BLESSED SACRAMENT CATHOLIC CHURCH 518 W. State St., Grand Island, NE 68801 308-384-0532 Emergencies Only: 308-249-0009

Website: blsachurch.net E-Mail: bscc_1@msn.com

Sunday, December 22, 2019 Fourth Sunday of Advent

Reconciliation: Wednesday – No Confessions Saturday – 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Ready or not, here it comes! Tuesday is Christmas Eve, and Wednesday is Christmas Day. So are you ready? Maybe not just for Christmas Day, but for Christ--the anointed one of God who is coming to you again this year. First, Mary received him with great faith nine months ago at the Annunciation, but today Elizabeth and her unborn child, John the Baptist, recognize the Christ child in Mary’s womb when her greeting reaches their ears.

Too often, our prayer following Christmas is, “Thank you, God, for letting this holiday be over with!” Isn’t that a shame? Each of us has been given a chance to encounter Christ, and all we can say is that I’m glad it’s over with. Perhaps, as we begin to put the trappings of the season away in our tote bins, we could leave out the Manger scene; maybe even give it a central place of importance in our home. By doing this for a week or two, we might be able to tap into that same excitement that Elizabeth felt when she discovered that Mary was bearing the Christ child for all, especially for her. We, too, can open our hearts to the spiritual peace that Christ brings. So, are you ready? Who will you bear Christ to, and who will bear Christ to you? We await in expectation of the coming of Emmanuel, which means “God with us.” Let’s not miss the moment. Be attentive! Are you ready? Merry Christmas Fr. Marty

Date Time Intention Saturday, December 21 5:30 p.m. Blanche Janulewicz +

Sunday, December 22 8:00 a.m. Parish Family

Sunday, December 22 10:00 a.m. Patty Dunning Stein +

Tuesday, December 24 4:00 p.m. Parish Family

Tuesday, December 24 7:00 p.m. Parish Family

Tuesday, December 24 10:00 p.m. Parish Family

Wednesday, December 25 9:00 a.m. Parish Family

Thursday, December 26 No Daily Mass

Friday, December 27 No Daily Mass

Saturday, December 28 5:30 p.m. Alex Czarnick

Sunday, December 29 8:00 a.m. Parish Family

Sunday, December 29 10:00 a.m. Merlin Yosten

THIS WEEK’S ACTIVITIES

Sunday, 12/22 Fourth Sunday of Advent

Monday, 12/23 5:30 p.m. - Yoga 7:00 p.m. - Women’s AA Meeting

Tuesday, 12/24 Christmas Eve 4:00 p.m. - Mass

7:00 p.m. - Mass 10:00 p.m. - Mass Wednesday, 12/25 Christmas Day Parish Offices Closed 9:00 a.m. - Mass Thursday, 12/26 1:00 p.m. - Quilting

5:30 p.m. - Yoga

Saturday, 12/28 10:00 a.m. - Alanon Meeting 10:30-11:30 a.m. - Adoration & Confessions

Sunday, 12/29 Parish Outreach Collection

Please remember the following

individuals in your prayers, who are experiencing serious health

problems/issues: Roseann Anderson Anna Blake

Cari Cobler Elizabeth Christensen Dawn Ferris Agnes Fila

Cookie Gilroy Rich Glover Anita Graf Karen Hulit Marie Jakubowski Earleen Moroney Larry Palacz

Sheridan Puncochar Evelyn Rech Bill Reher Teresa Scarborough Ted Schlick

Fr. Louis Sellam Joanne Vodehnal

Please let us know if you, or an immediate family member, are experiencing a serious health issue and wish to be included on this list. To add or remove a name from this list, please call the Parish Office at 384-0532. If you are experiencing serious health issues, or other things of importance, please call the Parish Office and ask to speak with Fr. Marty. He wants to be able to minister to you, and your phone call will ensure that he is aware of your situation. Thank you!!

Dishes! If you brought a salad or dessert for a funeral dinner, please stop by the North Breakout Room to pick up your dish. Thank you!

Welcomed into the Christian Community through Baptism:

LAYLEN ANNE FULTON, daughter of

Stephanie Fulton.

RELIGIOUS FORMATION NEWS No Classes during Christmas Vacation on December 25 & January 1. Classes will resume January 8. Edgar Barge Memorial Scholarships: Blessed Sacrament will award scholarships in the amount of $1,000 and $500 to two seniors, who are going on to college. All applications must be completed on-line at www.gicf.org and click on the scholarship tab. Completed application must be electronically submitted on or before February 10 at midnight. No faxes, emails, or paper applications will be permitted.

Red Cross Bloodmobile: Thanks to all who donated at the December Blood Drive. We received 28 pints of blood that are now available for patient care. It is much needed at this time of the year. Thanks to the Catholic Daughters who provided the delicious sandwiches and cookies. Thank you to all those who helped. Our next blood drive will be on Good Friday, April 10, 2020. SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, January 25, 2020 8 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. At Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. You are warmly invited to be part of the life-changing event taking place right here in our own parish. Join us as we take time to reflect on God’s goodness and presence in our lives and listen for what more He has in store for each one of us! Whether you have attended many retreats, or if this will be your first, take this step to re-energize your faith and your life by re-connecting with our Lord Jesus Christ, who wants you to know Him deeply and to give you His peace. The retreat will include Mass, inspiring talks by Fr. James R. Golka, time for quiet reflection and brief small-group discussion. For more information or to RSVP, please contact Sr. Bernadette at (308) 384-0532 or email at sisbern@hotmail.com there is no cost to attend and breakfast and lunch are included. Sign-up sheet in the Gathering Area.

Parish Offices will be open December 23, 24 & 26. We will be short staffed this week. We will also be closing December 31 at Noon and will be closed January 1, 2020.

OUR GIFTS OF TREASURE December 14/15, 2019

Adult Envelopes $10,422.02 Plate 348.00 Children’s 36.32

Diocesan Appeal Our Goal $70,822.68 Pledged to Date (192) 62,889.15 Received to Date 55,926.65

ATTENTION: All Contributors! If you wish to make an additional contribution to be reflected in your 2019 giving, it must be labeled 2019 and be received no later than Friday, December 27. Thank you for your cooperation!

Parish Thrift Store

4th & Eddy Streets Gross Sales, December 13, 14 & 16 - $1,510.09

Store Hours: Monday, Friday & Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Donations are accepted when the store is open. BAG SALE –

Last Friday & Saturday of every month. We are really in need of volunteers. Any help you

can give us would be greatly appreciated. Please call 398-3443 for more information.

The store will be closed for the holidays from December 23-January 2. We will reopen on Friday,

January 3. No donations will be accepted during this time.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!!

Our Deepest Sympathy

to the Families of: RANDY MENDYK;

MATTHEW HOUSEL, son of Ben & Leah Housel; KEN SVOBODA, father of Paula Carlson and ISABELLA ‘BELLA’ FOSTER

Liturgical Ministers: Please sign-up for the Christmas and New Year’s Masses in the Gathering Area.

Have a blessed Christmas and the warmth of Christ in

your heart.

EVENTS HAPPENING ELSEWHERE

32nd Annual Knights of Columbus Christmas Dinner: Tuesday, December 24, 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., St. Mary’s Cathedral Square. The Knights of Columbus Councils #1159, #9562, #10387, #11363 & Doniphan #11824 are working together in conjunction with the business people

of our community, by sponsoring a community Christmas lunch of turkey and all the trimmings. They are asking all of the ladies of each parish to donate either a pumpkin pie or a salad in disposable containers. Please deliver it to St. Mary’s Cathedral Square on the afternoon of December 23, or by 10:00 a.m. on the morning of December 24. They also need individuals to help cut the pies. South Central Right to Life: Will be showing the movie “UNPLANNED” in Hastings at the Hastings Museum’s Lied Super Screen Theatre. These showings will be free and open to the public. Show times are January 12 and 19 at 2:00 p.m. on both days. “We Are All One Body,” The Journey to Christian Unity: January 18, 2020, one-day retreat at St. Benedict Center, Schuyler, with Brother Tobias Dammert, OSB. “If Christians ignore the call to unity, which comes from the Lord, they risk ignoring the Lord himself.” (Pope Francis) At the Last Supper, Jesus prayed for his disciples and all people of good will that they may be one as He and the Father are one. During this Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, we will explore, through prayerful reflection, what unity in a diversity of brothers and sisters from all Christian denominations could mean for us today. This retreat will close with an ecumenical prayer service, open to all Christians, at 3:30 p.m. Program fee: $35. Lunch is available at the Center for $11.02 (includes tax). Register at www.StBenedictCenter.com or call (402)352-8819.

MINISTER SCHEDULE FOR DECEMBER 28/29, 2019 5:30 p.m. 8:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m.

Lector Anita Graf Alice Quick Deb Wetzel

Eucharistic Minister

+Saturday Set-up *Check Ministers #Cleanse Vessels

Ron Bender *Dean Graf +Kay Hoffman #Mary Teichmeier #Nancy Zahm

Donna Allen Jim Allen +Colleen Gnewuch #Mandee Lade *Dan Quick

Andy Blake #Kathy Bohnart +Doug Cargill #Marilyn Lechner Cindy Jarosz Mike Jarosz Alan Pfeifer #Betty Pfeifer Greg Rempe *Mike Wenzl Jim Weakland

Altar Server Lexi Puncochar Sheridan Puncochar

Leah Kilzer Volunteer

Laura Blake Brooke Starman

Hospitality ~Get Gift-Bearers

Kathy Behring ~Dave Janulewicz Joe Pedrosa Volunteer

Mike Dvorak Dave Gnewuch Steve Shoemaker ~Zelda Shoemaker

~Dale Harders Lester Lucht Joe Ferris Volunteer

Sound Minister Dave Rehovsky Volunteer Dave & Marsha Anderson