Bulletin Postings for 21 September 2008

Father Chuck will be travelling this week. Actually he leaves tomorrow morning for Fairbanks for his annual retreat. He will return to Bethel on October 1.

Thank you for the generous donations last Sunday. Our collection was $3500 and will be put to good use.

Enjoy doing yard work? We have grass seed, fertilizer, and a rake to plant grass on the yard area in front of the church. If you would like to help with this project see Susan or Father Chuck.



Our rummage sale netted a little over $1100.00. Thank you to Keri Drew and the ladies from the Prematernal Home and Clem Joseph who along with Father, Elyse and Susan, helped to to fold up and put away the items that did not sell. We are looking for donations of a totes—the bigger the better in which to store the clothes. Right now we have the clothes stored in boxes in the AA building and other items in the porch of the Parish Hall. As soon as we get shelves put up in the AA building we will start putting items out. And we will get the shelves put up as soon as someone (or someones) volunteers to build them.

Our next Baptism Sunday is October 19. If you have a child to be baptized see Father Chuck or Susan.

We are rebuilding our Prayer Chain, so if you would like participate in this ministry you will find a sign up sheet on the table in the lobby. The way the prayer chain works is that when we get a prayer request we call the first name on the list, that person says a prayer and calls the next, and so on.. If we get enough names we have two or three chains going at once.



High School Youth Group meets Sunday at 6:00pm after the 5:00pm Youth Mass. This week's theme is St. Paul: The Person of the Year. Pope Benedict declared this liturgical year as the year of St. Paul, a man who began a a persecutor of Christians and ended up becoming one of the most influential evangelists, writers, and persons of the faith. This night aims to honor this saint of the year and learn about how his work got started and how he is considered a hero for the faith.



Come out, have some fun and help our community all in one! As we pray for those amidst hurricanes, flooding, and displacement, we answer the call to help. Volunteers are needed for Bethel's "Mass Dispensing Exercise on Saturday the 11th of October. This year instead of a single large distribution site, several mobile sites and one drive through site are being planned. Besides providing free Flu shots, MDE also helps our community practice organizational skills and actions for use in case of a sudden emergency here on the Delta. Please contact Trish at Public Health at 543-2110.

This fall, our parish will host four consecutive weekly prayer vigils for the victims of domestic violence. They will help us to prepare for, and participate in, Domestic Violence Awareness Month (October) . Vigils will be held on Wednesday evenings from 7-8 pm,; the first will take place on September 24 and the last will be October 15. Domestic violence affects us all, so everyone is welcomed and encouraged to join us in prayer. Our prayer vigils are intended to supplement, but not substitute for, the special events being prepared y the TWC to mark Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Anyone interested in leading , or speaking at any of our parish's prayer vigils, can contact Deacon Brian McCaffery at 543-2962 (H) or 543-1014(W).
With the permanent fund checks appearing in the banks, now is a good time to put money aside to pay income tax next April. Because of the amount of the checks this year even children will have to pay income tax Estimates are from $600-$800 per person. Also remember, if you donate to the church, you must give by check or in a donation envelope with your name and the amount on the outside so we can verify the amount for tax purposes in January.

Please remember in your prayers the soul of Anna Polty of Marshall who died this week and of Martha Cecelia and John Kasayak Martin of Napakiak who was buried yesterday.

Faith Formation Classes began last Sunday, except for the high school which will meet after the 5pm Mass beginning this Sunday. Our teachers: Doreen O'Brien, Joanna Kolbus, Agnes Woods, Patty Jones, Michael Gray, Tootsie Guinn, Cindy Mondesir, and Elyse Wagner will be commissioned today. Please remember them in your prayers. We are still registering children and still accepting donations of pilot bread, peanut butter, granola bars, and other snacks and kool aid for the program.

Liturgical Assignments for Next Week the 28th of September 2008

8:30am: Lector (Cinday Mondesir) EM (Joe and Ed)
10:00am: Lector (Elyse) EM (Jill and Evelyn)
5:00pm: Lector (Dimitri) EM (Elyse)

Bulletin Postings for 14 September 2008

This Sunday was the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.

Fr. Chuck has returned from St. Mary's and will be here all week. There will be daily Mass Tuesday through Friday this week at 12:10pm.

High School Youth Group/HS Faith Formation will now be held on Sunday evenings at 6:00pm in the Parish Social Hall starting this coming Sunday the 21st of September. Preceding YG every Sunday will be a special Youth Mass held at 5:00pm geared toward and involving the youth (though all parishioners are welcome to attend). After YG there will also be a homework hour session at 7:00pm for those who want to stay to do homework together or get help. Hopefully this will make it easier for those active in sports and activities to attend Mass, participate in YG, and have academic support.

Baptism Sunday will be the 19th of October. If you have a child to be baptised, see Fr. Chuck or Susan.

We are requesting donations for the faith formation program and for coffee after Mass. We give our students a light snack on Sunday, so we are asking for pilot bread, peanut butter, granola bars, kool aid, and other snacks. We are also asking for coffee after Mass and for

potlucks. We welcome either the food or the money to pay for it. Thank you for your generosity.

Prayers are needed for Gladys Jung who suffered a stroke on Thursday, for the soul and family of Valerie Roland who died this past week, and for the soul and family of Evan Williams Jr. who died on Friday.

Thank you to Sharon Kristovich and her crew for setting up the Rummage Sale and to Debbie Fairbanks for running it all day.

