SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT Ι DECEMBER 8, 2019

B A R R O N , C A M E R O N , C H E T E K & S T R I C K L A N D , W I

ASSUMPTION BLESSED VIRGIN MARY P A R I S H C L U S T E R

SAINTS JOSEPH, PETER, BONIFACE &

ONE. HOLY. APOSTOLIC. UNIVERSAL CHURCH. WE ARE CATHOLIC. WE ARE FAMILY. WELCOME HOME!

C O N N E C T ! W I T H T H E W O R D

NCYC 2019: Pictured above. With Father Bala in the center, the cluster attendees pose in Lucas Oil Stadium at the official NCYC sign. Below right shows the procession of some of the bishops, priests and deacons that joined the 20,000+ youth at Mass on Saturday night of NCYC. Participants were able to enjoy inspiring presentations, prayerful sessions, Eucharistic Adoration, reconciliation, Mass, concerts and more! Each individual was deepened in their faith through this event. Thank you to everyone who supported NCYC!!

MESSAGE FOR THE WEEK What does it mean to be worthy? There are a few different ways to approach this question. Today’s Gospel highlights two: the way of the Pharisees and the way of John the Baptist. Our faith values good works and discipleship. Perhaps, then, we “earn” our worth by adhering to the right doctrines and following the right pious practices. The Pharisees thought they were worthy. Due to their religious pedigree and proper proce-dures, they were self-satisfied. John the Baptist’s words to them are strong. “Do not resume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’” Of course, Jesus (and John) don’t omit the responsibility for moral behavior. John gives the Pharisees quite a strong warning in that regard. “Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance … every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” It’s a question of attitude. Of disposition. It’s a matter of the heart. If anyone would be worthy in this scenario, it’s John the Baptist. Jesus himself will name him the greatest of prophets and a great man. John, however, recognizes his own lowly place in the grand scheme of things. “The one who is coming after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his sandals.” The Pharisees take pride in being “better” than others. John embraces humility in Christ being “better” than him. We don’t self-generate our own worthi-ness. We receive it as a gift from God. In a few short weeks, we’ll celebrate the birth of Christ. Bishop Ven. Fulton Sheen wrote about the Nativity in his “Life of Christ”: “Because [Jesus] was born in a cave, all who wish to see Him must stoop. To stoop is the mark of humility. The proud refuse to stoop and, therefore, they miss divinity.” God invites us to prepare our hearts this Advent. When you consider your own life, where are you looking for your worth? This Christmas, are you prepared to stoop?

Mass Schedule

Saturday

4PM—ABVM, STRICKLAND 6PM—ST. PETER, CAMERON Sunday

8AM—ST. PETER, CAMERON 9:30AM—ST. JOSEPH, BARRON 11AM—ST. BONIFACE, CHETEK Tuesday

5PM—ST. PETER, CAMERON Wednesday

7:15AM—ST. JOSEPH, BARRON Thursday

8:30AM—ST. BONIFACE, CHETEK Friday 8AM—ST. PETER, CAMERON

Saturday 4:00 pm † Louie Mujwid by Marge ABVM 5:30 pm Pray the Rosary Before Mass SP 6:00 pm Joseph Boos by Family SP Sunday 7:30 am Pray the Rosary Before Mass SP 8:00 am † All the People of our Parish Cluster SP 9:00 am Pray the Rosary before Mass SJ 9:30 am † Lorraine Sirovatka by Pat SJ 10:30 am Pray the Rosary before Mass SB 11:00 am † Sy Wierzbicki by Janet SB

Monday IMMACULATE CONCEPTION 7:15 am All Cancer Survivors SJ 9:00 am Special Intention for Family SB 4:00 pm † Joseph & Veronica Trinka Family Members ABVM 6:00 pm All the People of our Parish Cluster SP Tuesday 5:00 pm † Tom Trcka by Dave & Mary Ebner SP Wednesday 7:15 am † Clara Cusick by David & Nancy SJ 8:00 am Eucharistic Adoration until 3:00 pm SJ 2:45 pm Divine Mercy Chaplet SJ Thursday 8:30 am † Jake McFaul by Gerry SB 9:00 am Eucharistic Adoration until 3:00 pm SB Friday 8:00 am † Mary Ellen Sailor by Family SP

Saturday 4:00 pm † Kendzior Family Members by Family ABVM 5:30 pm Pray the Rosary Before Mass SP 6:00 pm All the People of our Parish Cluster SP Sunday 7:30 am Pray the Rosary Before Mass SP 8:00 am † Bradley & Irene Robarge by Geri SP 9:00 am Pray the Rosary before Mass SJ 9:30 am † Daddy by Family SJ 10:30 am Pray the Rosary before Mass SB 11:00 am † Albert Drost by Bill Meister SB

SB-St. Boniface • SJ-St. Joseph • SP-St. Peter ABVM-Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Cluster Administrative Office www.sspbandj.org 827 E. LaSalle Avenue • Barron, WI 54812 Phone: 715-637-3255 Fax: 715-637-3252 Email: sspbandj@outlook.com

