Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord January 7, Vision Statement

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1 Archdiocese of Galveston Houston St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church 816 Park Dr. La Porte, Texas Fax: Website: Parish Office Hours Monday - Friday 9:00 am-12:00 Noon 1:00 pm-4:00 pm CCE Office Hours: Sunday 8:30 am-12:00 pm Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord January 7, 2018 Sacrament of Baptism Baptisms are celebrated on the 1 st Sunday of the month. Classes are held on the 2 nd & 3 rd Tuesday of each month. Please come by the Parish Office to register or call for more information. Reconciliation The Sacrament of Penance is offered on Saturdays, from 4:30p.m. to 5:30p.m. or by appointment. Sacrament of Marriage Please contact the Parish Office at least (6) six months prior to your desired wedding date to arrange a meeting with Father Tony or one of the Deacons. If you want a Mass, you must call Father Tony. Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults Are you a non-catholic who is interested in joining the Catholic faith? Are you a baptized Catholic who has never received the sacraments of 1 st Communion and Confirmation? If your answer is yes to either of these questions, call the Parish Office. Sacrament of First Communion First Communion candidates must be baptized, at least in the second grade, and have been attending CCE classes for two full years previous to their receiving the Sacrament. Adults needing First Communion should refer to the rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. Sacrament of Confirmation Confirmation candidates must have previously received the Sacraments of Baptism and First Communion. They must have faithfully attended Life Teen for at least one full year prior to beginning preparation for the Sacrament (more than three absences without a valid excuse can alter the process). A signed form stating that the parent/guardian and the candidate understand all requirements is also necessary before the preparation begins. Adults needing confirmation should refer to the Rite of Christian initiation of adults. Eucharistic Celebrations Saturday: 6:00 p.m. Sunday: 7:30 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 12:30 p.m. (Spanish) 4:00 p.m. Life Teen Mass Weekday Masses in St. Joseph s Chapel Monday (No Mass) Tuesday 12:00 noon Wednesday 8:30 a.m. & (1st Wednesday Only 6:30 p.m.) Thursday, & Friday 8:30 a.m. Parish Staff Rev. Tony A. Castro, Pastor Deacon Hector Cantu Deacon Julio Matallana Deacon Stan Avallone Bookkeeper-Patty Detweiler Bulletin/Sacramental Records Cheryl Frobenius Maintenance-Humberto Villalobos Parish Secretary-Debbie Heasty Receptionist-Peggy Holland C.C.E. Director-Jessica Jaramilllo EDGE Director-Renee Cortez Life Teen Director-Shari Davis Vision Statement St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception is a Catholic Community of Believers called to serve Christ by gathering together at the Lord s Table in worship and praise, by serving our brothers and sisters in Christ, and by being a welcoming beacon of light to all. We are many parts, yet one body in Christ.

2 ST. MARY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH ~ LA PORTE JANUARY 7, 2018 Saturday, Jan. 6: 6:00pm Sunday, Jan. 7: 7:30am 10:00am 12:30pm 4:00pm Jesse Lozana Sr. By: Lozano Family Zozimo Dapitan By:Lisa Lecompte Lyn Pfeiffer Birthday Celebration By:Paschal Family Silvia Carolina Rubio de Alba By:Graciela Hernandez People of the Parish Tuesday, Jan. 9: 12:00pm Special Intention for Sharon Edwards Wednesday, Jan. 10: 8:30am Thursday, Jan. 11: 8:30am Jamar Regorgo By:Lisa Lecompte Larry Macon By:Lisa Lecompte Friday, Jan. 12: 8:30am Birthday Celebration for Nathanael Rios By:Maria Rios Saturday, Jan. 13: 6:00pm Mary Pfeiffer By:Paschal Family Sunday, Jan. 14: 7:30am People of the Parish 10:00am Special Intention for David Heasty By:Family 12:30pm Birthday