THE GIFT of CHRISTMAS You will find that outdoor decorations have already been turned off and even some trees now lay outside, barren and snow covered. Some gifts have already been returned; others lay ignored and still others a little worse for the wear. For many, Christmas is over.

For the Church, however, we are only half way through a season that lasts 12 days. From Christmas until Epiphany (Jan 8) we celebrate the Great Gift of Christmas and slowly unwrap the Present so we can better understand what the Father gave us in love.

HOLY FAMILY The feast we celebrate this weekend is a good case in point. The Christmas Gift of a Savior is not something we set aside until we approach death, but a gift given to affect our every day life.

For most of us, myself included, that everyday life is lived with others. The gift of Jesus is given to unite us with one another and with God. To unite us everyday, not just when things are difficult, but throughout the day to day of our lives.

May we continue to grow in our understanding of the meaning of Christ in our daily live and our hearts and our lives to THE GIFT which gives us life – both here and hereafer!

CHRISTMAS THANKS!! I would also like to thank all those who have been so generous to my sister, my niece and me! Thank you for all your cards and best wishes, the wonderful baked goods and the gifts you gave us. It was truly kind of you to remember us.

I also want to thank all those who have been so helpful ever since MaryAnna, Kayla and their dog & cat came to join me. Many have visited MaryAnna and helped her, making her life easier and happier. Several have sent in meals (sparing the two of them the burden of my cooking) and many of you have been so good about offering your help. I\we thank you for your kindness!

Fr. Dave Howell

There is a nationwide ministry available to traveling Catholics providing free information on the location of the nearest church and times of Masses on weekends and holy days. This service is available to all parishes by calling 1-800-627-7846.

The first reading today provides a challenging guideline for the good stewardship of our family relationships. How doi I measure up?

Please pray that the sick will respond to God’s healing will, especially: Bob Chilton, Diana Jax, Bill Janke, Vladimir Jandasek, John Colombo, Ken & Erin Colombo, Madalyn Barr, Louise Churches, Kathy, Jack Mekjian, Martha Rushak, Laura Matthews, Kate Ross, Paul Duff, Carol, Gregory, Norman VanDerBrouck, Toni Brenneman, Kateri Sullivan-Golbiw, Donna Caldwell, Bev Cermak, Fr. Bill Carolin, Jillian, Dottie King, Dave, Derrick Day, Katelyn ,Dante, Raynald Raymond, Rita Long, Joe, Bonnie Doty, Lottie Machowski, Bob Johnson, Frank Gondek, Lane Kombs, Virginia Williams, Ralph Helmer, Joanne Fournier, Bev Zizka, Barry Wilkinson, Maryanna, Fr. Terry Dumas, Kyle Ward, Lee Alstott, Fr. Gil Rahrig, Vincent Kramer, Mike, Linda Nagle, Judy, Thomas Payne, Joan & John Becker, Danielle Snowgold, Bud Newberry, Bishop Povish, Roe, John Pepa, Margaret Resconich, Rose Kumler, Joanna Bloese, Maureen, Russ Gardner, Susan, Ann Polcyn, Pete, Norman Moon, Cornelius Smits, Matt Even, Ellen Columbo, Adeline Smith, Larry Cecil, Karen, Laurie Deirlein, Jeanette Wood, and Donovan.

Monday – Friday

8:30a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Fr. David F. Howell, Pastor

Sr. Maryetta Churches, OP, Education & Formation of youth

Mary Mahar, Religious Education Coordinator

Marilyn Rhadigan, Formation & Evangelization of Adults

Anne Williams, R.C.I.A. Coordinator

H. David Scharf, Deacon

Kay Thurmon, Secretary & Bookkeeper

Josie Doucette, Secretary, Religious Education

Tom & Margaret Callaghan, Youth Ministry

Leo Camden, Custodian

Steven H. Schulte, Musician

Saturday, 4:30 p.m.

