The First Sunday of Advent
November 30, 2014
1st Sunday of Advent
God our Father,
as Advent begins,
we look forward
to celebrating
the coming of your Son
as a human child,
and we look forward
also to his Second Coming.
This Advent, we ask you
to illuminate our hearts
and ground us in your goodness.
May we be like Christ
to each other and
to our communities.
You who sent your Son
into a human family,
grace ours.
When we become busy
or frustrated,
give us peace.
We ask this through the same
Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
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Page 2
Neglecting the Present
Advent is a time to recognize that we are “sinful; all of us have
become like unclean men, all our good deeds are like polluted
rags.” Our personal and social sins are many: hatred, violence,
oppression, indifference, selfishness, etc.
Advent is also a time of “longing for Christ our Savior,” a time in
which we “wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus.” We look
forward to the celebration of Christmas, the commemoration of
Jesus’ birth, but we also look forward to the “promise and hope”
of heaven, which we want God to “teach us to love.”
and Pray for the
Men and Women
serving in the Military
The longing for Christ causes us to want things to change for the
better. We want God to find us “blameless on the day of Our
Lord Jesus Christ.” With Isaiah’s words in mind: “Would that you
might meet us doing right, we ask God to increase our strength
of will for doing good.”
Andrew Richter
Louis Koconis
Kory McManus
Nicholas Dieter
George Dombeck III
Caitlin Shaw
Garrett Ferrara
David Woods
Timothy Westberry
Michael Klem
Joe Harris
Tom Jardas
Blake Griebenow
Joseph Prehm
Todd Sabala
Jeffrey Greenwald
Mark Hernandez
Advent, then, is an expression of our faith in the possibility of a
better world. We don’t have to be at each other’s throats. We can
‘do right’ in the areas of race relations, family obligations, and
personal responsibilities. We can ‘do good’ to the poor, the
elderly, the homeless, and to all our brothers and sisters at home
and abroad. We can become blameless, beacons of social justice,
examples of faith and love, peacemakers.
The message of Advent is to “be constantly on the watch!” We
base this constant watch not on fear but on hope in God’s
“promise of eternal life.” The promise of Christmas is a joyful
anticipation that “The Lord will shower his gifts, and our land will
yield its fruit.”
All too often Christians are faulted with a certain
indifference toward earthly projects, as if one could not
fully count on us for radical social reform. The charge
may be unfair, but the danger is real enough. Our hope in
another life must not be allowed to seduce believers into
neglecting our task in the present one.
U.S. Bishops, Pastoral Letter on Marxist Communism (1980) 42
Gerald Darring
First Friday Adoration
Friday December 5, from
12noon - 1pm.
Please consider remembering
St. Columbkille in your will.
Help us to endow our ministry, services
and outreach into the future.
Please contact the Parish Office for more information.
Page 3
Advent Schedule
On the Calendar
Alcoholics Anonymous All 4 meetings are in the Ministry
Center Room C-D. Meetings are on Tuesdays at 6:30pm, (men &
women), Wednesdays at 7:00pm, (women’s meeting), Thursdays at
1:00pm, (men & women) & Thursday at 6:30pm, (discussion men & women). For information and details call Peggy at
481-3956.
Alanon for families and friends of alcoholics meets in the
Ministry Center Room 6 on Tuesdays at 6:30pm and Thursdays at
1:00pm. For details call Judy at 489-1654.
Knights of Columbus Council #11425 meets the second
Wednesday of each month at 7pm in the Ministry Center Room
1. For information call Ron at 437-4999.
Call to Silent Prayer
Tuesdays during Advent
Iona Hall 8:45am - 9:30am
Feast of theImmaculate
Conception Masses
December 8, 8:00am & 10:00am
Advent Reconciliation Services
December 15th: 3:00pm & 7:00pm
Taize Prayer
December 19th: 7:00pm
There will be no 5:30pm Mass
on Sunday, December 14, 2014
Advent Reconciliation
Services
December 15:
3:00pm & 7:00pm
Reconciliation is what God does.
Receiving it and celebrating it
is what we do.
It is God who forgives sins.
And God forgives us the very moment
that we come to the
experience that we need forgiveness
(which itself comes
through God's grace).
May our Lord grant us all the gift
of reconciliation,
and may we all receive it and celebrate
it well in the holy days ahead.
Scripture Study Group meets each Friday from 1:00pm to
2:00pm in the Ministry Center Room 6. The readings for the
upcoming weekend are studied in depth. For information please
call Mary at 437-1527.
