NOVEMBER 27, 2011 FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

NORMAL PARISH OFFICE HOURS Monday - Friday ~ 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. For times other than those listed, please call the Parish Office.

DAILY MASS SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK: WEEKEND MASS SCHEDULE FOR NEXT WEEK: Monday, November 28th~ 8 a.m. Saturday, December 3rd ~ 5 p.m. Tuesday, November 29th ~ 8 a.m. (Word & Communion Service) Sunday, December 4th ~ 8 a.m. Wednesday, November 30th ~ 5:30 p.m. 10 a.m. Thursday, December 1st ~ 5:30 p.m. Noon (in Spanish) Friday, December 2nd ~ 9:20 a.m. 6:15 p.m. Saturday, December 3rd ~ 8 a.m.

ZâtÜw|tÇ TÇzxÄá

Catholic Church & School

215 Second Street West + Chaska, Minnesota + www.gachaska..org + (952) 227-4000

“What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!”

~Mark 13:37

Thanks to Ohnsorg Truck Bodies for being this weeks sponsor

11/202011 #5280 Chris Schulz 11/21/2011 #5363 Wayne Engebretson 11/22/2011 #4883 Shirley Krant 11/23/2011 #5038 Steve Robling 11/24/2011 #4757 Don Van Eyll 11/25/2011 #5127 Donna Laabs 11/26/2011 #4838 Stanley Peters

Church & School Staff Listed Alphabetically

E-Mails for Staff: FirstInitialLastName@GAchaska.org Example: DEbert@GAchaska.org

Fr. Doug Ebert, Pastor 227-4000 Sara Anderson, Bookkeeping/Music Assistant 227-4000 Rev. Mr. Jim Bauhs, Deacon 227-4092 Amy Gallus, School Principal 227-4010 Fr. Thomas Joseph, Sacramental Minister within the Latino Community 227-4093 Emily Klinker, Director of Faith Formation 227-4007 Maria Koehn, Latino Administrative Assistant 227-4015 Lori Reznick, School Administrative Assistant 227-4010 Jean Rief, Pastoral Associate 227-4095 Miguel Salinas, Parish Analyst/Room Scheduling 227-4004 Jennifer Salwei, Accounting 227-4001 Teresa Schmidt, Director of Worship 227-4084 Gary Van Eyll, Parish Director 227-4002 Paul Meger, Maintenance Supervisor 227-4013

Lay Leadership Positions TRUSTEES Steve Rasmussen 448-5922 Mark Sanda 277-4283 Bill Meyer, Trustee Emeritus PARISH COMMUNITY COUNCIL Jeoff Will 361-3024 FINANCE COUNCIL Travis Olson 448-5113 FAITH FORMATION COMMISSION Ed Hajek, eahajek@yahoo.com 960-4940 SCHOOL COMMISSION Tom Tierney, thomas.tierney@gmail.com 239-8799WORSHIP COMMISSION Gerry Olsen 442-4361 PASTORAL CARE COMMISSION Becky Porspakka 546-1190 PARISH LIFE COMMISSION Linda Forner 448-3312 ADMINISTRATION COMMISSION Paul Meger 448-6912

PRAYER LINE, Jessica Oberpriller 361-3165 or jessica.oberpriller@gmail.com

Mass Intentions for This Week (Monday, November 28, 2011 - Sunday, December 4, 2011)

Monday (8 a.m.) 60th Wedding Anniversary of Urban & Kathy Fritz Wednesday (5:30 p.m.) Priest Intention Thursday (5:30 p.m.) Sponsored by Daughters of Isabella for members & their families Friday (9:20 a.m.) 50th Wedding Anniversary of Bill & Marlene Paal Saturday (8 a.m.) Daughters of Isabella for members & their families Saturday (5 p.m.) Jerome Meuwissen ┼ Sunday (8 a.m.) Parishioners of Guardian Angels Sunday (10 a.m.) Glen Smokey Vogel ┼ Sunday (6:15 p.m.) Joe & Audrey Lano ┼

Next Weekend’s Readings (December 4th) First Reading — We are the clay and you, O LORD, are the potter: we are the work of your hands (Isaiah 63:16b-17, 19b; 64:2-7). Psalm — Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved (Psalm 80). Second Reading — God is faithful; by God you were called to fel-lowship with the Son (1 Corinthians 1:3-9). Gospel — Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come. (Mark 13:33-37).

