Epiphany of the Lord. Saint Ignatius of Antioch. The Roman Catholic Church of. I am the wheat of God. I must become the pure bread of Christ.

Transcription

1 The Roman Catholic Church of Saint Ignatius of Antioch JANUARY 4, 2015 THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD I am the wheat of God. I must become the pure bread of Christ. St. Ignatius of Antioch Rev. Joseph A. Pellegrino, Pastor 715 East Orange Street Tarpon Springs, Florida Mass Schedule: Saturday.4:00 and 6:30 p.m. (Fulfills Sunday Obligation) Sunday.7:30, 9:00, 11:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Life Teen Daily...7:30 a.m. & 9:00 a.m. Schedule of Confessions: Saturday...3:00-3:45 p.m. and after 6:30 p.m. Mass PARISH OFFICE Main office ext. 201 Rev. Joseph A. Pellegrino Rev. Kevin Molloy Rev. Justin Paskert Deacon Samuel Moschetto Deacon John Edgerton Ron Appel, Parish Manager Katherine Creamer, Office Mgr Lorna Moffitt, Parish Mgr Asst. Eldean Jenkins, Facilities Mgr. Anne Harman, Music Director ext.209 ext.208 ext.207 ext.210 ext.222 ext.215 ext.201 ext.203 ext.201 ext.206 FAITH FORMATION Rev. Justin Paskert- Director Fran Morin, Pre K 8th Grade Evangelization & Spirituality Katie Napolitano Laura Margarella, Caritas ext.207 ext.220 ext.224 ext.221 YOUTH MINISTRY Life Teen - High School Bart Kovacic, Life Teen The Edge - Middle School Jen McIlveen, Edge ext.246 ext.210 EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER Sharon Stokely, Director ext.225 GUARDIAN ANGELS SCHOOL Mrs. Cindy Malinski, Principal UPPER PINELLAS PREGNANCY CENTER Mary Caesar Parish Office Fax Office kcreamer@ignatius.net Parish Website Epiphany of the Lord Miraculous Medal Devotion: Before 9 a.m. Mass each Wednesday Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament: Thursdays after 9 a.m. Mass until 10:15 a.m. First Friday of Month 9:30 a.m. until 9 p.m. Baptism: Please call the Parish Office Marriage: Call Parish at least 6 months in advance. Holy Orders: Please call Rev. Carl Melchior at

2 MASS INTENTIONS SATURDAY JANUARY 3 4:00 p.m. Special Intentions of the St. Ignatius Women s Council 6:30 p.m. + Mary Greene SUNDAY JANUARY 4 7:30 a.m. For an End to Abortions 9:00 a.m. For the People of Our Parish 11:30 a.m. + Henry Horak 6:00 p.m. + Angela Finetti MONDAY JANUARY 5 7:30 a.m. + Patrick Carroll 9:00 a.m. + Lawrence Lindsey TUESDAY JANUARY 6 7:30 a.m. + Barbara Albery 9:00 a.m. + Karen Clarke 10:30 a.m. + Helen Henry WEDNESDAY JANUARY 7 7:30 a.m. Vocations to the Priesthood & Religious Life 9:00 a.m. + Emilio Riera THURSDAY JANUARY 8 7:30 a.m. + Maria Picinic 9:00 a.m. + Lucille Desaulniers FRIDAY JANUARY 9 7:30 a.m. + Ralph & Lilly Barnhorn 9:00 a.m. Special Intentions of The Kochenour Family SATURDAY JANUARY 10 9:00 a.m. Special Intentions of Allen Zimmet BAPTISM OF THE LORD JANUARY 11, 2014 SATURDAY JANUARY 10 4:00 p.m. + Peggy Vacketta 6:30 p.m. + Edward D Ettore SUNDAY JANUARY 11 7:30 a.m. + Thomas, Jude Joseph & Andrew Panik 9:00 a.m. For the People of Our Parish 11:30 a.m. + David Wisotsky 6:00 p.m. + Rick Langlois If you wish to have a Mass said for special intentions or for deceased members of your family or friends please stop by the parish office between 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. weekdays. PAGE 2 JANUARY 4, 2015 The Mystery of Inclusion It was a mystery. It was a truth hidden for the ages. It was revealed to Paul. No one would have ever heard of it, least of all Paul in the days when he was Saul of Tarsus, pharisee and persecutor