Sewing Ministry will meet December 4 & 18 in the Ministry
Center Youth Room. All are welcome. For information call
Lillian at 433-2144.
Taize Prayer, a contemplative candlelit service, meets the third
Thursday of each month at 7:00pm in the church. All are
welcome!
Women’s Guild meets the second Monday of each month in the
Ministry Center Room 1 at 10:00am through April 2015. For
information call Lillian at 433-2144.
Anointing Service
Sunday, December 7th
following the 11:00am Mass
St. Columbkille Parish will celebrate the Sacrament of the Sick
in a special Anointing Service following the 11am Mass on
Sunday, December 7.
If you know of someone in need of healing (from serious physical,
emotional or spiritual illness) or a frail elderly person, please
encourage them to attend. Sacraments are community celebrations.
All are welcome!
Ages 3-6
Kids Corner
November 30, 2014 • Isaiah 63:15-19; 64:1-7
Parenting Pointer
Page 4
As Advent begins
you can help your
children enter
into the spirit of
waiting by pacing
your
Christmas
preparations.
Don't hurry
Christmas.
Remember you have the 12 Days of
Christmas to celebrate. Wait for the
birth.
By Susan Vogt
www.susanvogt.net
Blood Drive
December 13
Waiting
for
God
A Call to Silent Prayer
Each Tuesday morning during the weeks of Advent we
will offer a time for quiet prayer beginning at 8:45am to
9:30am. The gathering will take place in Iona Hall.
This opportunity is offered as a way to prepare our
spirit for the celebration of Christmas.
If you would like to recline or sit on the floor during
the prayer time, you are welcome to bring a pillow.
All are welcome.
Every 3 seconds
someone needs
blood. Our next
Blood Drive is
Saturday,
December 13th
from 8:00am to
12:00pm outside
Iona Hall.
Donors wanted!! You must be in good
health, at least 110 pounds and at least 16
years old. Get a goods night’s sleep and
drink 16 oz. of water and fluids before
donation. Wear clothing that can easily be
rolled up above the elbow.
Please call Chris at 489-3973 for more
information.
Second Collections
December 6 & 7
Next weekend there will be a Diocesan
Collection for Retirement for Religious
and a collection for our Building for
Ministry Campaign.
All loose cash will be applied towards
our parish debt.
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Hope
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Parish Family Christmas Party
Sunday, December 14th - 4:00 pm
Iona Hall
All Parish Families are welcome.
No charge to attend.
Christmas is the time for families, so this is the chance for our parish family to
get together, share good food, have fun with friends, listen to Christmas music
by the Big Arts Band and Lee Van Asten…and there may even be a visit from
Santa!
Menu: Turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, green
beans, cranberry sauce, rolls and Christmas cookies
for dessert.
We are asking for volunteers to bring a plate of
Christmas cookies. Just let us know when you
make your reservation.
Your reservation is needed as we are limited to
450 people. Please call the event phone line
(239)-634-2929 or email at
[email protected]. Reservations will be
taken from November 24 thru December 8 from
9am to 4pm.
All attendees are asked to bring tuna (canned or
packaged) for the Food Pantry.
Volunteers are needed to help with the party: Please call the event phone
line (239)-634-2929, or email at [email protected] if you can help.
Please remember there will be no 5:30 pm Mass on Sunday, December 14th.
Any questions, be sure to contact our EVENTS LINE AT (239-634-2929).
See you there!
Give the Gift
of Love
this Christmas
2014 Alternative
Gift Giving Project
Celebrate Christmas by making a difference in the world.
Communicate the love of Jesus in your gift giving this year.
You can spread the love and compassion of Christmas through our Parish Alternative
Gift Giving Project. This project connects your Christmas gift giving to those in our
area who are in need of food and assistance for themselves and their families. So
instead of buying that sweater that doesn’t fit or something for someone who has
more than they need, give your friends and loved ones the gift of providing for those
in need.
When you make your donation of $25 you will receive a gift card explaining that you
have made a donation to the St. Columbkille Food Pantry in the gift recipient’s
name. Call the Parish Office 489-3973 to purchase your gift.
We pray:
Jesus, generous font of all blessings, thank you for the virtue of charity. Grant me the strength
to model after You, refraining from any acts of judging others, to generously share with those
in need. Erase any weaknesses of my human nature, allowing my soul to shine as the morning
sun. By Your grace may my charity toward others truly reflect Your eternal example of perfect
love, creating in me that same love for all people.