Knights of Columbus Calendar Raffle Results

Congratulations! Please call Steve at 952-448-3127 to collect your winnings.

Lay Minister Schedule

December 3rd & 4th

Because of Thanksgiving weekend, there will be no hospitality after Masses today.

Coffee and Donuts after next weekend’s Masses are sponsored by Loaves & Fishes.

Don’t forget! Ministry Schedules are available for pick up in St. Francis Hall for all Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Servers, Sacristans and Homebound Ministers. Thank you!

From Gary Van Eyll At Guardian Angels we have much to be thankful for. Some of the parishioners asked if I could make this information available for them. A DISCLAIMER: I am not a financial advisor. Please, if you are interested in gifting to either the church or the school contact your financial advisor and ask for their advice in gifting. There is an example stuffed in the bulletin this week which is generic and might assist you in this trans-action.

GA Parishioner – Are you over 70 ½ years young? Remember GA as 2011 comes to a close! As those of you age 70 ½ and older are aware, the IRS requires that you take a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) from your IRA Retirement Account every year. You also know this distribution is fully taxable. Here is an idea will that will help you meet your RMD requirement and also save on taxes. Until January 31, 2012, the IRS will allow you to have your IRA provider directly transfer some or all of your 2011 RMD to a “qualified charity” such as GA. This will keep your tax bill down and help build GA up! As with any financial transaction, please check with your advisor. For more info, please call Gary Van Eyll in the Parish Office at (952) 227-4002, also go to http://www.irs.gov/retirement/article/0,,id=234258,00.html

GA Parishioner – Do you have stocks and bonds or land that has appreciated? Here’s a smart way to give! If you are planning on making a year-end contribution to GA, you may want to look into your after-tax investing account for the source of your gift. As you know, the stock and bond markets have recovered significantly from early 2009. If you have stocks, mutual funds or other assets in a “non-qualified” (after-tax) account, please consider gifting some of your investments that have gained in value over your original cost. If you gift the shares of the investment directly to GA, instead of selling them and giving the Church the proceeds, the following benefits occur: 1. You get the tax deduction for the full, appreciated value of the investment. 2. You pay no capital gains tax on the profits. 3. GA receives the full value of your gift, and when selling it pays no taxes. Win-win-win! As with any financial transaction, please check with your advisor. For more info, please call Gary Van Eyll in the Parish Office at (952) 227-4002.

THANK YOU FOR ALL THE GENEROUS WAYS YOU SUPPORT GUARDIAN ANGELS!

Each year Americans celebrate Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday in November. This holiday was officially proclaimed by Abra-ham Lincoln in 1863 after the civil war.

Our annual celebration is rooted in an event from our early history, the "First Thanksgiving" which was celebrated to give thanks to God for guiding the pilgrims safely to the new world.

We Americans have much to be thankful for. We live in a country that extols life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. We are free to worship without fear. We are able to direct our country’s government through the ballot box. We have a moral compass that allows us to candidly address issues of human disparity and a deeply embedded cultural mindset favoring our government that has been chartered to serve rather than to enslave.

Nevertheless, every civilization has and will always have contradictory issues that are troublesome and ever-emerging problems from earlier “solutions.” But this is hardly a reason not to be grateful for what we have.

Gratitude is at the root of loving behavior, and Christians are bound by the law of love – to love our God above all things and to love our neighbor as our self.

Gratitude is also at the root of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.

