Readings For The Week

Monday First Reading: Num. 24:2-7, 15-17a Gospel: Mt. 21:23-27 Tuesday

First Reading: Zep. 3:1-2,9-13 Gospel: Mt. Mt. 21:28-32

Wednesday First Reading: Gn. 49:2, 8-10 Gospel: Mt. 1:1-17

Thursday First Reading: Jer. 23:5-8 Gospel: Mt. 1:18-25

Friday First Reading: Jgs. 13:2-7, 24-25a Gospel: Lk. 1:5-25

Saturday/Sunday First Reading: 2Sam. 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16 Second Reading: Rom. 16:25-27 Gospel: Lk. 1:26-38

Mass Intentions

December 15 — December 21 MONDAY

12:15 PM +Dominico Thanh Nguyen +Thomas Hobizal TUESDAY

12:15 PM Giang Cao & Thu Nguyen Cao Nguyen Cao family Cao Thu Tram family WEDNESDAY

12:15 PM +Michael Ritchie THURSDAY 8:00 AM +Beverly Scheel FRIDAY

8:00 AM +Roger Scheel SATURDAY

5:00 PM +Mel Ammermann +Richard & Helen Grein +Gotleib & Annie Friensenhahn SUNDAY 8:00 AM St. James parish famiy 10:00 AM +Fred Rohde +Betty Magner +Mary Ann Boos 12:00 PM +Beverly Scheel +Charles Beall

Music SATURDAY 5:00 PM Tashya Cook/Michelle Robertson SUNDAY 8:00 AM Kathy Matalik/Desiree Supulver 10:00 AM Eithne Goetz/Maritza Miller 12:00 PM Mike Jessen/Mary Garcia

St. James Catholic Church Seguin, TX December 14, 2014

Notes from the Pastor

**Welcome Sister Jean Thomas Dwyer, DC (Daughter

of Charity). This weekend we welcome Sister Jean Thomas

Dwyer, just retired, who will speak to us on the Retirement

Fund for Religious. Sr. Jean was born in Brooklyn, New

York. Worked with Sisters in Alabama and has been in their

community nearly fifty-four years. She has been principal of

a Catholic School and served in health care work.

**Support religious communities. “Your generous

contribution helps us to care for our retired sisters and

enables our younger sisters to continue in active ministry,”

writes a religious sister. Your gift to today’s collection for

the Retirement Fund for Religious provides vital support for

the retirement needs of senior sisters, brothers, and

religious order priests. It also helps ensure that younger

members can continue the good works of their elders!

**The annual parish Christmas potluck lunch will be held

this Sunday, December 14 after the 12:00 Mass. We will

honor our new parishioners so everyone come and share in

fellowship with our parish family. Bring your favorite dish to

share.

**Please join us for our annual ‘Posadas’ this Sunday,

Dec. 14, at 6PM starting at City Hall. We will end at

St. Andrew’s Church for refreshments. Please come dressed

as shepherds, angels, and people of the times, if you can.

Bring the whole family.

**A huge ‘Thank You’ to all parishioners who signed up to

ring the bell for the Salvation Army this past Tuesday.

**Please bring the whole family to enjoy beautiful

Christmas songs that Tom Engler, our guest organist from

Emanuel’s Lutheran Church, will play for us on Sunday, Dec.

21, at 3 pm.

Garrett Construction will be repaving the Family

Center parking lot the weekend of Dec 19 &20. We

ask that you please do not park in this area. Thank

you.

The Sanctuary Candle is offered in loving memory of Melany Shearrer

December 13 - December 20

THIS WEEK IN OUR PARISH

Monday, 12/15 8:00 AM SJS Counselor-PFC ARR 9:00 AM SJS Reconciliation-Church 10:30 AM SJS Counseling-PFC ARR 3:30 PM SJS BB Practice-Gym 6:30 PM Vespers-Church 6:30 PM Aguirre SCC-PFC ARR 7:00 PM Journey of Faith-PFC [Teacher workroom] Tuesday, 12/16 9:00 SJS Reconciliation-Church 3:30 PM SJS BB Practice-Gym 6:30 PM ACTS Core Meeting-PH Boardroom 7:00 PM RCIA-PFC [3] Wednesday, 12/17 6:00 AM Castilla SCC-PFC ARR 7:45 AM SJS Finance Meeting-PC 8:00 AM SJS Counselor-PFC ARR 9:00 AM SJS Reconciliation-Church 10:00 AM SJS Counseling-PFC ARR 11:00 AM Archbishop’s Appeal Training-PFC [2-3] 3:30 PM SJS BB Practice-Gym Thursday, 12/18 3:30 PM SJS BB Practice-Gym 6:30 PM Domer SCC-PFC ARR 6:30 PM Karate-Gym 7:00PM Adult Choir-Church Saturday, 12/20 5:00 PM RCIA Dismissal-PC Sunday, 12/21 No Religious Education 11:00 AM JCDA Meeting-CDA Building 3:00 PM Christmas Concert-Church

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Remember In Prayer….

