St. Rita School Celebrates ~ Catholic Schools Week

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2 JANUARY 28, 2018 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their kin, and will put my words into his mouth; he shall tell them all that I command him. Deuteronomy 18 Dear Parishioners and Friends, Have you ever wondered about the origin of the book of Deuteronomy? It is the fifth book found in the Christian Biblical Old Testament. It also referred to as one of the five books of the Hebrew Torah. The word "Deuteronomy" comes from the Greek word Deuternomian meaning the second law. But the original Hebrew title comes from the phrase Eleh ha-devarim. It means These are the words..." The word Torah can be interpreted to mean the law. But it is better understood as an arrow or finger pointing the way. This law or arrow or finger is God s word that speaks and points the direction we need to live. A famous passage from Deuteronomy 6:4, is in reference to the Shema Yisrael, the definitive statement of Jewish identity: "Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God, the LORD is one." The book of Deuteronomy contains the exhortations of Moses to the ancient Israelites on the plains of Moab to remain faithful to the law of God, and that the possession of the Promised Land depends on their faithfulness. Moses reminds them that even if they lose the land because of their lack of faithfulness, hope is not lost because God is merciful. Even in spite of future unfaithfulness, all can be restored. In the final chapters we learn of the Song of Moses, and the Blessing Moses gives in passing his leadership to Joshua. Moses never enters the Promised Land himself but does view it from a mountain. He then passes away and is buried in a nearby valley. Jesus was obviously familiar with the book of Deuteronomy because in the Gospel of Mark he quotes from it in chapter 12.:28-31 One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, Which commandment is the first of all? Jesus answered, The first is, Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these. The early Christian writers of the Gospel of Luke 1 2, and Acts 2 5, saw Jesus as the fulfillment of hopes and dreams expressed by Moses in the book of Deuteronomy. That is why the Gospel Vision description of Jesus Transfiguration on Mount Tabor with Moses and Elijah was so significant. Jesus is the definitive Son of God. He is God-incarnate, Godmade-flesh, and came not only for the fulfillment of the hopes and dreams of these great and significant prophets but also for the people of the whole world, including people from the past, present and the future... and us too! A bit of Deuteronomy to ponder! May God bless you! Fr. Gonyo * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * St. Rita School Celebrates ~ Catholic Schools Week This Sunday, January 28 to Friday, February 2 Please help us kick-off Catholic Schools Week at the 9:00am Mass this Sunday, January 28. Come to Mass and stay for Breakfast following Mass! All are invited. All are also invited to attend our School Mass on Tuesday, January 30 at 9:15am and are welcome to come over to tour the school after Mass to see for yourself what makes St. Rita School so different from other schools. We invite prospective families to: Visit our School on Tuesday, January 30 following Mass from 10:15-11:30am Registration for the school year begins on Thursday, February 1. St. Rita School offers PK3 & PK4 (half & full day programs) and full day Kindergarten through Grade 5. We offer a Before School Care Program which is available beginning at 7:00am and an After School Care Program which is available until 6:00pm. For more information please call the School Office at or go on-line to our website at sritadcs@dor.org

3 EUCHARIST INTENTIONS Among the intentions for those who gather for the Eucharist this week will be MONDAY, JANUARY 29, :15AM GLADYS HICKEY Patty & Joe Janiak TUESDAY, JANUARY 30, :15AM SPECIAL INTENTION FOR MICHAEL FULLER The Bell Family 9:15AM ST. RITA SCHOOL LITURGY - All are Welcome! For all of our Catholic School students, faculty, staff and families WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31, :15AM SHIRLEY ISAAC Alinda & Terry Palis THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, :15AM FR. FRED BUSH Patty & Joe Janiak FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2018 No Mass on Fridays SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3, :00PM CAROL MOONIE Al & Mary Ann Overacker SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 4, :30AM LOTTIE & PHILIBERT VANDERWEYDE Daughter 9:00AM ELLENMARIE SMITH, GARY BAIRD and LARRY HELBER Boy Scout Sunday Mass 10:30AM EILEEN SMITH Pam & Shirley Hayes * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * This week the Tabernacle Light will burn in loving memory of Fr. Richard Shatzel * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * BOY SCOUT SUNDAY MASS Next Sunday, February 4 at 9:00am Mass All Cub and Boy Scouts of St. Rita Parish are invited to attend the 9:00am Mass on Sunday, February 4 in celebration of Boy Scout Sunday. Please meet in Room 1 by 8:30am. Dens and troops will be seated together after processing into church as a group. Please wear your full Scout dress uniform. A reception for Scouts and their families will be