Blessed be Your glorious name!
Amen
Page 10
Women’s Guild
Christmas Luncheon
Be of good cheer!
The Women's Guild
Christmas
Luncheon
will be held on
Thursday, Dec.
11 at noon at
Kelly Green’s
Golf and
Country Club
Clubhouse. Tickets are
$20.00
Please call Norma at 239-454-5656 to
save a ticket.
Lee County Homeless Coalition
Annual Candlelight Vigil
Women of the parish, friends and
neighbors are welcome. Remember to
bring non-perishable food items for
the parish food pantry.
This event brings attention to the tragedy of
homelessness and memorialized those who have died
this past year while living on the streets
or in the shelters of Lee County.
Thrift Shop News
If you’re looking forward to cooler
evenings, air
conditioned
restaurants
with friends,
or a trip up
north, we have
the right tops
and winter
worthy
sweaters and
jackets. All at
bargain prices.
Come check us
out!
Stop in soon. We are located next to
K-Mart at the Iona/McGregor
intersection. For information or pickups please call 489-4001.
Advent is a time to wait, listen and
ponder the awesome wonder of God
who sent his only son as a baby to save
us. Pause and spend some time this
season reflecting on God’s gift of love. December 21, 2012
6:00pm - 7:00pm
on the Old Courthouse Steps,
2120 Main Street, Fort Myers.
Please join in broadening awareness of the
homeless situation in our community
by attending the vigil.
For information please call (239)322-6600.
All are welcome!
If you have questions about
year-end giving or have not yet
received your mailing please
contact Curtis at the parish office:
(239) 489-3973
[email protected]
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Financial Giving at
St. Columbkille Parish
Did you know that giving to St. Columbkille can reduce your
income taxes? And that some gifts save more tax than others?
Please review the following before you donate to St. Columbkille.
There may be a more tax advantageous way for you to contribute. If you would like to arrange for a
complimentary meeting with a local financial advisor to discuss options, please let us know.
Checks / Cash
IRA Contributions
A majority of parishioners contribute weekly, monthly,
semi-annually or annually via check or cash. And we are
very thankful that you do! If you donate cash, please use
the envelope system so that the parish may issue you a tax
receipt at year-end.
If you only take IRA withdrawals because it’s required
by law, you may want to consider donating the amount
withdrawn, or a portion of it, to St. Columbkille this year.
Please contact us if you have questions or would like IRA
transfer instructions.
Online Giving
Stock
(Checking/Savings Account, Credit/Debit Card)
A growing number of people no longer write checks for
recurring bills and charitable donations. Many St. Columbkille
parishioners have scheduled automatic weekly, monthly,
quarterly or annual donations to the parish directly from
their bank account or credit/debit card. It’s easy to do, and
we can help set it up for you.
Real Estate / Property
Interested individuals can make a deferred gift of their
home/property to St. Columbkille Parish. This gift option
allows donors to stay in their homes for the rest of their lives
and receive significant income tax deductions that can be
used for up to 6 years. You may also contribute immediate
gifts of property or land and avoid capital gains tax, as well
as receive favorable tax deductions.
Each year, St. Columbkille receives stock gifts anywhere from
$500 to over $10,000, from parishioners aware that these
gifts typically save the most income taxes! Transferring
stock is usually done electronically and is easy to do. Please
contact us if you have questions or would like stock transfer
instructions.
Wills & Trusts
Those wishing to leave a legacy to St. Columbkille in their
will or trust are growing in number, and we are very grateful.
If you have questions about leaving the parish in your will
or trust, or would like more information, please let us know.
Financial Accounts or Life Insurance
Did you know you can transfer almost any financial
account– savings, checking, CD, brokerage or credit union
accounts–to St. Columbkille Parish without changing your
will? You can also gift any fully paid life insurance policy
directly to our parish and receive a tax deduction, or name
St. Columbkille as the death beneficiary, but keep the
lifetime ownership rights.
THANK
YOU!
We are very grateful for all gifts to St. Columbkille.
If you have questions, or would like more information,
please contact Curtis Neuschaefer at the parish oﬃce:
phone: (239) 489-3973 email: [email protected]
or just stop by!
Saint Columbkille Catholic Church • 12171 Iona Road, Fort Myers, Florida 33908 • Tax ID# 65-0466460
Page 12
Save the Date - Senior Prom
“Cinderella’s Ball”
January 30, 2015
Iona Hall
6:30-9:30pm
Tickets are $15
Live Music with Side By Side
Light Refreshments
Sponsored by the Women’s Guild and Youth Ministry
Tickets go on sale January 12th - January 28th.