Sunday, 9:00 & 11:00 a.m.

Monday & Tuesday; Thursday & Friday-9:00 a.m.

Wednesday evening 7:00 p.m.

Saturday - 11:30-12:00 noon

We have a regular schedule for Infant Baptisms.

Arrangements can be made by calling Marilyn Rhadigan.

I would like to thank Ann Kehn and Erin Wolfe for all their hard work on our Nativity reenactment. They truly helped our children to see and live the Gospel! It was wonderful to watch the children as they prepared for the coming of our King!

Just a few Reminders: Religious Education/Formation classes will resume Sunday, January 7. There will be an important parent meeting during the classes on January 10&11 for parents of children preparing for First Eucharist. Parents of children in older grades, in our Family Program, or at St. Pat’s School are invited to attend any one of the session meetings. Call the office if you have any questions.

Every Sunday we have Children’s Liturgy of the Word for our younger children. If you would be interested in occasionally leading a session, please call the office.

Help is still needed in the office two Sundays a month for 1 hour. Call Mary if you can help.

Thought from Richard, 3^rd gr. "The Kingdom of God is like an acorn in many ways. An acorn turns into a huge oak tree like the Kingdom of God."

Happy New Year! It seems like such short time since we were all looking at the year 2000 in awe and now it’s old hat as well as most of our resolutions! Maybe this year will be better.

Special mention goes to our Scripture and Stitches group whose third quilt for Habitat for Humanity was raffled off on December 16. This year’s quilt brought in $1580. Plans are already underway for next years quilt. Congratulations to everyone involved.

With the new year we are starting something new – The First Sunday Speaker Program. Beginning January 7^th at 7:30p.m., we will offer a variety of speakers and topics for adults. The topic of the first presentation is the "Who, What, Where and When of Annulments in the Catholic Church." The presenter is me, Marilyn Pence Rhadigan. If you or someone you know has questions about this process, please consider coming. We will cover different aspects of petitioning for nullity as well as some of the forms and steps.

Start the new year out with a little wisdom! Thursday, January 11 begins our study of The Book of Wisdom. It may very well have been the last book of the Old Testament written and the only one written in Greek. It gives us a window into the mindset and philosophy present during the time of Christ. Our study begins at 10:00 a.m. and includes daycare. Sign up sheets are available in the gathering area.

Our Retirees’ Brunch with Fr. Dave fell victim to the bad weather of last week. It is now rescheduled for Tuesday, January 16, after the 9:00 a.m. liturgy. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate this time!

Yours on the journey, Marilyn

Happy New Year to you all. May your celebrations for 2001 be safe and may your new year be God filled with all His great blessings. Baruch I know will ring in 2001 sound asleep in is bed.

There is a meeting Sunday, January 21 at 6pm regarding our summer work program.. It is not too early to think of participating in the Young Neighbors in Action summer work camp.

Our ski trip has been scheduled for February 16-18. We will be going up to Nubs Nob located in the Harbor Springs area. I am looking for a couple female chaperons for this event. I will be available after all the Masses January 13 and 14 so you can sign up and pay.

Our Christmas Celebrations were fun and I thank those who helped with everything from donating money for the less fortunate, Maggie Pence for leading the reflection and for the adults who were a part of it all. Thank you.

January 27 and 28 we will again celebrate our own Souper Bowl Sunday. After all the Masses we will be standing by the exits wearing soup kitchen hats and aprons, holding cooking pots to collect money. Last year we collected over $1,700! All the money went to the poor as it will again this year.

I am currently working on new projects for the upcoming six months. Should you have any ideas please let me know. I would like to talk about new possibilities.

I will be setting up more dance dates. They will be announced here.

Margaret Callaghan

Our Sunday Nursery is still in need of parent volunteers for next year! Please stop by the nursery to get a sign-up schedule, and then call Janine Brandner at (810) 220-1107 with your choices! The nursery is in need of a small stool for the children to wash their hands. If you have one you would like to donate please drop it off in the nursery.

