Sunday Bulletin

Daily Scripture Readings

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 25 - THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD
Isaiah 52:7-10; Psalms 98:1-6; Hebrews 1:1-16; John 1:1;18
9:00 a.m. Bill Leaf
by Betty Lou Leaf
5:00 p.m. Jack Bernardy
by Bob and Rose Countryman
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 26 - HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY, AND JOSEPH (#986)
Sirach 3:2-7,12-14; Psalms 128:1-5; Colossians 3:12-21; Matthew 2:13-15,19-23
8:00 a.m. Bill Leaf
by Betty Lou Leaf
10:00 a.m. FOR THE PEOPLE
12:00 p.m. Paul McMahon
by Rev. Joseph A. Jacobi
5:30 p.m. Frank Reardon
by Hank and Andy Rheinberger
MONDAY, DECEMBER 27
1 John 1:1-4; Psalms 97:1-2,5-6,11-12; John 20:1,2-8
6:30 a.m. Noel Hoey
by The Stephen Fleet Family
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 28
1 John 1:5-2:2; Psalms 124:2-5,7-8; Matthew 2:13-18
6:30 a.m. John Steltenkamp
by Al and Delores Struble
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 29
1 John 2:3-11; Psalms 96:1-3,5-6; Luke 2:22-35
6:30 a.m. Joyce Goodall
by Sue Landers
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30
1 John 2:12-17; Psalms 96:7-10; Luke 2:36-40
8:15 a.m. John Downey
by Betty and George Girouard
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31 - NEW YEAR'S
1 John 2:18-21; Psalms 96:1-2,11-13; John 1:1-18
5:30 p.m. Frank Reardon
ENGLISH by John and Judi Wilkinson
7:30 p.m. Paul McMahon
SPANISH by Rev. Joseph A. Jacobi

MASS ATTENDANCE, DECEMBER 19, 2004
5:00 p.m. - 276
8:00 a.m. - 217
10:00 a.m. - 431
12:00 p.m. - 557
5:30 p.m. - 110
TOTAL 1,591

