207 VANDALIA STREET · COLLINSVILLE, IL 62234

Contact Information Parish Office: 207 Vandalia Street Phone 345-4343 Office Hours: Monday - Thursday 8:30 AM-4:00 PM Friday 8:30AM-3:30 PM

Parish Center 301 Vandalia

School 210 N. Morrison 344-5450

Parish Prayer Line 344-4108 Staff Rev. John P. Beveridge, Pastor Ext. 100 Deacon Jim Hill Ext. 104 Deacon Jimmy Ghiglione, Director of Faith Formation Ext. 101 Deacon Fernando Solomon Ext. 107 Patricia Kirk, Principal Ext. 200 Maggie Brennan, Director of Pastoral Care Ext. 111 Teri Lesicko, Director Finance & Development Ext. 105 Michelle Trimble, Accounting Manager Ext. 106 Camille Emig-Hill, Director HR & Communications Ext. 102 Kimberly Zagorski, Ext. 103 Faith Formation Coordinator Nick Robinson, Ext. 107 Music Director

Masses Weekend Saturday 4:30 PM Sunday 8:00 AM & 10:30 AM Weekday Monday Communion Service 8:15 AM Tuesday - Friday 8:15 AM First Friday Masses 8:15 AM Holy Day Masses Eve of Holyday 6:30 PM Holyday 8:15 AM & 6:30 PM

Sacraments Confessions: Saturday 3:00-4:00 PM Thursday before First Friday 4:00 PM until all are heard Marriage: Contact the parish office. Annulments & Counseling: Ariel Martin 618-667-2113 Baptism: Contact the parish office for registration forms and scheduling information.

Visit our Website saintspeter-paul.org

Catholic Church Ss. Peter & Paul

Liturgy

Collections for 11/25/2018

Envelopes/Loose $8,839

Parish Improvements 120

Angel Fund 50

Annual Fund 415

Holy Cross 50

Special Collections 1,718

TOTAL $11,192

Angel Fund Red Bag Tuition

Assistance

Weekend of December 15-16

Saturday December 15, 4:30 pm Red Bag Collection Lector: The Ferguson Family Music: Janice, Flip, Becky w/ N Robinson Gifts: The family of Betty Eberle Servers: Gabe Freeman, Robert Freeman, Estevan Guerrero, Katelyn Walker Communion Ministers: Kerri Castelli, Jackie Freeman, Russ & Linda Fette, Rita Heimann, Beverly McDonald, Joy Rick, Ed Welle Intention: Betty Eberle

Sunday December 16, 8:00 am Red Bag Collection Lector: Mary Kay Ogle & Trudy Strieker Music: Glory Choir w/ J Butterfield Gifts: The family of Bill J. Thomas Servers: Edwin Kircher, Ellis Kircher, Alaric Boley, Chris Marchetti Communion Ministers: Chip Awalt, John & Maggie Brennan Jean Clancy, Tim Kircher, Joe Strieker Intention: Bill J. Thomas

Sunday December 16, 10:30 am Red Bag Collection Lector: Mason Wasser & Madasyn Wasser Music: Hausmann/ Wiegmann Gifts: The family of Richard Horton Servers: Ayden Perez, Isaac Wendler, Isabell Wendler, Jenna Scheller Communion Ministers: Camille Emig-Hill, Tess Haines, Terry & Sarah Lanter, Judi & Rich Schutzenhofer, Herman & Madeleine Wenos Children’s Liturgy of the Word: Herman & Madeleine Wenos Nursery: Lisa & Kevin Muniz Intention: Richard Horton

Auditor’s Schedule Sunday, December 16 Team #5 Lynn Muniz, Karen Meyer, Don & Peggy Kerkemeyer

Server’s Schedule 8:15 am For weekdays Tuesday, December 11 thru Wednesday, December 12 Virginia Lowe, Kai Gaither, August Kent, Anna Giovando*, Allyson Roedl* Thursday, December 13 thru Friday, December 14 John Traubitz, Emma Berg, Ava Giovando, Anna Giovando*, Allyson Roedl*

