A Homily by Pope Francis

Transcription

1 1

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 Lars Gustafson 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 Pope Francis at final Mass in Lima Jesus walks in our cities rekindling hope In the final Mass of his Apostolic Journey to Latin America, Pope Francis underlined how Jesus continues to walk in our cities and streets, in order to rekindle the flame of hope and the aspiration that breakdown can be overcome by fraternity, injustice defeated by solidarity, violence silenced by the weapons of peace. The Pope during his homily at Las Palmas Airbase in Lima drew inspiration from the readings of the day in which the Lord speaks to Jonah saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you and in which Jesus sets out towards Galilee to preach the Good News. Suffering and indifference The Holy Father noted how at times our cities, with their daily situations of pain and injustice, can leave us tempted to flee, to hide, to run away. There are those said Pope Francis, who are found along our roadsides, living on the fringes of our cities, and lacking the conditions needed for a dignified existence. It is painful to realize that among these urban remnants all too often we see the faces of children and adolescents. Sowing the seeds of hope Recalling Sunday s Gospel reading, the Pope described how after the arrest of John, Jesus set out to Galilee to proclaim the Gospel of God. Unlike Jonah, he said, Jesus reacted to the distressing and unjust news of John s arrest by entering the city; he entered Galilee and from its small towns he began to sow the seeds of a great hope. Jesus, commented the Holy Father, invited his disciples to experience in the present a taste of eternity: the love of God and neighbor. Jesus walks through the city with his disciples and begins to see, to hear, to notice those who have given up in the face of indifference, laid low by the grave sin of corruption. He begins to bring to light many situations that had killed the hope of his people and to awaken a new hope. Walk with Jesus in your city The Pope stressed how Jesus continues to walk and to awaken hope, a hope that frees us from empty associations and impersonal analyses. The kingdom of heaven is among you, he tells us. It is there wherever we strive to show a little tenderness and compassion God, concluded Pope Francis will never tire of setting out to meet his children. Today the Lord calls each of you to walk with him in the city, in your city. 2

