CARMEL OUR LADY OF THE VALLEY ST. PETER CHANEL

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1 St. John of the Cross Catholic Cluster NOTRE DAME du MONT CARMEL OUR LADY OF THE VALLEY ST. PETER CHANEL St. David St. Agatha St. Bruno - St. Remi St. Gerard-Mt. Carmel St. Luce St. Joseph (Hamlin) St. Thomas Aquinas St. Joseph (Sinclair) St. Michael (Summer Months) January 13, 2019 Pastor Fr. James Plourde james.plourde@portlanddiocese.org Parochial Vicars Fr. Antony Alexander Maria Doss, HGN antony.mariadoss@portlanddiocese.org Fr. Selvaraj Kasi, HGN selvaraj.kasi@portlanddiocese.org Deacons Rev. Mr. Donald R. Clavette donald.clavette@portlanddiocese.org Rev. Mr. Rodney Deschaine rodney.deschaine@portlanddiocese.org Cluster 2 Business Coordinator Greg Cyr greg.cyr@portlanddiocese.org Bulletin Editor janice.dufour@portlanddiocese.org Sacramental & Pastoral Care SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM Please call your parish office for appointment. SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION Saturday before 4pm Mass or appointment. SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE Please call your parish office at least 6 months prior to date. SACRAMENT OF THE ANOINTING OF THE SICK Please call your parish office. FUNERALS Please contact the Cluster 2 business office. New Parishioners If you are new to the parish or have an address or phone number change, please contact your parish office. NOTRE DAME DU MONT CARMEL 309 St. Thomas Street, Suite 103 Madawaska, ME Parish Office / Cluster 2 Business Office notredamedumontcarmel@portlanddiocese.org Faith Formation Office OUR LADY OF THE VALLEY 379 Main St./PO Box 10, St. Agatha, ME Parish Office Faith Formation Office ST. PETER CHANEL 174 Main St., Van Buren, ME Parish Office StPeterChanelParish@portlanddiocese.org

2 The Baptism of the Lord January 13, 2019 Notre Dame du Mont Carmel Mass Schedule Saturday, January 12 4:00pm ST: Pauline Migneault France Soucy 6:00pm SG: Henry (Henri) Ouellette Gerard & Benita Ouellette Sunday, January 13 The Baptism of the Lord 8:30am ST: Francis McDermott Fred Michaud 11:00am SD: Real Lausier (1st Anniv.) Wife & Family Monday, January 14 8:30am ST: Germaine Cyr Family & Friends Tuesday, January 15 9:00am-5:45pm ST: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 6:00pm ST: George Dugal Lester & Anne Ouellette Wednesday, January 16 8:30am SD: Bernard Michaud Wife & Family Thursday, January 17 No Mass / St. Anthony Abbot Friday, January 18 No Mass Saturday, January 19 4:00pm ST: Dr. Fred Harrigan Enid Corey 6:00pm SG: Ronald & Hermance Cyr Children Sunday, January 20 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time 8:30am ST: Memorial Mass (Intentions on Cluster Page) 11:00am SD: Robert Gagnon (1st Anniv.) Jeanne & Tom Saturday, January 12 4:00pm SA: Clarence Sirois Mr. & Mrs. Scott Jordan & Family Tuesday, January 15 8:30am SJ: Adrien Ouellette Lucien & Joyce Ayotte Wednesday, January 16 No Mass Saturday, January 12 4:00pm SB/SR: Kevin Cyr his Mother & siblings Sunday, January 13 The Baptism of the Lord 8:00am SJ: Jerome Bell Mom & Family 9:15am SB/SR: Kim Beaulieu Monday, January 14 6:00pm SB/SR: Souls in Purgatory Joseph R. Cote Tuesday, January 15 No Mass Wednesday, January 16 6:00pm SB/SR: Phyllis Lajoie Pat, Lisa, Patrick & Alex Vaillancourt 6:30pm - 7:00pm - Eucharistic Adoration & Reconciliation Our Lady of the Valley Mass Schedule Sunday, January 13 The Baptism of the Lord 10:30am SL: Gedeon Corriveau Family 4:00pm SJ: Reginald Bates, Raymond Malinowski, & Jay McMahon Rosemary Bates Monday, January 14 No Mass Sunday, January 