A Homily by Pope Francis

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2 PARISH CLERGY Rev. Tom Lam Administrator Rev. Martins Emeh, J.C.L. Parochial Vicar Deacon John Evanoff Pastoral Associate Deacon Don Kish PARISH STAFF Business Manager Lu Hill Administration Gerry Broussard, Misha Gabriel, Dan Stamps, Mary Tran Religious Education LouAnn Svoboda, Director Dave Clark, Charlotte Fulton, Becca Hammock, Maria Laiseca Youth Ministry Joey Harvey, Director Matt Kiernan Parish Life Ministry Dave Clark, Director Music Ministry Christian Mondragon, Director Adrienne Copeland Liturgy Ministry Dominick Aquila, Director Outreach Ministry Schottsie Hill, Director Lisa Gilkeson Facilities Manager Vince DeBonis Christian Cholico, Young Kim, Alex Trejo COMMUNITY LIFE Nursery Coordinator: Anne Salazar Bingo: Friday at 7:30 p.m Welcome Newcomers For more information about our parish please go to our website A Homily by Pope Francis P ope Francis marked the feast of All Saints (Nov. 1, 2017), telling the faithful in St Peter s Square that it was a celebra on of the many simple and hidden people who help God to push the world forward. Saints are not perfect models, but people marked by God. We can compare them to church stained-glass windows, which bring light into different shades of color. Those were Pope Francis words on Wednesday on the Solemnity of All Saints, during his Angelus address from St Peter s Square. The Pope explained that Saints are our brothers and sisters who have received the light of God in their hearts and have transmi ed it to the world, each according to their own tonality. This is the purpose of life, con nued Pope Francis, to pass on the light of God; and also the purpose of our lives. Referring to Wednesday s Gospel reading, the Holy Father said, Jesus speaks to his own, to all of us, saying Blessed. Whoever is with Jesus is blessed, he is happy, noted the Pope, adding that happiness is not in having something or becoming someone, no, the real happiness is to be with the Lord and to live for love, he said. The Pope told those gathered in St Peter s Square that, the ingredients for a happy life are called the bea tudes. They do not require tremendous gestures, he said, they are not for supermen, but for those who live through daily trials and struggles. They are for us. Returning to the Saints, the Holy Father described how they too have breathed in all the air polluted by the evil that is in the world, but on the journey they never lose sight of the path of Jesus, that is indicated in the bea tudes, which, he said, are like the map of Chris an life. The Pope went on to say that the feast of All Saints is a celebra on of all those who have reached the goal indicated by this map: not only the saints of the calendar, but so many brothers and sisters next door that we may have met and known. This day, Pope Francis said, is a family celebra on of many simple and hidden people who actually help God to push the world forward. Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time Blessed are you who fear the LORD. Psalm 128:1a 2

3 Events & Meetings This Week SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19 Blood Drive Sign Up Coffee & Donuts: Family Center 9:45 & 11:30 AM, Nursery: 2 5 years; PAC 1:30 PM, Baptism Service: Narthex MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20 1:00 PM, Rummikub: Outreach Center 1:00 PM, ELC Book Club: Room 404 6:30 PM, Handbell Choir Rehearsal: Church 6:30 PM, KC s Meeting: PAC 7:00 PM, Job Networking: Rec Room TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21 9:00 AM, ESL Class: Outreach Center 9:40 AM 7:30 PM, Adoration: Chapel 10:00 AM, Holy Hour Rosary for Respect Life: Chapel 3:00 PM, Divine Mercy Chaplet: Chapel 4:00 PM, Holy Hour for Vocations: Chapel 7:00 PM, Rosary: Chapel 7:00 PM, Adult Choir: Church 7:30 PM, Vespers & Benediction: Chapel WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22 Parish Office Closes at Noon THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23 9:00 AM, Thanksgiving Day Mass: Church Parish Offices Closed FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 24 Parish Offices Closed SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25 Blood Drive Sign Up SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26 Blood Drive Sign Up Nursery Closed Steps of St. Paul and Italy Pilgrimage With Greek Isle Cruise Join Fr. Martins on a pilgrimage to the Greek Isles, Athens, Rome, Florence, and Assisi next Summer (July 11-23, 2018). You may request a color brochure with a full description of the itinerary. Please mary@epiphanycatholic.org for more information. Baptisms Please contact parish office for preparation classes. Baptism Session for Parents 2 nd Saturday of February, May, August, November 10:00 AM Noon To register call LouAnn Svoboda ( ) Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) For information call LouAnn Svoboda ( ) Sacrament of Marriage Must be a registered, active member of the parish at least six months. Contact parish office eight months before wedding to begin preparation. Finance Council Chair Denny Dellinger Pastoral Council Chair Tom McGeehan Knights of Columbus C.J. Hattier, Grand Knight St. Vincent de Paul Society Rebel LeBoeuf Ladies Club Sharon Yohe Forever Young Norma Lopez, Mary Davis Bulletin Deadline The deadline for article submission is Thursday at noon (ten days before publication). Your article can be sent to gerry@epiphanycatholic.org. Check our website for Liturgical & Faith Formation Schedules. epiphany@epiphanycatholic.org Child s Play Learning Center, Alyce Gabrysch, Director, ; Fax; childsplaykaty.com 3

4 Liturgy & Prayer PRAYER LIST FOR THE SICK LITURGICAL CELEBRATIONS THIS WEEK SPECIAL REMEMBRANCES Saturday, November 18 Vigil-33rd Sunday in O. T. 5:30 PM Hilda S. D. McGlew Sunday, November 19 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time 8:00 AM Jim & Nancy McVey 9:45 AM For the People 11:30 AM Fred Perone, Sr. 5:30 PM Stella Walsh Monday, November 20 Weekday 9:00 AM Frank Balash Tuesday, November 21 The Presentation of the BVM 9:00 AM Sang-Hee Andrew Han Wednesday, November 22 St. Cecilia 9:00 AM Kenneth Champagne Thursday, November 23 Thanksgiving Day 9:00 AM Leonard & Gerry Broussard Friday, November 24 St. Andrew Dung-Lac & Companions 9:00 AM Jeff Thaler Saturday, November 25 Vigil-Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe 5:30 PM Vivian Frerich Sunday, November 26 Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe 8:00 AM Jack & Hilda McGlew 9:45 AM For the People 11:30 AM Patrick J. Lynch 5:30 PM Fred Herbig READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: 1 Mc 1:10-15, 41-43, 54-57, 62-63; Ps 119:53, 61, 134, 150, 155, 158; Lk 18:35-43 Tuesday: 2 Mc 6:18-31; Ps 3:2-7; Lk 19:1-10 Wednesday: 2 Mc 7:1, 20-31; Ps 17:1bcd, 5-6, 8b, 15; Lk 19:11-28 Thursday: 1 Mc 2:15-29; Ps 50:1b-2, 5-6, 14-15; Lk 19:41-44 Thanksgiving Day, Suggested: Sir 50:22-24; Ps 145:2-11; 1 Cor 1:3-9; Lk 17:11-19 Friday: 1 Mc 4:36-37, 52-59; 1 Chr 29:10bcd, 11-12; Lk 19:45-48 Saturday: 1 Mc 6:1-13; Ps 9:2-4, 6, 16, 19; Lk 20:27-40 Sunday: Ez 34:11-12, 15-17; Ps 23:1-3, 5-6; 1 Cor 15:20-26, 28; Mt 25:31-46 Please keep the following people in your thoughts and prayers this week as we wish them a return to good health: Jason Sides, Theresa McCluskey, Steve Chambers, Jackie Alfonso, Colette Johnecheck, Bill Weber, Sr., Dennis Donlan, Patricia Onubogu, Obinna Onubogu, Michael Onubogu, Lola Odedina, Marie Chaplinsky, Lauro Garza, Amapola Garza, Mary Laverock. To make a request for someone to be on our prayer list, please call the parish office at Your loved one s name will appear on our prayer list for six consecutive Sundays. If a longer period of time is needed, please call the parish office to renew your request. You are invited to experience evening prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours each Tuesday evening in the chapel at 7:30 PM. Liturgy of the Hours is the formal prayer the worldwide Church prays daily in response to Christ's statement to "pray always". Please join us and the entire Church around the world each Tuesday evening. Important Reminder: All Extra Ordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, upon entering the church at any given Mass, please go immediately to the Ministers Room to see if you are needed to serve at Mass. Please pray for our military men and women. 4

