Dear Friends in Christ, If you’re like me, it’s hard to believe that we’re in the fourth week of Advent and that Christmas is this week—where has time gone? With everything going on, I have a number of updates and reminders that I would like to share with everyone that I hope you find helpful and informative:

• Please note the special Mass schedule for Christmas this year. I am a firm believer in never turning someone away from church, so it is my hope that the number of Masses and the staggered time will allow everyone to spread out and participate safely, and that anyone who would like to attend will be able.

• We will be posting two Christmas Masses, one from each of our beautiful churches. I recognize the feeling of peace we all experience when we’re at our home church for Christmas, so we hope seeing our churches beautifully decorated will allow everyone to experience some sort of normalcy.

• Great news, the new parking lot at St. Joseph church is now open and available for use! I have received many questions about when everything will be completed, and the plan is for the project to be completed in the early spring when the weather is more conducive to the masonry work that needs to be done.

• With the uptick of COVID cases, I hope you will join me in praying for everyone being affected. We have had a number of parishioners with COVID and we have even more serving on the front lines. I am very excited that we have been working with the leadership at Promedica Memorial Hospital to coordinate a special community-wide show of support Monday, December 21st for healthcare workers; please check the bulletin for the complete information and I hope we can have a good showing.

• Thank you to all who have supported the Gift of Faith Appeal. I have been blown away by the level of support so far—these funds will go a long way to fill the gap in offertory collections and to help continue the important projects we have underway. If you haven’t seen any of the testimonial videos by parishioners online, it is worth a viewing. Check out our Facebook page to see fellow parishioners share how the Gift of Faith has impacted their lives.

Again, thank you all for your continued prayers and support. It is an honor to serve our Church Family and I cannot wait to celebrate the Christmas season with you all. God bless! Sincerely Yours in Christ, Fr. Michael Roemmele

Sunday, December 20 Fourth Sunday of Advent 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16 Rom 16:25-27 Lk 1:26-38

8:30 a.m. Mass - Christopher Waleryszak (SAC) 10:30 a.m. Mass - Isabella Combs (SJC) 11:30 a.m. RCIA (SJH) 5:30 p.m. Mass - St. Ann & St. Joseph Parishes (SAC) 6:30 p.m. Decorating for Christmas (SAC)

Monday, December 21 St. Peter Canisius Sg 2:8-14 or Zep 3:14-18a Lk 1:39-45

8:00 a.m. Communion Service (SAC) 6:30 p.m. Honoring Heroes (Promedica Memorial Hospital Parking Lot)

Tuesday, December 22 1 Sm 1:24-28 Lk 1:46-56

9:00 a.m. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament (SJC) 5:30 p.m. Mass - Alice Wagner (SJC)

Wednesday, December 23 St. John of Kanty Mal 3:1-4, 23-24 Lk 1:57-66

8:00 a.m. Mass - Herman, Edith, Edna, & Richard Eilrich (SAC)

Thursday, December 24 Morning: 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12,14a, 16 Lk 1:67-79 Christmas Vigil & Day: Is 9:1-6 Ti 2:11-14 Lk 2:1-14 Christmas Eve (Offices Closed)

8:00 a.m. Mass - Jean Stierwalt (SAC) 4:00 p.m. Christmas Vigil Mass - Don, Stella, & Marilyn Wurzel (SJC) 4:30 p.m. Christmas Vigil Mass - John Lotycz (SAC) 6:00 p.m. Christmas Vigil Mass - Ellen Leite (SJC) 6:30 p.m. Christmas Vigil Mass - Paul, Lacy, & Roger Daubel (SAC) 8:00 p.m. Christmas Vigil Mass - Joaquin Aguilar Jr. (SJC) 8:30 p.m. Christmas Vigil Mass - Dick Morley (SAC) 10:00 p.m. Christmas Vigil Mass - John & Ruth, and Fran Gonya (SJC) 10:30 p.m. Christmas Vigil Mass - Phil Darr (SAC)

Friday, December 25 Merry Christmas! (Offices Closed)

8:30 a.m. Christmas Day Mass - Jean Bertsch (SAC) 10:30 a.m. Christmas Day Mass - Matthew McCabe (SJC)

Saturday, December 26 St. Stephen Acts 6:8-10, 7:54-59 Mt 10:17-22

7:00 a.m. Men’s Group (SJH) 8:30 a.m. Communion Service (SJC) 4:00 p.m. Mass - Robert & Evelyn Rodenhauser (SJC)

Sunday, December 27 The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, & Joseph Gn 15:1-6; 21:1-3 Heb 11:8, 11-12,17-19 Lk 2:22-40

8:30 a.m. Mass - John Kowaleski (SAC) 10:30 a.m. Mass - Paul & Gertrude Wilhelm (SJC) 5:30 p.m. Mass - St. Ann & St. Joseph Parishes (SAC)

Mallory Abbot, Mary Benner, Jean Bisnette, Carol Butzier, Paul Colavincenzo, Jeanne Darr, Phyllis Dowling, Virgil Faulkner, Rev. Ray Fisher,