The gift of life comes from God. In gratitude we learn the true value of this gift. In our life, God has given us the liberty to seek the eternal good of loving relationship or the temporary gratification of selfish behavior. The pursuit of happiness is fulfilled in the power of loving relationship. Pursuit of happiness is Christian behavior: the kingdom of God is the eternal outcome of pursuing God’s will that we have eternal life, liberty, and true happiness.

We each have our time to seek God’s will on this side of the kingdom. We live with the constant human struggle involving Original Sin: recognizing that our will does not define God’s will. God has given us the freedom of our lives to embrace or to reject this life-long pursuit. God has also given us our Sacred Scriptures and our Church to help us to use our freedom to enlighten us to its true source.

The successful pursuit of happiness as an outcome of our gift of life and freedom is more clearly seen from an attitude of gratitude. Even when things seem at their worst, with gratitude for what we have, things will get better. Such gratitude helps us keep proper perspective. Gratitude nourishes the loving disposition that takes us freely towards God’s will that we aim our lives to eternal happi-ness.

Every day of our lives should be a day of thanksgiving for God’s pilgrims on earth. Every Mass is. Thank God that we are on our way toward God’s Kingdom, the eternal new world. Happy Thanksgiving!

From Father Doug

Parish Calendar & Events

For the most updated calendar information for events at G.A., please check our online calendar at

www.GAchaska.org/churchcalendar

MON

28

8 a.m. 6:30 p.m. 7 p.m.

Daily Mass, Church

Prayer Shawl Ministry, Parish Office Christmas Adult Choir Rehearsal, Choir Loft

TUE

29

8 a.m. Word & Communion Service, Church

WED

30

5:30 p.m. 6:15 p.m. 6:15 p.m. 8 p.m.

Daily Mass, Church Faith Formation, School Teen Bible Study, Parish Office 6:15 Mass Musicians Rehearsal, Church

THU

1

8 a.m. 3:40 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 7 p.m. …..

Quilters, SFH Teen Cantors Rehearsal, SFH, Choir Loft Daily Mass, Church Adult Choir Rehearsal, Choir Loft

FRI

2

9:20 a.m. 7 p.m.

Daily Mass, Church Spanish Speaking Parishioner Choir Rehearsal, Church

SAT

3

8 a.m. 9 a.m. 9 a.m. 9 a.m. 5 p.m.

Daily Mass, Church Overeaters Anonymous Group, Parish Office First Reconciliation, Sanctuary Spanish Baptismal Prep Class, Parish Office Weekend Mass, Church

SUN

4

8 a.m. - noon 8 a.m. 9:15 a.m. 10 a.m. 10 a.m. Noon 4 p.m. 6:15 p.m. 7:15 p.m.

Waffle Breakfast, Gym Weekend Mass, Church Adult Choir Rehearsal, Choir Loft Weekend Mass, Church Sunday School Faith Formation, School Weekend Mass in Spanish, Church Fall Adult Bible Study, SFH Weekend Mass, Church Confrimation Meeting, Yr. 1, Sanctuary

Mass Intentions … Mass intentions may be for the living and the departed, with a ┼ designating in the bulletin a deceased person. There is a $10 suggested donation per Mass intention. Permission from the sick person or his/her family must be granted before a name’s inclusion in these prayers. To schedule a Mass intention, call Jean in the parish office.

Baptism … Sacramental preparation is required for all parents. Godparents and Grandparents are also encouraged to attend. Baptismal prep sessions are given every other month and Baptism Masses are held once a month. Call Jean in the parish office to schedule a child for Baptism and the parents for baptismal prep.

Prayers of the Faithful ….If you would like a name included in our Prayers of the Faithful for the sick, please call the Parish Office.

Penance...Saturdays from 4:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and anytime by appointment.

Matrimony...Pre-registration required at least one year in advance; marriage preparation course is required. Initial contact: Dan & Richie Klein at their home 952-448-4406, (cell) 612-743-354, or e-mail: Weddings@GAchaska.org.