Jamie Colgin

Bishop Mengeling will celebrate mass with all Adult singles (35-55) and Young Adults (20’s & 30’s single & married) on January 21, 2001 at 12:00noon at St. Mary Cathedral, Lansing. Lunch will follow in Madonna Hall. The bishop will give an inspiring talk on topics of interest to singles & young adults and answer questions. To register, call Adult Singles & Young Adult Ministry (517) 342-2494.

James Quinn Thomas Chalmers

Joanne Lintzenich Harold Jones

Richard Waldeck Fielek & Shantz Relatives

Keith Erickson Mary/CharlesWojewodzki

Keith Dunn Dinda & Lickfold Families

Sarah McGill Janke Jimmy Monforton

Elmer Rickelmann Martha Korch

Thomas Korch Dennis VanBuskirk

Kathryn Newman Frank & Edna Dietrich

Mary Noldin Betty Huhn

Edward Swisler William Gerber

Effie Denhard Floyd Fuller

James Kazlauskas Henry Ulrich

Tina Bommarito McAdam Family

Scharf Family John Loveland

Larry Barazsu Father C. Robideau

Clayton King Bob Bock

Keith Erickson John & Celeste Collins

Jim Gondie II George Bousum

Sebastiano Russano Tim, Jenny, & Will Holden

Dennis VanBuskirk Ken Ley

Mildred Byrd Norm, Ruth & Doug Hagler

Ruth Lvensar Charles Williams

Leo Hellner E. Hinsky

Janina Lewandowski Father Ken MacDonald

Paul & Dorothy Luck John & Barbara Greilach

Jeanne-Margaret Jandasek

Family of Pat & Barry Shiek

Joseph & Elizabeth Dery

Dave & Josephine Sousa

George & Alma Higgins

Larry & Helen Baldinger

Sunday, Dec. 31 Tim Houran, Joan Houran, Lisa

Konieczka

Monday, Jan. 1 Joan Monforton, Emma Aiello,

Donna Jones

Tuesday, Jan. 2 Kathleen LaTarte, Chris Reid,

Cindy Bisoski

Wednesday, Jan. 3 Linda Chevalier, Lisa Allen, Cindy

McNallen

Thursday, Jan 4 Tom Askew, Josie Doucette

Friday, Jan. 5 Jim Chevalier, Pam Hurn, Chris

Kovanda

Saturday, Jan. 6 Theresa Wolterman

DIVORCE RECOVERY WORKSHOP, a program for divorced and separated persons of all ages will be held at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Ann Arbor on Wednesday evenings from 7-9:00pm Jan. 17 through March 14, 2001. Please call Virginia at 734-994-9194 if interested in participating.

WORLDWIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER WEEKENDS are planned for Jan. 6-8 and Feb. 23-25, 2001. They will be held in Holly, Michigan. All married couples are invited. This is your ticket to better communication and more love. Call Joel & Julie Fournier, 810-686-6315.

MORNING FOR LIFE is a special celebration including Mass, Exposition, Rosary for Life, Confessions and Benediction, held every Wednesday, 9-12:00 noon at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Hamburg. For information, call Judy Johnson at 810-231-6049.

SPONSOR OF THE WEEK

SERVICEMASTER

Craig Jarmosco representing DIOCESAN PUBLICATIONS (Our Bulletin Publisher) will be at the parish soon. He will be renewing present advertisements and seeking new ones. If interested please call the parish office. We feel this is an excellent service and that the sponsors get good coverage with their ads. THANKS TO YOU and DIOCESAN PUBLICATIONS, the bulletin is published weekly at no cost to the parish.

New In Our Parish Library for spiritual growth:

Prayers & Devotions, Pope John Paul II (242.3 Joh)

A Retreat with Thomas Merton: Becoming Who We

Are (242.3 Pad)