JANUARY 8TH, 2017

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ST. GEORGE CATHOLIC CHURCH 4980 Heege Road Affton, MO 63123 352-3544

LITURGICAL SERVICES Sunday Masses: Anticipated on Satur day at 4:00pm Sunday mornings: 7:00, 9:00 and 11:00am

Sometimes it seems we’re much more comfortable with the divine Jesus: solemn, distant, “up there.” However, he dwells “down here” in our midst as well. Epiphany, the showing forth of Jesus on earth, is a kind of second Christmas, a celebration that God became a human being, just like us. The manifestation of God-with-us is a blessing on our world, and on our humanity, which raises our life in the flesh to something profoundly holy. Traditionally, it’s a time to bless the home, to remind ourselves that our earthly home is a sacred place—and that our heavenly home also awaits. Today's readings: Isaiah 60:1-6 Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6; Matthew 2:1-12

Holy days of Obligation: As Announced Weekday Masses: 6:30am Monday thr ough Fr iday S S

R 3:00—3:45

H S The front pews - Holy Communion will be distributed at the pew. Contact priest before Mass. W heelchair is available. B D : Articles need to be at the rectory by noon on Monday to be considered. All requests are subject to available space. Bulletin articles may be sent by email to [email protected]

Prepare the Word (©2016), www.PrepareTheWord.co m PARISH STAFF Fr. Thomas Robertson, Pastor Deacon Robert S. Penberthy Deacon Leonard Sisul Mrs. Karen Lebb, Parish Bookkeeper, Mr. Ed Haessig, Parish Secretary, Monica Johnson, PSR

352-3544, ext. 1 352-3544, ext. 4 352-3544, ext. 3 352-3544 ext. 97

PARISH INFORMATION Priest House Office: Monday - Thursday 8:00am - 3:30pm Priest House Phone: (314) 352-3544 Priest House Fax: (314) 832-6916 Parish e-mail [email protected] St. Vincent de Paul Help Line: 352-3544, ext. 6 Affton Christian Food Pantry: 580-3138 Adoration Chapel: 352-3544, ext. 7 Marriage Information 352-3544 ext. 99

Ministers of the Liturgy

Mass Intentions for the Week Monday, 6:30am Tuesday, 6:30am

January 9, 2017 John Moses and family January 10, 2017 PSR Catechists, students and families

Wednesday, 6:30am

January 11, 2017 Rob Behnen

Thursday, 6:30am

January 12, 2017 Cynthia Kram

Friday, 6:30am Saturday, 4:00pm Sunday, 7:00am 9:00am 11:00am

January 13, 2017 Melanie Jankovich January 14, 2017 Purgatorial Society January 15, 2017 Robinson and Schwartz families (living 7 deceased) Parishioners Special Intention

Next Sunday’s Readings

Numbers 6:22-27 Moses receives instruction on how the blessing of the Israelites is to be phrased. Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8 (2a) God’s mercy doesn’t fade—even after the Year of Mercy ends.

Saturday, Servers: Lectors: Greeters: Sunday, Servers: Lectors: Greeters: Sunday, Servers: Lectors: Greeters: Sunday, Servers: Lectors: Greeters:

January 14 & 15 January 14, 2016- 4:00pm Natalie Pistone & Ken Torretta Steve Crafton Steve & Lois Crafton January 15, 2017 - 7:00am Steve Willey Steve Willey greeter needed January 15, 2017 - 9:00am Raphael Tomas Ray Heine Cathy Byer Janaury 15, 2017 - 11:00am Billy & Summer Street,; Joelly Funez Jeanette Mreen Kay Brillhart

Schedule of Events Sunday, January 8, 2017 Parish School of Religion 9:30-10:45am Monday, January 9, 2017 Food Pantry Noon—2:30 RCIA 7pm priest house mtg. rm. Tuesday, January 10, 2017 Food Pantry 4-6:30pm Thursday, January 12, 2017 Food Pantry 6:00-8:00pm Scripture Study 7pm parish center Friday, January 13, 2017 Church cleaning 8:30am Saturday, January 14, 2017 Food Pantry 9:30am-12pm (noon) Sunday, January 15, 2017 Parish School of Religion 9:30-10:45am

Galatians 4:4-7 God accomplishes our ransom in the fullness of time.

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Luke 2:16-21 The shepherds come with a message announced by a host of angels.

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2 Welcome to Saint George Church

SOLEMNITY OF MARY Today’s Scriptures Today's readings: Isaiah 60:1-6 Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6 Matthew 2:1-12 The inner word What’s in your heart? Mary "kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart." During the Octave of Christmas, the church has been contemplating the newborn Jesus, God's gift of self to us and all of creation. • • •

What have been the fruits of your prayer and meditation in this season? What have you been reflecting on in your heart? What will you take away from this year's celebration of Christmas? How will it stay with you throughout the year?

