Rev. Gregory

Barras, Pastor

P.O. Box 523 Biloxi, MS 39533

177 First Street Biloxi, MS 39530

Church Office:

(228) 435-5578

Fax:

(228) 435-5579

Father Greg’s Mobile:

(228) 297-2482

Website:

stmichaelchurchbiloxi.com

E-Mail:

stmichaelschurch @cableone.net

App Store:

MyParish (select St Michael)

Facebook:

facebook.com/Stmichaelbiloxi

Mass Schedule:

Tuesday-Friday

8:00 AM

Saturday

5:00 PM

Sunday:

10:00 AM

Confessions: Saturdays 4:00 to 4:30 pm prior to Mass or by appointment.

Office Hours Tuesday - Thursday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

PRAYER TO SAINT MICHAEL

THE ARCHANGEL

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our

defense against the wickedness and snares of the

Devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do

thou, O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of

God, thrust into hell Satan, and all the evil spirits,

who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.

Amen.

Established in 1917

ST. MICHAEL CATHOLIC CHURCH

ST. MICHAEL CATHOLIC CHURCH IS A DIVERSE, FAITH-FILLED COMMUNITY OF ONE DEDICATED TO THE SPIRITUAL BELIEFS AND

STRONG FAMILY VALUES THAT CREATED THE “CHURCH OF THE FISHERMEN.”

Words from Fr. Greg

Dec 7th & 8th 2019 $3460.00

Collection 11/30/19 & 12/1/19

Matthew 3:1-12

The scriptures draw us deeply into the reality of MYSTERY in our faith journey. Desert represents a will-ingness to accept an experience outside the realm of our control, spiritual, and relational. We intentional-ly go into the desert to confront our real selves, inner demons, fears, limitations and find the sacred reality of ourselves that brings us to transformation and transcendence of those demons, fears, and limitations to a place of hope, courage, and strength.

The invitation to repentance is a call to be fully human. We are created with a free will and we naturally choose what is not of God. Part of the Incarnation, the birth of Jesus, divinity into humanity, is the mes-sage, “I came for the forgiveness of sin.” This pure gift fulfills our human nature with the divine grace of wholeness. Jesus came because we are broken and in need of hope and mercy and compassion.

When we experience reconciliation, we become what we receive. We are more compassionate with oth-ers who are broken. When we name and claim our own suffering and pain, particularly by our own choic-es, we enter into responsibility and accountability for our actions, words, thoughts, without blaming and shaming someone else. We mature into our own identity centered in Christ and we give birth to the real presence of Jesus into our world and into all of our relationships. We feel the change. We feel the free-dom to be and become intentional disciples in a world hungry for visible signs of hope and listening, a world of relationships companioning each other on the journey of faith.

John the Baptist models what faith can lead us to. He challenges the authorities who are not following the covenant, who are two faced, who give double messages, one verbally and one they do not follow with their hearts/souls. These authorities are not open (metanoia) to be transformed or to transcend their brokenness. This eventually costs John the Baptist his life. Is this not a current reality in our govern-ment leaders and church leaders – saying one thing and doing another. In spite of this, we are called to hope and perseverance, patience and constancy.

The profoundness of John the Baptist is heralded in the Old Testament as Isaiah prophesizes the unity and hope and miracle of God’s presence through Emmanuel (God with us), through Marantha (Jesus comes), through divine power to bring opposites together, to heal, to transform, to recreate. Again, we are pre-sented with Mystery in our lives. Do I believe in God? Do I desire to surrender my ego to the reality of God’s grace and the willingness to ask for forgiveness to find wholeness in the spirituality of faith.

Advent is about grappling with our faith. Am I open to make room in my soul to give birth to Jesus? Am I open to receive Mystery in order to recognize Mystery in others and in all of creation? We are challenged to let go and let God. We are challenged to believe in this infant who changes hardened hearts and evil ways.

