THE HOLY FAMILY The Catholic Community will celebrate the Eucharist as follows: (SJ) identifies St. Joseph Church (SL) identifies St. Lawrence Church (SM) identifies St. Mary Church (SLAC) identifies St. Lawrence Activity Center Monday, December 29 8:00 a.m. (SJ) Ed Klinger (Lou Ryan) Tuesday, December 30 8:00 a.m. (SJ) Paula Heighton (Connie Heighton) Wednesday, December 31 (New Year’s Eve) 8:00 a.m. (SJ) NO MASS *4:00 p.m. (SJ) Duke Steedle (Rita Steedle) 5:30 p.m. (SJ) Dr. Lewis Motycka (Michael & Terri Citti) Thursday, January 1 (Solemnity of Mary) 8:00 a.m. (SM)Fred Wilds (Jenny Riley) 9:30 a.m. (SJ) David Wheeler (Ruth Wheeler) Friday, January 2 8:00 a.m. (SJ) Dan Culbertson (Francie & Ambrose Monnig) Saturday, January 3 8:00 a.m. (SJ) Andrew Gagai (Ruth W. Klein) *5:15 p.m.(SJ) Jane Mittendorf (Family) Sunday, January 4 9:00 a.m. (SJ) Members of the Community (Pastor) *NOON (SJ) Emmett Walker (Sara & Tom Klein) 7:00 p.m. (SM)Sr. Mary Paulette Boll (Margaret Schwab & family) * Note: Mass location changed CHURCH COLLECTIONS St. Joseph St. Lawrence St. Mary Adults..................... $3,175.00 $1,995.00 $467.00 Children.................. 3.00 Loose...................... 187.00 117.00 247.20 Votive Lights........... 144.05 Immac. Conception.... 15.00 Christmas Flowers.. 70.00 16.00 Religious Retirement.... 95.00 10.00 Christmas............... 50.00 10.00 Total.................... $3,689.05 $2,178.00 $734.20 Restoration Fund.... $5.00 Food Pantry Collection totaled $1050.00 NOTE: Please consider remembering our three churches, our two schools and our three cemeteries in your will. MINISTERS FOR JANUARY 3 & 4, 2015 ST. JOSEPH: 5:15 p.m. 9:00 a.m. Holy Katie Barron Laura Willis Communion: Mack Anderson Russell Lyons Brenda Gagai Brianna Lyons Susan Morgan Lil Hart John Schwab Mary Bryant Paul Webb Jannifer Rowe Lector: David Whaley Julie Walters Gifts: Jane Laber family Bob & Ann Nelson Servers: C. Crisp, S. Rucker, A. Neal, C. Zornes, B. Stewart, E. & J. Rowe, C. & E. Sheridan C. Walters Greeters: Steve & Linda Holt ST. JOSEPH: Noon Holy Communion: William Basedow, Maria Whaley, Kay McClellan, Charles McClellan, Pat Laber, Larry Anderson Lector: Pat Whaley Gifts: Bob & Sissy Clyse Servers: E. Clark, J. Isaac, M. & E. Whaley, P. Preston DECEMBER 28, 2014 READINGS FOR SUNDAY, JANUARY 4, 2015 Epiphany of the Lord Lectionary Number: 20B First Reading: Isaiah 60:1-6 The nations make their way to Jerusalem. They bring gifts to show their devotion to the Lord. Second Reading: Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6 We hear of the mystery of salvation. God has commissioned Apostles and prophets to make known this mystery. Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12 The gentiles, in the form of Magi, recognize and pay homage to Jesus the new-born king of the Jews. The Jews, in the person of King Herod, fear and reject Him. PRAY FOR THE PRIESTS OF OUR DIOCESE (Without the priest, there is no Eucharist; without the Eucharist, there is no Church!): 12/28 Fr. Tim Shannon; 12/29 Fr. Marty Holler; 12/30 Fr. Tom Vennitti; 12/31 Pope Francis; 1/01 Fr. Virgil Reischman; 1/02 Msgr. Pat Gaughan; 1/03 Fr. Leonard Cencula; 1/04 Msgr. John Kolesar. CALENDAR OF EVENTS Saturday, December 27 10:30 a.m. & 12 noon – Masses (Prison, Summit, KY) 4:15 p.m. – Sacrament of Reconciliation (SJ) 5:15 p.m. – Mass (SJ) Sunday, December 28 (The Holy Family) 9:00 a.m. – Mass (SJ) 10:15 a.m.-11:45 a.m. – NO Parish School of Religion 12 Noon – Mass (SJ) 7:00 p.m. – Mass (SM) Note: Due to furnace Monday, December 29 problems, all Ironton 8:00 a.m. – Mass (SJ) Masses will be at Tuesday, December 30 ST. JOSEPH CHURCH 8:00 a.m. – Mass (SJ) until further notice! Wednesday, December 31 8:00 a.m. – NO Mass 2:00-5:00 p.m. – NO Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament (SJ) 4:00 p.m. – Mass (Greg & Folk Choir) (SJ) 5:30 p.m. – Mass (Chris & Sharon) (SJ) Thursday, January 1 8:00 a.m. – Mass (Kathy) (SM) 9:30 a.m. – Mass (Choir) (SJ) Friday, January 2 8:00 a.m. – Mass (SJ) 12 Noon-? – Holy Communion to home-bound Saturday, January 3 8:00 a.m. – Mass, First Saturday (SJ) 4:15 p.m. – Sacrament of Reconciliation (SJ) 5:15 p.m. – Mass (SJ) Sunday, January 4 (Epiphany of the Lord) 9:00 a.m. – Mass (SJ) 10:15 a.m.