2400 South Franklin St. Decatur, IL 62521

www.decaturholyfamily.com

Holy Family

Parish

December 17, 2017

3rd Sunday of Advent

PARISH MISSION STATEMENT

Led by the spirit and example of the Holy Family, our parish community embraces as its mission the salvation of all people. Rooted in the celebration of the Eucharist, we go forth to serve, to educate, and to live daily the message of Jesus Christ.

PLEASE have Holy Family in your will or as a memorial at the time of a loved one’s death. Also, have our parish as a beneficiary in your insurance policy.

THE WORD OF GOD IS AVAILABLE 24/7 on Deca-tur Catholic Radio WDCR FM 88.9/96.5

SICK LIST POLICY: Names submitted will be re-moved after 4 weeks unless resubmitted. The new names added each week will be in BOLD for 1 week.

WELCOME to Everett David Smith, son of Eric Smith & Elizabeth (Fornear) Smith. He was baptized this weekend. May he have a faith-filled life in the Catholic Church!

PRAY FOR OUR SICK: Judy Albert, Ron Altherr, Penny Barry, Tricia Bleavins, Gene Bloomfield, Alice Bowman, Susie Christopher, Janet Couter, Kenny Craw-ford, John & Marie Davis, Mike Delahunty, Ed Donath, Paul Fleckenstein, Kevin Fogarty, Craig Gadberry, Shirley Hackett, Pat Hamilton, Rick Harmon, Warner Hirstein, Mary Hubbard, Eleanor Jackson, Dave Kelmel, Sarah Lidy, Sondra Massey, Peter Miller, Eileen Milligan, James Moore, Jim Murray, Kaye Moser Norlin, Bernie Naber, Gretchen Peters Hantel, Shirley Phillips, Charlie Pohlman, Steve Reeter, Mae Rehfelt, Greg Sa-loka, Jr., Dill Sampson, Cathy Schaffner, Paul Scherer, Jack Schram, Margaret Schram, Terri Schram, Annette Schroeder, Jamie Schroeder, McKinley Turner, Dick Warrick, James Waymack, Jill White, Garnet Woolard, Lorene Zachman, Krista Zindel

DEAR HOLY FAMILY PARISHIONERS: This is the week to rejoice! This is Gaudete Sunday, which is Latin for rejoice. We are to be joyful that we are over half-way through the Advent Season. Our Lord’s coming is nearer than it was when we first began this Season. The arrival of Jesus is a cause of joy & gladness. How do we reflect that joy to the world around us? Are we really a happy people? Is Gaudete Sunday a lived reality in our lives? In the world today there are many signs of sadness, depression, hopelessness. Too often we encounter peo-ple who are “downers.” And then we are dragged down. This time of year, especially around Christmas, there is a spike in the number of suicides in our country. People feel alone & unloved & forgotten. They see no hope or cause to go on. Well---that is where we can help!! We can be a source of joy & happiness to those we meet. We can be there to uplift people in our lives, giving them cause to go on & to see their own goodness & what a difference they do make in this world. We have the ability to enable others to see that life is worth living. We need to have the joy of Jesus in our hearts & on our faces. We are called to be those GAUDETE people this week & every week of our lives! YOUR ADVENT COMPANION, FR. JOE P.S. F.Y.I.: Dec. 24th is the 4th Sunday of Advent, with Masses to celebrate that on Sat. the 23rd at 4:30 p.m. & on Sun. the 24th at 8 & 10 a.m. as usual. Christmas Masses will be on the Eve, Dec. 24th, at 4:00 p.m. & 9:00 p.m., with a 9:00 a.m. Mass on Dec. 25th. This means you are obligated, by Church law, to celebrate Mass for the 4th Sunday of Advent & for Christmas SEPARATELY. There are no “two fers.” You can’t go to Mass on the evening of Christmas Eve & count it twice for the 4th Sunday of Advent & Christmas Mass. Nice idea, but no can do. Let us see this as an opportunity to give thanks to God twice! (And you may receive Communion twice on Dec. 24th, once for the 4th Sunday of Advent, & then also for Christmas Eve.)

ANNUAL CATHOLIC SERVICES APPEAL: Not many days left until Christmas Day!! People are baking, shopping, addressing Christmas cards, wrapping, visiting, & much more. People are checking their “to do” list. Have you checked your “to do” list as to the Annual Catholic Services Appeal? Have you given a donation to this year’s Campaign? There is still time. And in mak-ing a generous donation to the ACSA Campaign, you will give Holy Family Parish a gift by reducing the amount of our assessed goal of $80,088.

