Week of December 11, 2005

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Dear Parishioner,

There are two year-end announcements I wish to share with you today. The first is that our music ministry will be presenting the annual Epiphany concert of holiday music on Sunday, January 8, 2006 at 4:00 p.m. here at St. Noel. The talent and dedication of our music ministry is an immense gift to our parish. Since our choir is usually divided among our three weekend liturgies, you may not be aware that we are blessed to have a choir of over 65 singers and numerous instrumentalists, a 20-voice chamber singers group, and a handbell choir that rings four octaves of handbells and three octaves of hand chimes.

The concert format is an additional bonus for those who may not have attended the music ministry concerts in the past. With the choirs located in the center of the church, the acoustics are greatly improved. The result is a sound that is both beautiful and inspiring. The members of the music ministry work for months in preparation for the music that we will be hearing at Christmas, particularly at Midnight Mass. The Epiphany Concert provides us an opportunity to hear again what they have worked so hard to accomplish and also to join in some Christmas singing ourselves. Please consider bringing your family and friends to close the Christmas season with a glorious, joyful sound.

The second announcement is that the Annual Report for our parish will be mailed out this week to all parishioners. This report lists the sacramental celebrations which have taken place during the last year and provides a directory of our staff and all ministries and the financial report for the parish.

I deeply appreciate your generosity which allows our community to serve its mission. That generosity deserves a full disclosure of our financial situation and this report provides it. I encourage you to examine it. Members of our Finance Committee and myself would welcome any questions you might have.

Fr. George Smiga

CATHOLIC UPDATE – entitled “The Annunciation; The Angel's Message to Mary,” by Edward Sri, is now available in the kiosk.

CATHOLIC CAMPAIGN FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT – Reminder: Our ushers will be in the narthex to accept donations to this important cause. We thank you for your generosity

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS, LECTORS AND SACRISTANS are invited to sign up for liturgies on Christmas Eve (4:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and Midnight); and Christmas Day (9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.); and New Year's Eve (5:00 p.m.) and New Year's Day (9:00 a.m and 11:00 a.m.) Sign up sheets are on the bulletin board by the kitchenette.

BULLETIN ARTICLES – Because of the Holidays, bulletin articles for the weekends of December 18 th and December 25 th must be in the office by December 13 th .

Articles for the weekend of January 1, 2006 need to be in the office by December 20 th .

GIFT – If you registered for a GIFT session in September, October or November and were unable to pick up your Home Kit, you can find your labeled Home Kit on the bench in the hallway by the new wing. Even though the sessions have passed, many of the Home Kit contents may still be useful in your faith formation.

WOMEN'S BIBLE STUDY & FELLOWSHIP will not meet on Tuesday, December 20 th or 27 th . We will resume on Tuesday, January 2 nd , 2006. For information, please call Anthony – 440-946-1128.

ST. NOEL PRESCHOOL PROGRAM – Please join us in the small hall for a Christmas Celebration on Sunday December 18 th at 9:00 a.m. Family last names A-F please bring one dozen cupcakes to share; family last names G-Z please bring two dozen Christmas cookies to share. All volunteers please arrive 45 minutes early for set-up and please plan to remain for a quick clean-up.

URGENT ACTION NEEDED TO PROTECT THE POOR – In the wee hours of the morning before leaving for their Thanksgiving break the House of Representatives passed a budget bill that cuts $50 billion, including essential services for low-income families. Funding for health care, food stamps, foster care for neglected children, student loans, enforcing child support orders – all fell to the ax. In the next few years, more than 200,000 people will lose food stamps. The religious community has already led the way in the Senate – its version of the budget cut about $35 billion, with virtually no cuts in services to low-income people. Congress now faces a stark choice that requires moral clarity. The differences between the House and Senate have to be resolved in a joint conference committee. A final bill containing the House cuts must not be passed.

Contact your legislators – Call your Senators and Representative during their Christmas break, and demand that they refuse to pass a budget cutting service for low-income people. The number for the Capital switchboard is 202-224-3121. Ask for your Representative's and Senator's office and ask to speak to the legislative aid handling the federal budget issues. For more information, call the Catholic Commission at 330-535-2787 or www.catholic-action.org .

