Sts. Joachim and Ann PSR Newsletter
Guardians of Hope
or
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving letyour requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, willguard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
Volume 18 Issue 5 December 2017
UPCOMING EVENTS
DECEMBER
Dec 4 PSR Class, Advent Prayer Service 6:45PM in Church-Adopt-a-family items brought to the altar
Dec 8 Holy Day-Feast of the Immaculate Conception – 8AM, 10AM, 7PM Masses
Dec 9-10 Adopt-A-Family Weekend –St Charles Community College (adults & teen needed)
Dec 11 PSR Class, Third Grade practice for Nativity Play in Church
Dec 18 PSR Class, Third Grade Nativity Play – all are invited to attend
Dec 25 No PSR Class – Christmas Break
Jan 01No PSR Class
Jan 08 PSR Class, 2nd Grade First Reconciliation review with Father Gahan
Jan 09 First Reconciliation 6:30PM in Church (Please note the change in time!)
BEing Guardians of Hope gIVES OTHERS A gLIMPER OF Jesus
This time of year can be so busy with all of the decorating, baking, shopping, wrapping, parties and activities that have to do with the holidays. Advent can help us to slow down and really prepare our hearts and minds for the real reason of this season. Last week, Advent activity booklets and Advent calendars were sent home with all the students. Please take the time to read these with your children and say the prayers as a family. Many families set out an Advent wreath and candles in an area they will see often to remind them of the weeks leading to Christmas. You can also simply use four candles, lighting one for each week of Advent. Included in this Kidmail is the Finding God Advent Parent Newsletter. More Advent family resources are available on loyolapress.com under the Advent tab. Purple advent books are available in the back of church for adults.
The children in grades 4-7participated in the sacrament of Reconciliation on November 27. The Sacrament of Penance is celebrated every Saturday afternoon from 4:00 until 4:45pm or anytime by making an appointment with one of the priests. Extended opportunities for celebrating the Sacrament will be available on Saturday, December 16th from 3:30pm until 4:45pm and on Tuesday, December 19th beginning at 6:30pm until all have been heard.
Thank you to everyone for bringing in items for the Adopt-a Family at the Advent Prayer
Service. Adopt-a-Family weekend is December 9th and 10that the St Charles Community College.
This is a great way to do service as a family. During this hectic holiday season when wemay feel
there’s not enough time to do everything we need to by Christmas, let’s remember that Jesus is the true
reason of whatthis season is really about. As we begin these weeks of Advent, I pray that the Holy
Spirit send all of us theguidance and courage to live the true meaning of Christmas. I wish everyone a
very Blessed Advent and Merry Christmas!
Rose Wieschhaus, Director of Religious Education for Children
ADVENT DAILY PRAYER
Lord Jesus, you alone can satisfy the deepest longings of the human heart. Through baptism, you have claimed us for yourself, but too often we live as if we belong only to ourselves. May this season of Advent remind us that you have blessed us, so that, in gratitude, we may live the gospel more faithfully. As we prepare to celebrate the miracle of your Incarnation, may we attend to the needs of our suffering brothers and sisters, the body of Christ in our midst. Amen.
Advent Wreaths and Candles
A Catholic tradition is to place an Advent wreath in our homes where it will be seen to remind us of the Advent season. Families can light their Advent candles daily as they read from Scripture or Advent booklets. A few Advent wreaths and candles are available for purchase in the Religious Education Office. Advent Wreaths with artificial foliage - $8, 4 pk (3 purple, 1 pink) Advent candles - $3 Contact Rose Wieschhaus at or 636 926-0021 for more information.
ADOPT –A-FAMILY
Adult, teens and families are welcome to come join others at the St Charles Community College on Sat Dec 9 anytime from 8:30 AM-8:00 PM. Adults ages 18 and up are needed on Sunday Dec 10 from 11:30 AM-1:30 PM. This is a great way to do service as a family or to earn service hours. Volunteers should report to the main table for instructions. Please call Yvonne at 441-1302 ext 224.
Jadyn’s Quilts
The need for quilts and sleeping bags for the homeless is greater than our supply! Fr. Dan at St Vincent de Paul downtown has already distributed most of the 60+ quilts we made earlier in October. He said the men love the quilts we gave them, since they are very warm. So, in getting ready for the winter weather, if you should have blankets and/or sheets you no longer want, please save them for Jadyn's Quilts. We may have another workshop this winter if we can gather enough materials. For more info, call Helen @ 636-922-7573.
PARKING LOT SCHEDULE
Dec 4 Locke, Ley, Layton, Lauer, Munoz
Dec 11 Lange, Lane, Lamb, J., Lamb, B., Moorman
Dec 18 Kilcullin, Kiefer, Kesel, Johnson-Moyneur, Janowski
Jan 8 Irish, Ibarra, House, Houchins, Hoffman
Jan 22 Hodgkins, Hill, Hermeyer, Hazen, Miller
When it is your time to work, please come to the PSR office to sign in next to your name, and pick up a flashlight and orange vest. Your children can stay with their teachers while you work the parking lot.