Dottie and Bill Domer, Manuel Yosko, Rosemary Pfullmann, Otto Radtke, James Taft, Frances Altherr, Frank Dornak, Norbert Janysek, Joyce Elliott, Harold Tschirhart, Gene Janak, Demetrio Perez, Ray & Mary Zanyi, Maria Wood, Mike Stoffel, Barbara Fitzpatrick, James Hajek, Tina Watson Catherine Cannon, Wayne Marek, Amelia Saldivar, Clara Bohuslav, Tony Duron, Mary Dickerson, Henry Walleck, Lisa Roth, Priscella Cornetta, Janene Spring, Erna Winsauer, Audrey Hettinger, Richard Perysn, Zack Hunter, Cheri Koch, Melinda Fuller, John Cuellar, Margie Fagan, Bill Blundell, Refugio Lopez, Jr., Bennie Kaulfus, Mary Evans, Sandra Puentes, Angie Becka, Cheryl Tovar, Richard Cornetta, Teenie Vogel, Lillia Pape, Walter Tillemann, Kenneth Hough-ton, Alys & Hal Husel, Trexler family, Jim McMahon, Tracie Read, Kevin Kelso, Samuel Helmle, Jr., Chuck Rudd, Patricia Wiesner, Patsy Forshage, Charlie McMain, Sue Koons, Leroy Kessler, Christina Martinez, Larry Feazel, Kay Trost, Bernice Van Booven, Anna Ruiz, Angel & Delia Rivera, JoAnn Nelson, Beulah Miller, Faye Clamp, Pat Hagan, Josephine Moravits, Joseph Manix

For I will restore your health; I will heal your injuries-—Jer. 30:17

In Sympathy

We extend our condolences to Deacon Victor and

Gabriela Garcia on the loss of his aunt, Marianna

Garcia, who passed away December 6, 2014, in

Pleasanton, TX. Please keep them in prayer.

We extend our condolences to the family of Deacon

George Beinke who passed away on Monday,

December 8, 2014. Please keep the family in prayer.

Domer Family Update

As many of you may know, Dottie and Bill Domer were involved in a serious car accident on Sunday, December 7th. Both Dottie and Bill are at University Hospital in San Antonio. We ask that all parishioners continue to keep the Domer Family in your prayers. An account has been set up at Wells Fargo for the immediate needs of the family. Anyone who would like to make a donation can go into Wells Fargo in Seguin and ask to make a donation for William & Dorothy Domer Benefit. Donations will also be accepted in the school or church office. Online donations can be made to the following http://www.gofundme.com/ik6rtg, all money donated will be directly deposited into the Wells Fargo account. A Caring Bridge site has been set up so that everyone can get updates on the family. That email address is http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/domer/journal.

PRESIDER SCHEDULE

Dec. 20 Dec. 21

5 p.m. Fr.Greg 8 a.m. Fr. Greg

10 a.m. Fr. Dennis

12 p.m. Fr. Dennis

Thank you for your continued support & generosity. Stewardship for the weekend of 12/6/14

MASS OFFERING: $11,096.67 CHILDREN’S: $35.31 BUILDING FUND: $184.00

RELIEF FUND: $1,213.61 VIETNAMESE MASS: $231.00

Christmas Mass Schedule

Dec. 24 @ 4PM, 4:15PM (in the hall), 6PM .

December 25, Christmas Day

Midnight and @ 9AM

No Mass on Dec. 26

St. James Catholic Church Seguin, TX December 14, 2014

Family Faith Formation News This weekend, Sunday, Dec. 14, is the second session on the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation in our Family Faith Formation sessions. Please meet at 9 a.m. in the Parish Family Center. All families are welcome.

Elementary Religious Education News Advent Family Prayer Parents, please come to the Coffee House this weekend, Sunday, Dec. 14, from 9:10 to 9:50 a.m. We will be discussing Advent and Christmas prayer. Drop your children off for religious education classes and then come to the parish hall for refreshments and coffee. We will finish in time for you to pick up your children after class.

Christmas Break We do have class today, Dec. 14. Today is the last class before our Christmas Break. We resume classes on Sunday, Jan. 11.

