MASSES FOR THE WEEK OF

MARCH 23– MARCH 29

MON. 23 8:30 AM Virgil King (June King)

TUES. 24 8:30 AM Dorothy Marchal (Marlene Cashman)

WED. 25 7:00 PM Alice Benanzer (Rom Haley Family)

THURS. 26 8:30 AM Hoot Rousseau (Thompson Family)

FRI. 27 8:30 AM Communion Service

SAT. 28 5:00 PM Clarence VonderHaar (Ron & Jan Haley)

SUN. 29 8:00 AM Joseph Lynch (Mucci Family)

10:30 AM For the Parish

Just a note to let you know when you request a mass intention the schedule may change according to Father’s commitments.

USHERS

SAT. 28 5:00 PM Tom & Marilyn McClurg, Jerry & Doris Marchal

SUN. 29 8:00 AM Mike & Betty Gross, Dave Koch, Ralph Barhorst

10:30 AM Pat & Theresa Ewing, Ross & Doug Hoy

ALTAR SERVERS

SAT. 28 5:00 PM Samantha Eastman, Hayden Schindler, Kaity Stenger

SUN. 29 8:00 AM Adam Hipp, Ryan Kagy, Kyle Phillips

10:30 AM Chris Bruening, Greg Lehmkuhl, Ben Stucke

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS

SAT. 28 5:00 PM 7 volunteers needed

SUN. 29 8:00 AM Betty Voisard, 6 volunteers needed

10:30 AM 7 volunteers needed

LECTORS

WED. 25 7:00 PM Josh Miller

SAT. 28 5:00 PM Dottie Zimmerman

SUN. 29 8:00 AM Scott Vagedes

10:30 AM Bob Spiller, Victoria Grawe

CHILDREN’S LITURGY

SAT 28 5:00 PM Irene Crawford

SUN. 29 10:30 AM Volunteer Needed

GREETERS

Volunteers are needed for all masses

NEXT WEEK’S READINGS

First Reading …………………………………………Ezekiel 37: 12-14

Second Reading ……………………………………… Romans 8: 8-11

Gospel …………………………………………………John 11: 1-45

HOME EUCHARIST

If you are unable to attend mass this week and would like to receive the Eucharist, call the Parish Office at 667-3419 before 3:30 on Friday or call Ann Fallert @ 667-3416 or Lavonne Fleming @ 667-7313 on Saturday and arrangements will be made for home communion.

Our thoughts and prayers remain with those serving our country at this time and with their loved ones at home. We pray for a safe homecoming and that the world may one day be at peace.

MINISTRY OF CARE

If you are home from the hospital and could use a meal brought in---call us.

If you could use a ride to the doctor or dentist---call us.

If you need a prescription picked up and you can't get it --- call us.

We are CARE GIVERS for St. John's parish. Let us be God's right hand by helping you.

Call 667-3419 or 667-6336

LENTEN COMMUNAL PENANCE SERVICE

Our parish Lenten Communal Penance Service is Tuesday, March 31 at 7:00 pm. Six priests will be available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation [Confession].

JUBILEE-STATIONS OF THE CROSS

Musicians from area Catholic Church choirs called JUBILEE will again be here at St. John the Baptist to present the Stations of the Cross on Friday, March 27, at 7:00 pm. Mark your calendars!

”The Gifts We Have, We Are Given To Share.” Success in the eyes of God is not about the quantity or quality of our material goods. Instead, it’s about how we use those goods: do they move us closer to God, or are they an obstacle? God calls us to share what we have to help others. By providing support for many different ministries of the Church, the Catholic Ministries Appeal offers everyone a chance to exercise Christian stewardship. Please consider how you will participate in the Catholic Ministries Appeal this year. Thank you to everyone that has pledged thus far!

St. John's MOM's Group - The St. John’s Mom’s Group would like to invite all mothers of young children to attend our meetings and/or events. The group meets twice a month on Thursday mornings from 9:15 to 11:00 a.m.

in the Parish Banquet Hall with the exception of the summer months. Babysitting is provided in room #108

March 26th-- Thursday, 9:30-11:00 Field trip

YOUTH SCHEDULE:

March 22 6:30 pm PSR----Grades 9-12

No Jr. High Youth Group…See next week below!

March 23-25 7:00 pm Parish Mission

March 29 5:00-10:00 pm 40 Days for Life/Laser Tag (Grades 6-12)

March 31 7:00 pm Clean Up Your Soul Night! (Parish Reconciliation

Service) Bring your family!

