Pastoral Staff

FR. JAROSLAW DZIUBA, SDS (Fr. Yarek) Pastor pastor@stjamesparishrc.com *Appts to be arranged through the parish office FR. DENNIS BHASKAR Associate Pastor associatepastor@stjamesparishrc.com DEACON KEN WADDLE Deacon kwaddle@xplornet.ca SR. LUCILLE FIELD, S.I.T.G. Religious Education & Youth Ministry Coordinator religioused-youth@stjamesparishrc.com DEBORAH QUINLAN Senior Administrator office@stjamesparishrc.com MARIA VAN KAMPEN Youth Assistant youthministrymaria@stjamesparishrc.com VI LAKE Part-Time Secretary vi@stjamesparishrc.com CHRISTINA SPRINKHUYSEN Administrative Assistant Submissions for the bulletin go to: bulletin@stjamesparishrc.com DEADLINE IS THURSDAY 12 NOON

St. James Parish Parish Website: http://stjamesparishrc.com

St. James Church Church address: 338040 – 32nd Street East

Schedule for St. James Church

Mass Times:

Sun: 11:00am & 7:00pm Tues: 7:00pm 9:00am Thurs 9:00am Sat: 9:00am

Reconciliation Schedule: Advent Reconciliation Tuesday at 7:00pm

Wednesdays in Advent 7:30-8:30pm Sunday: 6:30-6:55pm *or by appt.

Solemn Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

*No Adoration this week.*

Parish Office & Mailing Address:

30 Elma Street West

Okotoks, AB T1S 1J7

Phone: 403-938-3122

Fax: 403-938-0524

Email: office@stjamesparishrc.com

Office Hours:

Monday-Friday

8:30-Noon & 1-3:30pm

*Closed 3rd Friday of the Month

Emergencies only (Sacrament of the Sick):

Fr. Yarek at 403-613-2680 or Fr. Dennis at 587-432-5792.

Please speak clearly and state your name and Phone number

Building and Sustaining

One Parish

St. Michael’s Church 402 Government Road

(Street address only)

Black Diamond

Schedule for St. Michael’s Church:

Mass Times:

Sun: 9:00am

Wed: 9:00am

Fri: 9:00am

Reconciliation Schedule:

After weekday Mass or by Appt.

Solemn Adoration of the Blessed

Sacrament

Friday following Mass, 9:30-10:30am

3rd Sunday of Advent December 14th, 2014 Year B

THIS WEEK IN OUR PARISH

Mass Times &

Mass Intentions

Activities

For The Week

Sunday - Dec 14

9:00am - St. Michael’s George Martin

11:00am - St. James Vern Noble

7:00pm - St. James People of the Parish

Divine Mercy Chaplet sung prior to Mass in lieu of Rosary Baptism Sunday Safeway/Sobeys cards available after Mass St. James Choir Practice 10-11am, St. James Church Couples for Christ Program 2-5:30pm, St. James Church. Last Meeting for 2014.

Monday - Dec 15

NO MASS

Sr. Youth Group - No Meeting - will resume January 6th Prayer of the Heart & Body 7-8pm, HTA Last Class for 2014, will resume Jan 12th St. Michael’s 2nd Sunday Choir Practice 7-8pm, St. Michael’s Church Men’s Prayer Group 7:30-8:30pm, St. James Church, Children’s room last meeting

for 2014, will resume Jan 5th. Rivers of Living Water Prayer Group is on CHRISTMAS RECESS. Next meeting in January: TBA

Tuesday - Dec 16

**9:00am** - St. James Ted Mahura

Please Note: Mass time change @ 9:00am*

Parish Advent Reconciliation 7-9pm, St. James Church. Begins with Liturgy of the Word.