Prayer Shawl Ministry 4th Saturday of each month 9:00 am at DeMiller Hall

RCIA Rosary

Thursdays 20 minutes before Mass

6:00pm in the Chapel

Adoration Choir

1st Friday of month Wednesday 5 pm

8:30-10:00 am and 1 hour before Mass

CCD LifeTeen

Wednesdays Sundays

5:30pm 4pm

Youth Mass Scripture Study

3rd Saturday Wednesdays

5 pm 6pm

In our Parish

December 8: Taize Prayer Service 2pm

December 10: Breakfast for Seniors

December 10: Penance Service 6:30pm

December 14: Sacrament of the Sick 5pm Mass

December 15: Sacrament of the Sick 10am Mass

December 21: Youth Mass 5pm

December 24: Christmas Vigil Masses 4 & 8 PM

December 25: Christmas Day Mass 10am

December 28: Loaves and Fishes

December 31: Mary Mother of God Mass 6pm

January 1: Mary Mother of God Mass 10am

January 5: Retirement Party for Fr Greg 11:30am The Feast of the Immaculate Conception-Today is typically the feast of the Immaculate Concep-tion, Mary born without original sin. It is on a Sun-day and does not supersede the mass of the Sun-day. WE get a two for one, this holyday coincides with our weekend obligation.

Diocesan Sharing Appeal Our goal was $13298.00 and total pledge is $16618.00!!! Total paid is $15726.00. Remember to get your pledges in! We’ve surpassed our goal, Thank you!!

Welcome Msgr. Dominic Fullam, pastor of St. Mary currently, is the new pastor appointed for St. Michael. We welcome him with love, care, and east Biloxi hospitality.

Sacred Heart of Jesus Stewardship Prayer

We are the Life of this Parish.

We help make it what it is.

Because of I am friendly, the parish is friendly.

Because I am generous, the parish is generous.

Because I am involved, the parish grows stronger.

Because I am willing to work, the parish can do great work.

God with your help – I dedicate myself to the task of BEING

all of the things I want my parish to be.

AMEN

Ministry News

~St Michael Fundraising Team is selling beautiful

handmade Christmas ornaments. Each with it’s own

detail $20. Past ornaments will also be for sale for

$10, limited quantities of all.

~St Michael Parish Life Team Angel

Tree is up again this year with names

given by the Woman’s Center for Non-

Violence. Look for tree in vestibule of

church, to participate take one of the

ornaments, return items to the office or Stephen Bor-

delon by December 15th. Angel tree questions

please email: epicuresb@yahoo.com .

~St Michael Saint Vincent DePaul would like to

thank everyone who donated food and money this

Thanksgiving holiday. They were able to provide

60 bags of groceries for seniors citizens as well as

take care of the food pantry needs for the month of

November. Thank you!

~St Michael Card Ministry wants to thank all who

have donated cards for the holiday season the only

need left as they end the year is for postage. Dona-

tions can be brought to office. Thank you!

~The Knights of Columbus is extremely thankful

for all who participated in this year’s Baby Bottle

Drive. There are still bottles still out. Please return

the bottles, full or not. All un-returned bottles will

have to be replaced for next year’s event. Thank

you so much for your participation!

Tues Dec 10th +Poncho & Beverly Kovacevich

Wed Dec 11th Christine Kozlowski

Thurs Dec 12th +Anna Kopszywa Smolcich

Fri Dec 13th +Rita Pelaez

Sat Dec 14th +Babe, Grace & Shirley Broussard

December 2019 Y O U M A Y P U R C H A S E A

FAMILY AD BY CALLING THE OFFICE

BY NOON ON THE WEDNESDAY

PRIOR TO PUBLICATION. CALL THE OFFICE FOR MORE INFO.

Prayers for all

those who are

suffering from

Depression

Fun Fact

On December 8, 1935, St. Michael Church held first mass at 7 o'clock and second mass at half past nine. The Children of Mary and the pupils of 7th and 8th grade received holy communion during the first mass. All mem-bers of the St. Michael congregation attending mass that Sunday were asked to make a special offering for the new convent. The proceeds of the collection during both masses would be used exclusively for that pur-pose.

(Source: Daily Herald)

In loving memory of

the Broussard, Dennings,

Merten & Taranto Families

Remembering

Salvadore ‘Penue’ Taranto

During this Christmas

Season and always

We love and miss you!

Your Children and

Grandchildren

In Loving Memory

of Lusk, Baker, McCaleb,

Ryan & Aken Families

Remembering our loved

Ones from the Langlinais

Pelous, Costoplos

& Rogalski Families

Merry Christmas

in Heaven

Merry Christmas

to my loving husband

Richard Sr in heaven.

Love your wife,

Mary Alice

Happy Birthday Susan Pizzetta

On December 17th!

Love, The Senior Ministry Team

Happy

Birthday

POPE

FRANCIS!

December

17th

Happy Birthday!

Velma Baker On December 17th

Happy Birthday

Kenneth Powell!

December 22nd

Love, Cynthia & Jason