P O B O X 6 7 · I R E L A N D , I N 4 7 5 4 5 - 0 0 6 7 P H O N E : ( 8 1 2 ) 4 8 2 - 7 0 4 1 FA X : ( 8 1 2 ) 4 8 2 - 3 6 9 9

Parish Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00am to 4:00pm Website: http://stmary.irelandindiana.com

St Mary Church - 812-482-7041

Fr. Joseph F Erbacher, “Fr. Effie”, Pastor, Ext 33 ……………………………..………...jerbacher@evdio.org

Deacon John Huether………..jhuether@evdio.org

Dianne Gogel, Secretary, Ext. 21……………………... dgogel@evdio.org

Sherri Hartley, Secretary, Ext. 22…………………….. chartley@evdio.org

Stan Heim, Property Manager, Ext. 36…………….. sheim@evdio.org

Martha Schmitt, PCL, Ext. 45…………………………... mjschmitt@evdio.org

Charlene Sermersheim, Music…..…812-482-7837

Annette Witte, Cleaning …………..…812-630-7870

Parish Contacts

Bereavement Meals, Sherri Hartley……………….. ……………………………………………….…...812-482-7041

Church Decorations, Janet Schitter …………………………………………………....812-482-3500

Finance Council, Audrey Wehr…..…812-639-3393

Holy Trinity Catholic School, Lauren Emerson ………………………...……………...812-482-7041, Ext 40

Ireland K of C, Grand Knight, Allen Reckelhoff ……………………………..……………....….…812-631-4449 Ireland K of C Building Rental - Allen Reckelhoff …………………….…………….……….……….812-631-4449

Parish Nursing, Deb Brescher….…...812-639-1882

Parish Council President,Pat Gress.812-639-0795

Prayer Line, Bev Himsel……………....812-639-1384

St Anne’s Society, President, Lynn Mehringer…. ………………………………………...…….…..812-631-4849 Director of St John Bosco Youth Ministry - Angie Greulich…………………………….812-481-2442 812-639-4227

St. Mary’s Mission Statement: St. Mary Church is a community of faith united in Eucharist and committed to seeking God through prayer; sharing our gifts of time, talent and treasure; providing formation and education for children and adults; responding to the needs of people by sharing our faith and resources. We are dedicated to living and proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

St. Mary Church

Second Sunday of Advent December 10, 2017

Readings for the Week of December 10, 2017

Sunday: Is 40:1-5, 9-11/Ps 85:9-10, 11-12, 13-14 [8]/2 Pt 3:8-14/Mk 1:1-8 Monday: Is 35:1-10/Ps 85:9ab and 10, 11-12, 13-14 [Is 35:4f]/Lk 5:17-26 Tuesday: Zec 2:14-17 or Rv 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab/Jdt 13:18bcde, 19 [15:9d]/Lk 1:26-38 or Lk 1:39-47 Wednesday: Is 40:25-31/Ps 103:1-2, 3-4, 8 and 10 [1]/Mt 11:28-30 Thursday: Is 41:13-20/Ps 145:1 and 9, 10-11, 12-13ab [8]/ Mt 11:11-15 Friday: Is 48:17-19/Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6 [cf. Jn 8:12]/Mt 11:16-19 Saturday: Sir 48:1-4, 9-11/Ps 80:2ac and 3b, 15-16, 18-19 [4]/Mt 17:9a, 10-13 Next Sunday: Is 61:1-2a, 10-11/Lk 1:46-48, 49-50, 53-54 [Is 61:10b]/1 Thes 5:16-24/Jn 1:6-8, 19-28

Breakfast with Santa and Cookie Walk - Sunday, December 17

St. Mary Church Mass Schedule Saturday 4:30pm Sunday 7:00am and 10:00am Tuesday at 6:00pm Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 7:30am *There will be no morning Mass on funeral mornings. Also when school is cancelled or delayed because of the weather, there will be no morning/evening Mass.

Sacrament of Reconciliation at St. Mary Church First Friday 7:00-7:20am Saturday 3:00-4:00pm *On Saturday when there is a wedding, there will be no confessions.

Anointing of the Sick: Notify the parish office if there is a need for Fr. Erbacher to administer Anointing of the Sick.

Sacrament of Baptism: Baptisms will take place the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month with Fr. Erbacher or Deacon John. Call the Parish Office to make an appointment.

Sacrament of Marriage: Parishioners who wish to be married at St. Mary Church are asked to contact the parish office six months prior to setting a date. This will provide time for prayer, preparation and paperwork.

Homebound Parishioners: Communion calls are made on Monday mornings to parishioners’ homes. Call the parish office if you would like a visit from our Eucharistic Minister.

