From the Pastor’s Desk
Example of some of the
My Dear People:
We ought to spend our whole lives thanking
God for all that He has given us and done for
us. We need to thank Him for our income,
our homes, cars, streets, beds, clothing, food
and medicine. We need to thank Him
especially for His grace, His life within us,
and constant inspiration to live as we should.
So, we continue to give Him the first part of
what we earn because He has given us
everything we earn and because He has
stated that He wants the first tenth of what
we earn.
We believe that Jesus founded the Church
and He would have failed if He did not have
a plan for the support of His Church. He
simply did not fail. His plan is tithing. When
we do this we help the poor and needy. We
finance the parish with its brick and mortar
buildings and their upkeep. Bingo, raffles and
“left-overs” were never His plan for the
support of His Church. God’s plan is stated
46 times in the scriptures, and those who
question the New Testament application
should read Matthew Chapter 23, verse 23,
and see how Jesus says we ought to tithe. If
we lack faith and trust in God, we are going
to come up with excuses and say, “I earn too
much,” or, “I earn too little.” Again, those
excuses are just a lack of faith and trust in
God. This reminds me of the minister that
visited the farmer and told him he was not
giving God 10%. That farmer said that crops
were too good and earning too much. So, the
minister told him to kneel down and pray with
him. The minister prayed that farmer Jones
would earn less so that what he was giving
would be 10% of what he was earning.
The American bishops tell us we should give
5% to the parish and the other 5% to other
charities such as United Way, Red Cross and
other appeals.
The expenses of a parish this size is $1.8
million a year. The average monthly number
of checks is 180.
monthly bills is as follows:
• $5,500 Alabama Power
• $6,100 Alagasco, A T & T, Water
and Sewer, Charter Cable
• $6,400 Salaries for Two Sisters
• $6,207 Office Staff
• $4,093 Maintenance Men
• $2,103 Housekeeper
• $2,500 Youth Minister & ministry
• $3,169 Music Minister & ministry
• $19,340 OLS School subsidy
• $10,750 Diocesan bill for
Property and Health
Insurance
$4,950 Parish School of Religion
salaries excluding Sr. Joan
• $1,200 Janitorial and paper
products)
• $26,000 Wachovia (Family Life
Center & Parking Deck
mortgage)
The above expenses are just a few of the
monthly bills.
Last week, we gave $365 to a parishioner to
have a car repaired in order to go and find a
job. The week before, also for a parishioner,
we gave $450 for an accumulated power bill
and rent and another parishioner received
from us $175 for a doctor bill. Non-
parishioners receive less because it is too
difficult to determine their real needs. OLS
parish stands out, shining for its generosity to
Catholic Charities.
We are in critical economic times and so
many more are desperate. We also send
money to the Catholic Center of Concern.
We look long-range into the support of the
school since the whole parish is responsible
financially for the school, and, without a
foundation, Catholic Schools will soon close.
God needs our money but we need to give
even more than God needs our money.
Tithing stops greed. It makes sure that God
is number one in our lives, and if we tithe,
God will not be outdone in generosity. He will The Mass schedule for the Feast of the
always give us more than we give Him. Immaculate Conception on Monday,
December 8th:
Thank you on behalf of God for your
generosity this past year. Everyone lost 6:30 a.m.
money this past year on investments except 7:30 a.m.
those who invested in God. What we gave to 8:30 a.m.
God last year and every year is the safest 12:00 noon
investment of our money. It keeps multiplying 6:00 p.m.
in value! (Nursery
provided)
I can honestly say that I take better care of
God’s money than my own. I better. It is not
mine. It is God’s!

Bring your pledge cards to Mass with you

next Sunday and we will place them on the
altar. That’s our commitment to God. He has
never beem outdone in generosity. He will
always give us more than we give Him. Can
we afford to be with His blessings?
With prayers and blessings,
Father Muller
OLS ADVENT MISSION with Father
Bernie Weber begins on Monday,
December 8th, after the 6:00 p.m. Mass. A
nursery will be provided for all
sessions.

Tuesday and Wednesday the Mission will

begin at 7:00 p.m.