*********************
NEW YEAR'S MASS SCHEDULE:

Friday, December 31
5:30 p.m. English
7:30 p.m. Spanish

Dear Friends in Christ,
This Saturday, January 1st, is the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God. During the 1990’s, the U.S. Bishops decreed that when this holy day falls on a Monday or a Saturday, it is not a holy day of obligation. Since January 1 falls on a Saturday in 2005, Catholics are not obligated to attend Mass, though I would encourage you to do so. There will be only two Masses offered and both of them on New Year’s Eve. There will be no Mass the morning of New Year’s Day, though there will be the regularly scheduled Sunday Vigil Mass on Saturday afternoon @ 5 p.m. to celebrate next Sunday’s Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord.
Recently I had a conversation with a member of the parish staff who questioned why New Year’s Day is not a holy day of obligation when it falls on a Saturday or a Monday. Since she did not understand the “why” of this change, I am guessing that many Catholics do not know why the U.S. Bishops made this change. The reason is the dwindling number of priests and the growing number of Catholics. For priests to preside at extra Masses on a day immediately before or after Sunday became too burdensome, especially for priests who are alone and have many Masses or have several mission churches. For example, Woodward has four mission churches, one in Beaver, which is 90 miles from Woodward. To travel to all those places for Masses for the New Year and then immediately turn around and do it again on Saturday night and Sunday---not only would the quality of the priest’s presiding and preaching suffer, but he also would be more prone to have an accident while driving because of weariness.
Canon law states that priests should not celebrate more than two Masses a day and that three Masses in one day should be an exception, and four Masses would require special permission. Why this law of the Church? To preside well over the prayer of the Mass requires a great amount of energy, and preaching well also demands a good supply of energy. Certainly, a priest can go through the motions of “saying” a Mass or preach half-heartedly, but to preside and preach effectively requires the gift of one’s whole mind, heart, soul, and strength. I am still a “young” priest at the age of 41, but I become weary after presiding and preaching at 3 Masses in a single day, especially when one of those Masses is in a different language.
Each year on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord in early January (in 2005 this feast falls on January 9th) we priests are encouraged to talk about the vocation to priesthood and the religious life. In this bulletin column, I cannot address all the reasons for the shortage of priests nor all of the solutions, but I would like to touch on what I think are the important points.
Many people point to celibacy as the reason for the dwindling number of priestly vocations. Without a doubt, in a sex-saturated society, a celibate lifestyle is as foreign to today’s young people as life on Mars. Especially when cultural messages abound that sex = love and that one cannot be happy without sex, young people find embracing a commitment to celibacy very challenging. That’s why I try to spend part of my priestly ministry being present to young people, so that hopefully they can see that a human being can live a fulfilling life, can love and be loved, even as a celibate person. The question I ask young people is: “How is God calling you to love?” Many are called to spend their lives in love in a committed relationship with another person, and part of the power and beauty of that loving involves the joyful gift of oneself in the act of sexual intercourse. Others are called to spend their lives in love as a single person or others as vowed celibates as part of their vocation as priests or religious. Some people think that if only we would allow priests to marry, then our priestly vocation crisis would be solved. However, major Protestant denominations (Episcopal, Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian) that allow their ministers to marry are experiencing a much more severe crisis of vocations than are we Catholics. (Plus, if Catholic priests were allowed to marry, parishes would have to increase their giving to financially support a priest and his family.) Thus, the real challenge rises up from the culture, a culture that idolizes materialism. It is no accident that 3rd world countries such as Africa and India have experienced an explosion of religious vocations. Plus, vocations of service in general have been in steady decline in our land, for teachers and nurses are also in short supply.
Another challenge to priestly vocations is the dwindling number of children. When parents have only two children, and one of them is a boy, they are more than likely to encourage their son to carry on the family name. Plus, as parents live longer, they look to their children to care for them in their old age, and priests, because of their limited income and the demands on their time, are not the best “children” to adequately care for aging parents. In previous generations, when every Catholic family had lots of children, parents were more than likely to encourage one of their sons to consider the priesthood.
I am convinced that one of the ways young people start thinking about the vocation to the priesthood is by being around priests who enjoy their priesthood. This is one of the reasons I try to spend time with young people (besides the fact that I truly enjoy being around them). When I was young, the presence of priests in my life ---eating dinner at my home, shooting basketballs with me, being present at youth gatherings--planted the seed of my vocation. What I learned at a young age was that priests were not only human like me and enjoyed things I enjoyed, but also that they had a special aura about them which attracted me to consider the priestly life. So, when I receive an invitation to eat at a family’s home, I try to find time to dine with them. I also teach religion class to the 8th graders in our school on a weekly basis, go to sporting and other youth events, and even risk life and limb on the ski slopes with the youth. However, the challenge of having fewer priests and more Catholics is that being present to young people is much more difficult with all the other demands on a priest’s time.
What are some solutions to the shortage of priests? One solution our Archdiocese and other dioceses have adopted is to import priests from other countries. We have always benefited from the service of priests from other lands in our country. One of my pastors at St. Mary’s Church in Ardmore was an “FBI”---foreign born Irish—by the name of Fr. Michael Hanrahan. The great wave of immigrants coming to our shores in the 19th and 20th centuries brought along their own priests---Italian, German, Polish, Irish, and other nationalities. In the 21st century, our Archdiocese has invited priests from India, Africa, South Korea, Vietnam, Mexico, Venezuela, and other countries to serve our Catholic people. The one group of immigrants, which happens to be the most recent wave of immigrants, which has not brought its own priests to our land are the Catholics coming here from Mexico and Central and South America. A new program of exchange in our Archdiocese is to send one of our priests to Cuernavaca, Mexico, to work in a parish there while studying Spanish and learning about the culture, and during the same time a priest from there would come to serve the Spanish-speaking people here.
One other solution to having fewer priests and more Catholics is to build bigger churches so there can be fewer Masses on a weekend. The newest churches in our Archdiocese---St. Monica in Edmond and St. Mark in Norman—both seat over a 1000 people. When we build our new church, it will probably seat at least 1000 people, not only so there would be the opportunity for fewer Masses on the weekend, but also to be open to future needs for space. For instance, if in the future there is only one priest to serve both Christ the King and St. Eugene, a logical solution would be to have a church large enough for both parishes.
(To be continued in next week’s bulletin)
In the peace of Christ,
Fr. Joseph A. Jacobi

