Our Lady of Grace Romney WV

Sunday 11:00 am

Live Streamed on OLG FB

Tuesday 11:00 am

This week’s readings:

Daniel 7: 13-14;

Psalm 93: 1, 1-2, 5;

Revelation 1: 5-8;

John 18: 33b-37

Sunday Message

Advent 4th Sunday

Do we recognize the indwelling presence of the Lord Jesus in our lives? Blessed are you if you see and recognize the Lord with the "eyes of faith". The word "blessed" [makarios in Greek] literally means "happiness" or "beatitude". It describes a kind of joy which is serene, and untouchable, self-contained, and independent from chance and changing circumstances of life. There is a certain paradox for those "blessed" by the Lord. Mary was given the "blessedness" of being the mother of the Son of God. That blessedness also would become a sword which pierced her heart as her Son died upon the cross. To be chosen by God is an awesome privilege and responsibility. Mary received both a crown of joy and a cross of sorrow. Her joy was not diminished by her sorrow because it was fueled by her faith, hope, and trust in God and his promises.
What is the significance of Mary's visit to her cousin Elizabeth before the birth of Jesus? When Eliza-beth greeted Mary and recognized the Messiah in Mary's womb they both were filled with the Holy Spirit, and with a joyful anticipation of the fulfillment of God's promise to give a Savior. What a marvel-ous wonder for God to fill not only Elizabeth's heart with his Holy Spirit but the child in her womb as well. Even before the birth of the Messiah, John the Baptist pointed to his coming and leapt for joy in the womb of his mother as the Holy Spirit revealed to him the presence of the King to be born.
The Holy Spirit is God's gift to us to enable us to know and experience the indwelling presence of God and the power of his kingdom. The Holy Spirit is the way in which God reigns within each of us. Do we live in the joy and knowledge of God's indwelling presence with us through his Holy Spirit?

This months Calendar

What is Mass and why do Catholics

do those things click here

Are You Aware?

The Knights of Columbus are not only responsible for the Fish Fry and the Mother’s Day Breakfast, but also the Church Picnic, the church Dance, the Ping Pong Tournament and the Trivia Dinner

Sunday Mass & Service Schedule

This weeks Bulletin

Sunday 11:00 am

Live Streamed on OLG FB

Tuesday 12:00 noon

The Knights of Columbus Council #10011 meets on the fourth Sunday after Mass

The Knights of Columbus Council #10011 meets on the fourth Sunday after Mass

Stations of the Cross each Friday during Lent at 6:00 pm.

The Knights of Columbus Council #10011

End of the Year of St. Joseph: Act of Consecration

“O great Saint Joseph, whom God has made the Head of the Holy Family, accept me, I beseech you, though utterly unworthy, to be a member of your “Holy House.” Forsake me not, but adopt me as a servant and child of the Holy Family. Watch over me at all times. Console and strengthen me, with the presence of Jesus and Mary, so that with you, I may praise and adore the Holy Trinity for all eternity. O my Spiritual Father, I hereby consecrate myself to you. In faithful imitation of Jesus and Mary, I place myself and all my concerns under your care and protection. To you, after Jesus and Mary, I consecrate my body and soul, with all their faculties, my spiritual growth, my home, and all my affairs and undertakings”. Amen.

St. Joseph, Pray for us! In the name of the Father…

Stations of the Cross

The Stations of the Cross are a 14-step Catholic devotion that commemorates Jesus Christ's last day on Earth as a man. The 14 devotions, or stations, focus on specific events of His last day, beginning with His condemnation. The stations are commonly used as a mini pilgrimage as the individual moves from station to station. At each station, the individual recalls and meditates on a specific event from Christ's last day. Specific prayers are recited, then the individual moves to the next station until all 14 are complete.
A plenary indulgence is granted the Christian faithful who devoutly make the Stations of the Cross. A plenary indulgence is a particularly powerful way to obtain remission of punishment -- on earth or in purgatory – that would have resulted from sins that were already forgiven. It covers all sins, mortal or venial, that the recipient has committed up to that time, if the person sincerely repents, detests their sins and fulfills all requirements of the indulgence.

Confessions

Confessions will be heard on Tuesday, December 17 after the 12:00 noon Mass and at 6:00 pm. There will not be OCIA that day.

