By KATHY BACHMAN
Herald Correspondent

The cookie walk and Christmas tree lighting will take place Sunday, Dec. 2.

The cookie walk will be from 8 a.m. to noon in the St. Celestine Dining Hall. You are invited to purchase cookies and treats by the pound.

Beginning at 3 p.m. there will be live Christmas music performances in downtown Celestine.  From 3 to 5 p.m. Linus Hagedorn will be back to give horse and wagon rides. At 5:30 p.m. Santa arrives to light the decorated Christmas tree in the center of town. Refreshments will be served in the St. Celestine Dining Hall. Immediately following the tree lighting there will be a drawing for a $100 gift card. You must be present to win.

Calendar benefits family

Congratulations to winners of the Celestine Christmas Committee Student Art Calendar Contest: Eva Neukam, Marcie Denu, Katelyn Keusch, Addison Elliott, Katlyn Johnson, Karsen Bieker, Shelby Kline, Landon Zenler, Paige Wildman, Emma Tretter, Lance Hanshaw, Madison Mickler and Ayane Mundy.

The winning artists will have their work featured in a special calendar. The calendars are available for $10 and will be available at the cookie walk on Sunday. All proceeds will benefit the Mark Gessner family for Mark’s future medical expenses.

Please email Joni Hopf at jonihopf@yahoo.com or call or text 812-661-0838 with questions.

Advent retreat

High school juniors and seniors, along with those to approximately age 22, are invited to attend the Young Adult Advent Retreat following the 8 a.m. Mass each Sunday during Advent. Refreshments or breakfast will be served.

On Sunday, Dec. 2, participants will make fresh Advent wreaths and on Sunday, Dec. 9, a fun activity will be featured.

Holiday food drive

The St. Raphael St. Vincent DePaul Society is holding its holiday food drive. Boxes for donations are located at the doors of St. Raphael’s Church. Monetary donations will be accepted and placed in the collection basket marked “St. Vincent DePaul-St. Raphael Food Drive.” Donations will be delivered to the Food Bank on Wednesday, Dec. 5. Your generosity is appreciated.

Christmas dinner

The St. Anne Christmas dinner and party of St. Isidore Parish will be held on Monday, Dec. 3, at the Celestine Community Club. Doors open at 6 p.m. The meal will be served at 6:30 p.m.

Holy Day Mass

The Feast of Immaculate Mary will be on Saturday, Dec. 8. Mass Times for the Holy Day of Obligation will be at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7 at St. Raphael Church and at 8 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 8, at St. Celestine Church.

‘Messiah’ concert

The Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus will present Handel’s “Messiah” at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Jasper. Tickets are $23 in advance at the St. Joseph Parish Office or $25 at the door.

Reconciliation

Several Reconciliation services will be held during Advent:

Sunday, Dec. 9: 4 p.m., St. Ferdinand.

Tuesday, Dec. 18: 6:30 p.m., St. Joseph, Jasper.

Wednesday, Dec. 19: noon, St. Joseph, Jasper.

All deanery parishioners are welcome to attend.

Christmas Masses

The Christmas Mass schedule for St. Isidore Parish is:

Monday, Dec. 24: 4 p.m., Christmas Eve Mass at St. Raphael.

Monday, Dec. 24: 5:30 p.m. Christmas Eve Mass at St. Celestine.

Monday, Dec. 24: 10 p.m., Christmas Eve Mass at St. Celestine.

Tuesday, Dec. 25: 9 a.m., Christmas Day Mass at St. Raphael.

Flower memorials

St. Isidore Christmas flower memorials are due to the parish office by Monday, Dec. 17.

K of C Christmas party

The Good Shepherd of the Hills will hold their Christmas party on Tuesday, Dec. 11, in the Happy Hour basement.  The Doors will open at 6 p.m. and dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m.

This party is the annual family Christmas dinner and social event for members, wives and their children. A free meal will be provided; please bring a dessert or snack. A jolly visitor will arrive at 7:15 p.m. and social time will follow. Feel free to bring a game or activity. RSVPs are requested to Tony Buechler by Friday, Dec. 7, by calling 812-389-2667 or emailing tony@tonybuechler.com. When responding, please note the ages and gender the children that will be attending.

K of C officer meeting

The next officer meeting will be Tuesday, Dec. 4, at 7 p.m. in the St. Celestine Dining Hall.

Feast of the Holy Family

Nativity displays will be set up on Sunday, Dec. 30, after the 8 a.m. Mass in the St. Celestine Dining Hall.

Everyone is invited for doughnuts, coffee and fellowship while viewing different Nativity scenes. There will also be a short talk on the meaning of the Holy Family.

We are in need of unique Nativity scenes for our displays. Contact Connie or the parish office if you have one you would like to share.

K of C Family of the Month

The Good Shepherd of the Hills K of C Council has nominated the Kenny and Norma Schnell family as the Family of the Month for December to thank them for their service to the Parish and the local community.

Celestine Distinguished Service Award

The Celestine Park Inc. will host the 27th annual Distinguished Service Award at a brunch on Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019, in the St. Celestine Dining Hall at 9 a.m., following Mass.

The Celestine Park Inc. would like to recognize individuals nominated by the community who have shown great commitment, pride and dedication. To nominate a Celestine resident, fill out a form and mail to: Celestine Park, Inc., Attention: DSA Chairman, P.O. Box 211, Celestine, IN 47521. Forms are available at St. Celestine Church entrances.

All nomination forms must be received no later than Monday, Jan. 14, 2019.

Past winners include Leonard Heeke, Loretta Humbert, Don Sander, Ottie Betz, Ron Sander, Barney Heldman, Ed Senninger, Mike Klem, Margaret Buechler, Art Kempf, Glenda Reckelhoff, Melvin Betz, Edwin Betz, Martha Goepfrich, Pat Hasenour, Clarence Buechler, Jim Sander, Jim Steffe, Joel Johnson, Emil Schroering, the Jim Hohler Family, Kenneth Schnell, Bob Schepers, Mary Ann Rasche and Allen Thewes.

Northeast Dubois Corp.

Dec. 22-Jan 1, 2019:Winter break, no school.

Jan. 2: No school or snow make-up day.

The Celestine Elementary School Christmas program for grades K-2 will be held in the middle school multi-purpose room at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec 4. Doors open at 6 p.m.

The Dubois Elementary School Christmas program for grades K-2 will be held in the middle school multi-purpose room at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 6. Doors open at 6 p.m.

The preschool Christmas program will be at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 11 in the middle school multi-purpose room.

Congratulations to the Beta Club convention winners who qualified for nationals in Oklahoma City in June. The winners are: Camryn Stemle, third in digital art; Olivia Schroering, second in drawing; Adi Prok, second in woodworking and third in creative writing; Evan Dunning, second in grade 12 math; Kaylie Bonifer, second in grade 11 science; Jared Young, second in grade 11 social studies; and Brenda Dubon, first in grade 12 Spanish.

Submitted items

Items for this column may be mailed to Kathy Bachman at 808 Eisenhower Ave., Jasper IN 47546; called to 812-482-2074; or emailed to kabachman@twc.com. Items need to be received by Wednesday night to be included in Friday’s column.