SUMMARY OF CONTRIBUTIONS (07-01-04 to 06-30-05)
Goal for Fiscal Year Ending 6/30/05 is $1,404,000.00
Week Ending 12/19/2004 Year to Date
Parish Support $29,734.73 593,835.92
Bldg. For Mill. (Debt) 521.00 24,485.75
Children's Envelopes (34) 36.18 1,246.40
TOTAL COLLECTED 30,291.91 619,568.07
Budget 27,000.00 675,000.00
Surplus/(Deficit) 3,291.91 (55,431.93)
New Church Fund 12,957.00 33,474.25
School Scholarship 11.00 21,764.01
Envelopes used – 311
Renovation Donations: $18,500 given (($1500 still needed))

SATURDAY, JANUARY 1
Numbers 6:22-27; Psalms 67:2-3,5-6,8; Galatians 4:4-7; Luke 2:16-21
5:00 a.m. Robert L. Tiehen
by Marian Tiehen
SUNDAY, JANUARY 2 – THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD
Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalms 72:1-2,7-8,10-13; Ephessians 3:2-3,5-6; Matthew 2:1-12 (#990)
8:00 a.m. Frank Reardon
by Vernon Boston
10:00 a.m. FOR THE PEOPLE
12:00 p.m.
5:30 p.m. Lisa O'Connor
by John and Pat O'Connor
MONDAY, JANUARY 3
1 John 3:22-4:6; Psalms 2:7-8,10-12; Matthew 4:12-17,23-25
6:30 a.m. Frank Reardon
by Lela Ann Hassler
TUESDAY, JANUARY 4
1 John 4:7-10; Psalms 72:1-4,7-8; Mark 6:34-44
6:30 a.m. Frank Reardon
by Melvin and Virginia Vrbra
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 5
1 John 4:11-18; Psalms 72:1-2,10,12-13; Mark 6:45-52
6:30 a.m. John Downey
by Bob and Rose Countryman
THURSDAY, JANUARY 6
1 John 4:19-5:4; Psalms 72:1-2,14,15,17; Luke 4:14-22
8:15 a.m. Silvia Gay
by Andrea Garcia
FRIDAY, JANUARY 7
1 John 5:5-13; Psalms 147:12-15,19-20; Luke 5:12-16
6:30 p.m. Isabella Caylen
by Charles Caylen
SATURDAY, JANUARY 8
1 John 5:14-21; Psalms 149:1-6,9; John 3:22-30
5:00 p.m. George Lennon
by John and Judi Wilkinson
SUNDAY, JANUARY 9 – THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD
Isaiah 42:1-4,6-7; Psalms 29:1-2,3-4,9-10; Acts 10:34-38; Matthew 3:13-17
8:00 a.m. Christy Le
by Dung Luong
10:00 a.m. FOR THE PEOPLE
12:00 p.m.
5:30 p.m. John Steltenkamp
by Steve and Coleen Smigielski

THE CHURCH OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED THE FOLLOWING DAYS:

Monday, December 27
Friday, December 31
Monday, January 3

Each Tuesday, 1:00 p.m., the ROSARY is recited in the Chapel followed by the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

 No Religious Education classes for Kindergarten through 8th grade on Wednesday, December 29. Classes will resume on Wednesday, January 5, 2005.
 No Confirmation classes on Sunday, December 26 or Sunday, January 2. Classes will resume on Sunday, January 9, 2005.

