December 17th

, 2017 3

rd Sunday of Advent

“Who are you…What do you have to say for yourself?”

- JOHN 1:22. - St. Patrick’s Holy Family

Tekamah Decatur

Pastor: Rev. Kevin Joyce

1323 R Street – Tekamah, NE 68061

PHONE 402-374-1692

Office email:

stpats@abbnebraska.com

Parish website:

__www.stpatstekamah.com___

♣ Religious Education Coordinator: ♣

Ashley Olson stpatrickreligioused@gmail.com

___________402-870-2158__________ Parish Bookkeeper:

Joan Andrew

Bulletin deadline is noon on Wednesday.

St. Patrick Church 3480 Highway 32

Pastoral Council President:

Greg Gill

Parish Trustees:

George Kahlandt

JoAnn Wragge

Holy Family Church 703 4th Avenue

Decatur NE

Holy Family Parish Trustees:

Joe Malloy & Lynn Kellogg

For Parish Hall Rental

contact Joan Andrew @ 374-1236 or 374-2198.

Set fee is $75.

For Parish Hall Rental

contact Kay Kellogg @ 349-5347.

Set fee is $75.

Parish Mission Statement

We are a Parish Family that grows by living and sharing our faith in the Good

News of Jesus, welcoming all and reaching out in loving service.

WEEKEND MASSES: Saturday 5:00 PM; Sunday 8:00 AM (SP); and Sunday 10:00 AM (HF) Decatur WEEKDAY & HOLIDAY MASSES: See Bulletin

NEW PARISHIONERS: You are invited to register at the rectory or see the pastor following Mass.

RECONCILIATION: One half hour before weekend Masses or by appointment.

BAPTISMS: Parents are to attend pre-baptismal catechesis prior to the Baptism. Call the rectory.

MARRIAGES: The Archdiocese of Omaha requires a minimal six months waiting period for proper preparation for marriage. It is best to contact the parish a year in advance and the RC adult should be a registered member of the Parish, and/or parents should be registered members of the Parish. SACRAMENT OF THE SICK: Celebrated individually upon request. If someone is seriously ill or hospitalized please call the rectory.

December 17th, 2017/ 3rd Sunday of Advent Mass Intentions December 18

th – December 24

th

Monday Dec 18 No Mass

Tuesday Dec 19 8:30 AM T End of the conflict with North Korea

Wednesday Dec 20 9:00 AM D End of the Wildfires in California Thursday Dec 21 8:30 AM T t Bruce Hassler

Friday Dec 22 8:30 AM T t For Catholics to Come Home for Christmas Saturday Dec 23 5:00 PM T Liv & Dec Langley, Chatt & Tobin Families

Sunday 4

th Sunday of Advent

Christmas Eve

Christmas Day

Dec 24

Dec 25

8:00 AM 10:00 AM 5:00 PM Midnight 9:00 AM

TDTTD

t Carol Tobin The People of Holy Family Parish

t Myrn,& Geraldine Roberts and Richard McNish

t John, Virginia and Mary Ann Toth

Sacrificial Gifts of Treasure December 9

th & 10

th, 2017

St. Patrick’s of Tekamah:

“Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!”

- LUKE 1:28- Faith is a gift from God. Take time in silence and thank Him for all the gifts He has given to you. Try to set aside any anger or resentment you have and really oprn your heart to receive the gift of God’s mercy and forgiveness. We can’t give what we don’t have. We need to receive God’s mercy and forgiveness first before we can give it to others.. Children’s good deed: “I decorated Christmas cookies; I helped decorate out Christmas tree; I studied for my Science test.”

St. Patrick Prayer List

Parishioners: Barbara Higgins, Pete Stork, Alice Roh, John Gorman and Kenny Petersen. Family / Friends: Dean Dundee (brother-in-law Graig McElmuray),

LaVaughn Lauby (Mother of Lynda Grandgenett), Malcolm Watt (Friend of Ron Sauser), Mandy Connealy Ewig (granddaughter of Joan

Connealy), Graci Garcia, Rita Gill Newell, Marci Mainus (niece of Kent

& Judy Hurlocker), Cathy Grosskopf (sister of Rich Grandgenett),

Marty Rocca, Karen Ronspies (sister of Deb Frahm), Laoren Funke

(Grandniece of Ed Heng), Adelene Laetsch (sister of Marie Gill), Julie

Riecken, Robert Boardley (father-in-law of Stephanie), Vern Elske (uncle of Rich), Abby Schnell (niece of Rich & Jane Elske), Robert Newell (grandson of Robert & Marie Gill), Myrna Grandgenett (sister of

Rich Grandgenett), Jerry Hoerath, Haley Deemer, Therese Shramek (mother of Tom), and Dr. Joe Roh.