20 St. Peter Chanel Mass Schedule Thursday, January 17 St. Anthony Abbot 6:00pm SL: Conrad Guerrette Ray & Joan Hebert Friday, January 18 10:00am MH: Jeannine Cyr Alma Chasse Saturday, January 19 4:00pm SA: Jeannine Cyr Jean Paul & Family 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time 10:30am SL: Memorial Mass (Intentions on OLV page) 4:00pm SJ: Jacqueline Gendreau Family Thursday, January 17 No Mass / St. Anthony Abbot Friday, January 18 10:00am BVM: Msgr. Robert Lavoie Joseph R. & Connie Cote Saturday, January 19 4:00pm SB/SR: Donalda Reboyras Marlene & Ray Maldonado Sunday, January 20 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time 8:00am SJ: Gervaise Lapierre Rebecca St. Pierre 9:15am SB/SR: Reno Thibodeau Abbreviations for Cluster Church Sites and Facilities NOTRE DAME DU CARMEL OUR LADY OF THE VALLEY ST. PETER CHANEL SD - St. David SA - St. Agatha SB/SR - St. Bruno/St. Remi SG - St. Gerard SL - St. Luce SJ - St. Joseph (Hamlin) ST - St. Thomas Aquinas SJ - St. Joseph (Sinclair) BVM - Borderview Manor CV - Country Village SM - St. Michael s Chapel RDG - Ridgewood SJMC - St. Joseph Memory Care HVM - High View MH - Montfort Heights

3 Notre Dame du Mont Carmel Parish Corner St. David, St. Gerard-Mt. Carmel/Grand Isle, St. Thomas Aquinas/Madawaska Worship & Spirituality PRAY FOR OUR SICK Anne B.C. Deschaine, Rosanne Chasse, Roger Ayotte, Lorette Chasse, Louise Gendreau, Joe Ouellette, Randy Dufour, George Dionne, Carlene Martin, Gene Lavoie, Gordon Soucy, Bernice Martin, Mike Rossignol, Joel Albert, Brenda Levesque, Edwina Sirois, Aline Bouchard, James Lavoie and Tom Gagnon. FMI call LAMP FOR THE UNBORN BURNS FOR: St. David - for the unborn a Parishioner St. Gerard - for the Samuel Jan Violette ST. THOMAS AQUINAS SANCTUARY LAMP BURNS IN JANUARY FOR: For a Special Intention Aldeo Belanger ST. DAVID SANCTUARY LAMP BURNS IN JANUARY FOR: Gaetane Lagasse Family EUCHARISTIC ADORATION EVERY TUESDAY at St. Thomas Aquinas Church from 9am 6:00pm. This week s intention: For an end to abortion and all sins against human life, and also for our area businesses and their workforces. Parish Life JOB OPENING Sexton/Groundskeeper Individual wanted for janitorial and maintenance duties for St. Gerard Church, Main St. Grand Isle. Tasks include care of the grounds, general maintenance and overall handyman. This position is part time with flexible hours. Applications are available at: Notre Dame du Mont Carmel Business Office 309 St. Thomas St. Suite 103 Madawaska ME DAUGHTERS OF ISABELLA MEETING: Monday, January 14th at Knights of Columbus Hall. Rosary at 5pm, meal at 5:15pm followed meeting at 6pm. Theme: Soup for the Poor Please bring non-perishable items to the replenish the Food Pantry. ST. DAVID LADIES OF ST. ANNE MEETING: We will be going to Highview Manor to meet residents at 2pm on Wednesday, January 15th. FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING: Tuesday, January 22nd at 6:30pm in the pastor s conference room. DAUGHTERS OF ISABELLA PRAYER LINE: If you are in need of prayers for you or a loved one, the Daughters of Isabella can help through the Prayer Line. Many persons who have been placed on the prayer line have found great comfort in the power of prayer and some have witnessed miracles. This is open to anyone not only for members. To add a name to the prayer line, contact Lorraine Talbot, Finance & Administration Notre Dame du Mont Carmel Financial Update Offertory: July 1, 2018 to December 30, 2018 Budget: $194,712 Actual: $ Over Anticipated: $2,605 Amount given Weekly goal St. David $3,957 $1,849 St. Gerard $1,631 $908 St. Thomas Aquinas $7,578 $4,454 Weekly Totals $13,165 $7,212 Above numbers include Christmas collections. PLEASE NOTE: YOU WILL FIND THE MEMORIAL MASS INTENTIONS ON THE CLUSTER PAGE FOR NOTRE DAME DU MONT CARMEL!!! REST IN PEACE Please pray for those who have died and for their families: Verna Cyr, 81, who passed away on December 31st. She was the mother of Diane, Jackie, Allan, Richard and Lyne Hebert.. Paul Beaulieu, 65, who passed away on January 1st. He was the husband of Jackie and brother of Conrad, Don and Muriel Deschaine. Louise Wickenheiser, 69, who passed away on January 2nd. She was the wife of Kurt. Faith Formation YEAR 1 FAMILY FAITH FORMATION GATHERING Sunday, January 27th Begins with families attending 8:30am Mass Followed Faith Formation in the church center (basement). Theme: Do This in Memory of Me YEAR 2 FAMILY FAITH FORMATION GATHERING Sunday, January 27th 5:00 p.m. Teaching Mass with Fr. Alex in church 6:00 p.m. Family Potluck in the church center (basement) Community Events AMERICAN LEGION POST 147 MONTHLY MEETING: Monday, January 14th; meal at 6pm, meeting at 7pm. GRAND ISLE SENIOR LUNCH: Thursday, January 17th, at 11am. Menu: Soup & Sandwiches. KITCHEN PARTY: Sunday, January 20th, from 1 to 3 pm in the Grand Isle Community Center. Free admission. Free snacks and refreshments. Join us for fun with local entertainers. Sponsored the Greater Grand Isle Historical Society. FMI call Gerald at GRAND ISLE SNOWMOBILE CLUB BREAKFAST: Sunday, Jan. 20th from 7 to 11am at the Grand Isle Community Center. All Welcome!

4 Our Lady Of The Valley Parish Corner St. Agatha, St. Joseph/Sinclair, St. Luce/Frenchville, St. Michael Chapel Worship & Spirituality SANCTUARY LAMP: Burns this week: St. Agatha: Bertrand Collins Family St. Luce: Joe Deschaine Odette Ouellette ADORATION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT Monday s after 6:00 p.m. Mass until 7:30 p.m. at St. Agatha Thursday s after 6:00 pm. Mass until 7:30 p.m. at St. Luce Prayer Line Contacts St. Joseph: Cecile Ouellette REST IN PEACE Please pray for those who have died and for their families: Jean Maurice Moe Tardif, 84, who passed away on Dec. 25th. He was the father of Karen & Mark.. Maurice Sirois, 96, who passed away on December 28th. Bernice Dumais, 86, who passed away on December 28th. Sacramental Life SACRAMENT of RECONCILIATION / CONFESSIONS Mondays at St. Agatha: After 6pm Mass Thursdays at St. Luce: After 6pm Mass Parish Life FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING Wednesday, January 23rd at 6:30pm - Rectory Hall THANK YOU!! The members of St. Luce Church and the community members of Frenchville wish to thank Skip McQuarrie for the many years of service to the St. Luce Food Bank. Skip went beyond the call of duty, delivering many food baskets to the needy, taking care of the paper work, picking up food supplies, along with all the organization it takes to run a food bank. Skip retired from the food bank at the end of December. Many Thanks to you Skip! Our Thanks also goes out to his wife Rose and Maurice Dube for the many ways they helped in the Food Bank! Finance & Administration Our Lady of the Valley Financial Updates Offertory: July 1, 2018 to December 30, 2018 Budget: $103,846 Actual: $107,656 Over Anticipated: $3810 Amount Given Weekly Goal St. Agatha $4,292 $1,876 St. Joseph $1,773 $629 St. Luce $2,887 $1,174 St. Michael (13 weeks) $ $791 Weekly Totals $8,952 $4,470 Above numbers include Christmas collections. MEMORIAL MASS Sunday, January 20th - 10:30am Mass at St. Luce John Beaupre L Union St. Jean Baptist Roger Dumais Clarence & Irma Sirois Hilda Bossie Conrad & Jean Cyr Raymond Lizotte Roland & Sandra Carrier Conrad Guerrette Phil & Glenna Guerrette Leo James Martin Claudette O Donnell Gedeon Corriveau Family Fr. Claude Albert Rev. Rene Mathieu Mr. & Mrs. Fortuna Lavoie Germaine Tardif All Souls Parishioners Joe Deschaine Odette Ouellette Reginald Thibeault Odette Ouellette Jules & Mariette Leclereq Odette Ouellette Yvette Leclereq Odette Ouellette Lillian Marquis Phil & Linda Bechard Jean Paul & Estelle Bechard Phil & Linda Bechard Msgr. Joseph Arsenault Constance Cote Harold, Donald, Martin, Denis, Gerald Ouellette, Donald Shields Family Leo Lavoie Bertile Chamberland Pour Les Bien de la Terre Lloyd & Judy Tardif Beulah Madore Levesque Lloyd & Judy Tardif Fred Donovan Mr. & Mrs. Paul Savoie Alfreda Chamberland Lori Allard Our Lady of the Rosary Constance Cote Bernard Bosse Bernard & Gerry Michaud Community Events GIVING OF THE HEART Students at Wisdom Middle/High School in St. Agatha have been participating in a pilot program called The Giving of the Heart to provide assistance to our local community. High school juniors and seniors go out on Friday morning into the community and help those who are still in their homes but may be unable to do manual labor like yard work or moving furniture. FMI contact Denise Thibeault at Wisdom Middle/High School at or her at dthibeault@msad33.org. SENIOR LUNCHES St. Agatha: Monday, January 14th at 11:30 a.m. Menu: Chicken Stew & Ployes Sinclair: Monday, January 21st at 11:30 a.m. Menu: Meat Loaf

5 St. Peter Chanel Parish Corner St. Bruno-St. Remi Church/Van Buren, St. Joseph Church/Hamlin & Borderview Nursing Home ST. BRUNO-ST. REMI CHURCH SPONSORS BREAD & WINE SPONSOR / IN LOVING MEMORY OF: No Sponsor SANCTUARY LAMP SPONSOR / IN LOVING MEMORY OF: D Amours & Levesque Families Rachel & Gene Levesque Wanted: Bread & Wine / Sanctuary Lamp Sponsors : There are currently available dates for the 2019 year for Bread & Wine and Sanctuary Lamp sponsors. Sponsorship for Bread & Wine is $25 and Sanctuary Lamp is $15. Please consider coming into the office to reserve your dates and memorialize a family member while helping to defer costs. Thank you for your consideration. God Bless. IN LOVING MEMORY OF: Otto & Violet O Hara Roland & Claire Charette Jerome Bell Claudette Roy Hayden Perreault Mr. & Mrs. Leonard Ouellette Diane Brady Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Madore Mr. & Mrs. Albenie Labbe My Friend, Della Mom, Dad, Aunt Julie, Tom & Linda Raymond Lajoie Herman Lajoie Kim Beaulieu Ernest & Tina Marquis Jim Marquis Ernest, Tina & Jim Marquis Parish Life Christmas Flower Donations Youth Ministry Beo & Patsy Charette Beo &Patsy Charette Gil & Ruth Parent Gil & Ruth Parent Gil & Ruth Parent Mike & Rachel Ouellette Mike & Rachel Ouellette Mrs. Patrick Labbe Mrs. Patrick Labbe Lisa Lisa Bob & Carol Ouellette Bob & Carol Ouellette Mom, Dad & Family Jim & Marge Levasseur Jim & Marge Levasseur Rita Marquis Thank You to all who contributed! Rest In Peace Please pray for those who have died and for their families Mike Red Roy who passed away on December 29, Reno Thibodeau who passed away on December 31, Herman Labreck who passed away on January 2, Rodney Ayotte who passed away on January 5, Food Pantry Update Thanks to everyone who gave their support during the Norstate Hope for the Holidays food and funding campaign. Our Next project through Norstate, ACAP and WAGM are souping things up with a soup drive. This is a great item in pantry and hard to keep in stock. Thanks ahead for your participation!! Next Regular Distribution, Thursday, Jan 31, 1-3pm. Emergencies: Dan , Nancy , Norm YOUTH MINISTRY MEETINGS - SPC Parish Hall January 13th - 6-7:30PM January 20th - Theology at Tim Caribou 6pm - 7:30pm January 27th - 6-7:30PM February 3rd - 6-7:30PM Bulletin Memorials In Memory of: Prayers for our Nation & World Glen Madore Deceased Members of the Lajoie & Sirois Families Mike & Marie Lajoie Tardif & Parent Families Ron & June & Family Deceased Members of the Lajoie & Madore Families Steve & Marilyn Antoine Levesque the Pelletier Grandchildren, Leslie, Monica & Brian Roger Beaulieu Debbie & Dave Henderson Wilfred & Jeanne Lavoie Gerald & Kathleen Cyr AVAILABLE Patrick Thibodeau Yolande & Family Kim Beaulieu uncle Nathan Ouellette Roland Laverdiere Matilda & John Levesque & Morrow Families John & Noreen Hayden Perreault Greg & Sandy Edgecomb Simon L. Cyr Grandpa & Grandma Community Life American Legion Post #49 Charlemagne Card Parties The Card Parties will be held on Sunday s, at 1:00pm. The entry fee is $6. The schedule is as follows: January 13th; February 10th; March 10th & April 14th. All are welcome to come enjoy an afternoon of fun and socializing. Finance & Administration Verna Ouellette husband, Nathan Ernest, Tina, & Jim Marquis Rita, Marge & Family Wilfred & Yvonne Cyr Colette & Fred Ayotte Pelletier & Charette Families John & Noreen AVAILABLE Romeo & Helena Cyr Gerald & Kathleen Cyr Cote & Beaulieu Families Bridget Cote & Family **BULLETIN MEMORIALS** This is a reminder that there are bulletin memorials available. The cost of each memorial is: (1 mos.): $20, (3 mos.): $50; (6 mos.): $100; (1 Yr.): $200. These memorials honor family members & friends while helping to offset parish expenses. Daughters of Isabella Card Parties The Card Parties will be held at the Community Center at 1-4pm. (doors open at 12:30). The entry fee is $6. The schedule is as follows: January 20th; February 17th; March 17th & April 28th. All are welcome to come enjoy an afternoon of fun. COMMUNITY MEETING DATES AND TIMES COLUMBIETTES SUPPER/MEETING: 3rd Wed., Jan. 16th, 5:00pm AMERICAN LEGION SUPPER/MEETING: 3rd Thurs., Jan. 17th, 5:30pm Finance Committee Meeting Monday, January 21st at 6:30pm in the church hall St. Peter Chanel Parish Financial Updates Offertory: July 1, 2018 to December 30, 2018 Budget: $70,615 Actual: $77,082 Over Anticipated: $6,467 Amt. Given $6,491 Wkly Goal $2,525 Average Collection: This yr. $2,855 Last yr. $2,699

6 ST. JOHN OF THE CROSS CATHOLIC CLUSTER / DIOCESAN CORNER LAVALLEE YOUTH MINISTRY SCHEDULE OF EVENTS January 13th: Meeting at 1pm (Possible skating party) January 20th: No meeting! (March for Life-HS) January 27th: Meeting ST. THOMAS GIFT SHOP St. Thomas Aquinas Church Basement Monday-Thursday: 9am-3pm / Friday: 10am-2pm If your work hours do not allow you to come shop while we're open, don't hesitate to call me at or Lee BAPTISMAL PREP CLASS: Saturday, January 19th at 9:30am in the St. Thomas Center, youth ministry room. FMI contact the business office at Weekly suggestion for the faithful to consider: January 13: Participate as a family in 9 Days for Life, nine days of prayer for the protection of human life. Details may be found at MEMORIAL MASS for Notre Dame du Mont Carmel Sunday, January 20th - 8:30am Mass Elden & Jenny Bouchard Johanna Bouchard Bouchard Family Leona Schultz Angelo & Helen Rossignol Andrew Daigle Jeannine Daigle & Family All Soul s Intentions Parishioners Leonette Gendreau Leola Cyr & Family Deceased Classmates Class of 1969 Roger & Gloria Rouleau Family Normand & Anita Nadeau Adrian Gagnon Claude Michaud Irma Russell Real & Family George Dugal Louise Proulx & Family Shelly Meyers Ike & Claudette Fernand Cyr Marilyn Bard Joel Levesque Wife, Pauline & Family Germaine Cyr Bob & Marge Williams Gladys Desjardins Roger & Jackie St. Anthony Connie Cote George Dugal Mike & Rinette Pelletier Guy Roy Claude Lavertue Mabel Grivois Beaulieu St. Gerard Ladies of St. Anne Armand Corriveau Jackie & Roger Albert Rachel Bechard Joe & Marlene Dechaine Roland & Simone Roussel Lee CHRISTIAN LIFE CENTER FAMILY NIGHT DINNER & MOVIE Friday, January 18th Christian Life Center 5:30pm - 6:30pm - Dinner served 6:45pm - Movie starts Movie is G-rated so that all audiences may enjoy. A free-will donation is the cost of the dinner, the movie and popcorn. All families are welcome...all children must be accompanied a parent. Please bring a pillow or cushion to sit on. To register, please call Judy at All are welcome! DVDs ON SALE: RELAX IN THE NEW YEAR & WATCH A NICE DVD!! Extreme Mercy II - The story of Fr. Donald Calloway's conversion - You will laugh & and maybe even cry, but he is very good at telling us how Mary brought him to her Son!! Was $21.95 NOW $16.95 No Turning Back - Also the story of Fr. Donald Calloway's conversion - Very interesting story! Was $19.95 NOW $16.95 God's Doorkeeper - The Story of St. Brother Andrée at the Oratoire St. Joseph in Montreal - a man many of us have heard of, and a place some of us have visited. Was $19.95 NOW $16.95 Restless Heart - The story of St. Augustine's conversion. St. Monica, his mother, prayed for years for her son and finally, her prayers were answered, and he converted & became a saint in our church. The book of his story is a classic, so if you don't have time to read the book, sit and watch the DVD and get the real story of St. Augustine. Was $29.95 NOW $24.95 Crossing the Goal - Danny Abramowicz, coach for the New Orleans Saints and his crew who have their own program on EWTN, helping men to face their responsibilities towards their families. This is a most interesting and informative DVD. Funny at times - will definitely keep you interested! Was $24.95 NOW $19.95 BATTERIES: Please know that we have replacement batteries for all of the battery-operated items sold in the gift shop. Come see us, bring a sample battery, and obtain your replacement batteries from us. BOOKS: " REROUTING" : Fr. John Riccardo Finding Our Way Back to God and His Church. When we lack a basic understanding of what the Church teaches, we can feel as if we're on a road without a map, or have the wrong map, or only pieces of the map. So how can we journey to the Father and the eternal life Christ won for us? Rerouting addresses this problem head on, putting the map once again into our hands-or, in today's language, providing us with the voice of a GPS device telling us where we must go in order to come safely home. Fr. Riccardo, in his distinctive, incisive way, brings us face-to-face with Christ as the Church has proclaimed him from its earliest days. Rerouting presents us with a sweeping vista of what we believe in a way that makes sense and causes our faith to grow and flourish, both in our hearts and in the world. $14.95 REMEMBER A BOOK IS THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING!! Also, Gift Certificates are always available!! Pilgrimage to Medjugorje, Rome & Assisi April 30 May 11, 2019; Cost: $3690 Canadian funds and is all inclusive with airfare, lodging, daily breakfast & dinner, tours and entrance fees to places of interest. A deposit of $500 guarantees you a spot. FMI contact Marie May Desjardins at or mariedesjardins1949@gmail.com. From The Pastor s Desk Fr. Plourde will be on vacation January 23rd to February 5th!

7 GOSPEL MEDITATION - ENCOURAGE DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF SCRIPTURE: January 13, The Baptism of the Lord Think of what it's like to wait a long time. Can you imagine what it would be like to wait for centuries? No one person lives that long, of course. But for the Israelites, they had heard the stories from generation to generation. They had been conquered time and time again, and now "the people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Christ." They had been waiting for a Messiah, one who did miraculous deeds and said profound things; someone aglow with the glory of God. We all know what it's like to hope and be disappointed. But what if your hopes were fulfilled? That day at the Jordan River, an audience had gathered. Among the crowd for baptism was an unknown man. Perhaps he was dirty from weeks in the desert. His hands had the calloused palms of a tradesman, a carpenter. He and John the Baptist may have embraced with the familiarity of the cousins they were. This man wades into the Jordan for a good, solid dunking. As he rises from the water, the One who breathed life into Adam gasps for air like any other man. But then "heaven was opened." The clouds in the sky part miles above. "And the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove." An apparition with substance sails through the sky. It exudes gentleness and power all at once. "And a voice came from heaven, 'You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.'" Can you imagine the sight? For the crowd, there is no doubting what they have seen, who they have seen. Can you imagine this encounter with our God who keeps His promises? What are you waiting for? LIVE THE LITURGY - INSPIRATION FOR THE WEEK At the baptism of Jesus, a voice came from heaven saying, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased." Through Baptism, Jesus' identity as God's Son is revealed and understood. He knows very clearly who he is. Baptism does the same for us. It gives us our identity as daughters and sons of God. We have the wonderful opportunity, given to us as a gift, to share in the same intimate relationship Jesus has with God his Father. Being a daughter or son of God gives us a unique and focused mission to which we must be faithful. Our identity, as with Jesus, is rooted in God. This is a simple fact we all must accept. Through Baptism, we are given the power and ability to see the world as God sees and to think and act as God would think and act. This is a tall order but one that will lead us to truth and ultimately to happiness. EVERYDAY STEWARDSHIP - Recognize God in your Ordinary Moments What have been the most significant moments in your life? You probably celebrate your birthday every year, so the day you were born must be pretty important. How about elementary, high school, or college graduations? Hopefully you do something special on or around your wedding anniversary if you are married. Do you have children? The birth of each child is probably near the top on the list of moments you will never forget. Then there are the sad moments of life: deaths, breakups, and tragedies. As you reflect on all these moments, you can see that you would not be who you are today without having experienced them. Of course as a Christian, you have one moment in time that has had an even greater impact on you and perhaps it didn't even come to mind: your Baptism. You might say you don't remember it because you were an infant. Perhaps you do not even know the date it took place. You might not feel like it has had much impact on you at all. However, it has made all the difference. Whether you feel the difference or not, on that day you were made a new creation in Jesus Christ. You were marked for Him with an indelible mark that no one can remove, not even you. On that day, you inherited a tradition and lineage of faith that has changed the face of the earth. Today, that baptismal grace beckons you to a real and substantial relationship with the One whose name was invoked on that day. It also calls you to respond with a stewardship way of life, where your gifts make a difference and glorify God. If today is the day you start taking all this seriously, you get to add a new moment to your list. Children s Corner QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK: First Reading During Israel's darkest days in captivity in Balon, the prophet Isaiah announced a comforting message: "Prepare the way of the Lord!" How does God's presence in your life bring you comfort? Second Reading St. Paul speaks of Baptism as "the bath of rebirth." What is your reaction to this image of Baptism? Gospel Reading John the Baptist taught that the Messiah would baptize believers "with the Holy Spirit and fire." For John, fire symbolized transformative power. In what ways could you witness to others how your faith has transformed you? CATHOLIC QUOTES WORDS TO INSPIRE THE FAITHFUL "True peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice." -- Martin Luther King, Jr.