JOIN US FOR THE PARISH MISSION! “ Being Aware of God Every Day” is the theme for our parish mission this year and we want you to be there!! Come get a spiritual boost as you explore your faith through prayer, reflection, ritual and conversation! Dig a little deeper this lent and be glad you did! See you on March 23-25 at 7:00 pm…bring a friend and get a prize!!!

WHAT DO LASER TAG AND THE 40 DAYS FOR LIFE VIGIL HAVE IN COMMON? They are both on the south end of Dayton, of course and we’re taken’ them both in!! Join us on Sunday, March 29 as we venture on down to Kettering/Centerville for a night of fun, food, faith, and making a difference! We’ll gather at the church, grab some grub, and head on “down south” where we’ll participate in an excellent opportunity to make a difference through prayer. 40 Days for Life is coming to our Diocese and is a prayer vigil that is held 24 hours a day for 40 days. It is a prayer vigil to promote Life and is currently being held all over the country, including in the Dayton area at a clinic that performs abortions. St. John’s day is March 29^th and we, as Catholic students will be taking the 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm hour. We will spend the hour in prayer…there will be no “protesting” involved. It will be very peaceful and prayerful. This is an amazing way for us to pray for life and make a difference. Following the hour of prayer, we’ll head on over to Centerville for some laser tag fun!!! There’s no school the next day so who knows, we may even go crazy and stop for ice cream on the way home!!! There is no cost for this event which is open to all in grades 6-12, but registrations (found in your newsletter and by the youth board) are due by March 23! Get yours in today! ADULT DRIVERS/CHAPERONES NEEDED FOR THIS EVENT! PLEASE CALL TERI 477-8524!

CLEAN UP YOUR SOUL NIGHT! Yep! That’s right! It’s time once again for our parish reconciliation service! You wouldn’t go too long without cleaning up your room (okay, so may be you would if only your parents would let you) or taking a shower to get rid of all that grimy dirt! Neither should you forgo the opportunity to get rid of the grime on your soul! The Sacrament of Reconciliation is a wonderfully uplifting experience and you won’t believe the feeling of relief you’ll feel after getting rid of all that junk! It’s a perfect way to get ready for Easter!! Join your St. John’s parish family as we celebrate this liberating Sacrament on March 31 at 7:00 pm!!

CANDLE SALES BEGIN!!! The Young Neighbors in Action mission trip group will be selling "pie candles" beginning immediately! The candles look and smell like pies and come in a variety of "flavors". The large candles are $6 each or 2/$10 while the small candles are $3 each and all money goes towards the students’ summer mission trip! !!! Get yours after mass, from one of the participants or by stopping by the parish office!!! Thanks in advance for your support

In today’s Gospel, the conversation between Jesus and Nichodemus reminds us during Lent that as we seek to put our spiritual lives in order, we cannot accomplish this task on our own. God has done for us what we cannot do for ourselves. We are reminded that we have been made able to see the kingdom of God; we have been given the gift of eternal life through the waters of baptism.

As we continue our Operation Rice Bowl journey let us remember in prayer that we are called to be good stewards of what has been entrusted to us. Through protecting the environment in which we live, we respect the goodness of nature, a gift God has given. May our fasting keep us mindful of those who have no clean water to grow crops or to nourish their families. May our almsgiving assist Catholic Relief Services as we learn about agriculture programs in Honduras.

ST. VINCENT HOTEL – To make the evening go smoothly, we need eleven volunteers. The minimum age requirement for volunteers is 14 years, but anyone under 18 must still be accompanied by a parent. Our next trip is this Sunday, March 22, 2009. The confirmation class is volunteering for this month so no extra help is needed but we will see you next month.

RCIA: The Lenten season, which the RCIA ritual calls “the season of Purification and Enlightenment” continues for all of us. The catechumens celebrate the Scrutinies, which “are rites for self-searching and repentance.” They “are meant to uncover, then heal all that is weak, defective, or sinful in the hearts of the elect; to bring out, then strengthen all that is upright, strong, and good.” Please keep them in your prayers as the journey towards the Easter Sacraments.

BAPTISM PREP CLASSES - The next BAPTISMAL PREPARATION PROGRAM will be Sunday, April 5, 2009 in Room # 100 at 1:00 p.m. This class is required prior to scheduling a Baptism. Call the Parish Office (667-3419) to register.

