Saturday, December 22 nd – 4:00 PM Joyce Mockler/Ruth E. Conry Mitchell Sacristan: Diana GriffinGreeters: Jerry & Char HabeckLector: Mike KarneyGifts/Ushers: Jerry & Char HabeckEuch. Min.: Alice Muniz,

Sr. Carroll, Tim RossServers: Walt Pleban,

Paul HartensteinSunday, December 23 rd – 11:00 AM Joyce Mockler/Paul ConrySacristan: Terri PetzGreeters: Leon ShinskyLector: John NolanLit. of Word: Jamie HilamanGifts/Ushers: Leon ShinskyEuch. Min.: Cheryl Nolan, Germaine Matus, Sue BommerServers: Madelyn Beury,

Nicole Kraus Money Counters for Dec. 23: Val Sabo, Nora Bartlett

Monday, December 24 th – 4:30 PM St. Mary’s ParishionersSacristan: Audrey StarbuckGreeters: YouthLector: YouthGifts/Ushers: Youth, Pam & Gust RistasEuch. Min.: John & Cheryl Nolan,

Germaine MatusServers: McKenna & Katie Woodruff

Monday, December 24 th – 7:00 PM St. Mary’s Parishioners Sacristan: Dan ScherryGreeters: Jerry & Char HabeckLector: Alice RossGifts/Ushers: Bill Fayak,

Jerry HabeckEuch. Min.: Tim Ross, John & Penny McClaflinServers: Walt Pleban,

Paul Hartenstein

Tuesdayday, December 25 th – 11:00 AM St. Mary’s Parishioners Sacristan: Terri PetzGreeters: Val & Pete SaboLector: Sr. RosemaryGifts/Ushers: Ray & Sue KershawEuch. Min.: Heidi Skrada, Alice Muniz, Sr. CarrollServers: John & Jasmine Skrada

Money Counters for Dec. 25: Joe Kovach, Shawn Burke, Cathy Zuk

Saturday, December 153:30 PM

Confessions

4 PM MASS –Fr. Kishore

Sunday, December 1610:40 Confessions 11 AM MASS- Fr. Kishore5:45 PM Youth Group meets in hall

Monday, December 17Fr. Kishore’s Birthday

Tuesday, December 189:30 AM Emergency Food Giveaway

Wednesday, December 19

Thursday, December 2010 AM Holy Mass followed by Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament until 5 PM.

Friday, December 217 AM Communion Service

Saturday, December 223:30 PM Confessions4 PM MASS-Fr. Kishore

Sunday, December 23 10:40 Confessions11:00 Mass: Fr. Kishore

This Week’s ScripturesMonday Genesis 49:2, 8-10 Ps 72;1-2, 3-4, 7-8,

1712/17 Matthew 1:1-17 Tuesday Jeremiah 23:5-8

Ps 72:1-2, 12-13, 18-19

12/18 Matthew 1:18-25 Wednesday Dan 5:1-6, 13-14,16-

17,23-28Wednesday Judges13:2-7, 24-25 Ps 71:3-4, 5-6, 16-1712/19 Luke 1:5-25 Thursday Isaiah 7:10-14 Ps 24:1-2, 3-4, 5-612/20 Luke 1:26-38 Friday Song of Songs 2:8-14 Ps 33:2-3, 11-12, 20-2112/21 Luke 1:39-45 Saturday 1 Samuel 1:24-28 1 Samuel 2:1, 4-5, 6-7, 812/22 Luke 1:46-56 4th Sunday Micah 5:1-4of Advent

Ps 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19Hebrews 10:5-10

12/23 Luke 1:39-45

Parish Staff

Pastoral Leader: Sr. Carroll Schemenauer

440-839-2023

Parish Chaplain: Fr. Kishore Kottana 419-929-4401

Finance: Cece Mees 440-839-2023

Administrative Assistant

St. Mary

Our Parish Mission Statement:Gathered as a family of faith in Christ Jesus, strengthened by His Word and Sacraments, we will set a living example of our faith by:

Seeking Christ in all we meet Giving of our time, talent and treasure

Supporting and strengthening our community and Sharing our Faith

Catechetical LeaderWebmaster

Sr. Rosemary Hug

Finance: Diane Wolf

(440) 839-2185 (H)

Maintenance:Steve Matus

Youth Leaders: Kristie Jarrett,

Jenn Nolan & Libby

French,

Dear Parish Family,Let me begin with

the reminder that we are dealing with the idea of “missing out” in our busy

lives. The first week of Advent we heard Jesus’ warning: that by distraction and drowsiness, we can miss the most important event, what really matters, namely the salvation Jesus brings us by his Passion. A very good word closely related to salvation is mercy. Last week we talked about not missing this great gift. And we also saw that we cannot have His mercy apart from justice.