of anything that did not appear to be thoroughly Hebrew. But the mystery was in Sacred Scripture. It is just that no one understood the meaning of the verses. The mystery was this: all the peoples of the world would be included in God s great promise to the Jews. Jews and Greeks, all people, would be co-heirs in Jesus Christ. They could have found this in scripture, though. Isaiah said in today s first reading that all nations would walk in the light of Jerusalem. Kings would come bearing gifts of gold and frankincense and proclaim the praises of the Lord. And Kings did come. Magi from the East appeared with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. They prostrated themselves before Jesus, and did Him homage. They were fulfilling the Old Testament prophecy. The Gospel of Luke often addresses the place of the gentiles in Christianity, making the point that a good gentile can become a good Christian. But today s reading isn t from the Gospel of Luke. It is from the Gospel of Matthew, the gospel written to show that in Jesus we find the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophesies. This wasn t about the worthiness of the gentiles. It was about God s plan being revealed. If this was a mystery to Paul and the other Jews, it was because they never fathomed the depth of God s love for mankind. They never understood the mystery of inclusion. Perhaps the mystery of inclusion eludes many of us. We speak about our oneness in Christ, but we still have a temptation to consider some people as lesser members of His Body. For example, we are inclined to see those with cultures different than ours as less Christian than us. This was the huge mistake of the past centuries when missionaries tried to turn the people of Asia, Africa and America into European Christians. But we don t have to go to the past or to other lands to find people who might rightly feel excluded from the Church, or at least feel that they are lesser Christians. Who are those people who might feel excluded from the Church? Perhaps, people in second or third marriages who need to have their first marriages annulled and their present marriages convalidated. Many times these people have mistakenly thought that they were no longer part of the Church, even using the term excommunicated. They are wrong. It takes a lot of bad stuff to get excommunicated, like killing a bishop, or giving sacramental forgiveness to a partner in crime, or coming to Church sick and giving Fr. Joe the flu. (Just kidding on that one). People who have heard the call to come home to their Catholic faith, should be welcomed into the sacramental life of the Church. It may take a bit of time to set their marriages straight, but it is time well spent if they know that the Lord is sacramentally present in their love. Some people who feel excluded are those who have suffered the trauma of an abortion. Two weeks from now we will remember the grim anniversary of Roe vs Wade. Many will come to Church that weekend and will be upset by the reminder of abortion in their own lives. Whatever degree of culpability they may have had, and that is not as great for those who were forced into an abortion by those they respected, the reminder of Roe vs Wade will make them feel that they should not be here. If you or anyone you know and love have suffered the trauma of abortion, you need to know that you do belong here. In fact, we need you to support life, protect the unborn, and keep others from suffering as you have suffered.

3 THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD Perhaps there are some who feel excluded due to their sexual orientation. They should not be. A man once told me in confession that he was a homosexual doing his best to live a moral life. I responded that I was a heterosexual doing my best to live a moral life. That didn t make me better than him or him better than me. It just meant that both of us are doing our best to live our faith. Sadly, many Catholics assume that because someone is gay that he or she is acting immorally. No one has the right to make that assumption, just as no one has the right to assume that all heterosexuals live immorally until they marry, and then become discreet about their immorality. A number of years ago a couple asked me to prepare them for marriage even though they had begun preparation with another priest in another parish. He had insulted them by assuming that they were living together, just because they were at the same college. The young lady said to the priest, No, we are not living together. We are getting married so we can live together, and then walked out of his office, rightly so. When we make judgements on other peoples lives, we are excluding them from the heart of the Church. Actually, by making those judgments, we are excluding ourselves. Perhaps some feel excluded because they feel that they are more conservative than everyone around them, or more liberal than everyone around them. There is no liberal or conservative with Jesus Christ. Was St. John Paul II conservative? He gave talks on the theology of the body; he spoke about the rights of workers; he spoke abut the responsibility of the well off to care for those who had less; he spoke about the insanity of all wars. Those are not conservative positions. Was he liberal then? He spoke about the importance of celibacy in the clergy, about ordination being reserved for males, about devotion to the rosary and traditional pious practices, about respect for those in religious authority, and other positions that would not be considered liberal. There is no conservative or liberal in Christ. There is just charity for all. The Church cannot be the Body of Christ unless it is open to all people. Each person is unique. Each person adds to the strength of the Body. Perhaps there are some elements of the secret that is still hidden: no one is to be excluded from Christ. What St. Paul says about the gentiles refers to all people of whatever background, experience, orientation, or what have you: We are all co-heirs, members of the same body, and co-partners in the same promise of Christ Jesus through the gospel. I am tired of people using religion as an excuse to look down on other people. And I am frustrated at the times that I have done this myself. The Solemnity of the Epiphany teaches us this: There is no us and them in Jesus Christ. There is only one big us, an us that includes all people, everywhere. Yours in Christ, Festival of Lessons and Carols Come join our Music Ministry as they present Festival of Lessons and Carols On Tuesday, January 6th at 7:30 p.m. This event is free. All are Welcome Join us next Sunday, January 11th from 8 a.m. 1 p.m. One pint goes a long way!!! ELIJAH CUP PRAYER PARTNERS NEEDED! Join us in our Prayer Program for Vocations. At a Mass of their choosing, participants receive a Mass Chalice in their home for a week to pray for vocations. For more details and information please contact Deacon John at jedgerton@ignatius.net. or sign the Elijah Cup Book in the front of the Church.

4 PAGE 4 JANUARY 4, 2015 Adult Confirmation Class We will be offering preparation classes to any Catholic adults who have not yet received the beautiful Sacrament of Confirmation. This five week class is open to any Catholic adult (senior in high school or older), who has already been baptized and received First Communion. Classes will be held on Thursday nights from 7 p.m. 9 p.m. beginning January 15th. For more information and to register, please contact Katie at x224 or knapolitano@ignatius.net. Wedding Jubilee Mass This Mass of Thanksgiving with Bishop Robert Lynch honors couples who will celebrate 25, 50 or more years of marriage this year. Sunday, February 8th at 3 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. Jude A light reception will follow. You must pre-register by contacting our parish office no later than Monday, January 19th. Respect Life Gathering New Members, Young Adults, & Parishioners You are invited to a Respect Life Ministry Gathering Father Justin Paskert will be our speaker. Thursday, January 15 th 7 p.m. in room 2 Food & Drink and Learning provided!! January Food Drive This Month s Food Collection will be one week earlier January 10th & 11th. Place non-perishable food items in the containers located in the Church. Some suggested items: CANNED MEATS, FRUIT, VEGETABLES, MACARONI (SPAGHETTIO S, RAVIOLI), LAUNDRY, DISH & BATH SOAP, TOILETRIES & PAPER TOWELS. Financial donations welcome. Whatever you do for the least of your brothers you do for me Word In Action THE GREAT ADVENTURE BEGINS AGAIN THE BIBLE TIME LINE RETURNING BY POPULAR DEMAND Presented by Deacon Sam Moschetto Do you have trouble reading the Bible? You are not alone. Most people begin in the Book of Genesis and read chapter after chapter and book after book. But something happens when they get to the Books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy - they lose the story line and they stop reading the Bible. The Bible Time Line approaches the Bible in such a way that you read it in chronological fashion so that the story continues on. You stay interested and you can remember the story of Salvation History. There are several study features that allow you to follow easily and with great interest. The students work with a Study Guide that explains the material for that lesson and a set of questions to aid the study. There is also a DVD presentation with Jeff Cavins who will reinforce what you learn. The whole program is 24 weeks long and will be presented in two stages - 12 sessions in the Spring of 2015 and the remaining 12 in the Fall. There are two options for attending a session - they are held twice on Thursdays both Mornings and Evenings. Sessions begin on January 8, Please fill out the registration form below, indicate your preference for mornings at 10:20 a.m. or Thursday evenings at 7 p.m. The sessions are one and a half hours long. Return the form with a check or cash to the Parish office. Checks can be made out to: St. Ignatius of Antioch Church REGISTRATION FORM: Name: Telephone: Session Desired: a.m. or p.m. Workbook Offering: $36.00 If you are a returning student and have a Study Guide book, please indicate here: Caritas Corner Flowers distributed this week at Florida Hospital North Pinellas by Caritas Volunteers were donated by Joan Black in memory of her beloved husband, Kermit, and wishing our priests and parishioners a holy, healthy and happy new year.

5 THE EPHIPHANY OF THE LORD PAGE 5 Little Rock Bible Study ST. MARK S GOSPEL, A LIVING MIRROR OF ST. PETER S PREACHING Beginning on Tuesday Evening, January 13 th and repeated on Wednesday Mornings, beginning January 14th, the Little Rock National Scripture Series presents the Gospel of Mark. He was not an Apostle but learned most of his knowledge of Jesus, as Lord and Savior, from St. Peter who used Mark as his interpreter among the Gentiles. Peter calls Mark his son (1 Pet.5:13) St. Paul also made use of Mark in his travels describing him as most useful in the spreading of the Gospel. (2 Tim. 4:11) Mark s Gospel is the central Gospel for the Church year 2015 after Christmas Season and after Lent and Easter. It is the shortest of the Gospels and often described as giving the most direct picture of Jesus with his whole teaching on death and resurrection and cross and Transfiguration. The Little Rock (diocese) Bible Study is not academic but rather its focus is helping us all learn the Lectio Divina method of praying the Scriptures.. You do not need to have been to any Bible Study or if you have, you will be always challenged to a closer relationship with the Lord who said: Heaven and earth will pass away but never my words. (Mk; 13:31) Additionally, we will feature homilies and talks from Pope Francis each week on what the Church teaches from Faith and Tradition. You do not have to attend our Sessions each week but it is recommended for you to see the Spirit speaking in Community through each one of us. Join Deacon John in this Journey of Faith! REGISTRATION: I wish to attend: Evening Sessions, Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Morning Sessions, Wednesdays at 10 a.m. All Sessions are 90 minutes; Sharing, Q&A, Wrap up and coffee plus served. Name: Address: Phone: Please make out check ($15) to St. Ignatius, Little Rock Bible (for 12 weeks of materials) If you would like a donation statement for your contributions for the year 2014 to the Church, please fill out this form and put in the collection basket or drop off at the Parish Office. Thank You. Name: Address: City: Zip Envelope # Guardian Angels School The application process for the school year will begin soon. Interested parents may pick up applications for enrollment in the parish office during regular office hours beginning January 5th. After meeting with the parish Pastor, the complete packet must be returned to Guardian Angels for processing. We invite you to come and see your parish school! All prospective families are invited to attend an Open House at Guardian Angels on Thursday, January 22nd from 8:30-10:00 a.m. or Wednesday, February 11th from 6:30-8:00 p.m. Come see why providing a Catholic education at Guardian Angels is the best choice for your child. Women s Council Meeting Our next meeting will be January 15th beginning with Rosary at 11:30 a.m. followed by lunch and a business meeting. Please follow these guidelines and have food in the kitchen by 11 a.m. A-E - Salads, Deviled Eggs F-J - Desserts, K-N - Rice, pasta, potatoes, O-R - Vegetables, S-Z - Meat, A business meeting will follow. Sunday Morning Breakfast in the Hall Join your Priests and Fellow Parishioners in supporting our Knights of Columbus Breakfast Fundraiser on Sunday January 18th from 8:00 a.m. 11:15 a.m. Full Breakfast of Pancakes, Eggs, Sausage, & drink $6 Adults / $4 Children / $20 Larger Family Or enjoy a Lite Breakfast of a Donut & drink for only $2.00 Fundraiser benefits the Youth of the Parish. Men s Free Health Screening Florida Hospital presents: Men s Only Morning The Game of Life: Stay in it to Win it! Saturday, January 24th 8:30 a.m. 1p.m. in our hall. Open to Men of All Ages! A free event with valuable health and educational information and resources will be available. Enjoy a continental breakfast, lecture, light lunch and raffle.

