Our Lady of the Holy Souls Catholic Church1003 North Tyler Street - Little Rock, Arkansas 72205

Fr. Erik Pohlmeier, PastorDeacon John HallDeacon Lawrence H. JegleyDeacon Tim MassanelliAnne Thomisee, Director of Religious EducationFred Graham, Organist & Music DirectorDenise F. Morbit, Director of Youth MinistryLaura G. Humphries, Parish Life CoordinatorMary Carman, Facilities & Events CoordinatorShelley Tienken, Business ManagerNan Connell, AccountantCindy Stabnick, Church SecretaryEdna de Noble, Pastoral SecretaryIleana Dobbins, PrincipalMonique Raines, Wedding Director

MISSION STATEMENTOur Lady of the Holy Souls Parish is a family of believers seeking toknow, love, and serve God as a faith community. To celebratethe presence of Christ among us, we will enhance the communityatmosphere of our parish and develop stewardship of time, talent,and treasure.

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT - December 23, 2012

Church Office .......................... (501) 663-8632School ..................................... (501) 663-4513Cafeteria ................................. (501) 663-6125Extended Care ........................ (501) 663-7438

Website: www.holysouls.orgE-mail: office@holysouls.org

Parish Office HoursMonday-Friday 8 a.m. to 12 Noon and 1 to 4 p.m.

Faith can be defined as freely assenting to the whole Truth of God. While we can’t know the whole of that Truth,the glimpses we have inspire trust and lead us to accept. The Child Jesus appears as nothing more than a poor boy,not even given a proper place to be born. And yet, we proclaim him so much more. We speak of him as the Saviorof all, as King and Lord.

We can only speak these titles with faith that the child reveals the Truth of God. We should consider whatinspires such faith.

Our faith today is inspired by the few witnesses who actually understood. The simplest of society were theshepherds and it was to them that God sent his angels to announce peace on earth. They didn’t know all thedoctrines of a Savior, but they knew this child belonged to them. They knew the peace spoken by the angels wasreal.

The Magi overcame great odds to travel to the manger because they had seen a star. They didn’t have thehistory of the people of Israel but like the shepherds they could see. They presented gold for a king, incense forworship of God, and myrrh for the death that would come. In faith, they made a journey that was rewarded inimmeasurable ways.

And gathered around for all these events were Joseph, who accepted the plan of God from a dream and Mary,who pondered all these things in her heart and became the mother of us all.

For that first Christmas the witnesses were few but their faith was extraordinary. Through their eyes we see withfaith as well. The Truth of God is his love for us. Today we give our assent. A Child is born for us. A Savior is given.

Christmas Message from Fr. Erik

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This Week at Holy Souls . . .

Church (CH); Parish Hall (PH); Allen Center (AC);Gathering Room (GR); Eucharistic Chapel (EC);

Benedict House (BH); School (S)

Monday, December 24,Christmas Eve:

Church Office Closed;4pm Vigil Mass, CH;6pm Vigil Mass, CH;12am Midnight Mass, CH

Tuesday, December 25,Christmas Day:

10am Mass, CHWednesday, December 26:

NO ADORATION;Church Office Closed;5:30pm Mass, CH

Thursday, December 27:7am Mass, CH;Church Office Closed;

Friday, December 28:7am Mass, CHChurch Office Closed;

Saturday, December 29:8am Mass, CH;2:45pm Confessions, CH;4pm Vigil Mass, CH;

Sunday, December 30:8am Mass, CH;10am Mass, CH;5:30pm Mass, CH

CALENDAR

LITURGICAL MINISTERSSATURDAY, DECEMBER 29, 4PM MASSServers: C. & M. M. Menz; J. Jones, C. Davis;EMC: C. Drilling; Lector: D. Menz;Ushers: R. Anderson, R. SeaySUNDAY, DECEMBER 30, 8AM MASSServers: E. Odom, E. Davis, E. Hicks, B. Linkous;EMC: A. Prieur; Lectors: J. Goodhart, K. de Noble;Ushers: R. Grafe, G. Hoffmann, P. Pilkington10AM MASSServers: C. & R. Paker, G. & G. Orellana;EMC: F. Kremers; Lectors: L. Hess, V. HendersonUshers: M. O’Malley, C. Fitz, C. Schaffhauser5:30PM MASSServers: M. & R. Payne, D. Thompson, J. WiIlkinson;EMC: M. S. Whitelaw; Lector: N. Ferrara;Ushers: P. Stabnick, W. Morris

Reflection for Sunday’s Readings

Liturgical Notes . . .

