Saint Mary’s Catholic Church 250 Kraft Street, Berea, Ohio 44017-1499

Rectory: 440-243-3877 • FAX: 440-891-9417 • Website: www.stmaryberea.org

Parish Mission Statement St. Mary's is a faith community which worships together, follows the teachings of Jesus Christ in our everyday lives, evangelizes others by our

lives and actions, gives generously of our time and resources in service to others, shows compassion and love towards one another, provides

religious education and works for social justice for all.

St. Mary’s Parish Staff

Reverend John P. Singler, Pastor

Reverend Max Cole, Parochial Vicar

Ms. Angela Kovacs, Music Director

Mr. Larry Roetzer, Religious Education Coordinator

Mrs. Diana Lipfird, Homebound Coordinator

Mrs. Barbara Goebl, Spiritual Ministries

Parish Office Staff Mrs. Janel Abraham

Mrs. Lorri Masie

St. Mary’s School Staff Mr. Andrew Carner, Principal

Mrs. Nancy Kaesgen, Director of Development

Mrs. Sandi Ziegler, Program Coordinator

School Office Staff Mrs. Mary Beth Hennessy

Mrs. Rhonda Johnson

St. Mary’s Religious Education Staff Mr. Larry Roetzer, Coordinator

St. Mary’s Mass Schedule Weekday: 9:00am Monday through Friday

Weekend: 4:00pm Saturday Vigil

7:30am, 9:30am, & 11:30am

Holy Day Consult Bulletin

Sacramental Ministries

Baptisms: On Sundays After 11:30am Mass

Reconciliation: Saturdays 3-3:30pm

Seasonal Celebrations

Marriage: Contact Parish Office

Anointing of the Sick: Contact Parish Office

Seasonal Celebration

Communion Calls: Contact Parish Office

Celebrating 164 years of Pastoral Service to the Catholic Community of Berea

Second Sunday of Advent

December 4, 2016

Dear Friends,

The Second Sunday of Advent

The Old Testament prophet, Isaiah, has sureness that a ruler from “the

stump of Jesse” will fulfill the Davidic promise and restore national hope and

religious fidelity. But he failed to convince many of the rulers to trust that

God would protect the kingdom. In today’s reading he looks to the future

when the Davidic rule will bring forth a new shoot!

Paul’s writing to the Romans was intended to heal the divisions within

the community – assuring them that the scriptures will offer encouragement

and instruction in the ways of God.

And John the Baptist’s depiction of the mighty one to come is intend-

ed to complement the just and merciful king envisioned by Isaiah!

Strong words in all three readings invite ATTENTION and

A RESPONSE from us on this 2nd

Sunday of Advent. So, what will that look

like in your lives this week?

How about this as a start?

Advent Penance and Confession Service is SUNDAY at 6:30pm.

Advent’s peace begins in our hearts and in our spirits that reflect on the goodness of God who forgives

and saves. This weekend we have a WONDERFUL opportunity to seek

the God of mercy to ask forgiveness. On Sunday night, December 4th at

6:30pm - 6 priests will be available to celebrate the Sacrament of Recon-

ciliation with us for your private confession. There will be a simple

prayer service to begin the hour-long evening event and then the priests

will be throughout the Church in various loca-

tions for private confessions. The simple service

will conclude with a general prayer of penance

and a blessing – sending us out to be ambassa-

dors of reconciliation and mercy for the world.

I know it is a busy time of the year and so often

people say I don’t have the time. True enough,

but isn’t the Lord worth our “making” the time

for Him?

SUNDAY at 6:30pm Advent Penance and Confession Service

Charity we know begins at home. Your ALREADY response to the Giving Tree is so very appreciated!

You know well how to GIVE freely. Do this and you will live. And thank you for your generosity in the Sunday

collection.

TAX WORTHY NOTE: Because December 31st is a Saturday and January 1

st a Sunday, your Year End

Donations will be RECORED on the date they are received and/or postmarked! So, if your giving pattern is to

make your annual donation for the Tax Year 2016, you must do so BY December 31st. THANKS!