Holy Family Prayer List

Parishioners: Pat Larsen, Denny Klatt, Melvin Wildman, Mary Jo Connealy, Jean Drummond and Georgia Redding Family / Friends: Willis Paulsen (friend of Larry & Janice

Larsen), Steve Norton, Mary Shaw & Kristin Parker (Friends of

Janice & Larry Larsen), Christine Pueppke, Mark Mussack, Jim Maryott, LeAnn Richards (sister of Larry Larsen), Sara Cameron, Arizona Riecken, JoEllen Benecke (sister of Matt & Dick Connealy),

Casey Connealy, Mark Connealy, Tom Fucher, Liz Connealy, (grand-daughter of Pat Connealy), Margaret Donneally, (sister of

Marilyn Quinn), Jack Broderick, (brother of Jean Drummond), Teresa

Tramp, (sister of Jean Drummond)

Tend thy sick ones, O Lord Jesus. Rest thy weary ones. Bless thy dying ones. Soothe thy suffering ones. Pity thy afflicted ones. Shield thy joyous ones. And all for thy love’s sake. (St. Augustine)

May we pray for our beloved deceased. May they rest in peace and may God comfort those who mourn.

Calendar for the Week for St. Patrick:

♦Wednesday Dec. 20: Religious Ed PreK – 6th Grade 5:15 PM Jr/Sr High 7:00 PM ♦ Sunday Dec. 17th: NCYC Appreciation Celebration after Mass.

Envelopes (27) $843.00 Loose $75.00 Children $16.00 Vigil Lights $0.00 Building Fund (2) $110.00 Religious Pension Christmas Flowers Holy Day Gift of Grain

$461.00 $224.00 $309.00

$5092.20

Thank you for your generosity!

Holy Family of Decatur:

Envelopes (7) $480.00 Loose $22.00 Vigil Lights $0.00 Religious Pension Christmas Flowers Holy Day

$277.00 $134.00

$25.00

“…for God loves a cheerful giver.”

2 Corinthians 9:7

Enlighten the darkness of my heart. Give me right

faith, sure hope and perfect charity. Fill me with

understanding and knowledge that I may fulfill your

commands. ~St. Francis of Assisi

“Just as those who see the light are illuminated by

the light and share its brilliance, so are those who see

God are in God and share God’s splendor.”

~St. Gregory the Great

Liturgical Assignments for St. Patrick’s:

Saturday December 23rd – 5:00 PM:

LECTOR: EMHC’S: SERVERS: Volunteers, please.

Sunday December 24th – 8:00 AM:

LECTOR: EMHC’S: SERVERS: Volunteers, please.

Sunday December 24th – 5:00 PM:

LECTOR: EMHC’S: SERVERS: Volunteers, please.

Sunday December 24th – Midnight:

LECTOR: EMHC’S: SERVERS: Volunteers, please.

My soul rejoices in my God.

(Luke 1:46)

From Fr. Kevin…

This third Sunday of Advent is traditionally

known as “Guadete Sunday”. ‘Gaudete’ is

the Latin word for “rejoice”. From December

17th to the 24

th, the tone of Advent shifts

from focusing on the second coming of Jesus

to the focus on his first coming. In the first

reading this Sunday from Isaiah 61, we hear

of the Servant of the Lord who is sent “to

bring glad tidings to the poor.” In our

Gospel from St. John, we hear of John the

Baptist who is sent from God to “testify to

the light”, Jesus Christ. In the second reading

from 1Thessalonions, St. Paul exhorts us to

“Rejoice always” and…”In all

circumstances give thanks.” We, too, are

sent as “Advent Ambassadors” of Jesus

Christ, the Light of the world. The Church

tells us that ‘Advent is a period of devout

and expectant delight’. God calls us to

radiate the joy of knowing Jesus during

Advent. Christian joy is a light that witnesses

to others that Jesus is alive, and it witnesses

to hope. Holy Spirit, help each of us to be a

beacon of hope for others this Advent.

Peace, Fr. Kevin

Archbishop’s Annual Appeal – update. These are the financial (goals/gifts made) for each parish to date: St. Patrick - $5,473.12 $6,242.00 (117.5 %)!!

Holy Family - $2,370.89 $2,527.00 (106.7 %)!!

Thank you for your very generous contributions!