Ministry Staff Fr. Bala Raju Policetty, Sacramental Minister…..715-292-8681 E-Mail………………………………………… . … bpolice@rediffmail.com Very Reverend John Gerritts …………………….Supervising Pastor Patty Gerber, Parish Director…………………………..715-642-2560 Email…………………………………………….pgerber4127@charter.net Office Staff Marsha Rheingans, Secretary/Bookkeeper Anne Stephens, Faith Formation Mindy Hamilton, Religious Education Coordinator

Sacraments Reconciliation: Father Bala will be present in the Confessional, for Reconciliation at all parishes, 30 minutes prior to all Masses, Tuesday-Saturday; and prior to Sunday Mass at St. Peter; and 9-10am on the1st Saturday of the month at St. Joseph. Reconciliation may also be received following most Masses or by appointment.

Anointing of the Sick: By appointment, please call parish office first. If an emergency, please call Father Bala Policetty directly.

Baptism: Please call the parish office to schedule. First time parents, please plan to attend a baptismal preparation session prior to your child’s baptism.

Marriage: Please make arrangements for marriage prep classes beginning six months before the wedding.

Homebound Communion Communion is given weekly to our cluster homebound parishioners. If you would like to be added to the list, please call the cluster office.

Pastoral Visits: Please contact Father Policetty if you or a loved one would like to be visited.

Weekly Sacrificial Giving

Adult Loose Special Total

ABVM $43 $213 $ $256

STB $1310 $173 $134 $1617

STJ $1081 $53 $65 $1199

STP $927 $202 $26 $1155

Thank you! for your continued financial support!

Your contributions are vital to your parish.

MON

7:15am 9am 4pm 6pm 6pm

Mass, STJ Mass, STB Mass, ABVM Mass, STP Rosary/Morning Star Prayer Group, STJ

TUES

5pm 6pm 7pm

Mass, STP Choir Practice for Advent & Christmas, STP All are Welcome! Knights of Columbus, STP

THURS

8:30am 9am

Mass, STB Eucharistic Adoration, STB

F A I T H F O R M A T I O N RECOGNIZE GOD IN YOUR

ORDINARY MOMENTS Jesus Is Headed Your Way One day, we heard the news that a possible tornado was heading our way. We live off of a highway, and it was traveling along that very road. My wife and kids huddled in the downstairs bathroom. Not many torna-does surface in North Carolina, so our children were particularly worried because it was something they had never contemplated happening before. The torna-do never did come into our neighborhood, but it did cause one of our sons to express that he needed to go to Confession as soon as possible. He hadn’t done anything too over the top sinful, but coming face-to-face with a tornado caused him to have some sec-ond thoughts about his preparedness for meeting God. Hopefully, a tornado doesn’t make a path through your city or town this Advent. Sometimes, re-minders of our mortality find their way into life. The passing of a loved one, a car accident, or a health scare can all cause us to reflect on where we are in our relationship with God. Without those moments, we can find ourselves living daily without a mindfulness of where God is in our life and if our actions are pleasing to Him … or if they drag us further away into the world. Advent is the time to take inventory of where we are with God. How are we living as good stewards and mature disciples? What do I need to make amends for in the healing power of the sacrament of Penance? A tornado may not be coming, but Jesus will be returning someday. Hopefully, you will run out-side of your home to meet him, and he won’t find you huddled up afraid in your bathroom. Tracy Earl Welliver, MTS

WED

7:15am 8am

Mass, STJ Eucharistic Adoration, STJ

Would you like to experience some Christmas joy?

How about adopting a family for Christmas?

St. Peter’s Giving Tree w/tags is up @ STP. What fun to pick out gifts and wrap them for a special family. We ask that the

wrapped gifts be returned to St. Peter after the 8am Mass on December 15th.

Spread the joy of Christmas!

Five Barron churches come together to sponsor the GIFT FROM THE HEART program. It provides a gift to help make Christmas a little brighter for children in need. Parishioners interested in participating may pick up hearts before and after Mass on Saturday, December 7th, and Sunday, December 8th. Information specific to gender, age and wishes will be provided.

Attitude of Gratitude

Dear parishioners, I thank you for your support and prayers as well as the sixteen new Sponsors during my recent visit to your parishes on behalf of UNBOUND. The children and elderly will benefit greatly and help them to escape the “prison of poverty.” If others wish to serve as a sponsor for UNBOUND, go online to UNBOUND.ORG and follow the prompts. I enjoyed my time with the parishes over that weekend with your warm hospitality and prayerful liturgies. A special thanks to the many parishioners for their warm hospitality and helpfulness in the completion of the weekend as well as the volunteers who helped manage the tables and registration. You are all in my prayers. Sincerely yours in Christ, Fr. Bill Kulas, UNBOUND

