Weekly Bulletin
February 5, 2012
February 5, 2012
| St. Mary Catholic Church | |||
| 602 Marietta Street | |||
| Bremen, Ohio 43107 | |||
| Tel: 740-569-7929 | |||
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Weekly Bulletin
February 5, 2012 |
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St. Mary Catholic Church |
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| Pastor: | Father Thomas Kessler | |
| Assisting Priest: | Father John M. Reade | |
| Office Hours: | Monday, Tuesday & Friday (9 am - 2 pm) | |
| Phone: | 740-569-7929 | |
| Parish Secretary: | ||
| email: | bremenstmary1@frontier.com | |
| Parish Staff | ||
| Masses | ||
| Sunday | 8:30 AM | |
| Monday | 8:15 AM | |
| Tuesday | 8:15 AM | |
| Wednesday | 8:15 AM | |
| Thursday | 8:15 AM | |
| Friday | 8:15 AM | |
| Saturday | 6:00 PM | |
Collect for The Fifth Sunday in Ordinary TimeKeep your family safe, O Lord, with unfailing care, that, relying solely on the hope of heavenly grace, they may be defended always by your protection. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. |
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| Bremen St. Mary: | Monday - Friday @ 8 AM |
| St. Bernadette: | Monday @ 8:45 AM |
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Making Our Worship Beautiful
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I once heard a person compliment a priest after Mass by saying "That was a beautiful Mass." The priest answered, "They all are; the Lord made them that way." I forget if he said thank you before he got crusty. He had a point: it is the awesome mystery of the Holy Eucharist that is what is beautiful about the Mass. Nothing we do will ever improve on it, and nothing we do will ever rob it of its beauty. Yet that is no reason we shouldn't do everything in our power to do things beautifully at Mass and at all of our sacred worship. Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta had a saying about what she was trying to accomplish in her life. Mother said she wanted to do "something beautiful for God." We should try to make our lives something beautiful for God. And no aspect of our lives is more deserving of this effort than our worship. It is important that each parishioner, each worshipper, approach all of the liturgies of the year with a desire to be something more than a consumer. Each of us must make an effort to make our worship beautiful. Americans pride ourselves that we "don't stand on ceremony." There is a problem with that slogan: We need ceremony, we need for it to be beautiful, and we need to remember that we all together make it happen. And that takes an effort. Sometimes it goes against the grain. But it can happen. It should happen. I want to suggest five ways we can make our worship better, and I ask you to think about these and to give them a try. They can't improve the Mass, but they could eliminate some distractions, get us more involved in the reality of the holy mysteries, and, perhaps, make a small gift of "something beautiful for God." MAKE AN EFFORT TO PRAY TOGETHER. Whether it is praying the rosary or the stations of the Cross together or the psalms of our weekday morning we most all have a tendency to think my pace is the right pace. Someone else is a slow poke or a speed demon; I have the right pace. Deciding to follow the slower pace of the other person, pausing at the end of each line of the prayer or at punctuation marks can, but not for too long can, be a burden. But it can sometimes make a harmony of the praying together which is less distracting and less competitive. TRY TO WALK IN PROCESSION TOGETHER. Most of us don't do a lot of processing (processioning?). We might have marched in a band or in military drill at some stage, but that it isn't a daily activity for most of us. So walking in a procession with palms on Palm Sunday or with candles at the Easter Vigil is an art we don't get much practice in. It is meant to be a slow, stately act of prayer. So we don't just go into church and go sit down. There is something more: we all walk together, slowly, bunched up together, with reverent and, if we can muster it, with un-self-conscious but prayerful dignity. We go up the main aisle to the foot of the altar, then turn to the side aisles, about the way we would go to communion, without pausing to visit anyone. We go to our seats from off the side aisle. Just this once