Celebration for Nathanael Rios By:Maria Rios 4:00pm Gonzalo Lopez Jr. By:Lopez Family Upcoming Blood Drive Sunday, January 21st 8:30am-2:30pm Rosary Hall Free T-Shirts ~ Goal 17 Donors CFL express enables you to complete The Blood Center s health history interview in the comfort of your own home. You must complete the health history interview and print your ticket on the same day as you donate. Thank you in advance for your gift of life! Weekly Goal $12, December 23 & 24, 2017 Regular Collection $8, Christmas Collection ~ $5, December 30 & 31, 2017 Collection $6, Holy Mother of God Feast Day Collection $ ~Parishioner Updates ~ 2017 Tax Statements If you have changed your address, phone number or marital status, please contact the parish office as soon as possible. If we do not have the correct contact information, it will cause a delay in receiving your tax donation letters by the end of the month. Tax statements will only be mailed to those who have donated $250. or more during the 2017 calendar year. If you have donated less, but would like a statement, please call the office. Please Note FOR 2018 Any donations received after Jan. 1st will be posted in Remember, you must be registered in our parish to receive a Tax Statement. Registration Forms are available in the Office or in the Church by the main doors. Just because you have baptized a child or have your children in CCE does not mean that you are registered in the parish. If you are not sure if you are registered in the parish, please call the office at your earliest convenience. If you have any questions, please contact the office. St. Joseph s Chapel We are still in need of someone to share the Wednesday Holy Hour from 3-4am due to adorer with a changing work schedule. Please call the office as soon as possible if you are willing to share this hour on an ongoing basis or would be able to be a sub. Come Pray With Us Rosary for Life Monday, January 8th - Please join us in praying the Holy Rosary, asking for our Blessed Mother s intercession for the unborn, elderly, disabled, sick and all special intentions in St. Joseph s 7:00pm. 2

3 Dear parish family, Epiphany of the Lord Once again we hear the wonderful story of the Magi who didn t mind all the travails, hardships and the dangers of the long journey in search of the newborn child. Nor were they disappointed when they found him in a lowly place. They were driven not in any selfish motives but purely by their desire to pay homage to one they believed as the Promised One. And find fulfillment and meaning in doing so. Our desire and motivation in coming to Sunday Mass should be the same with that of the Magi. Unfortunately many in our time have a variety of excuses and reasons not to come to pay homage to the Lord even for an hour on Sundays. We hear from some people say, I don t get a lot out of the Mass or I really don t get anything out of this Church. As in every other aspect of life, when we are looking to get, we receive little. When we are looking to give we receive more than we ever expected. If we are looking to get, there won t be much there. But if we are concerned with giving, then the Lord will shower us with his gifts. We shouldn t be coming to Mass for what we can get out of it. Rather we should be concerned with what we bring to it, our right attitude in worship. Like the Magi, we come before the Lord with gifts, the gifts of ourselves. We come to do Him homage, to reverence His presence. We come to present Him with our emptiness and humbly ask Him to fill us. The Magi completed a journey that ended in Bethlehem (which means in Hebrew House of Bread) and they returned to their homelands having a sense of fulfillment and meaning of what they did. We are in a journey throughout our lives seeking meaning, fulfillment and love. We come before Him in His Church, or among His People, including those who need us the most. We journey for new ways to give the Lord our reverence and