CELEBRATE THE YEAR OF THE EUCHARIST
October 2004 - October 2005
An Invitation to The Parish Family of St. Eugene

Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament
Is the traditional and beautiful ceremony in which the whole congregation receives a solemn blessing with The Blessed Sacrament lifted in benediction by the Priest.
Father Jacobi and The Adorers of the Blessed Sacrament invite you to come for Evening Prayer and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament on Wednesday December 29, 6:00 p.m.

In December, Father Jacobi has celebrated Evening Prayer and Benediction at an earlier time than usual so that families can come and receive this holy blessing together. Many have done so in December. Come and have the joy!

In January, Evening Prayer and Benediction will return to the usual time of 8:30 p.m. to conclude the usual schedule for all-day Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on Wednesdays at St. Eugene.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THOSE WHO ARE SICK at home or in the hospital, especially: Manuel Moran, Tom Fox, John Chyz, Amelia Torres, Pat Reynolds, Alan Giroux, Johnnie Cravotto, Bob Gilmore, Jan McLemore, Sally Curry, Betty Muller, Keith Anneler, Michael Chronister, Donna Bay, Edna Gunter, Ewart Vaughn, Judy Fairless, Robert Mabe, Beverly Reeve, Randy Conner, Betty Modeland, Cliff Poeling, Sally Collins, David Lawalin, Danny Goe, John Connors, Wes Finley, Sr. Jeanette Feldott, Hans Brisch, Steve McKenzie, Bobby Alsobrook, Sr., Mary Agnes Coody, Harrell Kennedy, Annie Kate McLain and Dora Ochoa.

ATTENTION COLLEGE STUDENTS AND
OTHER YOUNG ADULTS:

This Ministry is currently under construction...
Look for upcoming Young Adult Ministry events in 2005!
Young Adult Ministry is for Catholics in their late teens, twenties, and thirties, who are single, married, divorced, or widowed, with or without children.
If you would like to be involved in the Young Adult Ministry at St. Eugene, please call LeAnn Hufnagel, 751-7115, ext. 119.

ST. EUGENE'S CATHOLIC SINGLE ADULT GROUP
JANUARY SCHEDULE

"Sunday Brunch" - First Sunday of each month, 11:00 a.m., "Village Inn Pancake House", 7004 N.W. Expressway.

"What's-Up?" - Every first Monday of each month, 7:00 p.m. in St. Eugene's Meeting Room 3. We get together and plan the activities for the following month.

SPECIAL EVENT:
Tuesday, January 4, GAME TIME. Orange Bowl Potluck Party at Tom Clapper's, 12104 Camelot Place. Bring something to eat and share.

Gatherings at the Church of The Servant, 14323 N. MacArthur:
 "Last Tuesday of the month Potluck" - 6:30 p.m.
 "Second Tuesday of the month speaker" - 7:00 p.m.
 "Tuesday Discussion Group" - January 18, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.

"Wednesday Supper Club" - Third Wednesday of each month, 6:30 p.m., "Casa Perico", 12219 N. Penn.

"Social Hour" - Every Friday of each month, 6:00 p.m. "Bennigan's", 13593 N. May Ave.

"Super Saturdays" - We usually depart at 11:00 a.m. from St. Eugene's South Parking Lot:

January 1 Bowl Game Potluck Party
Tom Clapper’s home
January 8 Zoo (or Omniplex if severe weather)
January 15 Cowboy Hall of Fame & Western
Heritage Museum
January 22 Omniplex (or Zoo if good weather)
January 29 Bass Pro Shop Outdoor World and
Lunch in Bricktown

For more information, contact Tom Clapper, 751-0415 (h), or 521-5761 (w).

MARDI GRAS 2005: Effective January 1, 2005, reservations are open to the Parish for those wishing to attend the 13th Annual Mardi Gras Ball on January 29. The cost is $160 for a table of 8. For more information, contact Joe Nicholson, Reservation Coordinator, 330-5094.