PRAYER VIGIL – December 14 th for a moral federal budget is being sponsored by the Catholic Commission of Lake/Geauga and the Diocesan Social Action Office at 5:00 p.m. at 1 Victoria Place in downtown Painesville. Please bring a candle to light

LOW INCOME SENIORS-HOME REPAIRS – The Lake Communities Development Corporation is working with Salvation Army and United Way to offer low income senior or low income disabled homeowners with minor home emergency repairs. Please check the “Social Justice” section of the kiosk for qualification guidelines

and further information.

WHY ARE PEOPLE STARVING WHEN THERE'S SO MUCH FOOD? On Sunday, December 11 th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at the invitation of last year's JustFaith group, Tony Vento will facilitate a discussion addressing global, national and local issues about food production and distribution. Tony presently serves as a Newman Campus Minister at Case. He formerly has been Program Director for Pax Christi USA, Co-ordinator of the Cleveland Inter-Religious Task Force on Central American and a staff member of InterAct Cleveland, an organization whose mission is to be a catalyst for creating an inter-religious community through which members put faith into action working for social justice through dialogue, volunteer service and advocacy. Please consider joining us for this discussion.

EL SALVADOR ENCOUNTER – Plans continue for our trip to El Salvador scheduled for July 18 th though 26 th , 2006. Fr. George will be joining us as we encounter the courageous and faith-filled people of this beautiful country. We will be visiting the sites of the martyrs (Jesuits, Bishop Romero and the Church Women), hearing the stories of the families of those who were “disappeared” during the Civil War, worshiping at one of the parishes staffed by our Diocesan Mission team, interacting with the children at the Community of Oscar A. Romero, and visiting our partnership of Women in Community for several days in Zaragoza, El Salvador. The current estimated cost is $1,500. An informational meeting will be held at 10:15 a.m. on Sunday morning, January 8, 2006 as our deadline for sign up is February 1, 2006. You may want to sign up prior to that date as the maximum number of people we can accommodate is fifteen and a number of people have already registered. Please call Alice at 440-946-0887 to register.

SVDP Car Donation Program – With poverty in Northeast Ohio at all time high levels, now more than ever St. Vincent DePaul Society needs your help to keep their community-wide programs going. The SVDP provides free food, clothing, furniture and blankets to the needy throughout the Diocese of Cleveland. However, without your car donations, these programs would not be possible. Simply call 216-741-7837 to donate your late model car, truck, SUV or boat. The process is quick and easy, with free towing and a tax deduction.

ADULT CONFIRMATION – The Lake/Geauga District of Catholic Parishes is again offering preparation session for adults interested in celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation. The classes will be held at St. John Vianney Church in Mentor. Deadline to register is December 21 st . More information is available on the kiosk. Call Anthony to register.

PRIME TIME – We're shopping today (SUNDAY) at 8:30am at K-Mart! No meeting tonight. Next weekend (the 18 th ) is our Christmas Party. All former PRIME TIME members are invited. Please stop by and say hello.

ALTAR SERVERS – We are in need of servers at all our Liturgies. Both children (4 th grade and older) and adults are welcome to serve. Please call Anthony for more

information. This is a wonderful opportunity for parents and children to serve together!

CHRISTMAS PROJECT COLLECTION – Thanks to all who donated to the project. We collected over $5,000!! Your generosity has once again made this project possible. Over 100 families will enjoy food and gifts for Christmas.

CHRISTMAS PROJECT – We're wrapping on Tuesday the 13 th at 7:00pm in the lower level. Delivery takes place on the 17 th at 9:00am in the large hall. Thanks to all who have volunteered to help! There's still room – please call Anthony to help!

JUNIOR HIGH YOUTH GROUP – See you for wrapping on the 13 th at 7:00pm. We need your help!

NOEL MOVERS – The movers recently leased a storage unit in Willoughby to increase our capacity to serve families. The ministry continues to grow! We are currently in need of appliances, mattresses and dressers. Call Anthony to donate.

GIVE THE GIFT OF MUSIC – This Christmas, share the gift of your parish music ministry with your family and friends. The St. Noel Music Ministry CD entitled How

Can We Keep From Singing? Features the choir, chamber singers and hand bell choir and will be available for sale in the narthex following all weekend liturgies during Advent. Proceeds benefit the music ministry pilgrimage fund. Share this ministry of St. Noel with those you love this year.

