Every human being was created by God for union with Him. Moving toward perfect union with God is what the spiritual life is all about. Sometimes the

process feels great - energizing, peaceful, and immensely rewarding. But at other times, things don't go so well. If you are going through a difficult time in your

prayer life or are feeling discouraged, don’t give up. Rather, look to our St. Ann and St. Joseph bulletin for a few catalysts to help you react to the love of God

offered through His Son Jesus Christ who took on flesh that glorious Christmas night .

As some of you know, I was in nursing school for a year and during that year I had a challenging Chemistry professor whose goal in life was to weed

out some of the students in the program. I’m proud to say I passed the class after a lot of studying and left the program due to my divine calling rather than the

professor’s “mission of misery” (LOL). Sure, I don’t use a whole lot of chemistry as a priest, but some of those definitions can be of assistance once in a blue

moon. The word catalyst comes to my mind often when I think of our spiritual life opportunities advertised every week in our bulletin. A catalyst increases the

rate of a chemical reaction without itself undergoing any change. As I look at our bulletin we are loaded with catalysts for the spiritual life… opportunities to help

us react to God’s outstretched arms & even if we don’t take advantage of them, these opportunities will likely not undergo any change. I know I’m stretching the

analogy but I think you get the point. Even if only 2 people show up to our Power Hour on Wednesday evenings, we are still going to offer it and whether there

are 40 people or 3 people at a book study offered, we are still going to offer such opportunities to mature in spiritual warfare. The spiritual life is amazing and

renewing but yes it is also challenging and we all need some catalysts to help us react to the outstretched arms of God.

Here are some catalysts I’m praying you can keep on your radar. I hope you are aware that our Blessed Sacrament Chapel at St. Joseph is available

every single day. This sanctuary gives us the opportunity to visit our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament whenever we need a pick me up throughout the work day.

Along with many prayer groups, we have our Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament (which everyone is encouraged to join) who take great advantage of this

lovely chapel. On top of that, we also have amazing opportunities for Eucharistic Adoration every Tuesday at St. Joe’s from 9am until 4:30pm as well as our

St. Ann’s Power Hour of Eucharistic Adoration offered each Wednesday from 6:30pm- 7:30pm. What better way to pray than being in presence of Jesus himself

in the Blessed Sacrament! Centering Prayer is also offered each Tuesday at 9am in our Holy Family Room. And I would be amiss if I did not mention how beauti-

ful it is as a priest preparing for Mass when I hear the Rosary recited before daily Mass at St. Ann’s and on the weekend at St. Joseph’s. Come to Mass early for

this devotion to our Lady and you will not be disappointed. These are just a few of the regular things we have the great opportunity to take part in within our

Parish Family.

Our studies, groups and devotions are multifarious and on display in our bulletin. Please lend yourself to these various opportunities for us to grow in

holiness together, especially in group settings. For example, when a gentleman joins our Men’s Group on Saturday morning they will not only be filled with

coffee and donuts, but lessons on how to live the Gospel Message and grow in spiritual maturity. In groups such as these scattered throughout the bulletin, God

calls us to seek Him, to know Him, to love Him with all our strength. God the Father in his Son and through Him, invites us to become, in the Holy Spirit, ever

closer to Him as His adopted children and thus heirs of His blessed Life. Please take advantage of these catalysts in the spiritual life. Hopefully I used a term I

learned in Chemistry properly enough not to offend those scientists among us. If not … luckily for me I don’t need a perfect competency in Chemistry to enter

paradise, but rather a heart spiritually prepared to gaze upon God for all eternity.

In Christ,

Fr. Jeff

Sunday, January 5 Epiphany of the Lord Is 60:1-6 Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6 Mt 2:1-12

8:30 a.m. Mass - St. Ann & St. Joseph Parishes (SAC) Coffee & Donuts (BHH) 10:30 a.m. Mass - Daniel Jenkins (SJC) 2nd Grade Class Mass & Activity, Coffee & Donuts (SJH) 11:30 a.m. RCIA (HFR) 1:00 p.m. Spanish Mass - Marcia Gerber (SJC) 5:30 p.m. Mass - Raymond & Olivia Baumann (SAC) 2nd Grade Class Mass & Activity, Pizza Party (BHH)

Monday, January 6 St. André Bessette 1 Jn 3:22-4:6 Mt 4:12-17, 23-27

8:00 a.m. Mass - Religious Vocations (SAC) 9:15 a.m. Mary Queen of Peace Prayer Group & Marian Movement of Priests Meeting (SJC) 7:00 p.m. Pints with Priests (Casa Fiesta)

Tuesday, January 7 St. Raymond of Peñafort 1 Jn 4:7-10 Mk 6:34-44

9:00 a.m. Eucharistic Adoration (SJC) 9:00 a.m. Centering Prayer Group (HFR) 4:00 p.m. Youth Choir Practice (SPX) 5:30 p.m. Mass - Mary Yeager (SJC) 6:30 p.m. Contemporary Choir Practice (SAC)

