The Epiphany of the Lord - January 7, 2018

Transcription

1 The Epiphany of the Lord - January 7, Addison Street, Berkeley, CA Phone (510) Fax (510) info@stjosephtheworkerchurch.org STAFF Rev. Kenneth Nobrega In Residence: Rev. Raphael Okitafumba Deacon José Manuel Pérez, Permanent Deacon Eddie Valladao, Sacristan Gloria Maldonado, Parish Secretary, Safe Environment Coordinator Elizabeth Oishi Comly, Parish Events Coordinator MONDAY-SATURDAY Mass: 9:00 am SUNDAY Mass: 8:00 am Confessions: 9:45 am Mass: 10:00 am Mass: (Spanish) 11:30 am WEDNESDAY EVENING Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament: 6:00 pm 7:00 pm Confessions: 6:00 pm 6:45 pm MINISTRIES Baptism/Bautismos Deacon José Manuel Pérez Platicas: Los domingos. Para otro dia llamar a la oficina. Lectors/Lectores Chris Notti (English) Erika Guerrero (Español) Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion Tita Brodt (English) Ruben Araujo (Español) PARISH OFFICE HOURS Tuesday thru Friday 9:00 am 6:00 pm (Closed 12 Noon 1:00 pm for lunch)

2 + + St. Joseph the Worker Beautiful Prayer - Reconciliation - Healing Masses, January 7, :00am Fr. Raphael Okitafumba 10:00am Fr. Kenneth Nobrega 11:30am (Spanish) Fr. Hugo Franca TODAY S READINGS First Reading You shall be radiant at what you see, your heart shall throb and overflow (Isaiah 60:1-6). Psalm Lord, every nation on earth will adore you (Psalm 72). Second Reading The Gentiles are copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6). All kings shall pay him homage, all nations shall serve him. Psalm 72:11 SAINTS AND SPECIAL OBSERVANCES Sunday: The Epiphany of the Lord; National Migration Week Monday: The Baptism of the Lord Tuesday: First Week in Ordinary Time begins Saturday: St. Hilary; Blessed Virgin Mary The New Year s Resolution of a Saint Gospel The magi were overjoyed at seeing the star (Matthew 2:1-12). Have a Special Prayer Request? You can easily place a special prayer request thru our new St. Joseph the Worker Parish APP on your mobile device. Our APP name is: SJW Berkeley Would you like to have a Mass offered in honor or memory of someone? It is easy, stop by our parish office or Gloria Maldonado, our parish secretary at: gloria@stjosephtheworkerchurch.org If you have a particular date in mind, let us know and we will try and accommodate you. The suggested donation is $ MASS INTENTIONS Sunday January 7th 8:00 am For SJWC Parishioners 10:00 am Betty Dale 11:30 am Jaramillo Family Monday January 8th 9:00 am Jessica & Adrian Jaramillo St. Gemma Galgani "During this new year, I resolve to begin a new life. I do not know what will happen to me during this year. But I abandon myself entirely to you, my God. And my aspirations and all my affections will be for You. I feel so weak, dear Jesus, but with Your help I hope and resolve to live a different life, that is, a life closer to You." (Written New Year s Eve, ) Tuesday January 9th 9:00 am Ivan Jaramillo Wednesday January 10th 9:00 am Betty Dale Thursday January 11th 9:00 am Betty Dale Friday January 12th 9:00 am Betty Dale Saturday January 13th 9:00 am Stafan Hemmerich

