Renovations complete all Masses at
St. John the Baptist ~ Piopolis, IL
We the parishioners of St. John the Baptist,
brothers and sisters in Christ, accept as our mission:
to know our faith and share it with others, to continue to grow spiritually with respect for the sacraments, to celebrate the liturgy and the Holy Eucharist as the center of our Christian life, to live by truth and love, to serve those in need, to teach by example, and thereby strengthen and inspire our Parish family in accordance with the Roman Catholic Church.
Mass Intentions for the Second Week of Advent
Wednesday, December 18 at 6:00 p.m.
No Mass
Christmas Penance Service - second priest available
Thursday, December 19 at 8:00 a.m.
†Deceased Members of St. Isidore Council of the Knight of Columbus
†Edward Rapp
††Joyce Schilly and Tina & Martin Anselment
Friday, December 20 at 8:00 a.m.
††SV & Clara Hopfinger
††Theodore & Lena Reyling
Mass Intentions for the Fourth Sunday of Advent
Saturday, December 21 at 5:00 p.m.
††Rich & Tillie Miller
††Floann Mitchell & Jack Reyling
††Floyd & Norma Collins and Scott & Jolene Schuster
Sunday, December 22 at 8:30 a.m.
All Parish Family
Sacrament of Reconciliation before weekend masses.
Office Hours
December 16-20
Monday ~ Closed
Tuesday & Friday ~ 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Wednesday & Thursday ~ 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Closed Noon - 12:30 p.m. for Lunch
Visit Parish Website For
Bulletins: New & Old
Calendar
Photo Gallery
Monthly Ministry List
Your financial support remains an important part of our Parish life and helps us keep going. Please continue giving your time, talent, and treasure. Please mail, drop-off your offering in collection box or in the mailbox by Parish office front door.
Watch bulletin for more details.
December
15: After Mass PSR Christmas Program and then breakfast in hall with special visitor.
15: Sarah Kroger Concert 6:30 p.m. St. John the Baptist Church - Meal starting at 4:30 p.m.
17: Christmas Memorials for Needy in Parish due to office.
17: Ladies Quilting 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. City Hall/Market Street
19: KC #8745 Meeting at Dahlgren 7:00 p.m.
19: KC #7118 Meeting at Enfield 7:00 p.m.
19: AA/NA Meeting 7:00 p.m. City Hall/Market Street
21-22 & 28-29: Two week bulletin
22: No PSR or Bible Study
22: Decorate for Christmas after Mass
23: Office closed December 23 and will reopen on December 31
24: No Ladies Quilting
24: Christmas Vigil Mass 4:00 p.m.
25: Christmas Day Mass 9:00 a.m.
26: AA/NA Meeting 7:00 p.m. City Hall/Market Street
29: No PSR or Bible Study
30: Fr. Slawomir Ptak attending Seminarian Christmas Gathering 4:00 p.m. Holy Trinity,
Fairview Heights
29: No PSR or Bible Study
31: No Ladies Quilting
QUILTING EVERY TUESDAY
Starting at 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at the City Hall, 601 E Market Street, McLeansboro, IL. Everyone is welcomed and if you don't know how to quilt, this is a great way to learn. For more information contact Phyllis Wuebbels 618-895-4895 or Sharon Bigley 618-736-2964.
PRAY FOR & REMEMBER THE SICK & HOMEBOUND
James Frey
Bob Wilson
Kent Karcher
Helen Wellen
Mary Karcher
Deacon Alfred Karcher
Clem Aydt
Tillie Kaufman
Greg Karcher
Charlie Lueke
Marion Wellen
Reminder: Due to federal privacy laws, we are not allowed to list people or visit who are sick or in the nursing home without written authorization from that individual or from their immediate family who has authorization. Form can be requested from the office.
REMINDER
Please contact office for funerals and baptisms. For weddings contact office six months before.
PLASTIC TOTE BY OFFICE DOOR
Weekly bulletins
Living Faith Books & are located at each door in church.
AA & NA MEETING - CITY HALL
Alcohol & Narcotic Anonymous Meeting
Every Thursday Night
7:00 p.m.
601 E Market Street ~ McLeansboro, IL
For more information contact Jim Bell 618-387-1077
RESPECT LIFE CORNER - ASSISTED SUICIDE 6 PART SERIES
Part 5: Sends a message to people that they are burdensome.