ANNUAL SCHOOL FUND DRIVE has begun! You should have received a brochure about this most impor-tant Drive. Due to your generosity, our Catholic Grade School continues to provide quality, Catholic education for our young people. PLEASE help us now & into the future by contributing. If you did not get the brochure, there are some on the shelf in the church vestibule. Holy Family Parish has a gem in our School---may all of us help it to shine brightly due to our generous giving!

ST. TERESA PLACEMENT TEST for incoming fresh-men of the class of 2022 will be given on Saturday, Janu-ary 6, 2018 at 9:00 am. The purpose of taking the place-ment exam is to give St. Teresa information on properly placing students and in developing a successful 4 year academic plan. Please call St. Teresa 217-875-2431 for more information, or to register for the test.

THANKS to Dawson Wikoff Funeral Homes for cal-endars for next year! We appreciate all they do for us. The calendars for 2018 are in the church vestibule.

INCLUDE HOLY FAMILY IN YOUR WILL & as a Memorial at the time of the death of a loved one.

DECATUR CATHOLIC RADIO-WDCR 88.9 FM: If you would like to support the station financially, call Jim Comerford at 877-6716. Tune in!

REMINDER: If you go to Mass at another parish in the area, you can put your Holy Family collection envelope into the collection basket at that church & they will mail it back to us. Thank you!

HOLY FAMILY LITURGICAL MINISTERS

Dec. 23 & 24, 2017

SATURDAY, 4:30 p.m. EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS: Deacon Rob, Tara Wenneker, Sandy Cole, Debbie Alexander, Amy Jedlicka, Ann Marie Morgan, Jennifer Douglass GIFT BEARERS: Linda Brilley & Judy Zimmerman GREETERS: Ken Yeakley Family READERS: Steve Rathnow & Connie Magoulias SERVERS: Daniele Pettus, Mia Wenneker, Alexa Puckett USHERS: John & Brenda Duncan, Tony Douglass, Ethan Spain SUNDAY, 8:00 a.m. EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS: Mary Kate Kenney, Deacon Rob, Stephanie Delbridge, Aaron Ross, Carol Holthaus, Marvin Hughes, Deena Warrick GIFT BEARERS: Bill & Becky Heitz GREETERS: Pat O’Donnell & Mary Olson READERS: Hannah Hollis & Lori Kerans SERVERS: Carlie Delbridge & Lindsey Scherer USHERS: Terry Schneider, John Fitzgerald, John Merli, Mike Lees SUNDAY 10:00 a.m. EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS: Deacon Rob, Marcie Naber, Donna Raycraft, Ed Raycraft, Kathy Green, Jerry Green, Suzi Frey GIFT BEARERS: Ed Raycraft Family GREETERS: Joe Wagner Family READERS: Grace Pugh & Diane Keller SERVERS: Joleigh Kostenski, Camila Caceres, Emily Naber USHERS: Brad Pugh, Luichi Caceres, Adrian Caceres, John Venverloh

READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: Jer 23:5-8; Mt 1:18-25 Tuesday: Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25a; Lk 1:5-25 Wednesday: Is 7:10-14; Lk 1:26-38 Thursday: Sg 2:8-14; Lk 1:39-45 Friday: 1 Sm 1:24-28; Lk 1:46-56 Saturday: Mal 3:1-4, 23-24; Lk 1:57-66 Sunday: 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Ps 89:2-5, 27, 29;

Rom 16:25-27; Lk 1:26-38

PRAY for the repose of the souls of Olive Turner, grandmother of Kaye Moran; Larry DeSutter, husband of Rae Ann DeSutter. May they rest in peace and their families be comforted.

INVITE SOMEONE BACK TO MASS!!!

BAPTISMAL CLASS, Dec. 17th, at 11:15 a.m. Email Sr. Janet at janet.pfile@comcast.net, or call 423-0240.

HAVE YOU MOVED, CHANGED TELEPHONE NUMBERS OR GIVEN UP YOUR LANDLINE? Please call the rectory, 423-6223.

PATRONIZE OUR ADVERTISERS!

MONDAY, Dec. 18 7:30 a.m. The McClure Family (James & Cinda Farris) TUESDAY, Dec. 19 7:30 a.m. Marion Klein (Kefalas Family)WEDNESDAY, Dec. 20 7:30 a.m. Bob Hayward (Larry & Mary Jo Noonan) THURSDAY, Dec. 21--Note Time 7:30 a.m. Larry Penning (Larry & Mary Jo Noonan) FRIDAY, Dec. 22 7:30 a.m. Johnny Bennyhoff (Family) SATURDAY, Dec. 23 4:30 p.m. Ed Madix (Mary Jane Madix) SUNDAY, Dec. 24 8:00 a.m. Holy Family Parishioners 10:00 a.m. Kelsey Lauren Frey (Mom & Dad)

CONTEMPORARY GROUP will sing on Sun., Dec. 24, 4:00 p.m. Mass. PARISH CHOIR will sing on Sun., Dec. 24, 9:00 p.m. Mass.

