News - December 2017 RSS Feed

Fr. Busch and the entire parish staff wish each of you a new year filled with many blessings! May 2018 bring you and your loved ones much health and happiness, wisdom and grace!

This year, because January 1 falls on a Monday, it is NOT a holyday of obligation for Catholics. We will, however, celebrate the Eucharist in the chapel on New Year's Day at 10 a.m. for those who wish to observe the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, and begin 2018 with a time of prayer, worship, and Holy Communion.

All students in grades 5-12 are invited to join us for Mass this Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the church. After Mass, we will enjoy pizza and the classic Christmas movie, "Miracle on 34th Street." Parents should plan on picking students up at about 8:30 p.m. See you there!

Since Christmas falls on a Monday this year, Catholics have an obligation to participate in the celebration of the Eucharist twice on the weekend of December 23-25. You may satisfy your obligation in one of the following ways: (1) Saturday evening Mass and Christmas Eve Mass, (2) Saturday evening Mass and Christmas Day Mass, (3) Sunday morning Mass and Christmas Eve Mass, (4) Sunday morning Mass and Christmas Day Mass, and (5) Christmas Eve Mass and Christmas Day Mass. The Sunday obligation is fulfilled by participating in a Mass celebrated on either Saturday evening or any time on Sunday. (It does not require that Mass be for the 4th Sunday of Advent, though that is certainly preferable.) The Christmas obligation is fulfilled by participating in a Mass celebrated on either the evening of December 24 (after 4 p.m.) or on the morning of December 25. The discipline of the Church does not allow Catholics to satisfy both obligations with just one Mass, so please plan accordingly.

Faith Formation classes will resume next Sunday (January 7). High school student will meet together in the adult education room. The adult class will not meet next week; it will begin Sunday, January 14.

Sunday, December 17, is your last opportunity to join the children's choir in time for Christmas. We will practice in the church immediately after the 11:15 Mass on December 17.

Everyone is invited to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Fr. Busch's ordination to the priesthood at a special Mass on Saturday December 16 at 11 a.m. A reception will follow in the parish hall. 

This week, Fr. Busch's "Questions of Faith" class will be a Q&A session. There will be no Adult Education next Sunday (December 24) or the following two Sunday (December 31 and January 7). A new Adult Education Class will begin on Sunday, January 14.

All students in grades 5-12 are invited to join us this Wednesday for Mass at 6 p.m. in the church, followed by a delicious meal featuring Santa Fe soup. After supper, we will be making cards and gifts to share with some of our homebound parishioners. See you there!

If you are available to serve as a lector, Communion minister, altar server, or usher at one of our Christmas liturgies, please place your name on the sheet that can be found on the glass table in the narthex and check the Mass(es) for which you are willing to be scheduled.

All students in grades 5-12 are invited to join us this Wednesday for Mass at 6 p.m. in the church, followed by supper (chicken spaghetti), prepared by the Circle of the Holy Spirit, in the parish hall. After our meal, high school students will examine Joseph and Mary as models of faith, while intermediate/middle school students continue their series on the ministry of Jesus. See you there!

Today (December 8) is the Solemnity of The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a holyday of obligation for all Catholics. Masses will be celebrated at 12:15 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Please stop by the wood table in the narthex to pick a up a copy of "Daybreaks," which contains daily reflections for the seasons of Advent and Christmas. Also available are three Advent resources for families with children--an Advent calendar, an Advent activity book, and an Advent sticker book.

The adult and children's choirs are preparing for Christmas liturgies. Please consider being a part of this important music ministry! Adult choir rehearsals are Thursday evenings at 6:30 p.m. and children's choir rehearsals are on Saturday mornings at 10 a.m.

All lectors are asked to pick up your copy of this year's Lector Workbook in the sacristy after Mass or at the parish office sometime this week.

The St. Ann's Parish Council will meet next Sunday (December 10) at 4 p.m.

Our parish is still seeking a new administrative assistant. After discussing this with the parish council, we are open to the possibility of either a full-time administrative assistant or two part-time administrative assistants, one with primary responsibility for bookkeeping and the other with primary responsibility for parish communications. Applicants must be practicing Catholics, preferably parishioners at St. Ann's with a familiarity with our parish community.