I want to send out a huge thank you to our two parishes for the generosity they have shown to the Food Pantry collection. There were 212 pounds of food collected at the Thanksgiving Vigil Mass on Wednesday evening to fill the van. In addition, $1,062 was collected for the Food Pantry.

Second Sunday of Advent: Mark 1:1-8 - John the Baptist announces the coming of Jesus. He calls for repentance and promises that Jesus will baptize in the Holy Spirit.

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"The Criterion" is the official weekly publication of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. It goes out to more than 60,000 households in its coverage area of central and southern Indiana, making it Indiana's largest weekly newspaper.

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Grant Doyle, a member of St. Meinrad Parish, is a first-year FOCUS missionary. He is serving students at Doane University in Crete, Nebraska. His parents are Rex and Carolyn Doyle of St. Meinrad Parish. To learn about Grant's work and to support him, click on the newsletter at the top of this web page: sbcatholic.church/focus or smcatholic.church/focus.

In your charity, please pray for the repose of the soul of James “Jim” John Seger Jr., age 81, of Mary Help of Christians Church, who died peacefully in the Lord on Saturday, December 2, 2023. Father of Joyce (Kenny) Hoppenjans of St. Boniface Parish. Services are in the care of Becher Funeral Home, Ferdinand, Indiana. Expressions of sympathy: Mr. and Mrs. Kenny Hoppenjans, 17023 N Fulda Shortcut Rd, Ferdinand, IN 47532-7556. Click/tap heading for full obituary. Online December 6, 2023 | Bulletin December 17, 2023

Advent penance services will be held at the following days and times (all times are Central): • Sunday, December 10, St. Paul Catholic Church, Tell City, 2 p.m. • Sunday, December 10, Christ the King Parish, Ferdinand, 3 p.m. • Wednesday, December 13, Historic St. Boniface Catholic Church, Fulda, 6:30 p.m. • Wednesday, December 13, St. Joseph Church, Jasper, 6 p.m. • Sunday, December 17, St. Joseph Church, Dale, 5 p.m. • Wednesday, December 20, St. Joseph Church, Jasper, 6 p.m. Click/tap heading for more times and dates.

The Celebration Singers will present a free one-hour Christmas concert on Sunday, December 10, 2023, at 1 p.m. at St. Meinrad Catholic Church. Selections will include both sacred and secular Christmas music. Everyone is invited to attend. Click/tap heading for more information.

First Sunday of Advent: Mark 13:33-37 - Jesus warns his disciples to be watchful so that they will be ready when the Son of Man comes.

Daily Bible readings, podcast audio and videos, and prayers brought to you by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

"The Criterion" is the official weekly publication of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. It goes out to more than 60,000 households in its coverage area of central and southern Indiana, making it Indiana's largest weekly newspaper.