Third Sunday of Advent December 11, 2016

A SEASON OF HOPE Today we can bask in the imagery that the

Mass readings offer us. In particular, Isaiah’s vi-

sion of a parched land that blooms with abundant

flowers holds a message for each of us. Too of-

ten we are just like that parched land. We can al-

low ourselves to become absorbed in the waves

of consumerism that grip so many. We look for

fulfillment in the things that money can buy. Un-

fortunately, this leaves us like parched land,

thirsting for something that money can’t buy.

This holy season has much to offer to quench our

thirsts. In a word, this season offers hope. We are

told that those who are ransomed by God will

know joy and gladness. For them, sorrow and

mourning will be no more. Let us place our hope

in these promises.

Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.

St. Anthony Catholic Church PARISH OFFICE: 364-6150 FAX: 364-0969 SCHOOL OFFICE: 120 W. Park Ave. Phone 364-1952.

**In case of an emergency Email: frneusch@gmail.com or 806-570-5706** Parish website www.stanthonyscatholicparish.com

Parish Office Address 114 Sunset Drive in Hereford, Texas 79045 PARISH PASTOR — Rev. Fr. Anthony Neusch DIOCESE of AMARILLO — Bishop Patrick Zurek

Sign up for R.C.I.A and Small Groups Adult Faith Formation email janiebanner1@wtrt.net or call 364-6150 or 364-7626

Send bulletin art & articles to Jasmin Enriquez at jme.stanthonys@gmail.com by NOON Wednesday morning of week prior. Parish Office is open Mon. 10AM– 12PM, 1PM-5PM, Tue.—Thurs. from 9AM-12PM, 1PM—5PM w/ early closing on Fridays 9AM-12PM, 1PM-4PM during School

Session. Closed holidays, holy days and for some funerals & staff meetings. WELCOME NEWCOMERS: Please notify the church office of your arrival or if any changes in phone or address are made.

CONFESSION: Wednesdays @6:30am-7am & 6-6:45pm. Thurs@6:30am-7am. Fri.@7am-8am. Sat. @4-5:30pm. and Sun.@7:45am-8:45am and after the 9 AM Mass until 11 AM. Any time by appointment. Call the church office. NO confessions ON TUES. Priest’s day off .

BAPTISM PREPARATION CLASSES: 4th Wed of each month. MUST Pre-Register in the church office. Watch Bulletin for dates

WEDDINGS: Couples must be members of the Parish. To begin wedding preparation, please call for an appointment with the pastor at least six months prior to planned wedding date. Pick up a marr iage packet with all the wedding guidelines from church secretary.

SACRAMENT OF THE SICK: Call 364-6150 day or night. OR during office hours to schedule the Sacrament of Anointing prior to surgery or if health is serious or an accident has occurred. It is a Sacrament of healing and comfort, not necessarily of the dying.

Third Sunday of Advent DEC. 11 2016 8:45AM: Dismissal of RCIA after Homily, followed by topic—A/R 10AM Elementary F.F.C. in school classrooms. 9:45-11AM -- Study of Weekend READINGS in Library. Vocations Crucifix: 5PM: Volunteer 8:45 AM: Volunteer 11:30AM: 1 pm—3 pm Parish Holiday Meal 5PM HOLY HOUR MONDAY— 7:15AM Mass 6PM Advent Mission w/ Efen Emerson: A/R TUESDAY—5:30PM Mass 7-8 AM Men’s Lectionary Study Group: A/R. 6PM 24hr. Adoration Begins 6PM Advent Penance Service WEDNESDAY— 7:15AM Mass 9:30 am - 11 am Women’s Lectionary Study - “Resisting Happiness” Books $3 in church office. 6PM 24hr. Adoration Ends. 6:45 Jr. High and High School F.F.C. THURSDAY—7:15AM Mass 1:30PM Grandparent’s Christmas Program 6PM Christmas Program 6:30PM Finance Council Mtg. FRIDAY— 8:15AM Mass 12:35PM School early out. 7am-8am Book STUDY resumes. See bulletin for 2017 January new book study. Call Janie to order a book for you! "WHY STAY CATHOLIC?"

