Dear St. Teresa Parishioners,
Merry (almost) Christmas! We strongly recommend taking extra time with the Lord in quiet prayer while the church is so beautifully decorated for Christmas; it is sublime.
The greatest game of Tetris ever played turned out to be this week’s bulletin! Pick one up if you’d like to see the game winning masterpiece. Otherwise, be sure to read through the announcements below. Note: the altar server schedule, Lector & Acolyte schedules, weekly calendar, and Mass Intentions Schedule do not appear in this e-mail; you’ll have to view the pdf or snag a printed bulletin to read those.
May God richly bless you and keep you healthy!
AP
P.S. The parish office will be closed from the 27th through the 31st. Jeanne and I will be checking e-mail periodically.
::
Handy Links:
- Deep Cleaning of Church Sign-up
- Eucharistic Adoration Sign-up
- St. Monica Prayer Sign-up
- Parish Website
- Our Lady of Good Counsel Retreat House
Attachments:
Trivia Night Registration Sheet
:: CURRENT, NEW, & UPDATED PARISH ANNOUNCEMENTS ::
Midnight Mass Music: The choir will begin singing at 11:30pm on Christmas Eve (for the aforementioned Midnight Mass).
Christmas FAQ
- Christmas Eve (Friday the 24th) Mass: 4pm
- Christmas Day Masses: Midnight, 8am, 10am, and Noon
- There will NOT be a Saturday 4pm Vigil Mass on the 25th.
- Sunday Mass Times: 8am, 10am, and Noon
- Confessions will not be heard before Christmas Masses (or before Sunday Masses) or on Christmas Day (a Saturday)
- Yes, we are obligated to attend both Christmas Mass and Sunday Mass.
Closed for Christmastide
- Eucharistic Exposition resumes Jan 2
- Parish Office Reopens January 3
- School Resumes January 5th
- RCIA Classes resume January 6th
- Thrift Shop Reopens January 7th
St. Teresa School’s Christmas Concert was held on Monday the 20th in the church. It was a beautiful, reverent performance in honor of our Infant Lord which culminated in Eucharistic Adoration. You are encouraged to view the performance; it is available HERE and has a run time of 49 minutes. You do not have to belong to Facebook to be able to view it.
THANK YOU!
- Father Hottovy, Father Beardslee, and Father Kipper offer their gratitude for all of the cards, gifts, well wishes, prayers, and treats that were given during Advent, for Christmas. Thank you for your thoughtfulness and generosity!
- Many thanks to those who took time to make our church beautiful for the Nativity of the Lord! Many hands were busy cleaning, putting up trees, preparing the altar, and decorating. As a result of your hard work, the church is a beautiful setting for adoration and worship!
- In advance: Thanks to our musicians and choirs for providing music for Christmas Masses; we are so very grateful for the beauty you will add to our celebration!
Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
This beautiful solemnity is not a Holy Day of Obligation this year because it falls on a Saturday. Regardless, we are still encouraged to attend Mass!
These are the Solemnity Mass times:
- Friday December 31st: 4pm and 11pm
- Saturday January 1st at 10am
Yes, there is a 4pm Mass on January 1st which is Sunday’s Vigil Mass.
Trivia Night 2022| January 15
Register for St. T’s 2022 Trivia night! (A pdf of the registration form is attached)
Sat, Jan 15th at Pius X Commons.
6-7pm set-up and social hour.
Trivia Rounds begin at 7pm.
Legalese: this event is not open to the general public; it’s for St. Teresa parishioners. Family and friends are welcome to join parishioners’ teams.
The Marian Shrines Pilgrimage (with Fr. Hottovy) may be moved from March to August, depending on the pandemic.
Seminarian of the Week: Isaac Wahlmeier is the son of Pat & Deb Wahlmeier of St. Michael Parish in Hastings. He is studying Theology 1 at St. Charles Borromeo. Remember to pray for Isaac and for his formation!
Available at Church Exits
- The book The True Meaning of Christmas: The Birth of Jesus and the Origins of the Season by Michael Patrick Barber is a gift to you from the parish
- Feasts and Saints 2022 Appointment Calendars
Eucharistic Adoration
Behold, the Lamb of God. Behold him who takes away the sins of the world!
There will NOT be Exposition from Fri the 24th through Sat Jan 1. The Next Session is Jan 2—Mar 1
When he returned to his disciples he found them asleep. He said to Peter, “So you could not keep watch with me for one hour? Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:40-41
Jesus spoke these words to Peter in the midst of his Agony, the night before he died. But even in times of peace, the Lord longs for our company and love, and is worthy of our adoration. Can you spend just an hour with him?
Hours of Eucharistic Exposition
- Sundays: 1pm-9pm
- Monday-Friday: 9am-9pm
- Saturdays: 9am-4pm
It is important that when Our Lord is exposed in the Monstrance, he is not left alone. Therefore, we sign up for Holy Hours so that we are sure someone is always with him. Sign up HERE.
