THE CATHOLIC CHURCHES OF

ST BERNARD 201 Main St. Blencoe, IA

ST JOHN 1009 13th St., Onawa, IA

ST JOSEPH 510 Tipton St., Salix, IA

FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT DECEMBER 2, 2018

FROM FATHER MICHAEL:

The Advent Season:

Advent has a twofold character: as a season

to prepare for Christmas when Christ's

first coming to us is remembered; as a sea-

son when that remembrance directs the

mind and heart to await Christ's Second

Coming at the end of time. Advent is thus a

period for devout and joyful expectation.

(General Norms for the Liturgical Year and

the Calendar 14 February 1969) (During the Sundays of Advent) the gospels

have their own themes: they refer to the

Lord’s coming at the end of time (first Sun-

day), to John the Baptist (second and third

Sundays), to the events which immediately

precede our Lord’s birth (fourth Sun-

day). The Old Testament readings are

prophecies of the Messiah and of Messianic

times, especially from the book of Isai-

ah. The apostolic readings provide exhor-

tations and proclamations in keeping with

the different Advent themes. (The General

Instruction on the Lectionary of the Mass

[2nd Edition], 21 January 1981. .

Questions of the Week:

Adults: What have been the strengths of your

prayer life? What habit of prayer could you

strengthen during this Advent season?

Children: What prayers will you say each day

and each week during Advent?

ST. JOHN / ST. BERNARD Pastor Father Michael Erpelding 712-423-2656

stjohnparishhall@msn.com www.stjohnonawa.com

Secretary / DRE Colleen Maule 712-423-1004 stjohnparishhall@msn.com

Office hours:7 am—2pm Monday, Tuesday & Thursday

7am -Noon 4pm-8:30 pm Wednesday 7am-11am Friday

MASS SCHEDULE : Mon No Mass…………………………………….. 0:00am

Tue Mabel Walker…………….………….. 9:00am

Wed Verla Benjamin…..……...……(St. Bernard) 7:30am

Thurs No Mass……………………………………………..0:00am

Fri Pioneer Valley NH……………………...…….. 10:00 am

Fri Fred Servia ……………………………………… 5:30 pm

Sat No Mass……………………………...….…… 0:00 pm

Sun Harold & Lillian Hausman…...………….... 9:00am

CONFESSION: SUNDAY 8:30 AM—8:45 AM

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Wednesday– December 5 Religious Ed classes...6:45 pm—8:00 PM

Friday, December 7 Vigil Mass for the Immaculate Conception @ 5:30 pm

STEWARDSHIP 11/25/18 ST. JOHN ST. BERNARD Envelopes/Loose $ 1458.00 $303.00

Building Fund $75.00

Camp/Human $105.00

E-offering $267.13

Total: $2208.13

St. John Registered Families……………………….185

ST. JOSEPH Pastor Father Michael Erpelding 712-946-5635

stjoseph@longlines.com WWW.STJOESALIX.COM

Secretary Mary Lynn Nelson 712-946-5635 stjoseph@longlines.com Cell 712-281-0107

DRE Kathy Jo Mitchell 712-212-3867

MASS SCHEDULE: Mon No Mass…………………………………….…….…...0:00am

Tue No Mass…...……………………………………….....0:00am

Wed No Mass………………………………………………..0:00 pm

Thurs Chuck Nelson.………….….………..………………9:00am

Fri Pioneer Valley NH………………………..……….10:00 am

Sat Art & Bev Holzerland…………………………………....Noon

Sat Parishioners of Sts. Joseph, John & Bernard...4:00 pm

Sun Richard & MaDonna Harrington……………..11:00am

CONFESSION: SAT. 3:30PM—3:45PM / SUN. 10:30 AM– 10:45 AM

CALENDAR OF EVENTS Wednesday– December 5

Religious Ed classes… All Grades…..6:45-7:45 pm

Wednesday, December 5 Confession @ 7:15 for all parishioners

Saturday , December 8

Mass for the Immaculate Conception @ 12 noon

STEWARDSHIP 11/22—11/24—11/25 ST. JOSEPH Envelopes: $2617.00 Loose: $427.12

Debt reduction $0.00 Candles: $42.00

E-offering $120.00 Mow & Snow $

Food Pantry $0.00 Maintenance $0.00

Cemetery 0.00 Canp/Human $170.00

TOTAL: $3376.12

St. Joseph Registered Families ……………………...209

St. Joseph Debt October 2018 ………….$196,440.78

St. Joseph Debt April 2017…………………….$324, 880.66

WEEK OF DECEMBER 2, 2018

ST. JOHN DECEMBER 9

LECTORS SERVERS EMS GIFT BEARERS USHERS

Doug Zima Alex Menke, Ava Amy Christensen– Elmwood Glen Coble Family Cyd Bartholomew

