To request a Mass intention, please visit the parish office during normal business hours.

Note: Please be aware that our bulletin is posted on our website.

Any information herein is, therefore, public.

Mass Intention Readings Special Events

Saturday

December 14th

8:00 AM —†Jane & Bill Jensen

by Kathryn Aunger

Sir 48:1-4, 9-11

Mt 17:9a, 10-13

4:00 PM—Fr. Bond by Isabelle &

Victor Valuja

Is 35:1-6a, 10

Jas 5:7-10

Mt 11:2-11

Sunday

December 15th

Third Sunday

of Advent

10:00 AM—pro populo Adult Faith Formation

11:15 AM (Parish Hall)

Monday

December 16th No Mass today

Nm 24:2-7, 15-17a

Mt 21:23-27

Tuesday

December 17th

4:00 PM—†Joe Plazerine by

Jan Plazerine

Gn 49:2, 8-10

Mt 1:1-17

Bible Study

(cancelled until January 7th)

Wednesday

December 18th

8:00 AM—†Catherine Whitely

by Kathryn Aunger

Jer 23:5-8

Mt 1:18-25

Holy Spirit Prayer Group

(cancelled until January 8th)

Thursday

December 19th

8:00 AM—†Gladys Delcourt by

Trudy Muller

Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25a

Lk 1:5-25

Parish Council Meeting

7:00 PM (Parish Hall)

Friday

December 20th

8:00 AM—†Jaun & Eperanza

Gonzalez by Valuja Family

Is 7:10-14

Lk 1:26-38

Saturday

December 21st

8:00 AM—†Olive Plazerine by

Jan Plazerine

Sg 2:8-14

Lk 1:39-45

4:00 PM—†Joe Plazerine by

Charlie & Ro Boyle

Is 7:10-14

Rom 1:1-7

Mt 1:18-24

Sunday

December 22nd

Fourth Sunday

of Advent

10:00 AM—pro populo Adult Faith Formation

11:15 AM (Parish Hall)

ADDRESS: 37 Murphy Dr. P.O. Box 1359 Maggie Valley, NC 28751 PHONE: (828) 926-0106

WEBSITE: www.stmargaretofscotlandmv.org EMAIL: stmargaretmv@bellsouth.net

CONFESSIONS: Saturday: 3:00-3:45 PM,

Sunday: 9:00-9:45 AM, 1/2 hour before all

Daily Masses, or by appointment

SACRAMENTS/FUNERALS: Contact office

of Scotland St. Margaret

MISSION STATEMENT To grow in the love of the Lord,

follow the teachings of the Church,

& serve one another and the community.

Sunday Liturgy:

Monday:

Tuesday:

Wednesday-Saturday:

Holy Day of Obligation:

Snow Days:

Refer to back page for possible changes

Pastor

Deacon (seasonal)

Secretary

Faith Formation

Choir Director

Organist

Rev. Christopher Bond

Rev. Mr. Miles Merwin

Mrs. Ruth Schultz

Ms. Nicki Conroy

Mrs. Bernice Smathers

Ms. Faith Garner

Roman Catholic Church

OFFICE HOURS:

Monday-Friday: 9:30 AM—5:00 PM

Saturday-Sunday: Closed

Holidays: Refer to back page

4:00 PM (Vigil)

8:00 AM (seasonal)

10:00 AM

No Mass Today

4:00 PM

8:00 AM

Refer to back

page for specified

schedule

Contact office

CLERGY & STAFF

MASS SCHEDULE

PRISON MINISTRY

Donations of Christmas cards (with pre-stamped envelopes) for the prison in-

mates are due by this Sunday, December 15th (basket in vestibule).

HOLY INFANT OF PRAGUE NOVENA

Please consider praying this nine-day novena in these waning days of Advent.

This novena is rich in Church history and is prayed for nine consecutive days

starting on Dec. 16th and ending on the vigil of the Feast of the Nativity, Dec.