3 THIS WEEK AT ST. JOSEPH THE WORKER On Wednesday Evenings Holy Hour, Confessions and Rosary Prayer Group Every Wednesday evening we have Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament from 6:00 7:00pm with Confessions available from 6:00 6:45pm. The Rosary & Devotion Prayer Group meets at 7:00pm following the Holy Hour. All are welcome. Sant Egidio Community The Community of Sant Egidio meets every Thursday at 7:00pm for prayer in our church chapel. All are invited to join for prayer and for some Christian fellowship. Asking Our Blessed Mother for help Do you ever feel like you could use some help approaching God in your prayers? The Memorare is a prayer that reminds us that we have a wonderful advocate and protector in the mother of our Lord, the Blessed Virgin Mary. In our prayers to her we honor and worship her Son, who is more than happy to listen to His mother s pleas on our behalf. The Memorare, printed below, invites us to ask the Blessed Mother for her assistance and her grace, especially when we feel most troubled in our daily lives. PARISH OFFICE HOURS Gloria Maldonado, our office secretary is ready to welcome and assist our parishioners and visitors. St. Joseph the Worker Parish Office Hours are from Tuesday thru Friday 9:00am to 6:00pm (closed noon to 1:00pm for lunch). A prayer to St. Rita When In Special Need O powerful St. Rita, rightly called Saint of the Impossible, I come to you with confidence in my great need. You know well my trials, for you yourself were many times burdened in this life. Come to my help, speak for me, pray with me, intercede on my behalf before the Father. I know that God has a most generous heart and that he is a most loving Father. Join your prayers to mine and obtain for me the grace I desire (here mention your request). Memorare REMEMBER, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly to thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee do I come; before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen. Draw closer to God You who were so very pleasing to God on earth and are so much so now in heaven, I promise to use this favor, when granted, to better my life, to proclaim God's mercy, and to make you more widely known and loved. Amen. Pray the Rosary

4 "The Epiphany of the Lord" Today we celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord. Epiphany comes from a Greek verb meaning to reveal, and all of the various events celebrated by the Feast of the Epiphany are revelations of Christ to all humankind. Epiphany is traditionally and actually on January 6, but a number of years ago the Bishops in the United States moved it to the Sunday which falls between January 2 and 8. Many have heard of the 12 days of Christmas. They begin with Christmas Day and end on January 6, Epiphany. are to do more than just receive the light. We are to share it and reflect it. In our terms it is as if the Lord said Rise and shine; your light has come. That is what we mean when we say we are called. We are called to be disciples and to be the Light of Christ for those around us. Of course, our readings on this solemnity all refer to the Epiphany as we know it the time that the divinity of Jesus was revealed, made manifest, to the entire world, not just Israel and the Jewish people. The world is represented by the three magi the wise men as most of us know them. They came from the east and were, like most of us, Gentiles. In the First Reading from Isaiah the prophet speaks of what will happen centuries later after the birth of Christ. There are two strong references to the story of the Magi with which we are so familiar. Isaiah declares, Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you. We often speak of the Light of Christ, and often He is portrayed in art sort of glowing or with a light on His face. In addition, we have the light of the star which led the Magi to Him so they could worship Him. The images we have of them are influenced by Isaiah, when he says, Caravans of camels shall fill you, dromedaries from Midian and Ephah; all from Sheba shall come bearing gold and frankincense, and proclaiming the praises of the Lord. Therefore, today we celebrate receiving God s light. But there is more to it than that. The First Reading opens with Rise up in splendor Your light has come. We In his letter to the Ephesians, our Second Reading, Saint Paul speaks of the revelations which this day represents. Paul points out that it had been revealed to us; a revelation is an epiphany. What is revealed? Exactly what Isaiah speaks of in the fact that Christ and His Divinity are revealed to the whole world. And what is the key to this revelation? The fact that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. Paul also says in relation to the divinity of the Lord, the mystery was made known to me by revelation. We need to appreciate that what we translate as mystery is from the Greek word used by Paul mysterion. For us a mystery may represent something dark or obscure or incomprehensible. However, that is not the meaning of mysterion. It is more accurately translated as a now-open secret, something originally hidden, but now revealed by God. CONTINUED -->