Open Holy Hours:
- Sundays 3-4
- Mondays 12-1
- Wednesdays 9-10, 10-11, & 11-Noon
- Thursdays 3-4, 7-8
- Fridays 10-11
- Saturdays 9-10 & 3-4
Saint Monica Prayer Sign-up
The LDCCW (Lincoln Diocesan Council of Catholic Women) invites all of St. Teresa’s parishioners to pray for the return to the Church of our youth and all fallen away family members. Our Lincoln Deanery is responsible for praying for this intention throughout the month of January. If you wish to join us in praying the St. Monica prayer, please sign up HERE for one day or more. The prayer to St. Monica is below. Thank you!
St. Monica Prayer:
O God, You are the comfort of those who mourn and the Savior of all who trust in You. Blesse Monica’s loving tears moved You to convert her son, Augustine. Help us who pray to You for the salvation of our sons and daughters too. May we also grieve for our sins and win the grace of Your pardon through the intercession of this Loving Saint, through Christ our Lord. Amen. St. Monica, pray for us!
:: REPEAT PARISH ANNOUNCEMENTS ::
Parish Office | 402-477-3979
The parish office will be closed from Dec 27-31 in honor of Christmastide.
General Hours: 9am-4pm Mon-Fri
- Jeanne Kee: Financial Secretary
Mon-Thu, 9-4 | jeanne-kee@cdolinc.net
- Aubrey Potter: Parish Secretary
Mon-Fri, 9-1 | aubrey-potter@cdolinc.net
Deadline for Bulletin Announcements (send to Aubrey) is Wednesday at Noon.
Online Giving Has Changed!
St. Teresa Parish has a new online giving platform. If you had recurring gifts set up, your account with those gifts has been transferred to the new system. As a recurring giver, you may enter the system using the same e-mail address. However, you will need to set up a new password using the new password link. If you gave online without the recurring gift option, you will need to set up a new account in the new system.
- You can visit the new site HERE (the same as clicking the Online Giving heart in the most-upper-right-hand corner of our parish website).
- The system is now readily accessible using your mobile phone. You may text GIVE to 402-925-9925 to receive a link to our online giving site or use the QR code printed in the bulletin.
Acolyte & Lector Diocesan Training
Men, are you interested in serving the Church as a Lector or Acolyte?
Training is offered through the diocese by Fr. Chris Eckrich. There are two sessions being offered—you need attend only one:
¨ Sat Jan 29th, 2022 from 2pm-4pm
¨ Sat Feb 12th, 2022 from 10am-Noon
Bishop Conley will install new Lectors and Acolytes on February 19, 2022 at Cathedral of the Risen Christ.
If you would like to train for either ministry, please contact the parish office.
Altar Society Prayer Line
An Altar Society Prayer Line has been established to lift up our prayers to God as a parish community. Leva Orationes Deo is Latin for lift up prayers to God. Requests can be made by e-mailing levaorationesdeo@yahoo.com or by calling (the first caller on the list) Mary Pat McBride at 402-314-1296. All intentions will be sent by e-mail to the Altar Society e-mail list. If you want to participate in the phone prayer line, please contact Mary Pat.
:: NEW DIOCESE-wide ANNOUNCEMENTS ::
- PETER JOB OPENING - CUSTODIAN
St. Peter Catholic Church and School is seeking a full-time or part-time Custodian. This position is responsible for housekeeping, sanitation, set-up and clean-up for church and school events. The job requires lifting, standing, reaching and moving tables and chairs. For a full job description and/or to submit your resume, email the Parish Manager at katherine-norman@cdolinc.net.
Holy Hour Friday, January 7, 2022, at 7:15pm at the Pink Sisters’ Chapel: 1040 S Cotner Blvd. Singing will be led by the Sursum Corda Choir (Daniel St. Hilaire).
Holy Land Pilgrimage: It looks like the pilgrimage to the Holy Land on May 9-19, 2022, will be able to travel, as long as we have enough interest in the trip! Because tourism is down, and crowds will be less, this will be a great time to visit the Holy Land! Currently, vaccinated and non-vaccinated individuals are welcome to Israel and Palestine but both persons will be subject to a COVID test before flying and after arrival in Israel. Protocols differ slightly depending on vaccination status. The requirements have been changing every 1-2 months so there's hope they will continue to loosen. Cost is about $4000 per person. See itinerary and details at stmarysdavidcity.org or tektonministries.com. Contact Fr. Jay Buhman (402-367-3579) with ANY questions.
:: REPEAT DIOCESE-wide ANNOUNCEMENTS ::
Pius X Thunderettes Dance Camp is January 29th, 2022 from 9:30am until 2pm at Pius X High School. You can sign up HERE.
Creighton Model FertilityCare System Creighton Model is a women's health science that allows users to learn more about their fertility and in conjunction with NaProTECHNOLOGY treat many reproductive disorders. Introductory sessions are available in person or online. For more information or to register, visit, https://lincolndiocese.regfox.com/creighton-introductory-session