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St. Joseph Catholic Church

MASS SCHEDULE GIRARD
Saturday
5:30 pm
Sunday
10:00 am

ARMA
4:00 pm
8:00 am

CONFESSION
GIRARD
ARMA
Saturday
2:00-2:30 pm 3:15-3:45 pm
Weekdays before Mass, anytime by appointment
RECTORY HOURS & INFORMATION
Thursdays: 9:00 am - Noon
Rectory: (620) 347-4525
Fr. Maxs cell: (316) 708-9473
Fr. Maxs email: thomas.becket.fan@gmail.com
STAFF Pastor: Fr. Max Biltz
Secretary: Georganne Galichia &
Gay Kranker
Bookkeeper: Janel Scales
Bulletin Editor: Nancy Bauer
PARISH WEBSITE:
www.stjosepharma.com
EUCHARISTIC ADORATION:
Thursdays from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Finance Council
Parish Council
TBA
Tues., Jan. 5
6:00pm
after 5:30pm mass

!St. Ann Altar Society

TBA
6:00 pm

Knights of Columbus
1st Tuesday of Month
7:00pm, St. Michael hall

20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27

4:00pm
5:30pm
Sunday
8:00am
10:00am
Monday
7:00am
Tuesday
5:30pm
Wednesday 6:30pm
Thursday 4:00pm
8:30am-3:00pm
Friday
Midnight
8:00am
10:00am
Saturday 4:00pm
5:30pm
Sunday
8:00am
10:00am

From the Pastor

August & Mary Bogina

Jim Peak
For the People
Steve VanLeeuwen
Joe Hofer
No Intention
Daughters of Isabella
No Intention
Adoration
Ed Walsh
No Intention
Jim Peak
No Intention
Frank Doue
No Intention
For the People

Altar Ministers for Dec. 24 - 27

Arma
Girard
Arma
Girard
Girard
Arma
Girard
Arma
Arma
Girard
Arma
Girard
Arma
Girard
Arma
Girard

!Altar Servers:

Thursday (12/24/15)
4:00pm

EMHC:
Lector:
Gift Bearers:
Usher/Greeter:

Friday (12/25/15)
8:00am

Eve & Jack Bertoncino

Fred Bogina
Linda Broyles
Marcel & Helen Normand
Joe Broyles & Bill Harman

!
Saturday (12/26/15)
!Altar Servers: 4:00pm
Grant Waterman

July 2015 to date

$3,123.00

$31,856.60

Contributions

Dear Parish Family,

The following is from a homily by Pope John Paul II:
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given" (Is 9:5). The words of the Prophet Isaiah, proclaimed in
the First Reading, contain the truth of Christmas, which together we re-live this night. A Child is born.
In appearance, just another of the worlds many children. A Child is born in a stable in
Bethlehem. He is born in a condition of extreme deprivation: poor among the poor. But the One
who is born is "the Son" par excellence: Filius datus est nobis. This Child is the Son of God, of one
being with the Father. Foretold by the Prophets, he was made man by the power of the Holy
Spirit in the womb of a Virgin, Mary. When, shortly, we shall sing in the Creed "... et incarnatus est
de Spiritu Sancto ex Maria Virgine et homo factus est," we shall all kneel. We shall meditate in silence on
the mystery which is accomplished: "Et homo factus est!" The Son of God comes among us, and we
receive him on our knees. "The Word became flesh" (Jn 1:14). On this extraordinary night the
Eternal Word, the "Prince of Peace" (Is 9:5), is born in the lowly and cold cave of Bethlehem. "Be
not afraid," says the angel to the shepherds, "for to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who
is Christ the Lord" (Lk 2:10-11). Like the unnamed and fortunate shepherds, let us too run to meet
the One who has changed the course of history. In the austere poverty of the crib we contemplate "a babe
wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger" (Lk 2:12). In the vulnerable and weak newborn
babe who cries in the arms of Mary, "the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all men" (Tit
2:11). Let us pause in silence and worship! O Child, who willed to have for your crib a manger; O
Creator of the universe, who stripped yourself of divine glory; O Redeemer, who offered your
vulnerable body in sacrifice for the salvation of humanity! May the radiance of your birth light up
the night of the world. May the power of your message of love thwart the proud snares of the evil
one. May the gift of your life make us understand ever more clearly the worth of the life of each
human being. Too much blood is still being shed on the earth! Too much violence and too many
conflicts trouble the peaceful coexistence of nations! You come to bring us peace. You are our
peace! You alone can make of us "a people purified" and belonging to you for ever, a people "zealous
for good deeds" (Tit 2:14). For to us a Child is born, to us a son is given! What an unfathomable mystery is
hidden in the humility of this Child! We would like to touch him; we would like to embrace him.
You, Mary, who keep watch over your all-powerful Son, grant us your eyes to contemplate him with
faith; grant us your heart to worship him with love. In his simplicity, the Child of Bethlehem teaches
us to rediscover the real meaning of our existence; he teaches us "to live sober, upright and godly lives
in this world" (Tit 2:12). O Holy Night, so long awaited, which has united God and man for ever!
You rekindle our hope. You fill us with ecstatic wonder. You assure us of the triumph of love over
hatred, of life over death. For this reason we remain absorbed in prayer. In the luminous silence
of your Nativity, you, Emmanuel, continue to speak to us. And we are ready to listen to you.









Amen!

Mass Schedule and Intentions for Dec. 19 - 27

Dec. 19 Saturday

100 South 8th Street

Arma, KS 66712
(620) 347-4525
Pastor: Fr. Max Biltz

Last Week

Tejay Cleland
Terry Cleland
Pat Westhoff
Cindy & Dave Ashmore
Emil Pronier & Volunteer

Sunday (12/27/15)
8:00am

EMHC:
Fred Bogina
Lector:
Pat Westhoff
Gift Bearers:
Ron & Joan Black
Usher/Greeter: Emil Pronier & Aaron Kreutzer

Tejay Cleland
Terry Cleland
Carol Cole
Jill & Henry Ashbacher
Joyce Klinkon & Frank Grano

Expenses

$25,974.79

Over / (Under)

$5,881.81

PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL

OFFICERS:
Pat Westhoff - Chair, Karen
Pryer - Secretary, Debbie
Amershek, Dustin Ashmore,
Joe Broyles,, Debbie Shaub

PARISH FINANCE COUNCIL:

Fred Bogina - Chair, Members: Joe Polhlopek, Judy Wingebach,
Linda Broyles

PENANCE SERVICES
A penance service will be held Monday, Dec. 21st. at 7pm in
Girard and Tuesday, Dec. 15th after 5:30 Mass in Arma.

CHRISTMAS DECORATING

*We also want to thank the people who made donations to the
Christmas Flower Fund and didnt request a memorial and to
those that donated anonymously.

We will be decorating the church for Christmas immediately

after the 8:00am mass Sunday, Dec. 20, and appreciate any
volunteer help in putting up the trees, garland and decorations.

CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE

PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

The next Parish Council meeting will be Tuesday, January 5,

2016 following 5:30 Mass.

COMMUNITY PANTRY SAYS THANKS!

Community Pantry of Arma says THANK YOU SO

MUCH to our parishioners, both here and in the Arma
Methodist Church, to the many organizations in the area who
gave generously to ensure that those less fortunate would have
a good Christmas. THANK YOU to those who presented the
beautiful Cantata on Dec. 6, the sharply dressed choir, the
musicians, and to our own Mike Doue, who directed the
production. Your giving that night alone made up over HALF
of the funds that were needed to meet Community Pantrys
goals this year! The church was filled to capacity, as were many
boxes with groceries, candy, toys, and some clothing for
numerous families. We keep in mind that feeding the hungry
is one of the Corporal Works of Mercy. You are all appreciated
so much! Linda Vail & Helen Normand, Co-Chairmen

The mass schedule for Christmas is as follows:

Dec. 24 :
4:00pm at Arma

Dec. 25 :
12 Midnight at Girard



8:00am at Arma



10:00am at Girard

CHRISTMAS MEMORIALS

The many poinsettias, flowers, trees and bows decorating our

church for Christmas were made possible by the friends and
family members in remembrance of the following people:
Francis Buche, John & Isabel Beitzinger, Jules & Mary Ginardi,
John & Elvina Buche, Johnnie Albertini, Theresa Hartman,
Carl Broyles, Charles & Virginia Schaub, Joe & Betty Youvan,
Clifford & Sylvia Endicott, Connie Morris, Andy & Beatrice
Ashbacher, Steve & Josie Prasniker, Louis & Johanna Chebultz,
Stephanie Ashbacher Wilson, Henry Goodman, Larry Shilts,
Frank H. Ales, Frank & Mary Ales Family, Jake & Rose
Podpechan Family, Bill & Florence Talarico, Beverly Talarico
Jenkins, the Martino & Talarico Families, Helen & George
Baird, Randy Peak, John Varsolona, Sr., the Arabia & Carpino
Families, Norman & Ina Diedrich, Roy & Eva Smith, Oscar
Cleland, Ray Barto, the Filosa Family, John Barbieri, Mary &
Phil Barbieri, Vance & Babe Pistotnik, Evaughn Boswell, Dan
& Carol Cole Family, Lay & Anna Rons, Lawrence & Julia
Zibert, Marion Rowland, Eugene & Ledia Scassellati,
Lawrence & Winnifred Walsh, Eddie L. Walsh, Eugene
Scassellati, Jr., the Skibbie & Cizerle Families, Marcel & Mary
Normand, the Bogina, Gallagher, Keith & Sweeney families.

CHRISTMAS ISNT JUST IN DECEMBER

Bishop Fulton Sheen said: Christmas is not something that

has happened; it is something that IS HAPPENING!
Christmas is the day when the God-Man says to every person
in the world: My Mother, Mary, gave me a human nature like
unto your own in all things save sin. I have shown you how one
can overcome the worst of human situations and live in joy.
However, what I want to do is take your human nature, as I
took the human nature, from Mary. I want to give you an
infusion of light for your mind, a power for your will, and a joy
for your heart. What does it profit me if I am born in
Bethlehem and am not reborn in your hearts? You will
find that all who have given themselves to me are at peace and
joy. Jesus did bring peace on that fateful night long ago. It
was Gods peace, which means the presence of God in our
lives. If we have Gods peace, we can celebrate Christmas
everyday of the year! As Bishop Kemme said, Everyday is a
gift from God above. Merry Christmas! - Marcel Normand

A big Thank You to our advertisers. Please support them!

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COMMODITY

206 N Weichert Brazilton, KS

620-395-2141

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Improve Your Land - Increase Your Worth

952 W. 47 HWY

WORSHIP COMMITTEE:
Chair - Karen Pryer
EMEs - Joann Black
Ushers/Greeters - Bill Harman
Altar Society - Judy Smerchek
Lectors - Marcel Normand
Music - Jan Harman

Girard, KS 66743

Jim OToole 620-724-8536

620-724-3225 c
Ronnie OToole 620-632-5165 620-724-2754 c
Tim OToole 620-724-8990
620-238-0430 c