This article, due to accelerated bulletin deadlines for the holiday, is being written on Dec 19th….and I just got my Christmas present. The Detroit Lions won their first road game since 2007 and their 4th game of the season. They continue to improve and if they stay the course, they’ll eventually be a good football team. There’s a message there for all of us—no matter how bad things get, you can get better, but it doesn’t happen overnight just like it didn’t get out of whack over night but rather over a period of time. 
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From the Office
From the Office
No money talk today…it’s Christmas and I’m confident that everything will turn out O.K. finance wise for St. Anastasia. Christmas is finally here. Today we celebrate the good news of great joy for all people, “for to us is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord”. But how do we personally enter into this “great joy” of Christmas? How do we make this joy our own? This is an important question; even though God’s love brings joy to the whole world, there are still many among us who do not or will not share or understand this joy. There are many among us who do not know how to claim this joy and make it their own.
Deacon Ron’s Desk
Men’s Fellowship
Why should you become involved in St. Anastasia’s Men’s Fellowship? You may be saying to yourself, “I’m swamped at work, I hardly have time for my family – or any personal interests. How—or better yet—why would I get involved with this?” When you participate, join in…embrace Men’s Fellowship…you’ll find that suddenly you are finding time for prayer – and your relationship with God. You’re meeting and getting to know the men you sit next to every Sunday; who, until this time, you’d never known by name and you are starting to become friends. You will find that you are part of a great community.
Mark My Words
Merry Christmas to all!! It is hard to believe that we are once again celebrating our Savior’s birth and that he came into the world over 2010 years ago. Time sure flies when you are having fun! Since my childhood Christmas has always been one of my favorite holidays. While there is always the obvious gift exchanging, the time with family stands out for me. We all have family traditions that we hold dear and no family has the same exact traditions. One thing that happens as we grow older is that traditions change as life changes. I know mine have since I have become a priest almost 3 years ago. Nevertheless, the time with family and friends is what is truly important. Enjoy that time with family and friends and I also invite you to pray for those families who may be in most need this Christmas season.
Jottings from Fr. J.J.
WHAT DOES CHRISTMAS REALLY MEAN?
First, let me give you the greeting:
Merry Christmas! On behalf of myself and the entire staff, You are welcome here at St. Anastasia. No matter what your history; No matter how unworthy you feel; No matter what stage you are at on your journey. WE WANT YOU! HE WANTS YOU!
Advent & Christmas Schedule
Mass Schedule
Christmas Eve
- 4:00 p.m. (Family Mass)
- 7:00 p.m. (Christmas Vigil)
- 11:15 p.m. Musical Prelude
- 12:00 a.m. (Midnight Mass)
Christmas Day
- 8:15a.m.
- 11:15 a.m.
December 26
- 8:15 a.m.
- 10:15 a.m.
- 12:15 p.m.
Monday, December 27
through Thursday, December 30
- 9:30 a.m.
Friday, December 31,
Vigil Mass for Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God
- 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, January 1,
Vigil Mass for The Epiphany of the Lord; not a Holy Day of Obligation
- 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, January 2
- 8:15 a.m.
- 10:15 a.m.
- 12:15 p.m.
- 5:00 p.m.
Reconciliation for the Advent Season
Private Confession
- All Saturdays of Advent beginning at 3:30 p.m.
- Each Tuesday of Advent from 12 noon to 1 p.m.
- Each Wednesday of Advent from 5:15 to 6:30 p.m.
Reconciliation Services
-
Parish Reconciliation Service
Monday, December 13, 2010 at 7 p.m. - Vicariate Reconciliation Services
- Monday, December 20 at 7 p.m. at the National Shrine of the Little Flower (2100 Twelve Mile Rd. Royal Oak)
- Tuesday, December 21 at 7 p.m. at St. Hugo of the Hills (2215 Opdyke Rd. Bloomfield Hills)
Anointing of the Sick
- Friday, December 3 at 9:30 a.m.
Exposition of the Eucharist
- Each Wednesday beginning at 10:30 a.m. until Benediction at 5 p.m. On December 1st Benediction will be at 8 p.m.
