Monday, December 22

9:00 a.m. Liturgy of the Word & Communion

4:30 p.m. 3rd

/4th B-ball Practice—Gym

6:00 p.m. 5th/6

th B-ball Practice—Gym

Tuesday, December 23

8:30 a.m. Mass at St. Joseph’s (Plymouth)

9:00 a.m. Liturgy of the Word & Communion 6:00 p.m. 7

th/8

th B-ball Practice—Gym

7:00 p.m. Adult Choir—Music Room

7:00 p.m. Symbolon—Lower Level Meeting Room Wednesday, December 24 Christmas Eve

4:00 p.m. Children’s Mass—Prayers for MPHM

Parishioners

6:00 p.m. Children’s Mass at St. Joseph’s

(Plymouth)

10:00 p.m. Vigil Mass—Prayers for MPHM

Parishioners Thursday, December 25 Christmas Day

8:30 a.m. Mass at St. Joseph’s (Plymouth)

10:30 a.m. Mass—Prayers for MPHM Parishioners Friday, December 26

4:30 p.m. 3rd

/4th/5

th/6

th B-ball Practice—Gym

Saturday, December 27

1:30 p.m. Bernard/Durbin Wedding

5:00 p.m. Mass—Prayers for Carol Young,

Jeanne Martin Sunday, December 28

8:30 a.m. Mass at St. Joseph’s (Plymouth)

10:30 a.m. Mass— Prayers for Dave Riehl,

Larry & Lucy Fike, Living and Deceased

of the Alt & Willman Family

Dear Parishioners, Well, I hope that everyone is behaving well as

we enter into this final week of Advent. Of course we should always behave well, but Santa does help us remember to be kind to one another. Frankie seems to be barking less. Perhaps he is hoping for his stocking to be full on Christmas morning! One year all I got was a lump of coal and a block of wood.

Today’s readings remind us that King David’s posterity shall endure forever because its fulfillment is in the son of Mary, Jesus the Christ. Let’s remember to “keep Christ in Christmas” as we grow closer to the big day on Thursday.

Have a blessed Christmas and please make room in the pews for all of our extra visitors this week!

– Fr. Jim

FROM THE DIOCESE: Whenever a county/city

within the Diocese of Toledo is placed under a Level 3 Snow Emergency, during which all roadways are closed to non-emergency personnel, the Catholic Churches within that geographic region will cancel the scheduled Saturday Vigil or Sunday, or Holy Day Masses. Roman Catholics in that region, therefore, are dispensed from the obligation to attend Mass. If Masses are cancelled, Catholics are encouraged to participate in Holy mass via television, radio or internet, making a spiritual Communion. When Mass is cancelled, all other diocesan, parish, or school events in that geographic region are also cancelled.

WEEKDAY MASSES will not be celebrated if the

Shelby School System has closed for the day due to bad weather. We will celebrate weekday Masses if the schools only remain on a "delay", but please do not venture out onto the roads if it seems too dangerous for you to be driving during a delay.

PARISH OFFICE HOLIDAY HOURS: The Parish

Office will be closed December 23-26, December 30-Jan 2 for Christmas and New Year’s. For your convenience the office will be opened Monday, December 22 and Monday, December 29 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Snow Days: If the school is closed due to a snow day

the parish office is closed as well.

Wedding Banns III: Elizabeth Bernard & Alec Durbin

Daily Scripture Readings Monday: 1Sam.1:24-28; 1Sam.2:1,4-8; Lk.1:46-56

Tuesday: Mal.3:1-4,23-24; Ps.25:4-5ab,8-10,14;

Lk.1:57-66

Wednesday: Christmas Vigil

Is.62:1-5; Ps.89:4-5,16-17,27,29;

Acts 13:16-17,22-25; Mt.1:1-25

Christmas Mass During the Night

Is.9:1-6; Ps.96:1-3,11-13; Tim.2:11-14;

Lk.2:1-14

Thursday: Christmas Day

Is.52:7-10; Ps.98:1-6; Heb.1:1-6; Jn.1:1-18

Friday: Feast of St. Stephen, First Martyr

Acts 6:8-10,7:54-59;

Ps.31:3cd4,6,8ab,16bc,17; Mt.10:17-22

Saturday: Feast of St. John Apostle & Evangelist

1Jn.1:1-4; Ps.97:1-2,5-6,11-12;

Jn.20:1a,2-8

Sunday: The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph

Sir.3:2-6,12-14; Ps.128:1-5; Col.3:12-21;

Lk.2:22-40

Due to the early bulletin deadline, our money reports will appear in future bulletins.