Wednesday - Dec 17

9:00am - St. Michael’s Special Intention

St. James Mom’s Group 10-11:30am, St. James Church, Lounge Area. Last Meeting for 2014, will resume Jan 7th. RCIA - 7-9pm, St. James Church, Kitchen Area. Last meeting for 2014, will resume

on Jan 7th. Advent Reconciliation 7:30-8:30pm, St. James Church

Thursday - Dec 18

9:00am - St. James Mercier Family

Youth Group (all youth) Drop-in Meeting 7-9pm, Youth Garage. Last meeting for 2014, meetings will resume January 8TH*

HIS Choir (formerly RTK Choir) Practice 8:00-10pm, St. James Church

Friday - Dec 19

9:00am - St. Michael’s Christopher Hayes

Parish Office Closed (3rd Friday)

Saturday - Dec 20

9:00am - St. James Joe Mercier

Christmas Mass Schedule 2014

St. James Church

338 Avenue and 32nd Street, Okotoks

Christmas Eve - Dec 24th - 6:00pm & 9:00pm

Christmas Day - Dec 25th - 10:00am

Holy Family - Dec 28th - 11:00am & 7:00pm

New Year’s Eve - Dec 31st - 5:00pm

New Year’s Day - January 1, 2015 - 10:00am

Christmas Mass Schedule 2014

St. Michael’s Church

402 Government Road, Black Diamond

Christmas Eve - Dec 24th - 11:00pm

Christmas Day - Dec 25th - 9:00am

Holy Family - Dec 28th - 9:00am

New Year’s Day - January 1, 2015 - 9:00am

*Low Gluten Eucharist is available at every Mass

Upcoming Events and Activities

St. James Par ish Page 3

Upcoming Events and Activities cont’d

Parish Advent Reconciliation All parishioners of St. James and

St. Michael’s are invited to celebrate the

Sacrament of Reconciliation which will

be held at St. James Church on Tuesday,

December 16th 7-9pm.

Please Note: Mass time on this

Tuesday Evening (Dec 16) has

been moved to 9:00 am

A Note From the Pastor: According to the Scripture and the Sacred Tradition Our Blessed Mother has been called by God as the one who crushes the head of the serpent (Gen. 3:1s). Many who invoked her intercession testify to her powerful intervention in combating evil and bringing God's graces. Let us remember to pray the Rosary daily both as individual but also as communities and in our families. As a brief prayer which can be used even "on the go" you may use the following prayer which I adapted from a prayer in Polish and call "The Mary's Heel Prayer"

Heavenly Father,

through the Immaculate Heart of Mary that was pierced by a sword, I offer

You the Most Precious Blood and Wounds of our Lord Jesus Christ so

that Mary, our Mother, may crush Satan's head and together with St.

Michael the Archangel and all His Angels cast all evil spirits unto hell and

destroy all their works and plans directed against our families. Through

Christ our Lord. Amen - Fr. Jaroslaw "Yarek" Dziuba SDS

Let us welcome, into our parish community,

all the children who have received the

Sacrament of Baptism today.

Ethan Peter Edward Boon

Laney Ann Heggenstaller-Boon

Kohji Steven Jonathon Crook

Eileen Marjory Gibney

Nathan Vincenzo Going

Sieffre Ethan Santiago Sagrado

GOD BLESS & CONGRATULATIONS!

Weekday Mass Schedule for the Christmas Season Tuesday December 23rd, 7:00pm at St. James Church Friday December 26th, 9:00am at St. Michael’s Church Saturday December 27th, 9:00am at St. James Church Tuesday December 30th, 9:00am (No Adoration) at St. James Church Friday January 2nd, 9:00am at St. Michael’s Church Saturday January 3rd, 9:00am at St. James Church

Page 4

FIRST RECONCILIATION 2014

ALL CLASSES WILL BE HELD ON SUNDAY FROM 9-12

WHICH INCLUDES THE 11:00AM MASS. Registration fee

$25.00.

RECONCILITATION DATES: Tuesday, December 16th

and/or Wednesday December 17th. *1st Reconciliation

Parents will plan a follow up gathering in January 2015 for

students and parents.

