FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
December 21, 2014
Liturgical Schedule
The Most Reverend George Leo Thomas, PhD.
Bishop of Helena
Pastoral Staff to Serve You
Rev. Msgr. Kevin S. O’Neill, V.G.............Rector/Pastor
Father John Crutchfield............................Parochial Vicar
Deacon Bob Fishman.........Director of Faith Formation
Mr. Michael Vreeburg.........Pastoral Associate/Liturgy
Mr. Dale Fleck.................. Director of Liturgical Music
Mr. Louis Gloege................................Business Manager
Mr. David Pepper......................................Youth Minister
Office
530 North Ewing Street, Helena, Montana, 59601
Parish Office Hours....................9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Cathedral Parish................................. (406) 442-5825
Fax.............................................................. 449-5113
Rectory/Emergency......................................449-0280
Good Samaritan Store..................................442-0780
Website..........................................www.sthelenas.org
KNEH Catholic Radio 97.3fm stream live kneh.org
PLEASE NOTE...The Parish Office will be closed
Wednesday, December 24th through Friday,
January 2nd, 2015. The Office will resume regular
hours on Monday, January 5th.
WEEKEND MASSES
Saturday.......................................................................5:00 p.m.
Sunday.............................................7:30, 9:00 and 11:00 a.m.
Wed., Vigil of Christmas...5:00 p.m. and 12:00 Midnight
Thurs., Christmas Day..............9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.
DAILY MASS
Mon. and Fri. .............................................................. .7:00 a.m.
Tues......................................................7:00 a.m. & 12:00 Noon
Saturday......................................................................... .9:00 a.m.
EXPOSITION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT
Friday Dec. 26.......................................NO EXPOSITION
DEVOTION TO OUR MOTHER OF PERPETUAL HELP
Tuesday..........following the 7:00 a.m. & 12:00 p.m. Mass
ROSARY
Mon, Tues and Fri.........................following 7:00 a.m. Mass
Saturday..........................................................................8:30 a.m.
SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION
Saturday, following the 9:00 a.m. Mass until 11:00 a.m.
or by appointment
MUSIC FOR LITURGY, ADVENT IV
The readings are #1011 in the Hymnal
Organ: Magnificats, Op. 18
Marcel Dupre
Introit: Rorate Caeli
Dale Fleck
Drop down dew from above, you heavens, and let the clouds rain down the Just One;
Let the earth be opened and bring forth a Savior.
Hymn #386 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
The Ordinary of the Mass is Mass of the Immaculate Conception
Peter Latona
Responsorial Psalm
Dale Fleck
Hymn #403 the King shall Come When morning Dawns
Motet: Gabriel’s Message
arr. David Willcocks
Communion Antiphon: Tone I
Behold a Virgin shall conceive and bear a son; and his name will be called Emmanuel.
Motet: Ecce! Quam Bonam Est!
Dale Fleck
Organ & Flute: Sonata IV
George Frederic Handel
Hymn #438 Lo, How A Rose E’er Blooming
Organ: Gloria (Magnificats, Op. 18)
Marcel Dupre
Liturgy
FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
December 21, 2014
THE HOLY FAMILY of JESUS, MARY and
JOSEPH
December 28, 2014
2 SAMUEL 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16
GENESIS 15:1-6, 21:1-3
The Lord’s promise to Abram and Sarah is fulfilled.
ROMANS 16:25-27
HEBREWS 11:8, 11-12, 17-19’
The faith of our ancestors
The kingdom of David shall endure for ever before the Lord.
The mystery kept secret for long ages has now been
manifested.
LUKE 1:26-38
LUKE 2:22-40
Simeon and Anna see the Lord.
Behold you will conceive in your womb and bear a son.
A WORD ABOUT THE WORD
by Deacon Bob Fishman
This week’s readings are absolutely beautiful. In our
first reading, the great prophet Samuel records how
King David realized that he was living in luxury, while
the ark of God was dwelling in a tent. He longed to
build a house for the ark of God. The prophet Nathan
tells David that God will be with him always and the
Messiah will come from his line. This is very cool!