Pray The Rosary
Thank you for the overwhelming response to pray the rosary 30 minutes before every Holy Mass. Everyone is a leader, so if you come to a Mass 30 minutes early and no one is starting the Rosary, it must be YOUR turn to start. If you want the Patriotic format, blue cards are in the pamphlet rack in the back of church. The Blessed Mother says to us "Thank you dear children for responding to my call" Questions, contact Kathy Rodamaker at 636-352-9341 and let me know which Mass you prefer. God Bless
National Night of Prayer
Please join in praying for life on the 27th National Night of Prayer on Friday, December 8th, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Eucharistic Adoration will be available immediately following the 7PM Mass until 11PM. Please pray for our country, for life, from womb to tomb, at our church or at home.
Needed: Gently-Used Bicycles
Sts Joachim and Ann Care Service would like to provide a bicycle to every child who requests one in the Adopt-a-Family program this Christmas. While cleaning out the garage, please consider donating a gently used bike for one of our many families in need. Bicycles can be dropped off and parked by the garage in the Care Service Parking lot. The Care Service is now located at 4116 McClay Road. Please do not drop bikes off at the old Care Service location across from the school cafeteria. For more information, contact Yvonne at 441-1302 ext 224.
CHURCH DECORATING
Please join the effort to get our Church ready for Christmas by helping with trees, the crèche, and other large scale decorating after the 11:30 Mass on Sunday, December 17. Many hands make light work!
SHOP FOR OUR SCHOOLS
Many of you have already begun to think about using the Shop for Our Schools for your holiday shopping. Don’t forget to order in time for Christmas. Special order items must be placed by December 12 - 8:30AM in order for them to arrive before Christmas.Did you know you can order online? Orders can be placed online using and PrestoPay. For more information and the enrollment code please see the Prestopay information included with this Kidmail.
LADY OF GUADALUPE CHAPEL
The chapel to honor Our Lady of Guadalupe will be available throughout the season of Advent and is located in the back of Church. There will be children’s books, meditative reading for adults, novenas, rosaries, pamphlets on how to pray the Rosary if you are unfamiliar, a lending library of CD’s and a box of stationary for letters to Our Lady. Rest assured your letters will only be read by her! The nine day Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe begins Dec 6 and lasts through the Feast, which is Dec 12. The words of Our Mother spoken to Juan Diego bring us great comfort as they are meant for all of us, too:
“Am I not here, I who am your Mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Am I not the source of your joy? Are you not in the hollow of my mantle, in the crossing of my arms?”
sTS jOACHIM AND aNN 2018 Masquerade Gala DINNER AUCTION
The Gala - Because You Deserve A Night Out!If you’re looking for an unforgettable date night, the 2018 Black & White Masquerade Gala is just the ticket! This event will be held onSaturday, February 10th, in the Parish Center. Doors open at6:30 p.m.& dinner will be served at7:00 p.m.Semi-formal attire suggested.You must be 21 or older to attend this event.Individual Tickets - $50/person. Reserved table (seating for 6 per table) $300/table. Proceeds benefit the Sts. Joachim & Ann Athletic Association. To register go to The Gala features dinner catered by Concetta’s Italian Restaurant and desserts by Nothing Bundt Cakes. You’ll enjoy a champagne toast and open bar while you dance the night away! Capture all the special memories in our professional photo booth! Plus, bid on amazing merchandise including:
• Sterling Silver ¼ Carat Tennis Bracelet
• 6 Night stay in Nice, France
• St. Louis Ambush Tickets
• Philips Hue – Personal Wireless Lighting System
• St. Louis Repertory Theater Tickets
• Lifetime exemption from Concession Stand Duty
Follow our Facebook page for auction updates & more!
Membership Information Update
Do we have the correct information for your family’s membership record? It is time for us to update our database with any changes, additions, or deletions that may have occurred over the past year. Have you changed your phone number – gotten rid of your land line?? Has your address changed? Are all of your children still residing at home? Have you added a new family member? Do you want your record published in the Guide Book & Directory? Here is your chance to update your record for the annual Guide Book & Directory. Please let us know of any changes so that the information in our census and the 2018 Guide Book & Directory are up todate. Updates can be made by completing the form below & returning it to the rectory office, or by emailing JoAnne VanAcker at
CATHOLIC BOOK CLUB
We will not meet in December. Our January book is Called to be Holy by Archbishop Timothy Dolan. We will meet on Tuesday, January 23 at 7pm in Room 100. Any adult from the parish is invited to read the book ahead of time and join us for discussion
INCLEMENT WEATHER
In case of bad weather during our winter months, please check our parish website –stsja.org. An email will be sent to all families if PSR classes are canceled, as well as notification on Channel 4 & 5. In addition, families will be contacted by your child’s teacher.
Sts. Joachim and Ann Food Pantry is in need of the following items: Cereal, Rice, Hamburger/Tuna Helper, Manwich, Pop tarts, Ramen Noodles, Canned Chili, Canned Pasta, Pasta sides, Cookies, Jelly, Dried Beans, Syrup, Mustard, Ketchup and Mayo. Size 6 diapers. **Great need for: cookies, canned meats and canned fruits, Size 6 Pullups, Baby wipes, Conditioner, Hand lotion, body wash, toilet paper