YEAR END GIVING

In this season for giving, consider making a year-end gift to our parish in gratitude for all the blessings you have received in life. As you plan to make the most of your charitable donations in 2016, know that we gratefully accept gifts of cash and appreciated assets such as stocks or bonds. If you are over 70½, you may want to consider a gift from your IRA or retirement plan. Call your retirement plan administrator for more information and to inquire about possible income tax benefits available for this year. If you have any questions, contact your tax advisor or Fr. Bacevice.

CHRISTMAS WAFERS and 2017 CALENDARS
 

     Traditional Christmas Wafers are available at the main entrance to the Church at Mass times, in the lower hall after the 10:00 Mass and at the Rectory during the week. We encourage everyone in the Parish to participate in this ancient Eastern European tradition

    Our 2017 Church calendars are available on the tables in the main lobby of the Church. We thank our friends and fellow parishioners at the Jakubs Funeral Home for providing them again this year.

THANK YOU FOR THE ALTAR FLOWERS

We thank Vilija and Ed Klimas for their generous donation for altar flowers this week. The flowers are in honor and fond remembrance of the deceased of the Nasvytis and Klimas families. Thank you!

GIVING TREE

Our Holy Name Society is sponsoring a Giving Tree to assist families in our own Parish who are in need of “a little help” at Christmas. The items on the ornaments are various gift and food cards in denominations of $10 and $25. Simply choose the ornaments you want, purchase the gift cards, and return them either in the collection basket, at the Rectory or give them to any member of the Holy Name Society by next Sunday, December 11^th. They will be distributed to the families before Christmas.

CHRISTMAS FLOWER DONATIONS

The Altar Society decorates the church each Christmas with live flowers. Your current envelope packet has an envelope marked “Christmas Flowers.” Please help decorate the Church by making a donation for Christmas flowers.

HELP DECORATE THE CHURCH FOR CHRISTMAS
 

Sunday, December 18^th, after the 12:00 Mass, (at about 12:45pm) we invite you to come help decorate the Church for Christmas. Many hands make light work. We hope to see you there!

COFFEE SCHEDULE

As we prepare the 2017 10:00 Mass Coffee schedule, we invite all organizations and parish families to host these coffee socials and look forward to having new people join as hosts. The parish provides the coffee and supplies; you need only to bring the baked goods, put on the coffee, be a good host and clean up afterward. To volunteer contact Dalia Armonas (jarmonas@sbcglobal.net) Loretta Gudenas (lgudenas@yahoo.com /216-481-0465) or Ingrid Civinskas (icivinsk@yahoo.com /440-838-0652) by Dec. 15.

     One of the great traditions of our Church is to offer Masses for the dead. Not only here at St. Casimir’s but at many parishes this practice seems to be disappearing. I remember years ago, when there was a funeral, we would receive upwards of fifty Masses. Now many times after a funeral, no Masses will be offered for the deceased. Not too many years ago, families would come in with their annual lists of Masses and schedule them on their special dates. Today very few do this. The result is that we have many open dates for Masses as early as March 1, 2017.

     As we begin a new year, I ask everyone to consider either reviving this practice or to begin this practice as part of your spiritual devotion. It is a good way to remember our beloved dead and follow one of the spiritual works of mercy: to pray for the dead.

God Bless!   Fr. Joe Bacevice
 

REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS

We ask you to remember in your prayers the souls of Mindaugas Nasvytis and Edith DeBaltzo. May they have eternal rest in the peace of God’s Kingdom.

HOLY DAY

Thursday of this week, December 8^th, is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of our Blessed Mother. Under this title, she is the patroness of the United States  It is a Holy Day of Obligation, requiring all Catholics to participate at Mass. Masses to fulfill this obligation will be celebrated here at St. Casimir’s on Thursday, December 8^th at 7:30am and 7:00pm. There will be NO vigil Mass on the evening of December 7^th. 

RETIREMENT FUND FOR RELIGIOUS

Next weekend we are accepting donations for the Retirement Fund for Religious. Money collected is distributed in our own diocese as well as across the country to assist our retired religious Sisters, Brothers, and Priests with their needs in retirement. Our religious men and women have dedicated their lives in service to the Church by teaching in our schools, working in hospitals, orphanages, and so many other places that have touched all our lives. They are now asking our support to help them provide for them in retirement. Please use the envelopes provided in your envelope packets and PLEASE BE GENEROUS!

CLUSTER PENANCE SERVICE

We invite everyone to attend and participate in the Annual Collinwood Cluster Penance Service on Monday, December 12^th, at 7:00pm at Holy Redeemer Parish, 15712 Kipling Avenue. Priests from our cluster parishes (St. Casimir, St. Jerome, St. Mary, and Holy Redeemer) will be available for individual confessions during the service. Come and join us for this opportunity to reflect on our lives and prepare for the coming of Christ through the reception of the Sacrament of Penance.