King David is revered as the greatest leader Israel ever
had, and now the promised redeemer will come from
his lineage. St. Paul catches on to this thought as he
tells the Romans that what had been kept secret for
so long has now come to pass in Jesus. Do we ever
think about that? When we hear the Word proclaimed
at every Mass, does it go in one ear and out the other?
Do we take time to consider the incredible revelations
of our Lord? What had been hidden for centuries we
have been privy to. Does it matter to you as you hear
the readings each week? Finally, we have the Gospel
of St. Luke. This passage from the first chapter should
be highlighted and underlined in everyone’s bible.
Yes, you have my permission to write in your bibles.
Make them your own and not just a pretty book on a
shelf. In this reading, for the first time in all of human
history, an angel salutes a human being by saying “Hail
full of grace.” In all other encounters with angels it is
the human who falls down and worships God’s heavenly messenger. Not here. Mary is told that she will
be the one that will be overshadowed by the Holy Spirit
and the long awaited Messiah will come through her!
However, God is a gentleman and never forces Himself
on anyone. Mary had a choice and in words that echo
through all of eternity she says “let it be done unto me.”
This is her great “Fiat” or thy will be done. Her yes made
it possible for God to take on flesh and dwell among us.
It was her flesh He took on. Jesus had Mary’s D.N.A.!
Because of her yes all of Christianity became possible.
So this week, take some time and offer up a rosary or a
few Hail Mary’s for someone and think about the fact
that God did not reveal these great things to the learned
people, but in a simple, profound and mysterious way
He revealed Himself to all of us and continues to do so
at every Mass. How truly blessed we are to partake in
these joyful mysteries. Something to think about, and
may God richly bless you always…
WORD of the DAY
T O DAY
On this Sunday afternoon. December 21st,
4:00 p.m.
we will celebrate an
Ecumenical Festival of Lessons and Carols.
Bishop Thomas will welcome Bishop Brookhart
of the Episcopal Diocese and members of St.
Peter’s Cathedral for this choral
celebration led by our own Cathedral Choir.
All are Welcome!
Monday, Dec 22
Final Advent Days
1 Samuel 1:24-28
Luke 1:46-56
Tuesday, Dec 23
Final Advent Days
Malachi 3:1-4, 23-24
Luke 1:57-66
Wednesday, Dec 24
Solemnity of the Nativity
of our Lord
Isaiah 62:1-5
Acts13:16-17, 22-25
Matthew 1:1-25 or 1:18-25
Thursday, Dec 25
Solemnity of the Nativity
of our Lord Christmas
Isaiah 52:7-10
Hebrews 1:1-6
John 1:1-18 or 1:1-5, 9-14
Friday, Dec 26
Feast of St. Stephen,
First Martyr
Acts 6:8-10, 7:54-59
Matthew 10:17-22
Saturday, Dec 27
Feast of St. John,
Apostle/Evangelist
1 John 1:1-4
John 20:1a and 2-8
F F
aith
ormation
LITURGY OF THE WORD FOR CHILDREN
Liturgy of the Word for Children from Pre-school
through Grade 2 will gather today during the 9:00 a.m.
Mass.
FAITH FORMATION CLASSES
S
acramental
P
reparation
BAPTISM PREPARATION
Parent Preparation sessions are offered every other month.
PLEASE REGISTER AS A MEMBER OF THE PARISH PRIOR TO REGISTERING FOR THE SESSIONS. The next opportunity will be held in February
2015. Please call the Parish Office at 442-5825 to register
for the class.
We are in need of a volunteer catechist for the Kindergarten class which meets after school. Classes begin at
3:30 p.m. and are dismissed at 4:45 p.m. Five children
are enrolled and teaching materials are supplied. The
catechist will be needed on Wednesdays from January
21st through May 6th. Please pray about your desire to
RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION FOR
share your faith and discern if this might be to which
ADULTS (R. C. I. A.)
you are called. Contact the Faith Formation office for
more information. Thank you!
