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Welcome to
St. Margaret Mary Alacoque Parish

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Mass Live-Stream Page on YouTube
This link will take you to the parish YouTube page.
Scroll down on that page to find the live feed link for the current Mass time.
Dates and times are shown below the 
church photos.

Also previous Mass recordings are available on this page.

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The All Things New committee has provided the
Disciple Maker Index (DMI) results for our parish to share with our parishioners. 
Click here to view the SMMA Parish report.

Summaries of parish feedback received from All Things New listening
sessions, key parish leaders, online surveys, individual letters
and emails were prepared in January and are now online at
http://allthingsnew.archstl.org.
 
 
All Things New Update
 
All Things New Letters and Decrees
 
 

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Photo Directory Information

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Msgr. Norb Ernst Pastor
Email Msgr. Norb

December

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Welcome to the beautiful season of Advent which begins a new Liturgical Year! During this very busy time of the year, Advent allows us to quiet our hearts and prepare spiritually for the Christmas Season. “Advent has a two-fold character: as a season to prepare for Christmas when Christ’s first coming to us is remembered, and as a season when that remembrance directs our mind and heart to await Christ’s second coming at the end of time. Advent thus is a period of devout and joyful expectation.” (from the Ordo)

Since Advent is a season of joyful expectation, we will offer the Blessing For Expecting Parents at our Masses next weekend.

One of the traditional Catholic ways of preparing for Christmas is to go to confession. Once again we will offer our Advent Reconciliation Weekend which will take place at St. Francis of Assisi church Friday, Dec. 15, 6 – 8pm and Saturday, Dec. 16, 9am – 3pm. The priests of our parish, as well as SFA and QAS, will be hearing confessions that weekend. The priests schedule should be available next weekend. Celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation is a beautiful way to prepare for Christmas.

Friday, Dec. 8th, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, is a HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION. Our Mass schedule is: 7:00pm Dec. 7th – Dec. 8th 6:30am, 8:00am, 10:00am. Originating around the 7th century, this feast, celebrating the conception of Mary by her parents Joachim & Anne, was added as a Holy Day to the Catholic Calendar in 1708 by Pope Clement XI. This is the Patronal Feast Day of the United States of America.

Announcing the 34th Annual National Night of Prayer for Life being observed on December 8th.This tradition unites the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and the Feasts of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Juan Diego. We’ll use our Adoration Chapel for the observance, from 9pm Dec. 8th ‘til midnight. We join with churches throughout our county praying for a greater respect for life and for the protection of the unborn.

Announcing our Mass schedule for Christmas.
Christmas Eve Masses, Sunday Dec. 24th, are at 4:00pm – 6:00pm – 10:30pm (WE’VE MOVED OUR MIDNIGHT MASS EARLIER). Christmas morning Masses: (regular Sunday Schedule) 7:30am – 9:30am – 11:30am. By the way, Sunday morning Dec. 24th Masses are for the 4th Sunday of Advent.

Advent is a perfect time to visit our Adoration Chapel. Spending a few quiet moments with the Blessed Sacrament in prayer is a wonderful way to prepare your heart to receive the special blessings of the Christ Child this Christmas. This Sunday’s Gospel encourages us “to watch, to be alert, for you do not know when the time will come.

A Blessed Advent!

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Giving Tree
Click for more info
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NEW SYSTEM FOR SAFE ENVIRONMENT COMPLIANCE

The Archdiocese of St. Louis has developed a new system for safe environment compliance called Prevent and Protect STL. Everyone (clergy, employees, and volunteers) ministering to minors and vulnerable adults in the Archdiocese is required and asked to register in the new system. Click here for more information.

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Stay Informed
Current Bulletin

Bulletin Submissions Email:
bulletin@smmaparish.org

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Happenings

  • National Night of Prayer
    Respect-Life News: National Night of Prayer for Life 8pm to midnight on Friday, December 8 Uniting the Feast of the Immaculate Conception …
  • Widow & Widowers Christmas Party
    Widow & Widower Holiday Event Tuesday, December 12th – 6pm SMMA Parish Center All widows and widowers are cordially invited to join us …
  • P.O.P.Y. – Parents of Preschoolers
    “Parents of Preschoolers and Younger” This is a new group forming with the intention of connecting families in the parish who have …
  • ACTION Meet-Up
    ACTION Meet-Up Achieving Christ In Our Neighborhood December 9, 10am to 1pm – Cafeteria This gathering for developmentally disabled adults will meet …


More Happenings…

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Mass Live-Stream Page on YouTube
This link will take you to the parish YouTube page.
Scroll down on that page to find the live feed link for the current  Mass time.
Dates and times are shown below the 
church photos.

