December 7, 2014 - St. Mary Catholic Church

St. Mary Catholic Church
(281) 332-3031 Parish Office
(281) 332-8328 Parish Fax
www.saintmcc.org
1612 E. Walker Street
League City, TX 77573
 Second Sunday of Advent, December 7, 2014 
Sacrament
Information
Reconciliation
Saturday 3 - 4 p.m.

Eucharistic Adoration
First Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Baptism
Contact the parish office
or visit our website for
forms.

Marriage
Contact the parish office
for marriage packet and
information.

Communion for the Sick
Contact the parish office
to arrange.
Fr. Howard Drabek, Pastor
Deacon George Blanford
Deacon Sam Dell’Olio
Mass Times
Saturday
4:30 p.m.

Sunday
8:30 a.m., 10:15 a.m. & 12:00 p.m.

Monday, Tuesday,
Thursday, Friday
8:30 a.m.
Parish Office Hours
Monday-Thursday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Friday 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Readings for the Week
Monday: Gn 3:9-15, 20; Ps 98:1-4; Eph 1:3-6, 11-12;
Lk 1:26-38
Tuesday: Is 40:1-11; Ps 96:1-3, 10ac, 11-13;
Mt 18:12-14
Wednesday: Is 40:25-31; Ps 103:1-4, 8, 10; Mt 11:28-30
Thursday: Is 41:13-20; Ps 145:1, 9, 10-13ab;
Mt 11:11-15
Friday: Zec 2:14-17 or Rv 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab;
Jdt 13:18bcde, 19: Lk 1:26-38 or
Lk 1:39-47, or any readings
from the Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary, nos. 707-712
Saturday: Sir 48:1-4, 9-11; Ps
80:2ac, 3b, 15-16, 18-19;
Mt 17:9a, 10-13
Sunday: Is 61:1-2a, 10-11;
Lk 1:46-50, 53-54;
1 Thes 5:16-24;
Jn 1:6-8, 19-28
Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve
1612 E. Walker
League City, TX 77573
1612 E. Walker
League City, TX 77573
(281) 332-4014 School Office
(281) 332-5148 School Fax
VISIT OUR NEW WEBSITE!!
www.stmarylc.org
St. Mary Catholic School
Students donated candy to
send to our troops. We
appreciate our troops and
continue to pray for their
safety.
God bless our troops!
December 7, 2014
Page 2
Offertory Collection
MASS INTENTIONS
FOR THE WEEK
Calendar, Liturgy & Stewardship
Saturday, December 6, 2014
4:30 p.m.
† Melynda, Bailey, & Logan Collins-Tschappatt
Sunday, December 7, 2014
8:30 a.m.
† Glenn Owens
10:15 a.m.
† Msgr. John Machac
12:00 p.m.
† Joseph Surman
Monday, December 8, 2014
8:30 a.m.
† Adolph Novosad Sr.
7:00 p.m.
Infertile Women
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
8:30 a.m.
† Don Palermo
November 23, 2014
Sunday Collection
Faith Direct
Subtotal
Budgeted Weekly
Difference
$ 5,610.81
Second Collection Campaign for Human
Development
Thursday, December 11, 2014
8:30 a.m.
Debbie Zienty
Thank You!
Friday, December 12, 2014
8:30 a.m.
† Esperanza Lozano
Saturday, December 13, 2014
4:30 p.m.
† Bertha Morales
Sunday, December 14, 2014
8:30 a.m.
† Ralph Aldape
10:15 a.m.
† Robert Sanchez
12:00 p.m.
† Margaret Ann Sherman
The altar flowers
were donated
in memory of
† deceased
2014 Parish Goal
$25,043.35
$ 5,677.50
$30,720.85
$26,039.00
$ 4,681.85
Amount Pledged
$140,000.00
$123,315.60
Difference
$ 16,684.40
Maria Luisa (Mariana)
Canales
Parish Calendar for the Week
December 6 & 7, 2014
KC Ladies Poinsettia Sales
After Masses
Cargill Hall
After Masses
After 8:30 & 10:15 Mass
After 10:15 Mass
Cargill Hall
Cargill Hall
Cargill Hall
6:45 p.m.
Cargill Hall
6:30-7:30 p.m.
7:00 p.m.
School Mtg Rm#1
School Library
10:00 a.m.
Church
December 7, 2014