The Shepherd’s Gift In our traditional way of telling the story, we short-change the shepherds. The typical manger set reveals the imbalance: While Magi arrive at the Nativity bearing magnificent gifts in their arms, impoverished shepherds show up empty-handed. Well, almost. Sometimes a shepherd holds a lamb in his arms, or drapes one across his shoulders. Certainly sheep trail in the shepherds’ footsteps. Nothing suggests these animals are presented as gifts. When you’re a shepherd, sheep come with the territory. Of course, nativity sets are a composite of two gospel accounts. In no biblical infancy story do Magi and shepherds arrive in tandem to pay their respects to the Christ child. Either you get one set of visitors or the other. Matthew prefers the noble visitors with symbolic gifts. They fit into his overall scheme of presenting Jesus as the one sought by outsiders even as he’s rejected heartily by the historical King of the Jews, Herod. Meanwhile, Luke recounts his Nativity story with shepherds. Humble visitors suit Luke’s agenda: that the poor are specially poised to hear the good news this child will announce. Following Luke’s strand today, let’s listen closely to what he’s actually saying. Unlike the popular carol about a drummer boy who comes “with no gift to bring,” the shepherds do bring an astonishing offering to the Holy Family. They proclaim a message delivered to them in angelsong. The heavenly message goes something like this: Good news! Today everyone has something to celebrate. The Messiah 3

of David’s house is here! The faithful on earth will know his peace. Is this message as valuable as those other, more famous presents? While it’s easier, perhaps, to compose three verses about the wise men’s more tangible gifts, good news for everyone on earth is a pretty special declaration. Has there been such an announcement before or since? Usually the daily news is good for some, not so good for others. Most of the time, to be honest, it’s good for the few, and bad for the many. Good news for everyone is surprisingly hard to visualize, like world peace. Can an event that takes place on this planet possibly be good for everybody? Is it a failure of imagination on our part that we can’t seem to see the shepherds’ gift? Or is it that the allure of gold, pleasing perfume, and ominous myrrh are so much more vivid to us? On this World Day of Peace, will any of us commit to “peace on earth, good will toward all” as more desirable goal even than gold? Mary put the shepherd’s words into her heart and treasured them for a lifetime. They’ve outlasted all the other gifts. -Alice Camille Prepare the Word (©2016), www.PrepareTheWord.com

Dynamic Catholic, Alive! Introducing the Year of Generosity The year 2017 focuses on the element of generosity in our lives as part of Dynamic Catholic, A live! In his thoughts of generosity, Matthew Kelly mentions that the happiest people he knows are also the most generous people he knows. This is not a coincidence. Generosity is not merely a financial plan for distributing our money to help others. It is about how we spend each moment of every day. It is about how we maximize the gifts that God has given us as good stewards and faithful servants. During this year of focusing on generosity, we encourage you to stop and think how you are managing your time, gifts, and finances so that you may serve others. How much time are you spending using technology instead of with family and friends? Are you using your gifts to spread the faith or for personal gains? How are you spending your money? Let us be like Mary, the Mother of God, the lowly handmaid who brought forth Christ, the salvation of the world. May we imitate her generosity in opening herself to become a vessel for the Lord.

archstl.org/dynamic JANUARY 8TH 2017 EPIPHANY OF THE LORD

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Welcome to Saint George Church

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JANAURY 8TH 2017 EPIPHANY OF THE LORD

(continued from the previous column)

Dear St. George Parishioners, I want to greet you warmly in our Lord Jesus Christ. He is our reason for living and our source of inspiration and power. On the Solemnity of the Epiphany, a Greek word meaning, “manifestation,” we celebrate the revelation of Jesus Christ to all mankind, represented in the Magi who came to offer this Child and everything He represented, their homage. The long-awaited promise of a Savior is fulfilled in this Child. We have been incorporated into the very Body of Christ (the Church) through our Baptism and it is our responsibility to show Jesus to others in our words and actions. The people of St. George Parish have been doing that for the past 100 years in Affton and Gardenville neighborhoods. I am excited to become your new pastor and fellow parishioner. Let me begin by thanking Fr. Robertson for his personal kindness to me during this time of transition and for the wonderful job he has done during his tenure as pastor of this parish. Fr. Robertson is a deeply pastoral man who loves the Word of God and the celebration of the Sacraments. He has the heart of a servant and has carried the mantle of leadership ably for many decades. I look forward to working with him now and in the future and will depend on his wisdom and counsel as I get to know all of you. I am also grateful for the coworkers who assist Fr. Robertson in his pastoral ministry at St. George, Deacon Bob Penberthy and Dea con Len Sisul, and their spouses. (continued in the next column)

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Welcome to Saint George Church