Father John

Monday December 5 Advent Weekday Is 35:1-10/Lk 5:17-26 (181) 9:00 am Stanley Wiechowski Stan & Nancy Wiechowski

Tuesday December 6 Advent Weekday Is 40:1-11/Mt 18:12-14 (182) 9:00 am Lucy Liberge Daughter

Wednesday December 7 Saint Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church Is 40:25-31/Mt 11:28-30 (183) 9:00 am Judy Williams Family 7:00 pm Joann Martin Fr. Singler

Thursday December 8 The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Gn 3:9-15,20/Eph 1:3-6,11-12/Lk 1:26-38 (689) 9:00 am Tom Lynch Friday’s Coffee Club 10:30 am All School Mass 7:00 pm Donald J. Blaseg Wife

Friday December 9 Advent Weekday Is 48:17-19/Mt 11:16-19 (185) 9:00 am Albert W. Zatezalo Rose Zatezalo

Saturday December 10 Advent Weekday Sir 48:1-4,9-11/Mt 17:9a,10-13 (186) 1:00 pm Wedding—Woofter & Consiglio 4:00 pm John Kerekes Daughter, Linda Kerekes Sunday December 11 Third Sunday of Advent Is 35:1-6a,10/Jas 5:7-10/Mt 11:2-11 (7)

7:30 am Bob Beauchamp Maureen Mountcastle 9:30 am Larry Draves Peris Family 11:30 am Ann Frangipane Guy Frangipane

Mass Schedule and Intentions

Homebound Ministry Our Homebound Parishioners are very important to us and we want to make sure their spiritual needs are being met. If you or a friend or family member are homebound and unable to attend Mass, we would like to bring the Eucharist to you in your home. Please call Diana Lipfird, the Home-bound Parishioner Coordinator, at 532-9491 or e-mail her at dlipfird@gmail.com. We will set up a time and day for the Ex-traordinary Minister to visit that best fits your schedule. If you are an Extraordinary Minister and would like to be part of our team of taking Communion to the homebound, please call Diana at 440-532-9491.

Collection for the Weekend of 11/20/16: $11,066.00 Collection for the Weekend of 11/27/16: $10,228.00 Thank you for your generosity to the Parish.

Weekend Collection

Anniversary Wishes

If you will be having a wedding anniversary in the month of December and would like your names listed in the bulletin, please call the parish office (440) 243-3877 or email jabraham@stmaryberea.com.

Jeffrey & Diana Tichy

December 3rd - 28 years Don & Mary Voigt

December 29th - 60 years

Please remember in prayer all who are ill or homebound, especially the following:

Maggie Armstrong Donna Baker Mary Anne Bialosky Larry Buchwalter Owen Dumm Brian Follen Joan Foust Timothy Glynn

Gerry Grant Wayne Goforth Katie Halley Jonathon Hugney John Kern Karen M. Joseph McLaughlin Leo Oblak Kathy Staub Jeanine Surma Joan Vasek

Bulletin Prayer List

In Your Charity

In your charity, please remember the repose of the souls of Grace Fitzgerald and Francis Barrett May they rest in eternal peace.

Wedding Banns

Mark Woofter & Antonina Consiglio

December 10, 2016

A Child in need of His mother

[Advent] is like springtime. He comes like

a little child so much in need of His mother.

Let us see and touch the greatness that fills the

depth of their humility, Jesus’ and Mary’s. If

we really want God to fill us we must empty

ourselves through humility of all that is selfishness in us.

Excerpted from: The Love of Christ: Spiritual Counsels, Moth-

er Teresa of Calcutta, 85. (1982)

Mother Teresa

Sunday, December 4 9:30am - Church Sacrament Candidate Mass 10:30am - FJG First Sacraments Prep Session Monday, December 5 9:30am - Chapel Rosary 7:15pm - Church Rosary Tuesday, December 6 9:30am - Chapel Rosary 11:00am - Chapel Bible Study 12:30pm - Chapel Quiet Prayer 6:00pm - Church Youth Choir 7:00pm - Chapel Bible Study 7:30pm - Church Traditional Choir Wednesday, December 7 9:30am - Chapel Rosary 7:00pm - Church Liturgy of the Hours Thursday, December 8 9:30am - Chapel Rosary 1:00pm - FJG Mtg Rm Tri-City Seniors Pinochle Club Friday, December 9 9:30am - Chapel Rosary Saturday, December 10 3:00pm - Church Confessions

