Second Sunday of Advent December 8 & 9, 2018

Please remember in your prayers

Members of our parish families who are recovering in the hospital & at home, for their strength and patience each day, and for all those who ask for our prayers for health or other

issues. Mary Jo Bielong, Ana Cantrell, Margaret Daiber, Don Dapkus, Teresa Dickman, Jean Fields, Gabriel Frey,

Karen Grabowski, Betty Haberer, P.J. Hereford, Cory Humphrey, Coreen Hutchinson, Gene Jolliff, Val King,

William Klostermann, Barrett Korte, Henry Korte, Randy Korte, David Kuehn, Clara Liening, Taylor Marti, Alex McCall, Cody Neal, Barb Rakers, Marcia Rowe, Verneda Rowe,

Keita Salantai, Abby Schrage, Ted Schrage, Mitch Schuster, Linda Schwierjohn, Phil Spies, Marie Weis, Neal Weiss,

Pam Winet, Margie Zurliene, Todd Zucca.

For Our parishioners in nursing homes:

Doris Buske, Dolores Weis & special people in our families.

For those currently serving in the military:

Adam Canfield, Tim Doll, Quinn Frey, Tom Frey, 1st Lt. Adam Kalous, Chad Knebel, Michael Knebel,

Dustin Korte, Connor Kutz, Solon McGill, Jimmy O’Boyle, Sgt. Joseph Patterson, Rickie Quinones, Joseph Schatte,

John H. Schuster, Greg Spina, T.J. Waddington, Sgt. Tyler Wegman, Sgt. Zach Weiss.

If you would like to have someone added to the prayer list please call the parish office.

† Mass Intentions †

Mon. (Dec.10) 8:00am (IC) No Mass Tues. (Dec.11) 8:00am (St.G) Mass for the People of STG, STN & IC Wed. (Dec.12) 8:00am (IC) † Patricia Hartgrove— Int. of Bill, Denise & Dennis Trickey

Thur. (Dec.13) 8:00am (St.N) No Mass Fri. (Dec.14) 8:00am (IC) † Leonard Carrillon — Int. of Donald & Cookie Rutz Sat. (Dec.15) 4:30pm (St.N) † Deceased members of the Wagner Family—Int. of Ken & Betty Wagner Sun. (Dec.15) 8:00am (St.G) † Perry Knackstedt & Monica Huelsmann —Int. of the Knackstedt Family Sun. (Dec.15) 10:00am (IC) † Ed Plocher — Int. of Denise Richter

Second Sunday of Advent

Liturgical Ministers for December 15 & 16, 2018

Sat. Dec. 15 @ 4:30pm @ St. Nicholas Reader: Kelsey Kniepmann Servers: Grant Knebel & Allie Knebel Offertory: Sue Luber & Helen Kuehn Euch. Min.: Jane Dapkus & Barb Zaloga Ushers: Tom Kalous & Don Cureton Greeters: Pat Kalous & Barb Weiss Sun., Dec. 16 @ 8:00am @ St. Gertrude Reader: Ashley Knackstedt Servers: Nathanial Straube & Chloe Neumann Offertory: Randy & Dianne Leitschuh Family Euch. Min.: Jane Deiters & Carly Ann Maurer Ushers/Greeters: Michael Sauls & Shirley Schwarz Sacristan: Dianne Leitschuh Sun, Dec. 16 @10:00am @ Immaculate Conception Reader: PAPAYA Youth Group Servers: PAPAYA Youth Group & Grant Prange Offertory: PAPAYA Youth Group Euch. Min.: Billy & Seth Luitjohan & Denise Richter Ushers: PAPAYA Youth Group Rosary Leader: Clara Knebel & Lucille Schreiber Liturgy of the Word for Children: Kay Williamson

December 8 & 9, 2018

STN Collection For 12/01/18

Envelopes/Loose $835.00

Christmas Flowers $225.00

Second Sunday of Advent "In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar...and Herod was

tetrarch of Galilee...and Lysanias was tetrach of" Did you need to pinch yourself awake during the first few lines of this Sunday's Gospel? John the Baptist received quite a prelude today as Luke described the religious and political leadership of the time period. Scripture is divinely inspired, and

we believe that everything that made it into the Bible is there for a reason. These lines remind us of an important truth. The Christmas story isn't a fairy tale or nursery rhyme. It's not a parable we say to give meaning to the holiday. At Christmas, God's presence is made tangible in a precise

moment in time. The birth of Christ is a historical event. As precursor to Jesus' preaching, the ministry of John the Baptist is also a historical event.

"Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths." John's call to repentance and the forgiveness of sins happened in a particular time and place. But that does not mean it is limited to first century Palestine! God

continues to move in our daily lives. What we hear in today's Gospel - and what we anticipate at Christmas - occurs in our daily lives. God works in concrete ways in time and space. He did that 2,000 years ago, and He

continues to do so today! This Sunday, examine your own Christmas preparations. Is there anything you need to repent of before the Christmas season? Are there low points

in your life, valleys to "be filled" by the love of God? Are their mountainous obstacles in your spiritual life? How can they be "made low"? Are you making decisions that have moved you away from God? This Advent

season is the time for them to "be made straight and made smooth."

Prepare the way in your heart for Christ today!