We will not meet on Tuesdays, December 24th or December 31st. Our next meeting will be Tuesday, JanuClasses will not meet on Wed., December 24th or ary 6, 2015. If you are interested in more information
31st.
about our RCIA program, please contact Deacon Bob
The Faith Formation Office will be closed from Decem- Fishman at 442-5825.
ber 24th through January 4th. We wish you all a joyous Christmas and many blessings in the New Year and
we wish to thank our catechists and assistants for many
hours of help to instruct our children.
Elementary classes will resume Wed., January 7th.
Those children wishing to sing at the 5:00 p.m. Mass
on Christmas Eve should arrive at the Brondel Center
on Wed., December 24th by 4:30 p.m. At 4:45 p.m. the
children will process upstairs as a group to stand at the
altar and sing. Following the songs the children will be
seated with their parents for the remainder of the celebration.
MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL
YOUTH GROUP
We will not meet on Wednesday, December 24th
or Wednesday, December 31st.
Regular classes will resume on Wednesday,
January 4th.
Middle School - 3:30 - 4:45 p.m.
High School - 5:45 - 7:00 p.m. ...in addition to class
we will have a skating party at Memorial Park
7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
YOUNG ADULT GROUP
All young adults in their 20s and 30s are welcome to
join others in a similar walk of life for Christ-centered
fellowship. This group offers young adults an opportunity to form new friendships and support each other
in our faith lives in the Church and society. Save the
Date: Our January event is Friday, January 30th, at
7:00 p.m. For the meeting location or for more information, please contact Kristin Betlej at 651-283-6613
or Kelsey Rohm at 253-334-8897.
Marriage Preparation
Diocesan policy states that couples wait 6 months
from the time they first approach a priest regarding
marriage. During that 6 month period the couple
must participate in preparatory classes for the
Sacrament of Marriage. Our next session will be
February 9th through March 23rd. For information,
contact Kathy Surbrugg at 442-5825.
Marriage Enrichment
The Cathedral of St. Helena will be offering a Marriage Enrichment course beginning Friday, January 9th,
6:00 - 8:30 p.m. This is a 7-week course designed to
give couples the tools to build a strong and healthy marriage. There will be a weekly candlelit meal, video presentation, and discussion between husband and wife.
There is a one time fee of $80.00 to cover the cost
of meals and materials. Space is limited. For more
information and to register, call Kathy Surbrugg at 4425825. Registrations must be in by December 19th.
This is a weekly seminar and support group for people
who are separated or divorced. It is a place where you
can hear valuable information about ways to heal from
the hurt of divorce. For more information, contact
Kathy Surbrugg at 442-5825.
S
acraments
Memorials
In memory of...
LORRAINE DUNLAP
Vivian Carter
LEONA ATCHITY
Ben Hunt
CAROL JUDGE
Bill and Gail Lannan and Family
PAT KELLEHER
Marty and Gretchen Heller
JOHN MARTELLO
Marty and Gretchen Heller
PATRICIA COXEY
John and Barbara Palmquist
CATHERINE MELVIN
Peg Olson and Family
ROSE MELVIN
Peggy Olson and Family
DECEASED MEMBERS OF THE MELVIN
FAMILY
Peggy Olson and Family
ANN GRIMM
Peggy Olson and Family
DECEASED MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY
Pat Hennessey
ALICE O’LEARY
Pat Hennessey
Special Intentions
FRANK ROSETTE
Anonymous
CATHEDRAL YOUTH MINISTER &
the YOUTH GROUP
Pat Hennessey
Fr. JOSEPH BYRNE (60th Anniversary of Ordination)
Bill and Gail Lannan and Family
VOCATIONS PRAYER
Heavenly Father, please abundantly bless these men
who are in formation for the priesthood of Your Son,
Jesus Christ. Grant them gifts of wisdom, knowledge
and most of all, generous hearts, that they may be
enflamed with love for You and Your Church.
Through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.
