The Olive Branch Weekly
The Olive Branch Weekly
A WEEKLY MESSAGE
FROM DEACON AL AULNER
Greeting Parish Family Members,
We are just a few days away from another election. Of course, as always, many people
have dubbed this one “the most important election ever”. It’s kind of like a Nebraska football
game, the most important game is the one being played today because it’s the one that counts
now. This election is important because it’s the one that will shape things in the near future. It’s
the only one that matters now.
The truth is, all of our elections have been extremely important. Imagine how important
the first Presidential election was. President Washington seemed to be the perfect choice but
the wrong person at the helm then could have undone the great experiment before it had a
chance to get started. The first election of President Lincoln took place just months before the
Civil War broke out and his second during the war. Talk about two important elections. A
different choice may have led to a divided nation with several countries on the North American
Continent and I’m guessing they would not have all gotten along. Imagine the elections that took
place during World War I, the Great Depression, and World War II. All of those elections are still
impacting us today.
The responsibility of the electorate is great. Our choices in this election will affect people
for generations to come as have the choices of past elections. As Catholics we need to
approach this duty prayerfully and with our Catholic faith as our guide. Political parties like to
think they have cornered the markets of truth and virtue; they have not. Truth and virtue are two
of the first casualties of politics. Catholics know that truth and virtue are from God, and we need
to bring them into our decision-making process at this important time.
Mary Seat of Wisdom pray for us!
God Bless You!
Deacon Al
A 'THANK YOU' FROM DEACON TOM & KATHY SCHULTE
To our dear Parish Family,
Kathy and I offer our most grateful “Thank You” to all who celebrated with us the 45th year of my ordination to the diaconate and our shared ministry to our parish as a deacon couple.
A lot has changed in the diaconate, our parish, and the world in those 45 years since I was ordained. But one thing remains; Jesus Christ is still alive and still God’s great gift of salvation to those of us who believe.
Kathy and I have been privileged to have shared our 45 years of diaconate service with the amazing community of Holy Ghost and now St. Bernadette. Your constant faith through all of life’s challenges inspire us and God’s love shines so brightly through each of you.
Thank you to all for your good wishes, cards, and gifts, and a special thank you to all who worked on making the gathering after Mass last week so special. It was indeed more than a celebration for Kathy and I. It celebrated the importance of the ministry of diaconate to our Church.
The blessings of our God to you all,
Deacon Tom and Kathy Schulte
OUR PARISH FAMILY
5219 South 53rd St.
Omaha, NE 68117
402-731-3176
Church website: holyghostomaha.org
Facebook: Holy Ghost Catholic Church
Mass Times
Wednesday & Friday: 7:00 a.m.
Sunday: 9:00 a.m.
Confessions on Sunday: 8:15 a.m.
Parish Office Weekday Hours:
8 a.m.—4 p.m. / Closed during Lunch 12—1 pm
Bulletin: stbbulletin@gmail.com
Items for the bulletin must be submitted 9 days prior to the date of the Bulletin!
7600 South 42nd St.
Bellevue, NE 68147
402-731-4694
Church website: stbernadetteparish.org
Mass Times
Tuesday & Thursday: 8:00 a.m.
Saturday: 5:00 p.m. / Sunday: 11:00 a.m.
Confessions on Saturday: 4—4:45 p.m.
Parish Office Weekday Hours:
7:30 a.m.—3 p.m.
Bulletin: stbbulletin@gmail.com
Items for the bulletin must be submitted 9 days prior to the date of the Bulletin!
PARISH FAMILY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Our gifts to the 2024 Archbishop’s Annual Appeal bear witness to God's love at work in our lives. Thank you to all those at our parish who have responded so generously to Archbishop Lucas' invitation to join him in the work of equipping disciples and living mercy.
To date, our parish has raised $9,105.00 towards our goal of $58,939.50 at St. Bernadette. $3,697.00 towards our goal of $16,095.99 at Holy Ghost.
Please prayerfully consider supporting this year’s Archbishop’s Annual Appeal.