3 Events & Meetings This Week SUNDAY, JANUARY 28 9:45 & 11:30 AM, Nursery: 2 5 years; PAC 1:30 PM, Baptism Service: Narthex 3:30 PM, Elementary Faith Formation 3:30 PM, Junior High Faith Formation 7:00 PM, High School FF/Confirmation MONDAY, JANUARY 29 9:00 AM, Daily Mass: Chapel 1:00 PM, Rummikub: Outreach Center 7:00 PM, Mary, a Biblical Walk with the Blessed Mother: Epiphany Room 7:00 PM, Scout Troop 1146: PAC 7:00 PM, Job Networking: Rec Room 7:00 PM, Hand Bell Choir: Church TUESDAY, JANUARY 30 9:00 AM, Daily Mass: Chapel 9:00 AM, ESL Class: Outreach Center 9:30 AM, Quilters: Room 411 9:40 AM 7:30 PM, Adoration: Chapel 10:00 AM, Holy Hour Rosary for Respect Life: Chapel 10:00 AM, Scripture Study: Den 3:00 PM, Divine Mercy Chaplet: Chapel 4:00 PM, Holy Hour for Vocations: Chapel 4:45 PM, Elementary Faith Formation 4:45 PM, Junior High Faith Formation 7:00 PM, Rosary: Chapel 7:00 PM, Scout Troup 1288: PAC 7:00 PM, RCIA: Epiphany Room 7:30 PM, Vespers & Benediction: Chapel WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31 9:00 AM, Daily Mass: Chapel 10:00 AM, James: Pearls for Wise Living: Den 4:45 PM, Elementary Faith Formation 5:30 PM, Contemporary Music Rehearsal: Church 6:30 PM, Elementary Faith Formation 6:30 PM, Junior High Faith Formation 6:30 PM, High School FF/Confirmation 7:00 PM, Adult Choir Practice: Church 8:05 PM, Young Adult Bible Study: Den THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1 9:00 AM, Daily Mass: Chapel 9:00 AM, ESL Class: Outreach Center 9:45 AM, Ten Principles of Catholic Social Thought: Den 6:30 PM, Men s Food & Faith: Room 412 6:30 PM, Spanish Bible Study: PAC 7:00 PM, BSA District Mtg.: Family Center 7:00 PM, Walking through Grief: Outreach 7:00 PM, Line Dancing: Great Room FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2 9:00 AM, Daily Mass: Chapel 7:30 PM, Bingo: Family Center SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3 6:30 PM, Family Night: PAC 6:30 PM, 5th grade bake sale: Family Ctr. SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 4 Food Drive 5th Grade bake sale after morning masses 9:45 & 11:30 AM, Nursery: 2 5 years; PAC 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 gerry@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 LITURGICAL CELEBRATIONS THIS WEEK SPECIAL REMEMBRANCES Saturday, January 27 Vigil-Fourth Ordinary Sunday 5:30 PM Baby J Strickland Sunday, January 28 Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time 8:00 AM Harold Hagen 9:45 AM For the People 11:30 AM William Girsch 5:30 PM John Lazarich Monday, January 29 Weekday 9:00 AM Gilberto Mercado Tuesday, January 30 Weekday 9:00 AM Jewel Rosenbaum Wednesday, January 31 St. John Bosco 9:00 AM Nancy Pereira Thursday, February 1 Weekday 9:00 AM Richard Stone Friday, February 2 The Presentation of the Lord 9:00 AM Joan Campbell Saturday, February 3 Vigil-Fifth Ordinary Sunday 5:30 PM Anna Nguyen Thi Ngoan Sunday, February 4 Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time 8:00 AM Toby Binder 9:45 AM For the People 11:30 AM Chin Lye Lo 5:30 PM Harold Hagen READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: 2 Sm 15:13-14, 30; 16:5-13; Ps 3:2-7; Mk 5:1-20 Tuesday: 2 Sm 18:9-10, 14b, 24-25a, 30 19:3; Ps 86:1-6; Mk 5:21-43 Wednesday: 2 Sm 24:2, 9-17; Ps 32:1-2, 5-7; Mk 6:1-6 Thursday: 1 Kgs 2:1-4, 10-12; 1 Chr 29:10-12; Mk 6:7-13 Friday: Mal 3:1-4; Ps 24:7-10; Heb 2:14-18; Lk 2:22-40 [22-32] Saturday: 1 Kgs 3:4-13; Ps 119:9-14; Mk 6:30-34 Sunday: Jb 7:1-4, 6-7; Ps 147:1-6; 1 Cor 9:16-19, 22-23; Mk 1:29-39 Please pray for our military men and women. BLESSING OF CANDLES ON CANDLEMAS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9:00AM This feast celebrates Jesus presentation to God at the Temple exactly 40 days after His birth on Christmas. Candles are traditionally blessed on this day to symbolize the light of Christ brought to the world. You are invited to bring your candles from home to be blessed at 9:00AM Mass Through the waters of Baptism the following infants now have begun their journey of faith in the Christian Community: Griffin Michael Crotty, Bonifacio Michael Hajovsky, Jack Alexander Hayes, Olivia Trang Ho, Reid Matthew Joseph, Amy Elizabeth Knight, Rosaline Kudakwashe Marchand, Sal Davis Massi, June Hao Lan Nguyen, Adelyn Ngoc Nguyen, Ashley Nnenna Obialo, Baron Keith Perez, William Jens Silva Santisteban, Felicity Anindya Sunaryo. Please Remember In Prayer Our Deceased Janet Cochrane, mother of John Cochrane PRAYER LIST FOR THE SICK 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, Marie Chaplinsky, Lauro Garza, Amapola Garza, Mary Laverock, Linda Hudak, Claire Spedale, Michael Onubogu, Patricia Onubogu, Obinna Onubogu, Lola Odedina, Diane Estay, Neil Seidel, Linda Holder, Leonel Rivas. 4

