First Sunday of Advent November 27, 2016

BE PREPARED

Be prepared. It’s that simple. As this Advent season

opens before us, the Lord Jesus summons us to stand ready for

his coming. At this time of year much of our attention is fo-

cused on being prepared for the details that accompany the

holiday season. We purchase gifts; we decorate our homes,

inside and out; we prepare foods that we eat only during the

holidays; we write and send Christmas cards; we attend holi-

day concerts; we prepare either to welcome family and friends

into our homes or arrange for visits to their homes. We really

can’t escape the details that make up the season. Perhaps this

Advent is a time to attend to all those details with a different

spin. As we prepare to celebrate the feast of Christmas, why

not be deliberate about acknowledging the presence of the

Lord as we go about these tasks? The Lord often comes to us

in wonderfully surprising ways. Let us be prepared

Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.

St. Anthony Catholic Church PARISH OFFICE: 364-6150 FAX: 364-0969 SCHOOL OFFICE: 120 W. Park Ave. Phone 364-1952.

**In case of an emergency Email: frneusch@gmail.com or 806-570-5706** Parish website www.stanthonyscatholicparish.com

Parish Office Address 114 Sunset Drive in Hereford, Texas 79045 PARISH PASTOR — Rev. Fr. Anthony Neusch DIOCESE of AMARILLO — Bishop Patrick Zurek

Sign up for R.C.I.A and Small Groups Adult Faith Formation email janiebanner1@wtrt.net or call 364-6150 or 364-7626

Send bulletin art & articles to Jasmin Enriquez at jme.stanthonys@gmail.com by NOON Wednesday morning of week prior. Parish Office is open Mon. 10AM– 12PM, 1PM-5PM, Tue.—Thurs. from 9AM-12PM, 1PM—5PM w/ early closing on Fridays 9AM-12PM, 1PM-4PM during School

Session. Closed holidays, holy days and for some funerals & staff meetings. WELCOME NEWCOMERS: Please notify the church office of your arrival or if any changes in phone or address are made.

CONFESSION: Wednesdays @6:30am-7am & 6-6:45pm. Thurs@6:30am-7am. Fri.@7am-8am. Sat. @4-5:30pm. and Sun.@7:45am-8:45am and after the 9 AM Mass until 11 AM. Any time by appointment. Call the church office. NO confessions ON TUES. Priest’s day off .

BAPTISM PREPARATION CLASSES: 4th Wed of each month. MUST Pre-Register in the church office. Watch Bulletin for dates

WEDDINGS: Couples must be members of the Parish. To begin wedding preparation, please call for an appointment with the pastor at least six months prior to planned wedding date. Pick up a marr iage packet with all the wedding guidelines from church secretary.

SACRAMENT OF THE SICK: Call 364-6150 day or night. OR during office hours to schedule the Sacrament of Anointing prior to surgery or if health is serious or an accident has occurred. It is a Sacrament of healing and comfort, not necessarily of the dying.

First Sunday of Advent NOV. 27 2016 RCIA will NOT MEET, Thanksgiving Holiday!

NO Elementary F.F.C. Classes will resume the following week. Vocations Crucifix: 5PM: Geraldine Bar tels 8:45 AM: Herb and Elizabeth Vogel 11:30AM: Volunteer 9:45-11AM -- Study of Weekend READINGS in Library. 5PM HOLY HOUR MONDAY— 7:15AM Mass 7 PM Knights of Columbus Mtg. TUESDAY—5:30PM Mass 7-8 AM Men’s Lectionary Study Group: A/R. 6PM 24hr. Adoration Begins WEDNESDAY— 7:15AM Mass 9:30 am - 11 am Women’s Lectionary Study - Books are still available at $3 in church office. 6PM 24hr. Adoration Ends. NO J r . High and High School F.F.C: Teacher Mtg. THURSDAY—7:15AM Mass 6:30 PM PTO Mtg. FIRST FRIDAY— 8:15AM Mass | NO 5:30 pm First Friday Mass. 7-8AM Fri. morning study: A/R. All welcome! 7 PM Lessons and Carols at the Church