The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and JosephDecember 30, 2012

First reading: Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14Second reading: Colossians 3:12-21 [or 3:12-17]Gospel: Luke 2:41-52

Adults:What does your family do to honor and respect its oldermembers?

Children:Why did Jesus leave the temple? How can Jesus be anexample for you?

“O Lord, stir up your power, we pray you, and come;and with great might help us, that with the help ofyour grace, your merciful forgiveness may hastenwhat our sins obstruct. We ask this in Jesus’ name,who lives and reigns with you forever and ever.Amen.”

(An adult then lights all of the candles on the wreath.)

Advent Wreath Prayer4th SUNDAY OF ADVENT

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Understanding My ValueTo My Church Community

Laura Humphries, Parish Life Coordinator

A True Story

He and his wife were in their late 40’s raising alarge family. And raising them well. Theirs was afamily that spent a lot of time together, and anyonewho ever visited their home couldn’t help but noticethat they had a good time together. Job wise hewas doing fine – an office job with a large company.He wasn’t the executive level, but it was enoughto make his family “middle-income.” The lower endof that bracket, but still middle-income. And heliked what he was doing. The whole family wasinvolved in their parish in lots of different ways.Faithful to Sunday Mass, of course, but also readyto lend a hand in whatever needed to be done.

One day while having lunch at work, some of thefellows said to him, “You know, you’ve got a lot oftalent, and the bosses like you. But you don’t workmuch overtime, and you don’t seem to have thedrive. You’re still middle-aged and you’ve got ashot at bettering yourself. You ought to go for it.You’ll have to give up some of the time you spendwith your family and the other things you’reinvolved in for a while, but it’ll be worth it. You’vegot to make some changes. Otherwise you willnever get ahead. He said, “Ahead of what?” Anexcerpt from The Little Burgundy Book

Merry Christmas to you and to your families; I praythat all of you invite Jesus into your homes in allthat you do and that you have a blessed and happytime with your families. May your time together befull of much love, joy and peace.

The collection at all masses on Christmas Eve andChristmas Day will be for the Clergy Welfare Fund. Thisfund provides retirement and health care benefits to retiredand infirm priests around our diocese. Our priests spend everyday of their adult lives as humble and devoted servants, doingGod’s work and serving us until age or infirmity calls them toretirement. Your contributions to the Clergy Welfare Fund makeour priests’ retirement possible. Please share with them thegenerosity that they continue to share with us.

HELP “PICK UP THE TAB”for Ronald McDonald House Charities

Holy Souls School is collecting pop tabs till April,2013. The tabs can be from the top of soda, soup,vegetable, pet food, tuna, tennis balls cans, orany other alumninum can with a pop tab on top.The Pop Tab Program raises funds andawareness for the Ronald McDonald HouseCharities of Arkansas. Money for the pop tabs israised through recycling. This program helps payfor families and children to stay at the RonaldMcDonald House while their child is receivingmedical treat at Arkansas Children’s Hospital.