KC Donuts & Coffee
KC Ladies Religious Items Sale
KC Ladies Texans Tickets Auction
December 8, 2014
RCIA
December 9, 2014
Legion of Mary
Belles Meeting
December 12, 2014
Our Lady of Guadalupe Mass
Page 3
Second Sunday of Advent
A Message from our Pastor
Dear Friends,
I was recently visiting with a couple who had moved down to League City after
living most of their lives up in the Northeastern part of the US. They remarked
that living here was a bit difficult during the summers but that they had enjoyed
the winters much more than they had back north. I asked them if it was due to the
lack of extreme cold and the dangerous driving in the snow. Surprisingly, they
told me that it was due to the availability of tires in winter! When they saw the
puzzled look on my face they began to explain what they meant.
Contrary to what I thought, winters in the northeast are not one continuous
period of cold temperatures and steady snow. Rather, over time a dusting of snow
will fall. There will be a warming trend and the snow will melt into water.
Another cold snap will soon hit and the water will freeze and another layer of
snow will fall on top. This process will continue through most of the winter. The
constant freezing and thawing plays havoc on the roads which will then develop
massive potholes. During a particularly heavy snowfall, the potholes will be
covered and drivers will inadvertently hit the massive potholes and destroy the
tires on their cars. Usually, 2 or 3 tires will have to be replaced on cars during the
season which leads to a shortage of tires in the winter months. I was amazed and
hadn’t thought of that! I guess potholes have been around as long as people have
been moving on paths and roads.
In our Gospel reading this week, we see how the story of Jesus and His
ministry begins in Mark’s Gospel. Prior to Jesus coming on the scene, God sends
Jesus’ cousin John the Baptist to preach the message of repentance. John came to
get people out of their ruts by challenging them to “prepare the way of the Lord,
and make straight His paths”. This expression had both a literal and symbolic
meaning.
Literally people would walk the same path to their villages day after day. It
would cause the paths to wear down into ruts and potholes. People would
continue to walk through the muddy holes, or else people would begin to walk
around the ruts and soon the straight path would become winding.
This expression also had a spiritual meaning. People had also developed ruts in
their spiritual lives. Rather than living the meaning of the Covenant that God had
made with His people, the people had begun to simply go through the motions.
They did the same rituals and observed the same laws day after day. The meaning
of the relationship had been lost. They would either continue to be indifferent, or
else walk out of their way instead of growing back in love for God and others.
Sadly, the spiritual potholes still afflict our society
today. The constant changing in attitudes and values of
both society, and us as individuals causes the road of
life to develop potholes. We travel each day and
occasionally strike these potholes by treating others as
objects or as means to our ends. Sometimes this causes
us to “blow out a tire” at the expense of another person
and a relationship is lost. Rather than fixing the road
by examining our own hearts and changing our
attitudes, we find it easier to simply replace the tire (the
other person) and move on. The sad part is that one day
we may end up running out of tires.
How many tires (other people,
and at times God) have we replaced?
How many broken relationships
have we left behind? Maybe it’s
time for us to take a look at
ourselves as the cure for the broken
roads we travel ... after all the
answer lies in the roads not the tires.
Have a great week,
Fr. Howard
Parish Staff
Please contact members of the parish staff
for questions, comments or concerns at
(281) 332-3031 or [email protected].
Office Manager,
Lisa Sabatier
Bookkeeper,
Becky Shipley
Administrative Assistant,
Sue Winkler
Director Adult Ministry,
Theresa Diaz
Music Ministry,
John Garza
Director Children’s Ministry,
Sandy Dunn
Faith Formation Admin. Asst.,
Debbie Lutz
Interim Parish Secretary,
Lucie Duplachan
Maintenance Manager,
Tim Sauser
Director Youth Ministry,
Sarah Spies
Office Assistant,
Dawn Foreman
ext. 101
ext. 103
ext. 103
ext. 104
ext. 105
ext. 107
ext. 113
ext. 114
ext. 125
ext. 127
ext. 128
School Direct Line (281) 332-4014
School Staff
Principal,
Laura Noonan
ext. 108
School Nurse/Secretary,
Tracy Field
ext. 109
School Secretary,
Kim Garcia
ext. 110 Finance Council
Deven Hull ([email protected])
Franz Hildebrand([email protected])
Matt Crowder ([email protected])
David Garner ([email protected])
Frannie Gary ([email protected])
Conni Lehmann ([email protected])
Other Information
Gabriel Project Hotline
(713) 225-5826
Marriage Annulments
Mark Martin
Theresa Diaz
(281) 636-7964
(281) 332-3031
Bulletin Deadlines
All items for the bulletin must be submitted 10
days prior to the bulletin date. Please
check with the parish office for bulletin
deadlines during holiday weeks.
Submit to [email protected]
December 7, 2014
Page 4
Our parish Advent Penance Service was held on Thursday, December 4, 2014. If you were
unable to attend our service, a list of area services is provided below. We hope that you
will take advantage of this opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation during
this holy season.
12/9
12/10
12/11
12/15
12/16
Mary Queen, Friendswood
St. Clare, Houston
St. Helen, Pearland
St. Luke, Houston
St. Paul, Nassau Bay
7:00 p.m.
7:00 p.m.
7:00 p.m.
7:00 p.m.
7:00 p.m.
