Do You Know Jesus?

Third Sunday of Advent
Matthew 11: 2-11

  In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us that He is the Messiah – the One John the Baptist has preached about and prepared people for. Remember in last weeks Gospel John tells us to “Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” We are being asked to apologize for any wrongs we have committed so that we can be ready for Jesus and the good news that He brings. The good news brought to us by Christ is a new way of living. A way to bring value and direction (joy) into our life. What can you do to bring more joy to your life this Advent season?

St. Joseph School
Open House Jan 27
1:15 - 3:00 pm


Catholic Schools Week 2008 
Catholic Schools Light the Way

St. Joseph school will begin the celebration of Catholic Schools Week on Sunday, January 27 during our St. Joseph School Open House.  This year’s theme is “Catholic Schools Light the Way,” with a stained-glass logo that underscores our faith-based education and the light of knowledge we strive to kindle in our students. We will continue our celebration with special activities throughout the week. For further details please see the St. Joseph School Website and future e-Messenger Newsletters.

The Catholic Schools Week Committee is in need of prize donations for the Basketball Shootout.  
Specifically we are looking for unused toys, games, sports equipment/apparel or gift certificates that would be of interest for students in grades K-8.
We are also looking for volunteers to staff the registration table and Basketball Shootout.

Please contact Laura Freeman at:  freeman98@comcast.net

Concept One Video DVD

St. Joseph’s Parish in Downers Grove Presents… “Video Presentations for 2007 - 08”
Available on DVD.

Relax and enjoy the ceremony! Order forms will be available throughout the year from Concept One.
Order Form

Bulletin Board

2007 Christmas Concert
Thursday December 20th

Tickets will be included in the paper messenger being sent home on Thursday, December 13th. This year, it is open seating for the noon concert. Each family will receive 2 tickets for the evening concert. Space is limited at the evening concert, so we cannot offer extra tickets for that show.

Noon Performance Students will wear their uniforms for this performance. Third Grade's Live Nativity will bring their costumes and change at school. Church doors open at 11:30am.
Evening Performance 6:30 pm Church and School doors open at 6:00pm. Students in grades K-2 and 4-5 will wear their Sunday best/dress up/church clothes. Students in grades 6-8 will wear church appropriate white tops and dark bottoms. Third grade Live Nativity will come to the church wearing their costumes. Grades K-3 report to the church basement. Grades 4-5 report to the school hall. Grades 6-8 report to their homerooms.

Children’s Christmas Liturgy
Monday, December 24, 2007 4:00 p.m.

Join in the celebration of Christmas!
Children of St. Joseph Parish in grades 3 through 8 are invited to participate in the 4:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Mass in the Church.

We are in need of greeters, candle-bearers, gift-bearers, ushers and readers.  Please complete the form below and send it to the Parish Center. There are a limited number of ministry roles within liturgy.  You will be assigned to a particular ministry based on the number and age of those that respond and the order in which they come in.

Please note that if you are singing with the Choristers you are already participating in a ministry for the Christmas Eve Mass.  Please do not sign up for another ministry.

All participants, except Choristers, must attend a practice session to be held on:
Saturday, December 22nd
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
in the Church

A NOTE FROM THE 'ROOS!
G'day Mates! Mrs. Salek is in a bit of pickle. She'd like to update the bulletin board and write a new letter for the web site, but she's missing photos and journals from recent trips. Can you help her out? If you've taken one of us along on your journeys, we're really grateful, but Mrs. Salek's class hasn't had any trips to calculate for extra credit (and you know how important that can be!) So if you can get her any information in the next few days, it would be appreciated.

By the way only Ozzie and Aussie have arrangements for Christmas vacation, and it looks like we girls are staying home unless a couple of you offer to take us along on your cruise, or to see The Mouse, or even to cousin Mildred's in Cleveland. So here's hoping a couple of you will drop Mrs. Salek a note and volunteer to take us wherever Christmas is going to be this year. We're dying to meet you and your family!! Sydney and JoJo

St. Joseph Holiday Shopping

For the next few weeks, several retailers have increased their percent back to us; Border's 11%, iTunes 5%, Burger King 6%, Bath and Body Works 19%, BP 4%, and Harry and David 13%. Amazon.com is now a $25 gift card. Quiznos is now longer supplying gift cards. Keep those orders coming!

LAST WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS!