SAT. 5PM LITURGY DEC. 3, 2016

Vocation Crucifix taken by Volunteer Second Sunday of Advent DEC. 4, 2016

8:45AM: Dismissal of RCIA after Homily, followed by topic—A/R Second Collection Black Bag for Charity

10AM: Elementary F.F.C in school classrooms. 9:45-11AM -- Study of Weekend READINGS in Library. Vocation Crucifix 8:45AM Mass: Volunteer 11:30 Mass: Joe & Diana Cabezuela Christmas Trees go up in the church. 5PM HOLY HOUR

LITURGY INTENTIONS

ALTAR SERVERS

Mon.7:15AM All Souls Tues. 5:30PM All Souls Wed.7:15AM All Souls Thurs. 7:15AM Jimmy Ruiz RIP FRI. 8:15AM Sis. Mary Rose Zimmerer Health SAT. 5PM Misti McNutt RIP SUN. 8:45 AM Michael Franks RIP SUN. 11:30AM People of the Parish

Lector Schedule for Dec. 3/4:

5 PM Mass: Renee Kuper and Roy Kuper

8:45AM Mass: Janie Banner and Paul Betzen

11:30AM Mass: J im Brockman and Dennis Detten

Mon.7:15 AM Braylon Nielsen and Sydnee Nielsen Tues.5:30PM Luke Perez and Johan Grotegut Wedn.7:15AM Greg Urbanczyk and Colton Urbanczyk Thurs.7:15AM Hope Mariscal and Faith Mariscal FRI. 8:15AM School Student SAT. 5PM Anthony Tijerina, Matthew Tijerina, Kaison Hacker and Josef Grotegut SUNDAY 8:45AM Benjamin Newton, Victoria Betzen, Paul Betzen and Erin Jesko SUNDAY 11:30 Logan Chesher, Kakee McIntire, Cristian Jaime and Aron Diaz

40 rosaries were prayed for Vocations, the last several weeks. Thank you all so much!

STEWARDSHIP of TREASURE Nov. 19/20 2016

Envelopes– 56 Loose Checks– 40

Envelopes/Checks $8,786.00

Plates $1,159.81

Children $127.68

Total $10,073.49

Second Collection Catholic Campaign for human development $765.25 FINAL Total = $10,838.74

All Altar Flowers, are in HONOR of Steve and Margo Cortez 35th wedding anniversary and in HONOR of Catherine Cortez! Congratulations on your 35th wedding anniversary and God Bless!

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion Schedule for Dec. 3/4:

5PM Mass: Janie Banner , Jens Brorman, Jennifer Casarez,

Lisa Garcia and Steve Cortez (L)

8:45AM Mass: Tom Albracht (SC) Fr itz Backus (SC) Ray

Berend (SC) Robert Zepeda (SC), Amy Betzen, Virginia

Bordayo and Rick Bordayo (L) SICK CALL ONLY: Robbie Blakely and Raul Casarez

11:30AM Mass: Eileen Alley, Dayleen Castillo,

Suzanne Carrasco, Aracely Correa, Rosa Garza, Aida

Lemus and Monica Valdez (L)

ATTENTION PARISH FAMILY: The Church Office will be closed December 26

thru December 30, for a church office clean out! We will be re-organizing and cleaning out the church office, appoint-ments can still be made for that week.

Each family is encouraged to pick up a parish-

provided copy of "Prepare His Way! - Hope and Heal-

ing, Justice and Peace for Advent" with reflections by

Pope Francis, St. Mother Teresa and Fr. Henri

Nouwen. Take copies to other members of your family

who may not be able to come to Mass. Your parish offers

these to help you as individuals and families to have a

happy, holy and more peaceable Advent Season.

Rosary for Priests and Religious Life. A small group will lead in prayer after the 5:30PM Tuesday Mass, anyone who would like to stay and pray the rosary for priests and

religious life are more than welcome.