love. Our gifts are absolutely nothing in comparison to what we already received from the Lord. An hour and a half of our day in a week, a portion of our income doesn t measure up to what the Lord God has given us. We have so little to offer the Lord yet He gives us so much more in return beyond measure. We should only be concerned with seeking the Lord, encountering His presence, doing Him homage, and giving ourselves to Him. If we follow the Magi in this way, then we will be wise women and wise men indeed before the eyes of God. Like the Magi what should really matter to us is our determination to worship the true Savior and bring him our gifts gold of our love, the incense of our prayers and praise, the myrrh of our sacrifices and sufferings for His sake. Only in this way that we can truly acknowledge the Lord and Savior and making ourselves pleasing to Him. Happy feast day of the Epiphany and have a good week! Fr. Tony Querida familia parroquial, Epifanía del Señor Una vez más, escuchamos la maravillosa historia de los Reyes Magos que no tuvieron en cuenta todas las tribulaciones, las dificultades y los peligros del largo viaje en busca del recién nacido. Tampoco se decepcionaron cuando lo encontraron en un lugar humilde. No fueron impulsados por ningún motivo egoísta, sino puramente por su deseo de rendir homenaje a alguien que creían como el Prometido. Y encontraron satisfacción y significado al hacerlo. Nuestro deseo y motivación al venir a la misa dominical debería ser el mismo que el de los Reyes Magos. Desafortunadamente, muchos en nuestro tiempo tienen una variedad de excusas y razones para no venir a rendir homenaje al Señor, incluso durante una hora los domingos. Algunas personas nos dicen: "No saco mucho de la Misa" o "Realmente no saco nada de esta Iglesia". Como en cualquier otro aspecto de la vida, cuando estamos buscando "obtener ", Recibimos poco. Cuando buscamos "dar", recibimos más de lo que esperábamos. Si estamos buscando llegar, no habrá mucho allí. Pero si nos preocupa dar, entonces el Señor nos derramará sus regalos. No deberíamos venir a la misa por lo que podemos obtener de ella. Más bien deberíamos preocuparnos por lo que le traemos, nuestra actitud correcta en la adoración. Al igual que los Reyes Magos, venimos ante el Señor con regalos, los dones de nosotros mismos. Venimos a hacerle un homenaje, a reverenciar su presencia. Venimos a presentarle nuestro vacío y humildemente le pedimos que nos llene. Los Reyes Magos completaron un viaje que terminó en Belén (que significa en hebreo - Casa del Pan) y regresaron a sus tierras natales teniendo una sensación de plenitud y sentido de lo que hicieron. Estamos en un viaje a lo largo de nuestras vidas buscando significado, satisfacción y amor. Venimos ante Él en Su Iglesia, o entre Su Pueblo, incluidos aquellos que más nos necesitan. Viajamos por nuevas formas de darle al Señor nuestra reverencia y amor. Nuestros dones no son nada en comparación con lo que ya recibimos del Señor. Una hora y media de nuestro día en una semana, una porción de nuestros ingresos no está a la altura de lo que el Señor Dios nos ha dado. Tenemos muy poco que ofrecer al Señor, sin embargo, Él nos da mucho más a cambio sin medida. Solo deberíamos preocuparnos por buscar al Señor, encontrar Su presencia, rendirle homenaje y entregarnos a Él. Si seguimos a los Reyes Magos de esta manera, entonces seremos hombres y mujeres sabios ante los ojos de Dios. Al igual que los Reyes Magos, lo que realmente debería importarnos es nuestra determinación de adorar al verdadero Salvador y traerle nuestros dones: oro de nuestro amor, el incienso de nuestras oraciones y alabanzas, la mirra de nuestros sacrificios y sufrimientos por él. Solo de esta manera podemos verdaderamente reconocer al Señor y Salvador: complaciéndolo a Él. Feliz día de fiesta de la Epifanía y que tengas una buena semana! P. Tony