- Friday, December 3 at 10:30 a.m. through Benediction Sunday, December 5 at 8 a.m.
Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
A Holy Day of Obligation
- 9:30 a.m.
- 4:45 p.m. (Religious Education Classes will attend.)
- 7:00 p.m.
St. Anastasia Annual Charity Ball
- Saturday, December 11
A festive evening to enjoy the Christmas spirit of giving and receiving. Dancing to the sounds of the Coachmen, an abundance of hors d’oeuvres and desserts, both a live and a silent auction all add to the excitment of the evening. All proceeds benefit the St. Aloysius Community Center and the Canticle Cafe. Call the Parish Office (248.689.8380) for ticket information.
The Sounds of Christmas
- Thursday, December 16 from 6:15 to 8:30 p.m.
The B.A.S.I.C. Youth Band will led us through the story of Christ’s birth through traditional and contemporty song. Children should wear thier pajamas; and, bring a homemade ornament or make one here to hang on our trees.
Category: News
From the Office
My son Eric had major reconstructive knee surgery a week ago last Thursday. You might remember back in June I let you know that he injured his knee playing indoor soccer. Two of his tendons are healing nicely while the PCL is not. He underwent 2 ½ hours of surgery and is now home with his leg immobilized and a pain pump hooked up to it. He will be immobilized until just after the 1st of the year, then be on crutches for 2 to 3 months, and then physical therapy after that. The total recovery time is 9 to 12 months….please remember Eric, his wife Jackie, and all of our family in your prayers.
Jottings from Fr. J.J.
GIVING ON CHRISTMAS – Just a reminder that every week we get taxed 7% on each collection EXCEPT FOR CHRISTMAS!! In other words we get to keep all of the Christmas collection to use to pay bills, subsidize the Religious Ed program, pay salaries, etc. I ask you to please talk it over with your family, pray over it, and try to be extra generous in your Christmas envelope so that we can get back on track budget wise. Thank you for considering it!
From the Office
You will be reading this article either immediately before or after the annual Christmas Ball. The Committee headed by Patricia Ullmann has worked hard ensuring a successful and meaningful Ball and the set up crew headed by Pam Pipas has been in the Davidson Center all week working hard at making the atmosphere just right. As you may know, the proceeds from the Ball (anything above our expenses) go directly to St. Al’s and with all the budget cuts by the AOD, we now represent a large percentage of their annual income. Last year we sent them a check for just over $37,000; hopefully we can exceed that this year as the need seems even greater. My wife Arlene and I will not be at the Ball this year as it’s just too soon that my mom passed away. My wife and I agonized over it for quite some time and made the decision that attending this year for us just didn’t feel right…it’s still too soon for us, but we will be back next year.
Jotting from Fr. J.J.
WHO SHOULD DO THE LOVING AND WELCOMING!?!? – You are now well aware of the sign on the transom to our main entrance that states, “Welcome Home, Always Loved, and Always Welcome.” This expresses the spirit that exists in our parish community. We have room for everybody. To help express this, on Christmas we will be presenting a different Good News Bulletin. It will be shaped to completely express this sentiment. The cover will not have the typical generic nativity with holly and greenery, but rather a cover is being developed to catch people’s eye. What people you ask? Well, the folks who may only come once or twice a year to our parish. We want to invite, entice, and encourage these folks to come back and get involved; either in our liturgies or the 1001 other activities that happen throughout the week. Our goal is to bring these folks to a new relationship with Christ and to develop the gift of faith with which the Lord has blessed them. BUT . . . a parish bulletin alone will not do the job. The Body of Christ will. THIS MEANS YOU! We as the people of God need to do the inviting. We need to do the welcoming. We need to scour the bushes for the folks who need the nudge to hear the Holy Spirits call. We have a very strong reputation as a parish for being hospitable. I encourage you to do your part to put on your best face, get out of your comfort zone, and get folks here to participate. While they are here though, we need to go out of our way to meet, greet, and help them to realize that they are home, always loved, and always welcome.