held in the gym after Mass. Scouts in the parish who have completed the requirements for the religious emblem associated with their rank and who have submitted the appropriate paperwork to the Diocese, are asked to notify Margo Chamberlain ( ) no later than January 28 th so that we may recognize them during the Scout Mass. We hope to see all Scouts from our parish on February 4 th to celebrate Boy Scout Sunday! ST. RITA SCHOOL Spirit of Learning Corner WHAT S HAPPENING? + Can you identify Mozambique on an unmarked map and name its capital? Children in Third through Fifth Grades at St. Rita School are able to do so! On Wednesday students took part in their monthly Passport Club check where they are asked to identify different countries, country capitals, bodies of water, deserts, and other points of interest on a world map. Each month there are different landmarks they need to identify. Alumni have found that the skills built in this program have given them an edge on education when they get to the Junior and Senior high school levels. + Ooh-La-La! Friday was the annual Father - Daughter Dance (PreK - Grade 5) at St. Rita School. This year s theme was An Evening in Paris. Fathers and their daughters enjoyed dancing, hors d'oeuvres, having their pictures professionally taken together, and sharing wonderful memories. It was a spectacular night for our young ladies and the special men in their lives. + This weekend, Sunday, January 28 th begins Catholic Schools Week. There are many fun activities planned for the week ahead. Please join our students in celebrating the gift of Catholic schools on Tuesday, January 30 th at the 9:15 mass. Then from 11:00am to 1:00pm St. Rita School will be holding school tours for prospective students and their families. Please call the Main Office at if you would like more information about our JOY-filled school. DID YOU KNOW? St. Rita School has a variety of different classrooms structured to increase the levels of learning for our students. There are two Academic Intervention Service classrooms, an impressive Art Classroom (which even comes equipped with a kiln), a large Gymnasium with a Stage for performances, a Music room, a Science Lab, a large Library with books appropriate for Prekindergarten through Fifth Grade, and a Technology Lab with 29 computers used to teach computer and technology skills for all students at St. Rita s. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * KIDS NIGHT OUT! Valentine s Edition Saturday, February 10 from 6:00 8:00 pm Drop off your kids (ages 4 and up) at the parish center gym for some seasonal games, crafts, and activities while the adults get some free time. There is no charge to attend, but registration is required. Please check our website or call the Parish Office to sign up. High school students are invited to help out by running an activity please sign up on our website. If you have questions please contact Elizabeth at Elizabeth.kwiatkowski@dor.org or x 14

4 PLANS FOR THE WEEK OF JANUARY 28, 2018 SUNDAY 1/28 8:30-11:00am Breakfast Club Gym MONDAY 1/29 4:30-5:45pm FAITH FORMATION CLASSES 6:15-7:30pm FAITH FORMATION CLASSES 6:15pm Confirmation Group B - Youth Center (Barn) TUESDAY 1/30 9:00-10:00am WEROC Women s Group Rm 3 10:15-11:30am St. Rita School Tours School 8:30-9:30pm Women s Basketball Gym WEDNESDAY 1/31 8:45am Pray the Rosary Church 8:45am Reconciliation Available in Church 7:00pm Choir Rehearsal Rm 3 THURSDAY 2/1 Registration for St. Rita School begins! 9:00-10:30pm Men s Basketball Gym SATURDAY 2/3 8:15-8:45am 3:30-4:30pm [ Pray the Rosary Church Reconciliation Available in Church PARISH SUPPORT For the Weekend of January 20 & 21 Total Budget Variance $ 11,368 $ 13,051 - $ 1,683 Year to Date Year to Date Budget Variance $ 419,884 $ 420,164 - $ 280 (Our fiscal year is 7/1/17 6/30/18) THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY! We all grow spiritually when we share Catholic Ministries Appeal (as of 1/24/18) Catholic Ministries Appeal Goal $160,859 Pledges Received to Date $ 128,345 Balance $ 32,514 Number of Gifts: 557 Households Every gift is needed and important. Information is available in the back of Church or please go on-line to (you can also make your gift by credit card if you like). Be sure to indicate: St. Rita Church #327. Thank you all for your prayers and support! * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 2017 PARISH CONTRIBUTION STATEMENTS Contribution statements for all recordable offerings received before January 1, 2018 were all mailed out by Friday, January 26. Thank you all for your generosity! \ We welcome the newest members of our parish family who were baptized this weekend: Matteo Apollo Morelli Aurora Ann Corrado * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * BIBLE READINGS: 28 Sun 4 th Sunday in Ordinary Time Dt 18:15-20 Ps 95:1-2,6-9 1 Cor 7:32-35 Mk 1: Mon 2 Sm 15:13-14,30;16:5-13 Ps 3:2-7 Mk 5: Tue 2 Sm 18:9-10,14b,24-25a,30-19:3 Ps 86:1-6 Mk 5: Wed St. John Bosco 2 Sm 24:2,9-17 Ps 32:1-2, 5-7 Mk 6:1-6 1 Thu 1 Kgs 2:1-4, Chr 29:10-12 Mk 6: Fri The Presentation of the Lord Mal 3:1-4 Ps 24:7-10 Heb 2:14-18 Lk 2: Sat St. Blaise; St. Ansgar 1 Kgs 3:4-13 Ps 119: 9-14 Mk 6: Sun 5 th Sunday in Ordinary Time Jb 7:1-4,6-7 Ps 147:1-6 1 Cor 9:16-19,22-23 Mk 1:29-39 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ALTAR SERVERS SCHEDULED NEXT Weekend ~ February 3 & 4 Saturday, 5:00pm: David Kraft, Ben Dodds, Julia Collins Sunday, 7:30am: Lindsey Coumou, Justin Coumou, Evan Tomcik Sunday, 9:00am: Nathan Chamberlain, Matthew Connor Sunday, 10:30am: Grace Colpoys, Natalie Colpoys, Giana Lombardo, Gabrielle Thompson * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * CARE FOR GOD S HOUSE: Week of January 28 LINENS: Week of February 4 The Tehan Family Debbie Whitehair * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * BREAKFAST CLUB NEWS! This isn t a club you need to join All are Welcome Sunday mornings from 8:30-11:00am in the Parish Center for a warm delicious meal served with a smile! We offer a Special each Sunday but always have our full menu offering eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, etc. NEXT WEEK: Team 1 is offering: St. Rita s Super Special: 2 eggs - 2 pancakes and your choice of 2 bacon or sausage served with a bottomless cup of coffee. This ministry runs on donations only which are greatly appreciated!

5 CATHOLIC WOMEN A Time Just for You! 5 th ANNUAL ROCHESTER CATHOLIC WOMEN S CONFERENCE The Power of the Eucharist: Glorifying God and Sanctifying the Word Saturday, March 10 8:00 am 3:30 pm (doors open at 7:00am) Held at The Aquinas Institute ~ 1127 Dewey Ave Conference sold out early last year so don t wait! Don t miss this opportunity to celebrate Mass with our Bishop and to hear national speakers, Dr. Edward Sri, theologian and noted author, and Danielle Bean publisher of Catholic Digest. There will be the opportunity for reconciliation, praying the rosary, perusing Catholic vendors, and connecting with other Catholic women. Bishop Salvatore Matano will preside at morning Mass beginning at 8:00am. Continental breakfast and lunch are included. The cost is $50 for mail-in registrations and $53.00 for online registrations. Registration forms are available in our parish office and in the greeting area in Church or you may go online to Rochestercwc.org. If you have questions, please stop at the table in the greeting this weekend or you may contact Maria at rochcwc@gmail.com * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * An Opportunity at St. Rita for Fellowship, Prayer and Service Lenten Soup Suppers and Lenten Reflections On four Tuesdays of Lent, beginning February 27, we again are offering Soup Suppers followed by Lenten Presentations. We have a great Lenten program lined up which you will be hearing about soon. As Deacon Rick suggested last week in his homily, we each should make an effort to be more involved in parish life. Here is your opportunity! We know there are many excellent cooks in our parish. Would you be willing to volunteer to bring a crock pot of soup for one of our soup suppers? We also need cookie bakers (or buyers), and bread. If you are willing to help by making soup, donating cookies or bread, please go to the link below to sign up. lenten or you can call Julie at x 13. Your donation would need to be dropped off in Room 1 in church between 5:15 and 5:30pm and please stay for fellowship and prayer. Thank you for your generosity! Many Gifts, One Nation: A Day of Giving to Catholic Schools Tuesday, January 30, 2018 Twenty years ago, St. Pope John Paul II said to an audience of United States Catholic school educators: Catholic schools are a great gift to the Church, a great gift to your nation. Countless people in our country have been blessed by the many gifts of Catholic Schools. Over the years, so many adults have lost touch with their local school community. Now could be the time for people who have been impacted by Catholic schools to reconnect with the community that gave them so much, and give back. The National Catholic Education Association (NCEA) is pleased to present an online giving campaign: Many Gifts, One Nation: A Day of Giving to Catholic Schools. This national day (beginning on January 30th at 9:00am and lasting until January 31st at 9:00am) invites all people who have been impacted by Catholic school education in ways big and small to financially donate to the school(s) of their choice. Your school may no longer exist, but your support to any school will help the mission of all our Catholic schools remain as strong as it has always been. As in the past, Catholic schools continue to change lives and now is the time you can show that appreciation. Please consider giving to St. Rita School either through the online website on January 30/31 or by sending a check to the School at your convenience for this special campaign. Thank you for supporting our school! Blessings, Ms. Mary Ellen Wagner Principal * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * FIESTA COMMITTEES NEED YOU! Our Raffle Committee and Sponsor Committee Coordinators are in need of a few people to help on each committee. The Raffle Committee needs help coordinating ticket sales and distribution ideas and the Sponsor Team needs help renewing existing sponsors and reaching out to new potential sponsors. The commitment is only a few hours each month leading up to Fiesta. Please contact: Sheila Korol (Raffle Committee) sheilakorol1@rochester.rr.com John Thomas (Sponsor Committee) jthomas10@rochester.rr.com Save the Dates for our 64 th Annual St. Rita Fiesta Friday, June 1 and Saturday, June 2, 2018!

6 PICTORIAL DIRECTORY UPDATE Once Lifetouch sends us back a draft copy of our directory, we will need to proof read it to be sure they have the correct names with photos. Once we return the proofread copy, the books will be sent for printing. The final books should arrive to us in a few months - we will let you know as soon as they arrive. Please Note If you had your photo taken by the photographer here at Church, but did not order any extra prints, your free 8 x 10 photo was sent to the parish office. You can pick it up at the parish office during the week or wait until your book comes in. Our PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY meets again Tuesday, February 6 in the Parish Office from 10:30am 12:00 Noon All are welcome as we come together each month to create Prayer Shawls and Lap Blankets. These are given to anyone we hear of who may be facing serious illness, surgery, or extended treatments or those who are going through hard times in their life. Father has blessed the shawls and blankets and there is a prayer included as a reminder of our parish s love and support. If you know anyone that could use a prayer shawl please contact Julie at ext. 13. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * From the Desk of Marie Marton... WHERE DO OUR LENTEN TRADITIONS COME FROM? Lent is the 40 days (not including Sundays) before Easter in which Catholics pray, fast, contemplate and engage in acts of spiritual self-discipline. We do these things because Easter, which celebrates the Resurrection of Christ, is the greatest day of the Christian year (yes, even above Christmas!) and we recognize that it is appropriate to prepare for such a holy day by engaging in these disciplines. 40 days: There is a significance to the number of days we celebrate Lent. It reminds us of the 40 years the Jewish people spent in the desert before they arrived in the Holy Land after they escaped from slavery in Egypt. It also recalls the 40 days of Jesus own fast in the desert before embarking on his public ministry. Ash Wednesday: On this day, many Catholics participate in the practice of receiving ashes on their foreheads in the form of a cross. The ashes symbolize that we are marked as followers of Christ and recognize that we are mortal. This acknowledges our need to repent before our earthly lives are over and we face Jesus as our judge. It is a day of fast and abstinence for all between the ages of 14 and 59. Use of Ashes: The ashes placed on our forehead are made by burning the palm fronds that were saved from the previous year s Palm Sunday and then blessed by a priest. By using the old ashes, we remember that it is not enough to just remember and rejoice at Jesus coming. We must also regret the fact that our sins made it necessary for Jesus to die for us in order to save us. Fasting: This is a biblical discipline that has its basis in both the Old and New Testaments. Catholics hold a partial fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. This means that, in addition to abstaining from eating meat, our food intake is to be limited. On these 2 days a Catholic is to eat only one full meal, as well as two small meals that together are not equal to a full meal. Abstinence: This is observed on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and all Fridays in Lent. This just means we eat no meat on these dates. Fish Fridays: Our diet is intended to commemorate Christ s crucifixion on a Friday. We abstain from eating meat and only eating fish since fish is a symbol of Christ. While I have to admit that when I was younger I thought that the apostles, some of whom were fishermen, were just trying to encourage their family business while they were away preaching the Good News. Not so! There is a reason for the selection of fish for Friday dinners. The early Christians would sketch out the sign of a fish when they met others to see if they were friend or foe. The fish was used in this secret code because the Greek word for fish is ichthys. By creating an acrostic of the letters in Ichthys you come up with: Iesous (Jesus) CHristos (Christ), THeou (God) Yios (son) Soter (savior). So the fish represented the early Christians belief in Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior. Giving Something up for Lent: In addition to fasting and abstinence, Catholics are also encouraged to give something up for Lent. This can be anything that we choose. It is to keep us present in the season of Lent, to join us more completely with Jesus own fast of 40 days, to help us focus on prayer and devotion, and to encourage us to give more to those in need. It can help us to evaluate our life and try to give up something that is detracting from our life as Catholics (e.g.: overeating, addictions, bad habits). Some choose, instead, to do something positive to help others. Did you know that, regardless of what you choose to forego, the fast is broken each Sunday of Lent as a reminder that each Sunday depicts and celebrates Christ s Resurrection? Why didn t my own mother tell me that those Lents that I gave up chocolate? Hopefully, this helps to clarify some of the practices we engage in as Catholics during Lent. Remember that Ash Wednesday is on February 14 th this year!

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