THE CATHOLIC CHURCHES OF

ST BERNARD 201 Main St. Blencoe, IA

ST JOHN 1009 13th St., Onawa, IA

ST JOSEPH 510 Tipton St., Salix, IA

SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT DECEMBER 9, 2018

FROM FATHER MICHAEL: EVERY LOFTY MOUNTAIN MADE LOW Baruch had one of the more unusual back-

grounds of all the prophets. He was a private

secretary to another prophet, Jeremiah. He lived

during the Jewish exile in Babylon (Iraq). Fol-

lowing Jeremiah's lead, he preached that the ex-

ile would end. He said that the people of Israel

would return home in triumph. Baruch pictures

mountains being leveled to facilitate this home-

coming. The "mountains" are the political ob-

stacles to be hurdled before it could happen. The

church cites this passage to suggest a cosmic

preparation for the coming of the Son of God.

HEROD THE TETRARCH

Luke dates the start of John the Baptist's minis-

try by setting it in the 15th year of the reign of

Emperor Augustus: 29 AD. He notes that Herod

Antipas, son of Herod the Great, was "tetrarch"

of Galilee. The word is related to "monarch"

which means "one ruler". A tetrarch is a quar-

ter ruler. After Herod the Great's death, Rome

decided to divide up the kingdom of Israel so

that no one person would hold all of the power.

Herod Antipas is the king most frequently men-

tioned in the gospels. He later arrested John the

Baptist and sentenced him to death

Questions of the Week:

Adults: In what areas of your life do you need

God’s forgiveness right now? What Advent prac-

tice would assist you in expressing your repent-

ance?

Children: What do you want to ask God to forgive

you for? What can you do during Advent to show

you are sorry?

ST. JOHN / ST. BERNARD Pastor Father Michael Erpelding 712-423-2656

stjohnparishhall@msn.com www.stjohnonawa.com

Secretary / DRE Colleen Maule 712-423-1004 stjohnparishhall@msn.com

Office hours:7 am—2pm Monday, Tuesday & Thursday

7am -Noon 4pm-8:30 pm Wednesday 7am-11am Friday

MASS SCHEDULE : Mon No Mass…………………………………….. 0:00am

Tue Paulette Rice…………….………….. 9:00am

Wed Helen Ryan……..…..……...……(St. Bernard) 7:30am

Thurs No Mass……………………………………………..0:00am

Fri Elmwood…... NH……………………...…….. 9:30 am

Sat No Mass……………………………...….…… 0:00 pm

Sun Bill & Bonnie Kelley……….…...………….... 9:00am

CONFESSION: SUNDAY 8:30 AM—8:45 AM

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Wednesday– December 12 Religious Ed classes...6:45 pm—8:00 PM

Monday, December 24 Christmas Eve Mass @ 4:00 PM

Tuesday, December 25 Christmas Day Mass @ 9 AM

STEWARDSHIP 12/2/18 ST. JOHN ST. BERNARD Envelopes/Loose $ 1188.75 $540.00

Building Fund $140.00

Food Pantry $50.00

E-offering $199.70

Flowers $175.00

Camp/Human $100.00

Total: $2393.45

St. John Registered Families……………………….185

ST. JOSEPH Pastor Father Michael Erpelding 712-946-5635

stjoseph@longlines.com WWW.STJOESALIX.COM

Secretary Mary Lynn Nelson 712-946-5635 stjoseph@longlines.com Cell 712-281-0107

DRE Kathy Jo Mitchell 712-212-3867

MASS SCHEDULE: Mon No Mass…………………………………….…….…...0:00am

Tue No Mass…...……………………………………….....0:00am

Wed No Mass………………………………………………..0:00 pm

Thurs Deceased menbers of Lambert & Kooyman families 9:00am

Fri Elmwood NH………………………….……..……….9:30 am

Sat Cathy Sulsberger…………………………………..4:00 pm

Sun Parishioners of Sts. Joseph, John and Bernard……..11:00am

CONFESSION: SAT. 3:30PM—3:45PM / SUN. 10:30 AM– 10:45 AM

CALENDAR OF EVENTS Wednesday– December 12

Religious Ed classes… All Grades…..6:45-7:45 pm

Monday, December 24 Christmas Eve Mass @ 6:00 PM Tuesday, December 25 Christmas Day Mass @ 11 AM

STEWARDSHIP 12/01—12/02—QQ ST. JOSEPH Envelopes: $2104.00 Loose: $301.00

Debt reduction $100.00 Candles: $54.00

E-offering $120.00 Mow & Snow $

Food Pantry $50.00 Maintenance $50.00

Cemetery 0.00 Flowers : $220.00

TOTAL: $2879.00

St. Joseph Registered Families ……………………...209

St. Joseph Debt October 2018 ………….$196,440.78

St. Joseph Debt April 2017…………………….$324, 880.66

WEEK OF DECEMBER 9, 2018

ST. JOHN DECEMBER 16

LECTORS SERVERS EMS GIFT BEARERS USHERS

Amy Maule Aidan Bosanek Larry Derocher– Elmwood Brooklyn Pekarek, Abby Wessel Carly Miller, Ava

ROSARY Damien, Jordan & Dave Hausman– Homebound Greeters Stangel, Carter Struble

Grace Fouts Andrew Orr Bianca Derocher Adailia D.erocher, Laura Heisterkamp Brooklyn Pekarek

ST. JOSEPH DECEMBER 15-16

LECTORS SERVERS EMS GIFT BEARERS USHERS

15-Michelle Mareau 15- Dylan Waite 15-Michelle Mareau 15– Tom & Doreen Becker 15-Bert Ullrich

16– Kathy Spohr Lydia Harpeneau

Zach Harpeneau

Deb Harpeneau

Tom Becker

16-Rex & Bev Weikel Tom Becker

Mike & Sharon Clayton

15—Rosary

Dorothy Putnam

16-Holly Skinner 16—Judy Milos 15-Greeters

Mike & Sharon Clayton

16-Ron & Margaret

Wood

16–Mary

Holzerland

Kylee McDermott

Charlie Clayton

Greg Sample

Mary Lee Lazarowicz

16– Greeters

Laura Lewis Family

Don & Carla

Cleveland

Stewards

Steve & Kathy

Spohr

Homebound

Pam Eliason

Greg Heisterkamp

Liturgy/ Word

Mary Brady

ST. JOHN/ ST. BERNARD DECEMBER 9, 2018 ST. JOSEPH

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SICK OF OUR PARISHES: Father Patrick O’Kane, Shirley Turner, Esther Mac

Clure, Darlene Ellis, Cheri Gibler, Loretta Simoff, Doe

Walker, Maryann Muller, Pete Mortensen, John Heist-

erkamp, Charlotte Zortman, Rosemary Kirby, Gina

Mortensen, Chris Metzger, Judson Bramow , Sherry

Wince, Ann Langenfeld, Susie Brink & Amy Scurlock If

you know of someone who is ill and needs our pray-

ers, and would like to be listed, or if you no longer

need to be listed, please contact Colleen @ office 423

-1004

St. John 2018/2019 Diocesan Annual Appeal :

Thank you for your generous response to the request of

Bishop Nickless to make a pledge to the Diocesan Annual

Appeal. We have collected $10440.00 toward our parish

goal of $13815.00. That means we only need $3375.00

to meet our goal. For those who have not returned their

pledge card, I am asking, as your pastor to do so next

week. We will meet our goal quickly when you respond

sooner than later!

Please pick up your 2019 calendar in the back of the

Church, courtesy of the Hoffman Agency & The Knights of

Columbus. Thank you!

Christmas Flower Memorials for St. John :

It is wonderful at Christmas time to make a contribution

for Christmas flowers in Memory of Loved Ones. We are

asking for a contribution of $25.00. If you wish to par-

ticipate, we ask that you write the name of your loved

ones on paper,clearly mark your envelope “Christmas

Flowers”, or use the Christmas Flower envelope in your

packet and place in the collection basket. In the bulletin

of December 23,we will publish the names of the con-

tributor and their loved ones.

Don’t forget the bells for the children’s pro-

cession at the 4:00 PM Mass on Christmas

Eve

_______ Just for Laughs ____________ Three vampires walk into a bar and sit down at a ta-

ble. The waitress comes over and asks the first vam-

pire what he would like. The first vampire responds,

"I vould like some blood." The waitress turns to the

second vampire and asks what he would like. The

vampire responds, "I vould like some blood." The

waitress turns to the third vampire and asks what he

would like. The vampire responds, "I vould like some

plasma." The waitress looks up and says, "Let me see

if I have this order correct. You want two bloods and

a blood light?"

REMEMBER TO PRAY FOR THE SICK OF OUR PARISH-

ES: Father O’Kane, Fran Mitchell, Nainna Gnat, Jeri

Greiner, Mike Franken, Loretta Prince, David Bogenrief,

Linda Donnelly, Sue LaCroix, Pam Dalley, Bev Thorpe,

Bryson Harder, Justin Lamoureux, Sophie Helvey, Kim Pe-

terson, Doreen Becker, Kathy Spohr, Glenda Ullrich, Roger

Huot, Stanley Johnson, Tristan Parks, Colleen Ebner ,Bailey

Cleveland, Christian Case, Brady Worrell, Cal Worrell, Con-

nie Wagner, Kathy Clayton, Helen Martin, Carter Lucas. For

all who travel, grieve, those in the military, veterans, their

families and our nations leaders. The candles burning on

the Blessed Mother’s altar are for the military serving in

foreign lands .