CONFIRMATION 2014-2015 ALL CLASSES WILL BE SUNDAYS FROM 4-8PM WHICH INCLUDES THE 7:00 PM MASS. Registration fee $35.00.

Sunday, January 11, 2015 Confirmation Class – Students Parent Session

Sunday, January 25, 2015 Confirmation Retreat – Students Parent Session

Sunday, February 1, 2015 Student Class Parent Session Thursday, February 5, 2015* Reconciliation for all Candidates, Sponsors & Family

Saturday, February 7, 2015

6:00-7:00 pm – Confirmation Rehearsal

Sunday, February 8, 2015 Confirmation Mass at 11:00 am with Bishop Henry *Confirmation parents will plan a follow up gathering in March for students and parents.

FIRST COMMUNION 2014 ALL CLASSES WILL BE SUNDAYS FROM 9-12 WHICH INCLUDES THE 11:00AM MASS. Registration fee $25.00.

Sunday, March 29, 2015 Retreat for students–Diocesan Youth Retreat Team Parent session Hand-out of material

Sunday, April 19, 2015 Class with Students and Parents Commitment Mass Sunday, May 3, 2015 Class with Students and Parents Saturday, May 24, 2015 Student and Parent Rehearsal for First Communion Liturgy Sunday, May 31 or June 7, 2015

First Communion Sacramental Mass *First Communion parents will plan a follow-up gathering in June for parents and students. BAPTISM PREPARATION

If your child is seven years old or younger you are required to attend two classes on two consecutive Tuesdays. The classes are from 7:30-9:00 pm at St. James Church.

Session Two: January 20 and 27, 2015

Session Three: March 17 and 24, 2015

Session Four: May 19 and 26, 2015

Session Five: September 15 and 22, 2015

A baptismal registration form must be handed into the parish office before the start of the session. Baptisms are held on the second Sunday of every month after the 11:00am Mass. If your child is older than seven years and in need of baptism please contact Sr. Lucille at the parish office 403-938-3122.

MARRIAGE PREPARATION Phone the Parish Office at least 6 months before marriage and make an appointment with Fr. Yarek. Marriage preparation sessions are mandatory for those preparing for marriage. Sessions are at St. James Church, Friday 7-9pm and Saturday, 9:00am to 4:00pm on the following dates:

Session One: February 6 and 7, 2015

Session Two: April 24 and 25, 2015

Session Three: October 23 and 24, 2015

Registration fee is $80.00 per couple.

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults Registration is ongoing for all those interested in learning more about the Catholic Faith. Inquirers are instructed in the Catholic Faith and introduced to the life of the Church. The sessions are Wednesdays from 7-9pm at St. James Church. For more information please call Sr. Lucille at 403-938-3122.

Rite of Christian Initiation of Teens (RCIT) This program is designed for all youth from grades 6-9 who desire to receive the Catholic Sacraments they have missed and for any youth who wishes to be fully initiated into the Catholic Church. Please contact Sr. Lucille for more information at 403-938-3122

SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION

Page 5 St . James Par ish

Sale of Safeway and Sobeys Gift Cards

Safeway and Sobeys gift cards are sold at

face value

11 am and 7 pm Mass

Parish Office. Cash, cheque, debit and

credit card can be used for payment.

averag of 7.5% of the value goes toward

supporting Parish activities.

2014 is to sell $11,000 per month or

$132,000 annually which will contribute

$10,000 towards the Parish.

Actual

Proceeds to the Parish

The Diocese of Calgary invites you to re-discover the meaning of the sacrament of

Reconciliation in your life. In addition to the regular parish schedule, the sacrament of

Reconciliation will be available at parishes throughout the Diocese of Calgary all the

Wednesdays of Advent from 7:30 – 8:30pm.

