12/5/11  Mon 8:30AM          Communion Service                                           

                 12/6/11 Tues 8:30AM          Communion Service

                     12/7/11 Wed 8:30AM           Mass for Ambrose & Jerome Garavalia by Emaline Garavalia

                     12/8/11 Thurs 8:30AM         Mass for Mary Ann Cota by Mick & Agnes Lucy    

                     12/9/11 Friday 8:30AM        Communion Service

                     12/10/11 Sat   4:00PM         Mass for Janice Jambois by Duane Jambois Family

                     12/11/11 Sunday 10:00AM   Mass for Joan Tautges by Bernard & Marilyn Domke

          

            Confession Schedule:  Saturday 3:30 PM; Sunday 9:30 AM

                                                     

            Lectors

           Saturday, December 10   4 PM Don Curti

           Sunday,  December  11  10 AM Shirley Walleser

 

           Extraordinary Ministers of Communion

           Saturday, December 10    4 PM:  Kathy Pedretti & Sally Emerson

           Sunday,  December  11   10 AM:  Gary Venner & Jayne Ballwahn

                       

           Gifts

           Saturday,  December 10   4 PM:  Steve Brosinski Family

           Sunday,   December  11  10 AM:  Arnie Trussoni Family

 

           Servers

           Saturday,  December 10    4 PM: Lane Buchner, Cassidy & Jenna Trussoni

           Sunday,   December  11   10 AM: Olivia Strasser, Christian & Jordan Gilman

                       

           Sacrificial Giving Tabulation

           Monday, December  5, 2011:  Kristine Vento, Tom & Pam Jeffers

           Monday, December 12, 2011:  Lynn & Jan Lee, Ed Bush

 

           Ushers for the Month of November

           Saturday, 4 PM: Don Curti, Le Roy Emerson, Lynn Lee, Adolph Trussoni

           Sunday, 10 AM: Roger Beck, Dennis Berra, Bob Stevenson, Tom Urbanek

 

           Sacrificial Giving – November 26 & 27, 2011

           Envelopes                                       $ 1,816.00

           Plate                                                 $  242.00

           Votive Candles                                $     34.00

           Steak Fry Advance Ticket Sales       $ 1,983.00

           Endowment                                     $   100.00                                

 

Pastoral Paragraph:  This Thursday, December 8, is a Holy Day of Obligation, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.  Father Cook will be here for Mass at 8:30 AM.

This Sunday we welcome through baptism Bayne Charles Venner, son of Richard and Char Venner.  We congratulate his parents and family and welcome him into our parish family!

 

This 2^nd Sunday of Advent re-introduces us to St. John the Baptist – the voice in the desert who proclaims we should prepare the way for the Lord.  Advent is one of my most favorite seasons of the year as it seems to be a period when we’re called to some inner reflection, some quiet when we can assess what it may mean to us to that God, Jesus, came to earth and became a human person just like you and I.  It’s a pretty awesome thought that God actually put on human flesh and emotion and lived here on earth experiencing many of the same things in life that we experience.  This past Wednesday evening I invited the CCD kids to take a few moments as they go to bed to just absorb the quiet and give some thought to that reality of the Advent Season, what does it mean to me that Jesus came to earth to experience our human life?  I recommend the exercise to everyone.

 

While we are called during Advent to quiet and reflection, it is, nonetheless, a busy time – even here at the parish.  To help with planning, we have printed a schedule of events on the back of the bulletin for your reference.  You may note that we have two Mass times for Christmas Eve: 4:00 PM followed by another Mass at 5:30 PM.  The two earlier times are scheduled to hopefully help alleviate crowding at the earlier, 4:00 Mass that is very popular.  The 5:30 time is still very early and will enable families to have extended evening celebrations together.  We’ll also have a 10:00 AM Mass on Christmas Day.

 

During Advent the Church in the United States takes up a special collection for the Retirement Fund for Religious.  This special appeal assists various religious orders with the expenses associated with caring for the elderly sisters, brothers, and priests in their communities.  As you know, the number of younger, “wage-earning” religious order sisters, brothers, and priests has diminished thus causing financial pressure on the communities to care for their senior members.  This appeal is distributed to religious orders that are in most need of assistance.  There are special envelopes in the pews for your use; simply put your envelope/gift in the collection.

  

On Sunday, December 18 I’d like to invite people to stay after the 10:00 AM Mass to help with decorating the church for Christmas.  Hopefully, it won’t take too long if we get “many hands and feet” to help carry the decorations up from the basement and get things assembled.