5 Parish Life Our parish pictorial directories are available in the parish office. If your family participated in a photography session, please come by and pick it up during office hours. The Epiphany Ladies Club (ELC) invites you to attend our meeting on Friday, February 9 at 9:30 AM in the Family Center. Deacon John Evanoff will lead our ladies in discussion and reflection for the Lenten season. Come join us. New members are always welcome. Any questions, please contact us at epiphanyladiesclub@gmail.com Bible Study will be Wednesday, January 31 st, at 8pm, in Room 404 of the PAC Building We will be reading and reflecting about Living for a Just Society We will meet for Dinner beforehand, at 6:45pm, at E-Star Chinese Buffet, off the Katy Freeway near Fry. We welcome into our community: Salvador Abud, Horace & Michele Clay, Miriam Cruz, Carmen Egras, Jennifer Gaspard, Marisol Gutierrez, Kenneth & Heather Lamb, Cody & Rachel Linn, Jose Mendez, Mathew & Meredith McDowell, Kim Ngo, Minh & Ngoc-Tram Nguyen, Deymar Paz, Ricardo & Carmen Rangel, Paulo & Georgiana Ramos, Rafael & Ana Carolina Ramos, Thomas & Teresa Salaway, John Trang, Kufre & Edidiong Uwem, David & Jessica Velez, Gail Webster, Michael & Amanda Wolf. Join your Epiphany friends at the Main Event for an evening of Family Fun. Epiphany Passes that include 2 hours of laser tag, gravity gropes, puttputt golf, pool tables, bowling, and rock climbing can be purchased for $12 online at or at the door for $15. Participants can also take advantage of special pricing on food and drinks. Support Our Advertisers Thank you to our advertisers for making our bulletins possible. We encourage you to patronize these businesses. Please tell them you saw their ad in our bulletin. 5

6 Our Stewardship Stewardship January 20/21 Sunday Offering $31, St. Vincent de Paul Society $4, Registered Households 6,679 Stewardship January 13/14 Sunday Offering $35, St. Vincent de Paul Society $1, Brothers and sisters: I should like you to be free of anxieties. - 1 CORINTHIANS 7:32 How much anxiety do we bring upon ourselves by constantly worrying about not having enough or attaining more things? God won t necessarily give you everything you want, but He will provide everything you need. Try this use the word pray instead of the word worry in the future. Respect Life Bulletin Board The Gabriel Project is a pro-life parish-based apostolate of the archdiocese of Galveston-Houston offering assistance to women experiencing difficult circumstances during pregnancy. Currently St. Bart s has the only Gabriel Project in the Katy area. During the month of January we ask for contributions to provide for the babies they serve throughout the year. We will have a crib in the loggia to collect donations. Please donate!! Faith Direct is our parish s on-line e-giving program. It s easy and convenient. Just enroll and your regular offerings to Epiphany are automatically deducted from your checking account or billed to your credit card. It s secure and easy to use! You can also use Faith Direct for second collections and donations to our new Catholic school. Visit or find their link on Epiphanycatholic.org. Remember Epiphany s parish code is: TX 613 Faith Direct also has a free App for your phone! It is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play for Android users. The App allows parishioners to access their account anytime, anywhere! Thank you for your continued support of our parish family! Music Ministry Children s Choir The Epiphany Children s Choir is changing its name! We will be renamed St. Cecilia Singers in honor of our musical patroness. The St. Cecilia Singers are recruiting once again students with a passion for singing. The choir is made up of choristers from 4th to 8th grade. Rehearsals are on Wednesday 5:30 p.m. in the Church. If you would like more information about joining the choir see us after the 9:45 and 11:30 a.m. masses or our director, Kathleen Harvey at Kathleen@epiphanycatholic.org 6