EASTER BASKETS FOR SHUT-INS will be provided again this year by our parish. Donations of the following are needed: assorted candies and chocolates, sugar-free candies, nuts, cellophane to cover the baskets, ribbon, small stuffed animals, Easter novelties and other miscellaneous items. No colored grass is needed, we have enough left from last year. There will be a box located in the Narthex for this purpose. Monetary donations to purchase items needed may be made through the St. Vincent De Paul Fund. Please mark these “Easter Baskets.” Stephen Ministry will be organizing the assembly of these baskets on Tuesday, March 31st at 7:00 p.m. in the Banquet Hall. We would love some help! We also need volunteers willing to assist in delivering the baskets. Please call the Parish Office at 667-3419 during office hours for more information. Our friends really loved receiving these baskets last year. Please show your support for them again this year. Thank you!

CEMETERY NOTICE - All winter decorations and old flowers must be removed from the parish cemetery by March 30. Any flowers or decorations still in place after that will be removed by cemetery personnel. Spring and Easter decorations can be placed starting April 6.

Spiritual Life Team Forming - Do you have an idea for spiritual growth that you'd like to see happen in our parish? Do you have an idea for a small group study, a one-day retreat, a marriage workshop, a topic speaker for young mothers, or a men's night out.... the list could be endless.

Please contact us with your ideas. The ISPD Parish Wide Education committee is looking to form a Spiritual Life Team to help plan and implement these events. Would you be interested in serving a year on this team? Please call or e-mail:

Tami Kueterman 669-9030 jkueterman@aol.com

Kathleen McCrillis 667-3710 smccrillis@earthlink.net

ATTENTION GOLFERS (DUFFERS) - The St. John the Baptist Duffers Golf League is looking for additional participants. We currently have eighteen (18) teams and have room for twenty-two (22). This is a couples’ nine-hole league; however, you do not have to play with your spouse or significant other. Anyone of the opposite sex will suffice with a minimum age of 18. We play Friday evenings at Homestead GC with tee times beginning at 4:30pm and ending at 6:15pm (subject to change depending on the number of couples). The format is a two- person scramble, so if you are not a very good player, you can rely on your partner to help you. This puts the emphasis (for most of us) on fun rather than competition. If you can’t or don’t want to be a regular, you may choose to be on our sub list. Also, after golf each Friday, there is always a party with plenty of food and drink. These are hosted by one or two of the Duffers couples. Our “kickoff” meeting and dinner will be held April 17 at 6:00pm in the Parish Banquet Hall. Golf begins the following Friday, April 24 and runs through August 21. If you are interested and want more information, please contact John or Alice Sferro at 890-2515, 272-9407 (cell), or mmbenito@att.net

THE US DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (HHS) is inviting public comment on a proposal to rescind an important December 2008 federal regulation that protects the conscience right of health care providers. Help protect the rights of our Catholic Health care professionals and institutions. Please visit www.usccb.org/conscienceprotection to access links to make a comment and to find out more information. Comments must be posted by April 9, 2009.

Refresh…A Women’s Morning - Women of St. Christopher Parish we invite you to refresh your spirit at our seminar on Saturday, April 25^th. Mark your calendars for this first time event brought to you by our Parish Health Ministry and sponsored by Basic Vitamins. Registration begins at 8:00 a.m. with a light breakfast. The event will include four guest speakers focused on women’s issues. Come and enjoy a relaxing and educational morning just for women. Door prizes will be given and you will learn relaxation exercises! We will be finished at 12:15 p.m. and you’ll depart feeling totally refreshed! The cost is $5. Reservations are due by April 20^th. Call St. Christopher @898-3542 or see flyer in pamphlet rack in narthex.

Be a Mentor for Young Moms - The Life Resource Centre needs 10 mothers, 25 years and older, who can share parenting experiences with young, single moms, 15-21 years old. Can you help? Mentor training will be held on Saturday, March 28 from 9 AM to 2 PM at the Life Resource Centre (425 N. Findlay St .). Contact Elaine Bonner at 937.223.9227 to get involved in this important outreach that helps families care for and enjoy their children. More info on the Dayton Right to Life website: www.daytonlife.org. The actual mentoring sessions begin April 16.

LAST WEEK’S COLLECTION

Adult (176 envelopes) $5565.00

Loose Checks $2181.00

Loose Cash $359.00

Total $8096.00

St. Vincent outreach $205.00

Phase II Building $492.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING BUILDING DEBT $423,100.00

ST. CHRISTOPHER, 435 E. National Road, Vandalia, OH 45377

Mass Schedule

Saturday: 5:00 p.m. - Sunday: 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

Holy Day vigil: 7:00 p.m. - Holy Day: 9:00 a.m. & 7:00 p.m.

(Collection envelopes will be forwarded to the proper parish)