Page 6

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Ministry Contact Information

Altar Servers Peter Kiranas 403-519-4606

Book Club Sr. Lucille 403-938-3122

Children’s Liturgy Roxanne Bruketa rrpasternak@hotmail.com

Couples for Christ Program

Julius Strachan 403-630-5291 julius_strachanjr@yahoo.com

Finance Council Jim Hart hart.jamesrobert@gmail.com

Girls T&T Jane Perreault mommyjane3@gmail.com

K of C - St. James Kevin Crawford 403-938-4328

K of C - St. Michael’s Steve Dookie 403-933-5757

Lectio Divina Tara Antoniszyn 403-982-5050

Men’s Prayer Group Stefan Schwartz 403-850-2057 stefrschwarz@gmail.com

Music Ministry Leanne Plamondon 403-982-9876

Parish Pastoral Council

Dave Wilson 403-995-2201

Pastoral Care Ron Nelson 403-995-0089

Prayer of the Heart & Body Pamela Mclean 403-938-5725 pamela_mclean04@yahoo.com

Prayer Chain Vi Lake vilake@telus.net

RCIA Cheryl Poulin ccfry47@shaw.ca

Rivers of Living Water Prayer Group

VeraLucia Cottim-Coughlan 403-400-0627 vlcottim_coughlan@yahoo.ca

Sacramental Preparation Sr. Lucille 403-938-3122

St. James’ Boy’s Group for Father’s and Sons

Jason Krueger 403-836-1541 jkrueger@redeemer.ab.ca

St. James Catholic Women’s League

Gloria Bertsch ggbertsch@shaw.ca

St. James Moms’ Group Linda Bryson 403-938-7644 dlbryson@hotmail.com

St. Vincent de Paul Tara Epp 403-938-0562 tepp@redeemer.ab.ca

St. Vincent de Paul - Black Diamond

John Walsh 403-933-4955

Together in Action Dave Wilson 403-995-2201

Youth Group Maria van Kampen youthministrymaria @stjamesparishrc.com

The Magic of Christmas will be doing visits again this

year in the Foothills Region. Our visit date is December

20th. If you would like to nominate a family or

individual who you think would benefit from a

visit. Please contact Kelly Bailie @ 403-938-5484.

If you would like to make a donation, drop

boxes are located at Village Lane Dental or

Monkey Mountain toys and games. Thank you

for your support!

Christian Women's Fellowship Breakfast Save the date in January

January's breakfast will actually be a lunch. We are planning a fun day for you entitled: JANUARY MAKEOVER. Watch demonstrations from a hair stylist and a Style and Etiquette Consultant. We will meet on Thursday January 8, 2015 from 9:00am - Noon. We will start with coffee and muffins and end with lunch. Cost will still be $7.00. For more information or reservations please call Annette @ 403-933-4320.

Assembly of Women Religious

Day of Reflection and Sharing: with Members of Different

Religious Communities:

For Young Women Considering a Religious Vocation

Theme: Discernment, Date: January 24, 2015, Place: Dominican Sisters’

Convent, 2108 Uxbridge Drive N.W., Calgary, Time: 9:00 a.m.- 5:00 pm

Cost: Donations are welcome , Lunch provided. For further information and to register,

please contact Karla at: www.facebook.com/vocationsretreat2014 or Sr. Terry FCJ at

403-228-3623 or by e-mail: tksmithfcj@yahoo.ca. Please register by Jan. 17th, 2015.

Space is limited. Door prizes for those who register before Dec. 25th, 2014.

Drop-in Youth group at the Youth Garage from

7-9pm. Come out and visit with Sarah and Riley!

take five minutes to feed your faith every day

Invest just five minutes a day, and your faith will deepen and grow—a day at a time.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Make yourself a prophet As Christians, we have a long biblical history of God speaking through

prophets such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel. Although divinely

inspired, the prophets faced a tough job. Often they begged,

encouraged, cajoled, harangued, and otherwise urged the people to

turn away from anything that separated them from God and one

another. They beseeched the people to return to God and make right a

society suffering from misuse of power, injustice, and indifference. The

prophets remind us that God is always present, reaching out with love.