Cal Leopold, OSF

830-379-7689 cleopold@saintjamescc.org

St. James Coffee House

Today, Dec. 14 Advent and Christmas

Prayer

Advent and Christmas are wonderful seasons that

lend themselves beautifully to prayer in the home.

Let these seasons of hope and joy deepen your

family’s spirituality and prayer.

9:10-9:50 a.m.

or

11:10-11:50 a.m.

In the parish hall

Thanks to St. Ann Circle members for providing and

serving refreshments

Enter into the Christmas Story

We invite all children to dress as one of the

Nativity Story figures at all Christmas Masses.

Christmas Eve Masses

at 4 p.m., 4:15 p.m. (Hall) and 6 p.m.

Christmas Mass at Midnight at 12 a.m.

Christmas Day Mass at 9 a.m.

Choose any Christmas Mass and come dressed

to represent Joseph or Mary

or an angel or a shepherd or a king.

No age limit. Babies can represent the Christ

Child. Anyone (even grown-ups) can participate.

This Christmas get into the spirit

of the season in a new way!

Military Prayer List

LT Kristofer Kalstad LT Kendall Kalstad

TSGT Carlo Carmona TSGT Dianne Carmona

SGT Nicodemus C. Seaboy SGT Scott Kessler

MAJ Christopher Wells SGT Don Pezzatta

GSGT Christopher J. Garcia LCPL Stevie Ray Leos

PFC Shane Hartmann CAPT Blake Wiegmann

CSM Bret Wiegmann PFC Brian McKinney

Specialist Steven A. Cervantes 1LT Charles Gamero

LCPL Brian Shaw John Bender

LCPL Zachary Klinger CAPT Daniel Jeanes

LCPL Jorden Rongish PFC Noah Rios

OSMC Jeremy P. Rodriguez SGT Jordan Folmar

CAPT Eric Dvorak

May God bless our military personnel and their families for all they do for our country. Please keep them in your prayers.

KC Squires

The KC Squires Circle 5454 will be selling "Keep Christ in

Christmas" magnets for $5 after each mass today.

We will also be registering for the KC Free Throw

Competition scheduled for Jan. 10 at St. James Gym from

9am-12pm. Boys and girls between the ages of

9-14 can participate. No fee will be required.

Hope for the Future

Support Catholic School

Education at the 6th Annual Khaki

& Plaid Gala, Homecoming 2015;

6:00 p.m., Saturday, January 31,

2015 at the Henry B. Gonzalez

Convention Center, Ballroom A.

This fundraising event allows Hope for the Future

to provide tuition assistance to less fortunate

families wanting to enjoy a Catholic School

education in the Archdiocese of San Antonio.

Every dollar brings Hope and funding to more

children. Attend the event to see who will be

crowned Homecoming King & Queen!

Reserve your seats today at hopeforfuture.org

call 210-734-1907.

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Beyond Cana Marriage Encounter

Advent. . . the season that urges us to

wake up and pay attention to what is

going on around us. What a perfect time

to consider attending a marriage enrich-

ment retreat. Why not plan a quiet weekend with your

spouse in the Hill County, where you can spend quality

time together and revitalize your marriage. Our parish

will hold a Beyond Cana Retreat, Feb. 27-Mar. 1,

2015 and will provide the time away, the time with your

spouse, and the time with your God to wake up and pay

attention. Cost is $250.00 and includes two nights at the

beautiful Hampton Inn in Boerne, breakfasts, lunches,

and all the retreat materials. You will be on your own

for dinner each night. Consider giving the retreat as a

Christmas gift to each other. To register, or for more

information, contact Father Dennis.

THANK YOU, BULLETIN SPONSORS! Because of you, we are able to receive our bulletins for our parishioners and

visitors. Thank you also to Fr. Dennis and Tina Watson, our Representative from Trinity Publications, for your patronage. We are looking for a few more sponsors to fill our bulletin. You may reach Tina at 1-512-431-9413 or by email at twatson@trinitypublications.com.

Advent vespers During Advent, we invite everyone to gather for just one hour on Monday evenings.

Come for prayer and a short presentation on Jesus in the Gospels. Evening prayer, also

called Vespers, includes selections from the Psalms and Mary’s song, the Magnificat.

Please join us for evening prayer

Monday, Dec. 15 6:30 p.m.

Advent Evening Prayer

“Who is Jesus in Matthew’s Gospel?”

Monday, Dec. 22 6:30 p.m.

Advent Evening Prayer

“Who is Jesus in Luke’s Gospel?”