Parish Announcements
*** Our parish will not have Saturday Confessions on December 20th or December 27th.***
Sponsored By Knights of Columbus, St. Mary’s Council
9310
Boys & Girls Ages 9 to 14
(age as of January 1, 2015)
Participant Door Prizes!
*Boys’ and Girls’ Leather Basketballs
*Flights for 2 to Anywhere in the Continental United
States*$500.00 Scholarship for Academic, Athletic, or
Fine Art Education
Saturday, January 10th
Register and shoot anytime from 9 am – 4 pm
St. Mary’s Catholic Church; Cargill Hall Gym
1612 E. Walker St, League City
*** Please bring proof of age to the competition ***
For registration form download, see www.saintmcc.org
and right click the icon in the upper right corner of the
home page. You may also contact John Mee at
[email protected] or 832-661-9227.
SPECIAL INVITATION
Matthew Kelly, a noted Catholic Church author and
speaker, will be giving a talk, Passion and Purpose, on
Saturday, January 31, 2015 at St. Paul the Apostle
Church at Nassau Bay beginning at 7:00 P.M. Tickets
are available in the St. Mary Parish Office. The cost of
each ticket is $39.00 and can be purchased with a check
payable to St. Paul Catholic Church. There is limited
availability so act quickly!!
Second Sunday of Advent
Day/Date
Time
10:00
a.m.
Friday, 12/12/2014
Page 5
Mass
Our Lady of Guadalupe Mass
(no 8:30 a.m. Mass)
Saturday, 12/20/2014
No Confessions
Sat./Sun., 12/2021/2014
Regular Weekend Mass
Schedule
Mon/Tues, 12/22-23/2014
8:30
a.m.
Regular Daily Mass
No morning Mass
Wed., 12/24/2014
Thurs., 12/25/2014
Children’s Mass Fr. Rooney
7:30
p.m.
Vigil Mass Fr. Howard Drabek
10:30
p.m.
Mass During the Night Fr. Howard Drabek
9:30
a.m.
Christmas Mass Fr. Dominic Pistone
Fri., 12/26/2014
No Morning Mass
Sat., 12/27/2014
No Confessions
Sat./Sun., 12/2728/2014
Regular Weekend Mass
Schedule
Mon/Tues., 12/2930/2014
No Morning Mass
Wed., 12/31/2014
4:30
p.m.
Vigil Mass for Holy Day (No
Morning Mass)
Thurs., 01/01/2015
9:30
a.m.
Mass for Holy Day
Fri., 01/02/2015
No Morning Mass
Sat./Sun., 01/0304/2015
Regular Weekend Mass &
Confession Schedule Resumes
Mon., 01/06/2015
Regular Daily Mass Schedule
Resumes
Have you ever wondered what
Old St. Mary on Main Street
looks like on the inside?
Join us on . . . S u n d a y ,
The KC Ladies will auction two tickets for TEXANS
vs Jacksonville Jaguars Dec. 28th game. The seats
are section 325, row J. Please come by and place
your final bid after10:30 Mass. Proceeds will be
used for high school college scholarships. Thank
Poinsettia Sale
Mark your calendar, the KC Ladies
Auxiliary will be selling red poinsettias
today after Masses. Please support our
effort to raise funds and provide local
graduating seniors with college
scholarships. If you would like to place your
poinsettias order early, call Irma Palma at 713-8251240. We thank you in advance for your support!
SANTAS FOR SEAFARERS!!
The Belles of St. Mary will again be
collecting Christmas gift boxes to give to the
Seafarers who come in to the Port of
Galveston. Chaplain Karen Parsons, who is
also a parishioner, will be at our December 9
meeting to give us an update on the Seafarers Center
and to collect the gifts. This year we want to extend
an invitation to the whole parish to participate by
filling a shoebox (or plastic box the same size) with
essentials and toiletries, and some fun things for these
men. They are away from their homes and families for
Christmas and for months at a time - some are not
even allowed to come ashore when they dock.
You are welcome to come to the meeting, or you may
leave your gift boxes at the church office anytime
before Dec. 9, wrapped in holiday paper (no
bows). A list of suggested items will be available in
the vestibule with the church bulletins. Any questions call Willie at 281-724-9893.
Bazaar 2014
Total
December 14, 2014, 9:30 a.m.
- 2:00 p.m. for a tour of Old
St. Mary on Main Street. Free to all who
want to come and take a look at our beautiful,
historic church.
$ 80,109
!
Parish Announcements
4:30
p.m.
KC Ladies Texans Tickets Auction
Jr. High & High School Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
December 7, 2014
Page 6
“Each generation
is converted by
the saint who
contradicts it
most.”
Chosen will resume tonight at 5 p.m. in the library.
DON’T FOR-G.K. Chesterton
GET TO REGISTER for the Confirmation 2 retreat to be held Jan.
16-18th. Registration is $110 until Dec. 14, but will go up to $120!
Forms can be found on the parish website.
Life Teen is back tonight! Join us for dinner at 6:30 p.m. in Cargill
Hall. Don’t forget to register for our Summer events! Also, Deanery
Dodgeball will be at St. Bernadette on Dec. 9th at 6:15 p.m.
Our final EDGE night of the semester will be December 10th!
Our Junior High Deanery retreat is April 10-12! Also, register for
the Jr. High Youth Rally! Registration forms and information can
be found on the parish website!
For more information about St. Mary Young Church Movement
contact [email protected]
@StMaryYouth
@StMaryYCM
Second Sunday of Advent
Our next ACTS formation ministry
meeting is Sunday, December 7, from 5:00
to 6:30 p.m. in school meeting room #2.
ADULT TRIVIA NIGHT – SATURDAY,
JANUARY 24, 2015
More details to come!
RCIA
A new group of Catechumens and Candidates
are preparing for full Initiation into the Catholic
Church. Please keep them in your prayers!!
Adult Evening Bible Study
New Series
“The Bible Timeline: The Story of Salvation”
A Journey Through the Entire Bible
Monday Evenings
6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p,m.
Part 1- January 12 thru April 6
Part 2 In the Fall
This is the perfect course for a beginner in Bible
study or for anyone who hasn’t studied the Old