How will you accept God’s love today and share it with others?

TODAY’S READINGS: Isaiah 61:1-2a, 10-11; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-

8, 19-28 (8). “…[the Lord] has sent me to bring glad tidings.”

MONDAY, DECEMBER 15

ADVENT WEEKDAY

Patience, people After some weeks of Advent, you may find yourself struggling to

maintain the mood of waiting and expectation when all the world is

already at the height of celebrating a winter holiday. We need such

secular celebrations (even under the title of Christmas!) to deepen the

bonds of friendship and generosity. However, the Christian also needs

a strong spirit of stillness to tell the difference between these

celebrations and the quiet, gentle, purple time of longing. Otherwise,

when Christmas arrives all you’ll have left to offer is fatigue—not much

of a joyous welcome for Christ.

TODAY’S READINGS: Numbers 24:2-7, 15-17a; Matthew 21:23-27 (187). “By what

authority are you doing these things?”

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16

ADVENT WEEKDAY

Seek stillness Every country has its unique Christmas traditions, but the Philippines

beats them all in terms of the length of its Christmas season, which

starts as early as September and lasts into January. The official

church observance in the Philippines begins today with nine days of

devotion called Simbang Gabi (Filipino for “Night Mass”). Mass is held

before sunrise, originally to accommodate farmers who are busy with

the harvest this time of year. During the hectic pace of the holidays, try

to carve out peaceful moments of quiet to reflect on the meaning of the

season.

TODAY’S READINGS: Zephaniah 3:1-2, 9-13; Matthew 21:28-32 (188). “They shall

pasture and couch their flocks with none to disturb them.”

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17

ADVENT WEEKDAY: O WISDOM (O SAPIENTIA)

The excitement grows Wonderful events can leave us breathless beyond an exclamation of

delight: Oh! Similarly, wonder in the divine Presence influences us in

prayer: O Lord. As early as the sixth century, the Great O Antiphons of

Advent have been chanted in the church to express growing

excitement during the last seven days of Advent. The title of each

antiphon begins with the interjection “O” followed by a name

mentioned in scripture as an attribute for Christ. They were formed into

a song in the 12th century, “Veni, Veni Emmanuel,” and translated 700

years later as “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.” We pray today: O

Wisdom, ancient and new, help your church to combine tradition with

new understanding.

TODAY’S READINGS: Genesis 49:2, 8-10; Matthew 1:1-17 (193). “The scepter

shall not depart from Judah, nor the rule’s staff from between his feet.”

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18

ADVENT WEEKDAY: O SACRED LORD (O ADONAI)

Our God saves us The title seems old-fashioned. “Lord” comes from an era in which one

man was master/protector over a household, village, or territory. The

Most High is viewed as this kind of Lord with the universe as his

household. God is recognized as Lord in the act of liberating captives

from Egyptian slavery and Babylonian exile. Jesus earns this title

when he’s revealed as truly his Father’s Son: liberator of a world

enslaved to sin. We pray today: O Sacred Lord, free us from every

attitude or behavior that limits our love.

TODAY’S READINGS: Jeremiah 23:5-8; Matthew 1:18-25 (194). “In his days

Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety.”

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19

ADVENT WEEKDAY: O ROOT OF JESSE (O RADIX JESSE)

Stories are a staircase Every generation has its stories, and these stories take us up to newly

inspired heights, or below to never-before-imagined depths. Our

sacred story brims with surprising births from women too old,

inexperienced, barren, or unlikely to conceive. Yet the babies keep

coming, because the God of Life wills it and the mothers say yes. In

these stories, younger sons upstage older ones, losers win, and a

shepherd boy becomes a king. We pray today: O Root of Jesse, find

within our present-day stories the seed of amazing new life.

TODAY’S READINGS: Judges 13:2-7, 24-25a; Luke 1:5-25 (195). “Although you

are barren, having borne no children, you shall conceive and bear a son.”

