Save the Date

CHORUS FOR A CAUSE
A Chorus for a Cause presents “Christmas is Coming” on December 16th at 3:30 pm at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church (226 3rd St. SE, Massillon, OH). Doors open at 3:00 pm. Donations are accepted.

46TH ANNUAL MARCH FOR LIFE - ANNUAL BUS TRIP
Reservations are being taken for the bus trip to the 46th Annual March For Life in Washington, DC on Friday, January 18. The bus will be leaving in the evening on Thursday, January 17 from St. Michael’s (Canton) and will start back home after the March. The cost will remain at $45.00 per person. Call the Right to Life Office at 330-837-4227 or Mary at 330-833-9851 if you have any questions or to make your reservations.

BUILDING FAITH, FAMILY, FUTURE

“BUILDING FAITH, FAMILY, FUTURE” CAPITAL CAMPAIGN PLEDGES
We thank all those who have returned a commitment card and made a financial commitment to our Capital Campaign. If you have not yet responded, we ask you to do so by placing your commitment card in the collection basket, drop it off at or mail it to the parish office. We will be sending a mailing to all those who have not yet responded because it is important for us to hear from everyone in order to achieve our dream.

STOCK DONATIONS
Parishioners have asked about making stock donations toward the capital campaign. This is a way of saving on capital gains taxes. If you choose this option, the stocks need to be made directly to the parish. Your broker will need information on the procedure to do that. Contact Father John for the information. Another way to contribute to the capital campaign for those who have to take mandatory IRA disbursements is to directly have those disbursements sent to the parish, which saves paying taxes on those disbursements. Contact Father John for that information.

CONTRIBUTION PAYMENT SCHEDULES
Beginning this week, the Diocese of Youngstown will be mailing information to those parishioners who have made pledges so that the payment process can begin. The notices will show the contribution schedule that you indicated on your commitment card. NOTE: When paying your capital campaign contribution, please make sure it is in a separate envelope or clearly marked “Capital Campaign” in the memo field of your checks.

CONTRIBUTOR PLAQUE
The Parish Council approved putting up a memorial plaque honoring all those who pledged towards our Capital Campaign. The plaque will be placed in the newly constructed area of the building. The final details concerning the plaque will be announced at a later date.

FISH

ACME RECEIPTS FOR FISH PROGRAM
Please save your Acme receipts dated August 9th to December 18th for FISH. Please circle the cash-back amount on the receipts. If the cash-back amount is $0, please do not turn them in. Place your receipts in the FISH Bowl on the usher’s table.

OUTREACH SUNDAY FOR FISH
FISH, our community food pantry, relies on area churches to stock the food pantry with essential items. Once a month is designated as “Outreach Sunday.” This month’s items are canned soup, small jars of peanut butter and pasta sauce. Please bring your donations next weekend and place under the wood table by the main entrance.

Holy Spirit PSR & Youth Group Activities

PSR HOLIDAY SCHEDULE
There will be no PSR or Youth Ministry on December 23rd or 30th due to the holidays. They will resume on January 6th.

Cancellations
To find out if PSR or other activities have been cancelled due to weather or other reasons, please check the Holy Spirit Facebook page (Holy Spirit Catholic Church) or follow us on Twitter (@HolySpiritUNOH). Links to Facebook and Twitter can be found on the parish website www.holyspiritunoh.org

JR HIGH/HIGH SCHOOL BROWNIE BAKING FOR ST BERNARDS HOT MEALS
The junior high and high school students will be baking brownies for St. Bernard’s Hot Meals on Sunday, December 16th immediately following the 11:00 am Mass. Each student is asked to bring two wrapped white elephant gifts for some holiday fun. Lunch and a cupcake decorating contest will also be included.

BOWLING FOR VOCATIONS
Students in grades 8 - 12 are invited to come and have some fun with our current seminarians and other Religious in our Diocese on December 27th from 11:00 am - 2:30 pm. There is no cost for the event; admission will be a donation of sweet and salty snacks (individually wrapper packs) that will be donated to the Matthew 5:20 Ministry. Pizza, pop and a snack will be provided. Please RSVP to Anne Weeks by December 20th.

CHILDREN’S LITURGY OF THE WORD RESUMES
Children’s Liturgy of the Word will resume the weekend of December 15/16th. Children’s liturgy will also be offered on the following dates throughout the year:

• January 12/13
• February 9/10
• March 9/10
• April 27/28

On these dates, children will be called forward by Father John after the opening blessing, blessed and led by an adult catechist to a prayer space in the meeting room to celebrate a separate Liturgy of the Word that is more appropriate to their level of understanding.

Adults are needed to join the team of children’s liturgy leaders. There’s no need to change your regular mass time and preparation and time commitments are minimal yet it provides a valuable ministry to the children and families of our parish. Contact Cathy Kasza at the parish office to help.

GETTING READY!
Those who elect to participate on a mission trip must prepare for the journey on which they will embark. Spiritual, emotional, and physical readiness is very important for the trip to be meaningful. Those who have gone before have identified that participating in activities in the areas listed below prepare the participants for this immersion experience. Over the coming months, we will detail how the activities in each of these areas help us prepare: formation, fundraising, local service and service to the parish.