7 Around the Archdiocese KSHJ AM 1430, Catholic radio across Metro- Houston, is hosting a Catholic Prayer Breakfast for professionals and anyone else who would like to come. Tuesday, February 6 7a -9a El Asador Mexican Restaurant, 3750 S Mason Rd, #100, Katy. The cost is only $10 ea. and includes buffet breakfast, an inspirational talk, prayers led by a local Priest, and a dynamic community of fellow Catholics from area parishes. Don t miss this! Register online at GRNonline.com or by phone at St. John XXIII College Preparatory is still accepting applications for the school year! Contact the Admissions Office at with questions or visit our website at KSHJ 1430 AM English Catholic radio in Houston, TX. Tune in for intelligent talk, catechesis, apologetics, a Catholic perspective on news and current events, great fun, and lots of advice on living the faith in our relationships and sharing the faith with our friends and family. Listen on air at AM 1430, online at GRNonline.com, or on your mobile device both IOS and Android. World Marriage Day is February 11, 2018 The theme for WMD has been permanently adopted as "Love One Another". This phrase is the commandment given us by Jesus in John 15:12. It speaks to us in a simple but challenging way of how our Father wishes us to live. Loving one another is a daily decision, simple but challenging. Make this day a time to celebrate the importance and need for loving and holy couples in our own life and that of our whole community. * Worldwide Marriage Encounter* Are you looking for a program for home schooling? One that allows flexibility in curriculum as well as learning alongside other faithful Catholic families. Come check out Catholic schoolhouse at St. Bartholomew in Katy. The Katy Chapter is having an open house on February 13th from 8:50-12:30. You can come for the whole day or just spend an hour with us to see how this wonderful program works. For more information katytx.catholicschoolhouse.com Please the Director Alexis Carrico if you think you will come for the day. This way we will have enough supplies for your students to participate in both the art and science project. Katytx@catholicschoolhouse.com 7

8 Outreach Ministry Outreach Events in Jan. Feb. Regular Meetings: Mon. Epiphany Job Networking at 7 p.m. in the PAC; Tues. Respect Life Rosary at 10 a.m. in the Chapel. Feb 1:Catholic Social Though Class Feb 1: Walking through Grief Feb 4: Food Drive Feb 5: Bereavement Meeting Feb 8: Catholic Social Thought Class Feb 8: Gathering Place Feb 8: Caregiver Support Group See for details. Clinic Care Kits Through the generous donations of our parishioners and Sunstar who donated a number of Facial products, we were able to assemble and deliver 537 Clinic Care Kits. We would like to say thank you to all who donated and to our tireless volunteers that assembled the kits to be given to Krause Children s Center, Christ Clinic and our own St. Vincent de Paul. Thank you again to all who participated in this wonderful project. Thank you Great Harvest Bread Company for providing bread to our Friends in Need, visiting our St. Vincent de Paul Society and Outreach Center. BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT Loss of a close family member can be extremely stressful. Conflicts, triggered by stress, may arise and even divide a family. Acknowledging grief is felt by all members of a family, while respecting that each may grieve differently, is important. Our next gathering is Monday, February 5 at 7 pm in the PAC. If you cannot attend but want information contact Deacon John at We need a Blood Drive Coordinator! This volunteer will help host a Blood Drive once a quarter here at Epiphany. This is a great way to serve, especially if you work outside of the home and help save lives. If you are interested please call Schottsie at for information about the ministry. FOOD DRIVE Next Week Unbeknownst to many, there are many in the Katy area who could use help with meals. We can ease this burden by collecting items for our Food Closet, especially the following: Soups, Canned Vegetables and Canned Meats. These can be brought to either parking lot after morning Masses or left in the box outside the church office. Thank you for your assistance! Caregiver Relief, Feb. 8 th Need a break from taking care of a disabled or elderly loved one? It s time for you to utilize the services of The Gathering Place. Let your loved one get involved - songs, games, crafts, and lunch. Our FREE event is on February 8th from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. There are plenty of helpers, so think about giving yourself the break that you deserve. Call Carmen at for more information. We look forward to serving you! Caregiver s Support Group February 8 from 10 to 11 In the Outreach Center If you are feeling overwhelmed by the demands of caring for someone with an illness or disability you are not alone. Come join us as we share the care giving experience, support one another and develop resources to assist you, the caregiver. 8

