Rev. Monsignor Philip D. Halfacre, Pastor

Rev. Father Dustin Schultz, Parochial Vicar

Parish Church Located at the corner of Lundy & Shabbona Streets

Parish Office (Behind the Church) 513 S. Shabbona Street, Streator, IL 61364 Phone: 815-672-2474 FAX: 815-672-2040 Secretary: Linda Halko Email: stmichaelparish@mediacombb.net Office Hours: Monday - Thursday: 8 till 5; Friday: 8 till 4

Rectory Phone During the day, the best way to reach the priests is by calling the office. After hours, call the rectory for urgent matters. Fr. Schultz: (815) 510-9011 Msgr. Halfacre: (815) 510-9010

Parish School 410 S. Park Street, Streator, IL 61364 Phone: 815-672-3847 www.stmichael-streator.yolasite.com Principal: Mrs. Ashley R. Davis Secretary: Debbie Rathbun

Religious Education (CCD) Located in the school Phone: 815-672-5911 Director of Religious Education: Sr. Alice Ann Harcharik Secretary: Rosanne Gallick

Saint Michael the Archangel Catholic Parish

Diocese of Peoria Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, D.D., C.S.C.

Mass Intentions and Devotions

SATURDAY, November 26 3:00 PM Confessions 4:00 PM Thomas Murphy (28th Anniv) by Joan Treschak

5:30 PM Louis Ramza by Family

SUNDAY, November 27 ▪ First Sunday of Advent 7:00 AM Rosella Wargo by Lou & Lorraine Danko 8:30 AM Ann Bandura by Francis & Barbara Bandura 10:00 AM For All Parishioners 11:30 AM Roger Cahill by Ron & Mary Ann Plesko 1:00 PM Rosa Carrillo by Hernandez Family

MONDAY, November 28 7:00 AM Stella Potusna by David & Linda Hejl

TUESDAY, November 29 7:00 AM Mary Lou Scheid by Grandchildren

7:30 AM St. Anthony of Padua Novena

WEDNESDAY, November 30 ▪ Saint Andrew, apostle 7:30 AM St. Michael Chaplet 7:30 AM Confessions

8:00 AM Albert Matas, Sr. (Birthday) by Mary Ann Bandura

THURSDAY, December 1 7:00 AM Peter & Catherine Ellena by Frannie Family

FRIDAY, December 2 ▪ First Friday 7:00 AM Monthly Memorial Mass Association

9:15 AM Phyllis Lytle Hawksley by Tom & Mary Purcell

Daily Rosary 4:00 PM in Mother’s Chapel

SATURDAY, December 3 ▪ Saint Francis Xavier, priest 3:00 PM Confessions

4:00 PM Helen Poldek by Richard & Jean Bednar 5:30 PM Frank S. Porter by John & Eileen Kinkade

SUNDAY, December 4 ▪ Second Sunday of Advent 7:00 AM Marcella James by Tillie Fulton 8:30 AM Veta Sparks by Evans Family 10:00 AM For All Parishioners 11:30 AM Mary G. “Gertie” Bishop by Lucille Bernadine Dunham 1:00 PM Rosa Carrillo by Hernandez Family

Due to the holiday publishing deadlines, this bulletin was printed prior to receiving last

weekend’s collection.

Holiday Family Traditions By Monsignor Philip D. Halfacre

The Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday season is a special time. Important events in our lives as Christians are interwoven with our favorite family tra-ditions and customs. This not only builds up our faith – it also strengthens our relationships with family and friends.

Besides the obvious things that we associate with the holidays like Christmas Mass and Christmas din-ner, other holiday traditions bring loved ones together as well. Every year, on the day after Thanksgiving, I decorate cookies with my two nieces. (They are now ten-years-old and can finally manage to get more frosting on the cookies than on themselves.) The girls look forward to this rather simple holiday custom and so do I.

As I prepare couples for marriage, I encourage them to establish such customs with family and friends. They need not be elaborate nor expensive. They can be simple things like setting up and decorat-ing the Christmas tree (and maybe even cutting it down), annual shopping trips, or simply a drive through town to see Christmas decorations. Their im-portance is found not so much in the activities them-selves – but in the opportunity they provide for us to share our lives with the ones we love.