SAT. 5PM LITURGY DEC. 17, 2016 Vocation Crucifix taken by Volunteer

Fourth Sunday of Advent DEC. 18, 2016 Second Collection for Retired Fund for Religious

8:45AM: Dismissal of RCIA after Homily, followed by topic—A/R NO Elementary F.F.C in school classrooms. 9:45-11AM -- Study of Weekend READINGS in Library. Vocation Crucifix: 8:45AM Mass: Volunteer 11:30 Mass: Volunteer 1PM Christmas Baskets prepared and delivered. 5PM HOLY HOUR

LITURGY INTENTIONS

ALTAR SERVERS

Mon.7:15AM Roger & Donna Albracht Honor Tues. 5:30PM Annette Albracht Health Wed.7:15AM Elizabeth Walterscheid RIP Thurs. 7:15AM Garry Yosten RIP FRI. 8:15AM Intention of Donor SAT. 5PM Abbie Arroyos RIP SUN. 8:45 AM People of the Parish SUN. 11:30AM Sam & Vickie Valdez RIP

Lector Schedule for Dec. 17/18:

5 PM Mass: Audrey Meador and Saraie Perales

8:45AM Mass: Carmen Flood and Char lene Sanders

11:30AM Mass: Aida Lemus and Rosa Garza

Mon.7:15 AM Cadence Copeland and Cooper Copeland Tues.5:30PM Jayden Sosa and Keeton Caperton Wedn.7:15AM Kakee McIntire and London Baker Thurs.7:15AM Hope Mariscal and Faith Mariscal FRI. 8:15AM School Student SAT. 5PM Jack Detten , Rachael Detten, Avery Detten and Harrison Meador SUNDAY 8:45AM Ronnie Fetsch, Jayden Nanez, Jeremiah Nanez and Jonathon Nanez SUNDAY 11:30 Luke Perez, Chloe Casarez, Camila Casarez and Cristian Jaime

STEWARDSHIP of TREASURE Dec. 3/4 2016

Envelopes– 84 Loose Checks– 37

Envelopes/Checks $7,163.00

Plates $983.00

Children $88.21

Total

Black Bag Collection Total $1,077.61 Extra Collection World Mission $20.00 Postage $88.00 FINAL Total = $9,419.82

All Altar Flowers, are donated by St. Anthony’s Church. May God bless you all with love and joy!

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion Schedule for Dec. 17/18:

5PM Mass: John Lozoya, Elaine McNutt, Larry McNutt,

Barbara Yavornik and Monica Hernandez (L)

8:45AM Mass: Ronnie Fetsch (SC) Jan Weishaar (SC)

Jackie Casarez (SC) Brenda Yosten (SC), Elizabeth Vogel,

Krynson Jesko, Daniel Jesko (L) SICK CALL ONLY: Lawrence Brorman and Jim Hund

11:30AM Mass: 2 Volunteers, Sergio Correa, Mary

Ann Ramirez, Alyssa Rodriguez, Cynthia Rodriguez,

Teresa Garth (L)

My family prayed _____

rosaries this week.

Rosary for Priests and Religious Life. A small group will lead in prayer after the

5:30PM Tuesday Mass, anyone who would like to stay and pray the rosary for priests and reli-

gious life are more than welcome.

PRAYER CHAIN REQUESTS We want to remind people to feel free to use the parish prayer lines when needs arise in your family in difficult times of testing and trial. Email jaime.brorman@gmail.com or call Rita Burges at 364-6766. Contacts are listed on the back of the weekly church

bulletin. You must first have the permission of the pa-tient or of a close family member who can speak for that person in need; you may use either their full name OR no name at all. It is also hoped that if the prayer line is being used anonymously, the caller inform our Pastor Father Tony so he can come to anoint or admin-ister the Sacrament of Healing when needed and to know who among the flock to keep in his daily prayer. Thank you and May God Bless you!