Mass Intentions

No confessions on Saturday, December 9 Sat-Dec 9 4:30 pm Virlee Rasche Sun-Dec 10 7:00 am Members of St. Mary Parish 10:00 am Tom & Norma Mehringer Deanery Penance Service at St. Ferdinand Church at 4:00pm Tues-Dec 12 6:00 pm Charles & Stella Whitson

Wed-Dec 13 7:30 am Earl Hulsman Wednesday Confessions 11:30am - 12:30pm

Thurs-Dec 14 7:30 am Lenas & Marian Rudolph Fri-Dec 15 7:30 am Mary Jane Bartley 1:00 pm Bishop Joseph Siegel Installation at St. Benedict Cathedral, Evansville Confessions on Saturday, December 16, 3:00-4:00pm Sat-Dec 16 4:30 pm Bob & Kurt Lichlyter Sun-Dec 17 7:00 am Members of St. Mary Parish 10:00 am Charles Heichelbech

December Area Events

11: Jasper Circle #140 Daughters of Isabella Christmas Dinner at

St. Joseph Parish Center. Doors will open at 5:30pm with the meal

being served at 6:30pm.

15: Bishop-designate Joseph M Siegel Installation at 2:00pm CST

at St. Benedict Cathedral, Evansville.

16: Handel’s Messiah by Candlelight at St. Joseph Church at

7:00pm. Tickets available in the parish office. Advances sales

$23 and $25 at the door.

Church Support

Budgeted Weekly Operating Costs: $14,000.00 Collection for the weekend of December 2 & 3

Weekend Collection……..…………...……….……...…$ 8,147.00 Average ACH weekly deposit for December…..$ 4,965.25 Children’s Collection………………………………………$ 6.00 Total Weekend Collection………………………………$ 13,118.25

Short................………………………………………………$ (881.75)

Year-To-Date-Budget (7-1-17 to current)……….$ 322,000.00 Year-To-Date-Total..……………………………………….$ 308,640.21 Year-To-Date-Difference…………………………………$ (13,359.79)

Campaign Goal……………………………………………....$ 6,000,000.00 Amount in Pledges……………………………………….…$ 5,253,144.12 Cash Collected to date………..……………………..…..$ 2,388,869.93

Thank You!!!!!!

Mass Attendance for December 2 & 3

4:30pm [300] 7:00am [190] 10:00am [287]

WTJW 93.1 Catholic Radio will broadcast the Installation Mass of

Bishop Joseph Siegel (6th Bishop of Evansville) LIVE on Friday,

December 15 at 3:00pm from St. Benedict Cathedral.

St. John Bosco Youth Ministry

St. John Bosco Catholic Youth Ministry reaches out to youth in

grades 6 through 12 from St. Mary, Holy Family, Precious Blood,

and St. Joseph. Check out more Bosco info and announcements at:

https://saintjohnboscoyouthministry.wordpress.com/

December 10: St. John Bosco Youth Ministry Winter Service Project

- Christmas Caroling, 2:00-4:00pm. Meet at Precious Blood and

bring a dozen Christmas cookies. Finish with Teen Mass and pizza

at Precious Blood at 6:00pm.

December 13: High School Youth Night 8:30-9:30pm, Bosco House

December 14: JMS Youth Mornings in Mrs. Venderley’s room at

7:10am. Donuts and faith encouragement before school starts.

December 20: High School Christmas Party 8:30-9:30pm at the

Bosco House.

Happy Anniversary to the following parishioners who

will be celebrating their 50+ Anniversary in the month

of December: Richard & Betty Edwards, Dec 16; Joe & Viola

Wagner, Dec 26; Gerald & Mary Hudson, Dec 27; and Gilbert &

Marilyn Voelkel, Dec 28. May God bless you on your special day.

Congratulations!!

“Building For Our Future”

Drop off your aluminum cans on the trailer in the parking lot.

The “Building For Our Future” Campaign would like to reach out

to former parishioners who might have an interest in giving to the new

church. If you have a friend or relative who you think might be inter-

ested in making a donation, please let the parish office know.

Embroidered “St. Mary Church” hats in the parish office for $5.

December 17: Breakfast with Santa and our Cookie/Candy Walk.

Come and enjoy breakfast, see Santa and get your cookies and candies

for Christmas. Lots of goodies for your families, co-workers, teach-

ers and neighbors. If you can help out by baking/making some good-

ies for that day, it will be appreciated.

Prayer for Bishop Siegel

O Lord, who for the feeding of your flock

have set your servant Joseph over it

as a successor to the Apostles,

grant him, we pray,

a spirit of counsel and fortitude,

a spirit of knowledge and piety,

so that, by faithfully governing the people

entrusted to him,

he may build up in the world the sacrament of the Church.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.