The St. Vincent de Paul Conference at St. Bernadette’s is working on our annual Christmas Project. We will be assisting 40 families in our community with Christmas gifts for the children and a family gift, along with a grocery voucher for food.
If you would like to adopt a family, please call Barb at 402-699-1434 or Rosary at 402-676-1557.
The tags will be on the trees on Thanksgiving weekend. St. Bernadette parishioners are extremely generous and helpful in fulfilling Christ’s mission to love Him and to serve His children through this project. We appreciate YOU and all that you do to support this work!
We’re excited to share a new resource with you—a brief, family-friendly video featuring Nebraska families and experts discussing the initiatives on the ballot.
Here’s the link: Watch the video here.
The video emphasizes the importance of voting for Initiative 434 and against Initiative 439.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT!
A HUGE thanks to our volunteers and everyone who came out to our recent Chicken Dinners! We are so grateful for your continued support of our parish. We hope to see everyone at our next chicken dinner in January.
In case you missed it, our friends at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church celebrated the 50th anniversary of their annual polish festival on Sunday, August 18. Dozens of volunteers worked all summer long creating 26,591 handmade pierogis: a popular polish dumpling filled with kraut, potato and cheese.
In case you missed it, Holy Ghost held its 2nd Annual Car Show! We loved seeing all the cool, classic cars fill up our Holy Ghost parking lot. Thanks to EVERYONE who participated and entered their car, truck, or motorcycle into our car show.
In case you missed it, a BIG congratulations to longtime parishioner and Holy Ghost choir director, Benjamin Baber who recently received the honor of "Man of the Year" at this year's car show. Ben has been a lifelong member of Holy Ghost Parish. He attended Holy Ghost Catholic School through the 8th Grade and was also an altar server. Since he was a young boy, Ben helped with the June Jamboree and continued to support each year until the final June Jamboree event in 2019. He has worked as a dishwasher for the famous Holy Ghost Fish Fry's, Chicken Dinners, and Turkey Dinners. Ben has served on the Liturgy committee and the committee for the merger of both Holy Ghost and St. Bernadette into one Parish Family. Ben has served as the choir director for Holy Ghost for almost 20 years. Please join us in celebrating and honoring Benjamin Baber as our "Man of the Year" for 2024.
HOLY GHOST PARISH NEWS
The following section contains news and information on clubs, activities, special events and ministry initiatives specific to Holy Ghost Parish.
Join us for our annual turkey dinner in the Holy Ghost Parish Social Hall on Sunday, Nov. 10, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
See the flyer below for more details!
Help support 50 years of Husker tradition at Holy Ghost. Fantastic food! Husker Fans! Insightful and interesting information!
Our next Husker Night at Holy Ghost is Thursday, Nov. 14!
Doors open at 5 p.m. and our speakers start at 7 p.m.
Admission is $5 for kids and $10 for adults.
Food and drink are available for purchase (not included in admission fee).
Our guest speaker for Thursday, Nov. 14 is Vince Ginta.
Click here to see photos from our recent Husker Night at Holy Ghost.
Our next Don & Millie’s Day is this Monday, Nov. 18 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Grab your family and friends and join us at Don & Millie’s on Monday, Nov. 18
Twenty percent (20%) of every dollar spent on great food and drink will go right back to our parish!
Dine-in or carryout at 84th & “Q” Street location.
Upcoming Holy Ghost Women’s Club Events!
Turkey Dinner – Sunday, Nov. 10: 11am – 3pm
Advent Angels – tags will be hung on Sat., Nov. 30
Upcoming Holy Ghost Men's Club Events!
Holy Ghost Men’s Club will meet on Wednesday, Nov. 6 at 6:30 p.m. in the social hall. All men of the parish are invited!
HOLY GHOST FINANCIALS
NO FINANCIAL UPDATE THIS WEEK
Weekly Needs: $3,350.00
Collection: $9,436.44
YTD Needs: $56,950.00
YTD Collection: $58,970.44
Overage: $2,020.44
Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024
7:00 a.m. + Robert & Dorothy Luksa
Friday, Nov. 8, 2024
7:00 a.m. Parishioners of Holy Ghost & St. Bernadette
Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024
9:00 a.m. + Lucy Slizoski
SUNDAY, NOV. 10 - 9:00 A.M.