Support St Anthony School by purchasing a

$5.00 raffle ticket for the Catholic Schools

Sweepstakes. All monies from the sale of the

tickets go to our school. Catholic Life Insurance

is sponsoring the Sweepstakes and has donated

one grand prize for the entire Sweepstakes. The

2017 Grand Prize includes the Choice of 2017

FORD F‐ 150 TRUCK OR 2017 FORD FU-

SION SEDAN Or $20,000 Prepaid VISA Credit

Card Best of all, if you purchase a ticket from

our school, you could

win a $1,000 Prepaid

VISA Credit Card. Stu-

dents are selling tickets

until December 15.

Eben Emerson is the husband of Dr. Jennifer Emerson and the proud father of Benjamin, Catherine, and Elizabeth. Eben holds a BS and an MS in Biblical studies and has extensive ministry training. Eben served a missionary for the Churches of Christ for 3 years in Mexico City and Ecuador. Upon his return from Latin America he served as a minister for Spanish and English speaking churches of Christ for sev-eral years. After an extensive study and lots of prayer Eben came home to the fullness of Christ’s Church at the feast of Christ the King in 2008. Since his conversion Eben has been very active in teaching and speaking. He has appeared on EWTN’s “Journey Home” and EWTN’s “Deep in Scripture.” He has taught deacon formation classes in the Diocese of Lubbock and has been blessed to teach in multiple parishes in and out of the area. He is the author of Catholic on Pur-pose and currently is the High School Religion teacher for Christ the King High School. Eben enjoys playing golf, hunting, and spending time with friends. He is eternally grateful for His reception into the Catholic Church and hopes and prays he can be of service.

Prepare to Hear This Man Bring our Parish ADVENT Mission! Please mark your calendar and make plans to attend this year's Advent Mission Talk on "Baptism" and what that means for each one of us. The evening of Monday, December 12th, we - Saint Anthony Church - hope to welcome Eben Emerson to a church full of folks preparing hearts for a never-new and holy Christmas Season following another blessed Advent! Make it a priority and invite friends, family and neighbors to join us!

199 rosaries were prayed for Voca-tions, the last several weeks. Thank you all so much!

Thank you to all who prayed, text, called and visited Roy while he was in the hospital after his accident. We are thanking God as the doctors expect a full recovery

and use of his hand and fingers. Your thoughts and prayers were greatly appreciated. God Bless all of you! Roy & Carla Schilling and family.

CALLING ALL “SINGING SAINTS”

THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF ST. ANTHONY CATHOLIC SCHOOL WILL BEGIN WITH THE CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK LITURGY ON JANUARY 29, 2017 AT 11:30 A.M. THE LIT-URGY PLANNING COMMITTEE WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME ALL FORMER SINGING SAINTS CHOIR MEMBERS TO BE A PART OF THE LITURGY. IF YOU WERE A PART OF THAT CHOIR, PLEASE CONTACT MRS. LUEB BY E-MAIL AT nalueb@yahoo.com or by phone at 806-364-4548 AND LET HER KNOW IF YOU WOULD BE INTERESTED IN SINGING FOR OUR CELEBRATION. It would involve a practice Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m. right before the Mass.

TEMPLE HILL, 91, passed at Westgate Nursing Home after a long illness. Her funeral is Wednesday afternoon at First Presbyterian Church. Temple was named Pioneer of The Year for Deaf Smith County and Hereford in 2008. She is grandmother of D'Ann Blair of our parish. Your parish prays for you in this time of sorrow.

LOST AND FOUND: A man’s ring with the Lord’s Pray-er engraved on it was found last week in the collection bas-ket . Lost and found items may be picked up at the church office during office hours.

From the desk of our pastor, Father Tony Neusch.