Vocation Crucifix! In need of volunteers to sign up for the Vocation Crucifix. Please call the church office if you would like to sign up to take the Vocation Crucifix, for a

week of prayer for vocations. Thank you.

You can help support St Anthony School by

purchasing a $5.00 raffle ticket for the Catholic

Schools Sweepstakes. All monies from the sale

of the tickets go immediately to our school.

Catholic Life Insurance is sponsoring the

Sweepstakes and has donated one grand prize

for the entire Sweepstakes. The 2017 Grand

Prize includes the Choice of 2017 FORD F‐ 150

TRUCK OR 2017 FORD FUSION SEDAN Or

$20,000 Prepaid VISA Credit Card Best of all,

if you purchase

a ticket from

our school, you

could win a

$1,000 Prepaid

VISA Credit

Card. Students will be selling tickets starting in

October at the weekend masses.

"Thank you to St. Anthony's Parish and the Hereford community for making the Fall Harvest Gala such a huge success. St. Anthony's Catholic School is extremely blessed by your contributions, support, and attendance at this event. Karnival Krazy will be back for the hun-dredth year of our school's history. We look forward to seeing your at the next Gala! ! We would also like to thank the following table spon-sors and major donors: Platinum Table Sponsors: Barrett & Crofoot, Deaf Smith Comfort Air, Hereford Plumbing, First Financial Bank, GO Foods, Ryan Wieck Farms, St. Anthony's Parish, Wilbur Ellis Gold Table Sponsors: Frank & Jeri Bezner Family and Friends, Ed-ward Jones (Kevin Knight), Paul Mason Family and Friends Silver Table Sponsors: Meador, Slovacek, Caperton and Cabezuela Families, AG Specialist, Betzen Bunch, Deaf Smith Comfort Air, First National Bank, Gerald and Denise Marnell Friends and Family, Hart-man Friends and Family, Hereford Vet Supply, M1Cattle Co., Berend Farms, Hereford Health Mart Pharmacy, Riley, Eaton, and Estep fami-lies, Betzen, Backus, and Paetzold families, Blake and Amy Yosten Family and Friends. Major Donors: Wade Easley, Panhandle Pallets, Kevin Buse, Gregg Yosten, Frank Bezner, Ron Weishaar, Renee Zinser, Kevin Knight,

Chris and Judith Grotegut, Jiselle Hand, Charles Estep Other Donors: Hereford Federal Credit Union, Mendez-Mullins Funeral Home, 19th Hole, Keeter's of Tulia, Randy Friemel, Paul Mason, Cheryl Betzen, Ty & Robin Cranmer, Lee Scheetz & Borderline, Double D Shooter Supply, Top of Texas Millwrights, Spicer Gripp Founda-tion, NORAG"

REPAIRS: After Thanksgiv-ing repairs on the church roof will begin.

From the desk of our pastor, Father Tony Neusch.

NOVEMBER and DECEMBER CALENDAR NOV. 27—NO Elementary F.F.C, Thanksgiving holiday weekend. NOV. 27—NO RCIA meeting, Thanksgiving holiday weekend. NOV. 28—Knights of Columbus Mtg. at 7pm NOV. 30—NO F.F.C. Teacher Mtg. DEC. 2—NO First Friday Mass: anointments, if needed, will be at the 8:15 AM Mass. DEC. 2—Lessons and Carols 7 PM DEC. 4—Christmas Tree’s go up in the church. DEC. 6—100th Year Committee Mtg. 7 PM: A/R DEC. 8—NO School and Office Closed, Holy Day of Obligation. DEC. 8—Parish Committee Mtg. 6:30 PM DEC. 10—1st Penance Service at 3 PM DEC. 11—Parish Holiday Meal, 1 pm—3 pm DEC. 11—Christmas lights and wreaths go up. DEC. 12—Advent Mission with Eben Emerson: 6 PM DEC. 13—Advent Penance Service at 6 PM DEC. 15—Christmas Program at 6 PM DEC. 15—Finance Mtg. at 6:30 PM DEC. 18—NO F.F.C: Christmas Break DEC. 21—NO F.F.C: Christmas Break