Erin Furlong, Jim Foos, Therese Gabel, Maria Garcia, Raul Garza, John Gonya, Paul Gonya, Raul Gonzales, James Haas,

Sue & Deacon Jim Hammer, Claire Hampshire, Sue Homler, Dave Jenkins, Joe Joinville, Bob Kanan, Kathy Koch, Carol Kromer, Alison Lauer, Bea Lorenz, Steven Link, Samantha McDonald, Judy McKinney, Don Miesle, Mary Miesle,

David Miller, Jerry Miller, Peter & Marcie Naderer, Virginia Poseler, the Price Family, Nicholas Reed, Marylou Reyna, Virginia Rich,

Bill Rimelspach, Dick Ross, Eva Sanchez, Shirley Schmidt, Lisa Spieldenner Johnson, John & Carolyn Spieldenner, Liz Stang,

Steve Szymanowski, Sr., Terry Szyperski, Virginia Valle, Kathy VanWey, Margaret Wagner, Wendy Wehring, Ken Weickert,

Deacon Norb Wethington, Alice Willman, and Terry Wurzel.

Steinle Family Dealerships

GMC - Cadillac - Buick - Chevrolet Fremont: 419-332-9907

Clyde: 419-547-9483 www.steinlegm.com

Dec 17 - Dec 24— at St. Ann Parish In Memory of Fred Gabel - Given by his family

Dec 17 - Dec 24 — Blessed Sacrament Chapel at St. Joseph Parish

For the elderly and homebound - Given by Anonymous

Dec 10 - Dec 24 — Main Church at St. Joseph Parish In Memory of Chuck Lenhart & Andy Wonderly - Given by Arlene Lenhart

December 12-13, 2020

Thank you for your generous and sacrificial giving

If you would like to add someone to our prayer list, please call your Parish Office. St. Ann and St. Joseph, pray for us!

Ways to financially

support your Church Family

• Collection Envelopes

• ACH - Automatic Monthly Giving - Call

Your Parish Office

• Online Giving - Go to growinholiness.org/

donate

Division #5 -

Judy Weikert, monitor

St. Joseph

Total Sunday Offerings $ 6,728.00

Amount Needed Each Week $ 11,346.00

Amount UNDER Budget $ 4,618.00

Year-to-Date Needed $ 272,277.00

Year-to-Date Received $ 237,684.00

Gift of Faith Appeal (to date) $ 13,695.00

St. Ann

Total Sunday Offerings $ 4,320.00

Amount Needed Each Week $ 5,465.00

Amount UNDER Budget $ 1,145.00

Year-to-Date Needed $ 131,160.00

Year-to-Date Received $ 127,194.00

Gift of Faith Appeal (to date) $ 8,315.00

Thank you for your generous and sacrificial giving to support your Church Family!

Our Lady of the Pines is hosting self-directed retreat days twice a month. Upcoming dates include January 6 and January 18. Individuals can come alone or with a friend or two. We are very aware that people are in need of spiritual nourishment and opportunities during these difficult times. There is ample room for social distancing here and access to all amenities are included with the day away. The cost for the day is $13/person. With advanced notice, lunch can be included for an additional $10. We are in need of ministers for our 6:30pm & 10:30pm Christmas Eve Masses at St. Ann! Please call your parish office to sign up. Thank you! This year’s Jesse Tree was a HUGE SUCCESS! Because of the generosity of so many parishioners, we were able to give some Christmas joy to 84 children and 16 senior citizens. We want to thank you all for your support and give a special thanks to Amy Drusback and her family for making this happen.

Congrats to the winners of the Annual St. Ann Beef Raffle! Annette Mercer, Chris Vandersluis, John Shetzer, and Kim Barnum. A special thank-you to the Bob Steinberger Family for the generous donation of the beef and to Margie Jibillian and Colleen Miller for spearheading this fundraiser for our Church Family! At the end of the raffle, we raised about $1,866 for St. Ann Parish. In your kindness, please pray for the souls of Robert Schmidt, John Kryder, Dianna Johnson, and Bernard Deisenroth, who died recently. May they rest in the eternal glory of God. If you are willing and able to help us decorate St. Ann Church for Christmas, please stay after 5:30 pm Mass for no more than 30 minutes this Sunday (December 20th). Thank you.

This week we want to thank Brandi and Carlos Sr. for all they and their family do for our parishes! They have four sons, Carlos Jr., Robbie, Alex and Tony. The Baez boys were very active in the parish when they were in school – whether it was serving, EMHC, or music ministry – these guys were always willing to help. Carlos is originally from Columbia and is the Sandusky County Engineer. He is a member of The Knights of Columbus, has been active in the Men’s Group, and has taught CCD to many of the students of our Parishes. He was instrumental in starting the Men’s Christ Renews His Parish Welcome Weekend (retreat). Brandi, his wife, teaches Spanish at SJCC/BHCS and is the Senior Class Advisor. She also is an EMHC at St. Joseph. Tony, their youngest son, is currently a server and EMHC at school Masses as well as parish Masses. Tony has also worked for the Parishes over the summer helping with landscaping, cleaning and other projects that need done around our campuses.