In our relating with family and friends, we don’t love people “in theory.” If our relationships are going to be dynamic and life giving, then we must have things we do that bring us together. C.S. Lewis wrote in The Four Loves, “Those who have nothing can share nothing; those who are going nowhere can have no fellow travelers.” The Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays provide many opportunities to do things with the ones we love and in so doing we share our lives with one another. And in the midst of these shared activities, we communicate our mutual interest in one another. Give it a try. Creating these annual customs is a simple and practical way of strengthen-ing our bonds with the ones we love.

Msgr. Philip D. Halfacre

Confessions are held before the Saturday Vigil Mass

from 3:00 to 3:45 pm, and before Wednesday Morning Mass

from 7:30 to 7:50 am.

FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT November 27, 2011

ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL PARISH

ANNUAL CHRISTMAS BAKE SALE & BAZAAR

Saturday, December 3rd, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Immaculate Conception Hall

406 N. Park St., Streator

Home-baked Goods, Rozek, Raffles, Gifts, Arts & Crafts. Lunch will be available.

Donations of Bazaar and Bake Sale items will be accepted on Friday evening from 5-8 p.m. or

Saturday morning after 8:00 a.m.

For more information call Kathy Burash at 672-8770 or Donna Sabol at 672-7818.

Friends of St. Michael: Members of our St. Michael Parish are working on a very important initiative to give the opportunity to any child/family to attend St. Michael School. Fifty years ago, the opportunity to a Catholic Education was very afford-able. The members of our "Friends of St. Michael School" want to pay it forward to the future generations of the Streator Catholic Community. Our annual goal is to raise 100,000 dollars each year for the next five years. The overall goal is to raise 500,000 dollars to help support Catholic Education. The money will be marked for four specific areas: Financial aid/scholarship, Curriculum, Technology for the School, and help support our Fine Arts Program-Art, Music, PE, and future planning for Spanish. The actual cost to educate each child that attends the school is slightly over 6,000 dollars. Currently, St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Parish provides 60% of the school's operating cost; while parents' tuition provides 25% and fundraisers provide 15% of the total cost. Help us continue our legacy in preparing our future Catholic Community. As we all know, education is the key to success. Providing every child with a Catholic education will greatly benefit our future. Catholic leadership in our current state is a rarity, but our "Defenders of Faith" are devoted to academic excellence; while, their physical and social well-being is being fulfilled by our devotion to God every day. Thus, our graduates become life-long learners and will continue God's mission. Let us all help support his work by giving every child the opportunity to receive a Catholic education. Each member of our parish will receive a formal letter in the mail about our pledge program. Please consider in helping to pledge a gift for our current and future students. If you have any questions or would like to help in this initiative, please feel free to contact me at the school. Please remember to keep the students and staff in your prayers as we work hard to strive for the ultimate gift everyday, the chance to everlasting life with our Savior. May the Lord bless you and keep you, Mrs. Ashley R. Davis-Principal

St. Michael the Archangel Catholic School

RECEPTION TO HONOR NEW MONSIGNORS

A reception will be held to honor our Pastor, Msgr. Philip Halfacre

and Msgr. Brian Brownsey, the son of parishioners at the Streator Knights of Columbus

on Sunday, December 4, 2011 beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Hors d’oeuvres will be served. Everyone is invited to come by and congratulate

the Monsignors on being named Chaplains to His Holiness.

FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT November 27, 2011

Students of the Wednesday Session of Religious Education became engaged in various activities preparing and learning about the upcoming season of Advent and the Thanksgiving holiday. All students of the Wednesday Session collected food for their Thanksgiving project. The children generously donated many food items for this Thanksgiving project. Students also in their classrooms made and colored various visuals to remind them of God’s goodness to all of us! Peering in other classrooms, students were preparing for the season of Advent by making Advent wreaths and calendars. There is no doubt that the students are learning to live faith filled lives.

Religious Education Students Prepare for Thanksgiving and Advent

STEWARDSHIP REFLECTION

Advent is a season of joyful anticipation. We anticipate the celebration of Jesus’ birth on Christmas day and we prepare our hearts and minds to cele-brate the mystery of the incarnation, but, as today’s readings remind us, Advent is also a time for us to focus on the second coming of Christ and to remind us that we should constantly be watchful and alert, “you do not know when the Lord of the house is coming” In the first reading, from the book of Isaiah, we hear about a people pleading for the Lord to intervene in their lives in a big way. Then, in the epistle, St. Paul praises the Lord who has intervened in history and sent His Son as the fulfillment of the Jews messianic hope. St. Paul tells the Corinthians, “in Him you were enriched in every way N as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you, so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.” The parable in Mark’s gospel reiterates these sentiments. Jesus tells of a man who travels abroad, placing his servants in charge, each with his own work. He tells the gatekeeper, “Watch, therefore. You do not know when the Lord of the house is coming.” We have all been blessed beyond belief. Leaving us to care for His creation, God has given us a multitude of gifts. In fact, even our very lives are gifts from God, and as we live life today, we await His return in glory. As stewards of these gifts, we are called to be alert. To always be ready, and to con-stantly prepare for His return, using the gifts He has given us to build His kingdom, serving our families, our par-ishes, and the greater community in such a way that others see Christ in us and are, therefore, drawn closer to Him.

Copyright © 2011 www.THECATHOLICSTEWARD.com

CHRISTMAS TREE SALE

St. Michael Catholic School will again be selling fresh cut Christmas trees this year, beginning Sat. Nov. 26th. The NEW LOCA-

TION will be in the southwest corner of the parking lot at St. Michael School. Hours: Saturday 9AM to 5PM, Sunday 11AM to 5PM, Monday - Friday 4PM to 7PM.

MEN’S ADVENT RETREAT “A Humble Heart: A dwelling place for the Lord”

December 2-4, 2011 Nazareth Retreat House, Henry, IL

Retreat begins with registration at 6PM on Friday and ends after lunch around 1PM on Sunday. $130.00 per person / 2 nights 5 meals. Cost includes Room, Linen, Meals, Conferences and Full use of Retreat House Facilities. Retreat Master will be Community of St. John. For more information, email: registra-tion@nazarethretreathouse; (309) 364-3084. www.nazarethretreathouse.org

ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL PARISH

ALTAR & ROSARY SOCIETY CHRISTMAS DINNER

Wednesday, December 7th at The Pines

Social 5:30 p.m. ~ Dinner 6:15 p.m.

Various menu choices available. For reserva-tions and menu information, call Kathy Burash at 672-8770 or Donna Sabol at 672-7818 by Monday, December 5.

Items will be collected for the Streatorland Food Pantry and donations accepted for Streator Unlimited. All women of the Parish are welcome to attend.

St. Michael’s School BIG CA$H RAFFLE tickets

and SMS - KROGER GIFT CARDS

Make GREAT Christmas Gifts On sale in the Mothers Chapel after Mass

Get your BIG CA$H RAFFLE tickets now Don’t miss out on the

$1,000 drawing in December

FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT November 27, 2011

THANK YOU for the generous donation to St. Michael Church, St. Michael School and

St. Stephen Cemetery From Family and Friends

IN MEMORY OF Margaret Galick

PLACE LABEL HERE (ADA Office Copy)

NAME ADDRESS CITY ZIP

Please Make Checks Payable to DIOCESE OF PEORIA

Total Pledge $ _________

Paying Now $ _________

Balance $ _________ For Credit Card or Direct Debit pledges, please complete reverse side for Authorization forms.

2011 Annual

Diocesan Appeal

□ Check

□ Direct Debit

□ Credit Card

DONOR’S SIGNATURE

□ Stock Gift □ Credit Card □ Direct Debit □ Grain □ Charitable Gift Trust

2011 ANNUAL DIOCESAN APPEAL

Thank you to the generous donors who have pledged to the Annual Diocesan Appeal. If you have not yet made a gift to the ADA, please consider making a pledge. Please complete the pledge form below and return to the parish office.

BULLETIN SPONSOR OF THE WEEK

FLOWERS PLUS

Bulletins are free through the generous b u s i n e s s e s t h a t advertise on the back pages. Please show your suppor t by pat ronizing these businesses. Thank them when you shop there.

Monthly Memorial Mass Association - May 2011—April 2012 John & Elizabeth Harasti Family Joseph Eccleston Family Ruth Ehlers Michael & Mary Tobias Family John & Ann Crawford Antonia Hamara Ayers & Weiss Families Forrest Cox Knute Gudmunson Christopher James Pollett Dalton & Danko Families Grace & Joseph Stehlo George & Rosemary Lesak Families Evelyn E. Lee Woodward & Walker Families Barbara Bartman Lloyd & Lucille Kudrick & Families Peter J. Locascio Family Adams & Schorn Families George & Catherine Miller Families Robert O’Donnell George & Mary Sharisky and Jason

Elsie Vickers & Mark Vickers Kmetz-Novotney Family The Antolik Family Albert Matas, Sr. Carl & Agnes Schaibley Michael, Mary & Jim Novak Leon Pastirik Fred, Agnes & Al Salvati Dominic & Cecelia Baietto Living & Deceased of the Secular Franciscans Audrey & Albert Kooi Marcacci Family Solon, Chalfant & Verdiramo Families Kmetz & Mudrock Families Devine & Lawrence Families Dom and Satch Salvati Nelda J. Lyons Doris Yedinak Sandy Beavers

Jaegle & Talty Families Richard G. Tutoky Mark Demoss & Grandparents Purcell & Lytle Families William Warwick & Nadine Lund Cebulko & Wargo Families Gene & Dorothy Hozie Family Keeley & Ranalletta Families Barra & Rizzo Families Henry & Caroline Budde Nora Drapp John G. Kacmar Tom Canale Kozel & Sankovich Families Patrick J. McClernon Nink & Sankovich Families Mary M. Devera Victor, Madeline & Katherine Rashid Kennedy & O’Hara Families Dorothy Meredith

McGrath, Gregg, Rithmiller Families Liptak & Ondercho Families Milton & Betty Klein Wanda Robertson Geraldine M. Patton Dillon & Audrey (McClary) Prendergast John & Anna Fialko Family William Harcar, Sr. & son, Gary Martha Averweg and Danny Fechter Donald Noon Zarolzin & Makarewicz Families Urdzik & George Yusko Family Mary Palko & Irene McIntosh Debra Matsko and Renn Family Marjorie A. Melvin William F. Melvin John & Barb Murphy & Family Ted & Catherine Schmitz Art & Shirley Hatzer J. Guadalupe Lopez Cannella Family

OPLATKY (CHRISTMAS WAFERS)

Oplatky are available in the Mother’s Chapel after every weekend Mass. $1.00 for pkg. of 4

Vitamin Drive for the People of Haiti Give Thanks for your Blessings

Donate Vitamins or a few dollars to purchase Vitamins for the less fortunate

November 1 to December 10, 2011

Desperately in need of Adult or Children’s Vitamins. Must say “with Iron” Any generic or brand is suitable. Drop off at St. Mary’s Hospital Information Desk, Haiti Xmas Sale Nov 19-20 at St. Michael’s School or bring

to the school or church for pickup by the sponsors, The Haiti Mission Team.

SAVE THOSE STAMPS!

Thank you to everyone who have been saving canceled stamps for Sr. Alice Ann to be given to the Joliet Francis-can community to which she belongs. Please continue saving them, especially during the holidays. They may be dropped off at her office in St. Michael School or in collection basket.

CREDIT CARD

I authorize the Catholic Diocese of Peoria to charge my

□ Visa □ MasterCard

□ American Express □ Discover

Credit Card No. _______________________________

Expiration Date: ______________________________

Billing Zip Cade: ______________________________

Daytime Telephone No: ________________________ Signature: ___________________________________

DIRECT DEBIT

Name (s): _____________________________________

Bank/Financial Institution: _______________________

□ Checking □ Savings

Account Number: ______________________________

Bank Routing Number: __________________________

Payable Withdrawl Amount: ______________________

Daytime Telephone No.: ________________________

Signature: ________________________Date:________

Payment will be deducted from your account on the 5th of the month or the following business day. PLEASE ATTACH A VOIDED BLANK CHECK WITH PLEDGE CARD

