JOSEPH’S

R O M A N C A T H O L I C C H U R C H

Solemnity of Mary, The Holy Mother of God • January 1, 2017

3 1 9 E S o u t h S t r e e t , P O B o x 3 0 9 , L e b a n o n , I n d i a n a 4 6 0 5 2

7 6 5 - 4 8 2 - 5 5 5 8 • F a x : 7 6 5 - 4 8 2 - 1 4 3 6 • s t j o e @ s t j o e l e b . o r g

www.stjoeleb.org

ST.

Parish Office Hours ........ Monday-Friday 9:00 am-4:00 pm (Summer 9:00 am-2:00 pm)

Parish Staff Pastor, Fr. Timothy Kroeger...... frtim@stjoeleb.org Receptionist,

Business Manager, Shannon Peycha ...... speycha@stjoeleb.org Director of Religious Education, Caroline Van Atter ........... religioused@stjoeleb.org Director of Music, Cathy Rund .................. crund@stjoeleb.org High School Youth Ministry, Norma DeLaRosa .. ndelarosa@stjoeleb.org Sacristan, Judy Mrozinski ......... omajmro@yahoo.com Maintenance, Roger Pratt & Bill Burns

Sunday Mass Schedule Lord’s Day Saturday .......................................... 4:30 pm Sunday ......................... 8:00 am & 11:00 am Weekday ..... flexible schedule—see bulletin Holy Day ...... flexible schedule—see bulletin

New Parishioners and Guests We offer a warm welcome to all who are celebrating with us this weekend. If you are new to the parish, please contact the office so we may greet you properly. There are also Welcome Packets available in the Gathering Space.

Burning the Old Year Although it is not really a Christian feast, the

celebration of the end of the old year and the

arrival of the new year is part of the Christmas

season. While the new year in the United States

begins with rockets and fireworks, in Nicaragua

they celebrate the end of the year with the

“burning of the old year.” They construct big

male and female figures with old clothes,

gunpowder, and paper that they ignite at

midnight. One thing we can learn from the

custom of burning the old man and the old

woman is that we must die to sin in order to live

as new creatures in Christ.

Celebrating the beginning of the new year has a

long trajectory in human history. Four thousand

years ago, the Babylonians were already

celebrating the arrival of the new year with great

feasts in the spring. The Jews, like other

agricultural people, also chose the first day of

Nisan (the beginning of April) as their new year.

It was Julius Cesar who set the date for the

beginning of the calendar as the first day of

January. But the Christians continued to

celebrate the new year in spring, like the Jews,

to avoid the excesses of celebrations like

“burning the old man.” In 1582, Pope Gregory

XIII reformed the calendar to give us the one we

now use and the Church began to celebrate the

first day of January, seeking to Christianize it in

the best way possible. For that reason, in the

liturgical calendar this date is not celebrated as

the first day of the year but, better still, it is

dedicated to Mary, the Mother of God, and to

prayer for peace. The Church continues to

celebrate the First Sunday of Advent as the start

of the liturgical year.

Friar Gilberto Cavazos-González, OFM, Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.

Stewardship & Administration

2

Parish Finance Council Ron Lind (Chair), George Anichini, Dan Lamar, Jon Lehmkuhler,

Michelle Marietta, Ron Morelock, Jeff Newman, Michele Thomas

Financial Stewardship The collection totals for the weekend of December

25, 2016 will be reported in the January 8, 2017

bulletin. Thank you for your continued good

stewardship.

Stewardship of Our Youth Children of St. Joseph, we know you will do lots of good deeds over

the holidays. Please share them with us!

Stewardship Prayer Corner Today’s second reading reminds us that through Christ we have

been delivered from the law and become sons and daughters of God.

New Year’s Day provides a perfect opportunity to ask ourselves the

question: Does my life reflect my gratitude for all that my loving Father

has given me?

Give Thanks For Religious Your donations work for the aging religious. “I read that roughly 95

percent of donations to the Retirement Fund for Religious aid senior

religious,” a donor writes. “That’s wonderful when we truly want our

donations to work.” Your gift works for elderly religious by helping to

furnish medications, nursing care, and more. Please support next

week’s collection for the Retirement Fund for Religious and give to

those who have given a lifetime.

Fruitful Harvest Payments Once again thank you to those who have pledged to the recent

Fruitful Harvest campaign. Please remit pledge payments using the

return envelope included with your Fruitful Harvest statement.

Payments can not be accepted at the parish and must be sent directly

to the diocese. Thank you for your cooperation.

Family Christmas Fund Thank You Thank you to all those who donated to the Family Christmas Fund

this year. Because of your generosity, parish families were assisted

and given the joy of purchasing gifts and food for their family this

Christmas.

Parish Office The Parish Office will be closed on Monday,

January 2, 2017 and will reopen at 9:00 am

on Tuesday January 3, 2017.

Parish Winter Closings When Lebanon Schools are closed due to inclement weather, the

Parish Office will be closed. If a Boone County Winter Snow

Emergency is declared, all parish liturgies and activities (including

Mass) will be cancelled. Parish closings will be announced on the

local ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC networks.

Online Giving Our parish offers another option for contribution to the church.

Online Giving, provided by Our Sunday Visitor, is available for those

who would like to make donations online. Please prayerfully consider

Online Giving and visit the link on our parish website.

Outreach

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Pro-Life Corner Please pray the following prayer every day for an

end to abortion and for the unborn babies…“Jesus,

Mary and Joseph, I love you very much. I beg you to

spare the life of the unborn baby that I have

spiritually adopted who is in danger of abortion.” -Prayer of the late Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

Pro-Life Notes

“Justice is itself the great standing policy of civil society; and any

eminent departure from it, under any circumstance, lies under the

suspicion of being no policy at all.” Edmund Burke

Post-Abortion Healing & Reconciliation

Project Rachael, a post-abortion healing ministry, offers

confidential and skilled help. Call 1-877-522-3300.

Did You Know?

There are several people who go each Friday to abortion clinics to

pray? If you would like to be a part of this ministry, please call the

Parish Office.

Formation Religious Education

Preschool - 5th Grade

Sundays from 9:30 - 10:40 am

Classes resume January 8

First Sacrament Class

January 11 6:00 pm Parents Only

Middle School Youth Group

Sundays from 9:30—10:40 am in the St. Aloysius Room

Classes resume January 8

High School Youth Ministry

High School Youth Ministry meets from 6:00 - 8:00 pm in the St.

Gregory Room

January 8 Class Resumes

January 15 Magisterium

Confirmation Session begins with 11:00 am Mass and

will continue in the St. Gregory the Great Room from

12:00–2:00 pm

January 8 Who is the Holy Spirit

Come and See” Inquiry into the Catholic Faith What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ? How does the

Catholic Church help people to follow Jesus in everyday life? Are you

or someone you know thinking about joining our faith community…or

would you just like to ask some questions? Then you are invited to

“come and see” inquiry into the Catholic faith, which is held in the

St. Aloysius Room on Monday evenings at 7:00 pm. For more

information, you may call the Parish Office (765-482-5558).

The Cross and the Light The parishes of the Carmel Deanery are hosting a powerful, modern,

musical performance of the Passion of Christ on March 10-12, 2017

at Carmel High School for five performances. Teens from St. Joseph’s

who wish to attend National Catholic Youth Conference will benefit

from each ticket sold from our parish. Video clips are available by

searching Cross and the Light. Tickets are $20 and $25 per person

and $175 VIP tickets that include a post-performance gathering with

the cast at Agave restaurant and a framed print. Contact Norma in the

Parish Office for more information.

FORMED.org

Discover all the best Catholic content in one place. Entertaining

movies, enlightening programs, inspiring talks and a great selection of

popular eBooks from noted Catholic authors for the entire family. Go

to FORMED.org to register with our Parish Code: WH82C3.

Life Teen Lock in

High school teens will be locked into St. Joseph on Saturday,

January 21. Attend 4:30 pm Mass then check-in beginning at 5:30-

9:30 pm. Friends are welcome. All teens need a signed permission

slip available on the parish website. The cost is a snack and drink to

share.

Retreats All Around Any high school teen interested in attending Destination Jesus,

February 17-19, contact Norma. This area high school retreat is held

at Guerin High School. Sleeping areas are at area churches and

schools. Forms must be in turned in by January 18 in order to attend.

Cost is $85.00 which includes registration, t-shirt, snacks each night,

all meals Saturday and breakfast Sunday.

Any High School Senior wishing to attend Christian Awakening,

January 13-16, please contact Norma this week. This four day retreat

will open your eyes and heart to what God is calling you to consider

before you leave home. Location is now at Sonrise, Anderson, IN.

Saint Vincent de Paul Food Distribution During the month of January St. Vincent de Paul will be collecting

CEREAL. The items may be placed in the collection box in the

Gathering Space. The next food distribution is Saturday, January 21.

Volunteers are always welcome. Thank you to those who make the

food distributions possible.

Parish Life First Friday Breakfast All are invited to the First Friday pitch-in breakfast in the Parish Hall

on January 6 following the 8:00 am Mass. Come and enjoy delicious

food and fellowship with other parishioners.

Leadership Night Become involved in one of the Commissions at Leadership Night on

Monday January 9, 2017 at 7:00 pm in the Parish Hall. This is an

excellent way to meet your fellow parishioners and also learn more

about the workings of the parish. Hope to see you then.

Women’s Club Meeting Wednesday, January 11 at 7:00 pm the Women’s Club will hold

their monthly meeting in the Parish Hall. Discussion will include the

upcoming reception for the dedication of the new organ and the

upcoming Rummage Sale and scheduling. All women of the parish are

members of this group. Come join us to find about these and other

projects we do to support the parish.

Parish Breakfast Join us on Sunday, January 22 after the 8:00 am

Mass for a Parish Breakfast sponsored by the

Knights of Columbus. Proceeds from this breakfast

will support the Culture of Life.

Women’s Club Rummage Sale The Women’s Club Rummage Sale will be held on January 26, 27,

and 28. Donations are greatly appreciated (no electronics, please).

Items can be dropped off in the Parish Hall after Masses on Sunday,

January 22 and each day through January 25.

This Week in the Parish Monday, January 2 • Saints Basil the Great and Gregory

Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the Church

Parish Office Closed

8:00 am Mass for Special Intentions (BC)

7:00 pm “Come & See” Inquiry in St. Aloysius Room

7:00 pm Knights of Columbus Meeting in Parish Hall

Tuesday, January 3 • The Most Holy Name of Jesus

10:00 am Mass for †Leo Kemna (1st Cursillo Group) at

Parkwood

1:00 pm Legion of Mary Meeting in Sr. Mary Ignatia Room

Wednesday, January 4 • Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Religious

12:00 pm Mass for †Greg McComb (J & C Conway)

Eucharistic Adoration following Mass until 3:00 pm

Sacrament of Reconciliation following Mass

Thursday, January 5 • Saint John Neumann, Bishop

10:00 am Mass for †Bob Metzger (K Metzger)

Sacrament of Reconciliation following Mass

Friday, January 6 • Saint André Bessette, Religious

8:00 am Mass for †Avery Sheets (W & S Peycha)

9:00 am First Friday Breakfast in Parish Hall

9:00 pm Eucharistic Adoration until 8:00 am

Saturday, January 7 • Saint Raymond of Penyafort, Priest

9:00 am Mass for Novena Intentions (Legion of Mary)

1:30 pm Sacrament of Marriage for Taylor Peycha and Lars

Rascoe

4:00 pm Rosary

4:30 pm Lord’s Day Vigil Mass for Lars & Taylor Rascoe

Second Collection for Religious Retirement during

Mass

Sunday, January 8 • The Epiphany of the Lord

Second Collection for Religious Retirement during

both Masses

8:00 am Lord’s Day Mass for St. Joseph Parishioners

9:30 am Youth Choir Rehearsal in Choir Loft

9:30 am Religious Education in Classrooms

9:30 am Middle School Youth Ministry in St. Aloysius Room

9:30 am RCIA in St. Gregory Room

11:00 am Lord’s Day Mass for Youth of St. Joseph

11:00 am Confirmation Session beginning with Mass and

continuing until 2:00 pm in the St. Gregory Room

Dismissal Catechist: Becky Albano-Miller

Solemnity of Mary, The Holy Mother of God | 4a

Readings for the Week of January 1, 2017

Sunday: Nm 6:22-27/Ps 67/Gal 4:4-7/

Lk 2:16-21

Monday: 1 Jn 2:22-28/Ps 98/Jn 1:19-

28

Tuesday: 1 Jn 2:29--3:6/Ps 98/Jn 1:29-34

Wednesday: 1 Jn 3:7-10/Ps 98/Jn 1:35-42

Thursday: 1 Jn 3:11-21/Ps 100/Jn 1:43-51

Friday: 1 Jn 5:5-13/Ps 147/Mk 1:7-11 or Lk

3:23-28 or 3:23, 31-34, 36, 38

Saturday: 1 Jn 5:14-21/Ps 149/Jn 2:1-11

Next Sunday: Is 60:1-6/Ps 72/Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6/

Mt 2:1-12

Liturgical Publications Inc.

Pray For…Celeste Trippel, Tom Mrozinski, Tara

Kelley, Martha Endres-Jackman, Gary Davis, Tyler

Hornbeck & Family, Jim Powell, Jean Stevens, Anne

Wood, Sheri & James Miller, Jack Conway

...parishioners and their loved ones who are serving

in the military, law enforcement & emergency personnel ….

If you have someone you would like the parish to pray for,

please ask for their permission, and then contact the Parish

Office or place a note in the collection basket. We will

include their name in this box for a period of one month.

If a family member is sick or hospitalized, please call the

Parish Office at 482-5558 to arrange for Communion to be

brought to them. Thank you.

Worship Worship

4b | January 1, 2017

Liturgical Ministers We thank you for giving of your time and talent to help in the

parish’s various ministries. If you are unable to serve on the

weekend you are scheduled, it would be much appreciated if

you could find a replacement. If there is a spot that needs filled

and you are not scheduled but can give of your time, that also

would also be much appreciated.

The new schedules for the months of January, February and

March can be found in the Gathering Space or on the parish

website, www.stjoeleb.org.

Anointing of the Sick

The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick will be celebrated

during the 4:30 pm Mass on Saturday, January 21. This

Sacrament is offered to all of those suffering from serious

physical illness, to the elderly burdened with infirmities of age,

and to anyone about to undergo surgery.

New Organ Dedication Celebration

Join us as we begin the week of Prayer for Christian Unity with

an ecumenical organ concert in celebration of the dedication of

our new organ. The concert will be held in the church on

Wednesday, January 18 at 7:00 pm, followed by a reception in

the Parish Hall sponsored by the Women’s Club. All are invited

to come and enjoy the beautiful music that will fill our church.

When they saw this, they made known the

message that had been told them about this

child. All who heard it were amazed by what had

been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept

all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.

Lk 2:17-19 Excerpts from the Lectionary for Mass ©2001, 1998, 1970 CCD.

Area News The Power of Forgiveness Join the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods for

“The Power of Forgiveness” workshop, scheduled for 9:30 am to

3:30 pm on Saturday, January 21 at Providence Spirituality &

Conference Center. Through personal stories and other

examples, you will explore the very nature of forgiveness. Cost to

attend is $45, which includes lunch. The registration deadline is

January 16. Register online at Events.SistersofProvidence.org; by

calling 812-535-2952 or emailing jfrost@spsmw.org.