Baez Family, we thank you for all you have done and continue to do as you live out the gospel by your example and help us all grow in holiness together! Please thank this great family when you see them!

Ave! - Hello! This is a simple salutation, but from the moment the Archangel Gabriel used it, this greeting was sanctified inasmuch as it awakened adoration, thanksgiving, and tenderness within Mary! Ave! This should be my salutation, addressed to everyone with Mary’s joy. Ave! This is an announcement of grace, reconciliation, renewal, and resurrection. Ave! This is a wish of divine benediction. I was deeply impressed with the story of a holy priest who, for love of Mary, responded Ave every time someone knocked on his door. At the last moment of his life, at his request, everyone who had gathered around his bed began to sing the Magnificat: “My soul magnifies the Lord.” How many times a day, in his seventy years he had lived, had his lips formed that word? From the depths of my love, I want to offer You a crown, Lord, woven of the most beautiful Aves of my life, to make reparation for the Ave of Judas that served as a sign of his betrayal (Ave, Rabbi), and for the Ave of the Roman soldiers spoken in mockery (Ave, King of the Jews).

Taken from Magnificat (vol. 22, no.10), written by Venerable Francis Xavier Nguyễn Văn Thuặn

~ ~

The Fourth Sunday of Advent All music used with permission of OneLicense A-729175

RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: Let the clouds rain down the Just One; and the earth bring forth a Savior, a Savior.

MAY I RECEIVE YOU

May I receive You in this Communion - With open arms, and a loving contrite heart - So that I may be filled with Your grace - For my good and

Your glory, Amen. Be with me Lord, be with me, Lord - For my

good and Your glory, Amen.

O COME, O COME, EMMANUEL

1. O come, O come, Emmanuel,

And ransom captive Israel,

That mourns in lonely exile here

Until the Son of God appear.

Refrain

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel!

6. O come, Thou Dayspring from on high

And cheer us by thy drawing nigh;

Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,

And death’s dark shadow put to flight.

7. O come, Desire of nations, bind

In one the hearts of all humankind;

Bid thou our sad divisions cease,

And be thyself our Prince of Peace.

Text: LM with refrain; ‘O’ Antiphons, Latin, 9th cent.; verses 1, 3–6 para. in Psalteriolum Cantionum Catholicarum, Cologne, 1710; tr. by John M. Neale,

1818–1866; verses 2, 7 tr. fr. The Hymnal 1940, alt.Music: Chant, Mode I; Processionale, French, 15th cent.; adapt. by Thomas Helmore, 1811–1890

CHRIST, BE OUR LIGHT

1. Longing for light, we wait in darkness.

Longing for truth, we turn to you.

Make us your own, your holy people,

light for the world to see.

Refrain:

Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts.

Shine through the darkness.

Christ, be our light!

Shine in your church gathered today.

2. Longing for peace, our world is troubled.

Longing for hope, many despair.

Your word alone has pow’r to save us.

© 1993, Bernadette Farrell. Published by OCP. All rights reserved.

Refrain:

Gentle woman, quiet light,

morning star, so strong and bright,

gentle Mother, peaceful dove,

teach us wisdom; teach us love.

1. You were chosen by the Father;

you were chosen for the Son.

You were chosen from all women

and for woman, shining one.

2. Blessed are you among women,

blest in turn all women, too.

Blessed they with peaceful spirits.

Blessed they with gentle hearts

HAIL MARY: GENTLE WOMAN

Text: Hail Mary, based on Luke 1:28, 42. Spanish tr., Juan J. Sosa, Pbro. Text and music © 1975, 1978, 2003, Carey Landry.

Published by OCP. All rights reserved.

Bishop Hoffman Catholic School /SJCC and JHA: Fremont, Ohio is seeking to fill the position of Visual Art Teacher: Prefer Ohio licensure. Proficient in all basic art mediums. Have love and passion for art. Currently on a hybrid plan (1 day virtual, 4 in person). Grades 6 - 12. Please email resumé and references to mgabel@bishop-hoffman.net. The Sacred Heart Campus of BHCS has created a virtual Christmas program to encourage our community to remember the true spirit of the Christmas season! Please enjoy our youngest students performing Christmas classics. The video can be found on our YouTube channel or through this link: https://youtu.be/BhB567xcAOU. Reach Out: Our SJCC Campus students will be providing meal boxes for over 100 families in our community on December 21st. Thank you to all who have supported this important mission. Value Cards: The popular “BHCS Value Cards” are now on sale! For $10, you will receive our unique card featuring discounts at 44 local businesses. Contact either school office or any K-8 student to purchase yours. Thanks for your support!

Bishop Hoffman Catholic School

Mission Statement

To reach and teach the

Mind, Body, Heart and Soul of

each child to bring them closer to God.