Immaculate Conception Parish Parish Office: 869-2244 Mailing address: 145 St. Joseph Dr, Oneida, WI 54155 www.imconeida.org Physical address: N5589 County Rd E, De Pere, WI 54115

Mission Statement

Empowered by the Holy Spirit to deepen our faith, through the joyful celebration of the sacraments, lifelong faith formation,

generous sharing of our time, talent and treasure in service to one another and the larger community.

Nativity of the Lord

December 25, 2016

“And the Word became flesh, and made his dwelling among us.” John 1:14

Pastoral Team

Administrator: Fr. John Chrysostom Katamba

Office Hours: Tue. – Thur.

920-530-6226 email: jckatamba@yahoo.co.uk

Deacon: Jim Heider

920-360-8950 (cell) email: jpheider@att.net

Deacon: Don Coenen

920-639-1874

Secretary/Mass Intentions: Brenda Rybicki-Smith

920-869-2244 Email: parishsecsjic@gmail.com Mass Intentions need to be paid within a week of making it.

Coord. of Faith Formation & Youth Ministry:

Sue Meyer Email: joensue46@yahoo.com

920-851-0358

Website: www.imcffinformation.weebly.com Can also be accessed through IC website

Prayer Network:

Sue Gehring 920-739-3767

Donna Laabs 920-788-5473

Sacrament of Penance (Confession)

Saturday: 9:00 am - Noon

Anytime by appointment, call 869-2244

Homebound, Nursing Home or Hospitalized:

Please let us know when a loved one would

like a visit or the weekly bulletin. Call the

Parish office at 869-2244.

For all the following:

Baptism (classes required)

Change of Address or Phone

Funerals

Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick

Marriage (call 8 months in advance)

Please call the parish office, between 9 am & 1 pm,

at 869-2244 for assistance

EMBRACE THE CHILD

WHO CHANGES EVERYTHING

Today, the Son of God is born, and everything changes. The

Savior of the world comes to partake of our human nature;

no longer are we alone and forsaken. The Virgin offers us

her Son as the beginning of new life.

If we take him in our arms and let ourselves be embraced by

him, he will bring us unending peace of heart. This Child

teaches us what is truly essential in our lives. He was born

into the poverty of this world; there was no room in the inn

for him and his family. He found shelter in a stable and was

laid in a manger for animals. And yet, from this nothingness,

the light of God’s glory shines forth. From now on, the way

of authentic liberation and perennial redemption is open to

every man and woman who is simple of heart.

In the society so often intoxicated by consumerism and

hedonism, wealth and extravagance, appearances and

narcissism, this Child calls us to act in a way that is simple,

balanced, consistent, and capable of seeing and doing what is

essential. We need to cultivate a strong sense of justice, to

discern and to do God’s will. Amid a culture of indifference

which not infrequently turns ruthless, our style of life should

instead be devout, filled with empathy, compassion and

mercy, drawn daily from the wellspring of prayer.

-Pope Francis

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Merry Christmas to You All

I would like to offer all of you – Staff members, Parish

and Finance Council, Lay Ministers and Parish

Community ------- my prayerful good wishes for a holy

Christmas and Happy New Year. I want to thank you

most heartily for your daily commitment in the service

to the Church in our Parishes.

Fr. John C Katamba

FAITH FORMATION

Creator of Time is Born in Time – Leo The Great

Saint Leo says the genealogy of Jesus given us in Luke and Matthew’s gospels shows that Jesus was truly one of us, possessing a complete human nature. He did not merely appear in human form, as in the biblical types and scriptural symbols of the Old Testament. The mystery of our reconciliation with God could not have occurred unless he had stooped to assume our lowly nature even while fully possessing the divine nature of his heavenly father. The Creator of time was born in time. To speak of our Lord, the son of the Blessed Virgin Mary, as true and perfect man is of no value to us if we do not believe that he is descended from the line of ancestors set out in the Gospel. Matthew’s gospel begins by setting out the genealogy of Jesus Christ, son of David, son of Abraham, and then traces his human descent by bringing his ancestral line down to his mother’s husband, Joseph. On the other hand, Luke traces his parentage backward step by step to the actual father of mankind, to show that both the first and the last Adam share the same nature. No doubt the Son of God in his omnipotence could have taught and sanctified men by appearing to them in a semblance of human form as he did to the patriarchs and prophets, when for instance he engaged in a wrestling contest or entered into conversation with them, or when he accepted their hospitality and even ate the food they set before him.

