FEAST OF THE HOLY
FAMILY
Parish Web Site- www.superiorcathedral.org
Superior Diocese Web Site- www.catholicdos.org
In the event
of an Emergency after Business Hours
Call Fr. Andrew
at 715-392-8511.
MASS INTENTIONS
- Fred & Margaret Ciccone
- Audrey & Carroll Comeaux
- Leon & Betty Stilwell
HOLY DAY – MARY MOTHER OF GOD
World Day of Prayer for Peace
- Betty Stilwell
WEEKEND MASS SCHEDULE
- Estate
- Leon & Betty Stilwell
Cathedral Parishioners
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SANCTUARY CANDLE
for the week of December 27th:
Will burn in memory of Tim R. Hart
By The Family
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VOCATIONS… Jesus was
born into a Holy Family, not a storybook family. Today, pray for married couples and for
parents, who strive to remain faithful to their commitments in a changing and
challenging world. (Luke 2:41-52)
Sunday: Sir 3:2-7,12-14 or 1 Sm 1:20-22,24-28 /
Lk
2:41-52
Monday:
1 Jn 1: 5-2:2/ Mt 2: 13-18
Tuesday: 1
Jn 2: 3-11 / Lk 2: 22-35
Wednesday: 1
Jn 2: 12-17/ Lk 2: 36-40
Thursday: 1 Jn 2: 18-21 / Jn 1: 1-18
Friday: Nm 6: 22-27 / Gal 4:4-7 / Lk 2: 16-21
Saturday:
1 Jn 2: 22-28 / Jn 1: 19-28
Next Sunday: Is
60: 1-6 / Eph 3: 2-3a,5-6 / Mt 2: 1-12
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In Loving Memory of … Emma Kallas. May she be granted eternal rest and may the
Lord’s peace and comfort be with her family and loved ones.
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CATHEDRAL CHURCH CALENDAR
Thurs/Fri. Dec. 31/Jan. 1 – Parish Office Closed
MINISTRIES
LITURGICAL ROLES for Dec. 31st & Jan. 1st
MINISTERS OF HOLY COMMUNION:
READERS:
SERVERS:
USHERS:
Sherry Mackiewicz
George Peterson
Lenny Rouse
Jim Cirilli
Bernie Reger
Jim Ronchak
LITURGICAL
ROLES for January 2 & 3
MINISTERS OF HOLY COMMUNION:
READERS: CANTORS:
SERVERS:
USHERS:
Sherry Mackiewicz
George Peterson
Jim Bleskan
Stan Semborski
Tom Tracy
Emil Osacho
Bernie Reger
Alex Wizbicki
GREETERS:
Mary Paquette (SE)
Amy Flessert (MC)
(Greeters Cont.)
Jean Biver (MW)
Barb Guenard (ME)
Sandy &
Theresa LaFlamme (MW)
Michael King (MC)
Bonnie King (ME)
STEWARDSHIP OF TREASURE
The first
reading today provides a challenging guideline for the good stewardship of our
family relationships. How do I measure
up?
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FINANCIAL
CONTRIBUTIONS: For December 19 & 20… 246 Envelope Users (272 last week) contributed
$19,057.00 in the Regular Collection, $1,045.48 in the Loose Collection. Thank you!
FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK
2009 CHARITABLE GIVING REMINDERS…
Gifts received by December 31st
or postmarked December 31st can help reduce your 2009 Federal Income
Taxes. The IRS does not allow 2009 tax
credit for checks that are received after December 31st or
postmarked after December 31st, even if checks are dated 2009.
To give securities, contact your investment
advisor. He or she can help assure your
transfer is completed in a timely manner.
Many people also review their comprehensive
estate plans at the end of the year. Remember
that your will, life insurance, retirement plans, and other planning vehicles
can offer opportunities to assist the present and future needs of CATHEDRAL PARISH, CATHEDRAL
SCHOOL, CALVARY CEMETERY while providing significant gift and
estate tax savings.
Please contact your tax advisor or contact
the Parish Office (392-8511) if
you have any questions.
WEEKLY MEDITATION
Holy Family
December 26-27, 2009
This
Sunday we celebrate the Solemnity of the Holy Family. It is a day on which we
honor Mary and Joseph who parented the young Jesus. It is a day upon which the
family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph is held up to us as an example of what it is
to be a family.
For
this celebration we are presented with an interesting mix of readings. The Old
Testament reading tells us the story of how the mother of the Samuel brought
him to the temple as a child to offer him to God’s service and is reminiscent
of the gospel story of the presentation of the infant Jesus at the temple. The
gospel reading shows us the incident of Mary and Joseph bringing the young child
Jesus to the temple, of his being separated from them, and of their finding him
there after four days. Both of these readings speak about how a child is
dedicated to the service of God and the role his parents played in that
dedication.
The
last of the three readings is from 1 John, a very short and somewhat obscure
letter near the back of the New Testament. This reading is a gentle challenge
to us. The author addresses the reader as “beloved,” but then challenges us to
recognize the great love of the Father for us which we know because, in the
words of the author, he has allowed us to be called his children.
Each
year, at this time, during the Christmas season, we remember the birth of a
single child, the care his parents had for him, and the extraordinary gift he
was to humankind. We honor that child for what he did for us but also because
within him dwelt the living God. This is as it should be and is truly fitting.
