Bulletin for the week of December 27, 2009

Mission Intention for January

That young people might learn to use modern means of social communication for their personal growth and to better prepare to serve society.

HOLY FAMILY SUNDAY: Every family is called to be a “holy family” … to hear and to follow the Lord, to be a sign of Christ’s love for His church. Celebrate the Feast Day of the Holy Family with your family and with our parish family.

2010 SUNDAY OFFERING ENVELOPES: Please pick up your box of 2010 Sunday offering envelopes placed in the entryway to the church. Please begin using them on January 1st. If you would like a box of envelopes, simply pick up a box and place your name and address on the first envelope. As always, thank you for your generosity that allows our parish to continue its mission.

CONFIRMATION PREPARATION CLASSES: Due to Father Deno’s surgery the Confirmation Preparation classes scheduled for January 10 and February 7 will be cancelled.

THANK YOU FROM FATHER DENO: I am humbled by the amount of cards, words of gratitude, prayers, good wishes, and treats that came into the rectory over the last week. I am very blessed to be able to serve this parish. I thank you for your kindness throughout the whole year.

STATEMENT OF GIVING FOR INCOME TAXES: If you wish to receive a statement of your financial contributions to St. James Church for 2009, please indicate this on your Sunday offering envelope so that we can assure confidentiality.

CHRISTMAS COLLECTION: Thank you for your generous gift in our Christmas collection. Like every North Country parish, we forward 60% of the collection plus $500 per priest to the diocese to fund pensions for retired priests. Pension needs for the future as well as obligation for the next year are being met thanks to your generous donation.

CHARITY BALL: St. John’s second annual Charity Ball is scheduled for Friday, February 12! Proceeds will go toward St. John’s Special Needs Access Entrance and the Catholic Charities Healthy Beginningsprogram. Tickets will be available at St. John’s Rectory for a donation of $50 per person beginning Monday, December 7th. For more information call 563-0730.

ANNUAL MARCH FOR LIFE: The 37th Annual March for Life to Washington, DC will be January 20-23, 2010. The all-inclusive cost is $125 per adult. For more information, or to get a registration form sent to you, please email: Father Timothy Canaan, rtim@broadstreetcatholics.org All registrations along with payment must be submitted no latter than December 30, 2009.

AT HOME WITH OUR FAITH: The January monthly newsletter AT HOME WITH OUR FAITH is available at the entrance to the church. More family activities can be found at www.homefaith.com.

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION: The wise men adored this body when it lay in the manger…Now you behold the same body that the wise men adored in the manger, lying upon the altar. (St. John Chrysostom).Eucharistic Adoration is held throughout the year every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 6 am to 9 pm at St. John’s Church Adoration Chapel, downstairs. Everyone is invited to spend some quiet time with Jesus anytime during these hours.

MARRIAGE TIP: Just for today, pay attention to your breath, your spirit, your physical well-being and be thankful for life no matter how fragile. Ask your spouse to remind you.. Find more Marriage Rx atwww.foryourmarriage.org

Bulletin for the week of December 20, 2009

Mission Intention for December

That children may be respected and loved and never be the victims of exploitation in any form.

CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE

Christmas Eve, December 24

Children Hymns/Mass..............4:00 PM

Mass........................................8:00 PM

Christmas Day, December 25

Mass.......................................10:00 AM

New Years Day Mass 10:00 AM

CONFESSIONS

December 19......................3:00-3:45 PM

December 20....................before Masses

December 21..........................7-8:00 PM

CHARITY BALL: St. John’s second annual Charity Ball is scheduled for Friday, February 12! Proceeds will go toward St. John’s Special Needs Access Entrance and the Catholic Charities Healthy Beginningsprogram. Tickets will be available at St. John’s Rectory for a donation of $50 per person beginning Monday, December 7th. For more information call 563-0730.

DECORATING THE CHURCH FOR CHRISTMAS: We will decorate and prepare for the festive Christmas season on Wednsday morning, December 23rd starting at 10:00 AM. It should take about two hours. Please come to help us as well as to give us your decorating suggestions.

CHRISTMAS COLLECTION: Sixty percent of the money collected in parishes on Christmas is earmarked for the Priests’ Retirement Fund of the Diocese of Ogdensburg. The remaining forty percent is your contribution to the parish. Fund of the Diocese of Ogdensburg. Currently 37 retired priests of the diocese are providedfinancial support from the Priests’ Retirement Fund. Also, 12 priests age 70 and older who remain active in parish ministry are now eligible for a partial retirement benefit paid from this

Fund. In total, pension benefits project to be $740,500 this fiscal year. Your contributions are also used by the diocese to prepare for retirement needs of priests who will retire in the future. Your generous gift in the Christmas collection will be appreciated by your pastor and by all priests of the Ogdensburg Diocese. Say thank you to your pastor and the dedicated priests who have served you in the past through a generous contribution to our Christmas Collection.

ANNUAL MARCH FOR LIFE: The 37th Annual March for Life to Washington, DC will be January 20-23, 2010. The all-inclusive cost is $125 per adult. For more information, or to get a registration form sent to you, please email: Father Timothy Canaan, rtim@broadstreetcatholics.org All registrations along with payment must be submitted no latter than December 30, 2009.