-11:45 a.m. – Parish School of Religion (SLES) 10:30 a.m. – Meeting with parents for First Reconciliation (SLES) 12 Noon – Mass (SJ) 2:00-4:00 p.m. – Annual (After) Christmas/ Birthday Party (K of C) 7:00 p.m. – Mass (SM) OUR SICK: Dick Barron, Mario Citti, Lynda Hacker, Lisa Patterson, Kathleen “Katie” Schwab, Peter Smith, Leo Unger, Brenda Webb, and all recovering from illness/surgery. Fr. David Huffman THE FIRST CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION History tells us that Christmas was first celebrated as a religious event on December 25 in 352 A.D. Nobody knows the exact date when Jesus was born (there have been so many changes to the calendar). And it didn’t really matter back in those first centuries. Birthdays were less important than remembering the day when someone died. In fact, early Christians often celebrated the birth of Jesus on January 6. During the second century, five dates in three different months (including December 25) were considered as possible birth dates for Jesus. Finally, in the fourth century, Pope Julius I and other Church leaders specified December 25 as the official date to celebrate the birth of Jesus – to replace the Roman, pagan holiday celebrating the birthday of the Sun God; and the return of longer days of sunlight. (While the pagans were dancing around celebrating the “birth” of the Sun God, the Catholics began dancing around celebrating the birth of the Son of God. It was so cleverly done that those interested in persecuting the Catholics did not even notice!) The date of December 25 was accepted by the universal Church in the fifth century. “We hold this day holy, not like the pagans because of the birth of the sun, but because of Him who made it.” (Unknown theologian, 320 A.D.) CONDOLENCES: THOMAS P. LABER, 61, died Sunday, December 21. His funeral services were Wednesday, December 24, at Phillips Funeral Home. We extend our prayers and sympathy to his brother, Pat (Beth) Laber, Tom’s wife, Vicki & children, and extended family and friends. PHYLLIS WISE, 72, died Friday, November 28. Her funeral services were Friday, December 19. We offer condolences to her nieces, Tonya Waller and Cathy Moore. May Tom & Phyllis rest in the eternal embrace of our Risen Lord. IN APPRECIATION: To honor the many years of attendance and support of St. Lawrence Church by Tom & Marie Whaley, their children and grandchildren have donated a new Nativity Set complete with a manger built by Pat Whaley. As we think about all the baptisms, Holy Communions, Confirmations, and marriages in your family here in St. Lawrence Church, Tom and Marie, we wish you a very Merry Christmas! ST. LAWRENCE FURNACE: I sorry to inform you that the boiler at St. Lawrence Church has been deemed inoperable (cannot be operated safely) until some parts have been replaced. The repairman has been searching for these parts for an old system for several weeks... with no success! Therefore, ALL Ironton New Year’s Eve/New Year’s Day Masses and weekend Masses will be celebrated at St. Joseph Church until the St. Lawrence boiler is repaired or replaced. CWC NEWS: Before you store your fall and Christmas decorations away after the New Year, please look through them and if you have any new or gently used items you would like to donate, please bring them to St. Joseph’s Undercroft after January 4th. Our Catholic ladies can put them to good use. Thank you in advance for your generosity. NEW PICTORIAL DIRECTORY: Last weekend we began “sign-ups” for our new three-church Pictorial Directory as sign up sheets were available after all the Masses. The times for picture taking are: January 7-10 and January 21-24, 2015, from 2:00 to 9:00 p.m. There will be another sign-up weekend in our churches, December 27 & 28. For more information or to schedule a time for your individual/family setting, contact our directory chairlady, Mary Ann Philabaun at 532-1831, 646-5387 or [email protected]. CELEBRATING THE NEW YEAR The celebration of the New Year may be the oldest of all holidays. New Year’s festivals have been celebrated for more than 5,000 years. (The Church’s “new year” really begins with the First Sunday of Advent!) January 1, New Year’s Day, has become a time to say farewell to the old year (and, perhaps some bad habits) and welcome the new. Beginning in 1969, the Church intensified its three themes for the celebration of the Mass for the New Year: 1. The octave (eighth day) of Christmas with special commemoration of Mary as the Mother of God. 2. The feast of Jesus’ circumcision (the beginning of His suffering and shedding His Blood for our salvation.) 3. Prayers for peace in the world. New Year’s Masses Wed., Dec. 31: 4:00 p.m. (SJ), 5:30 p.m. (SJ) Thur., Jan. 1: 8:00 a.m. (SM), 9:30 a.m. (SJ) A JANUARY CELEBRATION Next Sunday, everyone is invited to come celebrate Christmas, the New Year, and your ol’ pastor’s 70th birthday. Where: Knights of Columbus, 2103 S. 3rd St. When: Sunday, January 4, 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. The Knights will provide the meat; Greg Kline will bake the birthday cake. You are asked to bring either a salad or a side dish. Music will be provided by Kelley’s Bridge. This is my 7th Christmas with you. During this time I have tried to help put the celebration of Christmas in its proper place, that is, December 25 and the twelve days that follow. Some of my family will come to celebrate my birthday. We would be most pleased for you to take time to come to celebrate the Christmas season with us!
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