Deacon: Tom Schulte
Sacristan: Kathy Schulte
Lector: Spencer Cohorst
EMHC: Deacon Al Aulner & Deb Ray
Altar Servers: Andrew Baber
Gift Bearers: Doriteo/Teresita Mendoza
Greeters: Tom Dorwart & Larry Dyer
The following parishioners of Holy Ghost are now or recently have been in the hospital or are having health issues and in need of our prayers. May these parishioners and all from our Parish Family who suffer from health issues find strength and the healing presence of God.
We need your help in keeping our church prayer list up to date. Please let us know if someone needs to be added or removed from the list.
You can contact the office at 402-731-3176 or email parishsecretary@holyghostomaha.org
Dorothy Blach, Jan Brinck (sister-in-law of Marita Grebl), Carmen Cogan, Ron Coniglio, Becky English, Jackie Eubanks, Theresa Eubanks Schwartzer, Yvonne Fisher, Warren Hadley, Christine Haite, Donna Hansen, Cheryl Koziel (daughter of Jackie Peroutka), Cathy Longacre, Betty and Mike McMillan, Mark Mruz, Ender Pitman, Cooper Pofahl, Jon Ricci (nephew of Nellie Hadley), John Ripa, Ray Sempek, Hayden Sommer, Raymond Starks, Mary Townley, Donna Vaughn, Brian Walters, and Danny Watkins (brother of Brenda Tylkowski)
Let us also remember in our prayers those who in care centers or homebound:
Rick Becerra, Jean Buechler, Dee Clap, Patty Dworak, Jacob Fraser, Kim Hall, Dorothy Kazor, Joanne Leutzinger, Pat Makara, Darlene McKinley, Janet Nicholas, Dolores Noonan, & Rita Tomes
with Father Phil Flott
31st Sunday "B"
Jesus, taken from among men,
Offers for us prayers;
He watches us from heaven,
Is acquainted with our cares.
ST. BERNADETTE PARISH NEWS
The following section contains news and information on clubs, activities, special events and ministry initiatives specific to St. Bernadette Parish.
Please help support St. Bernadette Home and School at these upcoming Family Food Nights. Please mention St. Bernadette when ordering your meals.
First Tuesday of every month Don & Millie's - Bellevue, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Nov. 21 at McDonald's - LaVista from 4 to 8 p.m.
Dec. 3 at Texas Roadhouse - Shadow Lake from 4 to 8 p.m.
As we begin the month of November, let us spend time this month being thankful. Take the time to think about all that you and your family have been blessed with and give thanks. Important things this month; do not forget 8th graders have their retreat on Nov. 13, so 7th graders will NOT have class on 11/13. On Nov. 27 we will not have classes as we will be celebrating Thanksgiving.
Important Dates:
11/6- Family Class with Saints and Smores
11/13- Reconciliation Class and Confirmation Retreat for 8th graders
11/20- Sacrament Classes for Reconciliation and Confirmation
11/27- No Classes- Happy Thanksgiving!
How would you like to bless another family this year with something as simple as prayers? I am looking for parishioners to pray for Parish Religious Education, PRE, families. These families will be learning about the seven sacraments this year and some of them will even have family members making their First Reconciliation/ Communion or Confirmation. There is a basket on the table at the back of church. Please pick a card and pray for this family through our PRE year, now through April. What a wonderful way to share God’s goodness with others…prayer.
Spending Time with the Saints
This year, during our Wednesday evening Family Classes for Religious Education (PRE), we decided to add something new. During the months of September, October, November, February, March, and April, we will be doing Saints and S'mores!
At our Family Classes during these months, we will do our closing prayer acknowledging and praying to certain Saints and then enjoying S'mores!