ROSARY Stangel, Lauren Anita Madsen– Homebound Greeters Terry Madsen, Gabe

Grace Fouts Boysen, Kaci Miller Larry Christensen Ken & Mary Wingert Madsen, Mike Beck

ST. JOSEPH DECEMBER 8-9

LECTORS SERVERS EMS GIFT BEARERS USHERS

8-Al Stuhrenberg 8- Jackson Dewald 8-Paula Olson 8– Pete & Marge Rinaldi 8-Bert Ullrich

9– Mary Herbst Joseph Dewald

Hudson Schuetz

Kathy Baker

Tom Becker

9-Ryan Willis

family

Tom & Doreen Becker

Lawson Schuetz

8—Rosary

Kathy Baker

9-Grace Lewis 9—Mike Donnelly 8-Greeters

Pete & Marge Rinaldi

9-Ron & Margaret

Wood

9–Mike

Donnelly

Jack Clayton

Charlie Clayton

Kathy Jo Mitchell

Greg Heisterkamp

9– Greeters

Laura Lewis Family

Ryan Willis

family

Stewards

Mary Lander

Julie Case

Homebound

Bev Weikel

Kathy Jo Mitchell

Liturgy/ Word

Margaret Wood

ST. JOHN/ ST. BERNARD DECEMBER 2, 2018 ST. JOSEPH

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SICK OF OUR PARISHES: Father Patrick O’Kane, Shirley Turner, Esther Mac

Clure, Darlene Ellis, Cheri Gibler, Loretta Simoff, Doe

Walker, Maryann Muller, Ken Wingert, Pete Morten-

sen, John Heisterkamp, Charlotte Zortman, Rosemary

Kirby, Gina Mortensen, Chris Metzger, Judson

Bramow , Sherry Wince, Ann Langenfeld, Susie Brink

& Amy Scurlock If you know of someone who is ill and

needs our prayers, and would like to be listed, or if

you no longer need to be listed, please contact Col-

leen @ office 423-1004

St. John 2018/2019 Diocesan Annual Appeal :

Thank you for your generous response to the request of

Bishop Nickless to make a pledge to the Diocesan Annual

Appeal. We have collected $10440.00 toward our parish

goal of $13815.00. That means we only need $3375.00

to meet our goal. For those who have not returned their

pledge card, I am asking, as your pastor to do so next

week. We will meet our goal quickly when you respond

sooner than later!

Please pick up your 2019 calendar in the back of the

Church, courtesy of the Hoffman Agency & The Knights of

Columbus. Thank you!

The Knights of Columbus Annual Toy Drive is underway. Please be generous and help some needy children in Monona County have a Merry Christmas.

Christmas Flower Memorials for St. John :

It is wonderful at Christmas time to make a contribution

for Christmas flowers in Memory of Loved Ones. We are

asking for a contribution of $25.00. If you wish to par-

ticipate, we ask that you write the name of your loved

ones on paper,clearly mark your envelope “Christmas

Flowers”, or use the Christmas Flower envelope in your

packet and place in the collection basket. In the bulletin

of December 23,we will publish the names of the con-

tributor and their loved ones.

Don’t forget the bells for the children’s pro-

cession at the 4:00 PM Mass on Christmas

Eve

_______ Just for Laughs ____________ Some little mice died and went to heaven. One day St.

Peter asked how they liked it up there. They replied that

they liked it, but their little feet got tired as it was so far

all around heaven. So the problem was solved by

providing them with skate boards to get around on. Lat-

er a little kitten died and also went to heaven, so St. Pe-

ter asked how she liked it there. Oh, I really do, and I

especially appreciate the Meals-on-Wheels!!!

REMEMBER TO PRAY FOR THE SICK OF OUR PARISH-

ES: Father O’Kane, Fran Mitchell, Nainna Gnat, Jeri

Greiner, Mike Franken, Loretta Prince, David Bogenrief,

Linda Donnelly, Sue LaCroix, Pam Dalley, Bev Thorpe,

Bryson Harder, Justin Lamoureux, Sophie Helvey, Kim Pe-

terson, Doreen Becker, Kathy Spohr, Glenda Ullrich, Roger

Huot, Stanley Johnson, Tristan Parks, Colleen Ebner ,Bailey

Cleveland, Christian Case, Brady Worrell, Cal Worrell, Con-

nie Wagner, Kathy Clayton, Helen Martin, Carter Lucas. For

all who travel, grieve, those in the military, veterans, their

families and our nations leaders. The candles burning on

the Blessed Mother’s altar are for the military serving in

foreign lands .

DAA Goal is 17, 581, we have collected $10,696.00

keep up the good work we can reach our goal Let’s

get this one done we are a little over half way there

let’s get it done NEED TO GET THIS ONE DONE,

LETS GET THOSE IN !!! THANK YOU…

.

TEAM TRIVIA NIGHT! St. Joseph’s Choir will host

Trivia Night in the Parish Hall on Saturday night, Jan-

uary 26th beginning at 5:30 pm with trivia gating and a

potluck supper. Questions began at 6:30pm. Cost is

$80 for up to 8 team members.

SAVE THE DATE!!!

We are in need of more Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers,

Communion to the Homebound, Ushers, Greeters, Stew-

ards, Carry up Gifts Please stop by the Office and sign

up, Need help both Saturday night or Sunday.

Deepest sympathy to the family of Sue Lam-

oureux who was buried from our church on

Wednesday, may her soul and all the souls of

the faithful departed rest in peace.

Thank you to Mary Johnson and Deb Craig and their

committee for the dinner for Sue Lamoureux

”YOUTH GROUP @ St. Joseph

will meet on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of every month at 9:30am

Plus gift wrapping stations on Sunday & Wednesday

December 9

December 16 (Caroling in the afternoon tentatively)

February 16- 2nd Annual Valentine’s Dinner & Movie Greg 712-444-4843 or Keri Beth 712-204-2805

Jesse Tree @ St. Joseph

December 9th Joshua Brady, Hudson Schuetz,

Andrew MacClure, Lawson Schuetz, Braden

Hensley, Gavin Warren, Kaitlyn Skatges, Grace

Lewis, Charlie Clayton, Carson McDermott, Kylie

McDermott.

December 16th, Zac Waite, Orion Dirksen, Dylan

Keegan, Owen Seggerman, Jack Clayton, Lily

Guntren, Noah Seggerman, Aiden Wimmer,

Katelynn Morey, Khloe Gemberling, Maddie

Tisher

December 23rd, Joe Dewald, Kalla Gemberling,

Noah MacClure, Kayla Gray, Carson Topf, Ella

Skinner, Mike Hansen, Levi MacClure, Jackson

Dewald, Payton Lewis, Tom Heilman, Dylan

Waite, Kyle Eliason, Lauryn Keegan, Kelsi

Skatges, Felisa Skatges

The holidays are coming! Give your spouse the per-

fect gift, the gift of quality time with you for an entire

weekend. Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekends

allow couples private time to focus on their relation-

ship and rediscover the one they fell in love with.

Sign up for upcoming weekends to ensure your spot.

Gift certificates are available by calling the phone

number below/ Upcoming dates: Mar 8-10 La-

Crosse, WI; Apr 12-14 Ankeny, IA; May 3-5 Dubuque,

IA For more information visit our website at: iowa-

wwme.org or call 563-608-3305 or

email jljwwme08@gmail.com

1st Sunday of Advent- Stay Awake! Hear

the call today- stay awake! Shake off life’s slumber,

the day to day monotony of surviving and prepare yourself for amazing events. Jesus the Messiah, is coming! Let the miracle of the message stir your hearts and souls to expectant longing. Push off the blanket of complacency and be ready, The King is coming – Maranatha!

11 Days, Best of Europe and Passion Play

(Oberammergau) July 31 - August 10, 2020 with veteran Pilgrimage Leader,

Father John Vakulskas

Since this is once every 10 years it sells out fast

First Come First Served

Also Rhine Valley, Heidelberg, Rothenburg, Munich,

Lucerne, Paris

Includes air, first class hotels, daily Mass,

most meals, daily tours

and a Category 1, First Class Ticket to the Passion Play

$4599 from Chicago or $4759 from Omaha – Double Occu-

pancy

For full information contact:

Fr John Vakulskas 712.490.8047

johnvakulskas@gmail.com www.carnivalpriest.com

Saint Nicholas' Day, observed on December 6 is the

feast day of Saint Nicholas. The American Santa Claus,

as well as the British Father Christmas, derive in part

from Saint However the gift giving associated with

these descendant figures is associated with Christmas

Day rather than Saint Nicholas Day itself.[4]

The official doctrine reads, “The blessed Virgin Mary to

have been, from the first instant of her conception, by a

singular grace and privilege of Almighty God, in view of

the merits of Christ Jesus the Savior of Mankind, pre-

served free from all stain of original sin” (Pope Pius IX,

Ineffabilis Deus, December 1854). Essentially, the Im-

maculate Conception is the belief that Mary was protect-

ed from original sin, that Mary did not have a sin nature

and was, in fact, sinless. Catholics celebrate the Feast

of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin

Mary on December 8.