OCIA Classes

OCIA classes are on Tuesdays at 12:00 noon in the church hall (please bring your own packed lunch) and again at 7:00 pm. There is also a class on Sunday mornings at 9:30 am in the library. There will not be OCIA on Tuesday, December 17 or December 24. The topic on Dec 31 will be: Death & Resurrection of Christ. Soup will be provided.

Message from Fr. Giles

Message from Fr. Giles concerning our parish outreach

As many of you know, our Advent outreach has been permanently linked to the needs of the Children’s Home Society, and your response has always been wonderful. Even though it may seem too early, the parish pastoral council needs to discern the nature of our annual Lenten outreach. If you know of, or are already involved with a worthy charity, and deem it something which would benefit from our parish outreach, please contact the office with necessary information as soon as possible since a decision will need to be made by mid-January. As always, thank you.

Church Decorating

We will decorate the church for Christmas on Sunday, December 22 after Mass. Please stay and help if you can. There is a lot to do and “Many hands make light work.”

Christmas Mass Schedule

Christmas Eve 6:00 pm

Christmas Day 11:00 am

December 31 12:00 noon

Solemnity of Mary 11:00 am

January 1 (holy day)

Epiphany Party

We will be having an Epiphany/ Birthday/ Anniversary party on Sunday January 5, after Mass in the church hall. We will be celebrating the Epiphany of the Lord as well as Fr. Thomas’ birthday and ordination anniversary. It will be a covered dish dinner. Please use the sign up sheet in the vestibule to indicate how many are attending as well as what you will be bringing. Beverages will be provided. Please come and help us celebrate!

Ladies Prayer Group meets Tuesdays at 1:00 pm

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Greeters are needed and Eucharistic ministers are needed

We are looking for greeters for Sundays. If you would like to be a greeter please contact Gayle Bogard (gmbogard@gmail.com

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Feed a Senior

The Hampshire County Committee on Aging is looking for people to help ensure that homebound seniors in our county are able to receive a hot meal. Their goal is to reduce hunger and food insecurity in individuals age 60+. They rely heavily on donations and fundraising to hlep offset cost deficits. To the right are suggested donation amounts, but any amount is greatly appreciated. Every donations helps make a difference. Please send donations to: Hampshire County Committee on Aging (HCCoA) PO Box 41, Romney, WV 26757.

The office will be closed December 24 & 25.

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Prayer List
We will soon be updating the prayer list. Please put names you would like on the prayer list on the sheet on the table in the vestibule.

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Registering at our Lady of Grace
Coming to Our Lady of Grace regularly but not a member? Contributing but not receiving a tax credit for your charitable donations? Joining the parish is easy! Registration forms are on the table in the vestibule. Just fill one out and drop it off at the parish office, or put it in the collection basket.------------------------------------------------------

Weekly Offering

December 8, 2023

General: $ 1529.00

Poor Box: $ 97.00

Immaculate Conception: $ 467.00

Advent Concert

For Mary’s Refuge: $ 2070.00

Attendance: 85

Bedtime Prayer
Visit this place, O Lord, I pray,

and drive far from it the snares of the enemy; may your holy angels dwell with me and guard me in
peace,
and may your blessing be always upon me,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Sacrament of Marriage

Please contact our office at least 6 months in advance of the desired date

Sacrament of Baptism

please call the office to set up an appointment

Office Hours:

Tuesdays & Thursdays

9:00 am—3:00 pm

Please use office door

Location

299 School Street

Romney, WV 26757-0871

304-822-5561

MAP

Parish Email:

ologrwv@gmail.com

Do you have a Guardian Angel?

Yes, you have a guardian angel. The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains: From its beginning until death, human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession.202* "Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life."203** Already here on earth the Christian life shares by faith in the blessed company of angels and men united in God.

