By Fr. Martin Martiny, O.P.  

Once upon a time in the movie land of Hollywood, a man  of great powers named Superman roamed the land of America fighting crime in the name of Truth, Justice and in the American way. He always arrived in time to save a person in need. Then one movie took all the Truth away. Superman arrived too late to save the situation and the person at risk. He simply flew up above the world and forced the globe to spin backwards. A calendar with dates helpfully showed that he was rolling back the days. Superman then arrived on time and saved the person and the situation.

Sadly, because this device could be done again and again, there was no longer any suspense. Choices and decisions could all be reversed, as if they never happened. In the real world of the one God of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, choices have consequences. History exists.

Advent is the time the Church calls us to take stock of our decisions as we remember our Redeemer’s first coming as a child and prepare for the Second Coming at the end of time.

Isaiah’s first line, in the first reading of the first Sunday of Advent, seems to challenge God himself for our need of Redemption.
“You, Lord, are our father, our redeemer… Why do you let us wander from your ways?”….”Our guilt carries us away like the wind… you have delivered us up to our guilt… Yet we are the clay and you the potter: we are the work of your hands.”

If we are the work of God’s hands and we are sinners, does that mean God made a mistake in creating us in his image and likeness with the freedom (free will) to make choices with consequences? Psalm 80 seems to be our ancestors crying out to God to save us from ourselves, from our freedom to choose sin: “Lord, make us turn to you…” Save us in spite of our selves.

God made us, his clay, into physical creatures (body and soul) in his image and likeness. We have intellect by which we know and will by which love and choose. To exercise our will, to pursue our desires, we must have freedom, freedom of the will to choose. Our choices must also have consequences, results or the choices mean nothing. When we choose to sin — act in ways that violate our God given dignity — we are guilty of having done something in time and history objectively evil. Guilt is the reality. Shame is the emotion experienced by one who knows he is guilty. God holds us accountable in justice and forgives in mercy.

Advent calls us to remember that we, sinners who willed our sins, nailed our king to the cross from which he reigns. The fictional Superman tried to turn back the clock of the world, to erase the unpleasantness of sins. Christ in perfect love and obedience took upon himself all the burdens and sufferings due the sins of all ages. He conquered them in time, in history, on Calvary.
His Advent warning to us through his Church, “Be watchful! Be alert!”

We know not the hour of his return, says Christ, but we know the hour is to come. “Watch!”

Sunday,  November 29 First Sunday of Advent
4:15 pm Katherine McMahon †
7:00 am Stephen Kinny †
9:00 am Carol Reed †
10:30 am Carl Schellenberger †
12:00 noon Sr. Mary Prisca Pfeiffer †
5:15 pm People of the Parish

Monday,  November 30 St. Andrew, Apostle
7:00 am Kleinhaus Family
12:00 pm Nellie Liston Madden †

Tuesday,  December 1
7:00 am Brigid Flood
12:00 noon Blanche & Eugene Wierzbicki †

Wednesday,  December 2
7:00 am Mary Catherine Geiger †
12:00 noon. Pham Family

Thursday,  December 3
7:00 am Virginia Thomas †
12:00 pm Eugene A. Biegert

Friday,  December 4
7:00 am Todd Thomas †
12:00 noon Shirley Akin †

Saturday,  December  5
7:00 am Mike Thomas †
12:00 noon Kenny & Annie Vowels †

Sunday,   December  6
4:15 pm John Miller  †
7:00 am Christopher Lane †
9:00 am John Philip Foley
10:30 am Herschel & Mary Whitaker †
12:00 noon Catherine Johnson †
5:15 pm Ruby Spanyer †
 

Prayer List

The sanctuary lamp burning in front of the Tabernacle this week is for Ed & Fannye Wickley.
The sanctuary lamp burning in the Priory Chapel this week is for Mary & George Yates.