ST PATRICIA'S GUILD - We will meet Thursday, January 6, 9:30 a.m., at Claire Hayes' home, 2749 N.W. 111. We will be having a presentation on the "Pioneer Women during the Land Run of Oklahoma." Please bring your favorite salad to share. For more information, call Bernie Hogsett, 752-9070 or Betsy Fleet, 752-8982.

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL CONFERENCE OF ST. EUGENE'S wishes to thank the parish for its generosity and support during the past year. Your donations of food and financial contributions have allowed us to help many needy people and families.

Prayer Network - If you have needs or concerns for which you would like your church family to pray, call 751-7115, ext. 554.

La vida de una familia cristiana se debe caracterizar por un amor que lleva a la paz, amor que cada uno de los miembros es capaz de ofrecer porque comprende la relación que tiene con los demás. Los padres ejercen autoridad porque aceptan esa autoridad que les viene de arriba. Los hijos reconocen el papel de los padres en sus vidas. Esposos y esposas aceptan posiciones de corresponsabilidad, reconociendo los dones y la personalidad de cada uno. Los hijos conviven en un ambiente que ayuda al crecimiento y no a la discordia.

C A T E S I S M O

1. No habrá clases de Educación Religiosa de Kindergarden a 8o Grado el Miércoles 29 de Diciembre. Las clases comenzarán otra vez el 5 de Enero.

2. No habrá clases de Confirmación el Domingo 26 de Diciembre. Las clases comenzarán otra vez el 2 de Enero.

HORARIO DE MISAS PARA EL AÑO NUEVO:
Viernes, 31 de Diciembre:
5:30 p.m. English
7:30 p.m. Español

AÑO DE LA EUCARISTíA
Octubre 2004 - Octubre 2005
Una Invitación a La Familia de la Parroquia de San Eugenio

Bendición del Santísimo Sacramento
Es la tradicional y bella ceremonia en la cuál toda la congregación recibe una solemne bendición con el Santísimo Sacramento elevado por el Sacerdote.
Este es el año para experimentarlo de nuevo - enseñárselo a sus hijos - reconociendo la magnitud del amor y adoración que existe en esta ceremonia.
El Padre Jacobi y los Adoradores del Santísimo Sacramento les invitan a participar en las oraciones vespertinas y bendición del Santísimo Sacramento el Miércoles 29 de Diciembre,
6:00 de la tarde

LAS OFICINAS DE LA IGLESIA ESTARAN CERRADAS LOS SIGUIENTES DIAS:

Lunes, 27 de Diciembre
Viernes, 31 de Diciembre
Lunes, 3 de Enero

CALENDAR OF EVENTS
DECEMBER 25 - JANUARY 2, 2005

Saturday, December 25
MERRY CHRISTMAS
Sunday, December 26
10:30 a.m. RCIA Dismissal - Meeting Room 3
11:00 a.m. Coffee/Donuts - Altar Society
12:00 p.m. Hispanic Council – Fellowship Hall
6:30 p.m. Life Teen - Youth Room
8:00 p.m. Men's Basketball League – Gym
Monday, December 27
C L O S E D
Tuesday, December 28
8:00 a.m. Men's Ministry - Meeting Room 1
10:00 a.m. Women's Prayer Group - Meeting Room 2
6:00 p.m. Contemporary Choir - Church
6:15 p.m. SLAA - Meeting Room 1
Wednesday, December 29
7:00 a.m. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
6:00:p.m. Evening Prayers and Benediction - Chapel
Thursday, December 30
7:00 p.m. Marriage Blessing – Church
Friday, December 31
6:30 p.m. SLAA - Meeting Room 1

FRIENDS OF BOLIVIA is seeking parish medical personnel to be a part of the 2005 Medical Mission Trip to Riberalta, Bolivia, May 29 - June 4, 2005. All medical professionals are needed, especially Family Medicine Doctors, Pediatric Doctors, OBGYN Doctors, Dentists, Nurses and Lab Techs. Translators are needed, also. On the home front there is a need for a doctor to help with the supply list, accountant, nurses to help organize. There is a spot for anyone who would like to give of themselves to this marvelous parish endeavor. Please call Judi, 751-7115, ext. 115, for more information.