  

One more update on the Diocesan Annual Appeal, we have exceeded our goal by nearly $5,000!  Those funds will be rebated back to St. Charles Parish.  I want to sincerely thank everyone for your generosity in supporting the parish and diocese in the Annual Appeal!

  

Blessings to you and your families this Second Week of Advent!  Deacon Richard

 

Steak Fry is scheduled for Saturday December 3.  There will be a Chinese Raffle, Silent Auction with theme baskets, and a Live Auction, The live auction items include a ¼ beef, a quilt, a ½ hog, and a magnificent hand crafted wood Barn. The $500 Cash Board will again be offered selling 40 squares, Gun Raffles, Cash Bar and tip Boards are just some of the festivities. Dinner will be served from 5pm – 8 pm at the Sportsman’s Club in Retreat, WI.  It promises to be a most enjoyable evening. 

 

Christmas Friends and Family Luncheon You are invited to the annual Friends and Family Christmas lunch Monday, December 19, 2011 at 11:30AM. Please send the RSVP form back to St. Charles school office no later than Tuesday, December 13, 2011 so that we have an accurate count.

 

Holy Trinity Parish The LaCrosse Ensemble will perform music of the Christmas season at the Holy Trinity Parish (13^th Street and Park Avenue, LaCrosse) on Thursday, December 29^th at 7pm. A freewill offering will be collected to benefit the parish youth ministry.

 

Garage Sale moved to Genoa Motel garage on 712 Water St in Genoa, 2 blocks down the hill from St Charles, and left on Water St.  Julie graduated from St Charles, attended Aquinas for 2 yrs and Wayland Academy in Beaver Dam for 2 yrs.  When Viet Nam was still raging, she enlisted in the Army and spent 2 yrs in Germany.  Upon her return she enrolled at UW LaCrosse and received her bachelor's degree in languages, specifically French.  She was 24 yrs old with a 3.8 GPA and engaged to be married when her life was cut short in a tragic accident.  Her parents started the scholarship at UWL and it has been awarded every Spring since 1982.  We have mostly new and Christmas items for sale to raise funds for the scholarship in 2012.  There are Multi-family and new items arriving weekly.  Open on Sunday, December 11th 9am – 1pm. Any questions call Anne Z. Muirhead 903-421-4701 or 608-689-2339  annegenoa@hotmail.com.
 

Salvation Army Bell Ringers Once again we are looking for volunteers to help with the Salvation Army Bell Ringers.  Last year approximately $10,175.00 was raised and donated to fire victims, needy families, Vernon County food pantries, Toys for Tots and 62 students in need of school supplies.  Four locations are included in this Bell Ringing: Wal-Mart (outside), Agri Center (outside), Village Market (inside), Viroqua Food Coop (inside).  Ringing schedules can be from 1-2 hrs or you may schedule longer if you wish.  Ringing will begin November 18, 2011 thru December 27, 2011.  We also have Kettles for table top donations if you know of a business interested in setting up a display.  My contact information is gilardi2@frontiernet.net.  Thank you, Linda Gilardi

 

Mary, Mother of the Church will be holding their 5th annual cookie walk/ craft sale at the St. Thomas More School Bldg - 2006 Weston St., LaCrosse on Sat. Dec. 10th from 8:00 until 1:00.  Cookies are priced at $5.50 a lb.  Also available will be candy, pies, breads plus a large selection of crafts including quilted table runners, homemade caps, mittens, plus a large variety of items.  Coffee and pastry will be available from 8:00 until 11:00.  Homemade soups and chili will be available from 11:00 until 1:00. There also will be raffles, door prizes and a visit from Santa.

Contact person - Carol Breidel at breidelrich@charter.net

 

Church Bulletin Please forward your information for the church bulletin to the St. Charles School office by Wednesday of each week at 689-2642 or stcharle@mwt.net

 

Christmas Poinsettias Once again, it is time to order our Christmas Poinsettias.  We have until December 14, 2011 to place our order. Please place your order along with your name and amount in an envelope and place it in the collection basket at Mass or drop off at the St. Charles school office.  Small Poinsettias with 1-2 stems are priced at $12.00 and large Poinsettias with 3-4 stems are priced at $21.00.

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Christmas Poinsettias

 

 Name: _______________________               Qty Small:__________________

 

Qty Large:____________________               Amount Enclosed:____________