Have you visited our website lately?

www.holysouls.org• Listen to Fr. Erik’s homilies• Read this weekend’s bulletin early• Check the calendar• Find out what is happening at Holy Souls

by checking the Bulletin Board• Register in the parish or update your contact

information• Read “The Parishioner” in color• Check the Liturgical Ministers Schedule• Volunteer to be part of many organizations

Mass attendance, December 1 & 2 1,153Mass attendance, December 8 & 9 1,457

Diocesan Special Collection – National Retired Religious Collection $ 5,767

Weekend Collections – December 1 & 2 $ 23,627 December 8 & 9 $ 39,761Total Dec. Collections $ 63,388Total Dec. Budgeted Collections $ 205,000

Actual Collections (7/1/11 - 11/30/12) $ 543,433Budgeted (7/1/11 - 11/30/12) $ 545,000Deficit ($ 1,567)

Children’s collections - Dec. 2012 $ 106

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COLLECTIONS/STEWARDSHIP UPDATE

Holy Souls This & That . . .

The weekly collection and attendance figures forDec. 15 & 16 will be printed in the next bulletin.

The Catholic Diocese of Little Rock is committed to protectingchildren and young people. If you are aware of abuse or havebeen abused by clerics, Church volunteers or Church workers,please contact the Vicar General for the Diocese of Little Rockat (501) 664-0340 ext. 361, and the State of Arkansas Hotline

for Crimes against Children at 1-800-482-5964. For pastoral assistance pleasecontact the Victim Assistance Coordinators for the Diocese of Little Rock.Drs. George & Sherry Simon at (501) 766-6001. Diocesan Offices: 2500 N.Tyler Street, Little Rock, AR 72207.

CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYThe Church Office is closed for the Christmas Holidaystill Wednesday, January 2nd. In case of an emergency,please call 373-8600.

CHURCH NURSERYCLOSED ON CHRISTMAS

As a way for our nursery staff and volunteers tocelebrate Christmas with their families, the churchnursery will not be open for the Christmas Vigil andChristmas Day Masses.

Christmas Day, Tuesday, December 2510:00 a.m. Christmas Mass

(Carols beginning at 9:30 a.m.)

Christmas

SOLEMNITY OF THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORDChristmas Eve, Monday, December 24

4:00 p.m. Christmas Vigil Mass(Rosary & Carols beginning at 3:30 p.m.)

6:00 p.m. Christmas Children’s Mass(Carols led by Children’s Choirsbeginning at 5:30 p.m.)

12:00 a.m. Christmas Midnight Mass(Carols led by Parish Choirbeginning at 11:15 p.m.)

Mass Schedule

NO ADORATIONon Wednesday, December 26th

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will not be offeredon Wednesday, December 26.

Fr. Erikinvites you to join him on

New Year’s Eve

HOLY SOULS SNOW ANGELSCalling all men and women who want a workout on theoccasional snow day we have here in Little Rock. Thechurch has a Holy Souls Snow RemovalTeam to help clear the steps andwalkways around the church. If you liveclose to church, have a snow shovel, andneed a workout on a snow day, pleasecall the church office to volunteer.

for aHoly Hour of Adoration

from 11:00 p.m. till Midnightin the Church

Petitions of theMinistry of Praise

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General Petition:That migrants throughout the world may be welcomedwith generosity and authentic love, especially byChristian communities.

Mission Petition:That Christ may reveal himself to all humanity withthe light that shines forth from Bethlehem and isreflected in the face of his Church.

DECEMBER, 2012

Pray for the SickPlease pray for all our sick and shut-ins and

their families who care for them -- especially . . .Jessica Odle Remsing; Micki Gangluff; Karen Hunter; AidanRemsing; Vicki Morris; Ronny Troillett; Jeffery Bowers; PatsyPool & Tracy Paul Dobbins; Robert Boers; Frances DeLeuil;Courtney Sick; Tommy Korte; Larry Jegley; Mark Linde; SpunkyTreadway; O. D. Treadway; Anita Madison; Jean Whipple; andSteve Davidson.

In order to keep our bulletin prayer list up-to-date, names will remainon the list for four weeks. To continue for another four weeks, pleasecall the church office.

New Year’s DayMass Schedule

DinnerJanuary 12, 2013

Order tickets online at www.holysouls.orgor in the church office.

Dinner Tickets $25Corporate/Group Tables $500

Only 800 dinners available.All Reservations must be made before January 1st.