Simply put, each living person has a guardian angel from the moment of their conception to the moment of their natural death. During this time, they are aided by their guardian angel. They are not just for children.Â

Your guardian angel will work to steer you free from sin, to encourage you to keep God's commandments, and to intercede on your behalf before God.Â

For many people, this seems strange. Few individuals even recognize the angels exist, or that they have a guardian angel. The source of this problem is distraction, especially with worldly matters. When we fill our hearts and minds with worldly things, we have little attention left over to discern the gentle nudging of our guardian angel. Furthermore, our guardian angel cannot make decisions for us. We retain our free will, so they cannot stop us from committing sins, nor can they protect us from evil choices made by others.Â

* Footnote 202 - Cf. Mt 18:10; Lk 16:22; Ps 34:7; 91:10-13; Job 33:23-24; Zech 1:12; Tob 12:12.
** Footnote 203 -Â 203 St. Basil, Adv. Eunomium III, I: PG 29,656B.

Prayer for Priests

Gracious and loving God, we thank your for the gift of our priests.
Through them, we experience your presence in the sacraments.

Help our priests to be strong in their vocation.
Set their souls on fire with love for your people.

Grant them the wisdom, understanding, and strength they need to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.
Inspire them with the vision of your Kingdom.

Give them the words they need to spread the Gospel.
Allow them to experience joy in their ministry.

Help them to become instruments of your divine grace.

We ask this through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns as our Eternal Priest.

Amen

Prayer to Saint Thomas the Apostle

Dear Saint Thomas,

You were once slow in believing that Christ had gloriously risen; but later, because you had seen him, you exclaimed: "My Lord and my God!"

According to an ancient story, you rendered most powerful assistance for constructing a church in a place where pagan priests opposed it.

Please bless architects, builds and carpenters that through them the Lord may be honored.

Children’s Home of Romney

The Children’s Home in Romney is in need of baby formula. Some of their foster parents have been unable to obtain formula. They need: Similac Sensitive, Similac Advance, and Enfamil infant formula. Donations can be left in the vestibule or in the plastic container by the outside entrance door to the office.

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Important Links

Today`s Reading and Psalm

Saint of the Day

Diocese of Wheeling

-Charleston WV

WV Catholic Charities

WV Knights of Columbus

Our Lady of Grace FB page

Our Lady of Grace Blog

Mass Times by cities

The Catholic Encyclopedia

The Fathers of the Church

Ave Maria Radio

Saint Michael the Archangel isn't a saint, but rather he is an angel, and the leader of all angels and of the army of God. This is what the title "Archangel" means, that he is above all the others in rank. St. Michael has four main responsibilities or offices, as we know from scripture and Christian tradition.

· The first is to combat Satan.

· The second is to escort the faithful to heaven at their hour of death.

· The third is to be a champion of all Christians, and the Church itself.

· And the fourth is to call men from life on Earth to their heavenly judgment.

Very little is known about St Michael other than what we know from scriptures, and even there information is sparse.

In Daniel, St. Michael is mentioned twice. The first time as one who helped Daniel, and the second time he is mentioned with regard to the end times of the world when he will stand for the "children of thy people" (Daniel 10:13-21, 12:1).

His next mention comes in the Epistle of St. Jude, where St. Michael is said to guard the tombs

Please Pray For...

Kevin Adrian, Mike Adrian, Kenny Barbao, Eric Anderson, Carlos Alexander, Robin Ayers, Lana Bean, Julie Beavers, Mary Beth Biese, Paul Biser, Gayle Bogard, Marie Bogard, Bonnie Bowley, Elizabeth Braun, Gerald Brill, Christine & Dan Brown, Jim Childress Jr, Rick Corbett, Steven Corbin, Terry Craver, Madeline Crist, Antonia Detres McCall, Milagros Detres, Pedro Detres Jr, Pete Diefendorf, Rick & Londa Dodson, Cam Duncan, Tom Eades, Charlie & Bobbie Fischer, Bianca Guzman, Steve & Judy Hajash, Francis Hajash, Betty Hartman, Troy Hixenbaugh Sr, Tom Hudson, Jim Hughes, Grace Jackson, Michael Kastre, Billy Juma, Chuck Kesner, Nora & Tom Kessel, Pam Kizer, Roy Knight, Gary Kuncl, Ann Marie Peters Kurtz, Sharon Kuykendall, Cindy & Marvin Kurylo, Nancy Lee, Erino & Marianna Leone, Fr. Giles LeVasseur, Lance LeVasseur, Pat Marsh, Andy Mason, Ronald McNeil, Tyler Milbourne, Todd Miller, Sandree Moger, Milda Mullins, Milda Marie Mullins, MRGII, Tracy Orndorff & family, Sophia Pominska, Richard Ramsay III, Danny & Meaghan Reddick, Gary & Teresa Reddick, Rick Reddick, Julie Robert, Kelley Rodriguez, Dale Rogers, Lynn Ryon, Jerome Schmick II & family, Julie Semenuk, Marysia Sellaro, Paul Sellaro, Jonathon Shacat, Carrie Shrewsbury, Dorothy Stinson, Ben & Russell Smallwood, Sherry Spangler, Lori & Mike Stickley, Joe Szabo, Trudy Trenton, Benny & Kathy Young.

