January 2019

January, it’s the start of a New Year, new beginnings and new opportunities.  The family is the smallest but most fundamental unit of society. It is in the family that we experience love, forgiveness, community and relationships. But we also experience loss, hurt, pain and suffering. As parents, as mothers and fathers God has blessed you with your children and with the awesome responsibility of teaching your children. There is so much to teach your children! You teach them to take care of their bodies, provide schooling so they are educated, and teach them about our loving God and the Catholic faith. While you are teaching all these things, your children are watching you and your actions, and they are learning so much by them. Do not be discouraged in this task God has given you, for God does not call the qualified but qualifies those called. As a parish we are here to help one another to grow in love and faith. If things have seemed overwhelming at times, call on the help and support of others. This is a new year, a new beginning, a chance to start a new tradition, to learn something new as a family. Below is a link to Fr. Mike Schmitz’s video on sticking to a New Year’s resolution…enjoy! and Happy New Year!
 
https://blog.ascensionpress.com/video/the-secret-to-sticking-to-a-new-years-resolution/?utm_source=Ascension+Press&utm_campaign=6618a37d8b-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_10_11&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_e09e12a778-6618a37d8b-351487865&mc_cid=6618a37d8b&mc_eid=38549a1101
 
January 13^th is the Baptism of Jesus and ends the Christmas season.  We are then in ordinary time until Lent begins on March 6^th – Ash Wednesday.

Perfect Attendance
Preschool/Kindergarten – Alaina Stache, Amelia McClellan
1^st grade – Thomas Nestler
2^nd grade – Rowan Stache, Luke Watson
3^rd/4^th grade – Lily Nestler, Lola Robertson, Sawyer Wells
5^th/6^th grade – Dawson Stache
7^th grade –
8^th grade – Rogan Flynn, Mason VandeVoorde
High School – Lauren McCartney, Emily Steder, Jenna Steder, Sara Steder

Last month was a busy one for the youth of our parish.  Saturday morning, December 1^st was First Reconciliation for eight students.  We had a wonderful service, received reconciliation, and had a small reception afterwards.    Thank you to Fr. Bergschneider, Msgr. Tierney, catechists Kelly Nestler & Tom Liszka, St. Anne’s CCW for providing the meal and all who helped make this a special day.
 
The Third & Fourth Grade RE students sang Christmas songs to the residents at Medina on December 16 ^th. The students and residents all enjoyed it. Check out photos on the parish website.
 
Thank you! We were able to contribute 7 hats, 16 gloves/mittens, 3 scarves, 17 hat & glove sets, and 21 pairs of socks to the Durand Ecumenical Council that was included with the Christmas giving program. This is almost double what was donated last year. Thank you to the PK/KN class for sponsoring this and to all who made donations, your generosity is amazing!
 
Altar Server Training
Altar Server training will be held this month. Students who signed up to serve should continue to work on their prayers as we will review with them January 6 ^th during Religious Education class time.  Training for new altar servers will be held on Monday, January 14^th & 21^st from 6-7 pm.
 
Confirmation Class
The Confirmation Class will meet on Wednesday, January 9^th from 6:30-8:30 p.m.  Parents will need to watch Session 9: The Church in Decision Point prior to attending.  Parents will meet with Deacon Steve and sponsors are also welcome to attend. We will also be playing a round of Confirmation Jeopardy – For All the Pizza! So brush up on those confirmation questions.
 
First Eucharist
A meeting will be held on Sunday, January 13^th at St. Mary Church, from 9-10 a.m.  This meeting is for parents of students preparing to receive their First Eucharist.
 
Altaration
Beginning this month the Seventh Grade will be using the Altaration Program during part of their class.  Altaration: The Mystery of the Mass Revealed is designed to stir thought, create conversation, dispel myths, and inspire young souls to a deep and lasting love for the Mass.  Through a unique learning experience, including powerful cinematography and resources, teens will come to see the Mass and the priesthood in a dramatically new way.  Check out the trailer on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwqpan7umwQ.
 