4 ST. MARY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH ~ LA PORTE JANUARY 7, 2017 Activities of the Week Sun. Jan. 7: CCE, EDGE or Life Teen Bible Study: John 5:15pm Rosary Hall Conf. Rm Creciemento 6:30pm Rosary Hall Mon. Jan. 8: Rosary for Life 7pm Chapel Tues. Jan. 9: Altar Society Mtg. 6:30pm Rosary Hall Bapt. Class (Eng.) PH Conf. Rm 7pm Wed. Jan. 10: Bible Study: John St. Mary s Hall Conf. Rm 9:15am Justice & Peace Mtg. Rosary Hall 7pm Thurs. Jan. 11: RCIA 6:45pm PH Conf. Rm. 7pm Fri. Jan. 12: Spanish Prayer Group Justice & Peace Meeting We will have a meeting, January 7pm in Rosary Hall. We will be comparing notes on our Christmas Outreach and discussing plans for next year. If you would like to have some input, please join us. Upcoming Baptismal Dates Feb. 4, March 4 Baptism classes are on the 2nd Tuesday of each month in English and the 3rd Tuesday of the month in 7pm. Baptisms are the first Sunday of the month after the 10am & 12:30pm Masses. If you are baptizing here, you need to fill out a registration form for your child s baptism, and we will need to make a copy of their birth certificate from the state before you attend the class. If you do not live in La Porte, you must be a registered, active member of St Mary s to baptize your child here. You cannot register in our parish only to baptize your child. Please come by or call the office to fill out the paperwork. Welcome God s Children ~ October ~ Joseph Michael Medina, Zoe Moreno, Isaias Rodriguez, Isaac Rodriguez, Sabrina Rose Cuellar ~ November ~ Availy Herrera, Shane Anthony Crump ~ December ~ Analucia Cantu, Matthew Hugo Cabral, Adrian Navarro Anguiano, Ashton Rocco Malolos Roxas, Nathan Ray Palacios, Jack Matthew Pasillas B@Z@@R 2017 POT LUCK DINNER SUND@Y, J@NU@RY Booth Ch[irs & Volunt rs ROS@RY 7PM Join Us St. Mary s Music Ministry Sat. 6pm Mass Rehearsals before Mass at 5:15 Contact Kathy McBride Sun. 7:30am Mass - Rehearsals before Mass at 7am Contact Yvonne Fisher Sun. 10:00am Mass - Wed. 6:30-9pm Rosary Hall Contact Annelise Lagasse Sun. 12:30pm Spanish Mass- Contact Jose Vazquez Sun. 4pm Life Teen Mass- Rehearsals-Sunday 2pm Contact Alex sttheresa.prolife@gmail.com or Upcoming Adult Confirmation Classes If you have been baptized, have received your First Communion but need to be confirmed, we will be having Adult Confirmation Classes on 2pm in the Parish Hall conference room for five weeks, starting the first week of Lent. Due to the limited sessions, you will not be able to sign up late. Please contact Deacon Hector if you have any or call the office. The Gabriel Project is designed to help women and teenagers who are in a crisis pregnancy. If you are in need of assistance or know someone who is, please contact or the Church Office. Encuentro Martimonial Mundial Los invita a vivir un Fin de Semana Conoce como puedes vivir mas intima y profundamente tu relacion. AQuieres recuperar la relacion con tu esposo (a)cunado eran novios , , Marco & Mercedes Arrona, marco- 51@sbcglobal.net Los Testigos del Poder de Dios Nuestra Asamblea de Oración les invita a reunirse como hermanos en Cristo para ALABAR, BENDECIR, y GLORIFICAR a nuestro Dios, Padre, Hijo y Espiritu Santo. Vengan pequenos y grandes todos los viernes de 7:30-9:00p.m. en la capilla de San Jose. Te invitamos a una Hora Santa en comunidad Todos los mièrcoles De 7-8 p.m. En la Capilla de San Josè. Para más información Puedes comunicarte con Marta y Reino Fernández