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Supporting Our Parish

This may be a good time to
sign up for online giving.
Here you can make a one-time donation if you do not want
to sign up at this time.

As always thanks for supporting our Parish!

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Parish Calendar

St. Sabas (439-532 A.D.) was born near Caesarea in Cappadocia to an illustrious family. His father was an army officer who, being restationed in Alexandria, left Sabas (along with his estate) in the care of his wife’s sister. Sabas was severely mistreated by his aunt, and he fled from her to live with his father’s brother instead. This move led to a family feud over the management of his father’s estate, and Sabas, a meek child disgusted with their worldliness, sought refuge in a monastery. He was well-treated there, and although only a child, excelled in the monastic life. When he reached the age of eighteen, after living in the monastery for ten years, Sabas traveled to Jerusalem to visit the holy places and to become a desert hermit. He lived in a Jerusalem monastery for a time before dwelling alone in a desert cave near Jericho, spending his days in prayer and penance. Because of his renowned virtue and holiness many men desired to follow his example. He was ordained a priest so that he could better direct the 150 monks in his care. Sabas became an important leader in the early Church by founding monasteries, fighting heresy, and serving in delegations to the Roman Emperor. He is one of the most highly-regarded patriarchs of Palestine, and is considered one of the Fathers of Eastern monasticism. His most important monastery, the Great Laura, is one of the oldest monasteries in the world and is still inhabited by Eastern Orthodox monks. St. Sabas’ feast day is December 5th. See MoreSee Less
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Daily Verse"He said to him, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.""–Matthew 22:37-40 See MoreSee Less
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"To fall in love with God is the greatest romance; to seek Him the greatest adventure; to find Him, the greatest human achievement." –St. Augustine See MoreSee Less
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St. Barbara (3rd c.) was born in Nicomedia in modern day Turkey. According to tradition, after the death of her mother she was raised by her rich and tyrannical pagan father who, because of her beauty and intelligence, guarded her closely, keeping her locked away in a tower to protect her from the outside world. She was educated by tutors and came to reject the false gods she was taught to worship in favor of the true God for whom she yearned and wished to discover, dedicating her life and virginity to this purpose. She developed a prayer life and resisted her father’s attempts to have her marry. Believing Barbara to be negatively affected by the seclusion, her father allowed her more freedom to associate with the world. She soon discovered Christians, and, recognizing the Creator she sought, and was baptized in secret. After informing her father that she was a Christian, he denounced her to the authorities under the persecution of Roman Emperor Maximian. She was imprisoned and cruelly tortured, but remained steadfast in her faith. During the night she would pray fervently, and her wounds would miraculously heal. This only subjected her to greater torments, followed by more miraculous interventions. She was finally beheaded by her own father, and afterward he was struck and killed by lightening as punishment. St. Barbara is the patron saint of firemen, armorers, artillerymen, military engineers, miners, and others who work with explosives. She is also the patron against storms, lightning, and fire, to name a few. St. Barbara’s feast day is December 4th. See MoreSee Less
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Daily Verse"This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you."–John 15:12-14 See MoreSee Less
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"Be patient, because the weaknesses of the body are given to us in this world by God for the salvation of the soul. So they are of great merit when they are borne patiently."–St. Francis of Assisi See MoreSee Less
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Today is the First Sunday of Advent. Advent is often called a “Little Lent” because just like Lent, Advent is meant to be a penitential season. In the past, Advent was 40 days long (just like Lent) but now is just 4 weeks long. We have four candles on our Advent Wreath to help us count and observe the four weeks of Advent. We also see the violet and rose colors of Lent during the season of Advent because purple is a color used in the liturgy to represent repentance and sorrow for our sins. Another similarity to Lent is that we do not sing the Gloria during the Mass during Advent. The first candle on the Advent wreath – a purple one – is often called the Prophet’s Candle and symbolizes hope because Jesus is coming soon! See MoreSee Less
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