Wednesday, January 8 1 Jn 4:11-18 Mk 6:45-52

8:00 a.m. Mass - Richard Mayle (SAC) 6:00 p.m. Confirmation Meeting (FLC) 6:00 p.m. St. Ann Finance Council Meeting (HFR) 6:30 p.m. Power Hour (SAC) 6:45 p.m. CCD (FLC) 7:00 p.m. St. Joseph Finance Council Meeting (HFR) 7:00 p.m. St. Joseph Choir Practice (SPX)

Thursday, January 9 1 Jn 4:19-5:4 Lk 4:14-22

8:00 a.m. Mass - Edward Dorobek (SAC) 10:00 a.m. Tri-Parish Women’s Bible Study (SHC) 6:30 p.m. Love is Stronger than Death Study (FLC) 6:30 p.m. Oremus Study (SJH) 7:00 p.m. St. Joseph Building & Grounds Meeting (HFR) 7:00 p.m. St. Ann Adult Choir Practice (SAC)

Friday, January 10 1 Jn 5:5-13 Lk 5:12-16

8:00 a.m. Mass - Patricia Overmyer (SJC)

Saturday, January 11 1 Jn 5:14-21 Jn 3:22-30

6:30 a.m. Fremont Area Catholic Men’s Group (SJH) 8:30 a.m. Mass - Robert & Patricia Schumm (SJC) 4:00 p.m. Mass - Carl Filliater (SJC) 5:30 p.m. Charismatic Leaders Meeting (SJH)

Sunday, January 12 Baptism of the Lord Is 42:1-4, 6-7 Acts 10:34-38 Mt 3:13-17

8:30 a.m. Mass - Mary Ellen Cooley (SAC) 10:30 a.m. Mass - Daniel Stein (SJC) 11:30 a.m. RCIA (HFR) 1:00 p.m. Spanish Mass - St. Ann & St. Joseph Parishes (SJC) 5:30 p.m. Mass - Janet Gabel (SAC) 6:30 p.m. FACT Unite (SHC)

Mallory Abbot, Lavonne Babione, Paul Barnum, Mary Benner, Pat Merrill Bergmoser, Carol Butzier, Paul Colavincenzo, Jeanne Darr, Phillip Darr, Phyllis Dowling, Virgil Faulkner, Scott Forgatsch, Doug Fought, Erin Furlong, Therese Gabel,

Maria Garcia, Raul Garza, Paul Gonya, Raul Gonzales, James Haas, Claire Hampshire, Tom & Sandy Harman, Sue Homler, Dave Jenkins, Bob Kanan,

Kathy Koch, Genevieve Kowaleski, Carol Kromer, Alison Lauer, Bea Lorenz, Steven Link, Judy McKinney, Don Miesle, Mary Miesle, David Miller,

Dick Morley, Virginia Poseler, the Price Family, Nicholas Reed, Marylou Reyna, Bill Rimelspach, Dick Ross, Eva Sanchez, John & Carolyn Spieldenner, Steve Szymanowski, Sr., Terry Szyperski, Kay Tischler, Virginia Valle, Margaret Wagner,

Wendy Wehring, Ken Weickert, Deacon Norb Wethington, and Rev. Richard Wurzel

Altar Servers January 12 8:30 a.m. — Ruby Smith and Brennen Paeth 5:30 p.m. — Jason & Emily Kupka Readers January 12 8:30 a.m. — Vickie Snyder 5:30 p.m. — Shelley Hillman Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion January 12 8:30 a.m. — Doug Smith, Jim & Mary Hertzer, and Kim Cope 5:30 p.m. — Barb & Tom Swedersky and Sarah Engeman Communion Distributors Parkview Care Center January 5 Jim & Mary Hertzer January 12 Tim Meyer Bethesda Care Center January 19 Carol Miller ProMedica Memorial Hospital January 10 Ed Chimahusky

Altar Servers January 11/12 4:00 p.m. — Nick Krumnow, Xander Ried, Corey McKnight, and Merrick Hirt (MC) 10:30 a.m. — Chloe Whittekind, Mila Gruic, Luke & Kiran (MC) Dahnke 1:00 p.m. — Edwin Guzman, Calixto Gutierrez, Breanna Garza, and Camille Gonzalez Readers January 11/12 4:00 p.m. — Marci Reineck 10:30 a.m. — Paul & Ethan Grahl 1:00 p.m. — Hector & Marta Aguirre

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion January 11/12 4:00 p.m. — Shelly & Abby Krumnow, Tom Halm, Ellen Ickes, Jean Miller, Arlene Lenhart, and Tom Reineck 10:30 a.m. — Mary Costilla, Nancy Sattler, Julie & Nick Reimer, Rachel McCoy, Cathy Miller, and Gerry Gonya 1:00 p.m. — Israel & Maria Ysasi

