Fourth Sunday of Advent
December 21, 2025 | | |
- Monthly church cleaning is tomorrow, December 20th at 9am. Please give us an hour of your time.
- We will decorate the sanctuary Sunday, Dec. 21st after the 10am mass, and we need YOUR help. Please stay for a bit and help to put up the trees and the creche.
- With the Christ Child Society, we begin collecting warm hats and gloves for inner city Catholic school children this week through January 4th. There will be a bin in the back of the church to place them into.
- Our annual Reverse Raffle will be Saturday, April 25th - get it on your calendar! Now accepting donations of gift cards, baskets and any new items.
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The coming of Christ is the focus of the readings this week, and what is perhaps most striking is the Psalm text for this day: the coming of the Lord is like a royal entry; it is so much more than the birth of a baby, it is the arrival of the king and heir of the universe.
What is more, the birth is not something that we would have expected or even asked for, if we are to read Isaiah in light of the coming feast. Ahaz may not have wanted a sign, but sign he was to receive. Sometimes in our own lives, we do not want to hear what God is saying, we do not want to read the signposts that are there before us, especially when we are going down a path that leads us away from God.
But we have before us Mary, pregnant with the one who was born for our salvation, and we have before us our choices - will we be strong enough to make good ones? Will we be able to see that Mary is our model?
She accepted the life of Christ, accepted the title Mother of God, in order to participate fully in the plan of God. Saint Joseph, for his part, listened to his dreams and made another good choice, and so the prophecies concerning the birth of the Christ would be fulfilled.
Here, as we face these last days before we celebrate the birth of Christ, we have the opportunity to join with Mary and Joseph and open our lives to the unexpected plan of God.
Liturgy.com
| | 2 Ways to GIVE now: Adult size socks and underwear for the local homeless and non-perishable food to the Duck Island Block Club for the Tremont Holiday Food Drive for neighborhood need. | |  | |
Donations of non-perishable food items will go directly to local families and individuals to ensure everyone can enjoy a nourishing and joyful holiday season. This effort is brought to you by Tremont West Development Corporation with the support of Tremont’s neighborhood block clubs. Go to the following link to learn more:
🔗 https://givebutter.com/9uaB5e
| Bring your items to the bins in the back of the church. | | |
| | Thank you to all who donated to the Giving Tree for the West Side Catholic Center. All gifts have been delivered. | | | | Read the latest issue of Diocese of Cleveland's online magazine HERE. | | | Click the button below ⬇️ and add your cell number. We will ONLY send important event updates or cancellations due to weather or emergencies. Thank you! | | Set up a mass by filling out the form on our website (click picture above and scroll to Mass Request), or call the rectory 216.696.1926 or send an email to office@stwendelincleveland.org with the month/day you prefer. | | | |
Pray for the health of Jenny Weaver, Wayne Matlus, Linda Pacanosky, Dennis Vok, Denise Turner, Nancy Simala, Jane Hilf, Terry Chura, Red Rodio, Frank Novak, George Cummings, Steve Dabrowski, Larry Blasius, Roselyn Cowell, Fr. Kropac and for many special intentions for strength, mercy and healing.
Reply to this email to add a name or intention to our list.
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Year-End Giving
This season of giving is a perfect time to express your gratitude for the blessings in your life by making a year-end gift to our parish. As you plan your charitable contributions for 2025, please know that we gratefully accept gifts of cash and appreciated assets, such as stocks or bonds, and grants to our parish from donor-advised funds.
You can make a gift to our parish using your IRA
As Christian stewards, we are called to help make our Church a strong community of faith and a beacon of service to others. This includes supporting the financial needs of today while ensuring a stable foundation for the future. One way to contribute is through your IRA. If you are 70 ½ or older, you can make a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) of up to $108,000 directly from your IRA to your parish. This gift will not be taxable income and can satisfy your required minimum distribution (RMD). Looking ahead, you might also consider naming our parish as a beneficiary of your IRA. Click here for more details, consult your financial advisor or contact Mary Lou Ozimek at 216-696-6525 x4070.
| | What can YOU do to help? Become a Lector, Eucharistic Minister, a Server or an Usher. Send an email to office@stwendelincleveland.org with your name and the ministry you're interested in helping with. The next sessions for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are listed here: | ➡️ Join the Moriah House Meals Group that prepares a hot meal for the residents of the WSCC's Moriah House. On the 3rd Saturday of every month, meet up in the STW parking lot with prepared foods to deliver. You don't have to participate every month. To join this great service group, text or call Carol at 2164104068. |
Carmona Caravan, an Organization of Catholic Men and Women Dedicated to Assisting Persons With Intellectual Disabilities, is looking for more volunteers. Please click HERE for more information.
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Make a will. Make an impact rooted in faith!
August is National Make-A-Will Month, and there’s no better time to create or update your will. Catholic Community Foundation offers a free resource through FreeWill, a simple online tool that can help you plan ahead in about 20 minutes.
Your will reflects your values—caring for your loved ones and strengthening faith-based stewardship for generations to come.
Visit FreeWill.com/CatholicCommunity to put your faith into action.
| | | Listen to all things Catholic at AM 1260 The Rock here. Deepen your and your family’s faith, AM 1260 The Rock offers daily Mass, devotionals, apologetics, and much more. Don’t forget about AM 1260 The Rock’s own Wisdom From The Rock, where you can hear Daily Gospel Reflections from local priests and deacons, special interviews, and more.
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Do you get a birthday card from Fr. Kropac in the mail? If not, we do not have your current information! Click here and update for us. | | |
Want to learn more about our parishioners? Check out the Parishioner Profile Book (blue 3 ring binder) in the back of the church and get copies of all of the stories printed so far.
Nominate yourself or a friend to be the next subject of Parishioner Profiles, just reply to this email with your suggestion.
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