[Jesus said,] “May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping.” (Mark 13:36)
Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy! The sleepy apostles couldn’t keep awake with
Jesus and drifted off when he most needed them. I have only fallen asleep at the wheel once.
During college, I worked the morning shift starting at 6 am. After a late night with little sleep,
I sluggishly got into my car. Comfortably driving down the highway at about 5:15 am, I dozed
for a few seconds before awakening to the noise of my tires vibrating on the warning tracks—
just in time to straighten the wheel and avoid the cement divider.
Advent is like those rumble strips. You don’t always need them, they are annoying when you
accidentally run over them, but they are very important! We can get tired, trying to keep our
hearts awake and attuned to Jesus. The rhythm of life, the background music of the world, the
distractions that fly by us—they all contribute to the danger of a passive heart. Running across
Advent is like a wake-up call: “Stay awake! He is almost here.”
As in driving, there are many distractions vying for your attention, but you learn to focus on
what’s important. You survey your surroundings, looking for hazards while keeping your eyes
on the road. There are many signs to read, but only certain ones point you where you want to
go.
Jesus says to be attentive to the signs; learn to interpret their meaning. Understand them,
without being distracted by them. Be vigilant, pray for strength, and stay awake and alert.
Thanks be to God for those rumble strips!
—Fr. Mark Haydu, LC
Liguori PUBLICATIONS © 2016 • Liguori, MO 63057-9999
St. Sylvester, Woodsfield St. John Bosco, Sardis St. John the Baptist, Miltonsburg
founded 1866 dedicated 1976 founded 1841
Parishes of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Steubenville
The Monroe County Catholic Churches
www.monroecountycatholic.org
334 South Main Street
Woodsfield, Ohio 43793-1027
Phone: 740-472-0187
Fr. Walter E. Heinz, retired Fr. David Gaydosik Fr. Virgil Reischman, retired
December 3, 2017
First Sunday of Advent (B)
Is 63:16b–17, 19b; 64:2–7 1 Cor 1:3–9 Mk 13:33–37
This Week
Sunday
St. Sylvester Central Bingo at
Brown Community Center
Doors open at 5:00pm
Bingo begins at 6:30pm
Tuesday
5:00p Cub Scout Den Meeting
at Library
St. Sylvester Central Bingo
at Brown Community Center
Doors open at 5:00pm
Bingo begins at 6:30pm
Wednesday
7:00pm SS– CWC Meeting at
Brown Community Center
7:00pm K of C Meeting
Friday
Feast of the Immaculate
Conception
Holy Day of Obligation
8:30am School Mass
Sunday
St. Sylvester Central Bingo
at Brown Community Center
Doors open at 5:00pm
Bingo begins at 6:30pm
The First Sunday of Advent
Saturday December 2nd
St. Sylvester, Woodsfield 5:00 pm
+Marie & Jim Kirkland by their daughters
Sunday December 3rd
St. Sylvester, Woodsfield 8:30 am
+Deloris Knowlton by Missy & Mike Knowlton
St. John the Baptist, Miltonsburg 10:30 am
+Mary McLaughlin by Joan & Mark Swallow
St. John Bosco Mission, Sardis 12:30 pm
+Maurice “Moe” Mattone by John Paulus
Family
Monday December 4th
St. John Damascene
St. Sylvester, Woodsfield 8:30am
+ Hank Zwick by Catherine Paulus
Tuesday December 5th
No Mass
Wednesday December 6th
St. Nicholas
St. Sylvester, Woodsfield 6:30am
Living & Deceased of K of C Council 5009
Thursday December 7th
Vigil of the Immaculate Conception
St. John the Baptist, Miltonsburg 6:30pm
Living & Deceased Finnicum family by Carolyn
Miller
St. John Bosco, Sardis 6:30pm
+Clarence & Dorothy Howell by Connie & Larry
Friday December 8th
The Immaculate Conception
St. Sylvester, Woodsfield 8:30am
+Roman Schumacher by Missy & Mike
St. Sylvester. Woodsfield 6:30pm
+Jerry Huffman by Bernie & Linda Dick
Second Sunday of Advent
Saturday December 9th
St. Sylvester, Woodsfield 5:00pm
+Francis Paulus (Anniversary of death) by his family
Sunday December 10th
St. Sylvester, Woodsfield 8:30am
+ George & Lil Calvert by William Calvert
St. John the Baptist, Miltonsburg 10:30am
+ Pat Gibson by Donna & Karl Robinson
St. John Bosco, Sardis 12:30pm
Dominic & Ricci Cecil by Larry & Connie
Advent Penance Services (An excellent opportunity to access the
Sacrament of Confession):
St. Sylvester Central, Woodsfield, December 11th at 8:30am
St. Sylvester, Woodsfield, Monday December 11th at 7:00pm
St. Mary Basilica, Marietta, Wednesday, December 13th at 7pm
Assumption, Barnesville Thursday, December 14th at 7pm
St. Stephen, Caldwell, Tuesday, December 19th at 7:00pm
Congratulations to Stephen and Cyndee Habig on the
con-validation of their civil marriage this week. Happy 8th
wedding anniversary also!
We welcome Dominic O. Cecil to our parishes through the
Waters of Baptism this past week. Dominic under went open heart
surgery this past Wednesday in Columbus.
Attention Catholic Ladies of Monroe County! You are invited to the
Catholic Women’s Club Christmas Dinner Party on Wednesday,
December 13th at 6:00pm at Traditions (113 South Main Street,
Woodsfield). RSVP by December 6th by calling or texting Diane
Burkhart