(Roman Missal: Masses and Prayers for Various Needs and Occasions, #3)

Divine Providence Eucharistic Adoration Chapel has open

hours for adoration. If you are interested in filling any of these

hours, please contact the number or send an email: 812-630-

8382 or dp@adorationmanager.com.

1st, 2nd, 3rd Saturday of the month 11:00pm-12:00am (midnight)

The Adoration Chapel is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is

located in the Parish Center on the campus of Precious Blood Parish.

Please spend an hour with Jesus.

From-the-Desk-of-the Pastor,

Today is the 2nd Sunday of Advent; hopefully everyone is making the proper arrangements to prepare for His Coming! The Advent

schedule has already been distributed for your convenience so you’ll know the times for the many Penance Services and times for private

confessions. Also, this schedule included times for the Christmas Masses so that all parishioners, families, and honored guests can plan

to join our community in celebrating His Birthday. The holy season of preparation; gifts, meal/party plans, and family togetherness all

brings fond memories, but let us not individually forget the perfect gift of our own spiritual preparation! God Bless you as we joyfully

prepare!! (Fr. Erbacher, “Effie”)

December 23 and 24, our Mass times will remain the same

for the Sunday obligation: 4:30pm, 7:00am and 10:00am.

December 25 is a Holy Day of Obligation. The Mass

times are: December 24, Christmas Eve, 4:00pm, 6:00pm and

9:00pm and December 25, Christmas Day, 7:00am and 10:00am.

Participating in Mass the evening of December 24 only fulfills one

obligation - The Holy Day and not Sunday. If you do not have an

Advent-Christmas schedule of the confession and Mass times, please

pick one up in the back of church or the parish office.

This Week’s Parish Events

Sunday [12/10]: Christian Mothers Prayers will be said after Mass.

Sunday School during the 10:00am Mass in the Social Hall Basement. St. Vincent de Paul Meeting and Gift Basket Making in

the back of the cafeteria after the 10:00am Mass. This will be the only meeting in December. Deanery Penance Service 4:00pm at St. Ferdinand

Church.

Monday [12/11]:

Quilting in the rectory basement at 5:00pm.

Servants of the Holy Spirit at 7:00pm in the Library.

Ireland K of C Rosary at 7:00pm, Meeting and 20/20 at 8:00pm.

Tuesday [12/12]: Mass will be celebrated at 6:00pm.

Choir Practice at 6:30pm. New members welcome.

Wednesday [12/13]:

Mass will be celebrated at 7:30am. Confessions 11:30am-12:30pm.

Rosary at 11:30am in the church. Quilting noon to 4:00pm in the rectory basement.

St Anne’s Sewing 6:00pm in the Rectory basement. Religion Classes - middle school 6:00-7:00pm and high

school 7:15-8:15pm. This is the last class of 2017. Next class will be January 3, 2018.

Thursday [12/14]:

Mass will be celebrated at 7:30am. Church Decorating beginning at 4:00pm. All volunteers

would be appreciated.

Friday [12/15]: Mass will be celebrated at 7:30am.

The Parish Office will be closed so the staff can be present at the installation of Bishop Siegel. Bishop Joseph Siegel Installation at 3:00pm (EST) at

St. Benedict Cathedral, Evansville.

Saturday [12/16]: Confessions 3:00-4:00pm. Mass celebrated at 4:30pm.

Sunday [12/17]:

Breakfast with Santa and the Cookie/Candy Walk. Breakfast will be served 7:30-10:00am - free will donations will be accepted. Face painting, make an ornament, and pictures with Santa - bring your camera! The Cookie/Candy Walk will be in the classroom in the Community Center. Lots of goodies. If you can help by making cook-ies, candies, party mix, etc., it would be appreciated.

*In your envelope packet is a red envelope for “Christmas Flowers”. If you would like to make a donation “in memory of” a deceased loved one, please use this envelope and include their name. If you do not receive monthly envelopes, just use a white envelope and put “Christmas Flowers” on the outside. Deadline is Monday, December 18.

December 10: St. Vincent de Paul Meeting and Gift Basket mak-ing in the back of the cafeteria after the 10:00am Mass. December 14: Decorate church for Christmas beginning at 4:00pm. Volunteers are needed - all help will be appreciated. December 15: Bishop Joseph Siegel Installation December 17: Breakfast with Santa and Cookie Walk. January 14: Confirmation at 10:00am Mass. February 17-19: TEC (Teens Encounter Christ). For information or an application go to http://www.switec.org/ March 30: Easter Egg and Bake Sale in the Community Center Cafeteria. April 5: American Red Cross/St. Anne Blood Drive - 2:00-7:00pm. April 28 & 29: 1st Communion Mass at 4:30pm on Saturday and 10:00am on Sunday. May 20: Graduating Seniors Mass and Meal. July 21-23: TEC (Teens Encounter Christ). For information or an application go to http://www.switec.org/ September 9: St. Mary Church Picnic

Upcoming Parish Events

December 3, $500 Irish Sweepstakes Raffle winner

is Leona Hulsman

$100 Irish Sweepstakes Raffle Winner

is Kevin & Cathy Bartley

Please pick up your 2018 Irish Sweepstakes tickets in the

back of church. Need more tickets, stop by the parish

office and pick them up.