Faith Formation Classes began on Sunday, September 14th after the 10:00 am Mass for students from age 4 through 8th grade. High School classes will be held in conjunction with the Youth Group meetings. The teachers of the Preschool through 3rd grade students will lead the students to their classrooms after Communion. Fourth, fifth, and sixth grade classrooms are in the white house across the parking lot. Seventh and eighth grade students will have class in Father's apartment upstairs. Parents of students in preschool and kindergarten are asked to go to their child's room to register and meet the teachers. All other classes will register in the lobby of the social hall.
Even if your child(ren) has been registered in the program before, you need to register them again. A small fee of $10 per child (to a maximum of $25 per family) will be charged to cover the cost of materials, books, and snacks. However, no one will be turned away from the program.

We are extremely fortunate to have the following teachers in the program:
Doreen O'Brian: preschool-kindergarten Michael Gray: 4th grade
Joanna Kolbus: 1st grade Tootsie Guinn: 5th and 6th grade
Agnes Woods: 2nd grade Cindy Mondesir: 7th and 8th grade
Patty Jones: 3rd grade Elyse Wagner: High School

Substitute teachers and helpers will be needed. While we have teachers for all classes, we are always looking for substitute teachers. We also need musicians and people to help with special events and crafts. See Susan if you are willing to help out with this very important ministry.

RCIA: Do you know someone who is interested in joining the Catholic Church? Or perhaps you know someone who was baptized but has not been active in the church. If there are enough people interested in a RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) classes, Brian McCaffery will lead one beginning class later this fall. See Brian, Father, or Susan if you are interested.

Come out, have some fun and help our community all in one! As we pray for those amidst hurricanes, flooding, and displacement, we answer the call to help. Volunteers are needed for Bethel's "Mass Dispensing Exercise on Saturday the 11th of October. This year instead of a single large distribution site, several mobile sites and one drive through site are being planned. Besides providing free Flu shots, MDE also helps our community practice organizational skills and actions for use in case of a sudden emergency here on the Delta. Please contact Trish at Public Health at 543-2110.

This fall our parish will host four consecutive weekly prayer vigils for the victims of domestic violence. They will help us to prepare for, and participate in, Domestic Violence Awareness Month (October). Vigils will be held on Wednesday evenings from 7:00-8:00pm. The first will take place on the 24th of September and the last will be on the 15th of October. Domestic Violence affects us all, so everyone is welcomed and encouraged to join. Anyone interested in leading or speaking at the vigils, please contact Deacon Brian McCaffery at 54f3-596f2 (H) or 543-1014 (W).

Liturgical Assignments for the Next Two Weeks

14th of September
8:00am: Lector (Doreen) EM's (Joe and Sheri)
10:00am: Lector (Rose Domnick) EM's (Angela and Nancy) Alter Servers (Katrina, Riana, Jackson)
5:00pm: TBA

21st of September
8:00am: Lector (Dennis) EM's (Carol and Diana)
10:00am: Lector (Sharon) EM's (Debbie and Eveyln) Alter Servers (Salena, Lawson, Jackson)
5:00pm: TBA

Bulletin Postings for 7 September 2008

Fr. Chuck will be leaving for St. Mary's on Monday, September 8th and will be returning Satuday, September 13th.

Parish Rummage Sale is on Saturday, September 13th in the Social Hall from 10:00am - 3:00pm.

Faith Formation Classes will begin on Sunday, September 14th after the 10:00 am Mass for students from age 4 through 8th grade. High School classes will be held in conjunction with the Youth Group meetings. We will be registering children in the lobby of the church, as well as in the classrooms after both Masses next Sunday. A small fee of $10 per child (to a maximum of $25 per family) will be charged to cover the cost of materials, books, and snacks. However, no one will be turned away from the program. Substitute teachers and helpers will be needed. While we have teachers for all classes, we are always looking for substitute teachers. We also need musicians and people to help with special events and crafts. See Susan if you are willing to help out with this very important ministry.

This Sunday is Volunteer Sign-up Sunday. Pick up a list of ministries (found on the table in the lobby) that are needed to run the parish. Think about it, pray over it, and next Sunday be prepared to commit to a ministry. Perhaps it will be a one-time event, such as organizing and running a raffle or potluck, or the Work of Human Hands Sale. Or perhaps you play a musical instrument and would like to play for Sunday Masses. Do you enjoy sorting items for rummage or would like to be a lector at Mass? Or maybe think about visiting the sick in the hospital once a week?

The High School Youth Group will be having its second meeting on Wednesday, September 10th at 7:00 pm in the Social Hall and will be watching and discussing a movie. Food and snacks will be provided. All teens are welcome!

RCIA: Do you know someone who is interested in joining the Catholic Church? Or perhaps you know someone who was baptized but has not been active in the church. If there are enough people interested in a RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) classes, Brian McCaffery will lead one beginning class later this fall. See Brian, Father, or Susan if you are interested.

Our next Baptism Sunday will be October 26th. See Father Chuck or Susan if you have a child to be baptized.

Thinking of Getting Married? Our diocese requires a 4 month preparation period. See Father Chuck if you are planning a wedding.

Coffee for Sale! We have a fresh supply of coffee for sale from the Earth Friendly Coffee Company. This coffee is shade grown, fair trade and chemical free. We have regular, decaffeinated, house blend, dark roast, whole ban, and ground. It is $10.00 a pound and the money goes to the growers. It is the best bargain in town and the coffee is great. See Susan.

Foster Parents Needed. ONC is looking for Native homes in which to place tribal children both on a temporary and permanent basis. Children range in age from infants to teenagers. If you are interested or know of someone who would be a good foster parent, please contact ONC Social Services Department at 543-2608.

Camai! Welcome!

Welcome to the blog for the Immaculate Conception Parish of Bethel, Alaska! This blog is to be used as a means of communication and information, so please feel free to leave comments or questions about the posts regarding our parish events and status. Thank you for your time and prayers!

Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, pray for us.