we can ignore whether we are headed to the seat we usually sit in. We're at prayer, in procession together. LEARN HOW TO WELCOME BABIES - AND HOW TO IGNORE THEM. It is so good that we have babies in our parish. I am grateful to the parents who "let the little children come" to the Lord. But they can become a distraction - a delightful distraction, but a distraction, all the same. Sometimes a baby with healthy lungs can let out a blast. Parents and the worshipers need self-discipline. The parents shouldn't be too embarrassed by fussiness from their baby; but they should take the baby into the hall or out into the vestibule if the noise gets really loud. And all of us, family and bystanders, should avoid oohing and aahing over the cuteness of a baby. We are there to pray, and even, if our mind is wandering, we should not distract those around us. Besides, even a small baby must be set the example from us older folks that something more important than cuteness is going on. It is the Lord. TREAT OUR CHURCH AS A PLACE OF AWE-FILLED SILENCE, especially towards the end of Mass (just after Holy Communion) and after Mass. Thank God we want to socialize with our fellow worshippers. And thank God he will let us pray anywhere and any time. But this place is the special place for prayer, and Sunday morning it's the time dedicated to praying. For many people, it is THE quiet time and quiet place for prayer. Please let that prayer happen. I say this as one of the worst offenders of my own suggestion. We don't need a lot of shushing, no. What we need is a lot of reverence and openness to prayer. GET DRESSED UP FOR MASS. We are a casual community. That's part of our charm. We can have a down-home, laid-back approach to God. But his presence is something special. Awesome. (There, that's the correct way to use that word!) Many of us don't own the "Sunday-go-to-meeting" clothes that mark church attendance in some communities, that used to mark it in all communities. But when we come to Mass we should clean up, dress with modesty and dignity. We should try to do something special about the way we look, the way we are fixed up for Mass. No one should ever be excluded or made to feel inferior. Many people have to come in work clothes if they are to come at all. They are welcome too. But no one needs to dress down for church. We should dress up - but, of course, not show off. It is for the Lord. ~ Father Kessler
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 E-mail or write one or two positives to your spouse. every day. They are worth the time! |
Bremen St. Mary PSR Family Day is open to the entire parish! Family Day will be held on Sunday, February 12, during PSR class time, 9:30-11 AM. Everyone can join in for a special day of learning, playing and praying. Help plan for enough supplies and snacks by filling in the registration form and returning it to your child's teacher or to the basket in the vestibule of the church today. |
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Serra will not meet or host Eucharistic Adoration in January and February. Their meetings will resume in March. |
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St. Thomas More Newman Center (on the OSU campus, Columbus) will host a diocesan SPRING NFP WORKSHOP beginning on March 10. The registration fee of $65 @ couple includes instructional materials; financial assistance is available. To register, contact the Marriage and Family Life Office at 614-241-2560 or FLOMailbox@colsdioc.org. |
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St. Gabriel Catholic Radio is on am 820. Enjoy solid Catholic programming (including Bishop Campbell, Tuesdays at 5 pm) that will help in your journey to know, love, and serve the Lord. |
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We made a mistake last week: published the wrong amounts for tuition at Fisher Catholic High School. That left some people asking questions that complicated the lives of administrators at Fisher Catholic. We are sorry about that and will try not to let it happen again. On the other hand, we are glad that people were reading the bulletin. And hope they took to heart the words about "Why Catholic Schools Matter So Much" and the reminder that "the school and the pastor willing to work with" serious Catholic families who find the expense difficult. Here are the figures as they should have read.