See future bulletins for details.
Formal Attire dress is preferred.
Coffee
&
Donuts
“Joy to the World”
Nativity Sculpture
Wednesday, December 4th
after the 8am Mass.
Join us for for fine coffee, delicious
donuts and fellowship in Iona Hall,
Cafe Kells.
All are welcome!
Gift Shop News!
Our Gift Shop, located in the Parish
Library in the church narthex, has a
new shipment of coffees and teas,
and a new and exciting selection of
delicious candy just in time for the
holidays! Stop in soon. We are open
before and after all Masses and
anytime the church is open!
Just in time for Christmas gift giving, we have
available for purchase the sculpture “Joy to the World”
by Timothy Schmaltz. This beautiful depiction of the
Nativity can be purchased at our Religious Article Store
located in the Church at the back of the Library or at the
Parish Office. The cost is $40 (the retail cost is $59.99).
If you would prefer to have your statue shipped up north,
leave your name and phone number on the sheet in the
narthex or come to the Parish Office to place your order.
There is a $5 charge for shipping.
Outreach Ministry
Food Pantry
Items Needed
The Food Pantry needs
peanut butter & jelly,
canned corn and green
beans. We appreciate all
your donations, but please
no outdated or opened items as we are
unable to use them. Thank you!
Soldier Ministry
Our parishioners
and the Thrift
Store have been so
generous the last
10 years in
supporting our
troops.
Homeless Stand Down
Items Needed
We are collecting for the
Homeless Stand Down
to be held in January.
This annual event is to
help the many homeless
of Lee County.
Items needed are:
• individual snack packs
(chips, crackers, trail
mix, candy, etc.)
• baseball caps.
Please place items in the bin in the Narthex. We can also use
checks or gift cards so that we can purchase these items. These
can be brought to the office or placed in the collection basket.
Please put “Homeless Stand Down” on the envelope or memo
line of your check.
For the month of
November we are collecting white tube
socks. Please place items in the box in
the narthex.
For more information please call Miriam at 489-3973.
If you have a soldier who would like to
receive prayers and packages, please call
Pat at 481-8333.
Jesse Tree
Christmas Break
Day Camp
Would you like to
help a child spend
Christmas break at
Day Camp rather
than be left home
alone while the
parents work?
$50.00 will give a
child the week at
camp. The camp is filled with programs
which are educational as well as
enjoyable.
Donations can be placed in the
collection basket and should be made
out with “Christmas Day Camp” in the
memo line. Thank you.
Page 13
Thank you for your generosity.
The Jesse Tree is a leafless tree
decorated with symbols portraying
Jesus’ spiritual heritage. It is named
from Isaiah 11:1: “A shoot will spring
forth from the stump of Jesse, and a
branch out of his roots.” The Jesse
Tree was a vehicle to tell the story of
God in the Old Testament, and the
branch was a sign of newness – a way
to talk about the expected Messiah.
This Advent, we can be branches of
generosity for people in need.
Beginning the First Sunday of Advent, (the weekend of
November 29 - 30) look for the Jesse Tree in the narthex and join
the parish in a giving project to help our neighbors.
It’s easy to participate: take an ornament and ID tag from the Jesse
Tree and purchase the item written on the ornament. Then gift
wrap your item, attach the ID tag and bring your package to
church by December 14th. The ornament is for your tree, but
please be sure to return the gift with the ID tag attached. All gifts
must be identifiable in order to get them to the right person.
Thank you!