MASS INTENTIONS On Thursday, December 11th, there will be

Monday, December 8 Charles Woods a Penance Service at 7:00 p.m. Eight
Special Int. of Scott Humphrey priests will be available for confession.
Tuesday, Dec. 9 Mimi Norwood
Lee Saia
Wednesday, Dec. 10 Special Intention Father Bernie Weber will be available
Frances E. Zito for confession on Monday through
Thursday, Dec. 11 Angelo and Lee Bruno Thursday afternoon from 2:00 to 5:00
and other victims of the Bruno Plane Crash p.m.
Barbara Turnblad
Friday, Dec. 12 Donors to the OLS School
Foundation
Charles Woods
Saturday, Dec. 13 Anthony John Scozzaro
Josephine Sicola
Sunday, Dec. 14 People of the Parish THANK YOU
Lee Saia A note of thanks and appreciation to Knights
of Columbus members, Greg Wos, Joe
Alesce and son, Joseph Alesce, Ann Bruno
and Mary Claire Brouillette for setting up and
arranging the navitity scene. Volunteering
like this needs to be recognized. It looks
great! Many thanks!
Immaculate Heart of Mary Guild meeting
The annual Breakfast with
will be Tuesday, December 9th, at 6:15
Santa is Saturday, December
December p.m. in the Family Life Center
13th, in the OLS cafeteria.
Sodality Room. The meeting portion will start
Seating times are 8:00 a.m.
at 6:30 p.m. New members are welcome.
or 10:00 a.m. $5 for adults
Any questions please contact Wendy Green
and kids 12 and up, $3 for kids (3 and under
492-7058.
free), $0.50 for raffle tickets, and $5 for photo
with Santa. Join us for breakfast, arts and
Our Lady of Grace Guild will meet on
crafts, door prizes, pictures with Santa, and
Monday, December 8th, at 11:00 a.m. at the
fellowship. For more information or to
home of Mary Ann Graeve. Please
volunteer, contact Rachel Briese,
remember to bring canned goods, money for
rachelbriese@hotmail.com, 215-8455.
Catholic Center of Concern and toys for
Registration forms can also be found online
Hispanic Ministry.
at www.olsschool.com.
____________________________________
Join us next Sunday, December 14th, for
Adult Education. Our speakers will be Jane
Sweeney and Brenda Bullock. They will
All children in K5 through 4th
speak on “Faith Ministry to the Hispanics.”
grades are reminded to
____________________________________
please return your finished
art posters for the Birthday
CHRISTMAS ELVES NEEDED
Party for Baby Jesus by
We need help delivering
December 7th. There will
poinsettia plants to OLS
be prizes awarded to three
parishioners who live in nursing
children per grade. The Knights of Columbus
homes. The visit helps these
has provided the posters and prizes for this
folks to know they are included
annual event. All finished posters should be
in our parish family. The plants can be picked
returned to PSR classes on Dec. 7th.
up at the church office from December 8th
PSR students will have class on Sunday,
through 13th. If you can help, please call the
December 14th.
office at 871-8121.Thanks, Sister Pat
Christmas Party for Baby Jesus, Sunday,
December 21st, after the 8:30 a.m. Mass, in
the Parish Hall.
Christmas Flower Offering envelopes are
located in the vestibule. Please pick one up
and return it to the Church office no later than
Sunday, December 21st.
PRAY FOR VOCATIONS
How are you preparing the way for the Lord? What
needs straightening in your life? Call on God in
prayer to help you. (Matthew 3:1-12) Please pray
that those among us who may have a call to
priesthood or the consecrated life may be
encouraged.
This ad is sponsored by the Serra Club.

CHAPEL OF OUR SAVIOR
The Chapel needs permanent Committed
Adorers for:
Monday at Midnight - 1:00 AM (To Share
Hour)
Saturday at 8:00 AM
Our goal is to have at least 2 people on each
hour. Please call Ida Wilker at 933-2281 or
Mary Claire Brouillette at 871-2909.
Children’s Liturgy of the Word News
Children’s Liturgy of the Word will observe
the following schedule during the upcoming
holiday season:
December 7 & 14: Children’s Liturgy of
the Word will meet during the 8:30 a.m.
Mass.
December 21, 28 and January 4: No
Children’s Liturgy due to Christmas and
New Year’s Holidays.
January 11: Children’s Liturgy of the Word
resumes at the 8:30 a.m. Mass.
Additionally, Children’s Liturgy will assist
with the Birthday Party for Jesus
celebration on Sunday, December 21st, but
I need the children’s help! We will present
The Birth of Christ Nativity play and actors,
readers and cantors are needed.
Therefore, children are encouraged to
come to the Parish Hall after Mass on
December 7 and 14 to sign up. We will
have a practice on Sunday, December 14,
after PSR classes end, and will be finished
around 12:30 p.m. Snacks will be provided
at the practice.
Have a Blessed Christmas and the
happiest of New Years! Greg Harber
The Benedictine Sisters Retreat Center in
Cullman is offering an Introduction to
Centering Prayer retreat January 16-18. For
more information or to register, please
contact the Benedictine Sisters Retreat
Center at (256) 734-8302 or
retreats@shmon.org.
The OLS Annual Christmas Drive Once
again, we are raising money to help build
small houses for the very poor in Mexico.
Our goal is to build 7 houses. Gift tags in
various dollar amounts and return envelopes
are available on the Advent trees in the
vestibule. Please take a gift tag and
envelope, and return your donation in the
regular collection by December 14th. Thank
you for your generosity! The Immaculate
Heart of Mary Guild
____________________________________
Need a sitter for an Adult? Please call
Joan Durand at 933-6414 or 541-0228.
I am available for work Monday through
Saturday between the hours of 10:00 a.m.
and 5:00 p.m.
____________________________________
Soup Kitchen Volunteers Needed:
We need a few volunteers to help
prepare/serve lunch with a team from OLS at
Grace Episcopal Church in Woodlawn for
one or more of the following dates: 1/24, 2/7,
3/2l, 5/l6 and 9/5. Please contact Susie
Ceyte at 979-32l6.