December 29, 2019 73 Envelopes $ 2,783.00 Loose Cash $ 325.00 Children’s Offerings $ 2.00 Total Sunday Offerings $ 3,020.00 Amount Needed Each Week $ 5,600.00 Amount UNDER Budget $ 2,580.00 Year-to-Date Needed $145,600.00 Year-to-Date Received $130,994.00

December 28 - December 29, 2019 240 Envelopes $ 10,297.00 Loose Cash $ 1,021.36 Children’s Offerings $ 1.50 Total Sunday Offerings $ 11,319.86 Amount Needed Each Week $ 11,350.00 Amount UNDER Budget $ 30.14 Year-to-Date Needed $295,100.00 Year-to-Date Received $287,156.13

Thank you for your sacrificial giving that supports our mission!

St. Ann—Tom, Bill, & Howard Stierwalt, Calvin Fought, and Jeff Miller St. Joseph—Jim & Mary Yeager, John & Alison Lauer, Marc & Patti Schulz, Jenny Dorobek, John & Carol Wasserman, and Dick & Cathy Celek A huge THANK YOU to our January cleaners!

Thank You! We continue to take donations towards the projects underway at each Parish. To date, St. Ann has collected $50,864 and St. Joseph has collected $149,522. Thanks for your continued investments in the future of our Parishes! We anticipated being able to use the empty lot (across the street, where St. Joseph School originally stood), but due to unpredictable winter weather, the contractors advised that we do not use the empty lot for parking until it can be paved in the spring. The fencing will remain up until the next phase of the project can begin. We are looking forward to this new addition of the parking lot, shrine, and memorial to the St. Joseph Campus. Christmas Offerings- Thanks to everyone’s kind holiday generosity, St. Ann & St. Joseph received a substantial amount of donations during our Christmas Masses. As of our counts on December 30th, St. Ann collected $13,800 and St. Joseph collected $32,264.50

Thank you, Marty Zamora! For the past six years Marty has been the bookkeeper for St. Joseph and now St. Ann and St. Joseph Catholic Parishes. We have been blessed by her hardworking dedication that has ensured our finances are in order and that we are being good stewards. Marty recently announced that she will be departing and returning to the legal field to fill a similar job that she had prior to coming to the Parishes. We are very grateful for her time and wish her the best in her job. Don’t fret, she has promised that her and Albert will still remain active parishioners! Widows and Widowers Club will be having a Potluck

on Saturday, January 18, 2020 at the Sandusky

Township Fire Station (2207 Oak Harbor Rd)

beginning at 12:30pm. Bring your own drink and dish

to share! Thanks to a generous donation, the meat is

provided. Please enter through the back door. We

hope to see you there! If you have any questions,

please contact Barb Quaintance (419) 332-8979

January 3 - January 9 — at St. Ann Parish In Memory of Ray Ronski Jr. - Given by Barb Quaintance

January 3 - January 9 — Blessed Sacrament Chapel at St. Joseph Parish

For Paul Colavincenzo - Given by Barb Gray

December 27 - January 9 — Main Church at St. Joseph Parish For Jesus Cruz - Given by Maria Alaniz

El Dorado Taco

Authentic Mexican Food 126 N. Ohio Ave.

Fremont, OH 43420

(419) 355-0814

Division # 3

Dorothy Darr, monitor

Dearly beloved, the last verse of the Gospel reading, which is still ringing in your ears, is intended for the instruction of believers. It tells how, when they had entered the house in which the blessed Virgin Mother was staying with her child, they opened their treasures, and offered the Lord three gifts—gold, frankincense, and myrrh—thereby acknowledging Him as true Lord, true Man, and true King. Holy Church also offers these same gifts to her Savior every day without ceasing. She offers Him frankincense by acknowledging and believing Him to be the true Lord and Creator of all. She offers Him myrrh when she affirms that He assumed the substance of our flesh, in which He willed to suffer and to die for our salvation. And she offers Him gold by believing without doubt that He reigns eternally with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Alternatively, the offering of these gifts may be taken in a mystical sense. Heavenly wisdom is symbolized by gold, according to the verse of Solomon which says: A priceless treasure lies in the mouth of the sage; and elsewhere in Scripture says: The mouth of the just will utter wisdom. By frankincense pure prayer is to be understood, as the psalmist says: Let my prayer rise like incense in your sight, O Lord. For when our prayer is pure, it yields a purer fragrance to the Lord than the smoke of burning incense, and just as such smoke rises upward, so does our prayer ascend to the Lord. Myrrh can be taken as the mortification of the flesh. Thus, we offer the Lord gold when we shine in His sight with the light of heavenly wisdom. We offer Him frankincense when we send up pure prayer before Him, and myrrh when, mortifying our flesh with its vices and passions by self-control, we carry the cross behind Jesus.

From Magnificat (Vol. 21, No. 11), written by Saint Bruno of Segni

Chris and Marie Hausman have been married for

almost 19 years. Chris is self-employed and Marie

works at Croghan Colonial Bank. They are both

SJCC band officers. They have 3 children; Noah, Erin

and Blake. Noah is 16 and a junior at SJCC, where

he is involved in band, drama, and on the bowling

team. Erin is 13 and an 8th grader at Junior High

Academy. She is involved in band there and plays

on the volleyball team. Blake is 7 and in 2nd grade at

Sacred Heart Campus.

Here at St. Ann, Marie is on Pastoral Council and

Erin is an Altar Server. When 5:30pm Sunday night

Mass was started, Marie and Noah took on yet

another ministry. They are our “technical team” and

make sure that the words to our songs are shown on

the wall every Sunday night. This family is dedicated,

no matter what ministry they are doing, and we are

so grateful for all their services. Please join me in

thanking them for helping all of us to Grow in

Holiness together!

The Christmas decorations at St. Ann come down on Sunday, January 12th immediately after the 5:30pm Mass. We could really use your help! If you are planning on attending this Mass, please plan on staying for just a few minutes afterwards to lend a hand if you are able. Thank you so much!

We have room on the bus for YOU!! It is that time of the year to be thinking ahead about attending the Washington, DC March for Life on January 24, 2020. Immaculate Conception and St. Joseph Parishes Respect Life Ministry is once again hosting a bus for the March and we hope you will consider joining us to speak out against the greatest injustice of our time, abortion. Plans are underway and the itinerary is being finalized. The bus will be leaving Port Clinton/Sandusky on January 23 and will return January 25. Prayerfully consider joining us to stand up for life! The cost is $240.00 per person/double occupancy. Contact Courtney at the St. Joseph Office by phone or email for the registration forms.

If you know of someone who is currently homebound and would like to receive a hardcopy of our weekly bulletin, please contact Courtney at the St. Joseph Parish Office (419) 334-2638

2019 brought many blessings to our parishes, including quite a few new members!

We want to extend our warmest welcome to all of St. Ann & St. Joseph’s newest parishioners!

St. Ann

Anthony & Deborah Bender

Matthew & Maggie Beeker

and family

David & Connie Bartlett

Cara Good & Michael

Steffen and family

Alex & Maverick Lozano

Dave & Kathy Dariano

Mike & Ginny Nusbaum

Lee Swartz

Aaron & Elizabeth Zaleski

and family

Hannah Zaleski

St. Joseph Raul & Lexi Almeida and family Douglas Baker & Karla Paredes and family Alexander & Jamie Darr and family Sarah Durst Jarrett Eakin & Erica White Joshua & Jordan Frederick Carlos Gomez & Jacqueline Gutierrez and family Ingrid Hernandez and family Matt & Tracy Hushour and family Courtney Hurlburt Bob Kanan

Jake & Emily Kusmer Joshua & Elizabeth Lauer

Manuel & Mellissa Lopez and family Tim & Lynn Lutz Leticia Lorenzo & Alfonso Vasquez and family Maria Lorenzo & Martin Vasquez and family Randy & Jackie Macko Ian McDermitt Anthony & Jackie Messina and family

Kyle & Alison Miller and family Jason & Jill Moore and family Brandy Moreno and family Nicholas & Katie Myers and family Gene Nieset Cheryl & Thomas Reser

Reynaldo & Autumn Reyna and family Kayla Rios and family Andrew & Carly Ronski and family Michael Roob Matthew Schenk & Ann Bitting and family Devin & Katherine Kremin and family Jillian Tarolli & Brad Biehler

and family Allison Wasserman Angela Young

~ ~

Employment Opportunity: Part-Time Bus Driver

Bishop Hoffman Catholic School is seeking to hire a

Bus Driver for before school transportation and after

school activities. If you have a passion for working

with children, and are dedicated to providing the

best care to our students, then we want you to be a

part of our team.

The position is approximately 24 hours per week.

Work schedule is Monday through Friday from

5:30am - 8:15am and 2:15pm – 4:15pm and some

after school high-school athletic activities with hours

to be determined.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Must be 21 years of age

• Must have high school diploma equivalent

• Must complete school application and physical

examination

• Must obtain driving record (abstract)

• Must complete criminal record check (BCI/FBI)

• Must have C.D.L. license with passenger and

school bus endorsements or be willing to attend

required classes to receive C.D.L.

• Must have strong mechanical background

• Must be able to work independently without

supervision and have excellent decision-making

skills

• Must have desire and ability to work construc-

tively with others

Interested candidates should send their resume

and cover letter to Anthony Fontana at

afontana@bishop-hoffman.net