In Oregon, where assisted suicide has been legal for years, data shows people request suicide drugs not for pain but because they cannot do the same activities that they could before, such as control bodily functions. They feel they’ve lost dignity or that they are a burden. Assisted suicide can also promote the view that elderly relatives are not persons to be loved but burdens to be managed. Suicide drugs are not the answer. Everyone deserves loving, supportive care, affirmation of their dignity, and to know that they are never a burden. Tell your state legislators to Vote NO on SB 3499 - assisted suicide.
DIOCESAN CHRISTMAS COLLECTION DECEMBER 24-25
The 47th Annual Diocesan Christmas Collection will be at all Masses on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Parishes and agencies throughout the diocese will request monies from this collection during 2025 to assist those who are in need with food, clothing, shelter, utility payments, healthcare and medications, funeral and burial expenses, transportation and emergency assistance of all types. Please consider giving as you are able, thank you so much. An envelope is located in your envelope packets.
PASTOR'S NOTE:
In my note in last weekend’s bulletin, I presented a little historical background of our recent renovation of St. John the Baptist church. This week I wanted to invite you to look at the inside decor from the perspective of theological meaning and language of art. I’m sure you have noticed that all of the statues on the main wooden altar and side altars have received a shiny coat that brought the faded colors of clothing back to life. Some statues had structural damage like cracks or broken elements and needed new paint and some were upgraded with additional elements like jewelry (Queen Mary & Virgin Mary) and halos (St. Peter & St. John the Baptist). By looking at original pictures and examining the statues, it appeared that originally there were halos installed on both Saints. What is a halo? It is a ring of shiny light enveloping the head or the whole figure of a person. In statues, it is usually represented as a golden disc placed behind the head of the character. The halo has always been intended as a symbol of light, perfection, sanctity and grace given directly by God. The colors used on the clothes of each Saint express their specific roles in the life of Jesus Christ or their character traits or the way they gave their life for the Catholic faith. For example the brown color symbolizes stability, honesty, comfort, reliability (St. Joseph); burgundy represents intensity and spiritual power (St. Peter); lavender is related to truth, religion, tranquility, youth, vitality, optimism (SS. Anna & Joseph); navy stands for authority, control, responsibility (St. Peter); orange is connected with comfort, security, sentimentality, tradition and warmth (St. Anna); white symbolizes purity, joy, resurrection; and red martyrdom, vitality, emotion and Holy Spirit.
When you look at the floor going throughout the main part of the church you will notice blue diamonds. They are organized to create the shape of a chalice and no matter where you stand in the front of the church or at the back you will still see the shape of a chalice. The little squares made from blue tile on both sides of the church create a visual perimeter for the baptismal chapel and statue of St. John Nepomucene, who is the patron saint of confession and bridges, whose martyrdom is associated with the defense of the sacramental seal of Confession, making him a significant figure in the Catholic Church. The church currently seats 288 people in the pews. This does not include the seats in the sanctuary area for servers, the "crying" room, the choir area and other spaces of the church if needed for special occasions using folding chairs. Currently in our parish we have 280 parishioners and according to our annual October count, the average Saturday/Sunday combined attendance was 230 parishioners. The current set up mirrors that of St. John Nepomucene and was upgraded by making the main aisle wider to better accommodate funeral processions, weddings ceremonies, First Communions and Confirmations, which naturally require more space. There was a little bit more space provided between pews per Parishioners requests. By creating more space by the baptismal chapel and confessional area, we made more room for the elderly, and our parishioners who use a wheelchair whether they are adults or children. At the front of the church (on both sides), the first pews are a special space for the elderly with limited mobility, those who have had surgeries and temporarily cannot walk longer distances in the church, and children with disabilities so they may enjoy the liturgy of Holy Mass and other services in comfort.
One of the pillars of our Catholic Faith is Caritas which means compassionate love. Jesus Christ called for that compassionate love to be put into practice and the expression of that are the Works of Mercy. I think creating a space where those who have a problem with walking can easily get in by sacrificing the number of pews will in the end benefit us all because eventually, each one of us will get old and will have to rely not only on "friendly buildings" but also on friendly Christian brothers/sisters in faith. May this coming week of preparation for Christmas be a time that we look on every activity we do with the eyes of wisdom and care. St. Anna, Grandmother of Jesus Christ, pray for us. Fr. Slawomir
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