For each of these 6 classes, we will need graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate bars. If you would like to donate to this part of our program to offset the costs of these items…it would greatly appreciated.
Please contact Sue Reed in the Parish Office or put your donation in an envelope labeled S'mores and place it in the weekly collection basket. Thank you for being supportive of this wonderful program.
Boxes of Joy!
The Parish Religious Education (PRE) and St Bernadette School students are working together once again this year to fill Boxes of Joy. We will fill these boxes with goodies and then they will be distributed to children in Guatemala, Dominican Republic, and Malawi. We want them to have a very Merry Christmas. There will be a list in the back of church on the bulletin board, please help us out and donate some items. A collection box will be in the back as well. Also, it is $9.00 per box to mail so a monetary donation is also greatly appreciated. Contact Sue Reed in the Parish Office for more information.
This year we will once again be doing the Boxes of Joy. Collection of items will be in September and October. If you would like to shop for some items now, that would be great. We will have a collection basket in the back of the Church.
A couple of "Boxes of Joy" team members went on a mission trip, and below are some of the items they noticed the children really liked:
Playing cards, card games (UNO, GO FISH, etc.)
Crochet hooks and yarn,
Craft items or kits, (beads, pipe cleaners, bracelet string)
Small playing balls, (can be deflated)
Matchbox cars
Lego sets
Solar digital watches
Calculators.
Remember that we can not include liquid of any kind in these boxes.
Continue to watch for more Boxes of Joy information!
Beginning October 1, 2024, Spirit Catholic Radio will begin taking submissions to our annual Art Contest! Returning this year, the winner’s masterpieces will be turned into prayer cards! These cards will be available at all Spirit Catholic Radio events throughout the year and given to all of the Catholic elementary schools and participating Faith Formation classes in our listening area.
Find details regarding participation in the 2024 Art Contest here:
We would love for your students to be involved! It's a creative and fun way to learn more about the life of Christ and to grow in relationship with the Blessed Mother. The winning artists will receive prizes!
The theme for the 2024 contest is: The Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary.
Your artists can pick between the two mysteries for their grade range below:
K - 2nd Grade: The Baptism of the Lord - or - The Wedding at Cana
3rd - 5th Grade: The Transfiguration - or - The Holy Rosary
6th - 8th Grade: The Proclamation of the Kingdom - or - The Institution of the Eucharist
Art Contest entries are due by December 13, 2024
Please reach out with any questions!
JUNIOR LEGION OF MARY
All 3rd through 8th graders of St. Bernadette are invited to join our Junior Legion of Mary group. The Legion of Mary is a unique opportunity to increase one's love of God through devotion to our Blessed Mother through prayer and good deeds. Meetings are Tuesdays at school in Room 206, from 3:30-4:30 p.m. For more information, call or text Patty Pogge at (402) 681-7331.
PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY
Our prayer shawl ministry has been busy providing a lot of prayer shawls to parishioners and their families, especially those who have lost a loved one. This is great! We are however in need of more prayer shawls.
If you knit or crochet or would like to learn, please join us on the second Friday of the month from 1 to 3 p.m. in the faculty lounge. We can provide instructions, tools and yarn.
If you knit or crochet but don't want to get involved with a commitment to a meeting -- we would welcome any prayer shawls you would like to make. Everyone who receives one is so appreciative. Please contact Mary Benak at 402-733-8451 or via email at mbenak@cox.net if you are interested.
COFFEE AND TREATS
Join us for Coffee and sweet treats after the 8:00 a.m. Mass every second Thursday of the month.
PRAYER LINE MINISTRY
The prayer line offers an opportunity to pray for requested special prayers promptly for fellow parishioners, family and friends. There is much need for prayer for many different reasons. Special prayers for our Military are also always needed. Please consider becoming part of the Prayer Line Ministry. Please call Betty Rezek at 402-734-2531 or Patty Pogge at 402-733-8234 to request instant prayer for those in need.
PATRIOTIC ROSARY
The Rosary at 4:20 p.m. before the 5 p.m. Mass on Saturday's will be for the intention of vocations. We are praying the patriotic rosary every Monday night at 6:30 p.m. in the church. We are praying for the conversion of our country.
We will be praying our Parish Rosary for world peace, the peace our nation needs for the very survival which is now dying for lack thereof. We pray for people in Ukraine and those effected by war. We will be praying on Monday night at 6:30 p.m. in the church.
- The Legion of Mary, Holy Ghost & St. Bernadette Parish Family
ST. BERNADETTE FINANCIALS
NO FINANCIAL UPDATE AVAILABLE THIS WEEK
Weekly Needs: $13,585.00
Collection: $40,666.33
YTD Needs: $225,895.00
YTD Collection: $213,849.95
Shortage: $12,045.05
Ushers and Gift Bearers:
We are grateful to bring back the practice of gifts being brought up to the altar by Gift bearers at the offertory and the offering being collected by Ushers. Please prayerfully consider if you will help in either of these two ministries.
Email Kathy Schulte at tkschulte10@gmail.com or call 402-731-3599.
Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024
8:00 a.m. + Larry Rosenthal + Sorensen Family
Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024
8:00 a.m. + Ed Peabody + Jamie Gutschow
Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024
5:00 p.m. + Catherine & Charles Hertzig + Joseph Circo
Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024
11:00 a.m. +Parishioners of Holy Ghost & St. Bernadette
SATURDAY, NOV. 2 - 5:00 P.M.
Lector: Juan Jesus
EMHC: Jerry & Chris Ortner
Altar Servers: Josie Chandler
SUNDAY, NOV. 3 - 11:00 A.M.
Lector:
EMHC: Barb Slaven, Kathy Wichita
Altar Servers: Barb Slaven, Kathy Wichita
PLEASE NOTE THAT IF YOU ARE SCHEDULED AND CANNOT MAKE YOUR SCHEDULED TIME, YOU WILL NEED TO FIND A SUB.
Today kicks off National Vocation Awareness Week. Vocation Awareness Week is an annual week-long celebration dedicated to promoting vocations to the priesthood, consecrated life, and sacramental marriage through prayer and education. It is a time set aside by the bishops in the United States to renew our prayers and support for those who are considering one of these particular vocations.
To celebrate the week, St Bernadette School will have ArchO seminarian Kyle Wozniak speak to them, as well as the School Sisters from Christ the King from the Lincoln diocese.
The 31 Club will also be renewed for the year. Students will be mailing postcards to all of our ArchO seminarians and will receive bookmarks with a daily vocation prayer, “Three Hail Mary’s to Know My Vocation”.
In the next few weeks, other school activities from this special week will also be highlighted. Please pray for our school students and children from our parish family to have open hearts to hear their true calling.
Are you open to being led by the Holy Spirit into the state in life God has prepared for you? If you are in need of resources for marriage or considering a vocation to the priesthood or consecrated life, please contact Father Boyd or email: vocations@archomaha.org.
The following parishioners of St. Bernadette are now or recently have been in the hospital or are having health issues and in need of our prayers. May these parishioners and all from our Parish Family who suffer from health issues find strength and the healing presence of God.
We need your help in keeping our church prayer list up to date. Please let us know if someone needs to be added or removed from the list.