Parish Events

Ministry Schedules

Third Sunday of Advent - Weekend of December 11th

Mass Lector Cantor Extraordinary Ministers Servers

4:00pm D Vlk M Columbro (H) D Sawyer, P Pacer, R Wesolek M Waters (C) S Butcher, G Butcher, D Rodriguez D Lipfird, S Lewis H Sisley 7:30am J Haas K Zanotti (H) J & A Mastandrea, P Flandera J P Mastandrea (C) M J LaLonde, V Follen J Mastandrea B Cashman, R Davenport A Helmer 9:30am G Irvin M Reid (H) C DiSanto, J Laubert, A Laubert M Laubert (C K Laubert, K Laubert, M Laubert R Straub, N Picard M Laubert 11:30am J Pae S Hritz (H M McGinty, P Harris, B Simpson Z Hritz (C) T Morgan, L Sullivan J Vlcek J Abraham, J Abraham K Vlcek

Bible Study

The stories of Samuel continue. Come join us in the chapel

at either 11:00am or 7:00pm to examine ways in which we

can bring the message to life in our own lives through this

Advent season. No previous knowledge of scripture is

necessary and everyone is welcome.

Quiet Prayer

This week’s prayer will meet in the chapel at 12:30pm and

will be followed by the second half of our Keating CD.

Advent is always a good time to deepen our prayer life. As

we prepare our home for Christmas so too do we prepare

our hearts. Come and see how helpful a little quiet time

with the Lord can be in those preparations.

Holiday Celebration

Don’t forget to mark you calendar for December 27th from

11:00am - 1:00pm. We have only four women who have

been declared doctors of the church. Here is your chance to

learn about one of them. You are also invited to bring a

dozen cookies to share with the group. We will provide

beverages. The Christmas season lasts until the feast of the

Epiphany. Don’t stop celebrating too early.

The Immaculate Conception - Thursday December 8th

Mass Lector Cantor Extraordinary Ministers Servers

9:00am M Dole (H) R Wesolek, R Mitra (C) M Olsen, A Laubert 7:00pm K Zanotti (H) S Gunvalsen, M J LaLonde, R Laneve J Draves (C) K Laneve, G Irvin, M Laneve C Scanlon, K Walcutt A McGinty

Music Ministry and Liturgy Notes

By Angela Kovacs Director of Music and Liturgy

INVITATIONS FOR THE SEASON

Prepare the way of the Lord! This week we hear Isaiah’s words echoed in John’s preaching in the desert of Judah. I im-

agine that you are doing your own preparation for Christmas! Buying presents, planning dinners, writing cards– there is

a lot to do within these short weeks! Make sure that you take time to prepare your heart for Jesus as well! He is the rea-

son for the season, after all!

St. Mary’s Music Ministry is also preparing for Christmas! There are two programs coming up and I invite all to come!

The first is a Combined Christmas Concert at St. Mary’s of the Falls on December 30 at 7.pm. The second is a hymn

festival here at St. Mary’s Berea on January 8 at 3.pm. Both programs will be just lovely and I hope that you can attend.

Choir Rehearsal Schedules: Traditional Choir meets to rehearse on Tuesday evenings at 7.30pm. Youth Choir also

rehearses on Tuesdays at 6.pm. Contemporary Choir meets before mass on Sunday at 10.40am. If you are interested in

participating in any of these choirs, cantoring, or playing an instrument during mass, please call or see me after mass up

in the loft. Call the music ministry office for more information: 440.243.3877 ext 27.

Family Perspectives

Parents must be like John the Baptist “a voice crying in the wilderness” of our consumer society. While soci-ety pressures us to shop until we drop the weeks until Christmas, you have the opportunity to “prepare the way of the Lord” in the lives of your children.