5 ST. MARY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH ~ LA PORTE JANUARY 7, 2018 Please Pray For Our Troops and Noe Mares, Albert Davis, Anthony Melancon, Brittany Espinoza, Maximiliana Rios, Carlos Rios, Amy Zann, Joy Barksdale, Edward Salinas, Edward Salinas Jr., Sergio Reyes Family, Trevor Bonnau, Craig Wade, Jennifer Wade, Seth Permenter, Bob & Barbara Jennings, Dianne Lemons, Paula Lambright, Jennifer Minor, Jarred H., Dave & Cindy Schmitz, Faith A., Tami Sills, LeeAnn & Family, Dennis, Peggy & Erica Hargens, Ruth Christian, Marilyn James, Chuck Thompson, Katherie Reichley & Family, Don & Allie Fay Matthews, Joe & Sue Hand, Mary Pat Wells, Cheryl Grimes, Rick Lara, Tina Aviles, Katy Dalton, Sharon Holston, Janice Diaz, Mark Rushing, Debi Cariaga, Felicia Kahn, Molly Batson, Adam, Celine & Brandan, Steven Carr, Joseph Tryon, Kim Banks, Evangelina Gallegos, Ruth Stephens,Cormac O Reilly, Georgia Fogo, Jim Haynes, Jessica Salazar, AshleyPaulissen, Priscilla Lopez, Eloy Guerra, Jackie Chappell, Zina Arlan, Terry Dunn, Michael Scott, Francisco Viogueria, Aurora Jones,Carlos Martinez, Peter Brostain, Israel & Sara Espinoza, George Lopez Jr., Steve Grigory, Rena Espinoza Carroll, Dorothy Dawson, Sandra Schnieder, Officer Jason Kraatz, Ron Nowetner, JB Steverson, Kanryn Merrit, Angelina Sullivan, Candeleria Ortiz, Sherry Paschal, Hector Castro, Monique Shepherd, Thomas Pettus Continue to Pray for Ernie Molina, Kathy McBride, Margaret Espinoza, Christina Palacios, Romela Nolan, Joe Bernal, Fr. Gary Rickles, Renee Cortez, Pedro Sanchez, Aurelia Hinojosa, Cathy Hanzelka, Msgr. Boli Zientek, Ben Gerdes, Gayle Phillips, Carlos Smith, Jane Middleton, Rosa Reyes, Tom Noonan, Deacon Tom Lewis, Gene Contreras, Becky Melchor, Aaron Rodriguez, Irene Templet, Preston Wolf, Lawretta Foots, Marcos Vasquez, Clarence Clipper, Gavin Binkley, Clarence Lewis, Red Cornejo, Marita Hooper, Linda Jaramillo, Lois Johnston, Minnie Lopez, Deacon Merce Leal, Margarita Klock, Sue Crockett, Joanne Jarrell, Ben Munoz, Diana Ortiz, Bob Davis, Janet Hoffpauir, Nick Martin, Barry Armstrong and those requesting prayer via our web site. Remember Our Shut-Ins Josie Funda, Ophelia Pinard, Ann Blair, Soledad Hernandez, Elida Peterson, Carolyn Douglas, those battling terminal illness and the residents of La Porte Care Center and Parson s House. Repose of the Soul of Abel Benitez and Mary Sorrells Our Sympathy to Gloria Pena and family on the loss of her brother, Abel and Tim Hughes and the loss of his sister, Mary family on Please Note: Names on our Please Pray For list are left on for four weeks. If someone needs to be put back on the prayer list or added please call the Church Office. ALTAR SOCIETY 2018 Available Flower Date Jan. 20/21, 27/28 Feb. 3/4, 10/11, 17/18, 24/25 To place flowers on the altar contact Jan or to reserve your date as soon as possible. Altar Society Meeting 6:30pm Rosary Hall CATHOLIC CLERICAL STUDENT FUND is a fund set up to help maintain the Seminary where our young men live while they are studying to become priests. Enrollment cards are available for any special $3.00 per person, $10.00 per family or $25.00 for a perpetual enrollment. For info. or to do an enrollment please come by the office. Archdiocesan Help Available Annual MLK Remembrance Mass honoring Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. will take place on Sunday Jan. 14 at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, 1111 St. Joseph Pkwy., Houston, 3pm. 13th Annual Steps for Students 5K Run/Walk, Saturday, Feb. 17th at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart. Run/Volunteer... and register today. Parenting Help? The office of Family Life Ministry have trained eight professionals around the Archdiocese to provide services to parents who are willing and need help raising their children. The program is designed to offer advice, support and formation to parents with common developmental and behavioral problems in children. For more information or to register please call or Do you know a couple that is having a challenging situation in their relationship and need help? We may be able to coach you as a couple. We offer enrichment sessions, consulting and mentoring for married couples experiencing some crisis or challenges in their relationship. For more detailed information please contact the office of Family Life Maria Goretti Support Group for those afflicted with any type of abuse on the third Monday of the Cathedral Centre, 1701 San Jacinto St., Houston, TX. Go to or call