Saturday
8:00AM
3:00PM
5:00pm
Sunday,
7:00AM
9:00AM
11:00AM
5:30PM
Monday,
8:00AM
Tuesday,
8:00AM
Wednesday,
8:00AM
Thursday,
8:00AM
Friday,
8:00AM
Saturday
8:00AM
3:00PM
5:00pm
Sunday,
7:00AM
9:00AM
11:00AM
5:30PM
Mass Intentions
November 29
†Rudy Horvath, by Don & Pat Parsons
Thanksgiving, by Jaqueline Kelly
†Sue Doherty, by the St. Columbkille staff
November 30
†Stephen Klafehn, by his family
†Phyllis Petritus,by Kevin & Patty Smith
†Margaret Mielnicki, by her husband
†Matthew Pulizzotto, by his mom
December 1
†David Menze, by Leon Berant
December 2
†Robert Vogelbacker, by Lenny & Marie Wodarczyk
December 3
†Rose & Vincent Tesoriero, by Anna Marie Tesoriero
December 4
Communion Service
December 5
†Rudy Horvath, by Shirley Hazel
December 6
†Beatrice Jors, by Edward Jors
†Gene Benvenuto, by his wife Rose & children
†Diane Scholle, by Pat & Bill Mallon
December 7
Raymond Lantz, by his family
†Marion Record, by her daughter Ann
†Kevin Robert McCrohan, by Bobbi Adams & Karen
Blackwell
People of St. Columbkille
Sanctuary Candle in loving Memory of deceased members of Manzella/Dee Families
Administration
Pastor: Rev. Joseph Clifford
Assisting Priest: Rev. Pat Boyhan
Receptionists
Peggy O’Rourke
JoAnne Bertuch
[email protected]
Business Manager
Sergio Figueroa
[email protected]
Director of Health Care Ministry
Chris McBride
[email protected]
Coordinator of Outreach Ministry
Miriam Ortiz
[email protected]
Maintenance Coordinator
Javier Ortiz
Director of Music
Lee Van Asten
[email protected]
Coordinator of Family Faith
Anita Parmer
[email protected]
Pastoral Associate
Mary Homola
[email protected]
Development, Communications
Coordinator of Youth Ministry
& Capital Campaign
Manya Vartdal
Curtis Neuschaefer
[email protected]
[email protected]
For emergencies or more immediate contact with a staff member, please
call the office directly. We welcome all new parishioners and are thankful
God has sent you to us. Please fill out a registration card in the narthex
and return to the Parish Office or place it in the collection basket.
Mass Schedule
Weekend Masses:
Saturday: 8am, 3pm & 5pm
Sunday: 7am, 9am, 11am & 5:30pm
Weekday Masses: Monday, Tuesday,
Wednesday & Friday: 8:00am
Communion Service: Thursday 8:00am
Reconciliation: Saturday 9:00am
Rosary: Monday - Saturday 7:15am
Prayer List
The Sick: Diane Accongio, Sherry Anderson, Riley Atkinson,
Mary Behn, Ronald Benjamin, Laurie Bernardi, William
Bertuch, Helen Bullyan, Yolanda Butler, Kathy Ciell-Hays,
Bob Cline, Marion Colameco, Shirlee Davis, Mary Jane
DiGiacomo, Helgi Downes, Violeta Espinoza, JoAnn
Fabiszak, Pat Frye, Scott Germann, Ron Getz, Leona
Haggerty, Sue Hunter, Philip Hurlahe, Linda Isenberg, Kay,
Richard Kolb, John Krieger, Raymond Lantz, Gisela Lock,
Norma Marceau, Simone McCandless, Darwin McVay, Dori
Melfi, Teri McClure, Greg Mondello, Susan Moore, Kate
O’Connor, Sara Olsson, Pat O’Neill, Cheryl Porter, John
Putnam, Eric Ritter, Mary Ryder, Fr. Vincent Salamoni,
Nancy Slivka, Dave Smedile, Vince Spano, William Steed,
Kevin Strnad, Keith Van Asten, Paul Wack, Sandy Walker,
Maria Walter, Nicole Ward, Carolyn Wicker, Robert Wonski
The Recently Deceased:
Owen McNamara
Names cycle off the prayer list monthly. Please call if a
continuation is needed. Do not ask to have people
placed on the list without getting their permission first.
Sacramental Ministries
Infant Baptism: It is recommended that parents contact the
Parish about requirements for baptism before the birth of a
child. Infant baptism will be scheduled only after
consultation with a member of the Pastoral Staff.
Marriage: Couples should contact the Parish Office.
Sacrament of the Sick: If you are not well, or when you
know that you will be in the hospital, please ask the priest to
confer the Sacrament of the Sick after the weekday Masses
or Sunday Masses, or call the Parish Office 489-3973 to
make an appointment.
Homebound Parishioners: If you are confined to home,
either temporarily or permanently, a member of the Ministry
to the Sick will be happy to bring Holy Eucharist to your
home weekly. Please contact the Parish Office.
R.C.I.A.: If you are interested in the process of becoming a
Catholic, please call the Parish Office.
Thrift Store
Our Thrift Store is located in the K-Mart Plaza at the Iona/
McGregor intersection. Open 10:00am - 5:00pm Monday
through Saturday. For information call 489-4001.