The people of St. George are known for your dedication to the Holy Eucharist and your devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary. You care for the poor and needy (SVdP Society and ACFP) and have maintained your magnificent parish church. While I served at the seminary, I had the good fortune of celebrating Mass at St. George on a number of Sundays and one of my strongest memories was of how well you sing at Sunday Mass. Let me introduce you to Deacon Jim Murphy and Deacon John Beckmann who have served St. Dominic Savio for many years. I have received permission from Archbishop Carlson to utilize all of the clergy between both parishes for the celebration of the Sacraments. You will also meet Fr. Michael Lydon, President of DuBourg High School, in the coming weeks. He lives at St. Dominic Savio, but will be leaving for a 3-month sabbatical in Rome on January 15. Between the three priests and the four deacons, there are many gifts to share. I am excited to get to know you in the weeks and months to come. With that being said, St. Dominic Savio is coming to the end of its involvement in the archdiocesan capital campaign, Beyond Sunday. This will require a great deal of my time on the Sundays of January. So, you won’t see a great deal of me until February, unless you attend the 6:30 a.m. Mass at St. George or the 8AM Mass at St. Dominic Savio. God bless you and keep me in your prayers during this time of transition.

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Duke Ajemian Fr. Edwin Albers Al Anthony Dolores Bazzetta Sug Beier Katie Bloss Michael Boehm John Bohac Mary Ellen Bown Paula Brooks Ruth Brown Joan Buchmann Pam Bundren Cathy Byer Colin Byington Donovan Byington Laura Camp Mary Jo Castellano Bonnie Chapman Joshua Cilufo Dottie Coleman Jerome Coleman John Coleman Mason Cook Shirleen Coughlin Delores Crawford Joseph Curran Ann D’Agostin Julie Devlin Mary Dillon John Dirkers Jim Doerr Lilia Doerr Mary Dougherty Helen Eiserle Mary Agnes Eckert Suzanne Elder Mary Beth Ericson Juanita Fernandez Paula Fischer Ann M. Forthaus Ray Forthaus Kathy Gallagher Caroline Garcia Robert Gebken Thomas George Bob Giegling Patricia Gorman Betty Graceffa 7

Donna Gratza Jeanne Griffin Larry Griffin Sr. Jane Grote Janette Haller Pam Hardebeck James Harris Jesse Harris Mary Haynes John Hivner Peggy Holden Arline Hollenbaugh Rose Hook Mary Horneker Toni Horst Eileen Immken Loretta Inserra Julie Isaak Marge Johnson Lester Johnson Cynthia Kahn Theresa Kuturovac Pat Lake Art Lampe Teresa Lawrence Sandy Lebbing Al Leifeld Betty LeMatty Eileen Linder Joe Lonero Virginia Lynn Ron Macke Rose Macher Marie Ann Mayer Anne McGowan Shirley Melber Barbara Mena Marie Merlotti Jennifer Murphy Ethel Niggermann Thao Nguyen Emma O’Brien Mary Onion

Gordan Oppelt Sophia Piotrowski Kathleen Politte Eli Pollite Tom Pollard Sr. Annie Pranger Agnes Pratt Lawrence Puffer Nancy Rolfes Shirley Rosso Helen Rueffer Georgia Saffa John Sartorius Rosemary Schelbrink John Schifko Sharon Schmidt Clarence Schuette Mary Ann Schuette Fred Smith Virginia Sweeney Debra Tafra Joan Torretta Ken Torretta Paul Ullrich Larry Van Rees Anne Vigil Marie Wallace Elizabeth Walsh Evelyn Weilbaecher Richard Weibaebecker Chorlisha West Mary Ann Wheatley Patrick White Melba White Pam Williams Theresa Winkeler Alan Young Bradley Young

This Sunday, January 8, in the parish center coffee and donut will be offered after each of the Masses.

A Funeral Mass was celebrated for Margaret M. Langeneckert on Tuesday, January 3, 2017. Margaret was a longtime member of St. George Parish.. She was 69 years old when she died. Fr. Robertson presided at the Mass. She was buried at St. Peter and Paul Cemetery. Fr. Robertson also Baptized, Confirmed and gave First Communion to three of her grandchildren in 2011 when they were members of the R.C.I.C. program. They are Amber, Paige and Michael Lillard, the children of Craig and Diane Lillard. The sacraments were given at the Easter Vigil on April 23,2011. Please pray for Margaret’s soul and her family. Christmas Takedown We will takedown the Christmas decorations on Sunday, January 8, after the 11am Mass. Volunteers are needed. You can take a poinsettia. No pizza on the menu. The Adoration Chapel of St. George needs more committed adorers. There are currently 12 open hours that must be filled, Sunday 2:00am, 4:00am, 5:00am; Monday 1:00am, 5:00pm; Weds. 1:00am, 6:00pm; Friday 12:00am, 1:00am, 11:00pm; Saturday 6:00pm, 7:00pm; Call Olga Leonard at 351-3853 or Kay Brillhart 631-3679, if you can commit to these or any other hour. EPIPHANY OF THE LORD JANUARY 8TH 2017

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