New to the Parish? Welcome!  Please register.
Click here to download Registration form

OLM Emergency Planning Documents

UPCOMING EVENTS AT OLM
(see Bulletin for further info)

New Unwrapped Toy and Gift Collection

for children ages newborn to 16 to be distributed through local agencies

● We are collecting gifts through Sunday, December 16. You may bring your gifts to the narthex or the office during regular business hours.

● We are collecting fleece throws to be given to the homebound people who are served by our Eucharistic Ministers.

● We are collecting household items for young adults in the Chaffee Independence Program through Department of Social Services. These young people become emancipated at age 18 and must live on their own--this program helps them learn daily living skills and helps them find housing and jobs as they go out on their own. Any household items are needed: toilet paper, paper towels, dish soap, laundry soap, bath soap, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, sponges, kitchen towels, bath towels, zip lock bags, trash bags, wooden spoons, plastic food containers with lids, pots and pans and gift cards for groceries and gas. These programs are expecting to serve more than 6,000 children this year.

Your support is greatly appreciated.

DECEMBER 15-16

Third Sunday of Advent

Anointing of the Sick

following 5:00 p.m. & 11:00 a.m. Masses

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21

Advent Penance Service -- 7:00 p.m. -- OLM

MODAY, DECEMBER 24 -- Christmas Eve Masses:

5:00 p.m. (Christmas Pageant) & 9:00 p.m. -- Our Lady of the Meadows

7:00 p.m. -- Holy Rosary

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 25 -- Christmas Day Mass:

10:00 a.m. Our Lady of the Meadows

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26

Parish Offices Closed

MODAY, DECEMBER 31 -- New Year’s Eve Mass:

Masses: 5:15 p.m. Mass -- Our Lady of the Meadows

TUESDAY, JANUARY 1 -- New Year’s Day -- Mary Mother of God

7:00 a.m. Our Lady of the Meadows

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2

Parish Offices Closed

Mark your calendar for upcoming events

What to do? What to do?

The word going around is that Our Lady of the Meadows

is a transitioning parish -- indeed we are in so many ways:

we have fewer high schoolers in the parish programs, not

many youngsters in “Growing Up Catholic” and those who

have ministered in the parish for many, many years are

growing tired and leaving their minisries. But transitions also

signal new ways of doing things, new ministries, new people

picking up the slack in our various ministries.

What can happen?

Some ministries will have to be suspended until we get

more help. Have you noticed that sometimes we only have

four Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist? That is not

indicative of the number of people in attendance -- that

means we don’t have enough ministers to handle all the

stations. Do you see the same people doing multiple

ministries -- or staff members picking up the slack? Most

of our ministries don’t require additional time on the ministers’

part because many of them are liturgical in nature. As we

look to revamping formation, we need more catechists,

which does require additional time but it is not without

support. Growing Up Catholic meets on Sundays 10:00-

10:45 a.m. with ample time to attend Mass at 11:00 a.m.

Sacramental programs meet on Sunday in that same time

frame.

What can you do to help? What are you called to do?

Transition may be smooth or it can be bumpy -- that really

is up to us.

For more information or to volunteer, talk to Chris on the

weekend or call during the week. Thank you for your

willingness to discern your role in our parish life. Many hands

make light work!

Bible Study

Thursdays at Noon and 7 p.m.
in the Parish Center Library

Bible Study sheets will be available each week
on the kiosk by the west doors.

Whole Community Catechesis

“Growing Up Catholic”

Growing Up Catholic and First Sacraments (Eucharist and

Reconciliation) began Sunday, September 10 with a family

gathering in the parish center hall, 10:00–10:45a.m.

Registration forms will be available at all the Masses or in the

office during the week. All children K-5th grades and preschoolers if they have been in pre-school for at least a year

are encouraged to attend. If you have any questions, please

call the office and talk to Chris 561-3580 extension 12.

FORMATION

GROWING UP CATHOLIC K-5

OLM Sunday, 10:00- 10:45 a.m.

It is not too late to register.

