PARISH SHED

St. Michael Catholic Church

MASS SCHEDULE GIRARD
Saturday
5:30 pm
Sunday
10:00 am

ARMA
4:00 pm
8:00 am

CONFESSION
GIRARD
ARMA
Saturday
2:00-2:30 pm 3:15-3:45 pm
Weekdays before Mass, anytime by appointment
RECTORY HOURS & INFORMATION
Tuesday-Friday: 9:00 am - Noon
Rectory: (620) 724-8717
Fr. Maxs cell: (316) 708-9473
Fr. Maxs email: thomas.becket.fan@gmail.com
STAFF Pastor: Fr. Max Biltz
Secretary: Faith Paoni
Bookkeeper: Janel Scales
Bulletin Editor: Nancy Bauer
PARISH WEBSITE:
www.stmichaelgirard.com
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Finance Council
Parish Council
Tony Stonerock, Chair Dale Coomes, Chair
TBA
Feb. 9

!Altar Society

Knights of Columbus
4th Monday of month 1st Tuesday of month
Parish Hall
7:00pm in hall

!Helping Hands

Daughters of Isabella
Carrie Smith
Marilyn Bradshaw
724-6684
724-7133
Kapauns Men: Fridays at 6:00am in the hall

Jan. 30 Saturday
31
Feb. 1
2
3
4
5
6
7

4:00pm
5:30pm
Sunday
8:00am
10:00am
Monday
7:00am
Tuesday
5:30pm
Wednesday 6:30pm
Thursday 8:00am
8:30am-3:00pm
Friday
7:00am
8:00am-6:00pm
Saturday 4:00pm
5:30pm
Sunday
8:00am
10:00am

106 N. Western Ave.

Girard, KS 66743
(620) 724-8717
Pastor: Fr. Max Biltz

Dear Parish family

We recently recognized the 43rd anniversary of the dreadful Roe vs. Wade decision that legalized
abortion in the United States. We cannot let this anniversary pass without reflection and mourning.
The death toll in the U.S. to this terrible practice is near 55 million babies, and around one billion
worldwide. This is a terrible assault on motherhood, human dignity, and the right to life. If the
government can simply deny personhood to a whole segment of humanity, they can deny that right
to anyone. It is simply a lie that abortion is necessary for womens equality. Half of the babies
aborted are female. In China and India, parents prefer boys (this is an immoral attitude but it is a
fact of those cultures which is not likely to change anytime soon), which means that the vast majority
of abortions in those countries are done if the child is known to be a girl. It seems odd to kill women
in order to enhance the dignity of women. This does not mean that it is any better to take the life of
unborn boys. Every human being is made in the image and likeness of God, who planned, designed,
created, and made a life-plan for each of us from the moment of our conception. We recall how
John the Baptist leapt for joy in his mothers womb when Elizabeth heard the words of Mary (then
pregnant with Jesus). This shows that unborn babies do indeed have a soul that is capable of
knowing and loving God, and of rejoicing when in the presence of God. To kill an unborn child is
also to kill the great plan that God had for that child. We recall that Steve Jobs, the inventor of the
iPhone, was almost aborted as a baby. His mother changed her mind and her son was adopted by
the Jobs family. Anyone who finds the iPhone to be a marvel of engineering, and a most useful and
life-enhancing tool, should remember that it almost didnt exist because of the crime of abortion.
Unborn babies are not the only victims of abortion. The mother is also a victim. Abortion itself
tells women that they are not good enough the way they are. Their natural ability to bear life and
bring it into the world is mocked as a liability and as something that impedes them from competing
with men. Basically, our society says, women can only be equal if they are like men. What an insult
to the dignity of women! The vast majority of women who have abortions do not really choose it as
their first choice. It is typically the case that they are bullied and pressured into it by people around
them, quite often the childs father. They are also often very scared at finding themselves in a
horribly difficult situation, very much open to manipulation. Sellers of abortion will lie to women,
referring to the unborn as fetuses, mere clumps of cells, not living, growing human beings. It is
not usually until years later when the woman sees an image of a 3-D sonogram, and sees the full
humanity and vitality of the unborn child, that she realizes that she was lied to. Women often suffer
years of regret and sorrow over their abortion. The medical community is well aware of the
psychological impact of abortion on women, but it chooses to remain silent since they have already
endorsed abortion and do not wish to admit that they made a mistake.
Of course the arms of Christs mercy are open to anyone who regrets having or assisting with an
abortion. Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10). The sacrament of
confession can bring great healing and assure the person that God forgives them and desires to
restore them to peace of heart. And at the end of time, God will raise that unborn child from the
dead, and that child will forgive and love his mother. Rachels Vineyard is a ministry that brings
healing and counseling to women who have had an abortion. If interested, call 316-269-4673.

Louis Petry
Sponsel family
Jim Davied
Jim Davied
Sponsel family
All Souls
Cathrine Madl
No Intention
Adoration
Mary Masser
Adoration
Francis Buche
Jim Peak
Jim Davied
For the People

Arma
Girard
Arma
Girard
Girard
Arma
Girard
Arma
Arma
Girard
Girard
Arma
Girard
Arma
Girard

Altar Ministers for Next Weekend

Next Saturday (2/6/16)

!Altar Servers:
!EMHC:
!

5:30 pm

Contributions
Childrens Offering

From the Pastor

Mass Schedule and Intentions for Jan. 30 - Feb. 7

Collections

There has been some confusion in regards to the message that

was relayed about personal items being stored in the parish
shed. To clarify, the items that have been stored in the shed
have all been parish related. The personal items that were in
question were items belonging to certain parish organizations,
not parishioners. Sorry for the confusion!

Next Sunday (2/7/16)

10:00 am

Brandon & Bailey Peyton & Trevor

Leritz
Amershek, Carson Sevart
Nancy Bauer

Mary Twarog

Lector:

Nancy Hofer

Ryan Sevart

Gift Bearers

Jim & Margaret

OToole

Rose & Joe Murnane

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AVAILABLE

2015 Annual Contribution Statements are in the back of the
Church, please help our parish by picking yours up. This will
save us the postage of mailing any remaining statements.

CYM BAKE SALE

CYM students will be holding bake sales on Feb. 7 & 14 to

raise funds for the diocesan convention in March. Please stop
by for Superbowl snacks or a treat for your sweetie!

July 2015 to date

$1,884.00

$74,971.85

$13.56

$432.25

Expenses

$73,823.07

Over / (Under)

$1,581.03

Building Fund Contributions

$30.00

Building Fund Loan Balance

$224,607.04

PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

The St. Michael Parish Council meeting has been rescheduled

for Feb. 9th at 6:30 p.m.

Last Week

PARISH MOVIE NIGHT

The next parish movie night will be Saturday, Feb. 20 after
5:30 mass. We will be showing the recently released box-office
hit War Room. Popcorn, snacks and drinks will be available.
We will order pizza for attendees that are interested.

K OF C FREE THROW CONTEST

The 2016 mass intention calendar has many openings, if you

would like a Mass said for a loved one please call the parish
office, 724-8717.

The annual Girard-Arma Knights of Columbus Free-Throw

Contest will be this Sunday, Jan. 31 in the GMS gym at 1pm
for all boys and girls ages 9-14 (as of Jan. 1, 2016). Winners
will advance to the district contest on Feb. 14 in Ft. Scott.

PROGRAM OFFERED

K OF C SOUP & CHILI DINNER

MASS INTENTIONS

Anyone interested in attending the Program "Navigating

Important Life Milestones" and would like to carpool, please
call parish office, 724-8717.

DIOCESAN CATHOLIC YOUTH CONFERENCE

All High School youth: registration for the Diocesan Catholic

Youth Conference (March 12-13) is due now. Please contact
Mary Leritz or Michelle Puckett for registration forms and
additional information.

PSR CANCELLATION POLICY

Reminder: any time school is not in session (weather, school

holiday) for USD 248, PSR classes are not held. Cancellations
are also posted on the St. Michael Parish Facebook page.

CONFIRMATION STUDENTS

Please schedule your family meeting with Father either by

contacting Michelle Puckett or selecting a Friday or Sunday
evening on the sign-up sheet at the back of church. Also, the
Confirmation retreat has been moved to Saturday, Feb. 20.

LOST GLOVE

A parishioner has lost a womans black Isotoner glove. Please

return to the parish office if found. Thank you.

Knights of Columbus Soup & Chili Dinner will be Saturday,

Feb. 27from5:00 to 7:00pm, & Feb. 28 from 11:00 to 1:00pm.
All Knights are asked to bring a pie or cake.

PRAYERS FOR THE SICK OF OUR PARISH

Please pray for parishioners Gerald Davied, Dave Garrett,

Doug Lopeman, Herman Masser, Thurma Masser, Rosemary
OToole, Tom Weston, and Judy Widner who are ill or in need
of prayers.

BRAZILTON RURITAN SOUP & CHILI DINNER

Brazilton Ruritan soup & chili dinner will be serving from

11a.m. to 1:00p.m. on Feb. 14, at the Immanuel Lutheran
Hall, (3 miles North & 1-1/4miles East of Brazilton).

MISSION TRIP ASSISTANCE

Parishioner Madison Smith, a junior at Benedictine College,

will be going to the Philippines over spring break on a medical
mission trip, along with Fr. Roger. Tax-deductible contributions
can be mailed to #3 Timbercreek Rd., Girard, KS, 66743
(payable to Benedictine College Ministry Fund with
Philippines in the memo line). Also, a list of various items
needed can be found along with a collection box at the back of
the church. Please keep them in your prayers. Thank you!

A big Thank You to our advertisers. Please support them!

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