Nativity of Mary Church and School 10017 E 36th Terrace Independence, MO 64052

Parish: (816) 353-2184 School: (816) 353-0284 Web: www.nativityofmary.org

“My attitude must be Christ’s.” - Philippians 2:5

Mass Schedule Monday: 8:30 a.m. Communion Service Weekday: 8:30 a.m. Tuesday - Friday Saturday: 4:00 p.m. Sunday: 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Holy Day: 8:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Confessions Saturday: 3:00 p.m. or by Appointment

Parish Staff Rev. Robert Stone, Pastor Mrs. Mary Parrish, Principal Melissa Clancy, Business Manager New Parishioners If you are new to our parish and would like more information please contact the Parish Office.

Pastoral Care Sacraments for the Sick. Fr. Bob Stone, 353-2184, ext. 404 Pastoral visits to the Homebound and Hospitals. Paula Cassity, 353-2184, ext. 401

Emergency Assistance Contact St. Mary’s Food Pantry and Clothes Closet - 252-8649

Youth Ministry Debbie Page, 353-2184, ext. 408

School School, Early Childhood and Extended Care Carmen Wolfgeher, 353-0284

Sacrament Preparation Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, Confirmation, Adult Initiation (RCIA), and Matrimony Contact the parish office for information

Music Ministry Maria Milazzo, 985-6498

Parish Ministry Council Marilyn Mineart - Chair

Diocesan Victim’s Advocate Kathleen Chastain 816.392.0011 or chastain@diocesekcsj.org

Ombudsman Jenifer Valenti, 816-812-2500 or JeniferValenti@att.net

APRIL 22, 2018 - THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

MASS INTENTIONS READINGS OF THE WEEK - APRIL 23 - 29, 2018

Monday: Acts 11:1-18; Ps 42:2-3; 43:3, 4; Jn 10:1-10 Tuesday: Acts 11:19-26; Ps 87:1b-7; Jn 10:22-30 Wednesday: 1 Pt 5:5b-14; Ps 89:2-3, 6-7, 16-17; Mk 16:15-20 Thursday: Acts 13:13-25: Ps 89:2-3, 21-22, 25, 27; Jn 13:16-20 Friday: Acts 13:26-33; Ps 2:6-11ab; Jn 14:1-6 Saturday: Acts 13:44-52; Ps 98:1-4; Jn 14:7-14 Sunday: Acts 9:26-31; Ps 22:26-28, 30-32; 1 Jn 3:18-24; Jn 15:1-8

PLEASE PRAY FOR:

Gluten-free hosts are available. Talk to Fr. Bob before Mass.

Devotional candles are kept in the kiosk. If you would like to light one just ask an usher for assis-tance. There is a slot and envelopes available in the kiosk to place your $5 donation.

If you have a suggestion, concern, or com-ment you would like the Parish Ministry Council to address there are cards on the kiosk for you to fill out and drop in the slot.

TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION Most languages take the name for this fifty-day season from the Lord's Passover: Pasqua in Italian, Pâques in French, Paach in Dutch, Pascha in Greek and Russian. English has a much newer name, the name of a pagan goddess, Eoster. For centuries before Christianity took hold, in both Germany and Britain the spring equinox was dedicated to her and the concepts of fertility and rebirth. She was said to be a playful spirit, following the Sun King's chariot, and ending the reign of winter. She had a magical companion, a rabbit who hid eggs in the fields to coax plants and animals to rebirth. It was be-lieved that Eoster once came across a bird with broken wings and saved it by turning it into a rabbit--an egg-laying rabbit at that! Although they were baptized, most people didn't take to the new Latin name (Pascha Domini) too easily, and kept calling the spring equinox by the old accustomed name. For good measure, they kept a pagan name for Christmas, too: Yule.

Rev. James Field, Copyright (c) J. S. Paluch Co.

Sat., April 21 - Vigil of the 4th Sunday of Easter

4:00PM + Barney Breunig

Sunday, April 22 - The 4th Sunday of Easter

8:00AM + Mike Pott

For My Brother’s Healing

10:30AM + Al Flowers & Thelma Bruehl

Monday, April 23 - St. George & St. Adalbert

8:30AM Communion Service

Tuesday, April 24 - St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen

8:30AM + Margaret Trigg

Wednesday, April 25 - St. Mark the Evangelist

8:30AM Nativity of Mary Parish & School

Thursday, April 26

8:30AM + Virginia McMenamy

Friday, April 27

8:30AM + Roy McClure

Saturday, April 28 - Vigil of 5th Sunday after Easter

4:00PM + Leonard Goebel

Sunday, April 29 - 5th Sunday after Easter

8:00AM + For Isaac Olyaye to be able to speak

10:30AM + Helen Vitt & Caterina DiGaetano

+ Theresa Fabela

Vern/Margaret Ault Marla Herbst Mike Singleton

Michael Bell Vicky Hohlbaugh Patrick Singleton

Sara Breunig Cynthia/Dennis Jones Bernice/Norm Steffen

Steve Christensen Paula Kienberger George Timko, Jr.