Deacon Craig Hanley
Deacon Christopher Lebsock
John Hall
Nathan Scheidecker
Joseph Paddock
Oliver Santin
Bryce Lungren
Tyler Frohlich
Cody Williams
Alex Woelkers
Kirby Longo
Andy Morrow
Sam Mota-Martinez
George Watson
Michael Dirkson
Our Cathedral Parish Family prayerfully celebrated with
the following on their Faith Journey with a deeper and
grace-filled life in Christ
Baptisms
Maloree Jane and Mariah English
daughters of Kevin and Kellee
Aubrey Rose Heberly
daughter of Rachael and Bob
Newcomers
We welcome with the love of Christ the following
newcomers to our Parish...
Liz Jones
Lee Prouty and Family
Mark and Sharon Mozer and Family
Being a sign of God’s love to others, we know that our
gifts of treasure are essential to our mission of following the loving path of Jesus. Our faith in the future
urges us to continue the journey in gratitude, holiness
and service. This past weekend we received through
Stewardship $17,530.00 and Loose Cash/Checks
$776.00 for a total of $18,306.00.
Our weekly goal is $17,108.02
Thank you for your generosity!
Please Note....
When you provide a check as payment, you authorize
us either to use information from your check to make a
one-time electronic fund transfer from your account or
to process the payment as a check transaction.
REMINDER....Offertory Envelopes should be submitted to
the Parish Office prior to December 31st in order to receive
credit for the 2014 calendar year.
of Greater Helena
Host Week Schedule
Volunteers please check your email/mail for the host
week schedule. Our next host week is January 11th –
18th. We will also send an update/reminder schedule
the first week in January. Thank you for sharing your
time and talent with us!
Friar Fred’s heartfelt
Christmas Blessing especially for you...
May you find new meaning
and hope
in the Christ Child’s birth
and in His everlasting
presence!.
Please join with your Parish in our celebration of the
100th Anniversary of the Dedication of the Cathedral as
“Spirit Filled-Faithful Souls.” A cornerstone of a yearlong celebration is our Stewardship Drive to retire the
remaining cost of our 2006/2012 renovation/restoration
project which concluded in 2012. It is our hope to burn
the mortgage at the conclusion of the two year redemption period for this drive.
We have a real treasure in the Cathedral building-a
spiritual and architectural “crown jewel” one that has,
does and will serve the needs of our Parish family. the
Diocese and the Helena community well into the future.
We came out of the project with $1.1 million debt
due in part to three major project additions that were
unplanned and unbudgeted, but could not be ignored.
They totaled over one million dollars. The current balance of the overage debt is $670,000. The Parish was
able to secure a commercial bank loan to cover the balance because of the stewardship of two Parish families.
Please pray about the indebtedness and consider a
pledge to help us retire it.
May God bless you in this Holy Season
and throughout the New Year!
As we celebrate the
birth of our Savior
may the blessing of
Hope
and the promise of
Peace
bring you abundant
Joy!
May you have a very
Blessed Christmas
Monsignor Kevin O’Neill
Father John Crutchfield
WEEKLY EVENTS TAKING PLACE
AT YOUR CATHEDRAL
SUNDAY, December 21...Fourth Sunday of Advent
7:30, 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. Mass
9am Liturgy of the Word/Children
9:15am Cathedral and St. Cecilia Choirs - Rm 209
4pm Lessons and Carols
ff Reception - Brondel Center
MONDAY, December 22...Late Advent Weekday
7am Mass
5:30pm Baptism Aubrey Rose Heberly
daughter of Rachael and Bob
TUESDAY, December 23...Late Advent Weekday
7am Mass/Devotions
ff Mass Coffee and Doughnuts - Rm 110
12pm Mass/Devotions
NO RCIA
WEDNESDAY, December 24...Late Advent Weekday
5pm Mass
12 Midnight Mass
Parish Office Closed
THURSDAY, December 25...The Nativity of our Lord
9am Mass
11am Mass
Parish Office Closed
FRIDAY, December 26...St. Stephen, the First Martyr
7am Mass
Parish Office Closed
SATURDAY, December 27...St. John, Apostle and Evangelist
8:30 Rosary for Vocations
9am Mass
ff Mass until 11am Sacrament of Reconciliation
5pm Mass
SUNDAY, December 28...The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary
and Joseph
7:30, 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. Mass
NO Liturgy of the Word/Children
NO Choir Practice
ff 11am Baptism: Brody John Theriault
son of Mark and Katy
CATHOLIC COUPLE FELLOWSHIP
Catholic Couple Fellowship is a group for married couples
in their 20s and 30s who come together for prayer and reflection to share their faith with others in a similar walk of
life while also having a chance for fellowship and fun with
barbecues, picnics, game nights and more. We meet two
Sundays a month. Come and join other young adult couples for an opportunity to build new friendships and support
each other in the vocation of marriage. Our next events are
Sunday, January 11 and 25, at 3 p.m. For more information, please call Sarah Phipps at 208-590-4944, or Sarah
Leslie at 406-461-4776.