24th. Through this novena, the faithful implore the

Holy Infant of Prague for His intercession in tem-

poral and spiritual needs. When former Pope Ben-

edict XVI visited the Prague church where the In-

fant Jesus is kept, he said he thought the image

demonstrated God's closeness and love through

His child-like tenderness. He specifically prayed for

children who are victims of violence and different

forms of abuse, and he also prayed for broken and

unfaithful families. Devotion to the Holy Infant of

Prague began in the 16th century. In April 1639,

the Swedish army began a siege of the city of Pra-

gue. The frightened citizens hurried to the shrine of

the Infant Jesus of Prague as services were held

day and night at the Church of Our Lady of Victo-

ries. When the army decided instead to retreat,

the Discalced Carmelite monks who took care of

the statue and the grateful residents ascribed their rescue to the miraculous

Holy Infant. The statue has also merited papal recognition through Pope Leo

XIII, who instituted the "Sodality to the Infant Prague of Jesus" in 1896. On March

30, 1913, Pope St. Pius X further organized the "Confraternity of the Infant Jesus

of Prague." The prayers for this novena can be found at: https://

www.praymorenovenas.com/the-infant-jesus-novena

MARCH FOR LIFE 2020

The right to life is a human right. Our defense of that right is a joyful witness to

the beauty and dignity of every human person. The March for Life is an inspir-

ing, peaceful, vibrant, and joy-filled rally held in in our nation’s capital of wom-

en, men, young people, and children from all across the country. Every year,

hundreds of thousands of pro-lifers converge on the National Mall and march

on Capitol Hill on the anniversary of the Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe v. Wade

ruling which legalized abortion in all 50 states. It is the largest annual human

rights demonstration in the world. It is not just a protest; but a celebration of all

human life, from the moment of conception to natural death. For more infor-

mation and schedule of events, please visit:

https://marchforlife.org/national-march-for-life/

WEEKLY OFFERING

DIOCESAN SUPPORT APPEAL

OUTSTANDING DSA PLEDGES DUE BY END OF DECEMBER: $288.25

PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS

R. Allan, Chris Churchill, Denise Collins, Deacon Miles, Thomas Dexter, Elliot

Dowdell, Norma Esbenshade, Pat Gerakaris, Jeff Hanson, Rance Hood, Gwen

Horn, Maryellen & Ray Hoefer, Joe Hoefer, Ann Ketchum, Josh Ketchum,

Kimberly Krisan, Matt Loetz, G. Lydia, R. Mas, Peter Mino, Robert Missana,

Deborah Mock, S. Mullen, Michael Naydock, Joseph Orvos, Pat & Suzanne

Palmiere, Pat & George Pastore, Mike R., Marie S., Sue Quick, Edward Smathers,

Austin Strader, Tinley Jane Toner, Kathy Torda, Olivia Triollo, Bella Grace

Yarrington, Bruce Yarrington, David Yarrington, & all in need of prayer.

Names will remain on this list for one month unless notified otherwise.

STEWARDSHIP REFLECTION

Good news, Christian stewards — we are gaining ground on our Ad-

vent mountain climb and it is time to take a moment to rejoice in the Good

News that our Savior will come again in triumph one day. Today’s readings on

this Gaudete (“Rejoice”) Sunday are filled with reminders of God’s final victory

over suffering and injustice, and encouragement to remain steadfast in our

mission to live as faith-filled disciples.

Such a day almost seems too good to be true, especially when we

look around at the dire circumstances we face in our world at present. But by

faith we know this day is coming. Lest we grow weary as

we await the glorious day of Christ’s return, St. James, in

our second reading, offers wise counsel. “Be patient,

brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord… Make

your hearts firm… Do not complain, brothers and sisters,

about one another, that you may not be judged.”

This is excellent advice for us Christian stewards as we face the chal-

lenges of everyday life in our broken world, especially in the hectic days that

precede Christmas, when stress can make us and those around us less than our

best selves. St. James reminds us that we can choose our response to both the

great strains and the minor annoyances of life.

In other words, we can be good stewards of our attitude, “making our

hearts firm” by practicing patience with others and refusing to give in to the

temptation to complain.

We can choose to see and rejoice in God’s presence with us, no mat-

ter the circumstances surrounding us.

Copyright20www.thecatholicsteward.com

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