THE HOLY FAMILY DECEMBER 28, 2014 Fr. David Huffman

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 Maryann65@roadrunner.com.
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!