AdventChristmas

2016

The Church ofSt. Dominic

&

The ChurCh of ST. DominiC

3450 Norwood Road Shaker Heights, Ohio 44122 216.991.1444 www.stdominicchurch.net

and be glad!...because together, we celebrate the coming of our Savior.

We look forward to sharing with you the spirit of peace and joy that accompanies this wonderful season.

May God bless your family in the coming year and always.In Christ, The St. Dominic Parish Staff

Christmas Mass ScheduleChristmas Eve, Saturday, December 24th

4:00 pm Mass Fr. Tom Fanta, Presider – Youth Choir6:00 pm Mass Fr. Tom Fanta, Presider – Vocalists10:00 pm Mass Fr. Tom Fanta, Presider – Adult Choir

Christmas Day, Sunday, December 25th11:00 am Mass Fr. Tom Fanta, Presider – Adult Choir

Mary, Mother of GodSaturday, December 31st 5:00 pm Vigil Mass Sunday, January 1st 9:00 am & 11:0 am Mass

Feast of the EpiphanySaturday, January 7th 5:00 pm Mass Sunday, January 8th 9:00 am and 11:15 am Mass

POLLOS para SANTO DOMINGO (Chickens for Santo Domingo) A Project Serve Christmas Initiative

“Give someone a chicken and you feed them for a day. Teach someone to raise chickens and you feed them forever.” The original version of this adage referred to fishing, yet there are no lakes close to Santo Domingo Church! Think about it…to receive the gift of a chicken coop, fifteen baby chicks and chicken feed…in six short weeks, a family has nutritious meals, a product to sell, profits to buy more chicks…and they also gain dignity, pride and self-sufficiency. Countless blessings!

Our Christmas Project Serve Initiative will provide Santo Domingo families with all of the basic materials for raising chickens. Men from the parish will be hired to build the chicken coops. Families will attend a class to learn how to raise chickens. Fifteen baby chicks and chicken feed will be provided to each household. For just $50, the cost of an evening out in Cleveland, you can provide meals, education, healthier food, and the potential for ongoing family income. A “Chickens for Santo Domingo” donation is a gift that can transform a family’s life! Any size gift would be greatly appreciated!

Holiday Boutique Saturday, December 3rd , 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

This holiday season, shop local and shop handmade. Join us for a fun day of shopping with over 40 local artists and vendors, beautiful raffle items, a kids’ craft corner, and delicious food choices. Take home a box of homemade Christmas cookies. All proceeds benefit St. Dominic School. For more information, or to donate cookies, please contact Tammy Jackson at 216-554-2999 or tjac22473@hotmail.com.

St. Dominic School Open HouseSunday, December 4th, 10:00 am - 1:00pm

Do you have a child or grandchild age 5 to 12? Consider making your family a part of ours! We invite you to join us at our annual Prospective Families Open House, where you can tour our classrooms, meet our teachers, speak with current school families, and learn more about what makes ‘Growing Up St. Dominic’ such a spectacular experience. With music, snacks, crafts, and Christmas cheer in abundance, there will be something for everyone.

Salvadoran Christmas MarketSunday, December 4th after both masses

Please join us for our El Salvador “Christmas Market.” Mission delegations from last year have purchased handcrafted items from El Salvador to be sold as unique Christmas gifts. All proceeds benefit Santo Domingo, our sister parish in El Salvador. Participants from the last Relational Trip will be available to share stories from their trip. Santa Rosa Stitches will also be selling their handmade knit and jewelry items. The sale will take place in the cafeteria during the Coffee and Donut Sunday social after both Masses.

Little Folks ShopSunday, December 4th, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm

This is a fun opportunity for young children to independently purchase inexpensive holiday gifts for family members and friends. Items available for purchase include scarves, jewelry, toys, books and ornaments. Also other holiday items and much more ranging in price from $1 to $6. Volunteer “elves” walk the children through the Large Meeting Room and help them choose their gifts. Mark your calendars - we hope to see your children there! The Little Folks Shop is sponsored by the El Salvador Education Committee. The proceeds go to the schools in El Salvador. Questions? Contact Gerri Gleason at gerri. gleason@sbcglobal.net or 216-291-0909.

Feast of the Immaculate ConceptionHoly Day - Thursday, December 8th, 6:30 am & 8:30 am

Junior High & High School Youth Ministry Service Opportunity

Sunday, December 4th and Sunday, December 11th

Agape LatteAgape Latte is December 4th from 7-8pm in the Youth Room,

where we will decorate Christmas cookies, give away prizes, and have conversation about Lisa Damour’s talk last month. You do not need to have attended last month’s Agape Latte to come. Bring your friends! All are welcome! We will be hosting an Open Gym afterward from 8-9pm. For more information, contact Jillian Zaczyk, Youth Minister, at jillian.elizabeth2342@yahoo.com.

Come serve our fellow parishioners at the Christmas Concert and Party on Sunday, December 11. We will be helping set up, hang coats, clean up, etc. We need many helping hands! Please contact Jillian Zaczyk at jillian.elizabeth2342@yahoo.com if you are interested.

Young Families Christmas PlaygroupFriday, December 9th, 9:00 am – 11:00 am

Join us for a Christmas playgroup in the Trophy Room of the School. Stop in or stay for the whole time, whatever works for your schedule. The kids can play and have snacks while adults enjoy conversation, coffee and a break from the hustle and bustle of the holidays. Any questions, please contact Sarah Pick at sarahpick@stdominicschool.net. Hope to see you there!