Please Remember Our Military In Prayer & With Gratitude

SSgt. Jeffrey R. Anzalone—USAF, Hurlburt Field, FL

Private 1st Class Nicholas Cozzarin—US Army, Ft. Hood, TX ; Iraq

Spec. Hanna M. Geiger, US Army

Sgt. Justin P. Gertsma—USMC, Afghanistan

MMC Jonathan E. Knoll—United States Navy - USS George H.W. Bush

Major Theresa M. (Ponstingle) Livingston—USAF, Pope AFB, NC

Capt. Leonard J. Livingston, USAF, Pope AFB, NC Captain Frank P. Mercurio, Jr.—Ellsworth AFB, SD

Staff Sgt. Stefen Neuwar—Ft. Bragg, NC

Sr. Airman Anthony J. Phillipp—USAF, Davis Monthan AFB, AZ MA2 Gary L. Stephen—US Navy

LCDR Thomas A. Stephen—US Navy Sgt. Sean M. Walters—US Army Green Berets

Sgt. Louis M. Woyton—US Army 411 MP CO, Iraq

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Cpl. Brad D. Squires—KIA in Iraq, June 9, 2005

May God bless and keep these brave men and women safely in His care!

Note: please keep the office informed of changes to this list, or

if you have a picture for the board in the Mother Teresa Vesti-

bule.

Christmas Giving Tree

Have you gotten your tag or tags from the Parish Giving Tree? Items and gifts are needed this Holiday Season for the needy.

Please return gifts as soon as possible or by 12:00noon on Sunday December 11th. Do not gift wrap toys or school supplies.

Any Questions, please call Marlene: 440-243-7173 Gift are distributed to West Side Catholic Center, University Settlement House and to local families.

Academic Achievements

Padua Franciscan High School

Honor Roll: Charles Beatty Sam Carner Nicholas Goss Annabella King Matthew Laneve Nicholas Latone Sarah Rapacz Rosalina Roman Emily Southworth

As we receive additional achievement notifications, we will publish them in a future bulletin.

Religious Education News

To find all the upcoming activities for both PSR and Sacra-mental Preparation join us at our new parish website (www.stmaryberea.org). Select “Teaching” from the top category bar, then select “Religious Education Office”. Make us a favorite!

PSR

Calendar of Events 12/04/2016 –9:30am – Fr. Garrity Center – LITTLES in Session - 9:30am – St. Mary Church – Candidates’ Mass -10:30am–Fr. Garrity Center– First Sacraments Session #3 12/05/2016 - 6:45pm – St. Mary School – Advent Penance Service 7:00pm – PSR in Session 12/11/2016 - 9:30am – Fr. Garrity Center – LITTLES in Session 12/12/2016 - 6:45pm – St. Mary School - PSR in Session 12/18/2016 - 9:30am – Fr. Garrity Center – LITTLES in Session - 6:00pm – Fr. Garrity Center – Confirmation Session #5 12/19/2016 - 6:45pm – St. Mary School – PSR in Session FIRST SEMESTER ENDS 12/25/2016 – NO LITTLES 12/26/2016 – NO PSR 1/01/2017 – NO LITTLES 1/02/2017 – NO PSR

Happenings & News On Monday, 12/5/16, we will have an Advent Prayer Ser-vice to begin our PSR session. The service will begin at 6:45pm and will be in the St. Mary School Gym. All are wel-come to this service of reflection and prayer in preparation for the birth of our Savior! December 19th will be the last session of the semester. We will be preparing Progress Reports to be sent over the holi-day break.

Sacramental Preparation For the most current information about the Parish Sacra-mental Preparation Program, including schedules, please visit our Parish website at …

http://www.stmaryberea.org/sacramental-prep Confirmation Candidates 12/04/2016–Sunday–9:30am-Sacraments Candidates Mass (St. Mary Church). Once per month those candidates pre-paring to receive the sacrament of Confirmation, and their families, are expected to attend this Mass. Candidates will be involved as Servers, Lectors, Gifts presenters and as Greeters at our entrance doors.

12/04/2016–Sunday–10:30am–Service “Spiritual” Event (Fr. Garrity Center) First Sacraments Reconciliation Session #3. Candidates will be able to support this session by helping in either training session and/or setup and cleanup of the re-freshment. 12/18/2016 – Sunday – 6:00pm – Preparation Session 5 (Fr. Garrity Center) All candidates preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confir-mation are expected to attend. The session is intended for Candidates, Parents AND Sponsors. The session will last until about 7:30pm.

The Seventh grade class will be sponsoring a Candy Cane Sale to

help raise funds for the 8th Grade Graduation Dinner Dance held at the

end of the school year. Candy Canes are $.25ea. and come with a little

gift card. This special treat is a great way to let someone know you are

thinking about him or her during the holiday season.