FAITH FACT

Make straight the way of the Lord! As Christians, we recognize the season of Advent as a time

of great anticipation in which we prepare for the coming of the Lord. In today’s gospel, John the Baptist calls us to

“make straight the way of the Lord.” This call to action is not easy in an ever-growing secular world. Although it

should be the very opposite, the season of Advent is perhaps the most difficult time to rise and meet John’s call.

More often than not, today’s reality is one where the season of Advent is inundated with commercialism and anything but Christ. To remain focused while we await the

coming of the Lord is increasingly difficult and requires humility, discipline, and patience. Deepening these qualities

in ourselves requires a great deal of practice and prayer.

The Lighter Side ☺How do you make antifreeze? Put ice cubes in her sleeping bag.

♣ Religious Ed: Wednesday Dec 20: Pre-K – 6th Grade classes

will meet at 5:15 for Movie Night; Jr/Sr High classes will meet at 7:00. Elementary students will have Christmas program practice on Saturday morning (Dec. 23rd) at 9:00 AM. The Children’s Christmas Program will be on Saturday Dec. 23rd following the 5:00 PM Mass. A soup supper and other goodies will be served following the program.

♦Sacrament of Reconciliation: If you missed the opportunity

to celebrate the sacrament of Reconciliation this past week, Fr. Kevin is available for confession before each weekend Mass or

by appointment. . ♦ Mass times for Christmas – You should have received the Christmas Mass schedule in the mail. There will be a 5:00 PM Mass on Sunday Dec. 24th at St. Patrick and a Midnight Mass that evening also at St. Patrick. Christmas Day Mass will be at Holy Family at 9:00 AM. .

♦Retirement Fund for Religious: A religious sister writes, “When we

see the generous response of so many thousands of people in order to help us, religious men and women, we are left speechless.” Senior sisters, brothers, and religious order priests across the country send heartfelt thanks and prayers for your donation to last week’s Retirement Fund for Religious collection. Together our gifts equal

$738.00 to the Retirement Fund. Thank you! .

Giving Trees – All ornament tags have been chosen! Remember to return your wrapped gift this weekend Dec 16th & 17th. Tekamah Bucks can be purchased at Cass Plumbing - see

Ashley. THANK YOU for generosity. “God is the greatest

giver in the universe – He won’t let you out-give Him!”

♥Sunday morning coffee and fellowship time: Join us

Sundays in gathering for food and fellowship after Mass!

♥Altar Society: Looking ahead: Next meeting is Tuesday, January

9th. Hostesses are Ali Petersen & Linda Shada.

Next meeting is in January. K of C will serve a pancake breakfast on Sunday January 21st after the 8:00 AM Mass. Mark your calendar and bring your appetite!

St. Patrick’s Church Cleaning News: For December of 2017, the lead family is Mike & Molly Williams assisted by Nate & Ashley Williams, Rodney & Kass Bromm, Gabe & Andrea Bromm, Mike & Ryann Pagels, Mary Kahlandt and Graig & Laura McElmuray. Thank you for the gift of your time and hard work for YOUR church! You can check out a key at the office if needed. MASS INTENTIONS are a great way to remember loved ones! Place your request

and name in an envelope with your offering, ($10.00 is the normal offering and a few weeks in advance is necessary to schedule your Mass)

Catholic Guide to the Internet: Catholic Voice

Www.catholicvoiceomaha.com

Archdiocese of Omaha

Www.archomaha.org

Catholic Online

Www.catholic.org

The Holy See

Www.vatican.va

Catholic Treasury

Www.catholictreasury.info

Marriage Resources

Foryourmarriage.org

Mass Times Www.masstimes.org

LIFE CHOICES- 1835 E. Military Ave., Suite 101 Fremont, NE (402)721-5551 BIRTH RIGHT of SIOUXLAND- 520 Nebraska St., Suite 322 Sioux City, IA (712)258-3436

BRANIFF SERVICE

321 S. 13th Street Tekamah, NE 68061 For all your automobile needs:

Tires, batteries, exhaust, fuel, farm tire service. Call Pat Braniff (402)374-2660

ARE YOU PLANNING for

THE FUTURE?

Please remember your

parish in your will or estate and give the Church a part

of your legacy. Call the

rectory if you have any

questions.

To inquire about membership Contact Grand Knight

Rich Elske (402)307-0045

JUST A LITTLE CRAFTY

113 S. Court Street Craig, NE 68019

Custom Machine Embroidery by Stephanie Boardley

(402)377-2400

BRANIFF GRADING Call K.C. Braniff (402)838-9043

“For all your dirt needs!”

“These spaces are available for businesses to advertise their product or

company.” Just $50.00 a year Contact Fr. Kevin to

Place an ad in the bulletin. Thank you to our sponsors!