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20

ADVENT WEEKDAY: O KEY OF DAVID (O CLAVIS DAVIDICA)

We have the power The world is full of sighing people, disappointed in efforts that seem to

amount to nothing. “If only we had more money, control, say in what

happens!” Maybe the “juice” isn’t what’s lacking. Maybe it’s faith. God

invites us to participate in the authority of the universe: the power to

forgive sin. Forgiveness is the big key that unlocks every door. But too

often it sits there, under-utilized. We pray today: O Key of David, give

us courage to give and receive the forgiveness you have gained for

us. TODAY’S READINGS: Isaiah 7:10-14; Luke 1:26-38 (196). “The Holy Spirit will come

upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.”

©2014 by TrueQuest Communications. TakeFiveForFaith.com; 800-942-2811; mail@takefiveforfaith.com.

All rights reserved. Daily email sign-up and App available online. Noncommercial reprints permitted with

the following credit: Reprinted with permission from TakeFiveForFaith.com. Scripture citations from the

New American Bible Revised Edition.

Weekly Collection Report 2014

December 7th

Collections

Budget

Over (Under)

Budget

Year to date Collections

Year to date

Budget

Over (Under)

Budget

Operating Fund $ 16,714 $ 10,553 $ 6,161 $ 570,529 $ 530,086 $ 40,443

Together in Action (TIA) $ 2,565 $ 801 $ 1,764 $ 36,299 $ 39,249 $ (2,950)

December 14, Advent III We often forget that we were created in the likeness and image of God and that one of our main

responsibilities is to magnify God in and through our own lives. Sadly we sometimes come up short. When we lose sight of God’s gifts to us, of the mercy He has shown us, we begin to place ourselves first and leave God behind. God is patient, loving, and merciful. He waits for us to become more aware and he gives us opportunities to lift our voices to the glory of his name. People sing “Happy Birthday” even if they can’t carry a tune. The birth of our Saviour is upon us! Let us all lift our voices in song and feel the tender warmth of the Father’s hug, Action Item: Christ extended his life before we ever said “sorry”. Mercy does not wait for an apology. In whatever way you have been hurt, this week take the first step towards reconciliation with another.

A Prayer to Our Lady, Queen of Angels, For Protection

A Bernardine Sister was shown in spirit the vast desolation caused by the devil throughout the world. At the same time, she heard the Blessed Virgin telling her it was true, Hell had been let loose upon the earth, and that the time had come to pray to her as Queen of Angels and to ask of her the assistance of the Heavenly Legions to

fight against these deadly foes of God and of men.

“But, my good Mother,” she replied, “you who are so kind, could you not send them without our asking?”

“No,” Our Lady answered, “because prayer is one of the conditions required by God Himself for obtaining favors.”

Then the Blessed Virgin communicated the following prayer, bidding her to have it printed and distribute it gratis.

PRAYER August Queen of Heaven, sovereign Mistress of the Angels, who didst receive from the beginning the mission and the power to crush the serpent’s head, we beseech thee to send thy holy angels, that under thy command and by thy power, they may pursue the evil spirits, encounter them on every side, resist their bold attacks, and drive them hence into the abyss of woe.

Most holy Mother, send thy angels to defend us and to drive the cruel enemy from us. All ye holy angels and archangel, help and defend us. Amen.

O good and tender Mother! Thou shalt ever be our Love and our Hope. Holy Angels and Archangels, keep and defend us. Amen

NIHIL OBSTAT: Arthur J. Scanlon, S. T. D., Censor Librorum IMPRIMATUR: Patrick Cardinal Hayes, Archbhishop of New York, September 5, 1936

St. James Book Club

Book club cancelled for

Needed - Flowers for Christmas

Donations of Poinsettias would be greatly

appreciated. Please drop them off at the

parish office during the week of Dec 15th

to Dec 22nd. A box is

also available for monetary

donations which will be

used to purchase plants for

Christmas.

St. James Parish Office will be

closed from 12 Noon

December 23rd

to January 2nd,

2015