Covenant – A kinship bond, a solemn agreement, a sacred relationship between God and humans or between

two humans involving mutual commitments or guarantees.

The LORD also declares to you [King David] that the LORD will make a house for

you: “When your days have been completed and you rest with your ancestors, I will

raise up your offspring after you, sprung from your loins, and I will establish his

kingdom. He it is who shall build a house for my name, and I will establish his royal

throne forever. I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me. If he does

wrong, I will reprove him with a human rod and with human punishments; but I will

not withdraw my favor from him as I withdrew it from Saul who was before you.

Your house and your kingdom are firm forever before me; your throne shall be

firmly established forever. ~ II Samuel 7:11-16

In the first reading, we hear about the infidelity of the “princes, the priests, and the

people of Judah” (I Chr 36:14). God made a sacred promise to King David to raise

up from him a kingdom that would be firm forever. In the intervening years between King David and King

Jesus, many people wondered if God was indeed keeping His Holy Covenant. They ultimately lost their

sovereignty and were conquered, exiled, and ruled by foreign leaders. The Jews became a scattered people

subjugated to worldly empires. How is it that God was being faithful? As we know, the people were in part

receiving the natural consequences of their failure to live as God’s Holy People. They abandoned the Law and

the preaching of the Prophets. They trusted in foreign ‘gods’ and worldly power, rather than remain steadfastly

the Lord’s. Fortunately, God worked in and through their apparent suffering and hardships. Until the time of

fulfillment, preached and proclaimed by Jesus. “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand.

Repent, and believe in the Gospel” (Mk 1:15). This is Jesus’ call to the Jews and the Greeks, to men and

women, to young and old, to each and all, to recognize God’s fulfillment of His holy promise to King David. It

is the fulfillment and upholding of God’s Holy Covenant.

St Mary, Mother of the King of Kings, Pray for us. ~ Fr. Gries

ST. MARY CATHOLIC CHURCH Forming Saints for Christ and the Church

MARCH 11, 2018 FOURTH SUNDAY

OF LENT

512 North Perkins Street Rushville Indiana 46173

Parish: 765-932-2588 School: 765-932-3639 www.stmaryrush.org

Preserving Our Heritage:

Honoring 150 Years, Preparing for Many More Next Weekend, March 17-18, all parish households will be invited to make an in-pew,

3-year pledge for this important next phase of our parish facilities improvements. The

Capital Campaign goal is $900,000. No single household can make this happen. It will be

successful, like most endeavors of the parish, by our joint effort and shared sacrifice.

Please pray and consider how you can contribute.

Join the parish leadership and me in honoring 150 years and preparing for many more!

WELCOME TO ST. MARY CATHOLIC CHURCH 2

Parish & School Maintenance Position: St. Mary Catholic Church, Rushville, is seeking an individual to fill a paid, full time Maintenance Personnel posi-tion with benefits. This person will provide clean-ing, set-up, and light maintenance for the parish and school buildings and parish grounds. The ideal candi-date will be a hard working, faith-filled, and self-directed person with a basic knowledge of building repair, carpentry, and painting, as well as physical fitness to lift and move items. Position could start any time after March to aid transition with Mr. Giesting. If interested, please contact Fr. Gries, with your resume, at 765-932-2588 or frgries@stmaryrush.org.

Each week a picture and bio of an RCIA candidate or catechumen will be in the bulletin. This week, Megan

Lower is the featured Catechumen.

My name is Megan (Ritter) Lower. I am married to Clayton Lower and we have one son, Craiger, age 10 months. I am a graduate of Rushville Consolidated High School and I am currently a stay at home mom. Clayton and I have known each other for 10 years and we were married on July 9, 2016. We plan to renew our vows in the Catholic church at the Easter Vigil. When we got married, we knew we wanted to raise our children Catholic. After having Craiger and he was baptized at St. Mary in November, I wanted to become part of the Catholic church to unionize our household in faith. The biggest surprise to me in my journey to becoming Catholic would have to be understanding that the body and blood (bread & wine), is completely consumed in the Catholic faith. My favorite Saint is Saint Anne, the Saint of Mothers. My favorite scripture passage is Song of Songs 8:6, “Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm. For love is strong as death, longing is fierce as Sheol. Its arrows are arrows of fire, flames of the divine.” My favorite vacation destination would be to take Clayton and Craiger to Alaska to visit my dad and grandparents.

March Birthdays - Nursing Homes and Homebound March 20 - Doris Thoman

St. Mary Youth Ministry News - March 24 - 8:30a.m. - Fill Easter Eggs; 10a.m. - Easter Egg Hunt; 10:45a.m. - Clean Youth Garden. The Youth Group would appreciate candy donations for the Easter Egg Hunt. Candy should be small enough to fit in plastic eggs. Please bring to the parish office before March 22. Thank You!

RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) Class TODAY, March 11, 2018. 2nd Scrutiny. Teaching Mass - Fr. Gries from 12-2p.m.

Calvary Cemetery Committee Meeting: Wednesday, March 14 at 6:30p.m. in St. Mary Catholic School. Members are: Steve Wagner, Kevin Mahan, Jim Todd, Rose Hoeing, Bruce Meyer, David Hoeing, Donald Coon, Dutch Tragesser and Father Gries.

March Food Pantry Needed Items: Cereal and Pork and Beans.

Calvary Cemetery Clean-Up Day - Saturday, March 17 at 9a.m. Please make sure all items that you wish to keep are cleared from gravesites by Friday, March 16.