Anointing… If you wish to receive an anointing please call the parish office.

Communion for the Homebound...When we come together to pray at our Eucharistic liturgy, we do not forget the members of our community who are unable to be with us because of ill health. We remember them in our prayer, and we wish to include them in our Holy Communion. Members of our community bring the Blessed Sacrament to them to comfort them and to unite them with us in the Eucharist. We are not always aware of those who have this need. Please call the Parish Office to let us know if you or a member of your family would like to have Holy Communion brought to them. That way we can schedule a time for our ministers to visit and bring the Sacrament.

Hospital, Nursing Home, Homebound Visits...Churches are no longer notified by hospitals or nursing homes when a parishioner is admitted unless the family has requested it. If you or a family member are homebound, hospitalized or in a nursing home and would like a visit from a member of the pastoral ministry staff, please call Jean Rief in the parish office.

Parish Information

Faith Formation

Guardian Angels School News Education for the Mind~Body~Spirit

Happy Thanksgiving! All Faith Formation classes resume this week.

... As Director of Faith Formation I am so thankful for the wonderful volunteers that make our programs as successful as they are! During this Thanksgiving weekend please help me thank… Ed Hajek, Fran Oprosko, Cathy Cress, Mike Hurley, Karen Urevig, Bob Wolff, Sara Hamrick, Nicole Rogers, Monica VanHouten, Julie Heson, Danielle Watkins, Colleen Goodrich, Tami Hed, Nichole Hartford, Helen Suhr, Wanda Synstelien, Heather Johnson, Julie Becker, Rob Miller, Dan Klien, Jeanne Karschnia, Maddy Perrill, , Tricia Felimeier, Anna Lubansky, Alyssa Bormes, Tim Collins, Andi Cyphers, Steve Kingsbury, Laurie Forner, Julie VandenBroeke, Fr. Doug, Nicole Rogers, Monica VanHouten, Nina Greenwood, Kathy Carlson, Nancy Nelson, Rich VanSloun, Mark Stoltman, Mary Kingsbury, Dena Bretz, Marty O'Keefe and Robynn Dennis. Please keep our first sacrament families in your prayers as they make their final preparations for their children to receive their First Reconciliation next Saturday!

It’s time for another Family Movie Night hosted by your HALOS 5th-8th ministry! Come next Saturday, Dec. 3rd for a pajama themed movie night!

We will show a movie for our younger guests, begin-ning at 6:30 p.m. and one for your whole family imme-diately following. A light dinner, snacks, treats, and drinks will be sold. The movie is free! See you there!

Confirmation year 1 reminder – we have our second parent student session on Dec 4th at 7:15 pm in SFH.

Salvation Army Bell Ringing!

This is our second year to ask our Confirmation students to consider volunteering their time to

this wonderful organization. They have stepped up again to take as many spots as possible, but we still have some openings. Please prayerfully consider taking one of our remaining spots on

either December 3rd or Dec 10th. Please call or email Emily Klinker to find our

specific times that are available. 952-227-4007

eklinker@gachaska.org

We currently have our Fuel the Future year-end giving campaign underway. If you are expecting to pay in taxes in April and could benefit from an extra tax break this year, or if you have a mandatory IRA distribution due, please consider giving a year-end tax deductible donation to your friends and family here at GA school. ... If you haven't done so already, please stop and pick up your forms at St. Francis Hall. There is an extra form in each packet, that you are encouraged to pass on to someone outside of the GA community. There is also a link on the website if additional forms are needed. Anything not picked up from the church will be mailed, so please take the time to spare the mailing expense. Please note that parents of students at GA school have received these forms through the school distribution and therefore do not need to stop and look for their names. ... Thank you, School Financial Development Committee

To Matt Udermann for planning and all the people who attended the “Pack the Pub” back on October 28th. Great food, great friends, singing and dancing… it was a fun night! GA School received

$1000 from the American Legion. Thanks for supporting quality

education in our school!