You can contact the office at 402-731-4694 or email tristenriha@gmail.com
Cheryl Adamson, Annabelle Berrera, Rick Becerra, Elle Burgess, Alfonso Calderon, Leonardo Clymer, Kathi Ciurej, John Cunningham, Charlotte & Dominic Cullenward, Donna Dailey, Kathleen Devlin, Mike Digilio, Kelly Dix, Margaret Eipperle, Norma Flores, Juanice Furmanski, Louise LaFramboise, Adam Gutierrez, Josephine Gutierrez, Michelle Gutierrez, Lisa Hargis, Jeanette Hauptman, Barbara Jansen, Margie Janssen, Carol Johnson, Carol Jura, Olga Kanne, Phyllis Knicky, Connie Kleber, Donna Kubiak, Donna Krysl, John Kwapnioski, Terry Lampe, Jan Lampe, Michael Macdonald, Marge Monaco, Mark Maeder, Steve Maguire, Fr. Robert Matya, Edwin Maslonka, Lisa Meier, Carol McDaniel, Leonard Meier, The Meyer Family, Joel Rivera, Blanche Murphy, Charles Murphy, Sue Novotny, Maryn Page, Ellen Pankievicz, Ella Peters, Jonathan Perez, Rita Perito, Keelan Phillips, Joe Pitman, Jennifer Pryjmak, Jann Reinig, Betty Rodgers, Jodi Ronnfeldt, Joyce Salvatori, Kelly Burkhardt Sheard, Fred Sokol, JoAnn Simoens, Debbie Schumacher, Isabella Sterba, Pam Stein, David Virgilito, Hope Wicken, Mark White, Michael Winter, Claire Winter, Theresa Yost, and Annabella Zyla.
COMMUNITY NEWS & EVENTS
Three-Day Women’s Ignatian Retreat
Come away to the silence. Renew and center yourself before the holiday preparations begin. Steep yourself in God’s love as you contemplate resting in Him, “For He is Gentle and Humble of Heart”. Lori Stevens will present reflections for you to sink into a deeper conversation with God through Ignatian Contemplation. This 3-day silent retreat offers abundant time for enjoying the rhythms of quiet reflection and prayer, wandering in nature, and journaling. There will also be opportunities to celebrate the Eucharist, meet with a spiritual director and participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Meals as well as the rest of the days will be in prayerful silence.
Join us November 7-10, 2024 at the Creighton University Retreat Center near Griswold, IA one hour east of Omaha.
Retreat cost $425, beginning Thursday with check-in 4:00-5:00 p.m. concluding Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
Registration required at Creighton.edu/CURC
SUBMIT YOUR
GOOD NEWS!
DO YOU HAVE GOOD NEWS TO SHARE? WE WANT TO HEAR ABOUT IT.
Have a story idea or suggestion? Need to tell us about an important event? Celebrating a special achievement, a wedding anniversary, baptism, birth of a child or grandchildren or another special occasion?
We want to hear about it so we can share it in The Olive Branch. Tell us all the details by sending them to: theolivebranchweekly@gmail.com
Please have submissions to us no later than 5:00 p.m. on Thursday of each week.
PARISHIONER SPOTLIGHT
Know of a parishioner or volunteer who is doing great things for our parish communities? Tell us about it. Nominate them to be featured in The Olive Branch Weekly!
Please send us the following information:
• Full Name
• Photo of the nominee (relevant to the work they might do for our parish communities)
• A brief description of the work, time, talents or gifts they have shared with our parish communities.
• Nominator contact information so that we may reach out should we need additional information.
Please send your nominations to theolivebranchweekly@gmail.com
Please have submissions to us no later than 5:00 p.m. on Thursday of each week.
HELP US KEEP OUR
RECORDS UPDATED
Did you recently move? Did your address change? Do you have a new phone number or email address? Help us update our records! Please call our parish offices and let us know, so that we can update our information.
If you would like to receive parish emails from St. Bernadette, please call 402-731-4694 or email tristenriha@gmail.com at the parish office. Thank you!
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED AT SOUTH VIEW HEIGHTS ASSISTED LIVING
Volunteering Opportunity
The Legion of Mary at St Bernadette’s is looking for volunteers to help at South View Assisted Living. If you are a talker or a listener or if you love to play cards and games, you can share your talents and brighten someone’s day.
For more information, please call:
Patty Pogge, Activities, Omaha Nursing at (402) 681-7331.
SPIRITUAL CARE VOLUNTEERS
Volunteering Opportunity
Nebraska Medicine is looking for Spiritual Care volunteers to offer our Catholic patients Holy Communion (EMHC) at the Nebraska Medicine 42nd Street Campus location.
Please contact Patty Ostronic, Volunteer Services at 402-559-4162 or postronic@nebraskamed.com to learn more about how to become a volunteer at Nebraska Medicine.