KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS PARISH CHRISTMAS PARTY
Tuesday, December 9
6:00 PM
Parish Center

The Knights of Columbus invite all parish members to their Christmas Party and Potluck Dinner. Be prepared for an evening of fun and entertainment: Christmas carols and Bingo (with many prizes). Council 4549 will provide the meat and beverage. Guests whose last name begins with the following letter should bring: A to J--desserts; K to S-- hot dish; and T to Z-- salads. Mark the date and plan to attend.

ADVENT GIVING TREES

You are invited to take an ornament from the GIVING TREES (one located at the front of church and one at the University entrance) the weekend of November 29and 30. The ornaments suggest a gift for an infant, child or teenager. The gifts will be delivered to our sister parish, St. Francis of Assisi in Milwaukee, St. Vincent de Paul Society in Madison, and Elizabeth House. Please take an ornament and share your blessings this Christmas. We ask you NOT to wrap the gifts; this allows parents to see and wrap the gifts for their children. We can truly be partners with parents in bringing the joy of Christmas to their children. Please tape the name tag to the gift and place in a bag; include the wrapping paper, bow/ribbon, etc. to make it easier for parents to wrap the presents. Please place your gifts under one of the trees on the weekend of December 13-14.

FOCCUS MINISTRY NEEDS HELP!
FOCCUS = For Open Couple Communication, Understanding and Study

If you would enjoy meeting parishioners who are getting married in the Catholic church and assist them as they prepare for their upcoming marriage by chatting with them about married life, please consider joining the FOCCUS ministry here at St. Bernard's. No formal training is needed and each married couple is usually called upon only about 3 times per year. For more detailed information on this ministry, please call the Parish Office at 831-6531 or FOCCUS facilitator, Kathleen Lively at 831-7913.

LITURGICAL MINISTERS

We are in need of liturgical ministers for our weekend liturgies in the different areas and welcome students, men, women, and couples to volunteer. Training will be provided. For more information, please contact Joan at 832-6531, ext. 326; email: joan@stbmidd.org or sign-up online on our parish web site at www.stbmidd.org/liturgical_signup.html.

NEXT BAPTISM WEEKENDS

December 20-21
     After the 5:00 PM and the 11:00 AM Masses
January 24-25
     At the 5:00 PM and the 11:00 AM Masses

BAPTISM PREPARATION CLASS

Before the baptism of a first child, parents are required to attend a Baptism Preparation Class. The next class is scheduled for Thursday, January 15, at 6:30 PM, in the Church.

Please call the Parish Office, 831-6531, to register for the class or to schedule a baptism.

PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY

You are invited to create a beautiful knitted shawl for our friends in need of prayer. The ministry combines knitting with praying as you make beautiful prayer shawls with love and care for those in great need. The idea of this ministry was developed by Victoria Galo and Janet Bristow with the idea to knit a shawl for people and pray for the recipient of the shawl. The completed shawl is delivered to someone in need of prayers, whatever the reason. It is given in love with the knowledge that the recipient has been prayed for. If you wish to participate in this ministry, please contact Adrienne, Parish Nurse at 831-6531, ext. 223.

The Catholic Herald is “Your Link to God, Church, and parish.” If you receive the paper, please read it. If you do not subscribe but wish to receive the paper in your home, please contact the Parish Office at 831-6531. The Catholic Herald is located on the web at: http://www.madisoncatholicherald.org.

DISPOSITION OF RELIGIOUS ARTICLES

The Rosary Makers Group collects rosaries, prayer books, medals, statues, crucifixes, holy cards, or other religious articles that will be donated to LAMP (Latin American Mission Program). All articles can be dropped off at the Parish Office.

KEEPING YOUR PARISH FILES UPDATED

To help the Parish Office keep our parishioners informed of religious education classes and parish events, we ask you to share your email address with us or provide us with an updated address if you recently changed it. This will help the parish staff be better stewards of your contributions by reducing postage, saving paper and labor costs. All email addresses will remain confidential along with your address and phone number. Your email address can be sent to parish@stbmidd.org.
IF:

• you have a change of address because of a recent move
• you have changed your home or work phone number
• your child (18 years and older) left home to establish his/ her own household -OR- plans to remain in the parish,

please call the Parish Office at 831-6531 or email us at the address listed above.

PARISH NURSERY

The nursery, located on the first floor of the Religious Education Center, Room 101, is available for toddlers (walkers) to age 4 during the 9:00 and 11:00 AM Masses on Sundays.

 

He who does not meditate acts as one who never looks into the mirror and so does not bother to put himself in order, since he can be dirty without knowing it. The person who meditates and turns his thoughts to God who is the mirror of the soul, seeks to know his defects and tries to correct them, moderates himself in his impulses and puts his conscience in order.

                                    -- Saint Pio of Pietrelcina

FEAST OF OUR LADY
OF GUADALUPE
Blessing of Statue
Friday, December 12

The image of Our Lady of Guadalupe is more than a picture. It contains symbols (eyes, face, hands, maternity band, stars, sun rays, color and moon) that reveal part of the message that she brought through Juan Diego to the native people of Mexico and to all the peoples of the Americas.

On Friday, December 12, at the 8:15 AM Mass, Fr. Doug will bless the statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a gift from our sister parish, St. Francis Assisi Parish, Milwaukee. It be hung in our Eucharistic Chapel.