BIBLE STUDY FOR TEENS Who: Teens who have been confirmed What: Prayer Workshop Date: Wednesday, Nov. 30 Time: 6:15-7:30 p.m. Location: Parish Conference Room Cost: Free . This is a stressful time of juggling difficult classes, school activities and jobs. Come join Cathy Cress to discuss how turning to God can ease your stress. We'll talk about how to improve your prayer life and how prayer can help you during these challenging teenage years. You will explore the process of discernment to figure out what God has planned for your life.

A vital ministry at Guardian Angels is providing support to friends and families as they say their final good-byes to a loved one. An important part of this process is serving funeral luncheons. If you are

available to help any day, Monday through Saturday, please contact Linda Forner at 952-448-3312.

We are also seeking help with one to two parish hospitality events each month on a weekend or evening. If you are available to help at this time you may also contact Linda. We will only call you for days and times you specify.

and Hospitality Volunteers Needed!

Collection for Ministries “Caring For Others”

Bountiful Basket Food Shelf in Chaska is currently in great need of:

♦Peanut Butter ♦Tuna ♦Canned Fruit

Items can be placed in the kiosk in the back of church.

THANK YOU for your generosity!

Remember to drop off your Giving Tree gift this weekend! Questions? Contact Jean at 952-227-4095

The Daughters of Isabella will have their First Saturday Mass at Guardian Angels on Dec. 3rd. The Mass is at 8 a.m. preceded by the Rosary at 7:30 a.m. All are invited.

Two G

reat Events on Saturday, D

ecember 10

th to Prepare for C

hristmas,

All on O

ne Day at the Sam

e Location—G

A School

Christmas F

loral Workshop &

Fundraiser

Join us on Sat. Dec. 10th from

9:00 – 11:00 a.m. at the

school gym to learn how to m

ake this beautiful Christm

as floral arrangement.

Meg Spicher from

Meg’s Island Floral will be on hand to

teach you to how to make this arrangem

ent for the holidays. You’ll learn tricks of the floral trade and be able

to take home a finished product to display for the holidays.

Cost for the event is $25 of which $12.50 will go back to the school. Registrations and pre-paym

ent must be

received by Tues. Dec. 6th.

All school parents and parishioners are welcome! Older

children may find this a fun project to do too.

More than one arrangem

ent can be m

ade per person at $25/each. *F

ill Ou

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Getting Ready for Christmas Party

For all children ages 4 - 4th grade

Join the Middle School Service Club on Sat., D

ec. 10th

from 9:00 - 11:00 a.m

. in GA School.

This is an opportunity for parents to drop-off their child(ren) at GA

School for a morning filled with

Christmas gift m

aking and other Holiday activities.

Each child will leave with a present for both parents along with having a snack.

.. The cost is only $5.00 per child!

RSVP is needed by Tuesday, Decem

ber 6th to ensure

enough supplies will be available for all students. Please send your paym

ent back to school by 12/6. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call

Mrs. A

my Gallus at 952-227-4011 or e-m

ail her agallus@

gachaska.org.

Money m

ay be turned into the front office or classroom

teachers.

Please label “Christmas Project--

Service Club”. Checks m

ay be written to GA.

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Por el Gary Van Eyll

Music Ministries at Guardian Angels

Christmas Choirs Special Rehearsal Dates and Times

Angels Choir The Angels Choir (for 3rd through 5th graders, whether they be from Guardian Angels School, other schools, or

home-schooled) will be leading the singing for the Christmas Eve 4 p.m. Mass. Rehearsals are on three Mondays (December 5, 12, and 19) from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m., and also on Christmas Eve at 3:00 p.m.

Please RSVP to Teresa Schmidt (Director of Worship) at 952-227-4084 or tschmidt@gachaska.org.