Manna Holiday Order Form 
Printable Manna Holiday Form                                                                      
Limited time only – additional offerings            
November 26th, December 3rd, 10th & 17th

Orders due by 9am Mondays – checks made payable to St. Joseph Parish
____ Pick up order – school Fri 9:30, mass Sat 5:00, Sun 8:45, Sun 10:30, or Parish center
____ Send with Messenger child ____ Automatic withdrawal

Restaurants                                             Retail
______ Auntie Anne’s $10                    ______ Circuit City $25/$100
______ Bennigans $25                         ______ Fannie May $20
______ Buca di Beppo $25                   ______ Footlocker $25
______ Buffalo Wild Wings $25             ______ Harry and David $25
______ Buona $10                               ______ KB Toys $20
______ California Pizza Kitchen $25      ______ Land’s End $25
______ Champs $25                            ______ Linen’s and Things $25
______ Cheesecake Factory $25           ______ Lowes Home Imprmnt $25/$100
______ Chuck E Cheese $10                ______ Macy’s $25/$100
______ Claim Jumpers $25                   ______ Shutterfly $25
______ Egg Harbor $15                        ______ Sharper Image $25
______ Famous Dave’s $25                  ______ Staples $25
______ Honey Baked Ham $20             ______ Steve and Barry’s $25
______ Houlihan’s $10                         ______ William Sonoma $25/$100
______ Old Country Buffet $25             ______ CVS Pharmacy $10
______ Spaghetti Warehouse $25                       
______ Max and Erma’s $25
______ Pizza Hut $10                                      
______ Qdoba Mexican Grill $25                                      
______ Applebee’s $10                                                    
______ Rockbottom $25
______ Sweet Tomatoes $10                 
______ Dennis Uniform $20
______ Brunswick Zone $10
 Specialty ______ Dennis Uniform $20______ Brunswick Zone $10

My Total Order is over $400 ______          **include my standing order
Free $10 Starbucks card ___            or                Free $10 Bath Body Works card ___
Free $10 Panera card ___                 or                Free $10 Downtown Downers ___
Order Total:  _______         
Name:  ___________________________    Parish Number:  ___________

Questions?  Contact Sue Errichiello (960-0835) or Cindy Jagielo (241-3735)

Sr. Bernies BINGO BASH - Saturday January 12th
Great for Christmas gift–giving! Make shopping easy…give the gifts your loved ones will…”savor and enjoy” -Jeffrey Lyons NBC

Sister Bernie's BINGO BASH
Downers Grove North High School Auditorium : 4436 Main Street
7:30 pm/Doors open at 7:00 pm

Sister Bernie has the hottest bingo game in town until she discovers her bingo board mysteriously broken. Never losing hope she enlists Father Martini and Sister Cherisse to help organize a traveling bingo game ... and so begins this delightful disaster!!

In support of our 2008 World Youth Day Australia Trip:
Questions, call Youth Ministry at 603-964-0216 x1201
$25.00 per ticket in advance/$30.00 at the door.
Limited seating available

Sr. Bernie Bingo Bash Reservations

Crusader Pride

Click here for current Basketball News including practice schedules, rosters and games information.
Basketball Schedules / Rosters and Practices

Fundraising

Manna

Manna Order Form
Manna Automatic Withdrawal
Manna Standing Order Forms

The Holiday order form is now available.
Manna The last Christmas pre-order are due in on 12/17. Sales have been strong. Thank you for letting us help you with your Christmas giving. Manna pre-order forms are always available for printing on the web site.
If you purchase $400 or over at one time including standing orders, you can select a $10 gift card. The promotion is winding down and will end December 23rd. Any orders totaling $400 can choose a Starbuck card, Panera card, Bath and Body Works card, or a Downtown Downers gift certificate! The free card can be obtained at cash and carry, and for every pre-order you place from now until Christmas.

Sellers for the this week:
Friday, December 14, 9:30am school K. Lobes / T. O'Brien
Saturday, December 15, after 5:00pm mass M. Durkin / C. Theisen
Sunday, December 16, after 8:45am mass T. Burk / M. Geraghty
Sunday, December 16, after 10:30am mass M. Ruf / M. Hodshire
Friday, December 21, 9:30am school T. Brandenstein / B. Kelly

Manna News: For the next few weeks, several retailers have increased their percent back to us; Border's 11%, iTunes 5%, Burger King 6%, Bath and Body Works 19%, BP 4%, and Harry and David 13%. Amazon.com is now a $25 gift card. Quiznos is no longer supplying gift cards.

Ultra Foods Please turn any receipts you have from Ultra. The deadline for the 5% Back promotion is December 31st. If you shop there over the Christmas Break please put your receipts in the box in Church located just outside the room where Manna is sold. Every little bit counts.

Campbell Soup labels Just a reminder. Campbells now just collects the UPC codes from its products instead of the front label. Please make sure the UPC code stays intact when removing it from a can. We have collected over 3000 labels and counting this year. Please keep them coming in.

Box Tops for Education We are expecting a check for over $700 from them this month. Please continue to collect these labels and have your family and friends do so as well. Target Please keep using your card over the holidays. We have accumulated over $800 from sales since September and expect another check from them in March.

All this money goes to Parent Forum to help offset costs for school parties etc. Thank you for your participation.

Community News

DGN Winter Hitting Camp
Saturday Jan 26th & Sunday 27th
5th, 6th, 7th and 8th Graders
For More Information

DGN Winter Pitching Camp
Saturday February 2nd and Sunday February 3rd
5th, 6th, 7th and 8th Graders
For More Information