ST. AUGUSTINE CALENDARS will be on sale for $25.00 in the narthex next weekend, December 17 th & 18 th . Calendars will also be available in the church office, Mondays through Fridays between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. and on Sundays after Mass.

ST. AUGUSTINE DINNER – Thank you to all who participated either by attending, donating items for the auction, monetary donations, working on the committees, and prayers. It was a success – raising $23,350.00! Keep November 16, 2006 open for next year.

PARISH HISTORY BOOK – The 25 th Anniversary Parish Commemorative Book will be published in both a soft bound and hard-bound edition. The soft bound edition will be mailed to each parish household. The hard bound edition will include a foil-stamped cover and is included with a cornerstone sponsorship. Sponsorship cards are available in the kiosk. For further information, contact Chris Roach at 440-356-1124.

ST. NOEL FELLOWSHIP - The activities for the month of December are as follows: December 15 th Christmas Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. – Socializing, meeting, prizes; 12:30 p.m. Luncheon, Menu: Prime Rib, baked potato, peas w/mushrooms, salad, rolls & butter, Tiramisu. For tickets call Marianne Ferritto (440-943-6822) Cost is $13.00 and the deadline for tickets and payment is December 12 th . Please remember to bring something for the food bank ; December 22 - No meeting; December 29 th – No Meeting.

ENTERTAINMENT BOOKS 2006 – are available in the church office or by calling Paula Garbo at 942-4884. The cost is $30. All proceeds benefit Mentally Handicapped Children. Books are also available from Lake County Right To Life (440-255-5257).

ST. NOEL PARISH HALL – If your family, friends or maybe the company you work for are looking for a nice place to hold a wedding, birthday party, baby shower or a holiday party, please recommend St. Noel Parish Hall. We can accommodate any group of 50-500. There are still openings in November and December. We are also taking reservations for any dates in 2006 and 2007. Select dates will fill up quickly. You can check availability by calling the hall office at 440-946-6635. Also mark your calendars for March 18 th , 2006, Shout will be back at St. Noel Parish Hall.

URSULINE COLLEGE invites you to participate in their Master of Arts in Ministry Program. Classes begin January 19, 2006. If you would like more information, please call 440-646-8195. Scholarships are available.

SCHOOL OPEN HOUSES – Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School Placement/Scholarship tests Saturday, January 7 th . All will begin at 8:00 a.m.

“PILGRIMS OF HOPE,” This January 2006 marks the 25 th anniversary of the installation of Bishop Pilla. To mark this Silver Jubilee, a coffee table book called “Pilgrims of Hope” has been published. You may order the book at www.dioceseofcleveland.org , or there are order forms available in the kiosk. All proceeds go to an educational foundation established by the Bishop.

WEEKEND FOR DIVORCED, SEPARATED AND WIDOWED – The next BEGINNING EXPERIENCE weekend will be held on February 10 th , 11 th and 12 th at St. Joseph Christian Life Center. Please call Carol (330-416-8911) or Jan (440-808-9879) for more information.

ALWAYS OUR CHILDREN – The parents support group for families and friends of gay and lesbian Catholics welcomes you to join us at our next meeting, Sunday, December 11 th from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. in the Library of the Administration Center at St. John Vianney Church on Bellflower Road in Mentor.

STAMPS – Please save your used stamps for the Maryknoll Sisters for their missionary work. Cut the stamps from the envelopes using scissors. Leave a ¼” margin on all four sides. Place the stamps in the box on top of the coat room racks. Thank you for your assistance.

A JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY: PILGRIMAGE TO ARCHEOLOGICAL SITES OF WOMEN OFFICEHOLDERS IN THE EARLY CHURCH – Rome-Ostia-Assisi will take place March 30 th through April 8 th .

Call Barbara Grants at 216-228-0869 or Pat Firem at 440-223-6964.

CHORAL SOUNDS OF CHRISTMAS – St. John Vianney Church will present its Fourth Annual Concert on Sunday, December 18 th at 3:30 p.m. The concert features the adult SATB Choir, Children's choir and Bell Choir. Admission is free, but donations would be greatly appreciated. All funds are used to support St. John Vianney's Choral Music Program.

ST. GABRIEL'S MUSIC MINISTRY invites you to a special evening of song and prayer. Our annual Advent Concert and Prayer Service featuring the adult choir and youth choir will take place on Sunday, December 18 th at 7:00 p.m. in the church. This concert is free and refreshments will be served.

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