DAA Goal is 17, 581, we have collected $10,696.00

keep up the good work we can reach our goal Let’s

get this one done we are a little over half way there

let’s get it done NEED TO GET THIS ONE DONE,

LETS GET THOSE IN !!! THANK YOU…

.

TEAM TRIVIA NIGHT! St. Joseph’s Choir

will host Trivia Night in the Parish Hall on

Saturday night, January 26th beginning at

5:30 pm with trivia gating and a potluck sup-

per. Questions began at 6:30pm. Cost is $80

for up to 8 team members.

SAVE THE DATE!!! We are in need of more Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers,

Communion to the Homebound, Ushers, Greeters,

Stewards, Carry up Gifts Please stop by the Office and

sign up, Need help both Saturday night or Sunday.

Congratulations to Rita Brassfield who will be 94 on

December 16th. We wish her a Happy Birthday and

many more to come to a beautiful young Lady.

”YOUTH GROUP @ St. Joseph

will meet on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of every month at

9:30am

Plus gift wrapping stations on Sunday & Wednesday

December 9

December 16 (Caroling in the afternoon tentatively)

February 16- 2nd Annual Valentine’s Dinner & Movie

Greg 712-444-4843 or Keri Beth 712-204-2805

Jesse Tree @ St. Joseph

December 16th, Zac Waite, Orion Dirksen, Dylan

Keegan, Owen Seggerman, Jack Clayton, Lily

Guntren, Noah Seggerman, Aiden Wimmer,

Katelynn Morey, Khloe Gemberling, Maddie

Tisher

December 23rd, Joe Dewald, Kalla Gemberling,

Noah MacClure, Kayla Gray, Carson Topf, Ella

Skinner, Mike Hansen, Levi MacClure, Jackson

Dewald, Payton Lewis, Tom Heilman, Dylan

Waite, Kyle Eliason, Lauryn Keegan, Kelsi

Skatges, Felisa Skatges

The holidays are coming! Give your spouse the per-

fect gift, the gift of quality time with you for an entire

weekend. Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekends

allow couples private time to focus on their relation-

ship and rediscover the one they fell in love with.

Sign up for upcoming weekends to ensure your spot.

Gift certificates are available by calling the phone

number below/ Upcoming dates: Mar 8-10 La-

Crosse, WI; Apr 12-14 Ankeny, IA; May 3-5 Dubuque,

IA For more information visit our website at: iowa-

wwme.org or call 563-608-3305 or

email jljwwme08@gmail.com

2nd Sunday of Advent- Prepare!

A precious guest is coming- now is the time to pre-pare! It is a season for cleaning houses and hearts, readying ourselves for the coming Messiah. Blow

away the dust of apathy,scrub off the grime of self-ish pursuits, shine the bright light of God’s Spirit in every corner, purging the sin and stain away. Make

the chambers a welcoming place of warmth and hope, charity and love, forgiveness and unity.

Prepare for your King- He is coming soon. Marana-tha!

11 Days, Best of Europe and Passion Play

(Oberammergau) July 31 - August 10, 2020 with veteran Pilgrimage Leader,

Father John Vakulskas

Since this is once every 10 years it sells out fast

First Come First Served

Also Rhine Valley, Heidelberg, Rothenburg, Munich, Lu-

cerne, Paris

Includes air, first class hotels, daily Mass, most meals, daily

tours

and a Category 1, First Class Ticket to the Passion Play

$4599 from Chicago or $4759 from Omaha – Double Occu-

pancy

For full information contact:

Fr John Vakulskas 712.490.8047

The Virgin Mary appeared four times before Juan Diego and

once more before Juan Diego's uncle. The Bishop, not

believing Juan Diego, asked for a sign from the Virgin Mary.

She told him to gather flowers from the top of Tepeyac Hill,

which was normally barren, especially in the cold of

December. Juan followed her instructions and he found Cas-

tilian roses, not native to Mexico, blooming there. The Virgin

arranged the flowers in Juan's tilma, or cloak, and when

Juan Diego opened his cloak before archbishop Zumárraga

on December 12, her feast Day, the flowers fell to the floor,

and on the fabric was the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe.

The most important aspect of her story was that Lucy was a

brave young woman who was zealous to give her life to God.

St Lucy was also well known for her beautiful eyes. Lucy’s

eyes were taken out and God restored her eyes. That is the

reason she became the patron saint for people who are blind

and with eye problems. Her feast day is on December 13 and

often tied to Christmas.