John Clarke Katie Lesmeister John Tuccillo

Tracey Costanzo Dan Mangold Mary Vitt

Bob DeSchepper Betty Mascal Carol Byrd Weaver

Kathy Dunbar Jack McEnroe Alyssa Webb

Roni Durkee Juan/Mary Perez Beth Whorton

Mary Enyart Carlos Pinon Daniel Wheeler

Garry/Emily Gagnon Steve Reasoner Ayden Wright

Barbara Garrett Mike Rooney

APRIL 22, 2018 - PARISH NEWS

Thank you for supporting our Parish Community and Catholic Education!

The Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph is committed to combating sexual abuse in the Church. If you are a victim of sexual abuse, or if you observe or suspect sexual abuse:

1. Call the Missouri Child Abuse Hotline at 1.800.392.3738 (if the victim is currently under the age of 18), and 2. Contact your local law enforcement agency or call 911, and 3. After reporting to these civil and law enforcement authorities, report suspected sexual abuse of a minor or vulnerable adult to the Diocesan Ombudsman, Jenifer Valenti, at 816.812.2500 or JeniferValenti@att.net, if the abuse involves a priest, deacon, employee or volunteer of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph.

The Diocese has a sincere commitment to providing care and heal-ing resources to victims of sexual abuse and their families. Please contact Victim Advocate, Kathleen Chastain, at 816.392.0011 or chastain@diocesekcsj.org for more information.

The Nativity Altar Society is starting to plan for the an-nual sale. Mark your calendars to join us June 19th – 22nd in our Parish Hall. As you do some ‘Spring Clean-ing’, please consider saving some items to donate to the sale. More information regarding volunteering, times & drop off dates will follow.

Did You Know…

The Nativity of Mary Quilters are having a quilt raffle. The drawing will be held on Mother’s Day, May 12th. The quilt will be

displayed next week in the back of church. The quilters will be at all the masses next weekend selling raffle tick-ets. There will also be a sheet of tickets in next week’s bulletin. Tickets can be turned in to any of the quilters or dropped in the collection basket at the weekend masses. All proceeds will go to the Building Fund.

NATIVITY OF MARY CONTRIBUTION REPORT 4/7/2018 & 4/8/2018

Nativity of Mary Church presents… Exploring Greece and Its Islands

Featuring Classical Greece, Mykonos & Santorini March 28 - April 11, 2019

Come explore Greece and some of its islands with Fr. Bob, fellow parishioners and friends. There will be a representative from Collette here on April 24, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. in the Ministry Center basement to give you details and answer any questions you may have.

Silence is a gift of God, to let us speak more intimately with God.

--St. Vincent Pallotti

HELP NEEDED!

Nativity of Mary's spring cleanup of our parish campus will take place from 9 a.m. until noon on Saturday, May 5. Come help your parish fam-

ily get our grounds in shape for the coming warm months. Bring gardening tools, clippers, rakes, lawn and leaf bags, etc. Then stay for a hot dog and chip lunch afterwards. Envelopes $ 9,637.00

Plate $ 670.00 Church Debt $ 370.00 Pisces Fund $ 625.00 Utility Fund $ - EFT $ 770.00 Credit Card $ - Online Giving $ 432.25 Poor Box $ 99.00 Total $ 12,603.25

Holy Day Collection - Easter $ 20.00

Tuition/Registration Fees 17-18 $ 11,166.68

Tuition/Registration Fees 18-19 $ -

APRIL 22 - MAY 12, 2018 CALENDAR

Sunday 22 8:00AM Mass 10:30AM Mass

9AM Choir Rehearsal 1PM

Monday 23 8:30AM Communion Serv.

Tuesday 24 8:30AM Mass 9AM - Quilters 6PM - Information Meeting On 2019 Greece Trip

Wednesday 25 8:30AM Mass

Thursday 26 8:30AM Mass

Friday 27 8:30AM Mass

Saturday 28 3:00PM Confession 4:00PM Mass

29 8:00AM Mass 10:30AM Mass

30 8:30AM Communion Serv.

May 1 8:30AM Mass 9AM - Quilters

2 8:30AM Mass

3 8:30AM Mass 7PM Altar Society Mtg.

4 8:30AM Mass 9AM-Noon Eucharistic Adoration

5 3:00PM Confession 4:00PM Mass

6 8:00AM Mass 10:30AM Mass

7 8:30AM Communion Serv.

8 8:30AM Mass 9AM - Quilters 7PM - Ministry Council Meeting

9 8:30AM Mass 7:00PM Choir Rehearsal

10 8:30AM Mass

11 8:30AM Mass

12 3:00PM Confession 4:00PM Mass

SCHOOL - APRIL 22, 2018

Please continue to recycle your junk mail, office papers, newspapers, etc. Our recy-cle bin is in the south parking lot behind school. Please save pop tabs, boxtops and Best Choice barcodes for our school. You can drop them off at the school or church.

