Mary, Mother of Jesus Catholic Church 9323 Highway 165 South, Woodworth, Louisiana
Rev. John Pardue, Pastor
Church Mailing Address: P. O. Box 408
Rev. Blake Deshautelle, In Residence 2120 Coulee Crossing, Woodworth, LA Mailing Address: P. O. Box 408, Woodworth, LA 71485 Telephone: (318) 445-7554 frjohnpardue@gmail.com
Office Hours: TWTh 8:00-noon (318) 487-9894 or 767-6508 Secretary/Bookkeeper: Laura Callico, mmjwoodworth@att.net Cantor/Music Director: Priscilla Gadel, priscilla.s@prodigy.net
Nativity of the Lord, December 25, 2011
CALENDAR Saturday, December 24 4:00 pm Mass - Carl Bess, Jr. + Sunday, December 25 8:00 am Mass - For the People No 5:30 pm Mass Monday, December 26 No Mass Tuesday, December 27 No Mass Wednesday, December 28 No Mass Thursday, December 29 No Mass Friday, December 30 No Mass Saturday, December 31 4:00 pm Mass - Valorie Clayton + Sunday, January 1 7:30 am Rosary 8:00 am Mass - Lynda Ellington 5:30 pm Mass - For the People
Sanctuary Candle burns in memory of Walter and Jeanne Deptula
Dear Parishioners, Today we celebrate the mystery of the Lord’s Nativity. This is nothing short of a miracle. The Incarnation means that God became man and took on human flesh. It is a miracle because it is impossible. God is omnipresent. So how could a creature contain God? Even though only one person of the Blessed Trinity became man, that person is a Divine Person. God the Son has all the gifts of divinity, including being uncontainable. Moreover, the three persons are a communion of persons. Their unity is so perfect that where you find one, you find the other two. So it seems impossible that God could become man. But we recall what the Angel Gabriel told Mary, “Nothing is impossible for God.” Jesus is the ultimate miracle. But the miracle continues. We celebrate his birth so that he can be born in our hearts. We celebrate his birth so that we can be transformed, changed, sanctified. That is why with the angels we sing, “Gloria in excelsis deo.” There are those who do not want us to celebrate his birth. They do not want our Christmas parades, our mangers in the public square, nor do they want us to even say the words, “Merry Christmas.” Why not? What harm could it do them? The answer is easily discovered when we answer the following question, who is the one behind their objections? Of course we know the enemy of our salvation, Satan. He does not want to remember the day he lost everything. The birth of Christ signals the beginning of our salvation. Dear friends, today is a day for us to rejoice. God loved us so much that he gave us his only begotten son so that we could be rescued from sin, disease, death, and worst of all, final damnation. Merry Christmas! Father John
The Liturgical Calendar for 2012 has arrived. If you are interested in Mass intentions or memorial candles for certain dates in 2012, please call me, email me or come by during office hours. Laura
CHRISTMAS PARTY PHOTOS Parishioners who attended the MMJ Christmas party and had their photo taken by Betty Morris may pick up their photo on the credenza in the vestibule.
MEXICAN CRUISE REGULAR COLLECTION 12/18/2011 Average Weekly Expenses Last Qtr Last Weekend’s Collection Building Fund (gifts since 7/1/11) Christmas Flowers (2011 total)
$2,846.00 $1,874.00 $815.00 $582.00
Thank you for your generosity!
SPECIAL COLLECTION THIS WEEKEND FOR CHURCH VOCATIONS Traditionally at all Christmas Masses, a second collection is taken throughout our diocese for the education and formation of our priests. Through the Church Vocations collections, your generosity and prayers allow the Church to continue to provide priests, sisters and brothers to serve our spiritual and physical needs. - Bishop Herzog
READINGS FOR NEXT WEEKEND
St. Rita Church is sponsoring a 4-day Mexican cruise on Carnival’s Elation from April 26 to 30. Rates for an inside cabin are $467.50 or outside cabin $545, double occupancy only. Deposit of $150 per person is due as soon as possible and final payment is due February 1. Price includes cruise, all port taxes, fees and travel protection. Call 445-7141 ext 20. COME & SEE EVENT The Sisters of St. Benedict in Ferdinand, Indiana will host a Come & See event January 6-8 for single, Catholic women between the ages of 18 and 40. Get to know the Benedictine sisters, share in their community life and prayer, and meet other women who are considering religious life - no pressure, no commitment! Call Sister Michelle Sinkhorn at 800-734-9999.
Mass Intention $5.00 Memorial Candle $3.00
Nm 6: 22-27; Gal 4: 4-7; Lk 2: 16-21 Octave Day of Christmas Blessed Virgin Mary, The Mother of God WE PRAY FOR THOSE AMONG US ... ACUTELY ILL: Joan Alpha, Beverly Aleshire, Darren Aleshire, Lovie Bennett, Cameron Brown, Marie Busch, Frances deLaunay, Walter Deptula, Lynda Ellington, Russell Edwards, III, Judy John, Richard Kelly, Elsie Marcon, Donald Parker, Sean Redmond, Caroline Roy, Coralie Tano, Connie Ray Teutsch. SICK OR RECOVERING: Patricia Arnold, Pat Boudreaux, Deanna Brister, Andre Busch, Anna M. Busch, Barbara Busch, Juanita Busch, Kevin Busch, Thomas Busch, Ed Carroll, George Coker, Betty Daigle, Patsy Fremin, Robert Hall, Linder Holland, Brenda Holloway, Bruce Laborde, Steve Mathews, Merlyn Maillian, Clementine Matherne, Michael McGuire, Michelle McGuire, Yessica McGuire, LaVern Moser, Gayle Odum, James Odum, Dana Parker, Karen Rambo Roberts, Francis Snoddy, Nancy Weidner, Ann Williamson. HOMEBOUND: Beverly Aleshire, Joan Alpha, Marty Doiron. (Use a pew envelope to add or remove names or call Laura at 487-9894 or 767-6508.)
Love ought to consist of deeds more than of words. St. Ignatius of Loyola
CHURCH INFORMATION WEEKEND MASSES: Saturday 4:00 pm. Sunday 8:00 am & 5:30 pm WEEKDAY MASSES: 7:00 am Tuesday thru Friday. HOLY DAY MASSES: as announced. FIRST SATURDAY MASS: 9 am in Honor of the Blessed Mother. BAPTISM PREPARATION: e-mail or call pastor to schedule. MARRIAGE PREPARATION: e-mail or call pastor to schedule first appointment at least six (6) months in advance. FUNERAL SERVICES: only the funeral home may schedule. When making arrangements, have director call pastor personally. CONFESSION: 30 mins before weekend Masses; any time on request ANOINTING OF THE SICK: Upon request. HOSPITALIZATION: e-mail or call pastor at any time, give patient’s name, hospital and room number. SERIOUS ILLNESS, DEATH, DYING: call pastor at any time. OF COUNSEL TO OUR PASTOR PASTORAL COUNCIL: Butch Doiron, Brad Gadel, Priscilla Gadel, Runnie Hunter, Rodney Lamkin, Bobbie Long, Grant Ogaard FINANCE COUNCIL: Ed Carroll; Pat Brister, Trustee; Chuck Reich; Gary Delaney, Trustee