Bulletin for the Week of December 11, 2011

LOOKING AHEAD
Dec 10-11: 45th Annual Keeseville-Peru Ecumenical Choir

Dec 17-18: Food Shelf Weekend

Dec 24-25: Christmas Masses will be Saturday December 24 at 4:00 PM and 8:00 PM and Sunday December 25.10:00 AM

Jan 8, Feb 5, Mar 4, Apr 1, May 6: Class for those preparing for Confirmation, 6:00 PM St. James Parish Center

Jan 21-22: Food Shelf Weekend

Jan 21-22: March for Life bus to Washington, info 536-6640

May 13: First Communion

RELIGIOUS WEB SITES
www.stjamescadyville.org (Parish Website)
http://pray.nd.edu/ (Daily Prayer)

Mission Intention for December: That our personal experience of suffering may be an occasion for better understanding the situation of unease and pain which is the lot of many people who are alone, sick or aged, and stir us all to give them generous help.

2012 SUNDAY OFFERING ENVELOPES: Please pick up your box of 2012 Sunday offering envelopes placed in the entryway to the church. If you do not find a box of envelopes for your family, it means that either you have not registered with the parish, or you had in the past not picked up the box of envelopes issued in your name. 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.

GIVING TREE: Thanks to everyone for your generous response to the 2011 Giving Tree!

RETIREMENT FUND FOR RELIGIOUS: Elderly Catholic sisters, brothers, and religious order priests need your help. For years, these selfless women and men ministered for little, if any, compensation—educating the young, nursing the sick, promoting justice and peace. Their sacrifices now leave a substantial gap in retirement savings. Your gift to the Retirement Fund for Religious provides vital funding for prescription medications, nursing care, and more.

EXTEND AN INVITATION: Advent is a time of hope. Someone is hopeful that you will extend a welcome to return to the practice of the Catholic faith. An informative web site for a seeking or returning person is www.OnceCatholic.org.

Christmas Concert: A Christmas Concert of traditional Advent and Christmas songs will be performed by a German Men’s Choir from St. Bernard de Lacolle, Quebec and the Chorale Madrigal Choir from Franklin, Quebec on Sunday, December 18, 2011 at St. Alexander’s Church Morrisonville at 3:00 PM. Cost of Tickets: $8 in advance or $10 at the door children under 12 free. For more information or to purchase a ticket call 561- 5039.

CHRISTMAS HYMNS WITH CHILDREN: The children in Grades 1-5 who participate in the Religious Education Program are invited to sing Christmas hymns before the 4:00 Mass on Christmas Eve. Practice will be at the Parish Center on Thursday December 15th after the religion class. Parents are asked to pick up their child at 4:00 PM on those days.

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, Saturday December 17...2:00-3;45

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE: In honor of this feast the Plattsburgh Newman Center will participate in the 22nd National Night of Prayer for Life on Thursday, December 8th, from 9:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. with Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament during the 4 hours, closing with Benediction.

Lake Champlain Bus For Life: A chartered bus will leave St. Peter’s Church on Sunday evening, January 22 at 7:30 p.m. for the Monday, January 23 National March For Life. The bus will return to Plattsburgh in the early morning of January 24. The cost of the bus is $25 per seat. To reserve a seat or to obtain more information, please contact Betty Buffett (518) 536-6640 or Karen Smith (518) 534-2028.

MARRIAGE TIP: Children benefit from our ‘presence’ more than our ‘presents’”. During this Advent ponder the tone that time with your spouse, children, and extended family will take during the Christmas season. Find more Marriage Rx at www.foryourmarriage.org.

RETIREMENT PLAN FOR PRIESTS: The Retirement Plan for Priests has long been supported in part by parish contribution of 60% of its annual Christmas Collection to the Plan. Beginning this year, parishes will contribute 100% of their Christmas Collection to the diocese for support of the Plan. Currently 32 retired priests, and 13 active priests age 70 and older, are expected to receive pension benefits in 2011-12. Your generous contribution not only supports current retirees but will also help provide for the retirement needs of priests who will retire in the future. The entire Christmas collection is sent to the Diocese to fund this plan.