PEACE LIGHT
 

The “Peace Light” movement began in 1986 in Austria, when a child traveled to Bethlehem, lit a lantern from a light in the grotto of Jesus’ birth, and then carried it back to Austria where it was carried throughout Europe through the efforts of scouts. The light was first brought to New York in 2001 by the Canadian Scouts and placed at Ground Zero. It has been brought back each year since then. Our Lithuanian Scouts received this light and have placed it in our Church. It will burn in our church through the Christmas Season as a reminder to all of us to pray and work for peace in our homes and in our neighborhoods, our country, and throughout the world.

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.

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.

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!

CHRISTMAS CONFESSIONS
 

We urge everyone to take advantage of the Penance Service on Monday at Holy Redeemer. In addition to that service, confessions will be heard here on Saturday, December 17^th from 4:30-5:00pm, and Wednesday and Thursday, December 21–22 after the 7:30am Mass. There will be NO confessions on Christmas Eve.

      Probably the most underused Sacrament in our Church is the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the act of Going to Confession. It’s no wonder, because one of the most difficult things for us to do as human beings is to confront and admit to our own sinfulness. It is too easy for us to deny we ever sin, or we minimize the effects of our sinfulness to the point that we don’t ever see the need to receive this sacrament. We also like to make excuses for ourselves on why we don’t approach this sacrament.

     Whatever the reason may be keeping us away from this sacrament, if we do not receive it, we are missing out on the special relationship we can have with Our Lord in this sacrament. When we commit sin - either by commission or omission - there are three effects. Firstly, sin always offends God, and as a result, we weaken our relationship with Him. Secondly, sin always weakens us spiritually, and a serious sin breaks our relationship with God. Finally, sin is offensive to the Christian Community, as we are called by our Baptism to holiness.

     The Sacrament of Reconciliation remedies all three of these effects. We can always ask God’s forgiveness sincerely, and God does forgive. However, Reconciliation firstly strengthens our relationship with God. Reconciliation then strengthens us spiritually, giving us the strength to avoid sin in the future. And finally, Reconciliation restores our relationship with the Christian Community through the action of the priest who represents both Jesus and the Community. 

     It takes a great act of humility to go to Confession and to receive this Sacrament, but the effects of this Sacrament are so great, that it is truly worth the effort. I invite all of you to make use of this sacrament as part of your preparation for the celebration of our Lord’s birth which we celebrate on Christmas Day.

God Bless!   Fr. Joe Bacevice

REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS

We ask you to remember in your prayers the soul of Roma Cepulis . May she have eternal rest in the peace of God’s Kingdom.

RETIREMENT FUND FOR RELIGIOUS

This weekend we are accepting donations for the Retirement Fund for Religious to assist our retired religious Sisters, Brothers, and Priests with their needs in retirement. 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.

HOLY NAME SOCIETY’S SPIRITUAL BOUQUET

The Holy Name Society invites everyone to participate in offering a spiritual bouquet (a private offering of Mass, Rosary or other prayer, or an act of charity or self denial) for Bishop Lennon this weekend. 

CHRISTMAS COOKIE COFFEE SOCIAL

Sunday, January 1, everyone is invited to a family-style Coffee Social after the 10:00 Mass. Parish families are invited to bring a plate of Christmas cookies to the lower hall to share the Christmas spirit (and goodies) with fellow parishioners.