GROWING UP CATHOLIC MIDDLE SCHOOL

begins Sunday, September 30, 5:00 p.m.

at HOLY FAMILY, 2825 Lakeview

GROWING UP CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL

begins Sunday September 30, 5:00 p.m.

at HOLY FAMILY, 2825 Lakeview

Confirmation Process for those who have finished one year

of the program begins Sunday, October 7 with orientation at

HOLY FAMILY, 2825 Lakeview.

Please keep in mind that formation does not end with the

reception of a sacrament such as Eucharist or Confirmation.

Nor is formation for a sacrament confined to “classes” as

the formal learning, but extends to Mass attendance and life

in the parish (informal learning). All three components are

important.

Look for more adult formation offerings coming soon.

Adult Formation opportunities—

Please make your reservation by calling Chris at 561-3580. We need to know an approximate number to prepare materials

Learn - Deepen - Defend - Instruct

Gifts

Get your inspirational CD and book
from the kiosk in the Narthex, Today!
or
Order on line at www.lighthousecatholicmedia.org

Here is a synopsis of some of the CD's in the Kiosk

Click here to see more thumbnails of the Kiosk

Parish Calendar Of Events

Click here for Month-at-a-Glance Events

This Week's Bulletin

King's Korner

Hospitalized?

If you or a loved one are hospitalized and would like Father Jim to visit you, please call the parish office or ask the hospital chaplain to contact the parish. Because of privacy laws, hospitals do not publish lists of those who have been admitted to the hospital.

Monthly Food Drive

Remember to bring food donations the first weekend each month to all the Masses. Staples, canned hams, chicken, packaged meals and children’s snacks are always good. Please be generous

Whom do you call for information at the parish?

Is it Chris or Fran, Father Jim, Lynn, Linda, or Blase?

When does Formation begin?

What do we offer?
 

You have questions.

We have answers.
 

Click here for a thumbnail sketch of all we have to offer at OLM and whom you need to speak. In the next couple of weeks we will provide guidelines and explanations for sacraments, formation and other parish information

Ministry Minutes are available at the office.
Check out what is happening in the Parish ministries

Click here for a message and info on Parish Council

RCIA-RCIC

Do you know someone who has never been baptized, but has asked you questions about the faith? Or maybe someone who has been baptized in another faith has asked how to be a Catholic.

Our Rite of Christian Initiation for adults and for children run all year.

If you have questions, call Chris at 561-3580.

Ministry of Consolation -- Bereavement Ministry

It is the goal of the community of Our Lady of the Meadows that no member should suffer the loss of a loved one in isolation.

To that end, we are pleased to offer ongoing supportive

and pastoral services for the bereaved through the ministry of consolation.

These services include a monthly support group on the second Thursday of each month; routine contact by telephone and mail, as desired; assistance at funerals and receptions.

All services are free and available to parishioners or any family member who is experiencing the loss of a loved one.

It is our hope that, through these pastoral services, those suffering a loss may come to know the loving support of the faith community.

For more information contact the parish office, or Paula Giordano at 561-2958.

Caregiver Connection

Do you care for someone who is chronically ill; find yourself stressed out and frustrated; feel alone and overwhelmed?
“
You are not alone”
 

- find comfort in knowing others care. Join us and connect with other caregivers the second and fourth Thursday of every month (10:30 a.m.-noon) at the Joni Fair Hospice House Chapel (Second Floor), 1107 Pueblo Boulevard Way. No registration required. Open to the public.

For more information call 719-296-6201.

CATHOLIC YOUTH MINISTRY

Phone number -- 561-3580

Chris Armstrong -- Chris@olm-parish.com

Facebook: Our Lady of the Meadows Catholic Community

Sacrament of Confirmation

Teens who are at least 16 years of age and have attended at least one year of high school Religious Formation are invited into the Confirmation Process. A packet with all paperwork will be available for next year's class soon

Please pray for our confirmandi

Baptism Preparation

Baptism is a sacrament of faith. As parents, it is your faith and that of the whole community that gives meaning to the celebration of this sacrament for your child.

Requirements:

● For babies and children less than 7 years of age. (Children 7 years and older must be enrolled in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Children (RCIC)).

● The family must be registered members of the Parish either Our Lady of the Meadows or Holy Rosary.

● A firm commitment by parents to raise their children in the Catholic faith to the best of their ability.