As we anticipate the coming of Christ,

let us pray together as a parish family this Advent.

St. James Catholic Church 510 South Camp St., Seguin, TX. 78155 830-379-1796

Dear Leaders of Ministries,

We respectfully request the honor of your presence at the Pastoral Council Ministries Service Mass and Dinner.

The Pastoral Council is extending the invitation to everyone helping in any ministry. Please join us for Mass in

church and for dinner in the parish hall. There will be two celebrations:

1. Thursday, January 15, 2015 at 6:00 p.m. for the following ministries:

Religious Education and Formation Programs (RCIA, Religious Education, Family Faith Formation,

Baptism Preparation)

Youth Ministry

Ministry to the Sick

Liturgy Committee

Finance Committee

Blood Drive

Property Management Committee

Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist

Adoration

Unitas

Hospitality Committee

Bereavement

Church Art & Environment

Festival Committee

Parish Prayer Chain

Cemetery

Music

Rosary

Sacristans

St. Ann’s Circle,

ACTS Core

Altar Servers

Ushers

Lectors / Commentators

2. Thursday, January 22, 2015, at 6:00 p.m. for the following ministries:

Catholic Daughters

Knights of Columbus

We pray that you will find time to be present for Mass and dinner. For those of you that serve on more than one

ministry please attend one event. Please RSVP on or before December 31, 2014.

Sincerely,

Pastoral Council Members Jackie Etlinger and Linda Kay

RSVP to Church Office 830-379-1796, Jackie Etlinger 210-844-0516, or Linda Kay 830-305-1204

St. James Catholic Church Seguin, TX December 14, 2014

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT

SPONSOR FOR THE WEEK:

Carroll Barron Luling

Parish Office: 379-1796 Parish Web site: http://www. stjameschurch.faithweb.com

Life Teen and Edge

Next Gathering:

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

at 7:00 P.M.

First gathering of spring semester

Family Reflection Time on the Gospel

Reflection John the Baptist pointed the way to the Christ: the Savior, the Light, and the true Way. Again, he recalls the earlier prophet Isaiah, who also pointed toward the fulfillment of God’s promises. John has the impor-tant task of pointing to, or leading toward, God. To-day, the Church, our bishops and priests, and the peo-ple and symbols that are part of our faith life point us toward God.

On the way Home from Mass The Gospel says that John the Baptist was not the light, but that he came to testify to the light. I wonder what that means.

Living the Word This week, have a small service of light one evening. You will need one large pillar candle, and enough smaller candles (such as votive candles or tea lights) for each member of your family to have one. You may want to have additional small candles, as well. Dim the lights, and light the large candle. Explain that this candle is like the light of Christ. Give each family member a smaller candle and invite him or her to light it from the large candle. Place these smaller candles around the large candle. Talk about how we are all made in God’s image. We are called to reflect the Light of Christ. If you have additional smaller candles, see if your family members can name some people who help you to live as Christians or learn about God. Light a small candle for each of these people, too. Explain that each person is a gift of joy, peace, and love who points to the unimaginable light and fullness of God. Talk about the difference even one small can-dle can make in a dark room. How do our actions of love make a difference in a dark world?

Office of Marriage and Family Life

The next Marriage Formation Weekend Sponsored by

the Archdiocese of San Antonio is scheduled for January

17-18, 2015. Online Registration is now opened for

engaged couples who are being prepared for the

Sacrament of Marriage and couples preparing for

Convalidation. This is a two-day session (not an over-

night stay) program from at 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. on both

days. The fee for this event is $200.00 per couple -

Meals, books, materials, certificates are all included in

the price. Registration fills quickly, and on a first come

first serve basis. To properly prepare for this event, it is

necessary to close registration on December 29, 2014.

Please use the following link below or visit the Office

of Marriage and Family Life website to register:

www.archsa.org/marriageandfamilylife For questions,

please call 210 734-1650.

Advent Angels

We are still looking for Families to adopt a

Resident at Hacienda Oaks. Please sign-up in

the parish office. Know that the gifts you pro-

vide are a way of saying I love you from the

Body of Christ.

Attention Liturgical Ministers

Please log on to MSP to enter your unavailable dates for the next scheduling period of January 10, 2015—March 1st, 2015. If you do not have access to a computer, please call the church office with your unavailable dates.

A special THANK YOU to the teens and parents who participated in our Advent Projects and Events…

~Bell Ringing at Wal-Mart ~Holy Childhood Association Collection

~Advent Angel Gifts ~Christmas Bingo at Hacienda Oaks

~Live Nativity