Mrs. Aversano, our First Grade teacher, has been busy with the

help of our parent volunteer, Mrs. Petitt, to provide the SMS Chess

Club with instructional skills, critical thinking skills, problem solving

skills, and patience all through playing the game. This group meets

regularly once a week and all members are progressing very well in

their skill level.

As the end of the calendar year is quickly approaching, perhaps you

might consider a tax-deductible donation to St. Mary’s Scholarship

Fund. Your donation of any size will be greatly appreciated and your

name will be posted in the SMS Graduation Program. Many compa-

nies provide matching gifts – why not check with your Benefits Office

if your employer is one of them!

We would like to thank the SMS PTO for decorating the entire

school building for the Christmas holiday. It was such a joy for the

students, faculty, & staff to walk down the hallways and see so many

holiday decorations. This truly helps put everyone who enters the

school into the Christmas spirit!

Catholic Schools – Communities of Faith, Knowledge & Service…it’s

not too early to mark your calendars for St. Mary’s Annual Open

House scheduled for Sunday, January 29th. Watch the bulletin for fur-

ther details.

Important Dates to Remember:

12/05/16 – Classroom Door Decorating Begins

12/06/16 - Student Council Mtg. / 8:00a.m.

“ “ “ Chess Club / 3:30p.m.-4:30p.m.

“ “ “ Sewing Club/3:30p.m.-4:30p.m.

12/8/16 - All School Mass / 10:30a.m.

“ “ “ SMS Guardian Angels Prayer Group / 11:30a.m.

12/11/16 - SMS PTO Sandwiches with Santa/12:30p

– School Gym

St. Mary Catholic School News Corner

Educating the Mind, Nurturing the Soul Mr. Andrew Carner, Principal

REO News - Cont. First Sacraments Candidates 12/04/2016 –Sunday– 9:30am Mass – Sacraments Candidate Mass (St. Mary Church). Once a month, those candidates pre-paring to receive the holy sacraments for the first time, and their families, are expected to attend this Mass. 12/04/2016 –Sunday– 10:30am Reconciliation Session #3 – (Fr. Garrity Center). Candidates and Parents will meet separate-ly with their Teacher/Leader. This session is expected to end around 12:00pm. 1/07/2017 – Saturday - St. Mary Church - FIRST RECONCILI-ATIONCandidates with a last name beginning A – K should attend the Service at 9:00am. Candidates with a last name L – Z should attend the 10:15am Service.

CHRISTMAS FLOWER MEMORIAL GIFT PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY:

Donor: __________________________________________________________________________ Telephone: ______________________ Donation Amount __________________________ Please indicate: Check # __________ or Cash __________

In Memory of: _____________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ Donor and memorial names will be printed in the bulletin. Your donation of any amount will help defray the cost of maintaining a beautiful Christmas Season when we celebrate the Birth of Our Savior.

Please return this slip to the Parish Office, along with your donation by December 18th, Attn: Christmas Flowers.

Thank you!

St. Mary’s Athletics'

Night at the Races

Saturday - January 21, 2017

Doors Open: 6:00pm

Races Start: 7:00pm

Tickets: $25.00

(Includes Food, Beer and Wash)

Side Boards * Raffle Baskets * * Plinko * 50/50 Raffle

Come Ready to Race!!

Tickets available for purchase STARTING 12/9/16 at the

Rectory Office, St. Mary’s School and at all St. Mary’s

CYO Home Games.

All Monies raised support our Athletic Teams to keep

costs affordable and encourage participation.

Athletic Fundraiser

Hosted by Knights of Columbus 14416

Support our Students and Seminarians

Sunday December 18th - 2016 Served after each Mass - Fr. Garrity Center

Pancakes, Sausage, Fruit, Coffee, Juice, Etc. Christmas Music, Raffles and Parish Fellowship

$5.00 per person in advance ($20/family with 3+ children) $7.00 per person at the door $24/family with 3+ children) Age 5 and under FREE

Did you know Fr. Max is a member of the Knights of Columbus? And that he is the Chaplain for Council 14416 at St. Mary of the Falls? The Knights WEL-COME Catholic men from all area parishes. It exists to support the Church and serve the community: pro-ceeds of this Pancake Breakfast will enable tuition as-sistance at St. Mary’s School and support seminarians from both parishes.

St. Mary’s Pancake Breakfast