● A copy of the baby’s birth certificate.

● Attend a baptism preparation session within the last two years. Qualifications of Godparents:

● An understanding of the role of godparent.

● Be at least 16 years of age, fully initiated into the Catholic Church -- Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation and a participating member of a Catholic parish.

● Certification from godparents’ parish of eligibility to be sponsors is required.

The next Baptism preparation will be Saturday, September 22 (Noon to 4:00 p.m.)  Parents and godparents are required to attend. Baptism preparation sessions are offered four times a year.

Please call Chris at 561-3580 to register..

First Communion

Please pray for our children
 Contact Chris for more information at 561-3580
 

Newman Club
for East, Central, Centennial and South High Schools

Catholic Newman Clubs: East Club meets Monday; Centennial and Central Tuesday; and South Wednesday. It is a great way to have a free lunch and great conversations with other teens and caring adults.

Great food!

Check Facebook: Pueblo Newman Club for daily updates.

Evangelization with a youthful perspective:

Fellowship of Catholic University Students

Interested in Lectoring?

Youth interested in becoming lectors should talk to Chris or Father Jim.

Interested in Serving?
 

We are needing youngsters fourth grade and older who would like to be trained to serve the Mass on weekends and holy days. Talk to Chris or Father Jim if you are interested. Training sessions days and time to be determined

Father John Power Basketball League

Father John Power Memorial Basketball League isLooking for all former and current basketball players, coaches, workers, officials and sponsors who have participated in the Father John Power Memorial Basketball League over the past 50 years to the present. We are having a 50th Anniversary celebration in October and we would like to invite you. For more information, please call Jamie at 719-250-6630 or email frpowerbball@gmail.com.

2018 Registration open

League is open to 2nd — 8th grade boys and girls.
You can register on-line at www.fatherpowers.org.,
e-mail at fatherjohnpowerbasketball@yahoo.com, or call Jamie at 250-6630. The League is also looking for volunteers for more information or to volunteer call Jamie

Interested in joining Serra Club

The Pueblo Serra Club is part of a worldwide organization formally recognized by the Holy See as the global lay apostolate for vocations in the Catholic Church. The Mission of Serra Club is to support spiritually, physically and financially the increase of vocation efforts within the Diocese of Pueblo and to be a positive reinforcement for our priests and religious. The Club become supporters of those contemplating a religious vocation and mentor those in the discernment process and those in seminaries. The club meets the first and third Saturday of each month (9:00-11:00 a.m.) at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart Parish Hall. It is open to anyone interested. For more information contact Rose Marie Stimpfl at 720-363-6057.

Click here For Registration info

Plants need fertilizer to grow healthy and strong and so too does

your marriage. Without some nurturing and care it will remain weak

and unfulfilling. Spread a little fertilizer on your relationship. Make

a Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend and watch your love for

each other grow.

Weekends are at historic Glen Eyrie in Colorado Springs.

Contact Glen and Toni Gallegos

719-591-9045 or socowwmereg@gmail.com for more information.

Or to sign up online, visit our website at wwme.org.

Click here for schedule of future encounters in Colorado

Already Encountered?
Join the Southern Colorado Community every third Saturday of the month for fellowship, presentations, dialogue and other events.Sign up as a prayer couple, application couple or community support for upcoming weekends.Join a local Sharing Group

Call Glen & Toni Gallegos (719) 591-9045 for details and upcoming

Thinking about Separation or Divorce?

RETROUVAILLE_™
... A LIFELINE FOR MARRIAGES™

click here for more info

or

For confidential information about or to register for upcoming programs, call (303) 317-5111 or email:dialov1282@gmail.com or visit the web site at www.HelpOurMarriage.com

Next Colorado Workshops:

Denver   April 12, 2019

September 13, 2019

Divorced? Click here for a survival guide

Natural Family Planning:

THE NFPI WEB-BASED HOME STUDY COURSE

What is it? The NFPI home-study course is a convenient way for couples to complete an NFP course for self-instruction and as a normal part of preparation for marriage.

What will you do and learn?

In the NFPI Home Study Course, you will-

* Study the NFPI manual, Natural Family Planning: The Complete Approach.

* Learn how to observe, record, and interpret the signs of female fertility.