FRI

8am

Mass, STP

SUN

8am 9:30am

11am 9am

Mass, STP Mass, STJ Our Lady of Guadalupe Potluck, STJ

Mass, STB Knights of Columbus Pancake Breakfast, STP

SAT

4pm 6pm

Mass, ABVM Mass, STP

P R A Y E R S & P R A Y E R F U L O P P O R T U N I T I E S

Please Pray For: All of our cluster parishioners in hospitals, at home and in the nursing

homes & for those in the Armed Forces. Especially for: Adeline Tadel, Laura Johanson, Jackie Brohman, Ida Nevin, Declan Fisher, Judy Lentz, Joan Krug, Joyce Trotter, Darlene Townsend, Dc. Jim and Barb Dennis, Diane DeMars, Nancy Kukla, Jo Ann Lundequam, Sandy Garr, Marie Green-bush, Pam Luethi, Jim Haas, Doug Rutledge, Joan Fostvedt, Judi Peltier, Joe Puziewicz, Norma Licht, Joel Rivera, Carye Marach, Pat Lutz, Karen Burch, Jim Purfeerst, Allen Klingelhoets, Bob

Anderson, Debbie Anderson, Andrew Purfeerst, Barb Greene, Janice Flynn, Mike Haselhuhn, Naomi, Marilyn Ross, Betty Livingston, Burnie Adams, Jane Adams, Kristina Chappell, Mary Weber, Shirley Richter, Jimmy Rippy, Dorothy Wilson, Cece Nelson & Beckie Lipp. To be added or removed, please contact the parish office.

CLUSTER COMMUNAL PENANCE SERVICES FOR ADVENT

THURSDAY, DEC.12th, 6pm @ STP

MONDAY, DEC. 16th, 6pm @ STB

THURSDAY, DEC. 19th, 6pm @ STJ

W I T H S Y M P A T H Y

Please remember in your prayers our parish family members who have died and those who mourn

them. May they be raised with Christ into Glory:

Jodean Lindemer Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord, and let

perpetual light shine upon them, may their souls and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the

mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

On Wednesday, December 11th, all are invited to

the annual diocesan-wide Advent Adoration Event at St. Joseph’s in Rice Lake, from 4:30p—7:45p. Nationally known Catholic speaker & au-thor Jon Leonetti will offer two humorous and in-spiring talks. A supper is provided in between, and a Holy Hour will follow—including the oppor-tunity for Reconciliation. The event is FREE. All ages will be graced by this opportunity to take time during the busy season to focus on the most important things and approach Christmas with an extra sense of joy and peace.

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION of the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY MASSES

MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2019

7:15am @ St. Joseph, Barron 9:00am @ St. Boniface, Chetek 4:00pm @ ABVM, Strickland 6:00pm @ St. Peter, Cameron

Knights CORNER

Next council meeting to be held December 10th, 7pm at St. Peter church in Cameron.

Taking on one more cluster event of serving the Faith Formation dinner on the third Wednesday of each month along with Pancake Sunday on the third Sunday of the month makes for an another busy month for us. Each one of these events have been a lot of fun to work and, a great way to meet more members of our community. "IT'S ALRIGHT TO SAY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ME" buttons have been well received, they are being seen all over the community.

C L U S T E R N E W S

Call the office or sign up at the back of St. Joseph to help ring the

bells for the Salvation Army!

GOLDEN MASS The weekend of December 14-15

begins the third week of Advent. On that weekend St. Peter's has traditionally acknowledged that time with a Golden Mass and will do so again this year. At the Offertory, Mass attendees are invited to come forward with contributions for the local food pantry. The contribution may be food, other needed supplies (such as paper towels or laundry needs), or a monetary donation. Items may be presented in gift bags which are then made available to the needy who visit the food pantry.

POLISH CHRISTMAS EVE CELEBRATION

Everyone is invited to ABVM after Mass, Saturday, Dec. 14th, to ob-serve Wigilia—(pronounced vee-

gee-lee-ah) —the traditional Polish Christmas Eve - with a

meatless potluck meal. Before eating, all present share the Optatek (pronounced oh-pwa-tek), the Christmas wafer, a symbol of unity. All transgressions are forgiven and good wishes for the coming year are

exchanged. Christ came to the earth and, literally, comes home to cel-ebrate the festival of our salvation at the family table. Please join us.

Please join us in our celebration

of Our Lady of Guadalupe Next Sunday, December 15th,

after the 9:30am Mass at St. Joseph, We invite everyone to join us for a potluck meal. Please bring a dish to pass. All are welcome!

MIRACLE OF JESUS - FAMILY EVENT! Religious Education Christmas Program

Wednesday, December 18th, 6pm at St. Peter Come walk through the town of Bethlehem with us!

Starting with a ‘stable’ presentation, where youth ‘angels’ will sing for their families as a stable hand recollects the night of

Jesus’ birth and audience members become actors themselves. Following this 30 minute presentation, you’re family is invited to

visit the live animals stable, roam the shops of Bethlehem, including a bakery, spice shop, wool shop and more! This

should be a great experience for all!!!! Extended family and friends are welcome to join us!

The Cluster Knights of Columbus Pancake Breakfast Next Sunday, December 15th,

St. Peter's Cameron, Serving 9 am to Noon Benefits The Many Charitable Works of the Council

Free Will Offering:All You Can Eat!

Some of our young cluster volunteers!