Monthly Memorial Mass Association - May 2011—April 2012 Beatrice, Arthur, Jack & Bob Zack Chalkey & Urbance Families Stacie Simpson Segovich & Vavrek Families Puskar & James Families Koval & Thompson Families Peter & Catherine Ellena Joe Devera & Mollo Families William J. Miller & Bernard L. Miller Madara & Wahl Families Clarence & Cecilia Klachko John & Mary Retoff Family Austin & Jackie Jonen Kovalik & Reed Families Bengtson & Dixon Families Romfin Obenhin & Leo Leonard Families Joe, Mary & Jerry Hughes Grako, Pollett & Harcharik Families Donna Pouk Winnie Hilliard Clyde & Vivian Boyd Harcar & Kiss Families Joseph Wargo Sara & Joe Benning Jennie Smith Lutz & Wargo Families Thomas J. Leheney John R. Solon Kathryn Thorson & Madigan Family Roy Armstrong Mack McClary & Prendergast Family The Peter Majernik Family Andrew & Florence Matsko Richard J. Berry Collette Berry

Wurmnest & Devora Families Senko & Urichko Families Gerald Sweeden Elsie & Carl Swanson Todd Spellious Randy Pearce Edmund Nash Family Dzuryo-Churney Families Raymond Schmitt Panno & Leskanich Family Mr. & Mrs. William C. Salz Leskanich & Hanusik Families Wirges, Coates & Richard Families Thomas, Louise & Tom Nagle Gotch & Trainor Families Savage & Trainor Families Centko & Mehalic Families Jack Balke, Zeller Family Deborah A. Beckley Elizabeth Dunn Morrison Joseph E. Sennott Brocon Family Craig and Laughlin Families The Family of Mike & Barb Malley The Pfalzgraf Family Brown Family Paula &Frank Corrigan Pleasant-Delheimer Families San Gabriel & Balana Families Victor W. Bandura Maurice Killian Doris L. Knudsen Ron Gengenbacher Henry & Mildred Lechner Angelos & Farrington Families Adamchak & Balke Families Frank Sabino Ronald D. Foster

Nellie Marie Coury Walter Gura Ftacek-Demko Families Yendro & McGee Family Patricia & Harry Kear Louis & Jane Ramza Bradach & Barton Families Florence & Steve Hrasch Zavada & Hernandez Families Dyas & Yuhas Families Marion & Julia Boik Bud Trainor & John Hogan Trainor & Lesak Families Carl Crouch (Army-Afgan) Stavar & Miller Families Patrick Walker & Lisa Walker Andrew & Lena Yarusinsky Don E. Schmitt Ohmes, Keesee, Williams Families Rozak & Smith Families Cathy Killian Breen, Plumb, & Sharkey Families McGurk & Bellis Families Bruner, Casey, Lankin Families John & Helen Bottino James M. Bailey Brozak & Sokol Families Edward & Catherine Gulvas Burash, Higgins & Ahearn Families Bandura & Ryan Families Roy L. Lathrop Daniel J. Retoff John, Jack & Tillie Peruba Pete Shackley Tony Harcar, Jr. Lucy Schultz

John C. Gaydos Family Virgil Smith Family Churney & Katcher Families Pizzolato, Hersheway & Spellious Families Florence & Jack Adams Robert & Michelle Graham Betsy Rohan Hrasch Family Nink & Phillis Families Benner & Miiller Families Jerome Chalkey John & Louise Yusko Richard, Ann, & Brian Crane Bodznick & Konchar Family Kahanec-Devera Family Batkiewicz-Masley Family John Washko Family Drapa & Paterak Families Marjorie & Elmer Adams Family James Bowman Harry Thomas Clarence & Kathryne Connors Bellis & Grossen Families Living & Deceased of the Doran, Harty & Salvati Families Lechner, Muhlstadt & Marquis Families Doermann, Leonard, & Heitmann Families Norman Obenhin & H. Stewart Families Michelle “Shelley” Olson Jim Craft Bill Scarratt Helen Chismarick Frank & Lois Jurcak Jason A. Parcher Nagle & Roberts Families