* Learn Catholic teaching about love, marriage, sexuality and responsible parenthood.

* Understand that teaching in terms of the Christian marriage covenant.

What's the process?

You will complete a series of three tests based upon the NFPI manual, Natural Family Planning: The Complete Approach. You will be sent one test at a time. You will answer the questions or apply rules based on the readings. After you have successfully completed the first test, you will be sent the second test. When you successfully complete the second, you will be sent the third test. After the three tests are completed, you will be asked to interpret two charts.

More information can be obtained at the NFPI website: www.NFPandmore.org

Follow the Home Study Course Link.

A donation is requested.

The Universal Church

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News from around the Catholic World

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The Holy See

 

Pope Francis

 

Visit the Vatican
 

Vatican News Service

Pope Francis' Daily Spiritual Reflections

 

Our Holy Father's Prayer Intentions for December:   Evangelization: In the Service of the Transmission of Faith: That people, who are involved in the service and transmission of faith, may find, in their dialogue with culture, a language suited to the conditions of the present time.

Pope's tweets


 

Pope's tweets

 

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Diocese of Pueblo

The Most Reverend Stephen J. Berg
Bishop of Pueblo

Diocesan Calendar can be found here: www.dioceseofpueblo.org/calendar

 

 

The Little Way for the Diocese of Pueblo First, I admit and accept that,  "I cannot overcome the trials of life  and become who I am meant to be, on my own."   Second, with total confidence in His merciful love for me, I pray:  "Jesus, please come and help me by making all things possible."   When these two actions become the spiritual air that I daily breathe,  then I am living The Little Way.

The Blessed Virgin Mary, Star of the Sea, is now pointing us forward, with the Strategic Plan to illuminate our next steps. Therefore, as missionary disciples of Jesus Christ, in positioning ourselves to become The Diocese of the Little Way, each of us is being called to participate by embracing her inspiring path:  With all my heart, I will... R   Recognize my littleness, O   Offer everything to Jesus with confidence, S    Surrender to His Merciful Love, and E   Evangelize others to do the same!

Diocese of Pueblo Prayer for Vocations

Almighty God, ever faithful to Your word,
You have promised to send us shepherds and leaders
after Your own heart to gather and guide us.
We thank You for those priests and religious
who are persevering in their vocations,
and ask You to send them an increase in fellow laborers with Christ
for the salvation of souls.

Mary, Queen of Vocations, Pray for us.

St. Therese of the Child Jesus, patroness of our diocese, Pray for us.

 

A Message from Bishop Stephen J. Berg

The following is reprinted from the latest issue of the Today's Catholic Newspaper:

