From the Pastor’s Desk Monday, Bishop Baker reminded all present

of the importance of Catholic schools and

My Dear People:
Wednesday evening, OLS had a great
community experience. The Parish School of
Religion had their biannual dinner for the
families of the PSR program. The faithful
Knights of Columbus, whom we just saw
cooking all the breakfasts last Sunday for the
blood drive donors and their families, were
back in the kitchen cooking the meal for the
PSR families last Wednesday. Parents were
able to meet Mrs. Elizabeth Sutton and her
husband. Elizabeth will work the
administrative job of the PSR starting in May.
Sister Joan introduced Elizabeth who stood
up, praised the program, and expressed her
appreciation of taking over the helm in May.
Parents also met each other and children ate
and played to no end as I thanked God
secretly for family life.
that it was the responsibility of the whole
parish to support its Catholic school. Much of
the support is the maintenance of the
building -- the same building whose eighteen
classrooms are used by the Parish School of
Religion every Sunday. There is great
cooperation between the two and with OLS
School having religion daily, it sets a high
standard for our catechists of the PSR as
they cherish every minute of teaching time
on Sunday morning.
With all the opportunities to instruct children
in the faith there is no greater influence on
them than their parents. Congratulations to
all parents who set this great example of the
practice of the faith for their children.
With prayers and blessings,
Father Muller

After the meal all went upstairs to the church

and visited Jesus in the Eucharist. The
children sang some songs from the Vacation
Bible School of last year under the direction MASS INTENTIONS
of Michele Gentry. Then we brought Jesus in Monday, Feb. 2 Joe Carbonie
the Blessed Sacrament from the Chapel of Mary Kate Born
Our Savior for benediction. I sensed a real Tuesday, Feb. 3 Frances Scalise
Special Int. of Stephanie Zicarelli
transformation into dead silence for Wednesday, Feb. 4 Donors to OLS School
benediction which surprised me since the Foundation
small children present were beyond count. Special Int. of Beth Henken
Thursday, Feb. 5 Anthony V. Rosato, Sr.
Benediction is a prayer service of adoration Kate Stokes Born
Friday, Feb. 6 Barbara Dzwonczyk
to Jesus and a solemn blessing of all those Tina DeChristofano
present who adore Him. Adoration of Jesus Saturday, Feb. 7 Special Intention
in the Eucharist is a continuation of the last Thomas Sullivan
time we received Jesus in the Eucharist and Sunday, Feb. 8 People of the Parish
a preparation for the next time. Special Int. of Mary Angelo

We don’t have benediction as often as in

previous years, and many of our children are
unfamiliar with this great prayer of praise and
petition. It was good to see the PSR children
in such numbers in this act of prayer and
becoming more familiar with it.

This past week has been Catholic Schools

Week, and at the Mass at St. Paul’s on
ADULT EDUCATION
Upcoming speakers and topics for Sunday
OLS Knights of Columbus-
morning Adult Education in the Parish Hall at
10:00 a.m.:
Mardi Gras Open House
invites all men of the parish to
February 1st the speaker is Jane Sweeney and
join them for an informal Mardi
her topic will be Our Diocesan Hispanic Ministry.
Gras-style dinner on Wednesday,
February 8th the speaker is Frances Smith and
February 4th, in the Knights of
her topic will be The History of the Church in the
Columbus Room. Come enjoy a variety of
South.
authentic Cajun cuisine and learn more about the
____________________________________ world’s largest service organization.
Join us for V.I.P. on
Tuesday, February 3rd, at
11:00 a.m. in the Parish
PARISH MOVIE NIGHT
Hall. There will be Mass, will be held on
lunch, bingo. Wednesday, February
11th, at 7:00 p.m. in the
Parish Hall. The movie
being shown is The
Our Lady of Peace Guild will meet on
Song of Bernadette. Everyone is invited!
Monday, February 2nd, at 12:00 noon in the
Sodality Room of the Family Life Center. Bring
your lunch; dessert will be provided
CHAPEL OF OUR SAVIOR
The Chapel needs permanent Committed
Adorers for:
St. Ann's Guild will meet on Wednesday,
Monday Morning at Midnight - 1:00 AM (To
February 4th, in the Sodality Room of the Family
Share Hour)
Life Center at 10:30 a.m. In keeping with our
Tuesday at 1:00 PM (To Share Hour)
Catholic teachings, we will learn of our Catholic
Friday Morning at Midnight
ministries for seniors and retirement facilities in
Our goal is to have at least 2 people on each
our area, i.e. Villa Maria I and II for low income
hour. Please call Ida Wilker at 933-2281 or Mary
elders and handicapped and the new Somerby at
Claire Brouillette at 871-2909.
St. Vincent’s One Nineteen. Our presenters will
"...Such visits are a proof of gratitude and
be Mrs. Suzann Montgomery-Clark, Director of
expression of love, an acknowledgment of
Philanthropy, St. Vincent Foundation, and Mrs.
the Lord's presence." - Pope Paul VI, on
Carolyn Neiswender, Elder Care Services
Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration
Manager, Director of Senior Services in their
homes. Members will be contacted for lunch
reservations. We welcome all interested to join
us. For additional info and/or nonmember MARK YOUR CALENDAR
lunch call Frances 970-1864.
Spring Fling -"Flower
Power"- Saturday, Feb. 21st,
in the Parish Hall at 6:30
PM. Tickets are- $100.00
each-limited to 4 adults per
FIRST FRIDAY DEVOTIONS will be held on
ticket. Price includes food
February 6th at 6:00 a.m.
and drinks. Check out your
FIRST SATURDAY DEVOTIONS will be held on
closet and find those tie-dyed shirts, headbands,
February 7th at 7:15 a.m.
etc and join us for entertainment and drawings
for cash prizes. Contact Melinda D'Amico 822-
7412 for tickets.