MARCH 11, 2018 * FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT 3

Sunday Offerings March 4, 2018

Adults (142 Envelopes + 21 Loose Checks $ 9,725.00 Youth (2 Envelopes) $ 5.00 Loose $ 360.00 Total $ 10,090.00 Weekly Budget (2017/2018) $ -8,000.00

+ 2,090.00

Sunday 3/4/18 $ 10,090.00 Regular Maintenance & Utilities $ 80.00 Votive Candles $ 22.00 Food Pantry $ 612.00 Criterion $ 160.00 Black & Indian Missions $ 730.00 Sodality $ 25.00 Preserving Our Heritage $ 300.00 Ash Wednesday $ 25.00 TOTAL 3/4/18 $ 12,044.00 Mass Attendance 3/4/18 - 755

Mass Schedule: March 12 - 18

Monday No Mass Tuesday 6:30p.m. Frederick Mueller Wednesday 8:30a.m. Betty Eder Thursday 8:30a.m Julie Herbert Deal Friday 8:30a.m. Fred & Anna Hahn Family Saturday 5:30p.m. Becky Ernstes Sunday 7:30a.m. David Bedel 10:00a.m. St. Mary Parish Stations of the Cross, March 16 at 7:00p.m.

March 11 - Session 21 March 18 - Session 22

St Mary Catholic Church, Rushville, IN

https://OSVonlinegiving.com/4533

St. Mary Parish now offers Online Giving, a web-based electronic contribution application. We are providing this service so that you have the option to manage your onetime or reoccurring contributions online or with your offering envelopes. This service is safe and secure. It is convenient for you and for our parish staff. Sign up for Online Giving by visiting our parish website at www.stmaryrush.org and selecting the Online Giving link on the home page at the upper right.

Fr. Burkhart Scholarship applications are available in the parish office during regular business hours. Applicants must be attending a Catholic college in 2018/2019. Deadline to apply is April 1, 2018. Late applications will not be accepted.

Choir Practice: Thursdays in church at 7p.m. If you have questions, please contact Nancy Beyer (317-364-0943; nsbjlaj@tds.net) or Cindy Powers (765-561-3776;cindy.powers83@gmail.com).

MARK YOUR CALENDAR! St. Mary Catholic School Green and White Gala April 28, 2018

There have been several vehicle break-ins throughout Rushville. Please remember to lock your vehicles and keep all valuables out of plain sight during Mass.

Staff Rev. Jeremy M. Gries, Pastor frgries@stmaryrush.org Debbie Spaeth, Administrative Assistant dspaeth@stmaryrush.org Jill Kuntz, Administrator Religious Education jkuntz@stmaryrush.org Amaranta Kemple, Youth Group Coordinator akemple@stmaryrush.org Sherri Kirschner, Principal skirschner@stmaryrush.org Ashley Busald, School Secretary abusald@stmaryrush.org

Parish Office Hours Monday-Thursday......8:30a.m.-4:30p.m. Friday………………….8:30a.m.-Noon

Our St. Mary Prayer Line Regenia Ripberger 765-561-1179 Lisa Wagoner 812-593-0790 - 765-663-2444

Parish Council - Chair: Shawn Adkins

Finance Council - Chair: Elbert Gordon

School Commission - Chair: Susan Spaeth

Baptism Call the parish office for scheduling.

Reconciliation/Confession Saturday…4:30p.m.- 5:15p.m. Tuesday…...6:00p.m.6:25p.m.

Marriage

Engaged couples must meet with the Pastor to com-plete initial marriage paperwork at least 9 months before the anticipated wedding date and prior to making any other arrangements concerning the wedding.

Abortion Alternatives Birthline Mon.-Fri. 317-635-4808 Option Helpline 24/7 1-800-712-HELP

Stations of the Cross - March 16 at 7p.m. Servers - John and Megan Alexander Servers – March 17 & 18 Sat. 5:30p.m. Evan Moore, Katie Ripberger, Megan Alexander Sun. 7:30a.m. Hayden Walls, Ivory Herbert, Jacob Amos 10:00a.m. Hallie & Alexis Fenimore, Mitchell Cowan Lectors - March 17 & 18 Sat. 5:30p.m. Ruth Koelmel Sun. 7:30a.m Debby Williams 10:00a.m. Mary Beth Burklow Extra-Ordinary Ministers - March 17 & 18 Sat. 5:30p.m. Kevin Dolan, Alan Niehoff, Steve Richards Sun. 7:30a.m Regenia Ripberger, Susie Odum, Jerry Rudolf 10:00a.m Kevin & Debbie Banks, Amaranta Kemple Ushers for March 2018 Sat. 5:30p.m. Elbert Gordon & Dave Risselman Sun. 7:30a.m. Bob Bridges & Mark McCallister 10:00a.m. Jim Cowan & Greg Koors Ministers to the Sick: March 12 Monica Neuman Mar. 19 Jerry Rudolf Money Counters: Mar. 12 Rose Hoeing, Jane Niccum, Margie Liggett, Linda Shanahan Mar. 19 Nancy Newbold, Lucille Hinton, Donna Land, Linda Shanahan Food Pantry Volunteers: Mar. 14 Mary Ann Harpring, Dave Moeller, Cindy Powers Mar. 19 (Restock) Mary Ann Harpring, Marty Connerly

Welcome to St. Mary Parish! You are invited to stop by the parish office and register to become a part of our

parish family.

New Parishioners

Ministry Schedules ST. MARY CATHOLIC CHURCH 512 North Perkins Street, Rushville, IN

Parish: 765-932-2588 † School: 765-932-3639

LENTEN LADIES Eucharistic Exposition & Reflection

St. Mary Catholic Church 7p.m. - 8p.m.

March 14 - The Book of Ruth March 21 - The Book of Ester

March 28 - The Book of Judith

Abstinence: No meat, those who are14 years and up. Only for health reasons could a person be excused. All Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence.