CATHOLIC. COMMUNITY Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston

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1 EPIPHANY OF THE LORD CATHOLIC COMMUNITY Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston Norwalk Drive Katy, Texas Telephone: Fax: ; Office Hours: Monday - Thursday 8:30 AM 4:30 PM Friday - 8:30 AM 4:00 PM Masses: Monday-Friday: 9:00 AM Saturday: *5:30 PM Sunday: 8:00 AM, *9:45 AM, *11:30 AM, 5:30 PM *Nursery Available Reconciliation: Saturday 4:00 5:00 PM; or appointment with a priest Anointing of the Sick: First Thursday of the month at 9:00 AM Mass Eucharistic Adoration: Tuesday after 9:00 AM Mass until 7:30 PM St. Vincent de Paul Society: December 21, 2014 Fourth Sunday of Advent Readings on Page

2 PARISH CLERGY Rev. Tom Lam Administrator Rev. Thomas Joseph Parochial Vicar Deacon John Evanoff Pastoral Associate Deacon Don Kish PARISH STAFF Business Manager Craig Shemon Gerry Broussard, Verna Goertz, Iris Orellana, Dan Stamps Religious Education LouAnn Svoboda, Director Beth Harvey, Glenna Carrell, Charlotte Fulton, Maria Laiseca Youth Ministry Dave Clark, Director Joey Harvey Music Ministry Spencer Schuyler Merle Vahlkamp Outreach Ministry Schottsie Hill, Director Lisa Gilkeson Facilities Manager Kirk Harris Young Kim COMMUNITY LIFE Nursery Coordinator: Anne Salazar Child s Play: Alyce Gabrysch Bingo: Friday at 7:30 p.m Welcome Newcomers If you would like more information on our Parish Community, please visit A Reflection by Pope Francis T aking his cue from the prophet Isaiah, Pope Francis said that God saves his people not from afar but being close and tender. God s closeness is such that he is presented like a mother, a mother who talks to her baby, and sings lullabies to her baby The Pope said that the mother had even taken on the voice and the language of a child so much so she can seem ridiculous if one does not understand how great the context actually is: Do not fear, you little worm Jacob. How often Francis pointed out does a mother say this kind of thing to her child as she caresses him? I will make of you a threshing sledge, sharp, new, full of teeth I will make you grow big and she caresses him again and holds him close. And so does God. This is God s tenderness. And He expresses his closeness with tenderness: the tenderness of a mother. God s love is free the Pope continued just as a mother s love is for her child. And the child allows himself to be loved: this is the grace of God. But many times, just to be sure, we want to control the grace. He said that in history and also in our lives we are tempted to transform grace into a kind of a merchandise, perhaps saying to ourselves something like I have so much grace, or, I have a soul clean, I am graced. In this way this beautiful truth of God s closeness slips into a kind spiritual book-keeping: I will do this because it will give me 300 days of grace I will do that because it will give me this, and doing so I will accumulate grace. But what is grace? A commodity? That s what it appears. And throughout history this closeness of God to his people has been betrayed by this selfish attitude, selfish, by wanting to control grace, to turn it into merchandise. The Pope recalled the groups at the time of Jesus who wanted to control grace: the Pharisees, enslaved by the many laws that they loaded on the shoulders of the people. The Sadducees with their political compromises. The Essenes, who were good, very good, but they had so much fear, they never took any risks and ended up isolated within their monasteries. The Zealots, for whom the grace of God was the war of liberation, another way to transform grace into merchandise. The grace of God Pope Francis said - is another matter: it is closeness, it is tenderness. This rule is always valid. If, in your relationship with the Lord, do not feel that He loves you tenderly, you are missing something, you still have not understood what grace is, you have not yet received grace which is this closeness. Pope Francis recalled the confession many years ago, of a woman who was tormented by the question of whether a Mass attended on a Saturday evening for a wedding was valid as it had readings different to that on the Sunday. This was his answer: Madam, the Lord loves you so much. You went to Church and there you received Communion, you were with Jesus... Do not worry, the Lord is not a merchant, the Lord loves us, He is close. "St. Paul reacts strongly against this spirituality of the law: I am right, and this and this. If I do not do this I am not right. But you are right because God has drawn close, because God caresses you, because God tells you these beautiful things with tenderness: this is our justice, this closeness of God, this tenderness, this love. At the risk of seeming ridiculous our God is so good. If we had the courage to open our hearts to this tenderness of God, how much spiritual freedom we would have! How much! Today, if you have a little time, at home, take the Bible: Isaiah, chapter 41, from verse 13 to 20, seven verses. Read them. This tenderness of God, this God who sings in each of us a lullaby, like a mother. 2

3 Events & Meetings This Week SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21 Nursery Closed MONDAY, DECEMBER 22 9:30 AM, ESL Level 1/2: Room 310 7:00 PM, Scout Troop 1146: Rooms 204/205/206/207/212 7:00 PM, Job Networking: Rec Room TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23 9:30 AM 4:00 PM, Adoration: (Note time change) Chapel 10:00 AM, Holy Hour Rosary for Respect Life: Chapel 11:00 AM, ESL 2: Rec Room WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24 Parish Offices Closed 4:00 PM, Mass: Church 4:00 PM, Mass: Family Center 6:00 PM, Mass: Church 6:00 PM Mass: Family Center 9:00 PM, Mass: Church Midnight Mass: Church THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25 Parish Offices Closed 9:00 AM, Mass: Church 11:00 AM, Mass: Church FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26 Parish Offices Closed No Bingo SATURDAY, DECEMBER 27 10:00 AM, Baptisms: Narthex Nursery Closed SUNDAY, DECEMBER 28 Nursery Closed The Parish Offices will be closed December 24, 25 and 26 to allow for staff members to spend time with their families. They will reopen Monday, December 29 at 8:30 a.m. The staff wishes each of you a joyful and blessed Christmas season. 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 Knights of Columbus Terren Roark, Grand Knight St. Vincent de Paul Society Cynthia Viator Ladies Club Ann Hoar Forever Young Barbara Hajjar, Clare Snow 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, Youth Usher & Faith Formation Schedules. epiphany@epiphanycatholic.org 3

4 Liturgy & Prayer PRAYER LIST FOR THE SICK LITURGICAL CELEBRATIONS THIS WEEK SPECIAL REMEMBRANCES Saturday, December 20 Vigil-Fourth Sunday of Advent 5:30 PM Douglas Castillo Sunday, December 21 Fourth Sunday of Advent 8:00 AM Enrique Ekoki 9:45 AM For the People 11:30 AM Clemintina Garabito 5:30 PM Michael Wayne Monday, December 22 Late Advent Weekday 9:00 AM Milburn Frerich Tuesday, December 23 Late Advent Weekday 9:00 AM Teresa Ekoki Wednesday, December 24 Vigil-The Nativity of the Lord 4:00 PM Olenka Coox (Church) 4:00 PM Fred Schmidt (Family Center) 6:00 PM Leo & Kathleen Farnan (Church) 6:00 PM Manzon & Llanera Family (FC) 9:00 PM For the People Midnight Mass Nancy Dore Hall Thursday, December 25 The Nativity of the Lord 9:00 AM Gilbert Ruttle 11:00 AM For the People Friday, December 26 St. Stephen, First Martyr 9:00 AM Leland Johnson Saturday, December 27 Vigil-Feast of the Holy Family 5:30 PM Rosalind Tan Sunday, December 28 Feast of the Holy Family 8:00 AM End to abortion; All aborted babies 9:45 AM For the People 11:30 AM Raul Correa, Sr. 5:30 PM Marcela Villabroza Important Reminder: All Extra Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, 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 keep the following people in your thoughts and prayers this week as we wish them a return to good health: Linda Doucette, Christine Bencivengo, Eva Lazarich, Nancy Dore Hall, Jason Sides, Margaret Hoffman, Mary Reuter, Nicholas Delheim, John Brown, Lois Fingleman, Patricia Givens, Janet Cuccia, Donny Hughes, Donald Miller. 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. READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: 1 Sm 1:24-28; 1 Sm 2:1, 4-8abcd; Lk 1:46-56 Tuesday: Mal 3:1-4, 23-34; Ps 25:4-5ab, 8-10, 14; Lk 1:57-66 Wednesday: 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Ps 89:2-5, 27, 29; Lk 1:67-79 Thursday: Vigil: Is 62:1-5; Ps 89:4-5, 16-17, 27, 29; Acts 13:16-17, 22-25; Mt 1:1-25 [18-25] Night: Is 9:1-6; Ps 96:1-3, 11-13; Ti 2:11-14; Lk 2:1-14 Dawn: Is 62:11-12; Ps 97:1, 6, 11-12; Ti 3:4-7; Lk 2:15-20 Day: Is 52:7-10; Ps 98:1-6; Heb 1:1-6; Jn 1:1-18 [1-5, 9-14] Friday: Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59; Ps 31:3cd-4, 6, 8ab, 16bc, 17; Mt 10:17-22 Saturday: 1 Jn 1:1-4; Ps 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12; Jn 20:1a, 2-8 Sunday: Sir 3:2-6, or Gn 15:1-6; 21:1-3; Ps 128:1-5 or Ps 105:1-6, 8-9; Col 3:12-21 [12-17] or Hb 11:8, 11-12, 17-19; Lk 2:22-40 [22, 39-40] Please pray for our military men and women. 4

5 News in the Parish Parish Office Renovations Completed We have been diligently renovating our parish office for the past few months. I am pleased to update that the renovation project has been completed. The entrance to the parish office has been restored to its normal place, which is off of the main loggia near the Family Center. I would like to take this occasion to thank the many dedicated volunteers who have made adjustments to their regular ministerial routine in order to accommodate this endeavor. In particular, I am most grateful to the Collection Counting Teams and Usher Teams for their additional support in conducting their Sunday ministry during these months of transition. It is my hope that the additional office and organization of the administrative building will contribute to the efficiency and effectiveness of the pastoral care offered by the clergy and staff of the parish. Please feel free to stop in to see the improvements and new areas of the parish offices. Invoking upon you and your family the grace and peace of the newborn King during this promising season of Advent, I remain Devotedly yours in Christ, Fr. Tom Our Stewardship Stewardship December 13/14 To be announced due to earlier bulletin deadline Registered Households 6,672 Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you! Luke 1:28 Faith is a gift from God. During this Christmas season take time in silence and pray to God. Thank Him for all the gifts He has given you. Try to set aside any anger or resentment you have and really open your heart to receive the gift of God s grace. egiving with Faith Direct During your holiday travels of Advent and Christmas, please consider signing up with Faith Direct, the electronic giving program here at Epiphany of the Lord. Even if you are traveling on business or for vaca on, you can make all of your generous contribu ons to the parish through Faith Direct by way of automa c payment from your checking account or credit card, just as you may do now with your mortgage, household bills, and other monthly payments. It is a great way to simplify your giving, and it is the most cost-effec ve, environmentally-friendly way for the parish to receive your gi s. Faith Direct is the leading egiving program for Catholic churches in the Archdiocese as well as in dioceses across the country. You can visit their website at to learn more about how to enroll securely online. Please note, our parish code is TX613. Faith Direct also offers your family personalized offertory cards to replace your envelopes to be placed in the collec on basket on Sundays. I would like to take this opportunity as well to express my deepest gra tude for your generosity throughout the year. It is wonderful to be a part of a faith community that so graciously supports the parish and the important ministries that the Church provides. I hope that you find that this new program makes it more convenient for you to con nue to offer your gi s to Epiphany of the Lord. Expressing the assurances of my prayerful remembrance of you and your family during the grace-filled seasons of Advent and Christmas, I remain Devotedly yours in Christ, Fr. Tom Lam 5

6 Respect for Life Bulletin Board Join us on a parish pilgrimage to Rome, Italy on Oct. 25-Nov. 5, Travel to Venice, Florence, Assisi and the Eternal City of Rome to experience the rich culture and deep spirituality of the Church. Only 50 places available for parishioners of Epiphany. If interested, please contact Craig Shemon at craig@epiphanycatholic.org A Message from Fr. Jack.... Wishing all at Epiphany a Blessed Advent and a Christmas season filled with new hope to replace any fear. I think of my Epiphany family often. You will always be dear to me. SAVE THE DATE: January 22, 2015 is the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade. 42 years ago in 1973 the Supreme Court ruled that women have a constitutional right to abortion, and that this right is based on an implied right to personal privacy emanation from the Ninth and Fourteenth Amendments. The court said that the fetus is not a person but "potential life" and thus does not have constitutional rights of its own. In response to this Anniversary the Respect for Life Committee is planning a Day of Adoration and Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children on Thursday January 22, 2015 after morning Mass until 7:00 p.m. We will have prayer and adoration. Starting in January there will be a sign up sheet to cover this special day of prayer. What a great way to start the New Year! When Elizabeth heard Mary s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Luke 1: (NABRE 2010 CCD. Used with permission.) Intercessions for Life Fourth Sunday of Advent For all expectant mothers, especially those facing challenges: That they may look to Our Lady s example of faith in God s care; We pray to the Lord CHRISTMAS IN THE HEART Christmas! Tis the season for kindling the fire of hospitality in the hall, the genial fire of charity in the heart. Washington Irving Attention to those who use the nursery: The nursery will be closed on December 27/28 and January 3/4 in observance of the Christmas and New Year holidays. 6

7 Christmas Mass CHRISTMAS EVE Schedule Wednesday, December 24, 2014 Church Family Center 4:00 p.m. (Children s Choir) 4:00 p.m.* 6:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m.* 9:00 p.m. 12:00 a.m. (Midnight Mass) CHRISTMAS DAY Thursday, December 25, :00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. Feast of the Holy Family (December 27 28th) Regular Weekend Schedule Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (Holy Day of Obligation) Wednesday, December 31, 2014 Thursday, January 1, :30 p.m.* (Vigil) 9:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. * No incense will be used at these designated Masses. Hypoallergenic incense will be used at all other Masses. In addition, during the weekends that incense will be used, all of the Masses will have incense except the 8:00 a.m. Sunday Mass. 7

8 Outreach Ministry Outreach Events in Dec: Standing Meetings: Mon. Epiphany Job Networking at 7 p.m. in the PAC; Tues. Respect Life Rosary at 10 am Dec 25th: Christmas Day, Hope everyone has a blessed Christmas Jan 1th: Happy New Years Day Jan 3/4: Food Drive Jan 5: 7pm. See for details. JOB NETWORKING At a loss where to start your job search? Been unemployed for many months? Reentering the work force after a few years? Want to change companies or industries? Exhausted all of your job leads? Then it s time to join our networking group. Experienced facilitators are available to help. We meet Monday evenings from 7:00 to 9:00 pm in the Parish Activity Center. Merry Christmas Thanks to all of our wonderful volunteers! Without you, we wouldn t be able to fulfill as many of our community s needs through out the year. We re blessed that you re part of the Epiphany Outreach Family. We wish you all a safe, fun, and peace-filled holiday. Resolutions It s that time of year...time to start thinking about what we may want to better in the upcoming year. As you begin this process, be prayerful and reflect on whether any of the volunteer opportunities listed are calling you. Thank you and God Bless! Blood Drives (quarterly assistance needed) Faith Formation for Adults JOB FAIR JANUARY 22, 2015 ARE YOU LOOKING FOR EMPLOYEES? The Job Fair is welcoming companies that have salaried positions opened. Please contact Outreach, if you re interested. NEED PRAYERS epiphanyprayers@gmail.com Funeral Aid Ministry (help with receptions) The Gathering Place (second Thursday of the month) Homebound Ministry One Outreach Opportunity (Service Project Opportunities) Prayer Ministry ( or Adoration) Respect for Life St. Vincent de Paul Society (make home visits when available, Monday night volunteering) Second Family Care Team (visit a shut in) Transportation Ministry (drive when available) 8

9 Faith Formation Classes will resume: Tuesday, January 20. Wednesday, January 21 and Sunday January 25, 2015! Thanks to all our students and parents who helped celebrate our Christmas Parties. Our Christmas Tree was graciously received by St. Vincent DePaul Food Closet (see pictures). Our wrapping skills beyond measure for the Angel tree gifts. (Watch for pictures in upcoming bulletin). YOU are gift to our parish! Faith Formation Photos from Faith Formation Christmas Parties Children s Liturgy of the Word does not meet during the Advent/Christmas Season. Our team will return for the Feast of Epiphany on January 4, Are you interested in being a part of our team? Please contact Beth Harvey as we prepare our Winter/Spring calendar. bharvey@epiphanycatholic.org or All adult volunteers (18 years and older) working with children must be VIRTUS trained. Catechists echo the Faith to our parish. Are you interested in learning more about this ministry? Call Beth Harvey ( ) or her (bharvey@epiphanycatholic.org) to find out how to become a catechist for elementary aged students. Called To Be Mom: No meetings until January 7, Contact ctbm.epiphany@gmail.com for more information. 9

10 Epiphany Youth Ministry We pray you have a Merry Christmas Break and look forward to seeing you in the New Year! Confirmation Reminders: Retreat is January 9-11, 2015 We meet at 5pm at Epiphany Jan 9th for bus ride to Pine Cove in Columbus Seniors! Join us in the Upper Room on Monday nights from 7-8:30 p.m. as we share scripture. Come and pray with us! Treasures from our Tradition By the year 800, when anointing was defined as the proper office of priests, very complicated rituals began to take shape. Perhaps this was to reassure the laity, who had memories of an earlier practice, that the new way was not only better, but impossible for a layperson to conduct. Blessings and sprinkling of holy water, the singing of as many as seven psalms, penance, anointing of all the senses, viaticum, all capped off by the clothing of the sick person in penitential garments, were part of the rite. This proved unwieldy, and creative spirits got to work. By the 1500s people made distinctions between visiting the sick, anointing, and viaticum. The attempt of the Church to be faithful to the image of a healing Christ has some complicated history, including centuries when the celebration was rare. Most sick people had no access to the rites at all; only monastics or the welloff had much hope of this care. Today, those unhappy days are long behind us, and the care of the sick is an essential task in every parish s life. As Christmas approaches almost everyone comes in contact with someone who is a candidate for pastoral care. You live out the best of our tradition when you arrange for a sick person to receive Holy Communion or the sacrament of the sick and the consolation of regular contact with the faith community. Rev. James Field, Copyright J. S. Paluch Co. Around the Archdiocese There is still an opportunity for students and families to learn more about St. John XXIII College Preparatory! Individual family tours (Tuesday - Friday from 9:00 a.m. to Noon) and Student shadow days (Fridays only from 7:45 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.) may be scheduled with the Admissions office. Please contact Lynsey Hepburn (Admissions Dir.) or Lauren Cowan (Admission Assistant) via at admissions@sj23lions.org or by phone at in order to learn more about why it s a great day to be a lion! 10

11 CHURCH NAME AND ADDRESS : Epiphany of the Lord Catholic Community 1530 Norwalk Dr., Katy, TX PHONE INFORMATION SHEET CONTACT PERSON Gerry Broussard #1 #2 SOFTWARE Microsoft Publisher 2003 Adobe Acrobat 6.0 Professional Windows XP Professional Service Pack Three PRINTER HP LJ Color M353-M451 PCL6 NUMBER OF PAGES SENT 1 through 11 SUNDAY DATE OF PUBLICATION December 21, 2014 TRANSMISSION TIME Tuesday, 12 PM SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS 11