Saturday, Dec. 27, 5:00 p.m. Mass

Lector Christi Smith

Servers Oliver Wagner, Eric Workman, Ethan Yates

Comm. Bill & Toni Anspach, Lisa Hiler, Janet Kehres,

James & Marge Karl

Ushers Don Metzger, Bryan Kreinbrink, Frank Hicks,

Reed Castor

Greeters Bette Damron, Amy & Richard Greene

Music Disciples of Song

Sunday, Dec. 28, 10:30 a.m. Mass

Lector Deanie Kehres

Servers Brock Kehres, Derek Lowe, Adam Niese

Comm. Bill Houseworth, Todd Kehres, Casey Kerr,

Kathy Lowe, Beth & Ed Kurtzman,

Scott Kurtzman

Ushers Clem Kanney, Lee Kaple, Jeff Murray,

Volunteer

Greeters Lynelle Boyce, Veronica & Anna Dannemiller

Music Youth Praise Team

SLAM Youth Ministry News

The SLAM Christmas Party is tonight Sunday, December 21st from 6-9 p.m! If you forgot to RSVP let Kari know by 4 p.m. if you are joining us; call or text 419-571-3803.

SLAM will be going Ice Skating, Tuesday, December 30th! In order to ensure we have enough drivers, please let Kari know ASAP if you would like to join us!

Youth Praise Team sings for mass next Sunday, December 28th. Please be at the church by 10:00 a.m.

There are no regularly scheduled SLAM or DEEPER events during Christmas break! We will resume SLAM Sunday, January 4th and Deeper Wednesday, January 7th. Enjoy this blessed season with your family.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: No Religious Education

Classes December 24th or December 31

st, have a

Blessed Christmas and Joyful New Year. Mandatory Parent Meeting for those parents who

have children preparing for 1st Reconciliation and

1st Holy Communion, the meeting will be held on

January 14th from 6-7 p.m. Mark your calendars now,

more details to follow.

Lord, fill our hearts with your love, and as you revealed to us by an angel the coming of your Son as man, so lead us through his suffering and death to the

glory of his resurrection, for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one

God, for ever and ever. Amen.

DONATION TO PARISH: Recently, a donation was

made to Most Pure Heart of Mary Parish in memory of John Ensman. It was $10,000.00. The money was earmarked for "liturgical items". After reviewing this gift with the Ensman family and our parish staff I have purchased the following items:

Presider chair and Deacon chair, consecration bells, 4 new communion cups, a small altar for the Lower Level of the Parish Center weekday Mass, an ambo with a microphone for LLPC weekday Mass, cushioned chairs for the LLPC weekday Mass. As these items arrive they will be blessed and put into use.

I'd like to thank the anonymous donor. A small plaque will be placed on the back of the new presider chair in memory of John Ensman. So far we've spent around $8,600.00. If there is any other 'liturgical item' you think should be added to this list please contact me personally.

By the way, the Altar/Rosary Society pays for altar linens, vestments, candles, hosts and wine. I very much appreciate the Altar Rosary Society's sacred contribution enabling us to celebrate the sacraments.

– Fr. Jim

Greetings from St. Mary’s School A ministry of Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church

As we celebrate the birth of Christ and usher in a new year, I continue to count my blessings every day. When I do, I thank God for you. You are a gift. Everything about you is unique. God made you in his image, but with your own special meaning in His amazing world. Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

There’s no one else God wants you to be. You have meaning and value; He has a plan specific to you. I want to take this opportunity to thank you for being you; you are in my prayers.

We are truly blessed, Lisa M. Rhodes, Principal

SUPPORT OUR RETIRED PRIESTS: Thank

You to those who have contributed to the Perpetuate the Gift Collection! Our parish has pledged $270.00 to date. There is still time to support our retired priests. Please consider donating to this worthy cause. gift of cash or check can be sent to Perpetuate The Gift, PO Box 954, Toledo, OH 43697 or placed in your parish collection. A gift may also be made online at www.ourpriest.org. If you would like to give a gift of stock or designate a bequest to help our retired priests, please contact the Catholic Foundation at 419-244-6711. Envelopes are still in the pews.

Sponsor of the Week

DRS. WINBIGLER, ZITKO & ZITKO

419-347-1445

DEACON’S CORNER

Last time we ended this column in the Eucharistic Prayer at the consecration of the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ. The Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church. It is an extension of the cross on which Christ died for us through the ages until he comes again. It is a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity, and a Pascal banquet in which Christ is consumed and a pledge of future glory is given us. Through this mystery instituted at the Last Supper by Christ himself, we invoke the Holy Spirit to become the Body and Blood of Christ. In the Old Testament bread and wine were offered in sacrifice among the first fruits of the earth as a sign of grateful acknowledgement to the Creator. In Exodus they received a new context: the unleavened bread, this bread, Israel eats every year at Passover, commemorates the haste of departure that liberated them from Egypt; the remembrance of the manna in the desert will always recall to Israel, that it lives by the bread of the Word of God. Much more could be said about this part of the Mass but there isn’t enough space to put into a column such as this. To reach a better understanding of this mystery requires further adult education on the subject specialized in the area of the bread from heaven and mystery of transubstantiation.