Elder abuse can happen to anyone and it can take many different forms. Most cases of abuse reported to Adult Protective Services involve self-neglect. Many of these people are vulnerable to abuse because they live alone or are dependent on someone else for their care. Texas requires by law the reporting of elder abuse or the suspicion of elder abuse. If you know of someone who cannot care for himself/herself, or who is being abused, neglected or exploited, whether they live alone or with a spouse or caregiver, Texas law requires that you report the abuse. The number is ;your report will remain confidential. Office of Aging #

6 ST. MARY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH ~ LA PORTE JANUARY 7, 2018 St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store St. Mary s Church,816 Park Dr., La Porte, TX Low-Low Prices Clothing, Shoes, Houseware, Glassware, Hardware ~ New Merchandise Every Day ~ Hours: 9:00am to 11am Closed: Thursday & Sunday All proceeds are used to help the needy in our community with their rent and utility bills. Thank You for Your Support! Our Resale Shop here at St. Mary s is in need of volunteers (Especially able-bodied males). You can pick any day you are able to work. If you are available to help out, please contact St. Mary s Single/Single Again Ministry: Are you single and want to enjoy outings with others in like and similar circumstances? Call or vjswenson@att.net to join St. Mary s Single/Single Again Social Ministry. Our next outing will be Friday, January 26, at 9 am with a tour scheduled for 10:30 am of the Lanier Theological Library, which specializes in Archaeology, Biblical Studies, Church History, Dead Sea Scrolls, Egyptology, etc. Unique architecture with a separate Stone Chapel, a replica of a 500 A.D. Byzantine Chapel. We will leave at 9 a.m. from St. Mary's back parking lot on an East Harris County bus (age 55+ with $3 donation requested). Tour is free. Library is about an hour's drive from St. Mary's. Lunch after the tour. RSVP to Victoria if you plan to attend no later than Sat. Jan. 20, Life Touch Pictorial Information If you had your picture taken and are only receiving your free photo, call the church office. If you ordered additional pictures, but have not received them, call the number listed above. MINISTRY SCHEDULE JANUARY 13 & 14, 2018 SATURDAY 6:00pm Altar Servers Joseph Nguyen, John Paul Nguyen Lector Tim Hughes Commentator Wayne Christensen Extraordinary Ministers Walter Hayes, Tracy Avallone SUNDAY-7:30am Altar Servers Elizabeth Kappil, Ryan Kappil Lector Commentator Nick Barrera Extraordinary Ministers Leslie Davis, Mose Davis SUNDAY-10:00am Altar Server Lauren Lara, Payton Lara Lector Cindy Bremer Commentator Linda Patten Extraordinary Ministers Greg Bremer, Eloy Lara SUNDAY-12:30pm(Spanish) Altar Servers Adrian Calvillo, Adrian Rodriguez, Jasmine Rodriguez Lectors Carlos Cirnigliario, Graciela Cirnigliario Extraordinary Ministers Jose & Juany Gracia SUNDAY-4:00pm Altar Servers Ean Lopez, Eros Lopez Lectors Jason Woods Extraordinary Ministers Cecilia Lopez, Jose Lopez READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: Is 42:1-4, 6-7 or Is 55:1-11 or Acts 10:34-38 or 1 Jn 5:1-9; Ps 29:1-4, 3, 9-10 or Is 12:2-3, 4bcd-6; Mk 1:7-11 Tuesday:1 Sm 1:9-20 or 1 Sm 1:1-8 and 1 Sm 1:9-20; 1 Sm 2:1, 4-8abcd; Mk 1:21-28 or Mk 1:14-20 and Mk 1:21-28 Wednesday: 1 Sm 3:1-10, 19-20; Ps 40:2, 5, 7-10; Mk 1:29 39 Thursday: 1 Sm 4:1-11; Ps 44:10-11, 14-15, 24-25; Mk 1:40 45 Friday:1 Sm 8:4-7, 10-22a; Ps 89:16-19; Mk 2:1 12 Saturday: 1 Sm 9:1-4, 17-19; 10:1a; Ps 21:2-7; Mk 2:13 17 Sunday: 1 Sm 3:3b-10, 19; Ps 40:2, 4, 7-10; 1 Cor 6:13c-15a, 17-20; Jn 1:

7 Classes Today If you have any questions or concerns about your child s CCE, EDGE or Life Teen program, please be sure to let us know. Questions, contact Jessica Jaramillo in the office on Mon. & Life Teen Mass Today 4pm Bible Study Every Wed. Rm 7pm Jr. High Youth Program Class Info. contact