For more information, contact Alan Malzewski 747-4454,Steve Suski, 912-4368, Pete Stabnick, 663-2032, or Ray Wilson, 944-9571.

Allen Center ~ Dinner 5:00 p.m. till 8:00 p.m.

Featuring

AN EVENING AT MONACOAFTER PARTY

HOLY SOULS MEN’S CLUB27th Annual

Shrimp and Oyster

NATURAL FAMILY PLANNINGThe Couple to Couple League of Central Arkansasoffers a series of 3 classes on Natural Family Planning(NFP) at various locations around central Arkansas.For more information, call Evelyn Hart @501-224-7949or visit ccl-ar.org.

SOLEMNITY OF MARY,MOTHER OF GODNew Year’s Eve, Monday, December 31

5:30 p.m. Vigil MassNew Year’s Day, Tuesday, January 1, 2013

10:00 a.m. Mass

PARISH COUNCILNOMINATIONS

Nominations Deadline: January 6Election: January 26 & 27

It is time for Parish Council Nominations; there arefour commissions on the council: Liturgy, ParishLife, Education & Formation and Social Concerns.There is one position open on each commissionwhich serves for a term of three years. Serving onthe council is an important part of parish life; thecouncil assists the pastor in making decisions aboutmany activities that go on at the parish. Theresponsibilities of the position do not take up a largeamount of your time, but it is a good way to give ofyour time and talent to benefit your parish. Thecouncil meets once a month. Nomination forms willbe in the church vestibule or you may email yournomination to office@holysouls.org. Nominationswill end January 6th. Elections will be held theweekend of January 26 & 27. The first ParishCouncil meeting for new members will be inFebruary.

REGISTRATION FOR NEW MEMBERSRegistration for new members is completed in the church officeor online by visiting our web page, www.holysouls.org. Pleasecontact the church office or go online at www.holysouls.org ifyou have moved, changed your telephone number, movedfrom your parent’s home or graduated from college.

RCIAIf you are interested in becoming Catholic, please call AnneThomisee in the church office.

RETURNING CATHOLICSIf you are interested in returning to the Catholic Church, pleasecall Anne Thomisee in the church office.

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATIONSaturdays from 2:45 to 3:45pm and Wednesdays before FirstFriday from 4:30 to 5:00pm or call the church office for anappointment.

CHURCH VISITSThe Eucharistic Chapel is open from 8am-3pm (Monday, Tuesday,Thursday, & Friday). On Wednesday, the church and EucharisticChapel are open from 9am till after the 5:30pm Mass.

BAPTISMBaptisms are scheduled on an individual basis. Please callthe church office for more information.

SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGEContact the church office a minimum of six months in advance.

HOSPITAL STAYSPlease call the church office if you or someone you know is inthe hospital. We want to visit you and pray for you while youare in the hospital.

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Around the Diocese . . .

POST-ABORTION SUPPORT GROUP: Do you feel alone,hurting or unforgiven from a past abortion? The RespectLife Office, through Project Rachel, is starting a supportgroup, beginning February 18. The spiritual journey lasts11 weeks, with small groups of 6-8. Groups will be formedin Little Rock, Fayetteville, and Hot Springs. All names andmeeting places are strictly confidential. For details call664-0340, ext. 357. All inquiries must be made by Feb.18.

VOCATION RETREAT - For women, 16 to 35 years old.The Second Annual Women’s Religious VocationDiscernment Retreat will be held January 11-12, 2013 at theDiocesan Pastoral Center, 2500 N. Tyler St. The retreat isfor young women 16-35 years of age who want to learn anddiscern about Religious Life. Repeaters from last year willhave advanced discussion topics. Sponsored by the DiocesanOffices of Vocations, Youth & Campus Ministry, & Ministerfor Religious, the retreat will include talks & panel discussionson Religious Life by Sisters of the 12 congregations servingin Arkansas; time for prayer & reflection; and opportunity tospeak with the Sisters. The Retreat is Free. For moreinformation see http://www.dolr.org/religious/orders.php orcontact Sr. Joan Pytlik, Minister for Religious jpytlik@dolr.orgor 501-664-0340, ext. 384.

“Be doers of the word” (James 1:22)

Discernment Retreats for young men and women: Doyou possibly feel called to a vocation? How do you know?You should “Come and See” at one of the upcomingretreats:

For Young Men: December 29-30, 2012at St. John’s Center, Little Rock, AR(call 664-0340, ext. 378 for more info)

For Young Women: January 4-6, 2013at Holy Angels in Jonesboro, AR(call 870-273-6872 for more info)

CYM will meet on Wednesday, January 2nd, 7-8:30 p.m.

WEEKEND EXTRAVAGANZA will be here before you knowit! The dates are January 19-20, 2013, and the registrationdeadline is January 7. We will be staying at the DoubleTree downtown. Our speaker is Sr. Helen Prejean, thesister behind the movie, Dead Man Walking. Cost is$45. Get the details at CYM!

Chaperones & Skiers are needed for the 2013 SPRINGBREAK SKI TRIP to Breckenridge, CO. The dates areMarch 16-22. The basic package cost is $675 whichincludes bus transportation, some meals, condominium,ski rental (snow board extra), and lift tickets. Lessons,required for first time skiers, are extra.

JR. HIGH CYM

Thank you to all the parents who helped with theChristmas Caroling! We had over 40 junior high youthsinging carols to our neighborhood parishioners.

8th Graders & Parents: Interested in the ski trip? Youngerfamily members may go as well if a parent chaperones.It’s a great trip, and Breckenridge is a family-friendly town!

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUSfor Catholic Men

18 years and older

Become a part of a great charitable organiza-tion and make a difference not only in your life,but in the lives in your parish and community bygiving back. Please call Larry Witherspoon at681-1097 or Pete Stabnick at 663-2032 for moreinformation about Knights of Columbus Council812.

Monday, December 24 CHRISTMAS EVE - Is 9:1-6; Ps 96:1-3, 11-13; Ti 2:11-14; Lk 2:1-14

4:00 p.m. Mass Holy Souls in Purgatory by Holy Souls Parish6:00 p.m. Mass Expectant Parents by Holy Souls Parish12 Midnight Mass Homebound of the Parish by Holy Souls Parish

Tuesday, December 25 THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD - Is 52:7-10; Ps 98:1-6; Heb 1:1-6; Jn 1:1-18 [1-5, 9-14]

10:00 a.m. Mass Our Parishioners by Holy Souls ParishWednesday, December 26 ST. STEPHEN - Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25a; Ps 71:3-4a, 5-6ab, 16-17; Lk 1:5-25

5:30 p.m. Mass Elsie Rhein by Edith TreadwayThursday, December 27 ST. JOHN - 1 Jn 1:1-4; Ps 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12; Jn 20:1a, 2-8

7:00 a.m. Mass Katherine Burbage by Holy Souls ParishFriday, December 28 THE HOLY INNOCENTS - 1 Jn 1:5 — 2:2; Ps 124:2-5, 7b-8; Mt 2:13-18

7:00 a.m. Mass Horace Emmett Dobbins by Neil H. & Regina Malczycki Dobbins and familySaturday, December 29 ST. THOMAS BECKET - 1 Jn 2:3-11; Ps 96:1-3, 5b-6; Lk 2:22-35

8:00 a.m. Mass Bernardine Savary by Holy Souls Parish4:00 p.m. Vigil Mass John Robert Hiller by Neil H. & Regina Malczycki Dobbins and family

Sunday, December 30 THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY & JOSEPH - Sir 3:2-6, 12-14 ; Ps 128:1-5;Col 3:12-21; Lk 2:41-52

8:00 a.m. Mass Ellen Dailey by T. J. & Catherine Mattingly10:00 a.m. Mass Intentions of Parishioners5:30 p.m. Mass Dorothy “Dot” Broaddrick by Rose Marie Miller

Liturgy Schedule and Mass Intentions