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, At this present time our Church is being shaken by revelations of betrayal of trust by Church leadership.  The disclosures of criminal behavior by former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick and those named in the Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report have been devastating. I can only express how truly and deeply sorrowful I am for the tragic failures of the Church to protect innocent children in the past, and for the sins committed by certain Bishops in violation of their responsibility to protect their flocks into the present time. I apologize principally with all my heart to the victims who endured unthinkable suffering as children and robbed of their innocence, wonder and awe, and who have had to carry that burden throughout their lives. In compassion for all victims of abuse, and in sympathy for those in the parishes who have worked so hard to stop it from happening again, I share the universal outcry that the culture of the Church must be changed. Recently I participated in meetings of the USCCB Administrative Committee in Washington, DC, as the regional representative of our Bishops’ conference. Cardinal DiNardo, president of the conference, Archbishop Jose Gomez, vice-president, and Monsignor Brian Bransfield, General Secretary, departed from that meeting to meet with Pope Francis in Rome. They brought to the Pope our recommendations for goals and next steps to change the culture of Church leadership. I fervently hope that we will now begin to take concrete steps towards our goals in transparency of reporting abuse by Church leaders and holding Bishops accountable for the safety of their flock.    I wish here to earnestly assure you that in our Diocese we have worked hard for years with parish staffs and volunteers to ensure a safe environment.  We have strong programs in place for immediately reporting suspected abuse, responding to victims, and removing any priests or ministers responsible for such crimes. Be assured that the protection of our children will be maintained and will continue to be strengthened throughout our Diocese.                As you read this copy of our Today’s Catholic, I pray that you can see the hand of God present in bringing forth our next steps together for the future of our Diocese.  Remember that two years ago we ourselves decided to change the culture of our Diocese. We have since initiated a new Strategic Plan, the light to illuminate the path of the future through the deployment of three effective tools: Forming Intentional Disciples, The Four Levels of Happiness, and The Amazing Parish. With this edition, we offer one final, overarching theme, to be easily understood and intuitively grasped by all. According to the wonder-filled spiritual gift of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, we are now invited to prayerfully begin a journey to become, thematically, The Diocese of The Little Way. While we remain canonically, civilly and legally the Diocese of Pueblo, we take an intentional step toward claiming for ourselves the charism of St. Therese, patroness of the missions, a charism chosen 76 years ago for our Diocese by our first Bishop, Joseph C. Willging. In becoming The Diocese of The Little Way we begin to position our response to the great needs of our Brothers and Sisters in little ways. We begin to consider, discuss, and plan how we can seek to do great things in little ways, inviting the Catholics of the Diocese to join in taking little steps in prayer, faith formation, sacraments and charity. Our Diocese is not a mighty entity by any standards of the world, but in embracing our littleness, we can do mighty and wonderful things for the Kingdom of God. The Little Way is not an easy way, nor a short cut around our issues, nor a means to avoid our challenges. It is an elevation of our standards of conversion to the message of the Gospel with mutual respect and accountability to each other on that journey. We open the doors to answering an expressed, felt need, for deeper prayer and conversion for ourselves and for our Church. I invite you into prayerful consideration of what is being presented in this edition. This is a wonderful opportunity in a difficult moment to read and reflect on St. Therese’s autobiography, Story of a Soul; to reflect and learn together as families, parishes, schools and throughout the Diocese.  The Little Way is a charism which is truly a pure gift, a message of conversion and lifting one’s arms up to the mercy of the Father. The Little Way is truly the real way, through the friendship of Jesus, to conversion, sainthood and to heaven. On the Memorial of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, the Gospel of Luke proclaims: “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. For the one who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest.” May the Lord bless our Church in its future to receive, protect, and nurture the least among us, our children. May our Diocese now move forward to The Little Way of Jesus. May the Lord Jesus bless you and yours, our Diocese and our Church. Yours in Christ, Bishop Stephen J. Berg

 

 

2018 campaign is underway.
Thank you for your support in meeting our 2017 goal.
Click image above for more info and to pledge online.

 

We Pray:
St Therese, beloved friend, we come before you in our need.
We know that you listen to us and approach God for and with us.
Please accept these petitions, hopes, needs and dreams.
Please present them to our loving Father so that God may do
what is best for us, for our loved ones, and for the fulfillment
of God's Kingdom. We ask you, dear friend, with bold
confidence and loving surrender you taught us.
We make this prayerful petition in the name of Jesus
and through thepower of His Spirit. Amen

 

Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mystical Rose,
make intercession for the Holy Church, protect our Holy Father,
help all those who invoke you in their needs,
teach us your way of gentleness and strength,
hope in the midst of the bitterness of life, burning charity,
and the precious gift of final perseverance. Amen

 

Catholic Issues

Can't open a PDF file?

 

Information taken fromwww.catholicculture.org

 

Click here for more on all of the Feasts in the Month of December   2. First Sunday of Advent, Sunday 3. Francis Xavier, Memorial 6. Nicholas, Opt. Mem. 7. Ambrose, Memorial 8. Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Patronal Feastday of the United States of America , Solemnity 9. Second Sunday of Advent, Sunday 11. Damasus I, Opt. Mem. 12. Our Lady of Guadalupe (USA), Feast 13. Lucy, Memorial 14. John of the Cross, Memorial 16. Third Sunday of Advent, Sunday 21. Peter Canisius, Opt. Mem. 23. Fourth Sunday of Advent, Sunday 25. Christmas, Solemnity 26. Stephen, Feast 27. John, Feast 28. Holy Innocents, Feast 29. Thomas Becket, Opt. Mem. 30. Holy Family, Feast 31. Sylvester I, Opt. Mem.

Information taken fromwww.catholicculture.org