Testament. Registration forms available in the
parish office or in the magazine rack in the church
vestibule.
For more information call Steve
Blackwood at 832-657-4907
Week #4 - Called to be Saints
(CDs available for purchase at kiosk in the church vestibule)
In this fascinating presentation,
Relevant Radio® talk show hosts
interview various experts about the
lives of great saints and holy people
of the Catholic Church. This
presentation includes on-air
discussions about St. Peregrine, Bl.
Mother Teresa, St. Ignatius of
Loyola, Pope John Paul II, St.
Augustine and St. Monica, St. Peter and St. Paul, and
also about the mystery of incorrupt saints! Relevant
Radio® began broadcasting in response to Pope John
Paul II's call for a "New Evangelization".
Parishioner Comments
I was truly inspired, and I believe that God loves me
because I was getting cold in my prayer life. But God
saved me just in time. Keep up the great work. God bless
Maria - TX
you.
It had some interesting facts about different saints.
Julie - Blacklick, OH
Adult Faith Formation Sunday
School Program
Sunday 9:45—11:15 a.m. in the
School Library
Father Robert Barron’s
Word on Fire presentation of
Priest, Prophet, King
The better we understand Jesus, the better we understand
ourselves. But who was Jesus, this itinerant preacher
whom many called the Messiah? In Priest, Prophet, King,
you’ll discover Jesus as the Anointed One–the ultimate
priest, prophet, and king foreshadowed throughout the
Hebrew Scriptures. Using biblical insights and engaging
stories, Father Barron affirms that we see Jesus most
clearly through the lens of the Old Testament.
This deeply biblical program, filmed in high-definition
video, features an accompanying study guide by notable
Catholic writer and apologist, Carl Olson, written under
Fr. Barron’s direction.
Through this presentation of Priest, Prophet, King, you
will better understand Jesus, become more familiar with
Scripture, and realize your own priestly, prophetic, and
kingly mission.
January 4
January 11
January 18
February 1
February 8
February 15
Adoratio: Adam as Priest
The High Priest
Challenging False Worship: Elijah the
Prophet
The Word Made Flesh
Ordering the Kingdom: King David
King of Kings
Adult Bible Study
Our next Wednesday evening Bible Study
will meet on
December 10th @ 7:00 p.m.
School Meeting Room #1
Weekday Adult Bible Study
New Series begins Tuesday Mornings,
January 20, 2015
ACTS: The Spread of the Kingdom
The Acts of the Apostles provides an historic
framework for understanding the rest of the
New Testament. Paul’s letters in particular
come alive in a new way when they are read
within the context of the Acts narrative.
Registration opens Monday,
December 15, 2014—be on the
lookout!!
Adult Faith Formation
Weeknight Adult Bible Study
Page 7
December 7, 2014
Page 8
Elementary Faith Formation & School News
A Note from Sandy Dunn
Last Wednesday and this Sunday are normal classes for our K-5 Faith
Formation children but what about next week – we will be celebrating
Advent and having some fun.
The angel Gabriel will be visiting the 2nd Graders where he will find
Mary and give her the good news. Then Mary will lead the group to the
house of Zechariah where Elizabeth (in the midst of the 3rd graders) will
greet Mary. Mary then returns to Nazareth to marry Joseph. After hearing
about the census, Mary and Joseph (followed by all the 2nd and 3rd graders) will travel all the way to
Bethlehem. Joseph will leave Mary in the care of the 3rd graders to go out in search for a room at
one of the Inns. Joseph (accompanied by 2nd graders) will knock on the door of the 4th and 5th grade
rooms – where the Innkeepers will announce that there is no room at his Inn. Finally with the 4th
and 5th grades following behind, Joseph will make his way to the 1st Grade where after hearing that
there is no room at the Inn, the Innkeeper’s wife comes out to offer to lead them to a safe and warm
place. So off they go to a stable – clean and warmed by the animals (our little Kindergarten children
of course) all huddle around. Joseph settles Mary as comfortably as possible
and they await the birth of the Baby. This is where we will end the story
because the Baby Jesus isn’t born until Christmas Eve. This is a time of
waiting, of anticipation, of preparation…
The story will be completed when the children come back from
Christmas break and all the shepherds, angels and the Wise men will be
there to adore this promised Christ child.
St. Mary Catholic School
School Office Hours: 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
From the principal, Mrs. Laura Noonan:
Christmas Toy Drive
This year St. Mary Catholic School will participate in a Christmas toy drive with Interfaith Caring
Ministries (ICM). ICM serves Bay Area residents in financial crisis. Every year ICM hosts a
Christmas Store where clients can get donated gifts for their children. Please consider donating a
new toy for a child aged 1-12 years old. Toys can be dropped off at the school or church office.
Toys will be collected until December 12.
The Christmas Store will be open December 16 and 17. ICM is looking for adult volunteers to work
at the event. If you would like to volunteer, please call Annette, 281-332-3881 X1105.
Thank you for supporting the toy drive this year.
Blessings,
Laura
The mission of St. Mary Catholic School is to develop
the whole child’s spiritual, moral, and intellectual
growth and well-being in a Catholic environment.
Second Sunday of Advent
Page 9
Parish Prayer List Please remember the following parishioners, friends and family of St. Mary Parish in need of our prayers. . .


