106 N. Western Ave. Girard, KS 66743 Tel.

(620)724-8717

Weekly Bulletin Saint Michael Church, Girard www.stmichaelgirard.com

of

GIRARD Sat. 5:30pm Sun. 10:00 am Sat. 2:00-2:45pm

ARMA 4:00pm 8:00 am 3:15-3:45pm

We the parishioners of Saint Michael the Archangel, through leadership and strong traditions are faithful disciples of the teachings of Jesus Christ and His Catholic Church. We commit ourselves to be generous stewards of our faith, our parish, and our community. We strive to involve all members to be united in one parish family for the salvation of all. Notes from the Pastor: Praise be to God for our newly rededicated Cathedral last Saturday, February 2. It was a very spiritually uplifting celebration. Our mother Church beautiful and dignified, has finally been reopened as a place where we can celebrate our spiritual nourishment. I thank Marcel and Helen Normand, Pat Westhoff, and Faith Paoni for giving of their time to represent Girard and Arma parishes for such a once in a lifetime celebration. As I have mentioned in my article last weekend, February 11, the feast of the apparition of our Lady of Lourdes in France, is world day of prayer for the sick and focuses on three consistent themes: First, it reminds the faithful to pray intensely and sincerely for those who are sick. Second, the celebration invites Christians to reflect on and respond to human suffering. And third, this day recognizes and honors all persons who work in health care and serve as caregivers. Praying intensely and sincerely for the sick is a very Christian act but let us not neglect the second theme that is very much related to it. That our reflection of human suffering, like bodily infirmity, help us as well to respond to it strongly and appropriately either as we see it in others or as we experience it ourselves. This is very important as we know that lots of people lose their faith or are weakened in their faith in the midst of suffering. Most of us have already suffered in many different ways and in diverse degree. It is a consolation to know that many people have said that the suffering they've encountered made them strong in their faith in God. Some, while they remain faithful in their faith, still continues to struggle to find meaning with their own suffering. For them we also have to continue to pray. We have to remind ourselves however that the God we believe in do not cause or will this sufferings for us. How did we know it? Because that's how He revealed Himself to us. However, He allowed or permitted sufferings to happen in this world for all the reasons possible. First, suffering is part of the effects of our fallen nature. But on the other hand, it is also an opportunity to grow in our faith in God and love for one another. It gives us a chance to visit and take good care of the sick. It is one of the actions as Christ's followers that He wants us to do. "I was sick or in prison and you visited me." He also told us the parable of the good Samaritan, about the man who was robbed and beaten and left for dead on the road, and it was the good Samaritan who Next Sunday(02/17/2013) 10:00 AM T. Paoni, G. Muia, M. Reif, M. Murphy, Max Adams Eileen Bland Faith Paoni Dale & Bernadette Coomes
stopped and showed to us what it is like to love your neighbor. That's why this year's world day of prayer for the sick, Pope Benedict XVI calls on everyone to be a good Samaritan and concretely help those in need. Thanking those who care for the sick and elderly, the pope underlines the church's fundamental role in "lovingly and generously accepting every human being, especially those who are weak and sick." Let us continue to pray for our sick and homebound brothers and sisters, that they will experience healing and the love and support of our Christian community. Talking about the sick, one of the priests of the diocese of Wichita, Fr. Stephen Baxter, assigned as pastor in Halstead, KS passed away suddenly last Tuesday night. He used to be the pastor in Neodesha and Fredonia. He was only 66. He called his secretary that night to take him to the emergency, but when the secretary came over, he was already unconscious. He was declared dead on arrival at the emergency. They found lots of fluid in his lungs, possibly pneumonia. His funeral is this Monday, February 11 at the cathedral. I was originally planning of attending the funeral mass. Unfortunately, I got a call last Thursday, while I was still in my retreat, that Raymond LaSota a parishioner of Arma, passed away that day. Fortunately, I visited Raymond Thursday, a week ago, and gave him the anointing of the sick. His funeral is also scheduled this Monday at 10AM. Please include Fr. Baxter and Raymond in your prayers. May the God of love, admit them into His Kingdom of eternal happiness! Lent starts this Wednesday, February 13. It is a day of fasting and abstinence. Once more let us put into proper perspective these spiritual exercises. That it is meant first as our own personal penance, for our intention and also for the intention of other

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STAFF Fr. Roger Lumbre Pastor Janel Scales Bookkeeper/Bulletin Editor Faith Paoni Secretary Rectory Office Hours Tues-Fri 9AM-Noon Closed on Mondays Tel. (620) 724-8717

Next Saturday (02/16/2013) Altar Servers: E. M. E. Lectors: Gift Bearers 5:30 PM B. Leritz Linda DeGarmo Ned Sauer Helen Brodbeck & Bernadine Shively

Mass Schedules & Intentions for February 9th-17th:

Feb 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 4:00 PM 5:30 PM 8:00 AM Sunday 10:00 AM 7:00 AM Monday 5:30 PM Tuesday 6:00 PM Wednesday 6:30 PM 8:00 AM Thursday 8:30AM-3PM 7:00 AM Friday 8AM-6PM 6:00 PM 4:00 PM Saturday 5:30 PM 8:00 AM Sunday 10:00 AM Saturday Fred & Mary Marchette Earl Kirkpatrick Joe Jackson Pro Populo Theda Westhoff Stations of the Cross Marcel & Mary Normand Verl Diskin Joe Jackson Eucharistic Adoration Dave Gall Eucharistic Adoration Stations of the Cross Geno Marchette Marion Fry Francis Buche Pro Populo Arma Girard Arma Girard Girard Arma Arma Girard Arma Arma Girard Girard Girard Arma Girard Arma Girard