Adult Education
This Lent the parish will be offering opportunities for adults to learn more about their faith. Registration will begin the weekend of January 19/20^th and registration forms need to be returned by Monday, February 4^th.  The study begins the week of February 25, 2019. Watch the bulletin for more information.
 
Souper Bowl Sunday
Saturday and Sunday, February 2^nd/3^rd, before and after all Masses the Eighth Grade students will be collecting non-perishable foods and monetary donations to benefit the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry.  Show your support by placing your donation in the “soup pot” for your favorite NFL team to win the Super Bowl or SVdP (All food and money collected will be donated to St. Mary/St. Patrick St. Vincent de Paul Society).

Scout Sunday
February 3^rd is Boy Scout Sunday.  Boy Scouts who participate at Mass on February 2^nd/3^rd should receive a Scout Sunday patch from their Pack or Troop. If your son is a Boy Scout and would like to participate in the weekend Masses, please call Terry Cravens at 248-2490.  (Girl Scout Sunday is March 10^th).

Totus Tuus
Our parish has applied to host the Totus Tuus program again and we will be holding this event July 13-19, 2019…so mark your calendars. Last summer there was a great response from both the students who attended as well as their parents. Totus Tuus is a week-long “parish mission” for Catholic youth entering grades 1^st – 12^th. It is dedicated to the proclamation of the Gospel and promoting the Catholic faith through evangelization, catechesis, apologetics, Christian witness, the sacraments, Marian devotion, and Eucharistic worship. Totus Tuus calls upon college students and seminarians from the Rockford Diocese and across the United States to carry the mission to every young person they encounter. Want to learn more about this program? Check out the following YouTube video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGJTSiSmJkg

St. Basil the Great
Feast Day: January 2
Patron of: the Order of St. Basil and a holy hierarch in the East
Bishop of Caesarea and Doctor of the Church. Basil, along with St. Athanasius, were great defenders of Christian orthodoxy against Arianism.  He was one of ten children born to St. Basil the Elder and Emmelia a daughter of a martyr.  After being educated as a teacher, he returned to his home town of Caesarea.  Basil had a profound spiritual transformation and decided to begin a religious life.  He visited many monasteries before founding a community near Annesi.  St. Basil earned the title Father of Eastern (or Oriental) Monasticism for his innovations within the community.  He was appointed bishop of Caesarea and over the next nine years was steadfast in his opposition of the Arian heresy.  He preached twice a day to huge crowds, cared for the poor, built a hospital and fought prostitution.  Basil was revered for his contributions to Christian culture and spiritual achievements.  His letters show him as an eloquent person, though they were not greatly recognized during his lifetime.  Seventy-two years after his death he was described as “the great Basil” by the Council of Chalcedon.

St. Angela Merici
Feast Day: January 27
Angela was born on March 21, 1470, in Disenzano, Lombardy, Italy.  When she was ten years old, she and her sister were orphaned and sent to her uncle’s to be raised.  After the sudden death of her sister she became a member of the Third Order of St. Francis (now known as the Secular Franciscan Order).  After the death of her uncle, she converted her house into a school for teaching local girls the catechism.  She was told in a vision to establish a congregation dedicated to the religious training of young women. She opened this second school in Brescia, Italy.  Angela made a trip to the Holy Land and was stricken blind when getting only as far as the island of Crete.  After completing the pilgrimage, she was praying at Crete and her sight was restored.  Upon returning to Brescia, she organized a group of women under the Company of St. Ursula.  Their purpose was to re-Christianize family life through Christian education of future wives and mothers.  The women lived at home, had no special habit and took no formal vows.  This “secular institute” was a new idea of teaching women and took time to develop.  Angela died on January 27, 1540 and her body lies in the church of St. Afra. In art she is pictured wearing her Ursuline habit.

*Information on saints taken from www.catholic.org and OSV’s Encyclopedia of Saints.