Theresa Casey
Jose Molina & Family
Ernesto & Mary Ramirez
Deacon Harold Eskew
Linda Allen Clark
Darren Michael Bethel
Consuelo Banda

Elizabeth Stamile

The Chapman Family
Wayne Lovett
Myla VanDuyn

Martin Olson
Debra Barton
Rosemary Olson
Brenda Demetriou
Geraldo Arroyo
Phil & Eliane Ward
Hilda Herrera
Gloria Guerrero
JoAnn Villareal
Norma Pabon
Amelia Waelder
Consuelo Artaza
Lucy Daumas
Mirta Gonzalez
Bryan & Ines Starkey
Audrey Louise Rogers
Hiro Shiba

Angie Sims

Linda Mary Watters-Wieck
Richard Young
Janis Wright

Marvin Schneider
Jane Shipley
Franz Hildebrand
Adam Whatley
Ryan Corron

Eli Mark
Sue Winkler
Donald (Todd) Harper
Henry Briggs
Vickie Kapfer

Silent Prayer Chain - If you have a prayer request please consider calling our Silent Prayer Chain. Through
a phone call chain they will pass your prayer need on to their members who will pray daily for your intention.
To add a prayer intention to their list, please call Mary Gutschewski at (281) 332-1303.
Parish Prayer List
Courtney Baumbach
Vince Tanzillo

Blanche Aguilar

Gloria Torres
Vickie Garza

Rosalie Matula
Jimmie Tomme

Ron Woodard
The Aguilar Family
John Guidry
Penny Guidry
Hugo Montag

Kerry Lutz
Marie Gay
Robert Distiler