Why Lent? Close your eyes and say LENT. Whats the first thing that comes to your mind? Last Week July 2012 to date Try it. Whats the first word that you associate with it? Penance, fish, purple, fasting, Contributions $2,579.00 $94,277.31 no TV? It was at the Church Council of Nicea, 325 A.D., that the word LENT was Children's Offering $15.80 $878.86 first mentioned. Its a term that means spring. It began as a 36 day period of six weeks with Sundays exempt. Then, in the 7th Century, the Church added four more Expenses $85,074.64 days, so as to begin the season with Ash Wednesday. Half of Lent reminds us of our Baptism, rediscovering our baptismal call. The other Over/ (Under) $10,081.53 half of Lents reminder is that well eventually die and that penance is necessary. Even those who dont observe Lent will observe Death! To prepare well, we need to Saint Michaels Upcoming Events know the difference between PENANCE and MORTIFICATION. Penance is related to the punishment due to sin. It repairs the past through praying, performing good Finance Council Parish Council works, and such, to make up for something wrong that weve done. Mortification Tony Stonerock-Chair Dale Coomes-Chair looks to the future. It means preparing ourselves NOW, building our strength. Then, well have enough discipline and willpower to fight and win over temptation. In a way, its a lot like athletes or musicians who want to be experts in their skill. Rosary Altar Society Knights of Columbus They diet, train, practice--day after day, often enduring pain or exhaustion, so they Next meeting, TBA 1st Tuesday of Month, 7pm might gain a prize or some perishable crown. (play in the Superbowl or win a GramAt 6:30pm in the Hall. St. Michael Parish Hall my) The prize that Catholics seek is the unperishable crown of entrance into heaven. It surely is worth the same sort of mortification--fasting, abstinence, pain, or exhausHelping Hands Daughters of Isabella tion. Somehow, many Catholics don't think of it that way, for the perishable crown is Need help or want to volunteer, Call Marilyn Bradshaw, more visible and tangible. That crown may have those qualities, but we need to reCall Carrie Smith, 724-6684 724-7133 member that IT WONT LAST. The great minds of the Church from Augustine to Aquinas and beyond, saw the value of penance and mortification. We know that it is That Man in You Friday mornings at 6am necessary. The Church puts us on our own to decide which penance well undertake this Lent. Christ commanded it, saying, Unless you do penance, you shall all likewise perish. I dont see any leniency in that statement! I know Im in! The Blessed people. This is another way of accepting our suffering by giving up Ashes will be distributed at the Masses on Ash Wednesday. Remember, Man, that something (abstinence) and controlling our human appetite (fasting) as a reparation for our sins and the sins of other people. Second, that in doing you are dust, and to dust you shall return. This goes a long way in helping us live sensibly. Good luck! these, we grow in holiness, doing the will of our heavenly Father. Please take note of our schedule for Ash Wednesday, and Stations of the Cross. A Day to Remember in WichitaFor Girard, we will have stations of the cross every Friday at 6PM, right Helen and I are grateful to Fr. Roger for asking us to represent St. Josephs at the after the benediction. In Arma, we have stations every Tuesday, at 5:30 special Mass of Reopening the Cathedral after 18 months of construction. During this and mass follows right after the station! God bless you all! Fr. Roger Year of Faith, it was especially reassuring to witness the celebration of the Cathe+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ drals Centennial and the 125th Year Anniversary of the Wichita Diocese. Youll Ash Wednesday Schedule, Mass with imposition of Ashes(except the have to visit the mother church to appreciate the time, talent, and treasure that went 3:15PM): into revamping its interior. Words cant adequately describe its magnificence. Besides 7AM-Girard 8AM-Arma 12Noon-Arma 6:30PM-Girard Bishop Jackels, there were a couple of archbishops and a few bishops also in attend3:15PM- Girard, PSR kids station of the cross, ance. The program featured English, Spanish, and Vietnamese choirs, singing in their imposition of ashes afterwards native tongues, accompanied by the orchestra in the choir loft with the stately sounds of the newly renovated organ console. The Dedication of the Cathedral Altar was a Note: Stations of the Cross: highlight during the Mass. As Bishop Jackels noted, It is the table of the Lord, where Girard, Fridays at 6PM, Wednesdays, 3:15 with PSR Kids we receive our spiritual food, enabling us to offer ourselves in service to others. Arma, Tuesdays at 5:30PM and mass follows right after Bishop Jackels continued, This Church is us--a spiritual edifice, built of living stones contributed by many of us throughout the diocese. There is something from Christian Music Program The Goulds, a Gospel singing group from Joplin, will be appearing on each one of us in this Church. We are the living stones, and, as the Church needs Sunday, February 10th at 1pm at the First Christian Church, Girard. Free repairing after time, we living stones require periodic mending to restore our original inner beauty. We have a great teacher in our Bishop. Besides Father, Faith Paoni -will offering will be taken. Come early for lunch: stuffed pork tenderArticles by Marcel Normand and Pat Westhoff were also present. loin, mashed potatoes & gravy, green beans, drink, bread, and dessert. Noon to 1pm$6 adults/$3 children. The public is invited to attend this Benefit Luncheon special day of Christian inspiration, entertainment and fellowship! A Chili and Soup feed will be held on Sunday, February 10th at the Immanuel Luthermiles 1 1/4 East of Brazilton) from 11am to 1pm. ST. MICHAEL, DEFEND US IN ALL OUR BATTLES! an Hall (3and theNorth andwill go towards Brazilton Ruritan projects. Donations accepted proceeds

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