Water follows the path of least resistance, and if there is a way for water to get into your home it will. It flows downhill. Rivers flow from the continental divide to the shore. In a real way from the earth’s spines to her fingers and toes. But the nations will stream upstream as it were. The Prophet Isaiah tells us that the nations like water, “shall stream to the mountain of the LORD’s house, and many peoples shall come and say: “Come, let us climb the LORD’s Mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may instruct us in his ways, and we may walk in his paths.” The days are coming. When instead of following the rivers to the seas, floating along the whims and cares of the days, the people will become an overflowing torrent surging upstream to the Lord’s mountain, to the Lord’s house, where our only concern will be to learn at his feet and to walk in his steps. Come Lord Jesus, quickly come.

Eben Emerson is the husband of Dr. Jennifer Emerson and the proud father of Benjamin, Catherine, and Eliza-beth. Eben holds a BS and an MS in Biblical studies and has extensive ministry training. Eben served a mis-sionary for the Churches of Christ for 3 years in Mexico City and Ecuador. Upon his return from Latin

America he served as a minister for Spanish and English speaking churches of Christ for several years. After an extensive study and lots of prayer Eben came home to the fullness of Christ’s Church at the feast of Christ the King in 2008. Since his conversion Eben has been very active in teaching and speaking. He has appeared on EWTN’s “Journey Home” and EWTN’s “Deep in Scripture.” He has taught deacon formation classes in the Diocese of Lubbock and has been blessed to teach in multiple parishes in and out of the area. He is the author of Catholic on Purpose and currently is the High School Religion teacher for Christ the King High School. Eben enjoys playing golf, hunting, and spending time with friends. He is eternally grateful for His recep-tion into the Catholic Church and hopes and prays he can be of service.

Prepare to Hear This Man Bring our Parish ADVENT Mission! Please mark your calendar and make plans to attend this year's Advent Mission Talk on "Baptism" and what that means for each one of us. The evening of Monday, December 12th, we - Saint Anthony Church - hope to welcome Eben Emerson to a church full of folks preparing hearts for a never-new and holy Christmas Season following another blessed Advent! Make it a priority and invite friends, family and neighbors to join us!

The annual Holiday Meal for the par-ish is being planned for December 11th at 12:30. Anyone who would like to help with decorating one or more tables

this year, please call Carmen Flood at 289-5381. Each table is different, and each is uniquely beautiful. Your gift to your parish family. Come join the fun!

DISTINGUISHED GRADUATE Nominations for Distinguished Graduate of St. Anthony Catholic School are being accepted. A link to the form is below. Forms can be filled out and printed off or email it to mrscopeland@stanthonysaints.com or mrsmcnutt@stanthonysaints.com. Hard copies of the nomination form are available at the school office. http://stanthonysaints.com/media/elem_awards_graduate_2014.pdf

ADULT Small Groups for Faith Formation and Study/Sharing - All Materials available.

——————————————— TUESDAY mornings year-round 7-8 AM

Men's Lectionary Study in Antonian Room (study of the upcoming weekend Readings)

————————————————- WEDNESDAY mornings 9:30-11 AM - Sept. 7 Women's Lectionary Study in Antonian Room

(study of the coming weekend Mass Readings plus a chapter from Rediscover Jesus by Matthew Kelly)

————————————————- WEDNESDAY morning 9:30-10:45 AM Residents and Friends Lectionary Study

in Kings Manor Midway down Hall 800 with Al Simnacher. Call 364-6844.

———————————————————— Adult Faith Formation group meeting Wednesday evenings in the home of Al and Pat Simnacher (group is full) are studying "The Prayer of Peace by

St. Francis" (author is Hasse) —————————————————

THURSDAY night 7-9 PM "Priest, Prophet, King" video/workbook series

by Fr. Robert Barron in home of Monica Bermea, Frio-na. Call 575-693-3000 for directions and more information

————————————————- FRIDAY Study of “Learning and Living Jesus" by

Luke Timothy Johnson. New book to begin in Advent or in January. Stay tuned. 7-8:05 AM in Antonian Room

————————————— NEW SUNDAY Morning adult group after the 8:45AM Mass in the Library. Material available entitled SUNDAY BY SUNDAY with Sister Joan from Good Ground Press.