DECEMBER and JANUARY CALENDAR DEC. 11—Parish Holiday Meal, 1 pm—3 pm DEC. 11—Christmas lights and wreaths go up. DEC. 12—Advent Mission with Eben Emerson: 6 PM DEC. 13—Advent Penance Service at 6 PM DEC. 15—Christmas Program at 6 PM DEC. 15—Finance Mtg. at 6:30 PM DEC. 18—NO F.F.C DEC. 21—NO F.F.C: DEC. 24—Christmas Eve Mass at 7PM DEC. 24—Christmas Vigil Mass at Midnight DEC. 25—Christmas Day Mass at 10AM DEC. 26-30—Church office closed ALL week. DEC. 25/28—NO F.F.C Classes. DEC. 31—New Years Eve Mass at 5PM JAN. 1—New Years Day Mass at 8:45 AM and 11:30 AM JAN. 1—NO R.C.I.A or F.F.C JAN. 2—NO School and Office Closed. JAN. 2—6:30 PM Stewardship Mtg. JAN. 5—6:30 PM PTO Mtg.

“Strengthen the hands that are feeble, make firm the knees that are weak, say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God.” I have a classmate from Seminary who has suffered from Ado-lescent Onset Rheumatoid Arthritis. When his constant companion first struck he was left paralyzed. After years of treatment and medicines he lives a relative normal life, until winter. His last few years of priesthood have been spent studying in Rome where winters didn’t affect him. As he has returned him to the Midwest winter he wrote about his winter weakness. The morning chill leaves him unable to genuflect and sometimes kneel. He had forgot-ten about winter and his illness when its symptoms struck suddenly and caused him to collapse to the floor. He has to move slowly until his joints warm and loosen. What may cause our feeble hands, our weak knees, or our fearful hearts? Age, illness, anxiety, even sin. In the midst of all these we are saved. Our Good and Gracious God has assured us that His Son Jesus Christ walks with us and the Spirit enlightens our path. Even to the end of the age. Let us tenderly grasp week hands and offer warmth, let us walk shoulder to shoulder to steady weak knees, and let us share the cause of our joy to those whose hearts fear. We know our God is always with us.

CatholicMom.com Mass Worksheet 1. Today is the ____________________ Sunday of _____________________________. Today is also called Gaudete or _________________ Sunday. (Choose one: Silly, Joy, Christmas) 2. What color is the candle on the Advent wreath that was lit, today? The same color may be used on the altar. Purple/Violet Pink/Rose Red Black White Blue 3. From which Psalm is today’s Responsorial taken? Psalm ______________________. 4. What is the theme of this Responsorial? (a) Alleluia (b) How long oh Lord, will you hide your face from me? (c) Lord, come and save us. 5. From which Gospel is today’s reading taken? Matthew Mark Luke John 8. According to this reading, did John the Baptist know that Jesus was the Messiah? (a) Yes (b) No (c) He was unsure.

DISTINGUISHED GRADUATE Nominations for Distinguished Graduate of St. Anthony Catholic School are being accepted. A link to the form is below. Forms can be filled out and printed off or email it to mrscopeland@stanthonysaints.com or mrsmcnutt@stanthonysaints.com. Hard copies of the nomination form are available at the school office. http://stanthonysaints.com/media/elem_awards_graduate_2014.pdf

BLANKET DRIVE: The F.F.C 7th & 8th graders are having a blanket drive this Advent Season that supports, Catholic Charities of the Texas Panhandle Refugee Program, blankets can be brought to the Church and dropped off in one of the round bins that is in the front entrances of the church.

Kobonal Housing & Farming Project: Parish Council is offering an opportunity during this Advent Season to help provide a home on a plot of farmable land to a destitute rural family, located in Central Plateau of Haiti, through Cross Catholic Outreach. Any donation given to this project is greatly appreciated, please be sure to clearly mark the envelope or check.