Christmas Adult Choir ANYONE (including 8th grade and older cantors) is welcome to participate in our Christmas adult choir if they are able to make rehearsals and the Christmas Eve midnight mass (11 p.m.). Rehearsals are

the following Monday nights: Nov. 28, Dec. 5, 12, and 19 from 7pm - 8:45 p.m. and on Christmas Eve at 9:30 p.m. The Christmas Adult Choir will be performing special prelude music for half an hour before

the midnight mass in addition to singing for mass. This is a great opportunity for anyone to try out Adult Choir. Call or email Teresa Schmidt at 952-227-4084 or tschmidt@gachaska.org.

En Los Ángeles Guardianes tenemos mucho por lo cual debemos de estar agradecidos. Algunos de los feligreses me solicitaron que les proporcionara la siguiente información. UNA RENUNCIA DE RESPONSABILI-DAD: Yo no soy un asesor financiero. Por favor si no está interesado en donar ya sea a la iglesia o a la escuela por favor póngase en contacto con su asesor financiero y solicítele una asesoría en donaciones. Inclusive hay algunos ejemplos incluidos en el bo-letín de esta semana, el cual es genérico y puede ayudarle con este tipo de transacciones.

FELIGRES DE LOS ANGELES GUARDIANES – ¿Usted es mayor de 70 ½? Recuerde GA en el 2011 casi los cumple!

Para aquellos de Ustedes que tienen 70 ½ años o mas están al tanto que Hacienda Pública (IRS) le obliga a proporcionar la Distri-bución Mínima Obligatoria (RMD) de su cuenta de Plan de Pensiones (IRA)cada año. También saben que esta distribución es totalmente sujeta a impuestos. Nosotros le podemos ayudar a alcanzar su distribución mínima obligatoria al igual que le ayudamos a ahorrar dinero en sus impuestos. Hasta enero 31, 2012, Hacienda Publica le permitirá transferir directamente su fuente de ingre-sos para su plan de pensiones al igual que algunas o todas sus distribuciones mínimas obligatorias (RMD’s) del 2011 hacia una organización de beneficencia autorizada, como los es Ángeles Guardianes. De esta manera podría mantener su disminuir los cos-tos de sus impuestos y aumentar el desarrollo de Ángeles Guardianes! Al igual que con cualquier transacción financiera, le solici-tamos de por favor consultar con su asesor financiero. Para más información, por favor comuníquese con Gary Van Eyll en la oficina de la parroquia al (952) 227-4002 o también diríjase al http://www.irs.gov/retirement/article/0,,id=234258,00.html

FELIGRES DE LOS ANGELES GUARDIANES – Tiene Usted acciones, bonos o terrenos revalorizados? Le ofrecemos una exce-lente manera para donar!

SI esta planeando en hacer sus contribuciones de final de año a AG, le recomendamos considerar una cuenta de inversiones neta como fuente de sus donaciones. Como ya lo sabe, el mercado de acciones y bonos se ha recuperado significativamente desde el 2009. Por lo tanto, si Usted tiene acciones, fondos de inversión colectiva u otros tipos de bienes en una cuenta (neta), por favor considere el donar algunas de sus inversiones cuyo valor haya aumentado del valor original. Si dona sus acciones de inversión directamente a AG, en vez de venderlas y darle sus ganancias a la Iglesia, estos son los beneficios que pueden tomar efecto: 1. Us-ted recibe un reembolso de impuestos integro del valor agregado a su inversión 2. Usted no paga ningún impuesto sobre las ganan-cias de capital en sus beneficios 3. AG recibe el valor completo de su donación y al vender las acciones no paga impuestos. Ganan-cia! Ganancia! Ganancia! Como en cualquier transacción financiera, por favor no deje de consultar a su asesor financiero. Para mas información por favor comuníquese con Gary Van Eyll en las oficinas de la Parroquia al (952) 227-4002.