5 The Epiphany of the Lord Continued There are certain passages in Holy Scripture almost universally known, and certainly well known to even a lukewarm Christian. The story of the Magi, the wise men or the three kings, falls into that category. As Matthew shares it in today s Gospel, they were magi from the east. At no time does Matthew tell us there were three of them nor does he indicate that they are kings. Most likely, according to scholars, they were astronomers or astrologers, thus their knowledge of and fascination with the star which led them. Who they were and how many of them there were is not important. What is important is that they represent all of us, and their actions suggest to us how we need to respond to Jesus Christ and what He is and represents. Holy Scripture is filled with subtleties we sometimes miss. Matthew tells us that on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. Joseph is evidently not present, and there is a reason for that. He was not, as we know, the true father to Jesus. They presented gifts to Jesus, not to His mother or His parents. When we give to Jesus today, we do not do it directly, but to the Lord s people through the parish and other charities. Finally these visitors worshipped the Lord ( They prostrated themselves and did him homage. ). We, too, need to worship the Lord; we, too, need to acknowledge His holiness and His kingship. Worshipping is more important than the gifts, but we are reminded in this Gospel that both are significant. Pray Together Every Evening The family that prays together stays together. ~ Fr. Patrick Peyton, C.S.C. Everyone s heard Fr. Peyton s famous quote, The family that prays together stays together. St. John Paul II often repeated it, and it s been displayed on billboards throughout the country. As clichéd as the saying s become, it rings true. We need to ask ourselves, Do we pray together as a family? This means more than just prayers before meals or attending Mass together. Praying as a family can be as simple as gathering in the evening shortly before everyone is ready to retire for the day and offer spontaneous petitions or gratitude to God. It can be as formal as sharing a Rosary or Divine Mercy chaplet. You can come up with what works for you as a family, where you are in your state in life. If you re in the phase of toting everyone to and from sports or music practices, then pray in the car on the way home. Pop in a CD with an inspirational talk, maybe from Lighthouse Catholic Media or Catholic Answers. Then discuss it. There are many ways to pray. It s mostly about making this a habit, that is, practicing communal prayer on a daily basis if possible. By Jeannie Ewing

6 Dear Visitors and Guests: Our basic mission at St. Joseph the Worker is to offer God's people beautiful liturgies, healing & reconciliation. If you have been blessed by your visit to St. Joseph, please consider blessing our parish with a gift. Through generous donations by faithful people like yourself, we intend on restoring this historic church back to its former glory, little by little. Illuminate our church with devotion and prayers. You can make a safe, fast and easy one (1) time donation or a recurring donation with the ease of your smart phone through PUSHPAY. Follow these steps below: Step 1) Enter the number: Step 2) Enter the letters SJW in the message section. Your votive candle is a silent but visible sign of prayer and devotion. Need A New Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation or Marriage Certificate? Sacramental certificates from St. Joseph the Worker can be obtained from our parish office usually within one or two business days. We kindly ask for a $25 donation for each requested certificate which will go towards the support of St. Joseph the Worker Church. Please contact Gloria Maldonado our parish secretary at (510) or gloria@stjosephtheworkerchurch.org St. Joseph the Worker Parish App Connect and engage with our St. Joseph the Worker parish app (sjw-berkeley). You will be able to fill out prayer request cards, Give, access parish bulletin, find Mass & Confession times and more! + + St. Joseph the Worker Beautiful Liturgy - Reconciliation - Healing Why Light a Votive Candle? A Votive Light is a "silent sentinel" and can burn for your special intentions or for someone who is in need of prayers. This is a thoughtful expression of your sentiments and best wishes for any occasion. Your Votive Light can be an act of faith and charity - the light is a symbol of the sacrifice you have made in behalf of someone else - and it is a silent reminder of your prayers for them. Unlike a regular purchase, a votive candle donation is an "offering" made to God through the intercession of the Saints which also helps support our St. Joseph the Worker Church's mission of beautiful liturgies, reconciliation and healing. Your prayerful votive offerings are "lighting up" our church with beauty and prayer. Thank you, and may God bless you.