Please pray for the following members and friends of the parish who need healing:
Ralph Adams, Frank Alvey, Anita Anderson, Maria Cristeta Aranda, Sharonda Bailey, Ray Barry, Jr., Anna Beck, Fr. Emmanuel Bertrand, O.P, Shirley Blumer, Christine and Patricia Borders, Buddy & Joan Bouchard, Gayle Brady, Eliza Brian, Bob Breckheimer, Pam Britt, Janette Brown, Elizabeth Browning, Misty Carpenter, Amy Casabella, Molly Chesney, Kristi Chisolm, Susan Coleman, James Conway, Vernon David, Nancy Deane, George Devine, Shirley Dietz, Lorli Dolson, John Eaton, Brooke Egan, Patricia Zirnheld Elliott, Sally Embry, Brian Engelland, Eleanor Ennis, Roger Estes, Ella B. Ficher, Len Frederick, Freeman Family, Delores Fuchs, Nicholas Gabbard, Guia Garcia, Justin Goldner, Louise Gregory, Whitney Gregory Sr., Jadyn Hemmer, Dottie Hickerson, James Hickerson, Maxwell Charles Hilsenrad, Shalonda Hobson, Scott Hood, Ruby Hyde, Erik Jensen, Keri Jensen, Dr. Jack Johnson, Clare Joseph, Tony Kaelin, Martha  King, Robert King, Christine Koprucki, Rick Lesch, Marcia Long, Fr. Sam Matarazzo, OP, Tom Merimee, Gloria Miracle, Mike Misback, Elizabeth Moir, Chris Murphy, Donnie Nally, Natalie & Family, Ashley Neal, Percival Pajel, Alex Pasqual, Regina Pendleton, Pham Family, Paula Pilcher, Regina Pine, Justin and Luke Popvich, Bonnie Queen, Fr. Francis Ralph, O.P., Mark Raque, Christian Renne, Tonya Ritchie, Everett Romanick, Chase Roth, Steven Russell, Robert Schiavone, Donald Skaggs, Sr., Jill Spanyer, Lisa Spratt, Claire Stanley, Paul Stanley, Gloria Stewart, Anna Maria Tarullo, Mary Lou Turner, Irv Turpin, Valerie Vettiner, Natalie Wathen, Darlene Weaver, Kim Wennerberg, Sheri Russell Whitlow, Debbie Wibbels, Nelson Williams, Sharon Williams, Ed & Fannye Wickley, Linda Winter, Wise Family, Stevonte Wood, Robert Woodmansee, Demetrius Woods, Mary and George Yates, Michael Zauche.

Please pray for our men and women serving in the armed forces:

Army: Daniel K. Bourke, Matthew Cannon, Jake Frankrone, James McWhorter, Kevin Meany, Michael Mullaney, Alex Newsom, Juan “Johnny” Quiroz, Adam Renn, Gregory M. Smith, Dan Tabacchi, Joseph Larry Thomas, Jim Wolkensperg
Marine Corps: Casey Carraro, Kyle Christian, Chris Kenney, Matthew Kessinger, Wesley Peralta, David F. Ralph, Elijah Rock, James Roszyk, Cody Wright

Navy: John Chapman, Mitchell M. Givens, Michael Karas

Air Force: Jeff Dillman, David Douglas, Joshua Ford, Craig McGreal, Eric May, T.J. May, Kristie Miller, Michael Richards, Henry H. “Tres” Triplett III

Air National Guard: Vincenzo LaFronza, Robert Paul Yaden

Army National Guard: John Rock

Please call the office at (502) 583-4448 to remove folks from the list after they are healed or have returned from service.
 

Belles & Beaus (St. Louis Bertrand Seniors)
will not meet in November or December
The next meeting will be on January 26, 2021.

Book Club
Thursday, December 3rd, 6:30pm; Heritage Room
The Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Avila will be discussed.

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
Thursday and Friday Mornings
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd provides religious education for young children.  For information, contact Leslie Genuis: lesliem0101@gmail.com

Dominican Laity, Queen of Peace Chapter
Sunday, December 6th, 11:30 am; Rosary Room
The Dominican Laity, Queen of Peace Chapter is a group of professed ladies and gentlemen who are called to prayer, study, community, and apostolate as children of St. Dominic.         
                           
Dominican Laity, St. Louis Bertrand Chapter
Sunday, December 27th, 11:30 am; Rosary Room
The Dominican Laity, St. Louis Bertrand Chapter is a group of professed ladies who are called to prayer, study, community, and apostolate as daughters of St. Dominic.

