HAPPY NEW YEAR!
May God Bless you and your family in 2018!
NEW YEAR’S DAY IS NOT A HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION
THIS YEAR
we will have weekday Mass at 8:00 on January 1
PARISH CALENDAR
Saturday, December 30
4:00 -Mass for Will Barton, Sam and Myrtle Debona, Donnie Gremillion, Carey Juneau, Jules LaCour, Alma , Anna Mae, Dan and Gibbon Mayeux, Herbert McCoy, Wallace Norsworthy, Kenny Redman, Mike Redman, Kenneth Trahan, Ruby Trahan, Donald, Jake & Margaret Wilmore
5:30 -Mass for Stephen Ardoin
Sunday, December 31
8:00 -Mass for John Burrows
9:30 -Mass for John and Faye Pontif
-Children’s Church (Ages 5-10)
11:00 -Mass for all people of the parish
-Children’s Church (Ages 5-10)
12:30 -Spanish Mass for Mary Lee Foreman
6:00 -Mass for Laura Longo
Monday, January 1
8:00 -Mass for Annette Gormsen Via
Tuesday, January 2
8:00 -Mass for Hyacinthe “Hiway” Mathews Bailey
10:00 - Mass at Lexington House
6:00 -Adult Choir Practice (Choir Room)
Wednesday, January 3
8:00 -Mass for Rosalie V. Mathews
Thursday, January 4
8:00 -Mass for Dowell Bushnell
Friday, January 5
8:00 –Mass for Sid Rud, Eddie Weston Sr.
Saturday, January 6
4:00 -Mass for Sam & Myrtle Debona, Donnie Gremillion, Charles Medica, Stacey Lynn Miller, Annette Gormsen Via, Margaret Wells, Donald, Jake & Margaret Wilmore, J.J. & Una Wilson
5:30 -Mass for Bob Leonard
Sunday, January 7
8:00 -Mass for Barbara Laborde
9:30 -Mass for Henry Ardoin
11:00 -Mass for all people of the parish
12:30 -Spanish Mass for George & Edna Rabalais
6:00 -Mass for Stanley Hanhart
ALTAR FLOWERS: If you are interested in donating fresh flowers for the altar call the church office at 445-7141 ext 214. Flowers are $75 for both arrangements.
ALTAR SANCTUARY LAMPS were provided in loving memory of Alfred and Betty Mathews by their family and Toni Lynn Hogue by Jorge and Phyllis Vilar. If you are interested in having a loved one remembered by providing the sanctuary lamps, call the church office at 445-7141 ext 214. Cost is $7.50 per candle.
READINGS FOR NEXT WEEKEND Is 60, 1-6 Ps 71 (72), 1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13 Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6 Mt 2:1-12 Catechism 528
NO WEDNESDAY EVENING MEAL until Wednesday, January 10, 2018.
OUR OFFERTORY GIFTS
Regular Collection
Average expenses for week $ 21,552.76
Gifts for the week of December 24 $ 20,458.73
Short for the week of December 24 $ 1,094.03
Christmas Collection $ 17,610.16
BLDG/Maintenance Fund December $ 4,915.33
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!
The first reading today recalls God’s special blessing upon the Israelites. The Lord has been gracious to us as well, pouring into our hearts that spirit which knows Him as Father and makes us His children. May we, like Mary, treasure these things in our hearts and live gratefully!