While you wait on the children in F.F.C., enjoy fellowship, study and

faith-sharing over some coffee! Have breakfast with others in the cafeteria on designated Sundays and then go

over to the Library. Enjoy growing in faith together! It is what early Christians did and Jesus told us to

continue to do always! ________________________________

SUNDAYS 9:45-11AM -- Study of Weekend READ-

INGS in Library. Coffee available along with materi-als and missalettes. Call Daniel

Jesko at 363-5017 with any questions.

L A D I E S - - - M a r k y o u r c a l e n d a r t o d a y !! NEW BOOK Study "Unleashed" - How to receive everything the Holy Spirit wants to give you" begins the Wednesday following the Thanksgiv-ing holiday. You may pick up your book in the church office the week before we begin. Books $18. Read the introduction and first chapter in preparation. We will meet Wednesdays from 5:15 to 6:15 in the Antonian Room except during holiday breaks.

Please be prompt! - Elaine McNutt, Monica Bermea (facilitators) If you have any questions, call Janie @364-6150 or Elaine at 346-2736.

NOTE for Wednesday Ladies Lectionary STUDY Group We are beginning a new book called "Resisting Happiness" by fun author Matthew Kelly. After looking at the weekly Readings, we read chapter by chapter and discuss how we can be better versions of the Christians we have been. We just completed the enjoyale "Rediscovering Jesus" book by the same author. So, we excitedly invite new members to enjoy growing in the faith, with fun & fel-lowship! The new books are $3 each and will be available this coming Wednesday. Only a couple doz-en have been ordered, so come claim yours or you will be on your own to order this awesome book! Janie Banner, Adult Faith Formation Coordinator 364-6150 or -7626

"W H Y S T A Y C A T H O L I C ? "

ADULTS and YOUNG ADULTS WHO are IN-TERESTED!! Plan to JOIN us!

We will START the NEW Year January 2017 with a NEW book --"WHY STAY CATHO-

LIC?" by Michael Leach (Loyola Press: a Jesuit Ministry) We meet Weekly on FRIDAY MORNINGS in the Antoni-an Room from 7-8:05. We will start promptly at 7 with prayer

and go chapter by chapter through the book together. It comes highly recommended by a sister parish in Amarillo

who found this book before us! CALL Janie at 364-6150 or 364-7626 if you wish to be a part of this small group and get

your copy of the book ORDERED! Books cost around $15. Men, Women, High School Teens, or Youth in College -- are all WELCOME! We must have your RSVP for book or-ders. It is fun to gather, share, discuss and grow in faith with

one another! Coffee is always on! Make

that choice now! Please CALL FOR BOOK ORDER BY DEC. 10. In Christ, Janie Banner

- Parish Adult Faith Formation Coordinator

I would like to thank St. Anthony's parish for the cards, calls, and especially for the prayers during my shoulder surgery & rehab. I'm still going to therapy for at least six weeks. Praise the Lord that I no longer experience the pain that I had for so long before surgery. I pray that the Lord blesses each of you for your concern & all the pray-ers. THANK YOU! - Catherine Cortez.

DEATH ANNOUNCEMENT: Misti Joyce McNutt, 34, passed away November 12. Misti was the wife of Bryant McNutt and they shared 2 daughters Macyn and Petyon and 1 son Levi. A service in celebration of life was Friday,

November 18 in New Braunfels, TX. Misti was the daughter-in-law of parishioners Larry and Elaine McNutt. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Misti’s family during this difficult time.

Thoughts for Reflection: “If what you did yesterday still looks big to you, surely you have not done much today.” —Anonymous

“This life is the time of our preparation for our future state. Our souls will continue for ever what we make them in

this world.” —John Tillotson, Archbishop of Canterbury

Your job is to help your children get to Heaven!