Saint Leonard's Christmas decorations will be taken down on Sunday, January 10 at 11 am. Please call Patti Nash (502-773-3594) if you would like to volunteer to help!

Knoop Notes

Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God * January 1, 2021

“Hail, Holy Mother, who gave birth to the King, who rules heaven and earth forever”

BE OPEN with a SONG in OUR Hearts!

NEW YEARS and EPIPHANY 2021 Celebrate the 12 DAYS…..A Challenge for Choristers! The Joy Remains (Christmas in the City of New York!) This year, we all miss the live concerts and liturgies with opportunities to SING ALONG. Our tradition of beautiful choral ensembles/scholas is suspended this year, as we focus in live liturgy on instrumental music. I present a FITTING alternative for 2020 and the beginning of 2021. The following link is from the annual Christmas in the City program of St. Patrick’s Cathedral. This year, the virtual concert includes congregational settings from 2018 and 2019 along with current virtual productions of other singers. Dr. Jennifer Pasqual, music director studied at Eastman School of Music with Dr. Phillip Brisson from our own Cathedral of the Assumption. I particularly like the final two numbers as they highlight the organ of St. Patrick’s and offer the beloved GERMAN version of Stille Nacht. On Easter Monday 1980, I had the opportunity to play the organ you will see as a young teacher visiting New York on Spring Break. Let us wander through our own JOYFUL memories in these CHRISTMAS days. May this link offer you opportunity as you rest, pray, cook, clean, and celebrate to sing along and experience the JOY of both sacred and secular works. I am hopeful we will ALL make a joyful SONG on EASTER to come! --Rick

https://youtu.be/wPvHcBfbomM

Prelude - Assorted Instrumental Selections of the Nativity / What Child is This?

Gathering Hymn - O Little Town of Bethlehem (For Christ is Born of Mary)

Glory to God! - Mass of Joy and Peace

Responsorial Psalm - The Lord Is Kind and Merciful

Gospel Acclamation - Festival Alleluia (Cheponnis)

Preparation of Gifts - Lo, How A Rose E’er Blooming

Communion - Magnificat (Proclaim the Greatness of God—Cheponnis)

Sending Forth - O Sanctissima O Most Holy One

Parish Offices Closed

Both of our parish offices will be closed on Thursday, December 31 and Friday, January 1. Happy New Year!

A Huge Maryhurst Thank You!

From the staff and volunteers of Maryhurst:

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! This year we were able to provide Christmas presents for nearly 300 kids and families that we serve! 2020 has been a struggle for everyone, and I’m overwhelmed by the generosity of our community. We could not accomplish this feat without the help of our individual donors, church groups, community and corporate sponsors – so please accept this heartfelt thank you!

I’m sorry that we can’t show you the joy of the kids’ faces this morning, but please know that you all made a difference in a year filled with anxiety and uncertainty. It’s a special time to work here and see magic happening – from hunting for Elfie, cookie baking contest, cottage decorating, and celebrating the holidays as a Maryhurst family.

STEWARDSHIP REFLECTION

“Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.” Luke 2:20

From early childhood, we are taught to say ‘thank you’ when receiving a gift. As we grow older, more mature ways are learned to express appreciation. When receiving God’s blessings, do we remember to thank Him? Even the lowly shepherds at the time of Jesus’ birth returned to glorify and praise God for the gift of infant Jesus.

2020 Catholic Services Appeal

Bringing Christ to Others

Our Parish Goal: $37,000 (SFR), and $32,000 (SL)

Our Parish Participation Goal: 106 (SFR) and 78 (SL) households

Thanks to those who have already responded with a gift to the 2020 Catholic Services Appeal. To date SFR has raised $29,930 and SL has raised $32,695 toward our goals through the support of parishioners. Congratulations - and THANK YOU - to Saint Leonard Parish for already reaching our goal! There is still plenty of time to respond with a gift to this year’s Appeal. Gifts can be made through our parish office or online at www.ArchLou.org/CSA.

Last Week's Masses

Catch St. Leonard's Masses at 5pm on Saturday and 10am on Sunday, and St. Frances of Rome's Mass at 11:30am on Sunday on our respective Facebook pages.