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE DIED AND THE CONSOLATION OF THEIR FAMILIES: Betty Barton, Glynn Damico
OUR SICK: John Adams, Fr. Terry Allen, Andy Beaubouef, Odell Carlino, Frances Johnson, Connie Nasello, Delores Renda, Patsy Thibodeaux, Lloyd Trahan. Armando Vasquez-Sierra
RECOVERING, CONVALESCING OR ONGOING TREATMENT: Jennifer Auzenne, Jeanne Basco, Hattie Beaudoin, Andrea Blalock, Olla Rae Chicola, Orlando Costa, Zulima Costa, Carol Ann Davenport, Cynthia Franks, Johnnie Hart, Joy Hirsch, Patti Holmes, Stacy Johnson, Richard Juneau, James Laborde, Cody Lachney, Ressie Lemoine, Amy Marks, Dylan Moran, Michael Pourciau, Norma Rhame, Richard Rigby, Kevin Smith, Nancy Thiels Smith, Erica Stewart, Alisha Sylvia, Ilene VanGossen, Scott Wells, Johnny Williams
OUR SHUT- INS: Fr. Terry Allen, Todd Armand, Joyce Bakies, Vince Bakies, Fay Baudin, Margaret Beaubouef, Lizzie Belgard, Nellie Bordelon, Shirley Bost, Florence Broussard, Ray Broussard, Marcelle Campo, Madeline Cancienne, Joyce Carmouche, Janice Chapman, Nancy Cook, Carmen Costa, Rebecca Curcio, Bennye David, Edith Dixon, Michael Dwyer, Elsie Farman, Pat Fowler, Aline Garon, Jessie Griffin, Anita Guillory, Dorothy Harmeier, Claire Hebert, Jim Hollier, Bertha Hopewell, Audrey Jusselin, Molly Kopycinski, Peggy Lamkin, Clifford Lockett, Joyce Laborde, Ruth Lejeune, Callie Lemonie, Josephine Marcotte, Zadie Marcotte, Eula Maumphrey, Eliska Michel, Clemmie Michiels, Eliska Michiel, Lettie Michiels, Ann Miller, George Moreau, Patsy Myers, Hilda Naquin, Jane Ormsby, Clyde Ortego, Yvonne Perrin, Mary Perschy, June Peterson, Rose Ponthieux, Phyllis Potts, Willis Rabalais, Shirley Rini, Emily Sandoval, Ava Salih, Joyce Scallan, Pat Schneider, Jeannette Smith, Mary Snow, Ina Steiner, Helen Stroughtenger, Lloyd Trahan, Catherine Turner, Michael Turner, Susan Turner, Leala Vercher, Virginia Verzwyvelt, Willie Voorhies, Gloria White, Betty Wilmore, Anita Wooley
PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR MILITARY: Captain Greg Abide, Sgt. Ariail Andries, Cpt. Donald R. Bolton, Jr., SSgt Chad Bordelon, ASAR Quincy Bordelon, Lt. Luke Borrel, SSgt. Mike Carlin, Sgt. Chuck Carlino, CSM Cindy Carlino, Sgt. Brad Cavrak, Captain Brian Clayton, E4 Cruz Cline, Cpl. Antonio Cortez, Spc. Robert Crawford, Sr. Airman Stewart Crawford, USCG-BM1 Todd Crooks, Lt. Brian Dendy, Sgt. Rachael Ducote, Captain Christina Frazier, Captain Mike Frazier, Sgt. Matthew Gallagher, Carl Greene, Zach Jeansonne, Seaman Trace Lawson, SFC Steven C. Looney, HM3 Jacob A. Orlando, Nicholas Peralta, HN Christian Perkins, Greg Perkins, 2nd Lt. Rachel Salpietra, PVT Morley Setliff, PFC Michael Smilie, AO1 Jacob Spangler, Sgt. Mallory Swinnen, SSgt. Mark Swinnen, PFC Hunter Tarver, Captain Sean P.Turner, 2nd Lt. Timothy C. Turner, 2nd Lt. Francis Jerome Vanderlick, PVT Steele Vermaelen, Lt. Claire M. Vidrine. If you have members of your family who have been called to active military duty, or are already on active duty, please call 445-7141 ext 214. or e-mail us at dbrown@strita.org. Please keep all military and their families in your prayers.
SPECIAL THANKS to all for your many Christmas cards and gifts. Your expressions of love and generosity are always appreciated. – Your Priests, Sister & Staff
SPECIAL THANKS to the CCD students who donated $134.00 for their Christmas Family. The money was used to help sponsor a family for Christmas.