This week we focus on the fruit of mercy and justice, namely, joy. Mercy clearly brings joy, but what about justice? Many persons have a hard time experiencing joy because life is unfair.

Some injustices can actually break one’s heart and even break one’s spirit – for example, when a deadly

disease afflicts a young person. Who can have joy in the face of such a tragedy? This kind of tragedy strikes one family and not another.

Nature, or God, seems unfair. Perhaps even worse than those natural injustices are the ones we inflict on one another. Sometimes I could start brooding about unjust treatment, or unfair, hurtful words. Such futile brooding robs me of joy.

What is the answer? The Bible gives us two steps. First, what St. Paul says: Don’t pay back injury with injury, but remember what God says, “Justice is mine.” John the Baptist tells us today that God will sort things out. He describes the winnowing fan which separates wheat from chaff. The good he keeps, the worthless he burns. So, let’s just leave final justice in God’s hand.

This does not mean we do nothing to combat injustice. On the contrary, our hope for final justice strengthens us to work for fairness. In the Bible justice means to restore right relationships. Our stewardship of time, talent and treasure advances justice. We can only do so much to bring justice into the world, but we can do a lot to bring joy into our hearts. St. Paul says, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I say it again, rejoice!” This is not a suggestion from St. Paul but a command: Rejoice, Rejoice always!

Then there’s the prophet Zephaniah who says, “Sing joyfully, O Israel.” Do we have a joyful song in our hearts? For me, it is like this: “My life goes on in endless song above earth’s lamentations, I hear the real, though far-off hymn that hails a new

creation.” This is one of my favorite hymns. So, yes, life is unfair. Painfully and incomprehensibly unfair. And we do live in a world of cruelty and injustice that only God can set right. While we can only do small acts of justice, we can do a lot to open our hearts to joy. So for today, let’s not miss out. We may even take the refrain of our Psalm: “Cry out with joy and gladness for among you is the great and holy one of Israel.” Sr. Carroll

Last Week $ 1,398.00Electronic 75.00M.T.D. December 4, 520.00F.Y.T.D. $ 51,004.89

A very HAPPY BIRTHDAY this week to Jarett Hreha, Margaret Eschen, and John McClaflin. May you each enjoy good health

this birthday year!

This Monday, December 17 th , is Father Kishore’s 54 th

birthday. It would be fitting to give him a card and to wish Father a very Happy Birthday.

The YOUTH Group meets this Sunday night, Dec. 16, at 5:45 p.m. with a supper and continues on until 7:15 PM. Their next

meeting in January is January 6th, February 3, March 3, April 7, and May 5th.

Would there be any volunteers to make a supper for about 15 at 5:45 p.m. on Youth Nights?

Retirement Fund for Religious was last week. Please put your envelopes in the basket when it comes around. The Religious affected are very appreciative of it all. One

of the Sisters wrote “This money is pure gift. It enables us to continue providing care for our elderly sisters.” Your gift to last week’s collection helps hundreds of religious communities meet pressing retirement needs while continuing to serve the People of God. Thank you for your generosity!

CHRISTMAS EVE MASSES are on Monday night, December 24th at

4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Fr. Ted Miller will have these two Masses for us.

CHRISTMAS DAY MASS will be at 11 AM on Tuesday, Christmas Day itself. Fr. Kishore will have the 11 a.m. Mass on Christmas Day. Father leaves the next day for a visit to India.

St. Mary

Please pick up your 2019 Church envelopes in the back of church in the usher’s room.

While you’re back there, please pick up a 2019 Catholic Calendar, donated by James Morman. These calendars give you all the feast days, etc.