Sunday Scriptures

December 16, 2018 **Third Sunday of Advent**

1st Reading: Zep 3:14-18a 2nd Reading: Phil 4:4-7

Gospel: Lk 3:10-18

Daily Readings: Dec. 10 Is 35:1-10; Lk 5:17-26; Dec. 11 Is 40:1-11; Mt 18:12-14

Dec. 12 Zec 2:14-17 or Rv 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab; Lk 1:26-38 or Lk 1:39-47

Dec. 13 Is 41: 13-20; Mt 11:11-15 Dec. 14 Is 48: 17-19; Mt 11:16-19

When scheduling Mass intentions to be said, let us know how many we can send to the missions so that your Mass' can be said as soon as possible.

STG Collection For 12/02/18

Envelopes/Loose $1,370.50

Maint. Fund $98.00

Christmas Flowers $275.00

IC Collection For 12/02/18

Envelopes/Loose $2,119.00

Christmas Flowers $230.00

Sister Parish $55.00

Cemetery $60.00

Building Fund $93.00

Christmas $15.00

Our Advent Penance Service will be held on Wed., December 12th 7:00PM at Immaculate Conception .

Other Area Penance Services

12/12 6:30pm St. Mary & St. Cecilia at St. Mary Edwardsville

12/16 2:00pm St. Boniface, Edwardsville 12/16 7:00pm St. Jerome, Troy 12/17 7:00pm St. Lawrence, Greenville

The PAPAYA Youth Group will be collecting money for the Christmas families in need. Please drop your

donations in the Christmas basket and the youth member will provide you

with a candy cane in appreciation for your support. Donations will be

accepted through Dec. 16th. Thank you for your generous support!!

Please Note:

In case of bad weather the Church cancellations will be broadcast on

KMOV Channel 4 & KSDK Channel 5

When school is cancelled for EITHER

Bond County or Highland, PSR will automatically be

cancelled.

When the schools are closed for bad weather during the week there will be no 8AM Mass that morning; Mass will be held at 12:00AM on those days.

Remembrance Christmas Tree has now been set up at IC. Anyone who would like to add an ornament

in memory of a loved one is welcome to do so.

Just as the Virgin Mother pondered in her heart on the Word made flesh, so every individual soul and the entire Church are

called during their earthly pilgrimage to wait for Christ who comes—and to welcome him with faith and love ever new.

—Pope Benedict XVI

IC Collection For 12/02/18

IC Offering $17.00

Solemnity of Mary $30.00

Retired Religious $10.00

Children’s Home $5.00

FAITHFUL DEPARTED

Prayers are requested for the repose of the soul of Ken Wagner, husband of Betty Wagner,

father of Dawn James & grandfather of Jacob & Nicholas James of our parish family. We extend our heartfelt sympathy to Ken’s family and friends. Eternal life grant unto him, O Lord…

Visitation for Ken will be at Spengel-Boulanger Funeral Home in Highland on Sunday, Dec. 9th 4:00-8:00pm & on Mon. Dec.10th from 8:00-9:30am. Funeral Mass will be at IC on Mon.,

Dec. 10th at 10AM

Retirement Fund for Religious — Aging religious need your help. Senior Catholic sisters, brothers, and religious order priests minis-tered for years for little to no pay. Their sacrifices now leave their religious communities without adequate retirement savings. Your

gift to today’s collection for the Retirement Fund for Religious helps to provide medications, nursing care, and more for tens of thou-

sands of elderly religious. Please be generous.

The Next IC Pastoral/Finance Council Meeting will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 18th at 7:00PM.

Advent devotional booklets are

available at the back of each

church. Take one and let it help you seek the Lord this Advent.

Christmas Mass Schedule

Dec. 24th Christmas Eve: 4:30PM at IC

7:00PM at St. Gertrude &

Midnight at St. Nicholas

Dec. 25th Christmas Day 10AM at IC

Advent PSR Mass will be held at IC

on Wed, December 19th at 6:30PM with Class Christmas parties

to follow. All parishioners are welcome!!

St. Gertrude Confirmation Class sponsoring a supply drive for the Highland Animal Shelter. Donations can be brought to St. Gertrude’s Hall on Wed., Dec. 12th and/or Dec. 19th at 6:30PM or

on Sunday, Dec. 16th after Mass. Items needed: cat & dog food, pillowcases, toys, cat litter, leashes, collars. Visit Highland Animal Shelter website for a more detailed list of supplies.

2nd, 3rd & 4th Graders at STG PSR enjoying their Christmas Books!! National Night Prayer for Life will be on

December 8-9 at 9pm-1am at St. Joseph's Hospital Chapel.

Come at any hour and pray for life.

+Bishop

Thomas John Paprocki

Diocese of springfield

in illinois

† Rev. Paul J. Bonk

Pastor

Sonya Curry

secretary

Immaculate Conception—Pierron

Mailing Address: PO Box 410

Pierron, IL 62273

E-mail Address: ICSTN2011@gmail.com

www.icstnstg.org Office: 618-669-2391

Rectory 618-654-2789

Office Address: 401 E State Street,

Pocahontas Office Hours:

Mon.—Thurs. 9am to 4pm Fridays 9am to 1pm

Mass Times Immaculate Conception

Wed. & Fri.—8:00am Sunday—10:00 am

Saint Nicholas

Thursday— 8:00am Saturday—4:30pm

Saint Gertrude

Tuesday— 8:00 am Sunday — 8:00am

Saint Nicholas - Pocahontas

Sacrament of Reconciliation

IC—Wed. 7:15—7:45am

STN— Sat. 3:45—4:15pm

STG— Sun. 7:15— 7:45am

Second Sunday of advent December 8 & 9, 2018

Saint Gertrude—Grantfork