MASS SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEK

MONDAY, DECEMBER 13 — St. Lucy 8:00 AM (W) – All Parishioners

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14 — St. John of the Cross 8:00 AM (P) – +Randy Hall

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15 8:00 AM (P) — +Gene Meyer

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16 8:00 AM (W) – +Lyndell Lindsay

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17 8:00 AM (P) – +Jeff Maxwell

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18 8:00 AM (P) – +Johnny Picone 4:00 PM (W) — NO MASS 6:00 PM (P) — +Greg Quinn

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 19 — Fourth Sunday of Advent 8:30 AM (P) – +Sherry Nelson 10:30 AM (W) – +Mim Lashmet

PRAY FOR OUR SICK Third Sunday of Advent “Gaudete Sunday” December 12, 2021

He will rejoice over you

with gladness. (Zephaniah 3:17)

Nancy Capps — Buster Craven — Richard Frazier — Eric Fugate Jeff Galle — Paul Ineich — Terry Killday — Lee McCarter

Tom McCarter — — Dave Pfeiffer — David Smith, Jr. Mary Fran Smith — Trudy Stupavsky — Joshua Tatu

ST. MARY

DECEMBER 18 — 6:00 PM — SATURDAY Ushers – Volunteers

DECEMBER 19 — 8:30 AM — SUNDAY Lector – Ralph Benz Ushers – Leon Schlabowske; Maurice Hester; Craig Welch; Roger Lipcamon Servers – Mickey Petty; Jed Petty

ST. MARK

DECEMBER 12 — 10:30 AM — SUNDAY Lector – Andy Moss Ushers – Volunteers

DECEMBER 19 — 10:30 AM — SUNDAY Lector – Andrew Fearneyhough Ushers – Volunteers

Envelopes Used

St. Mary

47

St. Mark

24

Sunday Contributions 3,981.00 1,784.00

Online Giving 210.00 50.00

By Gloria Heinen Director of Religious Education

FRIDAY HOLY HOUR DURING ADVENT ST. MARK — WINCHESTER

Exposition of Blessed Sacrament — 6 PM Rosary — 6:45 PM

Followed by Benediction

Please pray for the repose of the soul of SHERRY NELSON (niece of Pat Ehrheart of ST. MARY’S); and JOYCE ATNIP (mother of Kathy Moore of ST. MARK’S). We offer our prayers and

sympathy to their family and friends. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in the peace and love of our dear Lord.

CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE

ST. MARK Christmas Eve — 5:00 PM

Christmas Day — 10:30 AM

ST. MARY Christmas Eve — 8:00 PM Christmas Day — 8:30 AM

This Sunday gets its title from the Latin word for “Rejoice” which begins the Entrance Antiphon for the Third Sunday in Advent.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice. Indeed, the Lord is near. (Phil. 4:4-5)

Advent Words To Know

Maranatha—mar-uh-hath-uh Means: Come, Lord Jesus

Emmanuel or Immanuel—Means: God is with us

Gaudete—GOW-day-tay—Means: Rejoice

Advent—Means: Coming or arrival

Metanoia—Means: A change of mind as well as a change of heart made evident in our actions

Pg. 43 — Sin is when we know what God wants and we say, “I don’t care.” This decision is at the heart of every sin. Rather than saying to the Father, “Thy will be done,” we say to the Father, “No-my will be done.” In this, we can see that sin is not simply breaking a rule; it is deciding to break a relationship.

Christmas is a season of giving. It is a season to make a gift of yourselves to others over and above material gifts. Give to others your forgiveness, your patience, your time, your love. All of this, and more, the holy Family willingly gave to humanity on the first Christmas. These are gifts of the heart. Accept your crosses for the sake of others for the end to legalized abortion and for an end to lack of Holy Love in hearts. Be servants of others in this way. These are the best gifts you can give to others and to Jesus on Christmas.

ST. MARY 226 E. Adams Website: www.stmaryspittsfield.dio.org Pittsfield, IL 62363 Online Giving: www.givecentral.org Office: (217) 285-4321 / Fax: (217) 285-9400 / stmarymark@gmail.com Weekend Mass: Sunday 8:30 AM / Saturday 6:00 PM Daily Mass: Tues., Wed., Fri., Sat. 8:00 AM Sacrament of Reconciliation: after Saturday evening Mass or by appointment.

ST. MARK 108 Pearl Street Online Giving: www.givecentral.org Winchester, IL 62694 Rectory: (217) 742-5224 Weekend Mass: / Sunday 10:30 AM / NO SATURDAY EVENING MASS Daily Mass: Mon., Thurs. 8:00 AM Sacrament of Reconciliation: after Sunday morning Mass or by appointment.

Rev. Mark A. Schulte, Pastor Deacon Mr. Michael “Kim” Scott

Pastoral Associate/DRE: Gloria Heinen Secretary: Pat Galle

Office Hours: Monday—Friday 8:30 a.m. -- 11:30 a.m. / 12:30 p.m. -- 4:30 p.m.

Diocese of Springfield in Illinois (217) 698-8500 www.dio.org

Bishop Thomas John Paprocki Diocesan Child Abuse Reporting & Investigation Number

217-321-1155

December 12, 2021 . Third Sunday of Advent

ST. MARY Altar & Rosary Society Bake Sale — THIS WEEKEND (Before & After Masses).

Christmas Pageant — Wednesday, December 15, 6:00 PM. Gingerbread House Making & Mostaccioli Dinner — December 15 after Christmas Pageant. Knights of Columbus Meeting — Monday, December 20, 6:00 PM, Parish Hall. Men’s Prayer Group — Saturday mornings, 6:45 AM, Parish Hall. Theology (RCIA) Class — Monday evenings, 7:00 PM, Parish Hall. That Man Is You — Wednesday mornings, 6:30 AM, Parish Hall. Youth Catechism Classes — Wednesday evenings, 5:00 to 6:30 PM, Parish Hall. Food Pantry Collection — first weekend each month at Masses (January 8 & 9). 24-Eucharistic Adoration — (January 7 & 8).

ST. MARK Knights of Columbus Meeting — Monday, December 20, 6:00 PM @ ST. MARY’S.

Friday Holy Hour During Advent — Exposition 6 PM; Rosary 6:45 PM, followed by Benediction. 12-Hour Eucharistic Adoration — First Fridays, 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Pray the Rosary — Tuesday mornings, 8:00 AM, Church, Men’s Bible Study Group — Thursday mornings at 6:45 AM.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS FAMILY CORNER: Fully Alive and Building the Domestic Church

DECEMBER — JOY The family must always be a place where, when something good happens to one of its members, they know that others will be there to celebrate it with them. “Our Lord especially appreciates those who find joy in the happiness of others.” Share this Meditation on of Pages 13-14 of The Family Fully Alive.

ALTAR & ROSARY SOCIETY DAY EVENT: The Altar Society is planning a Day Event sometime in the month of January. This will be a trip to Godfrey for lunch and shopping at “Josephine’s”. The cost of the lunch and tip will be approximately $20.00. We will be arranging car pools for transportation, so most of us will not have to drive. There is a sign-up sheet in the Gathering Space.

BAKE SALE THIS WEEKEND (December 11-12) — ST. MARY’S!!!!! Sponsored by the ALTAR & ROSARY SOCIETY. We will be holding our annual Holiday Bake Sale in the Gathering Space before and after Masses. In the past, this event has been enjoyed and well supported . Thank you in advance for supporting our Bake Sale this year!!

The third Sunday of Advent is also called Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete is Latin for “rejoice”. Today, we light the rose-colored candle on the Advent wreath, the priest wears rose vestments, and the whole Church invites us to celebrate.

Children who are in the Christmas Pageant should be at the Parish Hall NO LATER THAN 5:00 P.M. in order to get costumed. Those wishing to participate in the annual Gingerbread House Making are asked to bring 2 or 3 packages from the list below or of your choice to share. Some examples are:

Candy Canes — big and small Peppermint candy Christmas Peeps Smarties Dots Twizzlers Gum Drops Jelly Beans Lifesavers M& M’s Sprinkles

Chocolate chips Marshmallows — big & small Pretzels Coconut Frosted Shredded Wheat (for a roof) Big Red gum (for a roof) Fruit Loops Ice cream sugar cones (for a tree) Gingerbread man shaped cookies

Something to ponder!

Bethlehem means “House of Bread”. We make Gingerbread houses each year to try to instill this in the children. Jesus, who is the Living Bread, came down from Heaven to feed us. He was placed in a manger, a feeding trough for animals.

Join us for a night of entertainment, good food and family fun (December 15) beginning at 6:00 PM in the St. Mary’s Parish Hall. All are invited and encouraged to come.

Our Lady of Guadalupe