FORE! THE PLAY WITH FIRE 20TH ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT

WON’T YOU JOIN US? MONDAY, APRIL 30TH

HILLCREST GOLF CLUB

This tournament helps support the F.I.R.E. program, Foundation for Inclusive Religious Education, that is in several of our diocesan schools including Nativity.

Please contact Susan Williams, Development Manager at the FIRE Office for sponsorship opportunities.

swilliams@diocesekcsj.org or 816.810.1199

We celebrated Earth Day at Nativity on April 19th! Kate Delehunt, the Curriculum Coordi-nator, from The Kansas City Water Services presented to the students on the importance of protecting our water sources, and what stu-dents can do to keep our streams and creeks clean. We served an Earth friendly lunch in the cafeteria which consisted of: Turkey Roll Ups, Broccoli “trees”, Raisins, “dirt” and Oreo Pudding dessert with gummy worms “dirt cake”. It was a fun, educational day for the students and staff!

Christianity is the spirit of Jesus Christ at work in the world.

--Anonymous

APRIL 22, 2018 - THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER On this fourth Sunday of the Easter season, the focus shifts from recalling the appearances of the resurrected Jesus toward considering Jesus in light of primary images in scripture. In the Gospel, Jesus describes the intimate bond be-tween the Good Shepherd and the flock and how they know and recognize each other. The Letter of John describes the intimacy of God as Father and humanity as God's children, who recognize and love each other. In our reading from Acts, Peter tells of the religious leaders who didn't know or recognize their God when they encountered Jesus, and so cruci-fied him. Our readings invite us to listen for our God, active in our daily lives, and to open ourselves to the intimacy that our Good Shepherd seeks with us. God also empowers us to then extend this intimacy out into the world, through our care for others. LAY DOWN MY LIFE In the Old Testament, God is described many times as the shepherd of the people of Israel. So when Jesus claims this image of God to describe himself, it is startling even to his disciples. In today's Gospel, he takes the image one step be-yond the Old Testament: as the Good Shepherd, he is to "lay down his life." This phrase is stated, with slight variation, five times in today's short passage. Jesus is describing the meaning of his life and of his death. With firm roots in the story of Israel and their God, Jesus is now starting a new chapter. He is helping his disciples make sense of his death on the cross, and to describe how to follow this particular shepherd. When Jesus lays down his life, he is revealing the infinite love that he and the Father have for the flock. To follow Jesus, to be a part of Jesus' flock, means participating in that same sacrificial love. ONE FLOCK Jesus adds another feature to the shepherd imagery, which was also disturbing to his disciples. He refers to "other sheep which do not belong to this fold," who will become part of the same flock. This likely refers to the Gentiles, to all peoples beyond Israel. The Shepherd extends his flock, but emphasizes that there is still only one flock. Jesus spoke forcefully and frequently, especially in the Gospel of John, of the importance of unity among those who follow him. We who follow Jesus are expected to embrace the "other sheep," to respect and celebrate differences among Christians. We are expected to learn from one another. All those things that seem to divide Jesus's followers in culture, ethnicity, or history of conflict fade in comparison with the deeper unity of the one flock under one Shepherd. Living in unity is essen-tial for us to be faithful and credible witnesses of Christ to the world. Copyright (c) J. S. Paluch Company

The Risen Christ: An Examination of the Resurrection Narratives Wednesday Evenings – May 2, 9, 16 and 23, 2018 ~ 7-9 PM

repeated on Thursday Mornings – May 3, 10, 17, and 24, 2018 ~ 10 AM to Noon St. Sabina Parish, 700 Trevis Ave., Belton, MO 64012

During the Easter season we proclaim with great joy the resurrection story of Jesus. The resurrection accounts articulate the faith experience, meaning and significance that Jesus had for the community that produced the gospel. To unpack the resurrection accounts, it is important to know the mind and heart of the gospel community that produced them.

These four two-hour sessions will examine the resurrection narratives of each of the four gospels, along with the signifi-cance that the Risen Christ had for Paul, as reflected in his letters. As we delve into the separate resurrection accounts, we will link them to the gospel as a whole, and to their meaning and significance for us today. These sessions are an ideal way to celebrate the Easter Season and deepen our understanding of and belief in the resurrection. Come, bring your Bibles and a friend and let us all reflect on these rich narratives which help us explore the deeper meaning of our baptismal call as disciples of the Lord. All churches and faith traditions are most welcomed. To register, either call (816-979-3153) or e-mail (biagio@stsabinaparish.org) Biagio or call (816-979-3151) or e-mail (kris@stsabinaparish.org) Kris.

APRIL 22, 2018 - THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER