VOL.

3 NOVEMBER 26-27, 2011 ISSUE 47

Welcome to Good Shepherd Chapel

First Sunday of Advent

Pastoral Council
Scripture Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down (Isaiah 63:19) Rouse your power, and come to save us. (Psalm 80:3) the grace of God bestowed on you in Christ Jesus, that in him you were enriched in every way, (1 Corinthians 1:4,5) Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come. (Mark 13:33)
Pastor: Fr. Joseph Lea (267) 243-5861 Co-Pastor: Fr. Aniekwe (706) 791-4307 Outgoing Pastor: Fr. Damian Ilokaba, (706)791-4307 NCOIC: SSG. Clarence Slaughter (706) 791-4308 Deacons: - George Foster (706) 860-2379 - Mike Marchek (706) 855-2107 - David Kriegel (706) 869-9781 PLC: Lola Rivera (706)-993-1816 saintmichaelparish@hotmail.com RE Coordinator: Sherry Wodicka (706) 726-0651 swodicka24@gmail.com Music Director: Sonia Rivera (706) 627-0637 MCCW: Kim Besel mccwfg@yahoo.com Knights of Columbus: Allen Larson larsonlair05@hughes.net Youth Ministry: Nisa Vera nisa_vera@yahoo.com EME: Judy Kriegel, (706) 869-9781 Altar Servers: Alex Besel adbesel@gmail.com, (706)855-9275 Lectors: Tom Dean, (706)860-6946 Ushers: Ron Shannon 706-868-5960 Flowers Ministry: Fran Simpson francespsimpson123@yahoo.com Welcome Sunday: Adriana Gramer adriclanger@gmail.com Editor: Lola Rivera (443) 223-1125 lolarivera@ymail.com
(COL) JEFF LEPAK, PRESIDENT jeffrey.john.lepak@us.army.mil HERMAN GONZALEZ, VICE-P herman.gonzalez1962@gmail.com LOREN SIMPSON, SECRETARY simpsgm@knology.net TINA RABY, FINANCIAL ADVISOR gritstwo@yahoo.com

Parish Staff and Ministries

Reflection Are you pleading for the Lord to come to save you? Are you ready for the Lord to come and be with you? Are you aware of Gods saving grace present in your life? What is needed to bring Gods saving presence into your life more fully? This place is prison, this life is penance, and he wants us to rejoice in the remedy. The remedy is that our Lord is with us, protecting us and leading us into the fullness of joy; for our Lord intends this to be an endless joy, that he who will be our bliss when we are there is our protector while we are here, our way and our heaven in true love and faithful trust. ...Let us flee to the Lord and we will be comforted. Let us touch him and we shall be made clean. Let us cleave to him and we shall be safe in every kind of peril.1
1

Julian of Norwich (1342-1423), Showings, translated by Edmond Colledge, O.S.A and James Walsh, S.J., Paulist Press: New York, 1978, p. 331. Retrieved from For the Ride Home by Ted Bergh, ParishVision Llc 2011 Visit ParishVision.org.

THE ADVENT WREATH

The Advent Wreath, a venerable European tradition, can be a way to involve even very little children in learning about Christian preparation - not only for celebrating Our Lord's birth, but to make our hearts truly ready to receive Him. The wreath's symbolism of the advent (coming) of Light into the world is clear. The gradual lighting of the four candles, one on each Sunday of the Advent season, combined with the liturgical colors of the candles (purple is the penitential color used during Advent and Lent; rose is a liturgical color used only on Gaudete Sunday in Advent and Laetare Sunday in Lent) help to symbolize not only our expectation and hope in Our Savior's first coming into the world, but also in his Second Coming as Judge at the end of the world. The wreath itself is also symbolic. The circle of evergreen in which the candles are placed represents everlasting life. The seedpods, nuts and cones used to decorate the wreath are symbolic of resurrection, and fruits represent the nourishing fruitfulness of the Christian life. Retrieved from http://www.catholic.org/clife/advent/advent.php?id=21

Our Lady of Guadalupe Spanish Mass

We are pleased to announce that we will celebrate a special Mass in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas, on December 11, at 4pm. This Mass will be celebrated in Spanish by Father Lea. Help us to spread the word among the Catholic Spanish-speaking community. We will have our social gathering after Mass. Please, contact Herman Gonzalez at (706) 951-7883 if you have any questions, or you would like to help in any way. Also, contact the Music Director, Sonia Rivera (706) 627-0637, if you would like to sing or play an instrument at this Mass. Join us!

PARISH HAPPENINGS
Especial Thanks
We would like to give especial thanks to all of the volunteers, ministry coordinators, and Parish staff that volunteered their time to help cleaning and decorating our chapel to start Advent. The chapel looks beautiful thanks to your help and talent. Thanks for supporting and helping your parish.

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Confessions/ Reconciliation
Private confessions at St. Michaels are available for you before Mass on Saturdays 4pm and Sundays at 8am in the confessional box located in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, but also face-to-face and by appointment at your convenience. Confessions are available in Spanish when Father Joseph celebrates mass.

Ministry Retreat in January!

Our next Ministry Retreat and training will be on January 7th, 2012, 9:30-4pm. ALL Ministries are required to attend this one-day retreat/training. Ministry heads are also asked to prepare a 10 minutes brief on their programs. More information to come soon via email. Contact Lola Rivera if you have any question.

Adoration on Wednesday
Join us for adoration this coming Wednesday at 18:30pm. We meet every week to spend and dedicate an hour in Eucharistic Adoration. This is a great way to increase your faith and help you with your prayer life.

Parish Council Meeting

St. Michaels Parish Council Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday December 6th, 2011. The meeting will be at Good Shepherd Chapel (GSC), social room at 5:30 pm.

Wedding Anniversary and Marriage Vow Renewal

Send us an email if you are celebrating your wedding anniversary next month, lolarivera@ymail.com. We also encourage you to let us know if you would like to renew your marriage vows at Mass, at least two weeks in advance. Requests can be submitted at: stmichaelparish@ymail.com

Choir Rehearsals
Choir practices are on Thursdays in Building 13, located in the Religious Education Complex. Children: 6:30-7:15pm Adults: 7:30-8:30pm
Singers and musicians are welcomed! Contact Sonia Rivera at (706) 627-0637

Parish Registration
We are conducting a Parish Census this month. Please stop by the registration table located at the main entrance after Mass to fill out the registration card. We appreciate your time.

Survey Going On Now!

St. Michaels will be conducting a survey at this moment to rediscover this parish as a community of faith, grace, and service. We need to know how you feel and how we can meet your needs. Your input will help us improve our mission. This is survey per household. Please visit our website to complete your survey. Your input is very important to us. Thanks for your continued support!

Volunteer Wanted!
We are looking for volunteers to coordinate the following ministries: Evangelization Please, contact Lola Rivera if you are interested in coordinating any of these ministries, or if you need more information @ stmichaelparish@ymail.com.

YOUTH MASS

http://stmichaelparishfg.blogspot.com/

Join us!!

REMINDER
This is a courtesy reminder from Father Joseph Lea. Ministry heads and volunteers should use the chain of command to inform of any concern, questions and matters. If you need help or need assistance, please contact the Parish Life Coordinator, Lola Rivera. If she is not available or you cannot reach her via phone or email, please contact one of the Deacons or our Pastor if the deacons are not available. Do NOT go directly to the Chaplain Assistant. Chaplain Assistants assist chaplains. Thank you for your cooperation.

UPCOMING DESIGNATED OFFERING

There will be a designated offering on December 11, 2011for Institute of Religious and Health. Please know that this offering is directed by the office of the Chief of Chaplains. Parish Council Financial Advisor, Tina Raby

Pro-Life Rosary
We will start praying the Pro-Life Rosary the first Wednesday of each month starting on December 7th before Adoration at 6:00pm. Join us!

PLCs Office Hours

The Parish Life Coordinator is available to assist you the following days: MonWed Fri 9:30am to 1pm. After hours assistance only by appointment at (706) 993-1816.

& MINISTRIES NEWS

Access Parish updates, Council meetings minutes, current newsletters, and more

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Altar Servers Training!!!

There will be NO Altar Server Training in November. Training will resume on December 3rd. from Noon - 1300 at Good Shepherd Chapel. All current and new servers must attend. A schedule will be drawn up and distributed at that time. For more information please contact Alex Besel at adbesel@gmail.com or (706) 855-9275.

http://stmichaelparishfg.blogspot.com/

December 8th Holy Day of Obligation

We celebrate the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary festivity on December 8th. We Catholics are called to attend mass in this day. St. Michaels Parish will celebrate a Vigil Mass for this festivity on December 7th at 5:30pm, and a Mass on December 8th at 11:30pm

Military Council of Catholic Women (MCCW)

Best Baker Competition Results Congratulations to our grand prize winner for two years in a row-Ginger Cody with her Holiday Carrot Cake! Ginger was the first place winner for cakes. Gracie de la Cruz won first place for pies, and Kathy Lepak won first place for cookies. Thanks to everyone who participated in the contest and to our judges. Faith Study The MCCW faith study will not meet on Monday, November 28 because of our Christmas party Thursday, December 1. Hygiene Items and Laundry Soap Needed! This year MCCW will support Catholic Social Services as our designated charity. We have learned from Sister Janet Roddy, the director, that they really need hygiene items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, etc. and small bottles of laundry detergent to hand out to homeless and jobless families and individuals in the Augusta area. Please help us support those who so desperately need it in our very own community. We will have a box in the back hallway where you can deposit your gifts. Thank you!!

Knights of Columbus
Monthly Meeting Please know that our next meeting will be on Tuesday December 20th, 2011 in Bldg. 13 at 1830. Social and the meeting starts at 1900 hours. Contact the Grand Knight Al Larson at larsonlair05@hughes.net if you have any question. Essay Contest Winners!! The Knights would like to thank Tom Dean, Tom Phair and Ginger Cody our Judges for their help in the Essay Contest and our contestants Mary, Alex and Robert Besel and Triana Rivera for their excellent Essays. Hopefully we will have more contestants next year.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!! - 4 December CYM Christmas Craft Making for ALL 6th thru 12th grade students. Meet in Bldg 13 immediately after CCD. Lunch will be served while we make Christmas gifts for our veterans. - 7 December at 6:45pm CYM and Parents will meet at the Wrightsboro Road VA for Christmas Carolling and delivery of the Christmas gifts we made. - 18 December Youth Mass at the 10 am Mass. For further details on any youth activities, please contact nisa_vera@yahoo.com or call (706) 589-1071 CYM is asking you to donate toiletry items such as soap, shampoo, toothpaste, tooth brushes, deodorants, and combs, and also white tube socks for men and women, as well as, underwear in all sizes, white preferred. Please place all goods and toiletry items in the collection box located in the social room. Contact us if you have any question. Thank you!

You and your spouse are invited to the MCCW and Knights of Columbus Christmas party on Thursday, December 1 at 6:30 pm in the RSO building. We will provide ham, turkey, and drinks. Otherwise, we are asking that people with last names beginning from A to L bring hot side dishes, last names beginning from M to Q bring salads, and last names beginning from R to Z bring desserts. Childcare is available for this event for children up to age 12, but your child MUST be signed up with CYS first. We will have a gift exchange (with stealing allowed--no, it is not a mortal sin in this case!), so bring one gift or two if your spouse also wants to participate. This has been tons of fun in the past, so please join us. There will not be a Mass before the party. Contact Kim Besel if you have any questions and Tina Raby for childcare at mccwfg@yahoo.com.

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PRAY FOR OUR MILITARY
Please remember in your prayers all those who are deployed, their families and friends during their deployments. If your love one is one of them, or you know any deployed military personnel send us his or her name, so we can include it in our daily prayers. Send your prayer request to lolarivera@ymail.com. Susan Wersal SSG Carl W. Thompson COL Michael Apicella CW2 Clarence W. Raby, III COL William Walker SFC Nathan Varner SrA James Varner HM1 Genell Cody

PRAY FOR EXPECTANT MOTHERS

Please pray for our expectant mothers and their babies. If you are a member of St. Michaels Parish and expecting a baby, or have a friend or relative who is a expecting a baby, please send us her name to add it to our list @ lolarivera@ymail.com.

Kirsten Fontimayor
St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host by the Divine Power of God thrust into hell, Satan and all the evil spirits, who roam throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

ADULTS PROGRAMS Coffee and Theology
Coffee and Theology is a religious education for adults that meets on Sundays at 11:30am at the RSO Bld. 29601. Contact Tom Dean (706) 860-6946 if you have any question.

Bible Study
St. Michaels Bible Study is on Tuesdays at 7:30pm in the activity room. We are studying a Bible Study on the Books of Hebrews.

CCD Registration
LITURGICAL LIFE
Weekend Masses Saturday 17:00 Sunday 08:30 & 10:00 Daily Mass Mon, Wed, Thurs. 11:30 Mon-Friday DDEAMC 11:45 Reconciliation Saturday 16:00 Sunday 08:00 Rosary Saturday 16:30 Sunday 08:00 Communion (Sick/ Homebound): Deacon George Foster Weddings Deacon George Foster Baptisms Deacon Mike Marchek Liturgy Deacon David Kriegel Adoration Wednesday 18:30 Religious Education (RE) Sunday 11:30 (RSO and RE Complex) CCD registration is open throughout the year. Please know that in order to receive the Holy Sacrament of First Communion or Confirmation, children need to attend Religious Education as required. Contact Sherry if you have questions.

CHILDREN PROGRAMS Volunteers Needed

We are in need of several Catechists and substitute teachers to help with the CCD program, grades Pre-K through High School. Co-Teachers and assistants are needed too!! Anyone interested in volunteering to teach Religious Education this year, please contact Sherry Wodicka @ Swodicka24@gmail.com or (706) 592-6478.

Decembers Calendar
Dec 3rd 1st Communion Workshop. Dec 11 Christmas Party w/class Dec 24 @ 4pm Children Mass Christmas break from Dec 18-Jan 1 Classes resume on January 8th.

The Beatitudes: Blessed are the Merciful

A Commitment to Lift the Burden of Another
Each beatitude, which simply means supreme blessedness, begins with the phrase blessed are. These words imply that whoever participates in that right heart attitude will benefit from being in a perpetual state of receiving God's favor. It was this continual blessing that Jesus knew was going to fulfill the needs of His followers. The fifth beatitude is for those who are merciful. Jesus said, Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. (5:7) Someone who is merciful is one who maintains a heart attitude of mercy. It is not a one-time occurrence, nor is it just an outward display. They do not show mercy only to those whom they believe are deserving of it. Rather, they follow God's example through His Son, Jesus Christ. He continually gives mercy to those who need it though aren't deserving of it. To be merciful also implies an outward focus on the physical, emotional and spiritual state of others. One who is merciful is not selfish, nor are they self-absorbed. They are aware of the suffering of those in need and act to help meet that need. When the Good Samaritan saw the need of the fallen Jew, he sought to alleviate the man's discomfort, though he was an enemy, and committed himself to providing for his care until his health was restored. God promises that He will care for the needs of those who set aside their own needs to care for someone else. This kind of attitude comes from a heart that is fully trusting in God. They know that they themselves will not be left behind, and therefore they do not fear reaching out to others. Like the Good Samaritan, they commit themselves to caring for others until the burden is lifted. This is the kind of mercy that draws the attention of God. And His promise is to give back to those who selflessly give of their time, energy and resources to help others in need. Written by Amy Miller. Retrieved from http://www.sharefaith.com

Bulletin Announcements
Bulletin announcements must be submitted to lolarivera@ymail.com by Sunday 5pm. Announcements received
after the deadline, they might not be announced. Contact Lola Rivera if you have questions.

Last Weeks Stewardship

Attendance: 362 Offering: $1,788.31