FAMILYLIFE

Family life issacred, but it isnot withouttrial. Perhapsthis is the mostimportantmessage we canglean fromtoday’sreadings. IfJesus, Mary,and Joseph cantrip upsometimes—can disconnect—then weshouldn’t find itsurprising when

such things happen to us as well. And parents everywhere(children, too) can probably relate to—and take some solacein—the Gospel’s account of Mary and Joseph after Jesusexplained why he stayed behind in the temple. They heard hiswords, Luke tells us, “But they did not understand what hesaid to them” (Luke 2:50). Amen! Nevertheless, Jesus doesgo back home with them, and continues to thrive under theircare.Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.

READINGS FOR THE WEEK

Monday: 1 Jn 1:5 — 2:2; Ps 124:2-5, 7b-8; Mt 2:13-18

Tuesday: 1 Jn 2:3-11; Ps 96:1-3, 5b-6; Lk 2:22-35Wednesday: 1 Jn 2:12-17; Ps 96:7-10; Lk 2:36-40Thursday: 1 Jn 2:18-21; Ps 96:1-2, 11-13; Jn 1:1-18Friday: Nm 6:22-27; Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8; Gal 4:4-7;

Lk 2:16-21Saturday: 1 Jn 2:22-28; Ps 98:1-4; Jn 1:19-28Sunday: Is 60:1-6; Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-13;

Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6; Mt 2:1-12

SAINTS AND SPECIAL OBSERVANCES

Monday: The Holy InnocentsTuesday: Fifth Day within the Octave of the Nativity

of the Lord; St. Thomas BecketWednesday: Sixth Day within the Octave of the Nativity

of the LordThursday: Seventh Day within the Octave of the

Nativity of the Lord; St. Sylvester IFriday: The Octave of the Nativity of the Lord;

Mary, the Holy Mother of God; World Day of Prayer for Peace

Saturday: Ss. Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen;First Saturday

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Classes resume: K - 5th on January 5th 6th - 8th “Edge” on January 10th 9th - 11th “Lifeteen” on January 17th

Epiphany Program: Wednesday, January 6th at 6:00 pm.Confirmation Retreat: Saturday, January 23rd at St. Alphonsus

SANCTUARY LIGHT

DECEMBER 26TH - JANUARY 1ST

The Sanctuary Light at St. John will burnin memory of Joey Vince.The Sanctuary Light in the Adoration Chapel will burnin memory of Marie Wilbeck.The Sanctuary Light at Our Lady will burn in memory of Dylan Ross.

IN SYMPATHY

Our Communities of Faith extend our sympathy andprayerful support for the families of:Lawrence Capone, parishioner of SJB and father of BrianCapone; and Henry Young, parishioner of SJB andhusband of Ellen Young. May the Lord grant comfort and peace to these familiesand may they and all who sleep in Christ, find in Hispresence, light, happiness, and peace.

WEEKLY COLLECTION 12/20/2015

St. John the BaptistIdentified Contributions (166 Families) $ 7,386.00Unidentified Contributions $ 686.67Building Maintenance Fund (6) $ 370.00Christmas Flowers (8) $ 260.00Retirement for the Religious $ 245.00Legacy of Faith / Capital Camp (41) $ 4,031.00ONLINE GIVINGRegular Contributions (31) $ 1,945.00Building Maintenance Fund (4) $ 100.00Christmas Flowers (2) $ 45.00Legacy of Faith Capital Camp. (32) $ 3,047.38CAMPAIGN TOTAL $ 5,592,866.35

Our Lady of AssumptionIdentified Contributions (38 Families) $ 3,150.60Unidentified Contributions $ 386.00Building Maintenance Fund (1) $ 25.60Christmas Flowers (3) $ 60.00ONLINE GIVINGRegular Contributions (5) $ 1,205.00

Pray for our Military and their families

Marvin Ashford, Jr., Army James A. Benning, USMCMatthew Boyd, Army Eugene Cazedessus, USMCLeLand Crochet, III, USMC Matthew Charlet Dart, USN Patrick Deslatte, USN Jacqueline Deslatte, USNStephen DiLorenzo, Army Adam Foster, USNBrad Gautreaux, USMC J. Michael Head, USMCJoseph N. Jones, Jr., Army Sabrina Jones, LaNGMarkus Kippers, USN Dustin Knight, USNJoseph L. LeBlanc Jr., Army Stanley Mays, USAFAndrew Metcalf, Army Ben Gordon Morseth, USCGGordon Newman, Army Robert Brett Parker, LaNGBrian Plauche, USAF Andrea Byrd Prosser, USCGMike Prosser, USCG Jesse B. Richard, Army Nicholas Richards, USN Michael Roberts, USCGJames Rouchon, USMC Jarrod Mason Sealey, USAFDavid Welch, LaNG Gordon M. White, USAF Tyler Wigger, USN Christopher Williston USAF

Tax Deductible Donations

As we approach the end of the year, itis important to remember to get yourdonations in before December 31st tobe included in the 2015 tax year. Since the office is closed onDecember 31st, your donation must bein the office by the close of the business day on Wednesday, December 30th.

Handmaids of the Lord

Study program for 2016: “Consoling the Heart of Jesus” by Fr.Michael Gaitley. Beginning January 21, 2016 on Thursdaysfrom 6:00-7:00pm for 10 weeks.Contact Jennifer Johnson at 654-9470. The book is available at Amazon forapproximately $15.00.

2016 25th & 50th Wedding Anniversary Celebration

Bishop Robert W. Muench will celebrate aliturgy honoring couples on their 25th, 50th,and 65th or greater wedding anniversary on Sunday, February 21, 2016at Our Lady of Mercy Church. The families of the honored couples arealso invited to attend the liturgy and reception afterward inthe Our Lady of Mercy Activity Center.Please contact our parish office to register.

✞ ~ ✞ NEXT WEEK AT A GLANCE ✞ ~ ✞

Sunday, December 27th The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph-7 am: Mass / Coffee & Pastries-10 am: Chaplet of Divine Mercy / Rosary-11am: Mass -OLA -8:30 am: Choir-9 am: Mass Monday, December 28th -6:30 pm: Intercessory Prayer Group-6:30 pm: Scouts-7 pm: N.A. MeetingTuesday, December 29th -6 pm: Adult Choir-OLA-6:15 pm Confessions-6:30 pm: MassWednesday, December 30th -7 am: Mass-5:30 pm: Jr. High Youth NightThursday, December 31st New Year’s EveOffice Closed-4 pm: Vigil Mass at OLA-6 pm: Vigil Mass at SJBFriday, January 1st Solemnity of Mary, The Holy Mother of GodNew Year’s DayOffice Closed-9 am: Mass at SJBSaturday, January 2nd -3 pm: Confessions -4 pm: Vigil Mass Sunday, January 3rd The Epiphany of the Lord -6:30 am: Knight of Columbus Rosary-7 am: Mass / Coffee & Pastries-8 am: Knights of Columbus Meeting-10 am: Chaplet of Divine Mercy / Rosary-11 am: Mass -OLA-8:30 am: Choir / Rosary-9 am: Mass / Children’s Liturgy-10 am: K-11th Religious Ed Class #10-10 am: First Sunday Social

SOLEMNITY OF MARY - MASS TIMES

Thursday, December 31st

4:00 pm at OLA6:00 pm at SJBFriday, January 1st

9:00 am at SJBOffices closed December 31 & January 1st.

May the peace and the joy that Christmas brings, always be with you and your family throughout the new year.