High School Youth Group meets on
Wednesday nights from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. and on
Sunday mornings from 10:00 -11:15 a.m.
Come to meet friends, eat, and learn about the
faith!
There is a parent meeting for
PSR parents whose children
are preparing for First
Reconciliation, with last
names ending in L-Z this
Sunday at 10:00 AM in the
PSR office.
There will be a Confirmation
Retreat next Sunday, February 8th, for all 8th-
graders of the parish from 1-7pm in the Family
Life Center.
The Parish School of Religion would like to say
THANK YOU to the Knights of Columbus for
providing the wonderful meal for our Family
Supper last week, and to Monsignor Muller for
allowing us to gather and for presiding over
benediction. We are so grateful to come together
in fellowship.
*Holy Childhood – Lenten PSR Project.
*Holy Childhood banks have been distributed to
all PSR children. Children may bring in their
money each week to PSR beginning next
Sunday, February 8th, until April 5th.
Children’s Eucharistic Adoration
Please join us for Children’s Eucharistic
Adoration, Wednesday, February 4th, from 9:00
a.m. – 9:30 a.m. in the church at Our Lady of
Sorrows. Children of all ages are welcome
including newborns and infants. This time is a
wonderful opportunity to encourage your child’s
faith and prayer life while fulfilling Christ’s
command to “. . . Let the little children come to
me . . .” (Mark 10:14). For more information,
please call Kim Stephens at 823-8886.
Schedule for Lectors, Altar
Servers and Extraordinary
Ministers of Holy Communion-
The new schedule for the period from
March 7th through June will soon be
prepared. If you do not have an email address
please call Kent Graeve at 423-0092 if you want
to make changes in the times you serve or to
“block out” weekends you will not be in town. If
you have an email address please access the
schedule program via the web as recently
instructed in the communication sent to you.
Please communicate any changes via email or
telephone prior to February 1st
PRAY FOR VOCATIONS
Seek to follow Jesus, the humble servant. You will
be blessed! Discover the grace of the gospel.
(Zephaniah 2:3, 3:12-13, & Matthew 5:1-12) Please
pray that the beatitudes be a source of happiness
and hope, as we seek to follow Jesus. This ad is
sponsored by the Serra Club.
ST. STEPHEN HOSTS RETREAT FOR
COLLEGE STUDENTS
Saturday, February 7, 2009.
The retreat titled, “Lent with St. Paul,” will be
student-led with the assistance of Father Kevin
Bazzel, Associate Pastor, and Sister Karen Ann
Lortscher, O.S.B., Campus Minister. It will begin
at 9:00 a.m. in the Student Lounge on the lower
level of the Chapel, and it will end at 10:00 p.m.
All meals will be provided, and the cost of $5 per
student can’t be beat! St. Stephen Catholic
Chapel is located at 1515 12th Avenue South,
near UAB. For additional information or to
register, contact: Sister Karen Ann, 205-919-0637
(cell), 205-332-8653 (office),
sister@ststephenuab.com.
LENTEN RETREAT
The Sister Servants at Casa Maria in Irondale will
be having a Lenten Retreat for couples on
February 20-22. Father Frank Sofie will lead the
retreat and his topic will be The Cross that Binds.
You may register by phone at 956-6760, or online
at www.sisterservants.org.