RCIA - RITE OF WELCOME

On Sunday, December 14, at 11:00 AM Mass, we will introduce our RCIA candidates to our parish family: Megan Bolhous, Sylvia Colmenero, Kim Fancour, Terrance Henderson, Robert Proctor, Rachael Roiland, Lori Sheehan and Jaime Wyttenbach to our parish family. We, as the Assembly, commit ourselves to support them with prayer and friendship as they continue their journey. Please greet them after Mass and help them feel welcome.

Middle School Fun Night!
Friday, December 5
7:00 to 9:30 pm
Bishop O’Connor Catholic Center

Join other middle schoolers from area westside Catholic churches for a night of video games, karaoke, ping pong, Rock Band, basketball and other table games. It will be a night of fun, fun, Food and MORE FUN!!! Cost is $5.00 and a food pantry item. Snacks are available to purchase - most items are 25 to 50 cents. Permission slips have been mailed out and are due Monday, December 1. Bring a friend that does not attend St. Bernard’s and he/she get in free. (The friend will need a food pantry item and a permission slip). If you have questions, please call Kathy at 831-6531, ext. 327 or mail: kathy@stbmidd.org. Extra permission forms can be downloaded from our parish website at: http://www.stbmidd.org/permission_slip.pdf

CHRISTMAS FAMILY FUN ACTIVITIES
Sunday, December 14
9:00 AM to Noon
Parish Center

We will be having family activities for the children in religious education classes. Children of all ages are invited to make cards and small gifts as Christmas presents for those they love. Parents are asked to attend and assist their children with the activities. Christmas is a time to treasure and build memories, and it is our hope this day will do both. Items made can be taken home and given as gifts. If you have questions, please call Kathy at 831-6531, ext. 327 or email: kathy@stbmidd.org.

DAILY REFLECTIONS
FOR ADVENT & CHRISTMAS

In the especially busy seasons of Advent and Christmas, Bishop Robert Morneau, auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Green Bay, helps us pause and prepare spiritually for the coming of Christ. “Daily Reflections for Advent & Christmas: Waiting in Joyful Hope 2008-09” is a small meditation book that will offer insightful reflections into everyday life in a meaningful and lasting way. These books are provided to you by the parish at no cost and will be available after all masses the weekend of the First Sunday of Advent, November 29-30.

2009 SACRED ART CHURCH CALENDARS

This weekend available at all the church entrances are copies of the 2009 Sacred Art Church calendars for your home and office, compliments of Gunderson Funeral Home & Crematory and Sam Simon & Associates.

IN NEED OF LITURGICAL MINISTERS FOR THE HOLY DAY & CHRISTMAS MASSES

Mass Servers, Lector/Commentators, Eucharistic Ministers and Ushers are needed for:

Christmas Eve - Wednesday, December 24 - 4:00, 6:00 and 9:00 PM
Christmas Day - Thursday, December 25 - 8:30 & 10:30 AM

If you can serve at one of these masses, please use the sign-up sheets located at the following locations:

Mass Servers, Lector/Commentators & Eucharistic Ministers’ sign-up is located at the Parmenter Street entrance to Church
Ushers’ sign-up is located in the Usher’s Room in the back of Church or contact Joan at 831-6531 ext. 321 or email: joan@stbmidd.org.

LECTOR/COMMENTATOR WORKBOOKS
NOW AVAILABLE

Please stop by the Sacristy after the weekend or weekday masses to pick up your copy of the Scripture Workbooks for Cycle B — covers November 30, 2008 to November 22, 2009.

LITURGICAL MINISTERS SCHEDULES

Schedules for the next quarter (January through March) will be emailed or mailed on December 19. If you would like to make a change, please call Joan at 831-6531 ext. 321 or email: joan@stbmidd.org.

MEN’S JESUIT RETREAT

Since 1960, there have been men from the Madison area attending a men’s retreat at the Jesuit Retreat Facility, located on the shores of Lake Winnebago near Oshkosh, WI. Mark your calendars for a chance to spend a restful, spirit-filled weekend to reconnect with your inner self on February 19-22, 2009. For more information or questions, please email Rod Nilles at: rcnilles@chorus.net.

LOOKING FOR
INSPIRATION IN YOUR LIFE

Have you taken advantage of any of the CDs that the parish has available in the Parish Center Hallway? In the past six months, the parish has distributed over 650 CDs! Check out this convenient way to add inspiration to your life. We have ten NEW titles to offer you. Just a few of them include topics like the Pope, Chastity, and Marriage & Annulments. Also available are two AWESOME radio dramas for kids! Check out the kiosk in the Parish Center hallway and the University Avenue entrance to church. Pick up a copy or two for yourself, family, and friends.

Link to complete series of bulletin inserts on: The Reverent Reception of Holy Communion.

A SPIRITUAL ROSARY BOUQUET
FOR MSGR. DOUG

As an ongoing gift of appreciation for our pastor, a spiritual rosary bouquet has been started. Fifteen minutes per month from each person creates a giant bouquet. Many parishioners have committed to praying one rosary per month (on a specific day each month), for the intentions of Msgr. Doug, for his happiness, health and the success of his work. To sign up, please call Kim at 798-2208, or email: kim@ballwegconstruction.com.

PARISH LIBRARY HOURS

Please come and browse the displays of our latest additions to the Parish Library. Consider gathering a group of people to listen and discuss. There is a CD player in the Library. Call Sr. Anna, 831-6531 for information.

Monday-Fridays:   7:00 AM-9:30 AM
Saturdays:              8:00 AM-6:00 PM
Sundays:                7:00 AM-12:30 PM

Please take the elevator located at the University Avenue parking lot entrance to Level 2 of the Religious Education Center.