6 Events of the Week SUNDAY JANUARY 4 6:00 p.m. Life Teen Night (h) MONDAY JANUARY 5 10:00 a.m. Rosary Makers, Crafts & Srs (c2) 6:30 p.m. Girl Scout Junior Troop (c9) 6:30 p.m. Girl Scout Brownie Troop (c10) 7:00 p.m. Boy Scout Leader Mtg (c7&8) 7:00 p.m. RCIA Inquiry (Evang. Office) TUESDAY JANUARY 6 6:00 p.m. Girl Scout Leader Meeting (hall) 7:00 p.m. Close to Heart (Evang, Office) WEDNESDAY JANUARY 7 6:00 a.m. Brothers in Christ (h) 9:30 a.m. Mothers Morning Out (c8) 5:00 p.m. Faith Formation Grades 3-7 7:00 p.m. Faith Formation Grades 5-8 7:00 p.m. Adult Catechism (1) THURSDAY JANUARY 8 9:30 a.m. Mothers Morning Out (c8) 10:15 a.m. Word in Action (c2&3) 10:30 a.m. Close to Heart (Evang. Office) 7:00 p.m. Fr. Kevin s Class (h) 7:00 p.m. Word in Action (c2&3) FRIDAY JANUARY 9 6:30 p.m. Girl Scout Troop 1142 (c7) 7:00 p.m. Girl Scout Troop 1124 (c6) 7:00 p.m. Boy Scouts (c2,3,4) 7:00 p.m. Cub Scouts (c8-12) 7:00 p.m. Edge in the Youth House SATURDAY JANUARY 10 10:00 a.m. First Communion Penance Service in Church 10:00 a.m. Polish School (c7-12) 10:00 a.m. Divine Cenacle (c4) 11:00 a.m. Girl Scouts Mother /Daughter Tea (hall) CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE... ADULT CATHOLIC CATECHISM Our next meeting will be Wednesday, January 7th at 7 p.m. in classroom 1. Catechisms available. Contribution requested. For more information contact the Evangelization office or Christine at StIgCatechism@gmail.com. WOMEN OF GRACE Come join a growing number of women who have grown deeper in their faith and closer to one another as women of grace. Our next meeting is January 13th in the hall. For more information or to register, contact Teresa at or ignatiuswomen@yahoo.com BROTHERS IN CHRIST Come explore the Catholic faith in a fresh new way with an exciting new series titled Symbolon. A comprehensive study of the Catholic faith. Our new session begins Wednesday, Jan. 7th at 6 a.m. in the Hall. All men are welcome! Coffee & doughnuts served. For more information please contact: Jim Edmiston: or Geoff Kirby at CHECK IT OUT!!! WeShare is making our online giving system easier! We have switched to a new Online Giving system. This new program is easier to use and takes all cards including American Express (which we ve had many requests.) This program also integrates with our parish data program so donations are directly imported to your records. The old system will still be used but we encourage you try the new system. Links to the new system are on our church website at or simply use the QR code. Please call the office if you have any questions.