Greetings, Family of families!  

This Sunday, November 27th, we celebrate the 1st Sunday of Advent - A new year on the church calendar!

As we shared with you last week, the new liturgical year will bring some changes. Again, we remind you:  The most important will be the re-introduction of the Precious Blood of Christ during Communion starting this weekend.  You will also notice a new color - purple-  to signify the season of Advent, along with the lighting and blessing of the Advent wreath as we await the birth of our Messiah.  Our missals will also be changing. The previous missal we have been using has been discontinued by our publisher, and we have had to switch to another publication.  

Celebrated annually on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday is an opportunity to bring our community together to give thanks and give back.

This year our projects include:  the purchase of two dalmatics.  A dalmatic is the vestment worn by Deacons during the Mass.  Although it may look like the priest’s chasuble, it has sleeves which the chasuble does not!   We are purchasing a rose dalmatic used during Lent and Advent and also a Marian dalmatic worn during Feast days and Solemnities for Mary.

We are also re-framing beautiful vintage pictures of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Sacred Heart of Mary.

Thank you to the Altar Society for coordinating this project.

We will have envelopes for your contributions in the church foyer or you can use the QR code above to give online click on the picture above to go the Giving Tuesday portal.

The Bereavement Committee provides a meal after funeral services for family and friends.  The parish provides the main dish and parishioner volunteers bring sides.  If you would like to be a part of this ministry, please leave your name and number in the sign-up sheet in the foyer of the church or contact Lorraine Ibrom, Jeannie Bricker or Carol Hardy.  

As Luis Jose Barajas continues his journey to becoming a priest in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, he will be ordained as a transitional deacon on Thursday, December 8th at 7 pm AST.  This important step will be celebrated in the Diocese of Mayagüez, PR in the Cathedral of Mayagüez.

Our parish community has embraced LJ throughout his journey and we are so appreciative.  We invite you to correspond with him through congratulatory cards, well wishes, prayers, etc., to the following address in Puerto Rico, if you so wish:

Parroquia San Miguel Arcángel
C/O Luis José Barajas
Po Box 625
Cabo Rojo, PR 00623

May God’s blessing be on each one of you!
   Luis and Adelita Barajas

A few years ago, we had the opportunity to host this exposition of saint relics.  If you missed it, St. Anthony Catholic Church in Elmendorf will be hosting this event on   Sunday, November 27th at 2PM in their parish hall.

Everyone is invited to join in singing the Divine Mercy Chaplet every Friday at 3PM in the church.

Launched on June 19, 2022  (the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, or Corpus Christi) the National Eucharistic Renewal invites us to what Pope Francis has described as “a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ”—particularly the transforming power and mercy of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. 

Our conversations and Synodal listening sessions throughout the Archdiocese have allowed us to reach a major milestone, yet we are far from concluding this process. In an effort to keep the momentum alive and continue the Synodal conversation in our parish community and ministries, we now join together on the topic of primary importance for our identity as Catholics:  
THE REAL PRESENCE OF JESUS CHRIST ESPECIALLY AS WE ENCOUNTER HIM IN THE SUNDAY MASS CELEBRATION.
On December 3rd and 4th, we will hear from our parish Eucharistic Renewal coordinators, John Earnhardt, Stephen and Frances Zunker at all our Masses.
Everyone will be given the opportunity to take part in providing important information regarding this beautiful topic of the Real Presence of Jesus Christ as we encounter him in the Sunday Mass celebration.

As an RCIA lesson, students are guided through a "teaching Mass" session on their journey to becoming full members of the church.  The teaching Mass explains what is taking place at the altar during the different parts of the Mass.  This year, we will open this session to whoever would like to attend. Details below:

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament (Adoration) at St. Jerome is every Wednesday at 8:40AM (after the 8AM Mass) until 7PM in the Chapel.  The 1st of Wednesday of every month is usually a Night of Reflection with Adoration, prayer and reconciliation until 8PM. Entrance to the chapel is on the east side of the church (the brown wooden door).