and
the Cathedral Parish Staff
YOUTH MINISTER POSITION OPEN
St. Mary Catholic Community has an opening for the position of
Youth Minister. Please send or e-mail a resume, attn: Deb Kalicek to St. Mary Catholic Community, 1700 Missoula Avenue.
This is a part-time position, 25 hours per week, beginning January
12, 2015. For more information, contact Deb Kralicek, 442-5268
or [email protected]
THE GIVING TREE
Thank you for your generosity and support of our annual
Giving Tree project. We were
blessed in so many ways...we
collectd money for toys at the
Knights of Columbus tailgate
booth at the Carroll College
football games; we had teachers in our Helena School District, East Helena and Montana
City collecting books for us.
Thirteen bicycles were donated. A Boy Scout Troop collected books. Diane Hill from
our Helena community knitted
80 hats. Local stores and State agencies collected toys.
Our parishioners took over 400 tags from the Giving
Tree...WOW...we were blessed and, in turn, were able to
bless over 300 children in our community.
There are so many people to thank ... THANK YOU
to those who took tags and purchased presents, those
who brought in hats, mittens, wrapping paper and monetary donations. Thank you to all who helped take applications at the Good Samaritan Store, those who sorted
toys, those who shopped for us, those who helped set up
our store and helped with distribution. Thank you to all
who baked cookies and furnished pots of soup for our
volunteers. Thank you to Bullman’s Pizza for providing
pizza for our volunteers. A BIG THANK YOU to our
Giving Tree Commiteee and Faith Formation Office who
organized and ovesaw this year’s Giving Tree.
We are blessed to have such a Giving Parish and
Community. Together we brought Christmas blessings
to many of those in need.
ADVENT/CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE FOR
AREA PARISHES
SAINT MARY CATHOLIC COMMUNITY
Wednesday, Dec. 24th, Mass 5:30 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 25th, Christmas Day, Mass at 9:00 a.m.
SS. CYRIL AND METHODIUS
Saturday, 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Individual Confession
Wednesday, Dec. 24th - 4:00 p.m. Family Mass, Homily for Children; 6:00 p.m. Family Mass, Homily for
Children and 8:30 p.m. Mass
Thursday, Dec. 25th - 9:30 a.m. Christmas Day Mass
ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST, CLANCY
Wednesday, Dec. 24th - 5:00 p.m.
OUR LADY OF THE VALLEY
Wednesday, Dec. 24th, Christmas Eve Masses 4:00 p.m.,
6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 25th, Christmas Day Mass 9:00 a.m
HOLY CROSS - TOWNSEND
Wednesday, Dec. 24th, 5:00 p.m. Mass
Thursday, Dec. 25th, 10:00 a.m. Christmas Day Mass Townsend
12:30 p.m. Christmas Day Mass -Our Lady of the Lake
CATHEDRAL OF SAINT HELENA
Sacrament of Reconciliation - All Saturdays of December
- following 9:00 a.m. Mass until 11:00 a.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 24th, Christmas Eve Masses 5:00 p.m.
Family Mass and 12:00 Midnight
Thursday, Dec. 25th, Christmas Day Masses - 9:00 and
11:00 a.m.