“It is now the hour for you to wake from sleep, for our salvation is closer than when we first accepted the faith. The night is far spent; the day draws near. Let us cast of deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.”
+ Romans 13:11-12
Dear Parishioners,
These words from Romans 13 are from Sunday’s Morning Prayer in the Liturgy of the Hours during Advent. They remind us of the need for repentance and conversion in preparation for the coming of Christ.
Advent is a season in which we look ahead to Christ who has both come and is coming. It is a time for prayer and silence to make room for Christ in our daily lives. You are in my prayers everyday of this much-needed season of hope.
You will find included in this weekend’s bulletin an insert with ideas on how to live fully this season of preparation. Many of the suggestions are ways that we can continue to build up the domestic church, the domestic monastery, of our homes.
The more restrictive, new directed health measures that went in to effect on Wednesday, November 25 (which limit indoor gatherings to 10 people) do not impact religious gatherings, including weddings and funerals. Nor do they impact our current guidelines during Mass.
- Churches may be filled up to 50% capacity (which is what we currently follow).
- We continue to practice social distancing, wearing of masks, etc. (please try to social distance by household when coming up for Communion).
- The option of receiving on the tongue is allowed.
- We continue to disinfect the pews and church between Masses.
Our current Mass and Confession schedule remains the same. On Sundays our 8 am and 10 am Masses are at the point of overflow. For these Masses once we reach capacity, Mass will be able to be viewed on the big screen downstairs in Kaczmarek Hall. At Communion time those in K Hall may come upstairs for Communion.
Continue to pray, fast and sacrifice for our country and the healing of our divisions.
“Come, Lord Jesus!”
Abundant Advent blessings,
Fr. Hottovy
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Handy Links:
- Eucharistic Adoration Sign-Up
- Parish Website
- Parish Facebook Page
- Our Lady of Good Counsel Retreat House Schedule
Attachments:
Christmas Wishlist (for School & Parish)
:: NEW & UPDATED PARISH ANNOUNCEMENTS ::
Please note: The Parish Office will be closed Thanksgiving Day and Friday the 27th.
Eucharistic Adoration Update: Beginning on Sunday the 29th, Exposition will be offered again on these days: Sundays (1-9), Mondays (9-9), Tuesdays (9-9), Wednesdays (9-9), Fridays (9-9), and Saturdays (9-4). (We’d love to fill Thursdays so that we can have Exposition on that day too! Check the signup to see if you’re available.)
Advent is to be a time of preparation, prayer, sacrifice, penance, and conversion. The purple, or violet color represents penance and preparation.
Although Advent is not as rigorous as Lent, it is to be a time of penance to properly prepare for the coming of Christ. We can give something up or fast,
incorporate more prayer, and perform acts of charity, such as participating in our Advent Giving Wreath.
See the Advent Insert for ideas.
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Charity: Advent Giving Wreath
We are encouraged to stop by the Advent Wreath(s) to choose gifts that we are able to give to such charities as Lincoln Right to Life, Catholic Social Services, etc.
Prices for the gifts vary from $1 upward. Please turn them in unwrapped.
You may see the insert for details.
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Advent Family Traditions
which are safe during health restrictions
- Eucharistic Adoration
- Attending or Watching Mass together
- Fast from tech and media
- Scripture Reading
- Advent Wreath with Scripture
- Feast of St. Nicholas: Dec 6th
- Jesse Tree
- Jesus’ empty crib on display
- Remember to allow for silence in your day: shut off the radio, TV, and computer. Add or incorporate meaning to Advent activities, as we need memory and tradition even more during this time.
NEW Job Opening: St. Teresa School is hiring a school office Administrative Assistant, for approximately 30 hours per week, who works well with adults and children, who possesses communication and organizational skills, the ability to work with technology, and a welcoming personality. Duties include: answering phones and greeting visitors, managing accounts and performing bookkeeping, completing and filing reports, completing and processing orders, writing and editing documents, keeping records, and communicating with staff and school families. If interested, please contact Sr. Mary Ruth at 402-477-3358 or sr.mary-ruth@cdolinc.net.