However,
I always have to pause and remember that every day new life is conceived. Every
day upon this earth new babies are born by the thousands. Two thousand years
ago, shepherds and kings, beasts and angels knelt in wonder at the birth of a
single child. What a miracle it was! Yet, every day new life comes into the
world and within each of these new lives there dwells the very same living God
who was incarnated in the flesh of Christ so many years ago. Each of them is a
child of God by virtue of creation and, in many cases, by virtue of baptism.
As I celebrate this solemnity and the great
Feast of the Nativity, I have to wonder what this world would be like if each
of us approached all new life as we presumably would have approached the new
life born in a manger so many years ago. If we were to recognize that not only
we but they are children of God, if we were to stand (or kneel) in awe at the
miracle of life and of the presence of the Spirit of God within all human life,
how would our world be different? How would we treat our children? How would we
treat the elderly and the dying? Would we be able to raise our hands against
others in anger or in war? If we really took to heart the challenge of John,
could we even consider abortion or euthanasia or violence or war as
possibilities?
One
of the greatest challenges of this season in this time in history is to be able
to kneel with the angels and shepherds and to believe in the miracle of the
birth of the Christ. Perhaps, even harder is to believe in the miracle of the
indwelling of the Spirit within each human life. And, perhaps, it is even
harder for us to believe that each of us regardless of color, creed, political
persuasion, or any other differentiating characteristic is a beloved child of
God and a brother or sister to all others.
During
this season of joy and celebration, I would hope that each of us would find the
time to stop and reflect upon the words of the author of the first letter of
John , “See what love the Father has bestowed on us
that we may be called the children of God.” If we were really to take this
message to heart not only about ourselves but also about others, how will our
lives be different? I wonder.
Peace and Blessing
Deacon
Question for Children: Why is it important to obey our
parents? Why is it important to obey God?
Question for Youth: Jesus was obedient to his parents, even though he
was the Son of God. Why is obedience so important? Is it something you struggle
with?
Question for Adults: How are you, too, called to our Father's house?
BREAKING OPEN THE WORD
There will be No
Breaking Open the Word
December 27th and January 3rd
TONS
2009 TON came to a close with Game Night (3rd
Annual) and it keeps getting better every year.
This year we invited the youth from the other Catholic Churches in
Our ping pong tables are old so it wasn’t a
surprise that one collapsed. Thankfully
no one was hurt. The “matches” went
on…Brooke and Megan were no match for Emerson, who learned the game at last
year’s Ski Blast. Kristen and Nicole
mastered the fooseball and air hockey games. There were more new ways to play
spoons (who knew?) 14 people (around a
table for 6) – a new world record has been broken. Balls were flying and bouncing in the gym. Mike, Jim and Katie were able to keep up and
duck. Andy, did Brian ever knock down
the pin for you to get back in the game?
As we ended the evening of fun, we recalled
and reflected on the “Reason for the Season” by reading the Gospel account of
the Birth of Jesus our Savior. (Thank
you Jim for reading).
As we close 2009 we are most grateful for
our TON Youth who have organized so many community service projects this past
year. They truly are a TON of caring young
people. We thank our moms, Vicki, Robyn,
Kathy, Donna and Shelley for all their time and talent. They always make everything work out. Special thanks to our chaperones, Jim, Katie,
Mike,
Merry Christmas,
Mary Jo
& Diann
~ LOOKING AHEAD ~
January 10th – TONs
January 17th – Free Senior Bingo following
CATHEDRAL NEWS
PARISHIONERS NEED
RIDE TO MASS
If you live
near:
Maybe you
could pick someone up so they could celebrate the Eucharist with us. Call Janette @ 392-8511. Your kindness is deeply appreciated.
SOCIETY OF
We have
confidence in God and receive from him whatever we ask. 1 John 3:21
You are
invited to join us at our next meeting on Tuesday, January 12 at
RCIA
RCIA for the City of
It was through the love, teaching and example provided by Mary and Joseph
that Jesus first learned about his faith.
It is through our love, teaching and example that those among us
preparing to join our Catholic faith are learning what that truly means. If you know of an adult wanting to learn more
about our faith invite them to check out the RCIA process.
The next RCIA session will be held on Sunday, Jan. 17th at Cathedral
Parish beginning at
CATHEDRAL SCHOOL NEWS
*Christmas
Break will begin on Monday, Dec. 21st thru Friday, Jan. 1st.
Class resumes Monday, Jan. 4th.
*Our new
website is up and running! www.superiorcathedralschool.org
Please take a moment to check it
out. There will be some minor changes in the weeks to come, but we wanted to
give access to you as soon as we could. The Looking Ahead has its own
link, so you can always find it there!
* Scrip has
been growing and growing! Check out our website to find a list of all the new
local vendors we can order from. These make great gifts! Please call the office if you would
like to place an order. 392-2976
*We are
always collecting Glossy Paper. Start saving all those Christmas Ads, they will
add up fast! Over 12,000 lbs. have been collected this past year!
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Additional
2009 CHRISTMAS FLOWER
MEMORIALS
In
Memory of Andrew & Victoria Sislo
By
Leone Lach & Family
In
Memory of Walter Lach
By
Leone Lach & Family
In
Memory of Margaret Sislo
By
Leone Lach & Family
In
Memory of Grace Bratek
By
Leone Lach & Family
In
Memory of Abbey Johnson
By
Leone Lach & Jeff & Julie Johnson & Families
In
Memory of Robert Demgen
By
Mrs. Robert Demgen