Knights of Columbus
Sunday, December 20th, 10 am; O’Brien Hall
Knights of Columbus is a Catholic men's organization, promoting moral, intellectual and spiritual development by striving to live according to the Gospel and dedication to the principles of charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism.  For more information, please contact stlbkofc@gmail.com.

Marian Movement of Priests
Mondays after noon Mass in church
The Marian Movement is a worldwide group that prays for and with priests. Fellowship follows the prayer every second Monday of the month.  Please bring your own lunch.

Rosary Altar Society
Sunday, December 20th, 10 am; Rosary Room
The Rosary Altar Society invites ladies to join to help us improve the parish through various service projects.  For more information, contact Barbara Klump at 634 5559.

Young Adults
Wednesdays at 7 pm; Frassati Room
(CANCELLED) December 2nd:    Christmas Cards for the elderly. Come make Christmas cards to brighten their days.
December 9th:  Louisville Young Catholics -  Topic TBD. December 16th:  White Elephant gift exchange.  Please bring a wrapped gift worth $10-20 for the exchange.   
December 23rd: No Meeting   Merry Christmas!
The Young Adults are men and women aged 21+ who meet for fun, prayer, and education.  For more information, contact Katie Reed: kreed@stlb.org.

Youth Group
Thursday, December 10th, 6:30 - 8 pm; O’Brien Hall
At the next meeting, we will continue our series, Apologetics 101 with “Why Confess Your Sins to a Priest?”
St. Louis Bertrand Youth Group is for High-School Aged youth.  For more information contact Katie Reed at kreed@stlb.org.

 

Contributions for November 22, 2020
Collection & Online giving $17,311.50
Campaign for Human Development $906.00
Poor Box $639.00

Catholic Services  Appeal Received as of  November 13 2020
$33,115 or 55% of target (59,900)                      
Participation: 122 households or 67% of 181 households

Thank you for your generous donations. 
Please remember St. Louis Bertrand Church in your will.

If you shop at Kroger, please support St. Louis Bertrand!
Enroll at  https://www.kroger.com/i/community/community-rewards
Christmas Food Baskets
Please pick up a number sheet with the list of items to include in your basket  from the large vestibule. 

RAS Church Cleaning
Thursday, December 10th after the noon Mass
Please join us in this offering of active  prayer.  Just bring willing hands and we will show you what to do.

Emergency Aid Volunteers Needed
Wednesdays or Fridays 1-2pm
Please contact Angela Elliott at aelliott@stlb.org for more information.

STLB Volunteer Day @ Franciscan Kitchen 
Saturday, January 30, 2021; 7:30 -10 am or 10 am- 12:45pm 
Please contact Cathy Harpring at (502) 550-1714 or cjharpring @gmail.com to volunteer

Respect Life
During the week of  Nov. 8 - 14, 85 women entered the EMW abortion clinic at 2nd & Market St.  Please pray for an end to abortion.

Serra Club/Archdiocese of Louisville Vocations Contests
now until January 8, 2021
Poster Contest Grades 4-6; Essay Contest Grades 7-8
Participants must live, go to school, or attend religious education classes in the Archdiocese of Louisville.  Please contact Christina for rules and submission forms at cgraney@stlb.org.

Catholic High School Placement Test
Changes TBA
Please check with the high school of your choice for updates concerning the placement test.  This test was previously scheduled for December 12th, but plans are evolving as the COVID situation changes.

Just Creations/Catholic Enrichment Center Fundraiser
November 30 – December 5; 10 am - 6 pm
2711 Frankfort Avenue
A percentage of the proceeds from items purchased will go to the Catholic Enrichment Center.  Please mention the Catholic Enrichment Center when purchasing items.  For additional information call the CEC at (502)776-0262.

Catholic Charities: Presents with a Purpose
December 1 - 8
Your donations will be appreciated. Donated items will be distributed through Migration and Refugee Services, the Sister Visitor Center, the Bakhita Empowerment Initiative, and Family Support Services of Catholic Charities.
For a list of needs, see: https://cclou.org/christmas-program-2020/. For drop off information contact Emily Willis: 502-637-9786 x335 or ewillis@archlou.org.