In the Mass, there are several versions of Eucharistic Prayers that can be used all approved by Rome. While the main four prayers commonly heard throughout the year, are Eucharistic Prayers for reconciliation as well as various needs of the Church and its people.

Following the Eucharistic Prayer, the service leads us to the Communion Rite, which blends fluently together. This Rite contained within the Mass begins with the Our Father and ends with the distribution of Communion. The Sign of Peace is made after the consecration of the Eucharist and before the reception of Communion. This Rite stems from Matthew 5:23 “if you remember that your brother has anything against you, leave your offering before the altar, and go be reconciled first.” The Rite is optional based upon the type of celebration and various other items that might come into play. It is not a time of congratulations or condolences but a time to be one as a community united in Christ under the umbrella of the Catholic faith. In today’s world Catholic’s are faced with the grave commitment to build a more just and peaceful world, implies a more profound Christian understanding of peace and its expression in the liturgical celebration.

The Agnus Dei, Lamb of God follows the sign of peace. The source of The Lamb of God comes from ancient Roman and Ambrosian Rites. Even more remote text comes from text of the Baptist (John 1:29) and is supplemented by the cry of the two blind men (Matthew 9:27). I bring this out, not to confuse you with in depth information, but that you realize that our ritual Mass is not dreamed up but is scripturally based throughout. Most of the prayer comes from the Apocalypse where

more than thirty references are made to the ‘the Lamb that was slain from the beginning of the world.’ (13:8) Like a sheep led to slaughter, Jesus our Lamb, was lead to Calvary. It is a prayer of atonement, purity, gentleness and Eucharistic sacrifice. It is a prayer of forgiveness in preparation for the reception of communion by the priest and the faithful. The Lamb is sacrificed for the salvation of the world. At the conclusion of the Lamb of God, the priest presents the Lamb of God to the people and joins them to affirm the Presence and to declare our unworthiness to receive and be part of such a sacred event, as the coming of Jesus to the altar.

As we recall throughout the Old Testament by the peoples looking upon God, they would entail death (Judges 13:22) and again in Exodus 33:18-23 the exchange with Moses where God tells Moses that he ‘cannot see his face.’ We behold God who has taken on human flesh, like you and me, yet we do not die. Through the Body of Christ offered on this altar, we truly live! Christ present to us sacramentally in the Eucharist, we are happy to be called to the supper of the lamb. At this moment we are celebrating the heavenly banquet of the Lord. We receive the Lord’s Body at Mass precisely that we may be made worthy to sit with him at the heavenly banquet. It is hope that allows us to await that heavenly home, but we cannot presume that we will automatically be there. The phrase ‘that you should enter under my roof’ translates from scripture (Luke 7:6-7) where the healing of the centurion’s servant takes place. As we prepare to receive Christ in communion in our hearts, we prepare ourselves to receive guest in our homes, our hearts. While a lot of the prayers in the Mass are verbal, there are silent prayers offered by the deacon and/or priest while at the altar. Some of the prayers are by the deacon or priest themselves, others are for the faithful and still others are combined prayer of everyone.

All this is then concluded by distribution of communion to the faithful followed by a beautiful prayer said in silence by the priest as vessels are purified. “What has passed our lips as food O Lord, may we possess in purity of heart, that what has been given to us in time may be our healing for eternity.”

THANK YOU!: “We can certainly call you friends

because of the way you care for our retired members,” writes a religious brother. Your gift to last week’s collection for the Retirement Fund for Religious benefits some 35,000 senior sisters, brothers, and religious order priests. May God bless you for your generosity!

Most Pure Heart of Mary, Shelby St. Joseph’s, Plymouth

Christmas and New Year’s Schedule

Christmas Liturgies

Christmas Eve, December 24 4:00 p.m. Children’s Mass at Shelby 6:00 p.m. Children’s Mass at Plymouth 10:00 p.m. Vigil Mass at Shelby

Christmas Day, December 25 8:30 a.m. Mass at Plymouth 10:30 a.m. Mass at Shelby

New Year’s Liturgies

New Year’s Eve, December 31 6:00 p.m. Vigil Mass at Shelby

New Year’s Day, January 1 8:30 a.m. Mass at Plymouth