Annual Choir Concert & Christmas PartySaturday, December 10th, 11:00 am & Sunday, December 11th, 5:00 pm

Join us in the church as our music ministry presents their annual Christmas concert. This year’s program is called “The Gift of Christmas.” Over 100 singers and musicians from our music ministry will join together for the one hour performance.

Our annual Christmas party follows the Sunday performance in the Bishop Amos Center. Please bring the following items to share, in a disposable container: last names beginning with A through M, please bring Christmas cookies; last names beginning with N through Z, please bring cheese/crackers or veggies/dip. Those who would rather bring an allergy/gluten-free item to a specially marked table may do so. Invite your neighbors, friends and family. Please return your party reservation form or call the parish office and tell us how many of your household will attend by December 5.

Women SOAR Meeting & ReflectionMonday, December 12th at 6:30 pm

A message foretold in the heavens...A prophecy that would threaten an empire... A miracle that would change the world... The Nativity Story. Come join the women of SOAR as we prepare our hearts for Christmas with an evening together watching this movie from 2006, followed by discussion led by Vicky Aron. Of course, it wouldn’t be SOAR without our legendary delicious POTLUCK dinner to begin the evening. We’ll meet at the home of Mim Conway: 968 Bryan Dr., South Euclid at 6:30 on Monday, December 12th. Please bring something you enjoy cooking and expect an evening full of warmth and joy. Questions? Contact Gail Rinderknecht at joseph.rinder@gmail.com or 216 402-0377

Annual St. Dominic Band Concert and Senior Christmas Luncheon

Wednesday December 14th 10:30 am & 7:00 pm in the school gym

Join us for the musical sounds of Christmas as the St. Dominic School Concert Band spreads the joy of the season with every note. They will be performing an abbreviated holiday preview concert in the morning, followed by the full Christmas Concert in the evening for the school families and anyone interested in celebrating the season of music.

After the morning band concert, join the St. Dominic 60+ Ministry for a special, “Meet-and-Greet” with our instrumental music director, Mr. William Tennant from 11:15-11:30 in the school gym. This will be followed with a Christmas luncheon in the school’s Large Meeting Room beginning at 11:30 am. Cost for the luncheon is $15/person and reservations can be sent to the rectory.

Project Serve in Action during AdventDuring this season of giving, St. Dominic parishioners can

put their faith into action at several of our Project Serve partner agencies: Cleveland Foodbank, Habitat for Humanity, Project Serve Families, Ronald McDonald House, St. Al’s Hunger Center, St. Herman’s House of Hospitality, Thea Bowman Center, Warrensville Developmental Center, and West Side Catholic Center. Four sites are in need of more volunteers.

Please contact Jodie Bowers, Pastoral Associate, Bowers.Jodie@gmail.com if you are interested in serving at these agencies:

Cleveland FoodbankThursday, December 15th, 6:00 pm -8:00 pm

Sorting and packing food items to be given to local families in need.

Project Serve Families at Altercare St. Joseph’s HomeSaturday, December 17th, 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm

Perfect for families with children ages 5-12, visiting elderly residents.

St. Al's Hunger CenterTuesday, December 13th, 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm

Preparing and serving dinner for 100 in Glenville.

Warrensville Developmental CenterTuesday, December 6th, 6:00 pm -8:00 pm

Celebrating Eucharist, friendship, and crafts with the residents at the Center.

St. Dominic Advent G.I.F.T. ProgramProject Serve Ministry to the Cleveland Poor is organizing this

year’s Advent G.I.F.T. program. G.I.F.T. standing for “Giving in Faith Together” seeks to meet the material needs of the following Project Serve partner agencies during this holiday season: Boys Hope Girls Hope, Edwin’s, ESSOC College Scholarship Program, Hola, Homeless Stand Down, L’Arche, St. Malachi’s Metanoia Project, RoseMary Center, St. Herman’s House of Hospitality, Thea Bowman Center, Trials for Hope, West Side Catholic Center, and Womankind.

Starting November 26th, simply choose an ornament from one of our G.I.F.T. boards located in the Church vestibules, purchase the requested item, securely attach the ornament to the package, and return the unwrapped item to the front of the Church on Sunday, December 11th at 11:15am. For additional information about this program, please contact Dora Verissimo at dorissimus@hotmail.com or Jodie Bowers at Bowers.Jodie@gmail.com. Thank you for Giving in Faith Together!

Homeless Stand Down – Winter Boots Collection during Advent

During Advent, Project Serve will be collecting winter boots (men’s sizes 10-12 and women’s sizes 8-10) to donate to Cleveland’s Homeless Stand Down. Please bring your new or gently used winter boots to the Rectory before Christmas. Last year, over 1,500 homeless individuals attended the Stand Down and received food, clothing, job assistance, medical care, veterans assistance, and even free hair cuts! For more information or to volunteer for the January 14th event, please contact parishioner and event chair Bill Scanlon at WJScanlon@me.com.

Christmas Tree SaleNovember 25th through December 18th

Thanks to our Bulldog Club, fresh holiday greenery and trees will again be available in our parking lot. Purchase your trees, roping and wreaths on Thursdays & Fridays from 6 - 9pm, or Saturdays & Sundays from 10 am - 6 pm. Stop by to view our beautiful trees, drink some hot cider and say hello to the Bulldog volunteers who are braving the weather. All proceeds benefit our parish youth athletic programs and facilities.

For more information or to volunteer, contact Ian Shakelton at ianshakelton@gmail.com or 216.562.8055. The Bulldog Club needs your time!