Mass Intentions Monday, December 10 8:15 am Communion Service Tuesday, December 11 8:15 am Isabell Suria All School Mass Wednesday, December 12 8:15 am Bob & Karen Kruetzkamp ( S.I.) Thursday, December 13 8:15 am Tony Boron Friday, December 14 8:15 am Michael Pekarik All School Mass Saturday, December 1 4:30 pm Betty Eberle Sunday, December 16 8:00 am Bill J. Thomas 10:30 am Richard Horton *SI– Special Intention for the Living

ZIGGY’S FOCUS: Keeping it simple, what’s the best thing I can do for my “spiritual life”? ZIGGY’S OFFERING: The answer, of course, is to pray….OFTEN; I might say continually. Impossible, you say; not so! Just thinking of God, maybe in the person of Jesus Christ, is a prayer in itself. Give it a try. You can do it!

From the Desk Of Fr. John We celebrated the Holy Day…Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Dec. 8. Mary under her title of the Immaculate Conception is the patroness of our nation, our diocese and our Cathedral Church. That feast helps us to take in the mystery of the Incarnation. By allowing Mary to receive the grace of Christ’s redeeming love at the beginning of her life on earth…at her conception…she had no stain of Adam’s sin touch her life. She was immaculately conceived…to prepare her to be a worthy mother of God’s own divine Son. We began the Season of Advent in prepara-tion of the Feast of Christ’s birth…Christmas. This holy season helps us ready ourselves to welcome Jesus more deeply into our lives and embrace the Gospel He proclaimed in everything we do. However, we realize the season also points to the final and glorious coming of the Kingdom of God in Christ’s second coming. We live each day putting into practice all that Je-sus taught us…and we do it with greater inten-tionality and urgency. Jesus taught His disciples that the time of waiting for the full coming of the Kingdom was to be spent in actively living His teachings and spreading the Gospel. Jesus taught that His disciples were to be vigilant at all times…and be a prayerful people seeking strength to live as disciples until the final day. Je-sus had told a parable about the servant (steward…disciple) who was put in charge of the household until the master would return. That steward/servant thought that the return would never happen…or at least be a long way off. The miscalculation centered on what the steward did in the meantime…he misused his position and abused the other servants. He also gave in to all the temptations of the day…allowing his heart to become drowsy from carousing and drunken-ness. This Sunday’s Gospel is helping us keep our perspective on life…having a hope and a vi-sion all the way to the fulfillment of the com-ing kingdom. If like in another parable of Je-sus, the seed of God’s word falls in among

thorns…which represent the cares of daily life and of this world…that word sown in our hearts will be chocked off. This is not the time simply to prepare for a holiday with all the trimmings. This is the time of preparation for the fullness of life…fully embracing the teaching of Jesus and living it each day. We often find ourselves wanting the context of what someone is talking about…it just makes more sense and is easier to under-stand. Luke presents the opening of this Sun-day’s Gospel with a bit of history…telling us who the ruling emperor is…and the other local political leaders, etc. But it is not that kind of history that Luke is interested in…it is who really is the King…and the one who brings true peace of the Kingdom…Jesus! Luke tells us of a prophet who was called by God… ‘The word of the God came to John’…right at this historical point of history. The message that John would preach was not only for the small group of religious people in and around Jerusa-lem. John’s announcement was for the whole world…thus the reference to the political leaders of the time...for the message was a universal one…for all. John began his ministry by calling for a deeper openness to God and a recognition that the King-dom of God had come into their midst…with the coming of Jesus. There was a need for men to undergo a real change…and metanoia…a con-version…a turning around. They were to come forward for a simple baptism…a washing or dunking into the waters of the Jordan River. This was to be a deep interior step away from sin…and a determined turn toward God. It was a call to all…prepare the way of the Lord.

Please pray for the following men and women

who are serving in our armed forces:

Discipleship: A Way of Life - Prayer & Service

Remember In Your Prayers

Bob Burg Joe Giacoletto Ed Ruef Estelle Rangle The Ferguson Family Liz Sanchez-Setser Sandy Walter Mary Ann Ellis Terri Koehler Donna Fick Peggy & Dennis Diaz Laura & Rick Suria & Family Stephanie Hagen Anna Kussmann Judy Lucas Ferrin Marcia Crites Katie Klaas Dominik Kuhl Noah Rensing Virginia & Fern Clementi Sandy & Tim Day Blake Bohnenstiehl Rosemary Chadwick Kaye Blaylock Katie Ziegler Tim Cadagin Brian & family Dee McCameron

Greg Weber Wayne Rick Dianne Loyet Liberty Lawrence Fr. Nino Viviano Richard Schmidt Brad Hill Camille Emig-Hill Rob A. Helen Levinski Bob Welle Lisa (Koke) Bohnenstiehl Dolly Livingston Diane Schwinn Bob & Karen Kruetzkamp Luke Brandt Ken Zampaglione Ann Boulch Priscilla Bober Jim Steinwagner, Jr. Joan Kotarba Jackson Kettenbach Jeanne Wilde Kelsey Dudici Pray for Families Expecting/Adopting: Anavel Ramirez Tara Shevlin and Joshua Ruger

Maj Matthew Derfler Army MSgt Glen Davis Air Force Cpl Larry Tyler Marine Corps MSgt Adam Mercer Air Force SSgt Britt M. Sherman Army Capt Michael A. Shah Army Capt Jacob Lewis Marine Corps Lcpl Juan A. Gonzales Marine Corps Pvt Monica Gonzalez Army Fc3 Matthew Wehmeyer Navy Lcpl Michael I. Guide Marine Corps SSgt Daniel Husbands Air Force MSgt Hugh Weise Marine Corps Lt Joshua A. Reeder Navy Pfc Gary Voegtle Army Maj Michael W. Meyer, Jr.

CW04 Jerry Hunter Army SSgt Ben Bohnenstiehl

Air Force

AOM Ed Clark Navy SrA Mark Kimball Air Force 2Lt Adam Fischer Marine Corps SSgt David Bednara Air Force 2Lt Scott Heimann Army AOM Jack Matthews Navy Col Ed Hulten Army CPO Edward Mahoney Navy SrA Kelly Mahoney Air Force Maj Natalie Walker Marine Corps Pvt Sam Asbury Army Sgt Daniel Manning Air Force David Zagorski Natl Guard LCpl Dominic Blackburn

Marine Corps

2Lt Nathen Walker Navy MMFN Seth C. Popov Navy Amn Manny K. Soto Air Force Ens. Bobby Bitzer Navy 2Lt Zachary Auer Air Force

With Sympathy

We extend our deepest sympathy to

Fr. John on the death of his aunt

Rest in Peace

Tim Thomas Lorna Jacober

Mary McCallum Pat Burg

Mary Theresa Freymuth Bottrell

Ss. Peter and Paul School News KNIGHTS KNEWS: Mon. Dec. 10: KC Officers Meeting 6:30 pm; Collins Club meeting 7:15 pm Tues. Dec.11: Wing Ding 4-7:30 pm Thurs. Dec. 13: Bingo! Noon Mexican Menu: 99-cent tacos, $2 Margaritas Queen of Hearts Drawing 8 pm Grand Prize approximately $39,000; only 20 cards remain-ing Fri. Dec. 14: Fish Fry Team #3

Knights of Columbus Mon-Fri, Dec 10-14 Santa’s Kottage Tues., Dec 11 8th Grade Student of the Month after 8:15 am Mass Wed., Dec 12 11:15 a.m. Dismissal Tues., Dec 18 Advent Rosary 1:40 p.m. Fri., Dec 21 11:15 am dismissal, End of 2nd Quarter, begin Christmas Break Thurs., Jan 3 Classes Resume

The Michiaels family’s new baby arrived on Monday, November 19, 2018 at 6:51 PM. Their

new baby girl is named Lydia Grace and weighed 7lbs. 7ozs. Congratula-tions to Amy, our school’s Technology teacher, and her family on their new addition.

Ss. Peter and Paul welcomes with

joy a new member to our parish community

baptized on November 24

LuciAna Gabrielle Croissant-Roberson

Volunteers are needed for the KC Friday Fish Fry, one of its biggest fund raisers. All are invited, including families. There are three teams that ro-tate every three weeks. The fish fry is from 4 pm-7:30 pm. Shifts start at 4 pm or 5:30 pm. Jobs include: DINING ROOM: cashier, selling desserts, cleaning tables, stocking con-diments. KITCHEN: filling or-ders, dishwasher, clean up. FRY HOUSE: bread fish, fry fish, fries, hush puppies, and clean up. If you want to see what it en-tails to work the fish fry, let us know and we will be happy to show you the job or jobs you may be interested in. If you are interested in finding out more, call Hall Manager Ashley Becerra at 345-1492.

Congratulations on the New Arrival

Christmas Memorial Flowers It’s time to get your Christmas Memo-rial Flowers in honor of or in memory of family and friends. Requests and the donation of your choosing can be put in the collection basket or turned in at the Parish Of-fice by December 16.

Volunteers Needed; All Invited

Scrip is a fundraising program that uses shopping with gifts cards. The school earns a re-bate on every gift card you purchase. Whether you buy the gift cards to give as pre-sents or use them for your everyday shopping, your order immediately raises funds for the school without you paying any extra money. Cash, check, or credit cards are ac-cepted. If we do not have the gift card you would like in stock, we can also take or-ders.

Scrip for Sale After Masses

Support Ss. Peter and Paul School while shopping December 9 10:30 December 15 4:30 December 16 10:30

Give to Those Who Have Given a

Lifetime This weekend is the an-nual collection for the Re-tirement Fund for Reli-gious. There are many men and women religious who have spent decades sharing their love of Christ with us. Today, those sisters, brothers and priests may be elder-ly, and their religious communities struggle to meet their needs. Your gift supports necessities —such as medications and nursing care. Please give generously. Mending Ministry

Torn seams? Need hemming? Buttons? Teddy bear need eye sewn back on?

We Can fix it!!

Just bring items to the Gathering Space on the 3rd weekend of the month

December 15-16 Drop off before Mass—pick up after Mass!

Grief Sharing Group

December 18 10 am St. Anthony Room (church lower level)

Those experiencing any type of grief (death of a loved one, home, job, etc.) are invited

Please RSVP 345-4343 Ext. 111

Group meets the 3rd Tuesday of each month

Christmas Decorations Please join us Sunday December 16 af-ter 10:30 Mass to put up the Christmas decorations. We appreciate everyone’s help. Please feel free to bring a snack or treat to share.

Help the SOS Soup Kitchen’s Christmas Collection

The SOS Soup Kitchen is collecting items to distribute to the needy in our community. Items needed include: blankets, hats, gloves, scarves, razors, toothbrushes, shampoo, body wash, coats, slippers, and toys for toddler through age 10. There will be bins at the church doors the weekend of December 15-16. Thank you for sharing during this holy season.

Advent Opportunities at SSPP

Mass Schedule

Tuesday thru Friday—8:15 am Saturdays—4:30 pm

Sundays—8:00 & 10:30 am

Christmas Eve—Dec. 24—4:00 & 7:00 pm Christmas Day—Dec. 25—8:00 & 10:30 am

New Year’s Eve—Dec. 31– 4:00 pm New Year’s Day 9:00 am

Sacrament of Reconciliation Saturdays Dec. 1, 8, 15, 22, 3:00-4:00pm

Rosary—Joyful Mysteries

Tuesday, Dec. 18, 1:40 pm with School Children

Giving Tree

Return wrapped gifts with tag attached By Dec. 16 to the Baptismal Room

Advent “Little Books” and “Word Among Us”

Reflections and Prayers for each day of Advent are available at the Church Doors.

Requested Donation—$2.00

Advent Resources on the Web

Go to Formed.org (password 6BR7BZ)or www.usccb.org/advent for a variety of Advent

resources, including a Family Advent Calendar, a Blessing for a Christmas tree, and much more!

Dec. 12, 6:30 pm: St. Mary & St. Cecilia at St. Mary, Ed-wardsville Dec. 16, 2 pm: St. Boniface, Edwardsville Dec. 16, 7 pm: St. Jerome, Troy Dec. 20, 6:30pm: St. Ce-celia, Glen Carbon

Advent Penance Services

Holiday nuts are here!!

Pecan Halves, Pecan Piec-es, Cashews, Mixed Nuts

& English Walnuts. A limited amount of

Black Walnuts, Toasted/Salted Pecan Halves and Sliced Almonds are also

available

$10 each for 1 pound bag

Sold in the Gathering Space before/after

various Masses

Giving Tree Thank you to those who selected tags from the Giving Tree—all were select-ed last weekend! Please return your wrapped gift to the Baptismal area by Sunday, December 16. The RCIA will then delivery these gifts to each fami-ly. The best gift you can give this person is your prayers. Please include them in your daily prayers so that he/she may know the love of Christ through the generosity of our parish family. If you have any questions or problems, please feel to contact Debbie Sand-ers at 345-7939 or 444-9247.

A new and exciting ministry is starting at Ss. Peter and Paul Parish in Janu-ary. Alpha is a series of sessions ex-ploring the Christian faith that runs over 11 weeks. Each talk looks at a different question around faith and is designed to create conversation. Al-pha sessions focus on three key areas:

We invite you to join us for the first Alpha session

Sunday, January 13 at 6:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall We encourage you to invite family and friends (Catholic or non-Catholic) to join in this unique opportunity. If you are interested or need more information, contact Missy Mark

at melissamark11@yahoo.com

Food Whether it’s a group of friends gathered around a kitchen table, or a quick catch-up over coffee, food has a way of bringing people to-gether. It’s no different at Alpha. We start with food, because it’s a great way to encourage community and get to know each other.

Then a Talk The talks are designed to engage and inspire conversation. General-ly, 30 minutes long, they explore the big issues around faith and un-pack the basics of Christianity, addressing questions such as Who is Jesus? and How can we have faith?

Followed by Discussion Probably the most important part of any Alpha is the chance to share thoughts and ideas on the topic, and simply discuss it in a small group. There’s no obligation to say anything. And there’s noth-ing you can’t say. It’s an opportunity to hear from others and contrib-ute your own perspective in an honest, friendly and open environ-ment.

About 250 attended Breakfast with Santa on December 1. The event featured breakfast and snacks, ornament making, other crafts, a visit by Santa and free pictures and hats and gloves. Children were also invited to make Jesus a card for His birthday. Special thanks to the Outreach Ministry and its many volunteers who made the event possible. If you are interested in learning more about this ministry, contact Marty at 618-910-4710. Visit the Gallery on our website at saintspeter-paul.org to see more pictures.

Thoughts for Our Advent Journey Let’s get ready for Jesus with joy and anticipation, even if it involves some work on our part. Let’s embrace the opportuni-ties to pray a little more, to examine our lives and to show more love to the people around us. Let’s dedicate these days to

making our hearts as open and welcoming as possible so that Jesus will find a comfortable home there. (Excerpted from the Work Among Us)

Advent is a Season of Hope For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare, not for woe! Plans to give you a future full of hope. When you call me, when you go to pray to me, I will listen to you. When you look for me, you will find me. Yes, when you seek me with all your heart, you will find me with you, says the Lord, and I will change your lot…. Jeremiah 29: 11-14 Monitor your thoughts, works and gestures to avoid catering to our culture’s cynics. Instead be a herald of hope at the breakfast table at lunch, in all you do today.

From Bishop Barron: Jesus tells His disciples to be vigilant. Today marks the beginning of Advent, the great liturgi-cal season of vigilance, of waiting and watching. What practically can we do during this season of vigil keeping? What are some practices that might incarnate for us the Advent spirituality? I strongly recommend the classically Catholic dis-cipline of Eucharistic adoration. To spend a half hour or an hour in the presence of the Lord is not to accomplish or achieve very much—it is not re-ally "getting" anywhere—but it is a particularly rich form of spiritual waiting.

Excerpts from Best Advent Ever Matthew Kelly

We all have these things in our lives that we're wrestling with. We all have questions that we're struggling with. We all need a turning point, and it's great for us during this time of Advent to step back, think about who we are and what we're here for, what matters most and what matters least, so that we're not rushing into Christmas, so that we're not frazzled as we show up to church on Christmas Eve or on Christmas Day, but so that we move into Christmas with hope and peace and with great intentionality. Allen Hunt How do you pre-pare for Christ-mas? We pre-pare for Christ-mas through this season of Ad-vent, but what does that mean to you every day? Hopefully this will give you the focus to think about doing something, how-ever small, every day to prepare your heart, to prepare your mind, to receive Je-sus in a new way this Christmas. Have you ever read about someone and then ac-tually met them? Or heard about somebody and then met them face-to-face? There's a big differ-ence between knowing about someone versus actually knowing them. This Advent, we want to get to know Jesus, not just know about him. That's what Advent is about—preparing to meet him and to know him.