Consider whether you are able to donate items from the Wishlist of the School & Parish. See the attachment for details.
The school needs recycled paper: any 8 1/2 x 11 paper that is blank on one side and free of wrinkles and staples
There will NOT meetings in December for Altar Society or Grand Group.
Holy Land Rosaries
Rosaries of Olive Wood which were handmade by Christians in the Holy Land are available for purchase in the Parish Office (a minimum donation of $10 is requested). All proceeds go directly to the support of Christians in the Holy Land. These make wonderful gifts for sacraments, Christmas,
and all occasions!
Streaming Masses: Clarification
As in the past, 4pm Mass will be live-streamed and available for later viewing. At this time, 8am and 10am Masses will also be live-streamed.
Missalettes
New Missalettes—which begin on November 29th—are available in the vestibule. Please keep the missalette that you take, and use it each week.
Magnificat: Advent Companion: Booklets are available at the exits.
Online Giving: Online giving is a safe way to give to the parish without using envelopes. We
encourage this practice! If you need help beginning, please call the parish office.
The link for online giving is in the upper-right hand corner of our parish website.
www.stlfchurch.org
The Thrift Store Needs You!
- Come join a wonderful group of volunteers who are in need of a coordinator. For over 30 years, St. Teresa has run a thrift store that helps those in need find clothing and household items at low prices. It is also a rewarding and interesting volunteer opportunity for both young and old in the parish. Plus, we help recycle goods rather than sending them to the trash.
- But we need a Coordinator to help keep the store hours covered. This position will only require a few hours each week but comes with a stipend of $200 each month. You can work from home at your convenience. So this is a chance to help out and earn a little money as well.
- We are looking for someone to help run the Sign Up Genius, contact people when slots are open, and help recruit new volunteers. So if you are an outgoing person, please contact Karen Restau at 402-309-9769 for details
Welcome by Baptism: Lillian Clare Hain, daughter of Alexander and Sarah (Tasler). Congratulations!
United in Marriage: Marc and Katie (Thompson) Eickhoff. Congratulations!
Welcome to Our Newcomers Haley Hrnchir and Chase & Ginger Johnson
Seminarian of the Week
Augustine Reimers is the son of Jeff & Patricia Reimers from St. Vincent de Paul in Seward. He is studying Theology 1 at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. Please pray for Augustine and for his formation.
Home for sale: 4244 Witherbee is a 3 bed 1/5 bath being sold for $137,500. Call Bobby Bevins at 402-314-3254
:: REPEAT PARISH ANNOUNCEMENTS (for your convenience) ::
An Altar Society Prayer Line has been established to lift up our prayers to God as a community. Leva Orationes Deo is Latin for lift up prayers to God. Requests can be made by e-mailing levaorationesdeo@yahoo.com or calling the first caller for the phone prayer line: 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 ::
The annual Mass of the Holy Innocents will be celebrated on Monday, December 28th. All are invited to attend this Memorial Mass, especially those families who have suffered the loss of a baby through miscarriage, stillbirth, infant death or abortion. Reading of names will begin at 6:30 p.m. with Mass at 7:00 p.m. This year, the Mass will take place at Cathedral of the Risen Christ Church due to the pandemic and social distancing measures. The Cathedral is located at 3500 Sheridan Blvd., Lincoln. If you would like your child's name to be remembered & placed on the banner, please call the Office of Family Life at 473-0620 before 5:00 p.m. on Fri. Dec. 18th. If you placed your child's name previously, it will remain on the list.
LINCOLN MOTHERS ON A MISSION (MOMs) will be meeting virtually on Saturday, December 5th @ 8:30 am. "Living with Hope this Advent" with Fr. Ryan Kaup. Lincoln MOMs is a group of Catholic mothers searching for fellowship, hope, & joy in our ever-changing vocation. Please check the facebook page or newsletter for the Zoom link for upcoming meeting. Contact us at lincolnmomsgroup@gmail.com or www.facebook.com/lincolnmothersonamission.