But these appearances were only types, signs that mysteriously foretold the coming of one who would take a true human nature from the stock of the patriarchs who had gone before him. No mere figure, then, fulfilled the mystery of our reconciliation with God, ordained from all eternity. The Holy Spirit had not yet come upon the Virgin nor had the power of the Most High overshadowed her, so that within her spotless womb Wisdom might build itself a house and the Word become flesh. The divine nature and the nature of a servant were to be united in one person so that the Creator of time might be born in time, and he through whom all things were made might be brought forth in their midst.

For unless the new man, by being made in the likeness of sinful flesh, had taken on himself the nature of our first parents, unless he had stooped to be one in substance with his mother while sharing the Father’s substance and, being alone free from sin, united our nature to his, the whole Continued next page

FAITH FORMATION Continued

human race would still be held captive under the dominion of Satan. The Conqueror’s victory would have profited us nothing if the battle had been fought outside our human condition. But through this wonderful blending the mystery of new birth shone upon us, so that through the same Spirit by whom Christ was conceived and brought forth we too might be born again in a spiritual birth; and in consequence the evangelist declares the faithful to have been born not of blood, nor of the desire of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

This excerpt from a Letter by St. Leo the Great (Ep. 31, 2-3: PL 54, 791-793) on the meaning of the genealogy of Jesus as found in the gospels of Luke and Matthew.

https://www.crossroadsinitiative.com/media/articles/creator-of-time-is-born-in-time-st-leo-the-great/

“Our joy comes from the confidence we have that the Lord is close to us with his tenderness, mercy, forgiveness and love.”

Pope Francis Tweets – 12/18/16 @pontifex

Yours in Christ, Sue Meyer ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

LOOKING FOR A 6th GRADE CATECHISTS

We are looking for someone interested in sharing their faith with the youth of our parish. We are in need of a catechist for

6th grade (six students). If you might be interested in sharing your faith with our youth or know someone that might be, please feel free to contact Sue Meyer (contact information on the front of bulletin). ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Be a Joy Prayer Partner! (JOY - Jesus for Our Youth)

We all need prayers at one time or another, and intercessory prayer is a powerful way of praying for each other. Would you consider joining our youth in prayer? Each year the West Side Parishes (includes IC) collect prayer intentions from the youth and pray with and for them. Can you help us? We will send you a newsletter enriching your spirit as well as guiding you in praying for our youth. Please joyfully consider this opportunity. If you are interested, please contact your Youth Minister Sue Meyer and she will get you signed up.

Weekly Mass Schedule 12-24 (Sat) 4:00 pm – Mass for Evelyn Shilka 12-25 (Sun) 8:00 am – Mass for Rose Mary Nienhaus & Family 12-27 (T) 8:10 am – Rosary 8:30 am – Mass for Baby Jesus to guide our new president & America to end Abortion

12-28 (W) 8:10 am – Rosary 8:30 am – Mass for Baby Jesus to guide our new president & America to end Abortion 1-01 (Sun) 8:00 am – Mass for World Peace +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

UPCOMING EVENTS Dec 28 (W) No FF Classes – Christmas Break Jan 3 (T) 6:30 pm Adoration & Benediction Jan 4, 11, 18 (W) 6-7:15 pm FF Classes, Gr. K-10th 6-7:30 pm FF for Confirmation Class Jan 12 (Th) 7:00 pm KC’s Meeting at St Joe’s Jan 17 6:30 pm Monthly Holy Hour Jan 24 (T) 6:00 pm Finance Council Meeting 6:00 pm Social Concerns Meeting 7:00 pm Parish Council Meeting Jan 25 (W) No FF Classes – Catechist In-Service Jan 29 (Sun) Rite of Enrollment Sunday – grades 2 & 11 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Immaculate Conception Liturgical Ministers Sunday January 1, 2017 @ 8:00 am