Adult Faith Formation group meeting Wednesday evenings in the home of Al and Pat Simnacher (group is full) are

studying "The Prayer of Peace by St. Francis" (author is Hasse)

————————————————— FRIDAY Study of “Learning and Living Jesus" is in last few chapters. New book, “Why Stay Catholic?” in

January. 7-8:05 AM in Antonian Room —————————————

Vocation Crucifix! In need of volunteers to sign up for the Vocation Crucifix. Please call the church office if you would like to sign up to take the Vocation Crucifix, for a week of prayer for

vocations. Thank you.

NOTE for Wednesday Ladies Lectionary STUDY Group We started a book called "Resisting Happi-ness" by fun author Matthew Kelly. After looking at the weekly Readings, we read chapter by chapter and discuss how we can be better versions of the Christians we have been. We excitedly invite new mem-bers to Wednesday class. The new books are $3 each. Janie Banner, Adult Faith Formation Coordinator 364-6150 or -7626

"W H Y S T A Y C A T H O L I C ? "

ADULTS and YOUNG ADULTS WHO are IN-TERESTED!! Plan to JOIN us!

We will START the NEW Year January 2017 with a NEW book --"WHY STAY CATHO-

LIC?" by Michael Leach (Loyola Press: a Jesuit Ministry) We meet Weekly on FRIDAY MORNINGS in the Antoni-an Room from 7-8:05. We will start promptly at 7 with prayer

and go chapter by chapter through the book together. It comes highly recommended by a sister parish in Amarillo who found this book before us! CALL Janie at 364-6150 or 364-7626 if you wish to be a part of this small group and get your

copy of the book ORDERED! Books cost around $15. Men, Women, High School Teens, or Youth in College -- are all WELCOME! We must have your RSVP for book or-ders. It is fun to gather, share, discuss and grow in faith with

one another! Coffee is always on! Make that choice

now! Please CALL FOR BOOK ORDER BY DEC. 10. In Christ, Janie Banner - Parish

Adult Faith Formation Coordinator

WEDDING POLICY UPDATE: The new Rite of

Marriage now says weddings can no longer occur at a

Sunday Mass. Weddings can be scheduled

for either Friday evening (5 pm or 6 pm) or

Saturday (10 am or 2 pm). All weddings

currently scheduled are not affected

by the new policy.

Can Fruits, Various Drinks Soups Canned Tomatoes & Sauce Coffee & Tea Flour

Evaporated Milk Juices Cereals Crackers Powdered Sugar Sugar

Beans Shortening Canned Fruits Peanut Butter Jelly, Jam Jell-O Bread

CHRISTMAS PROJECT

Our Mission statement challenges us to be compassionate people and to dedicate ourselves to deepen our relation-ship with God through prayer, study, and apostolic action.

Christmas is a good time to help those people whose holidays may be very bleak because of the present economic situation. We ask those of the parish, who are able, to help provide food for the needy.

Thank you for your donation for our less fortunate in our community. SUGGESTIONS FOR THE FOOD BAGS

(PLEASE NO FRESH FOOD)

Canned Good > Green Beans, Corn, Sweet Potatoes, Ranch Beans, Pork, Pinto Beans etc…

Pastas> Macaroni, Rice, Noodles, Spaghetti, etc…

Canned Meats > Spam, Corned Beef, Chicken, Vienna Sausage, Tuna, etc...

Filled bags may be brought to the Parish Office (Please make sure the food is not outdated)

Please bring by Friday, December 18, 2016. May God’s gifts fill your life this Christmas Holiday and always!

BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT: Nava Aviga Contra was born Nov. 24 to Marius & Irah Contra, Nava is the grandchild of parishioners Ciro & Jackie Casarez. Congratulations and God Bless your growing family!

Thoughts for Reflection: “What does love look like? It has feet to go to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want.

It has ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of others.” —St. Augustine

“Let your words encourage and heal and not wound”

Your job is to help your children get to Heaven!

Life