9 Adult Faith Formation INFANT BAPTISM PREPARATION A Baptism Preparation Session for parents and godparents will be held on Saturday, February 10, 2018 from 10:00 a.m. until Noon in the Family Center. Parents must attend a baptism preparation session before scheduling their child s baptism. Call to register for this preparation session. The next opportunity to attend a baptism class at Epiphany will be on Saturday, May 12, LEADERS Leaders are like eagles. They don t flock. You find them... one at a time. Anonymous Check It Out! DISCIPLESHIP: TAKING THE WORD TO HEART The National Catholic Bible Conference was held at St. John Vianney in Houston in May, CD s from the speakers presentations are available for check-out at our Reception Desk. Listen to nationally recognized speakers such as Jeff Cavins, Fr. Mike Schmitz, and Dr. Edward Sri as they inspire you to live out your calling as a witness to God s unfailing love for every person in your life. Audio CD s are available for one-week checkout at no cost - only one CD at a time please! Great to listen to while driving! This is the year of St. Paul, and so one of the most visited churches of Rome is also one of the most beautiful: the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. Like so many other churches, it was founded by the master-builder (or financier) Emperor Constantine about the year 315. Paul was martyred outside the walls of the City of Rome at a place called Tre Fontaine, probably on June 29, in the year 65, perhaps the first anniversary of St. Peter s crucifixion. Christians buried him in a quiet place about two miles away, and visited to pray. Constantine was running low on bricks, apparently, because the first church was tiny. In 386 it was demolished and today s basilica begun. This vast and towering space looks much the same today as it did in the fourth century. The centuries have not been kind to ancient Rome, but until the early 1800s St. Paul Outside the Walls survived beautifully, perhaps because it has been assigned for nearly a thousand years to Benedictine monks. It was therefore a vibrant place of daily prayer even through the centuries when Rome was a poor and nearly abandoned city. In 1823 a great fire resulted from a botched repair job to lead on the roof, and St. Paul s was destroyed. It is said that the whole world contributed to its restoration. Even the Russian czar and the viceroy of Egypt gave alabaster, malachite, and lapis lazuli for the pillars and the tabernacle. Several of the precious mosaics were able to be restored, bringing the ancient basilica back to life. One of the great treasures of the basilica is a set of prison chains, said to have been worn by the Apostle in the last days before his martyrdom. Unlike other Roman churches, St. Paul s stands in a garden-like suburban neighborhood, surrounded by stately palm trees, gardens, and parks. Rev. James Field, Copyright J. S. Paluch Co. 9

10 Children s Faith Formation Epiphany Youth Ministry Out of concern for all God s people and in response to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, we have a program for the safe environment education of children and young people supported and mandated by the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. This program is called Circle of Grace. The program aims to equip our children and young people by arming them with essential knowledge and skills grounded in the richness of our faith. Circle of Grace helps children and young people to understand their own (and other s) dignity in mind, body, and spirit. You can find more information about this program at Unit 3 packets must be completed and turned in at the Feb. 3rd Home Based Assessment Session. It will be in the Family Center from 7-8:30pm. Contact the Elementary faith formation office if you missed the session on Jan. 11th for make up options. Tuesday Jan. 30, Wednesday Jan. 31, NO CLASSES Sunday Feb. 4th 1-2 grade will continue our annual Safe Environment lesson entitled: Circle of Grace. K, 3-5 will continue learning about How does Jesus Christ teach us to live a moral life? This week s EQ is: Why and how does Jesus Christ want me to make good choices? 10