AT HOME WITH OUR FAITH: The January monthly newsletter AT HOME WITH OUR FAITH is available at the entrance to the church. More family activities can be found at www.homefaith.com.

BAPTISM: Chloe Frances Chase, daughter of Jeremy and Tara (Butler) Chase became a member of the Catholic community through the Sacrament of Baptism on December 13th.

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION: When we worship you in the form of bread...we always see you as an adult. But every year at Christmas, you reveal yourself to us as a child born in a crib. In silent adoration we stand before the mystery. (Chiara Lubich) Eucharistic Adoration is held throughout the year every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 6 am to 9 pm at St. John’s Church Adoration Chapel, downstairs. Everyone is invited to spend some quiet time with Jesus anytime during these hours.

THANK YOU: During the summer weeks Sandy Rasco used her artistic talents to repair and refinish all of the Christmas crib statues which will be used in our Christmas manger this year. Paul Rasco built special shelves on which these images are stored. Thank you Sandy and Paul for your generous gift of your talents and time in giving a new look to our Christmas manger.

MARRIAGE TIP: Take your spouse to work today. Do you have a photo or memento of your spouse visible at your work place? Let others know you're proud of your spouse. Find more Marriage Rx atwww.foryourmarriage.org

Bulletin for the week of December 13, 2009

RELIGIOUS WEB SITES

www.focusonthefamily.com (Focus on the family)

www.OnceCatholic.org (Returning Catholics)

Mission Intention for December

That children may be respected and loved and never be the victims of exploitation in any form.

FUNERAL: A funeral was celebrated this week for Geraldine Chase. Please remember her and her family in your prayers.

2010 SUNDAY OFFERING ENVELOPES: Please pick up your 2010 Sunday offering envelopes. Anyone wishing to use envelopes who are not currently using them can take an unmarked box. Be sure to place your name and address on the first few envelopes so that your name and number can be recorded. Children should pick up envelopes for themselves.

CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE

Christmas Eve, December 24

Children Hymns/Mass..............4:00 PM

Mass........................................8:00 PM

Christmas Day, December 25

Mass.......................................10:00 AM

CONFESSIONS

December 19......................3:00-3:45 PM

December 20....................before Masses

December 21..........................7-8:00 PM

CHARITY BALL: St. John’s second annual Charity Ball is scheduled for Friday, February 12! Proceeds will go toward St. John’s Special Needs Access Entrance and the Catholic Charities Healthy Beginningsprogram. Tickets will be available at St. John’s Rectory for a donation of $50 per person beginning Monday, December 7th. For more information call 563-0730.

DECORATING THE CHURCH FOR CHRISTMAS: We will decorate and prepare for the festive Christmas season on Wednsday morning, December 23rd starting at 10:00 AM. It should take about two hours. Please come to help us as well as to give us your decorating suggestions.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION: During its 155 year history St. James Parish has been fortunate to have Pastors who have shared their priestly vocation with its parishioners. Among these is Father Tobin. His address is:

Reverend George W. Tobin

10 Aiken Court

Plattsburgh, NY 12903

RETIREMENT FUND FOR RELIGIOUS: The number of religious over the age of seventy is 35,000 in 2009. Your donation to the Retirement Fund for Religious provides critical support to religious in meeting the escalating costs of elder care. We are grateful for any contribution that you make for the care of our members at this time in our history.

CHRISTMAS HYMNS WITH CHILDREN: The children in Grades 1-5 in the Religious Education Program will be invited to sing Christmas hymns before the 4:00 Mass on Christmas Eve. Practice continues on December 17th. Parents whose child will participate are asked to pick up their child at 4:00 PM on those days.

ANNUAL MARCH FOR LIFE: The 37th Annual March for Life to Washington, DC will be January 20-23, 2010. The all-inclusive cost is $125 per adult. For more information, or to get a registration form sent to you, please email: Father Timothy Canaan, rtim@broadstreetcatholics.org All registrations along with payment must be submitted no latter than December 30, 2009.

CHRISTMAS FLOWERS COLLECTION: You will find envelopes at the entrance of the church for donations for Christmas flowers and decorations. Place the envelopes with your contribution in the collection basket.

AT HOME WITH OUR FAITH: The December monthly newsletter AT HOME WITH OUR FAITH is available at the entrance to the church. More family activities can be found at www.homefaith.com.

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION: Mary, who believed in the word of the Lord and, bending low over the manger, was the first to adore the fruit of her womb. (Pope Benedict XVI, Christmas 2007 Message). Eucharistic Adoration is held throughout the year every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 6 am to 9 pm at St. John’s Church Adoration Chapel, downstairs. Everyone is invited to spend some quiet time with Jesus anytime during these hours.

MARRIAGE TIP: "For richer or poorer..." These words, said so easily during your wedding vows, may haunt you during times of financial stress. Christmas is a time when too many families go into debt. Lavish gifts will not bring you happiness. Agree to make it simple this year.Find more Marriage Rx atwww.foryourmarriage.org

EXTEND AN INVITATION: Advent is a time of hope. Someone is hopeful in becoming Catholic – waiting for an invitation. A Catholic who has fallen away from practicing the faith is hopeful someone will extend a welcome to “Come Home.” Is God calling you to reach out to the hopeful? Remember, all are welcome in Christ.