Sacristan: Joe Van Den Heuvel Hospitality/Ushers: Dennis Eggener & Paul Van Gheem Lectors: Sue Meyer & Marla Van Lanen Musician: Joe Van Den Heuvel & Paula Stec Bread: Dcn. Jim Heider Cups: Mike & Karla Dorman, Sue Meyer, Marla Van Lanen Servers: Brandy Meyer, Marysa Van Gheem & Josie Geurts ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

ANNA JOHN NURSING HOME SCHEDULE Dec 25 Gladys Humecki Jan 1 Mike & Karla Dorman Jan 8 Jeff Baeten Jan 15 Ken Vanden Heuvel

The December Bulletin is sponsored by Gary & Karen

VanLanen in memory of Charles & Mabel VanLanen & family

POPE FRANCIS & BISHOP RICKEN Monthly Prayer Intentions – December

Pope Francis’ Universal Intention (End to Child-Soldiers): That the scandal of child soldiers may be eliminated the world over; we pray to the Lord… Bishop Ricken’s Intention (Family Life): That those who share Christ’s Gospel, especially within families, may do so with great mercy and love; we pray to the Lord… ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

March for Life - Chicago Gather together with others from around the mid-west for March for Life: Chicago! Sunday, January 15, 2:00-4:00 p.m. at Federal Plaza - 50 W. Adams - Chicago, IL Pro-Life Wisconsin will be offering buses throughout the state to help us get to Chicago for this large gathering. There will be transportation to/from Green Bay, as well as Manitowoc. For cost of trip and more information on transportation please go to www.prolifewi.org/page/1782/march_chicagoOnly.

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Church Office Closed

On December 26th

, the Parish Office will be closed in

observance of the Christmas Holiday & on January 2nd

for the New Year’s Holiday.

Thank you for your understanding.

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Contribution Statements

If an end of year contribution statement is needed,

please call the parish office @ 869-2244. All

contributions must be received/ post marked by Dec.

31, 20 16 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Feast of the Holy Family, of Jesus, Mary & Joseph, December 30th

Mary, Joseph & Jesus Pray for our families

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Stewardship Giving Immaculate Conception Parish

November Offerings thru 12/18 $ 3,467.30 Budget year-to-date: $ 28,882.21 Actual year to date: $ 27,956.61 +++++ +++++ +++++ +++++ +++++ +++++ +++++ Bishop’s Appeal - 11/30 $ 3,390.00 Bishop’s Appeal: Goal $ 9,078.00

+++++ +++++ +++++ +++++ +++++ +++++ +++++ Maintenance Fund – Building Addition $ (19,423.33) Reserved from HH prior years fund raisers $ 35,000.00

$ 15,576.67

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Holiday Lights Show Please, stop by “The Morgue,” and tune your radio to

1610 AM, then wait for the music and the light show on

the building. Thank you to the team that did this again

for our Christmas enjoyment. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

As Knights of Columbus

Fact 15: Printed and distributed 500,000 copies of the Knights of Columbus Armed with the Faith military prayer book.

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NATIVITY PARISH 2017 FIRESIDE TOURS Mamma Mia - Jan. 17th; Beauty & the Beast - March 8th;

South Pacific - April 26th; Back to the 50's - June 14th; Elvis

Lives - Sept. 20th; Miracle on 34th St - Nov 8th and 30th.

The Cost is $90.00 – Leaving NATIVITY @ 7:30 am &

Returning @7 pm. To make a Reservations call Judy

@ (920) 499-3248 or Nativity Parish @ (920) 499-5156

Thank You!