7 Prayer to St. Joseph to Obtain a Conversion A PRAYER FOR A CURE O glorious patriarch St. Joseph, who merited to be called "just" by the Holy Ghost, I urgently recommend to the soul of [Name], which Jesus redeemed at the price of His Precious Blood. Thou knowest how deplorable is the state and how unhappy the life of those who have banished this loving Savior from their hearts, and how greatly they are exposed to the danger of losing Him eternally. Permit not, I beseech thee, that a soul so dear to me should continue any longer in its evil ways; preserve it from the danger that threatens it; touch the heart of the prodigal child and conduct him back to the bosom of the fondest of fathers. Abandon him not, I implore thee, till thou hast opened to him the gates of the Heavenly city, where he will praise and bless thee throughout eternity for the happiness which he will owe to thy powerful intercession. Amen Gentle Jesus, who cured the sick and laid a healing hand upon the lame, the blind and the handicapped, look with compassion upon me in my suffering. If it is not your Will to cure me, then give me strength to bear my burden and offer it up to You. You suffered so much for me. Give me grace to offer my sufferings in union with Your own, in reparation for my sins and those of others, for the needs of this troubled world, and for the release of the souls in purgatory. St. Joseph, friend of the Sacred Heart, pray for us. Mary, compassionate Mother, pray for your weary child. Health of the Sick, Comforter of the Afflicted, pray for me. Amen.

8 The Power of Silence Pay attention, O Job, listen to me; Keep silent, and let me speak...listen to me; Keep silent, and I will teach you wisdom. - Job 33:31-33 but are instead a disadvantage. This discomfort is actually a great fruit of silence. It's not a sign that you shouldn't be silent, it's s sign that you're doing it right and that you need more. So don't give up when you feel this challenge. Instead, be encouraged that each time you come to the Lord in silence, you will recognize your value more truly and deeply. This will put all your busyness in perspective and rather than making your life and your activities less important, it will give them a deeper importance--an importance that comes with understanding them as part of your invitation to live out your life in service of our God and our brothers and sisters in our little way. Catherine Birri How do you make time for silence in your day? TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION We have so many questions and concerns in our lives. Pains, joys, fears rush through our hearts and our minds at dizzying speeds. God has answers. God has peace. Yes, we must bring all these things to Him, but so often we bring them in an explosion of intentions that requires no response. But Our Lord is a teacher--he needs us to be attentive students. Only then will we recognize the subtlties of the graces and fruits that we are given through all our experiences. Only then will we see the hand of God in every joy and every sorrow. This does not mean we should not pour out our hearts to God, but we receive the answers and understanding we seek-- we receive the lessons and the fruits--in moments of silence. Retiring into silence and solitude, man, so to speak, is exposed to reality in his nakedness - Pope Benedict Often times we have a love-hate relationship with our "busyness." It is a source of anxiety. It makes us feel restless, exhausted, preoccupied, overwhelmed. But, it also makes us feel important, needed, and productive. When we step away from busyness, we can be struck by the littleness of our days and our responsibilities. We can suddenly feel unimportant or insignificant. This is uncomfortable and humbling. On top of that, we feel like we don't know "what to do" in silence. At least when we're busy, we're "in our element" and "successful." We have our tools and our powers. These are all stripped from us in silence--they don't represent an advantage, Where on earth would you go to honor the magi? Iran or Saudi Arabia, Tarshish or the Isles come to mind, but Cologne, Germany would be a good choice. There the Shrine of the Three Kings has been the centerpiece of the city s cathedral since the fourth century. Today it is the largest reliquary in the world: a gilded and ornamented triple casket gleaming high above the altar. In the fourth century, the supposed relics of the wise men were taken from Constantinople to Milan, where they remained until the German Emperor with the unlikely name Frederick Barbarossa (Red Beard) gave them to the Archbishop of Cologne. Ever since, pilgrims have streamed into the city to honor the magi, the first of all pilgrims, and thus the heavenly patrons of all who have some holy wanderlust. This largest Gothic cathedral in Europe today was begun in the mid-1200s to house the relics. In medieval times, the relics in a city s possession were often the key to a sound international economy. The reliquary was last opened in 1864, and the remains of three men were indeed discovered. The cathedral is well worth a visit, with enormous twin spires forming the largest façade of any church in the world (it is the model for St. Patrick s in New York). Construction began in 1248 and ended in 1880, a sixhundred-year project. Today, it is a World Heritage Site, described by the U.N. as an exceptional work of human creative genius. This great treasure of our tradition suffered fourteen direct bomb hits in World War II but did not collapse. It survived while the city burned around it, preserved, the townspeople say, by three heavenly patrons. Rev. James Field, Copyright J. S. Paluch Co Addison Street, Berkeley, CA Phone: (510) Fax: (510) info@stjosephtheworkerchurch.org