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See the exciting changes to Face Forward, the website created by the Vocations Office for the Columbus diocese. Read about local teenagers involved in various programs and projects that make a difference. Learn about the outstanding work being done by nuns and sisters. Explore the latest initiative: CATHOLICS COME HOME. Go to Face Forward for all things Catholic, all the time: www.faceforwardcolumbusblog.com and www.facebook.com/faceforwardcolumbus. |
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Next week is our parish collection for the Catholic Times weekly newspaper. This donation helps provide the Catholic Times to many of our parishioners. Envelopes are included in your collection packet. For a minimum donation of only $17 per year (parish rate), readers receive home delivery of a Catholic perspective on the world: local, national, worldwide, and Vatican news; diocesan, parish, and school stories; articles, regular columns, and editorials. As an evangelization tool, Bishop Campbell encourages every Catholic family to receive the Catholic Times. Parishioners using EFT may donate via the Sunday collection basket during February. |
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This program will take place Saturday, March 10, at St. Mark Church in Lancaster, from 9 AM to 4:30 PM, with sign-in beginning at 8:30 AM. A light breakfast and lunch are provided; dress is casual. Cost is $70 per couple. To register, call Tim and Annie Deitz (740) 687-5610. |
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This year's conference, CLOTHED WITH STRENGTH AND DIGNITY, BECOMING A WORTHY WOMAN OF GOD, will take place on Saturday, February 25, at the Ohio State Expo Center Lausche Building in Columbus. Speakers include: Leah Darrow from America's Next Top Model; Gloria Anderson, author of The Heart of Jesus from the Domestic Church; Jenn Giroux of Human Life International; and Yvonne Florczak Seeman, founder of Love from Above. Visit www.columbuscatholicwomen.com for details. |
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The 15th annual Columbus Catholic Men's Conference, CALL TO ACTION: BE THE NEW MAN IN CHRIST, featuring Richard Lane, Scott Hahn, Father Schalk, Msgr. Morris, Father Dosch, and Bishop Campbell, will be held Saturday, March 3, at the Lausche Building at the Ohio State Expo Center in Columbus. For questions, email julienap@columbus.rr.com. |
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On February 24 and 25, treat your beloved to a winter get-a-way amongst the wooded countryside of Licking County. Enjoy, from Friday evening to Saturday evening (following a candlelight dinner), quiet time together in the warmth of our retreat house. Share, as well, with other couples in presentations by Deacon Jim and Mary Sturgeon to feed your hearts and souls. $120 per couple. RSVP to Sts. Peter and Paul Retreat Center, Newark, at 740-928-4246 or email us at info@stspeterandpaulretreatcenter.org. Visit there website at www.stspeterandpaulretreatcenter.org |
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Participate in a special WEEKEND OF CHRISTIAN LEARNING AND RENEWAL. Contact Suzanne Wilkins at (740) 653-7620 or suzwsmiles@aol.com to learn more about THE CURSILLO METHOD OF PIETY, STUDY, ACTION AND GROUP REUNION. The March 22-25 men's weekend and April 26-29 women's weekend are accepting applications. |
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Please keep PRAYING for the RCIA participants who are preparing to BE BAPTIZED, CONFIRMED, AND RECEIVE HOLY COMMUNION at the Easter Vigil.
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A DVD discussion series on the new translation of the Roman Missal will be offered at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish in Buckeye Lake. It will explain the need for a new translation, the origin of the words of the Mass, and the connection to Vatican II. It will enrich our faith and help us get the most out of - and put the most into! - Mass. Presentations are Sundays, February 26, March 4, 11, 18, 25, from 9:30 to 11AM. Call (740) 928-3266 for details. |
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The Bremen St. Mary St. Vincent de Paul Society is sponsoring a clothing drive to benefit the St. Francis Center in Vinton County. Bring your clothing donations to the social hall by President's Day Weekend (February 18 & 19) and it will be sorted and delivered to McArthur. |
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The Catholic Laywomen's Retreat League invites all women to a silent retreat March 2-4 at St. Therese's Retreat Center in Columbus. It begins Friday evening and ends Sunday at noon. The theme is COMING TO KNOW JESUS THROUGH MARY. To register, email retreatleague@gmail.com or call Sharon Gehrlich at (614) 882-1946 by February 20. |
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Father Michael Dosch OP, pastor of St. Patrick Church in Columbus, invites you to join him on a pilgrimage to Fatima and Lourdes from June 25 to July 6, 2012. This is an opportunity for pilgrims to experience the international Church as a family while embracing the messages of these two great Marian shrines which are places of solidarity, humility, love and compassion. Contact Fr. Michael at Michael.dosch@juno.com or the Lourdes Pilgrimage Office at lourdespilgrimageoffice@comcast.net or (877) 276-7279. Father Justin Reis, former pastor of St. Bernadette, will lead a pilgrimage to Rome, Florence, and Assisi from October 21-30. This pilgrimage marks the Year of Faith declared by Pope Benedict to mark the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council. For information call Fr. Reis at (614)889-2221 x 113 or email jjreis@rrohio.com. |
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Listen to Bishop Campbell on ST. GABRIEL CATHOLIC RADIO 1580 am for weekly reflections from 5 to 5:15 PM on Tuesdays. Streaming audio is available at www.stgabrielradio.com. |
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BULLETIN NOTICES must be sent to the appropriate office by 9 AM on the Friday that is ONE WEEK PRIOR TO THE SUNDAY you wish a notice to appear.
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