Father Ptak has Community Wisdom meeting with Bishop Braxton on Wednesday, January 24 at 12:30 p.m.

During flu season, we will not be extending sign of peace, during mass.  Thank you for your cooperation.

Vocation Corner:  Today we hear about Jonah and his call to address the people of Nineveh.  By selflessly following God’s call, Jonah is able to save those souls from being destroyed.  This same selflessness is also evident in Mark’s account of the calls of Peter, Andrew, James and John.  “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Mark 1:17)  They left their careers and family to do greater work.  Are you called to follow in their footsteps?

Knights of Columbus #7118 Fish Fry will be at St. Patrick’s Enfield on Saturday, January 27.  Serving from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Knights of Columbus Council #8745 will host their 3rd annual Trivia Night, Saturday, January 27 at St. john Nepomucene Parish Hall in Dahlgren.  Doors open at 6:00 pm, trivia starts at 6:30 pm.  6 to 8 person teams, $10.00 per person.  Soups and sandwiches available, 50/50 drawing, BYOB.  Proceeds go to the Hamilton County Relay for Life in memory of all Knights we have lost & in honor of all Knights who are survivors.  RSVP Aaron P. Rawls at 618-736-2251 or email at aprawls76@yahoo.com by January 22.

Wurstmarkt tickets can be picked up at entrance of St. Clement of Rome church. Those needing tickets to sell prior to the date can get them from John Perryman, Andy Miller,  and Karen Endicott as well as at church.

St. John the Baptist Holy Name Rabbit Fry will be on Sunday, January 29 starting at 5:30 p.m. in the hall.  All are invited.

St. John the Baptist will have a kitchen cleaning starting at 9:00 am on Monday, January 29. Come one and come all ladies to help.

St. John the Baptist is looking for someone interested in mowing.  Please contact the office  if interested.

St. Ann’s Altar Society wishes to thank all who braved the weather to make our Soup/Chili Supper a big success.  The raffle winners are as follows:  Rapp Cabinets $100-Wilma Karcher, Countertop Creations’ $50–John W. Rapp, Retha Rawls’ $25–Pam Aydt, Cindy Rapp’s $25 Kroger Card–Betty Rexing, Janice Richardson’s Quilt shelf–Chrystie Tennyson, Betty Rapp’s Popcorn popper–Jeannette Hart, Karen Karcher’s Cutting boards, cast iron Griddle & basket–Cindy Rapp, Jeannette Hart’s Lantern with candle–Paul Rapp, Curtis Richardson’s Books–Margaret Aydt, Susan Johnson, Karen Karcher, Rita Rapp, Sam Talbert and Barb Burke, Sue Karcher’s Hair products and gift certificate–Lily Rapp, Shari Karcher’s Gift Basket–Daryl Buchanan.

Please pray for the sick and homebound of our Partnership: Larry Hunt, Joe Spruell, Mary Rapp, Lois Smith, Marvin Swafford, Edith Haas, Marie Hopkins, and Jackie Eddy.

The Messenger:  Renewal weekend is February 3-4.  Please stay connected through a subscription to The Messenger.  Payments can be made in your Messenger envelope or on-line at www.bellevillemessenger.org.  Subscription cost $25 for print, $25 for electronic, or $30 for both.  Please make checks payable to The Messenger and include email address for electronic subscription.

Worldwide Marriage Encounter (WWME):  “For the world in its present form is passing away.”  If change in our lives is our lot, let us learn how to change with and for our spouses by participating a WWME weekend with your spouse.  The next weekend is on February 2-4, 2018.  To register or for more information call 314-649-7317 or go online to www.stl-wwme.org.

Chamber of Commerce Supper Saturday, February 3 at St. John the Baptist. Committee list:  Nolene Rubenacker-chairman, Bonnie Rubenacker, Shelley Allen, Denise Hastings, Brenda Thomas, Lori Powers, Cindy Budell, Teresa Wellen, Kendra Collins, and Andrea Short.

Deacon’s Notes: 

In today’s readings, first Jonah was called to preach and after a ride in a “fish”, Jonah preach to the people of Nineveh.  They believed in God and they called a fast and put on sackcloth from the greatest to the least of them. In the Gospel, Jesus preaches the Gospel in Galilee, and Jesus calls the first Disciples. A few things we can learn from the readings today,

1)  When God, or Jesus tells you to do something, listen them.

2) When Jesus calls, we should respond immediately.

In the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible, the word immediately was used…”and immediately they left their nets and followed Him.” The word immediately is used 42 times in Mark’s Gospel. With Jesus, His invitation is very compelling. In life, there are Jonah’s who complain, and there are Disciples who say yes, immediately.  Good day, God Bless, and don’t be a Jonah! Deacon Archie.

Pastor’s Notes:

Continue “Questions & Answers” from Amoris Laetitia, “The Joy of Love: On Love in the Family”, the Exhortation written by Pope Francis, after the two Synods of Bishops on that topic in October 2014 and October 2015.  Our Bishop has requested priests to share Pope’s writing with you.  The questions and answers may help to focus on some important points of Amoris Laetitia. 

Question 6 of 9:  For a Synod that at one moment seemed to offer broad new acceptance for gays in the Church, AL seems to present precious little.  What happended?

Church teaching remains clear: marriage is between a man and a woman, and homosexual unions cannot be placed on the same level as Christian marriage.  (AL 250)  That said, it is important that we all learn to imitate God’s unconditional love, for everyone.  “The Church make her own the attitude of the Lord Jesus, who offers his boundless love to each person without exception.”  (AL 250)  While its focus is on marriage and family, AL also speaks to countless people who aren’t married.  These include singe parents, widows and widowers, celibate men and women – all of whom have family links.  Everyone is a son or daughter; everyone has a family history; everyone has bonds of love with family members; and everyone has friends in difficult and painful situations.

To be continued