–Sr. Nell Murray
PARISH OFFICE HOLIDAY SCHEDULE: For the Christmas holidays please note that the parish offices will be closed on the following days; Monday, January 1st, Tuesday, January 2nd . Even though the parish office is closed, Fr. Scott and Fr. Daniel will check their messages regularly, so please remember we are here to serve you at all times! You can leave a message for Fr. Scott (445-7141 ext. 212) or Fr. Daniel (445-7141 ext 211). If you have an emergency for someone who is seriously ill or dying, please call 445-7141 ext. 4 and a priest will be paged to answer your call.
ST. VINCENT DE PAUL STORE will be closed on Tuesday, January 2.
CHURCH VOCATIONS COLLECTION: Traditionally during December , a collection is taken throughout our diocese for the education and formation of our priests. Through the Church Vocations collections, your generosity and prayers allow the church to continue to provide priests, sisters and brothers to serve our spiritual and physical needs. Please be generous. You may use the envelope in your monthly packet or a pew envelope clearly marked and drop it in the collection basket. – Bishop David Talley
START THE NEW YEAR WITH ON LINE GIVING where you can create or alter your contribution schedule at any time. You can also see reports of your contribution history that you can use for your records. By clicking the “OnLine Giving” link at www.strita.org you can take care your contributions yourself.
Notes from the Pastor......
MANY THANKS:
To all of our Volunteer Sacristans and those who assist with the linens and candles are all a great blessing especially at Christmas time; thank you for your many dedicated hours!!!
To our adult choir, our children’s choir, Melva Villard, Director of Music, Julie DeKeyzer, Kristyn Odenhoff, Cantors and all our other musicians for the beautiful music they provided our parish family this Advent and Christmas season.
To the Altar and Rosary Society, Parish Staff and their volunteers for decorating the church for Christmas. Thank you also to those who contributed to the Christmas Flower Fund. It is beautiful and truly helps enhance our liturgies !
TO those who donated money for the families we adopted at Christmas. We adopted 7 families with a total of 16 children. We collected $3,653.01. Thank you for your generosity.
AND to the Altar and Rosary Society for purchasing the poinsettia’s that were delivered to our Shut-Ins. They were very much appreciated by all.
– Fr. Scott
EFT Electronic Funds Transfer directly from your bank accounts or your credit/debit card.
EFT offers many benefits to the church and you, the parishioner. Scheduling EFT contributions allows the church to benefit by having a better prediction of contributions and reducing administrative tasks and costs. EFT transactions can be scheduled weekly on Monday, 10th, 20th or 30th of the month and allows you to make a contribution even if you are unable to attend a service. Also, using your credit card allows your contribution to count towards any rewards programs offered by your card provider.
To sign up for EFT, fill out the form located on the back of the bulletin and drop in collection basket or mail to parish office. Or you can call 445-7141 ext 210 and we will take care of setting everything up for you.
–Ms. Etta Ohrt
EMAIL ADDRESS? We have the ability to email our parishioners and we are continuously building a database of parishioners’ email addresses. This communication provides us with an additional outlet to keep you informed of parish events, or to contact you . In time it could save postage! If you would like to participate, please email us at etta@strita.org If your email address changes, please let us know. – Mrs. Etta Ohrt
DOWNLOAD OUR PARISH APP!! The St. Rita App is available to download for iPhone and Android smart phones. Our App allows us to send you useful and important messages throughout the week regarding our parish life and events, and allow you to reply to messages or RSVP for events!
So be sure to download the App by visiting myparishapp.com or searching for myparish on your phone’s App store.
CHRISTMAS MEMORIAL FLOWER FUND: It’s not to late to remember your loved ones by donating to the Christmas flower fund. A list of the donors and the names of those being remembered will be published in the January 14 bulletin. Donations for the decorating fund is $15. Make checks payable to the St. Rita Altar and Rosary Society, and please include the name(s) of those to be remembered.
MARY QUEEN OF HEAVEN PROGRAM for all ladies, is a nine week program beginning Monday, January 15, 2018. Come discover the amazing story of your Queen. Cost is $30 for the study guide. For more information, contact Desi Martin at 277-5015.
JESUS REVEALED BIBLE STUDY for all men, is a biblical journey consisting of 18 lessons beginning Monday, January 8, 2018. Cost is $40 for study guide. For more information, contact Jerry Deville at 447-7006.