(To add or remove a name, contact the office or put a note in the collection basket.)

Liturgical Ministers

December 22

Lector: Fr. Giles

EMHC: Deacon Larry

Sue Alkire

Karen Fasulo

Greeters: E. & C. Rodriguez

December 24

Lector: Mia Leone

EMHC: Margaret Broderick

Mark Mizin

Gayle Bogard

Greeters: J. & S. Childress

December 25

Lector: Theresa Eades

EMHC: Herb Adrian

Jim Alkire

Sue Alkire

Greeters: E. & C. Rodriguez

December 29

Lector: Tom Kennedy

EMHC: Ed Rodriguez

Phil Gallery

Herb Adrian

Greeters:Knights of Columbus

What is the

The sacrifice of the Holy Mass

Perhaps the best way to describe this connection is to say that in the Mass we re-link ourselves to Calvary. In the Mass, the priest perpetuates Christ’s sacrifice on Calvary, who offers it anew to the Father. St. Paul told his converts in Corinth, "Every time, then, you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes" (1 Corinthians 11:26).

It is not a new sacrifice, but rather the same sacrifice that Jesus offered on the cross 2,000 years ago. The Eucharist is not a matter of "repeating" that action but of reestablishing our bond with it. The difference, however, is that Jesus no longer dies at each Mass, but is re-offered to the Father. It is a “bloody” sacrifice only in the sense that it contains the Body and Blood of Christ. But it is “unbloody” because it is offered only in a sacramental fashion under the appearances of bread and wine.

In other words, in the Mass, we re-present -- or mystically renew -- the Sacrifice of Calvary. In other words, we offer Jesus’ sacrifice to God the Father on the altar during the Eucharistic celebration for the remission of our sins, using signs and symbols. This means that, once again, we offer Christ to the Father, saying: "Father, look upon the Lamb that was slain for our sake." By the words of consecration, Christ is made present again through the “transubstantiation" of the bread and wine into Christ's Body and Blood.

Our Lady of West Virginia

Our lady is the beauty

of the West Virginia hills.

From Spruce Knob’s lofty towering

To where Kenova spills

Out of bounds, and seeks to share

Our wealth with sister-states,

Our Lady’s smiling sunshine

Forever radiates.

The bright blue of her mantle

Is in summer skies at Cheat.

Her golden tresses ripple

In Greenbrier’s autumn wheat.

Romney’s apple-blossoms

Ear the blushing of her face

As she heard the angel whisper

“Hail, Mary, full of grace.”

Our Lady is the music

Of our lovely lakes and streams,

“The beautiful Ohio,”

And the Tygart’s dashing gleams.

Her low-voiced laughter tumbles

In Blackwater’s clear cascade,

And echoes on Kanawha:

“Behold the Lord’s Handmaid.”

Our Land is the loveliness

Of all young, growing things.

She is the rapture in our souls,

The gaiety which sings:

“Lady of West Virginia, Virgin Immaculate,

Reign over every heart and soul,

Queen of our Mountain State.

Mark Smith

Morning Prayer
Dear God,
Your mercies toward me are new each day. Thank you for keeping me safely through the night. Thank you for opening my eyes to see a new morning. The things of yesterday have gone and what lies ahead is unknown. But, Lord, today, I pray that you would grant me your peace, bold-ness, and love. Help me to walk through this day with you as my guide. Lord, help me build my day around your presence, that I might live in contin-ual connection with you, through Jesus Christ our Lord,
Amen.