5 Parish Life Calling All Bakers The Epiphany Ladies Club will be sponsoring a bake sale booth at the annual Frosty Fest on Saturday, December 2. We are asking anyone interested in suppor ng our group to bring homemade, individually wrapped, baked goods to our booth in the lobby of the Parish Ac vity Center by 8:30 AM on that day. Any dona on is greatly appreciated. Our Stewardship Stewardship November 11/12 Sunday Offering $62, St. Vincent de Paul Society $5, Registered Households 6,662 Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you have been faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. - MATTHEW 25:21 God expects us to nurture and develop the gifts He has given us and then generously return a portion with increase. He doesn t want us to waste or hoard the gifts He has given us; He expects us to grow our gifts, use them wisely and be generous with them. Unfortunately, many of us are not generous in proportion to all that God has given us. Families are invited to a pancake breakfast and breakfast with Santa beginning at 9am. At 10am, parents can take advantage of some mommy/ daddy time while we take care of the kids. Breakfast will be $5 for the whole family. Childcare with lunch included will be just $10 per child. Proceeds will help support future Family Night activities. Respect Life Bulletin Board Mark your Calendars for December 3rd!!! Jason Evert, na onally known chas ty speaker, will present PURIFIED which is an event for the en re family (ages 13 and up) at 7pm in the church. He will also present "Paren ng for Purity" to parents only at 3:30 pm in the PAC. Come join us for this great event! How to include our parish and/ or new school in your financial plans Learn about how you can support our parish and/or new school through estate planning and year-end giving. Information sessions will be held after all three morning masses on Sunday, November 19 th in the administration building conference room. The sessions will last 15 to 20 minutes. A THANKFUL HEART A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all the other virtues. Cicero 5

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7 Outreach Ministry Outreach Events in November Regular Meetings: Mon. Epiphany Job Networking at 7 p.m. in the PAC; Tues. Respect Life Rosary at 10 a.m. in the Chapel. Nov 18/19: Blood Drive sign up Nov 23: Happy Thanksgiving Nov 25/26: Blood Drive Sign up Nov 28: Second Family Dec 3: Food Drive Dec 3: Blood Drive See for details. BINGO help needed Friday nights in Katy wouldn t be the same without Bingo at Epiphany. Not only is it exhilarating fun for the whole family but it raises money for local non-profits, The Bingo program has a serious need for more volunteer members in order to continue these distributions. Volunteers work approximately one Friday every 4 weeks. If you can help, please check out the Bingo link on the Epiphany website for more information on how to join our volunteer team. BLOOD DRIVE Dec 3rd Sign-up Today at tables outside Church. New Sign-up online! If you can, please donate at this Blood Drive. If you will not be here, please donate at another location and remember Epiphany s Donor Group # is Thank you for picking up your angels last weekend. If you have questions please call us in Outreach at New and unwrapped gifts need to be returned the weekend of December 9/10 Various Outreach ministries could use your help. St. Vincent de Paul is looking for Spanish speaking volunteers on Fridays. Transportation is looking for some new volunteers to help parishioners get to and from Doctor s appointments. Second Family is looking for a few volunteers to visit with the elderly once a week. WHAT ARE YOU THANKFUL FOR? Take a moment to discuss this with your family at Thanksgiving. We are thankful for our amazing volunteers with such servant hearts. Have a wonderful holiday! Do you live near Mason and Highlands Knolls and have an extra seat to help a parishioner attend mass? We have a lady that would like to attend Sunday mass, but does not have a car. Please call Outreach at for more information. 7

8 Adult Faith Formation Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults The prayers of the parish community are necessary to strengthen the faith of the adults who were accepted and welcomed into the Church on November 12. The parish community serves as an example for the catechumens and candidates who are preparing for full initiation into the Catholic Faith. Children s Faith Formation Our Home Based Faith Formation Unit 1 Assessment session is Nov. 30th from 7-8:30pm. Parents and students should check in in the Family Center and bring their completed Assessment packets with them. Earlier this autumn, we looked at how our Eucharistic Prayers have been enriched by the approval of several new prayers to augment the old Roman Canon. For us, there are the four standard prayers, three for Masses with Children, and the most recent addition, the former Swiss Eucharistic Prayer with four alternative forms (now known as the Eucharistic Prayer for Masses for Various Needs and Occasions). We also have two Eucharistic Prayers for Masses of Reconciliation. The source for these two prayers is the request by many bishops for a special prayer for the Holy Year of Originally, the committee in charge was commissioned to write a single prayer, but the theme proved so rich that it gave rise to two. The first is based on and develops biblical texts on reconciliation. The second starts with the experience of living in today s fractured world, and how the Spirit calls us to reconciliation and peace. Not everyone was happy with all this creativity, saying that if too many were published, it would be difficult for the Vatican to control further requests. Everyone thought the pope would put strict limits on the prayers, but in the end he said he was willing to open doors that had long been closed. Although he approved them for a period of only three years, they were never formally removed from the Sacramentary and have been incorporated into the new Roman Missal. Rev. James Field, Copyright J. S. Paluch Co. Sunday Nov. 19, Tuesday Nov. 21, or Wednesday Nov. 22 There are no classes this week as we take a break for Thanksgiving. Classes will resume November 28th. Epiphany Youth Ministry Did you miss your Confirmation service project? Need service hours for school? Want to help in youth ministry? Check out our service opportunities on SignUpGenius.com You can access our list of signups from 8