YOUTH GROUP

SENIOR HIGH
LIFE TEEN: Sunday, December 26. Mass at 5:30 p.m.
Upcoming events: January 2, New Year's party after Mass.

JUNIOR HIGH:
NO Junior High YOUTH MEETINGS UNTIL January 18!

Please call LeAnn Hugnagel, Coordinator of Youth Ministry, 751-7115, ext. 119 for more information.

CONVERSATIONAL SPANISH CLASSES will begin Sunday, January 9, and continue through May 15. This year we will be using a new book for the classes which students can order over the internet from Ebay.com. The book is called "Madrigal's Magic Key to Spanish" by Margarita Madrigal. Classes will run from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. and are open to anyone wanting to learn Spanish. There will be a $20 per month fee for the classes. For more information, call Meredith Parks, 848-3853.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS
JANUARY 1 - JANUARY 8, 2005

Saturday, January 1
HAPPY NEW YEAR
Sunday, January 2
10:30 a.m. RCIA Dismissal - Meeting Room 3
11:00 a.m. Coffee/Donuts - PTO
12:00 p.m. Hispanic Council - Fellowship Hall
5:30 p.m. Boy Scouts #129 - School Library
6:30 p.m. Life Teen - Youth Room
8:00 p.m. Men's Basketball League - Gym
Monday, January 3
CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED
6:15 p.m. Basketball - Gym
6:30 p.m. Hispanic Prayer Group - Meeting Room 2
Tuesday, January 4
8:00 a.m. Men's Ministry - Meeting Room 1
10:00 a.m. Women's Prayer Group - Meeting Room 2
6:00 p.m. Contemporary Choir - Church
6:15 p.m. SLAA - Meeting Room 1
6:15 p.m. Basketball - Gym
7:30 p.m. St. Vincent de Paul - Meeting Room 1
Wednesday, January 5
7:00 a.m. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament - Chapel
7:30 a.m. School - Fellowship Hall
8:30 a.m. Scrapbooking - Meeting Room 3
9:00 a.m. Homebound Euch. Ministers - Meeting Room 1
12:15 p.m. Academic Bowl - School Conference Room
6:15 p.m. Basketball - Gym
6:30 p.m. CCD - School
7:00 p.m. Knights of Columbus - Meeting Room 1
7:00 p.m. Choir - Church
8:00 p.m. Evening Prayer and Benediction - Chapel
Thursday, January 6
7:30 p.m. School - Fellowship Hall
6:00 p.m. ESL - School
6:15 p.m. Basketball - Gym
7:00 p.m. Baptismal Seminar - Meeting Room 1
7:00 p.m. Life Teen Choir - Church
7:00 p.m. RCIA - Meeting Rooms 2/3
Friday, January 7
10:00 a.m. RCIA - Meeting Room 2
6:30 p.m. SLAA - Meeting Room 1
Saturday, January 8
10:00 a.m. Safe Environment Training - School Library
1:00 p.m. Safe Environment Training - School Library
6:00 p.m. Epiphany Dinner - Meeting Rooms
Sunday, January 9
10:30 a.m. RCIA Dismissal - Meeting Room 3
10:30 a.m. RCIA Children - Meeting Room 2
10:30 a.m. RCIA Children - Meeting Room 1
11:00 a.m. Coffee/Donuts - PTO
11:00 a.m. K. of C. Mardi Grass - School Library
11:30 a.m. Confirmation I - School
11:30 a.m. Confirmation II - School
12:00 p.m. Hispanic Council – Fellowship Hall
1:30 p.m. Safe Environment Training - School Library
2:30 p.m. Basketball - Gym
6:30 p.m. Life Teen - Youth Room
7:00 p.m. Knights of Columbus - Meeting Rooms 2/3
8:00 p.m. Men's Basketball League – Gym