGS FOR THOSE ADDICTED TO ALCOHOL, DRUGS & GAMBLING

- Held on Thursday evenings, 6:30 to 7:30 at Unity-Hyland Behavioral Health-Building A. All meetings are free and open to the public. Call 525-4400.

SH-BOOM DANCE

- at Vianney High School, Saturday, January 17, 8-12 midnight. $17.50 per person, includes beer, soda, snacks. Must be 21. Call Rita at 843-6831 for information.

CHRISTMAS FLOWER MEMORIALS

The flowers and decorations here at MPB are usually paid for as a memorial for loved ones living or deceased. If you would like to list their names in the program, please enclose your donation and drop this form in the collection basket or return to the rectory before December 21.

Donor: ____________________________________

In Memory of:____________________________________

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MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD December 14, 1997 BULLETIN