The American Red Cross and the Ireland K of C would like to say

“Thank You” to everyone who took the time to give blood on Sun-

day, November 26. The Red Cross collected 34 units and cannot

thank you enough. The next blood drive is set for April 5.

Thinking about Separation or Divorce? - Retrouvaille helps cou-

ples through difficult times in their marriages. It is designed to pro-

vide the tools to help get your marriage back on track. For confiden-

tial information about or to register for the January program begin-

ning with a weekend on January 12, 2018 call the Diocese of Ow-

ensboro Family Life office at 270-852-8346 or email: felliot-

t3232@yahoo.com or visit the web site at www.retrouvaille.org.

The Sacrament of Marriage and Catholic Parenting are great

gifts. They are filled with joy and fulfillment as well as sacrifice and

struggle. Resources, information and encouragement are now availa-

ble via email. Join other married couples and parents in the diocese

who are already a part of this new venture. This project is coordinat-

ed by Eric Girten, Coordinator of Family and Life Programs for the

diocese. If interested, simply email Eric at egirten@evdio.org.

Thank you to all the St. Mary’s

Parishioners that helped recycle two

liter bottles for my Girl Scout God

Award Project. With all of the

recycled bottles, I created a green-

house for the Memorial Hospital

HOPE Garden. Thank you!!

Katelyn Sander

Liturgical Ministers for December 16 & 17

Servers:

4:30 pm Justin Schmitt - Brandon Sermersheim 7:00 am Evan Leuck - Ryan Leuck 10:00 am Zach Williams - Brianna Williams

Extraordinary Ministers:

4:30 pm Jill Weidenbenner - Marlene Goeppner Beth Gentry - Eugene Hopf - Diane Gress 7:00 am Joe Jerger - Mary Werner - Cassey Wagner

Melinda Weidenbenner - Annie Voelkel 10:00 am Brian Fleck - Brian Gehlhausen - Marvin Schepers Joyce Gehlhausen - Bev Himsel

Lectors:

4:30 pm Brian Seibert 7:00 am Ken Schnaus 10:00 am Carey Schmitt

Lectors Website: http://lectorsproclaim.org (Year B)

Ushers:

4:30 pm Scott & Kim Moeller 7:00 am Dan & Cheryl Fromme 10:00 am Kevin & Martha Keusch

Sunday School:

10:00 am Christa Leinenbach (last Sunday School until 1-7-18)

Thank You!! This bulletin is furnished to the Parish without charge. The advertisements that appear completely defray all publishing costs with which the church would otherwise be burdened. Please patron-ize these sponsors as a “Thank You” for their generosity.

Ultreya!! A Spanish term meaning “Onward”

December 11 there will be a meeting at St. Joseph Parish Center.

Ultreya 7:00-8:15pm in St. Joseph Parish Center Chapel. All

Cursillistas and guests are welcome. Contact Brian or Kris Ketzner

with any quest questions at 812-482-9495.

Generations has asked us to collect items for “Build*A*Basket” for

the homebound of our area. Here are items that are needed:

paper towels dish soap sponges bath soap

laundry baskets trash bags kitchen towels tissue

night lights shampoo conditioner lotion

deodorant toilet paper wash rags toothpaste

toothbrushes dryer sheets light bulbs stamps

pillows pillow cases pens note pads

lap blankets batteries flashlight s band-aids

first aid kits envelopes bath towels books

Germ X hand sanitizer denture cream puzzles

long handle shower brushes laundry detergent magazines

storage containers 2018 calendars trash cans

Drop off your items in the back of church or the parish office. These

items are not listed on the angel tree.

Join The Diocesan Choir for the Installation of Bishop Siegel

The Diocesan Choir will sing for Bishop Siegel’s Installation Mass on Friday, December 15 at 2:00pm at the Cathedral in Evansville. The Choir is open to singers in high school and older. Practices are scheduled as follows:

Sunday, December 10: 2:00-4:30pm Tuesday, December 12: 5:30-7:30pm.

(All times are CST - Evansville times)

Please contact Jeremy Korba at 812-589-3886 for via email at jkorba@evdio.org with questions or for more information.