:: REPEAT DIOCESE-wide ANNOUNCEMENTS ::
Emmaus Institute A winter course entitled Heaven, Help the Home: Recapturing a Biblical Vision of Marriage and Family will be offered. It will delve directly into the Sacred Scriptures, to the most defining and informing passages on marriage and parenting, addressing such topics as God’s vision and mission for marriage and family, roles of husbands and wives, why we experience conflicts and how to resolve them, how to parent children who love and walk with God, how to cultivate and maintain love and intimacy, and more. Please see enclosed flyer to sign up for this or other class offerings. www.emmausinstitute.net
Healing Hearts Grief Ministry On December 3rd at 7 pm please join Sandy Danek as she explores Grief and the Holidays from a Catholic perspective. Open to anyone who has experienced a loss of a loved one or is suffering from infertility or miscarriage, or those who want to know how to better support a loved one experiencing grief. More information and registration is at https://lincolndiocese.regfox.com/grief. This event will be at the Harbor Coffeehouse and livestreamed, and is free.
Thrift Store Associate – Cashier Lincoln: St. Louise Gift and Thrift Store of Catholic Social Services in Lincoln is seeking a detail oriented person with outstanding people skills to serve our customers as a cashier. This part-time position covers afternoon shifts and includes excellent Holiday and Holy day paid leave benefits. Job Description is available by clicking on the job title above. To apply, please email the application cover letter, and resume to humanresources@cssisus.org. Position open until filled.
General Ledger Specialist: Catholic Social Services is seeking an experienced accountant with excellent analytical and communication skills for the position of General Ledger Specialist. This part-time, 20 hour per week position has flexible tele-commute options and includes a generous Holiday/Holy Day paid leave package. Job Description is available by clicking on the job title above. To apply, please email the application, cover letter, and resume to humanresources@cssisus.org. Position open until filled.
MASS with Prayers for HEALING. December 13, 2020. Cathedral of the Risen Christ, 35th & Sheridan Blvd., Lincoln, NE. Please join together to pray for healing for yourself, your family, friends, for our Church and our Nation.
Remembering our loved ones. Please join us at Calvary Catholic Cemetery and Mausoleum in Lincoln for our annual Advent Remembrance Tree Blessing and Lighting Ceremony at 5:30 P.M. on December 5, 2020. Christmas tree ornaments are available in the cemetery office to take home and decorate for the Remembrance Tree. Please bring the ornaments back to the cemetery office by December 1, 2020 Flyer attached
Register now for the following in-person or online winter classes with The Emmaus Institute for Biblical Studies, running November 30-February 18: Studying Ecclesiastes: A Journey Toward a Meaningful Life, The Historical Books (Joshua-Maccabees), Heaven Help the Home: Recapturing a Biblical Vision of Marriage and Family, and Encountering Jesus in The Gospel of Luke. Learn more and register now at www.emmausinstitute.net
Catholic Social Services provides cash assistance to those struggling to pay rent, utilities, car repairs, and more. Requests taken every Monday morning. Call (402) 327-6211, the line opens at 9am. Contact our Emergency Services Coordinator, Marilu Cazares at (402) 327-6222 or mcazares@cssisus.org with questions.
Calvary Cemetery has a new Burial Space Hold Policy. If you believe you placed space(s) on hold prior to the new policy which was started in 2019, please contact the cemetery at 402-476-8787 to complete the proper paperwork or to purchase the space(s). If you do not contact the office and complete the new form or purchase the space(s) by December 15th, 2020, your hold will be removed from the record so the space(s) can be released back into inventory for other individuals or families to purchase. Call 402-476-8787 for questions or more information. Thank You!
Director of Ground Maintenance: Saint Mary's Church in Lincoln is looking for a Director of Grounds/Maintenance. Responsibilities include janitorial duties, maintenance & repair of equipment & furnishings, upkeep of grounds & maintaining heating/cooling systems. If interested or to apply, contact Father Dietrich at 402-435-2125.