ADVENT COMMUNAL PENANCE SERVICE St. James, Dec. 17th, 2:00 p.m.

WE’RE APPRECIATIVE of the donation from the Kirk Beyers family, given in memory of Kirk, to our church & school. May the eternal peace of heaven con-tinue for Kirk.

PROTECTING GOD’S CHILDREN CLASSES Thursday, Jan. 18 at 6:30 p.m.

All parents of children who are attending Holy Fam-ily School & anyone who will be volunteering at the school or parish will need the class. If you are thinking of volunteering, we encourage you to take this class. You only have to take it once, and af-ter your background check, you are ready to volunteer! Please call the rectory at 423-6223 to sign up.

ROSARY is prayed 20 minutes before each daily Mass. Come & pray & stay for Mass.

PRAY FOR OUR SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN. MAY THE LORD GRANT THEM SAFETY.

HEARING AIDS are available for use during Mass.

EVER THOUGHT OF BEING A PRIEST? God may be calling you at this very moment to serve Him by being a priest for the Diocese of Springfield. Our Catholic Church needs more priests. If you may be interested, call Fr. Joe at 423-6223.

ST. MARY’S WIDOWED SUPPORT GROUP will meet Thurs., Dec. 21, at 11:30 a.m. at Bob Evans. All widows & widowers are welcome! For more info., call James Vogel at 429-2089.

PRAYER LINE REQUESTS: Rosanna Frey, 429-6657, or Barb Lesyna, 428-0058.

HOLY FAMILY DECATUR LIKE US ON FACEBOOK

HOLY FAMILY WEBSITE: decaturholyfamily.com

DON’T FORGET TO PRAY for our RCIA Catechumen & Candidates as they journey to Easter Vigil.

Thank you for your generosity!

Weekend of Dec. 9 & 10, 2017 Envelopes…………………….$ 23,351.00 Children…………………...….$ 29.00 Building Fund………………...$ 192.00 Sister Parish……………….….$ 128.00

FORMED.ORG is an opportunity we have to be formed about our Catholic Faith. This website gives you access to programs, movies, audio & books. To get started, go to www.formed.org & click on “Register”. Our case sensitive parish code JMN63Q.

ADORATION is on Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Please sign up for a 30-minute slot on the sheet in the vestibule. Any questions, call Sandy Yelovich, 855-1196. Please note: Anyone may come for Adoration, even if you aren’t signed up for a particular time slot. We want at least one person there officially for each 30-minute slot so that the Blessed Sacrament is never unattended.

Mass Schedule Weekend Liturgies Saturday 4:30 p.m. Sunday 8:00 a.m. & 10:00 a.m. Weekday Liturgies Monday 7:30 a.m. Tuesday 7:30 a.m. Wednesday 7:30 a.m. Thursday 7:30 a.m., and during school year 2:00 p.m. Friday 7:30 a.m.

Holy Day Liturgies Masses 7:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., and during school year 7:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m., and 5:30 p.m.

Sacrament of Reconciliation Saturday at 3:30 p.m. or by appointment.

Communion Calls Please contact the parish office to make arrangements.

Sacrament of Baptism Arrangements for Baptisms are made by calling the parish office. Participation at the Baptismal Preparation Class for parents is a requirement for the celebration of the sacrament.

Sacrament of Marriage Arrangements for all weddings must be made at least six (6)months in advance. Please call the parish office.

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) Classes for those interested in joining the Catholic faith begin in the fall of each year and continue through the Easter season. Please call Sr. Janet to inquire about the sessions.

Staff Very Reverend Joseph Molloy……………………..Pastor Rev. Mr. Rob Johnson……………………………...Deacon Sister Janet Pfile, O.P………………….Pastoral Associate

Email: janet.pfile@comcast.net Mrs. Joanne Kater.....................................Parish Secretary

Email: holyfamilychurch1@comcast.net Mrs. Debbie Alexander..........................................Principal

Email: dsalexander09@aol.com Ms. Lisa Roddis……………………..…...School Secretary Mrs. Patrice Hunt..……..………………PSR Coordinator Mr. Peter Miller…………... Director of Music Ministries Mrs. Ann Carr…..……..…………...….Business Manager Rectory.............423-6223 School...............423-7049 School Fax........423-0137 Pastoral Associate...423-0240 Convent……….429-5931