CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR SERVICE TIMES
Christmas Mass
Christmas Eve – Tuesday, December 24 @ 4:30 p.m.
Christmas Vigil – Tuesday, December 24 @10:00 p.m. (Abp. Rozanski Presiding – Choir begins at 9:30 p.m.)
Christmas Day – Wednesday, December 25 @ 9:00 a.m.
Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God Mass
New Year’s Eve – Tuesday, December 31 @ 4:30 p.m.
New Year’s Day – Wednesday, January 1, 9:00am
Decorating The Church for Christmas
On Sunday, December 22 immediately following the 10am Mass, please join our parish family in decorating our beautiful church for Christmas. All hands are needed – big or small. We have garland to hang, trees to assemble, and bows to fluff. We look forward to getting together to welcome Our Lord at Christmas. Thank you!
End of the Year Contributions
At the close of the year many parishioners like to make special donations to the church as part of their tax strategy. Your “little something extra” at Christmas can help us keep pace with our parish budget that is trying to meet St. Margaret’s expanding needs. When making your additional holiday contributions, note carefully that all checks dated up to “December 31” will be counted toward your 2023 contribution statement; whereas those marked “January 1” (& thereafter) will go toward your 2024 statement. Consider the WeShare online giving option found on our parish website. It’s the most convenient way to make your donations, and you can set up a regular giving plan. Thanks for your generosity!
On The Horizon
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
This year, December 8th is the Second Sunday of Advent, so the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary is transferred to December 9th, and is a holy day of obligation. We remember that God kept Mary free from sin even from the moment of her conception so that she would be a worthy mother of his Son. The Immaculate Conception is the patroness of the United States of America and the day is always a holy day of obligation. Due to the Sunday Advent celebration, there can be no evening vigil. Masses for the holy day will be celebrated on Monday, December 9 at 6:30am, 8:15am (with our school community), and 6:30pm.
We are pleased to have another Guest Presider for December 8, the Second Sunday of Advent, at our 10 AM Mass. Bp. Mark Rivituso will be presiding as part of our 125th Anniversary celebration.
ADVENT SCHEDULE
- FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT – Sunday, December 1
- SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT – Sunday, December 8
- THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT – Sunday, December 15
- FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT – Sunday, December 22
OTHER CHANGES TO THE PARISH SCHEDULE FOR THE HOLIDAYS
DAILY MASS DURING CHRISTMAS WEEK
Daily Mass on Monday, December 23 & Friday, December 27. No 6:30 AM Mass on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or the Day After Christmas, Thursday, December 26.
EUCHARISTIC ADORATION
No Eucharistic Adoration scheduled on Thursday, December 26.
CHILDREN’S LITURGY OF THE WORD
No Children’s Liturgy scheduled on Sunday, December 29. Will return on January 5.
COFFEE & DONUT FELLOWSHIP
No Coffee & Donuts scheduled on Sunday, December 29. Will return on January 5.
OFFICES CLOSED
The Parish Office and School will be closed starting Friday, December 20. The Parish Office will reopen on Thursday, January 2. The School resumes classes on Monday, January 6. If you have parish or school business, please take care of that once the offices reopen in the New Year.
BULLETIN SUBMISSION DEADLINES
Due to the Christmas holiday, the bulletin article submission schedule is as follows:
- Weekend of December 14-15 articles are due on Thursday, December 5 by 2:00pm.
- Weekend of December 21-22 articles are due on Wednesday, December 11 by 2:00pm.
Due to the New Year’s holiday, the bulletin article submission schedule is as follows:
- Weekend of December 28-29 articles are due on Monday, December 16 by 2:00pm.
- Weekend of January 4-5 articles are due on Wednesday, December 18 by 2:00pm.
Questions? Please contact Michael Sonntag at parishnews@stmargaretstl.org or call 314-776-0363.
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