Bulletin Deadline: Monday at 10:00 a.m. Website News: to: Pastor The Reverend Michael Whyte,

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1 A Parish of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford Mass/Liturgy Schedule: Saturday Vigil at 5:00 p.m. Sunday Masses at 8:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend, NO 5:00 p.m. Sunday Mass) Daily Mass at 8:30 a.m., Monday through Wednesday, and Friday. (Yearly) Sacrament of Reconciliation: Saturday from 4:00 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. Monday from 6:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Baptisms and Baptismal Preparation: Please call the parish office at Sacrament of Holy Matrimony: Please call the parish office at at least 6 months in advance Choir Practices: Adult Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. Youth Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. Contemporary Music Group Sundays at 4:00 p.m. Bulletin Deadline: Monday at 10:00 a.m. Website News: to: StCatherineWebMaster@Comcast.net 265 Stratton Brook Road, Box 184, West Simsbury, Connecticut Tel: /Fax: stcathy@comcast.net Website: WELCOME! We welcome all visitors who are celebrating with us today. As is our custom at St. Catherine of Siena, please remain in your pew for the singing of the first and last verses of the recessional hymn. Parish Office Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. through 2:00 p.m. The St. Catherine Parish Legacy Fund is committed to ensuring the long-term stability of our parish and its ministries. Please consider a gift in lieu of flowers upon a love one's passing as a way to ensure our community will thrive well into the future. The Epiphany of the Lord 3 January 2016 Pastor The Reverend Michael Whyte, PARISH STAFF Administrative Assistant-Parish Office Mrs. Lisa Cerchia or stcathy@comcast.net Director of Religious Education Mrs. Kathi Bonner or kathidre@aol.com Director of Youth Ministry Mrs. Judy Pluta or judyplutaym@gmail.com Coordinator, Young Adult Group Mrs. Sandi Smith or sandismithyya@gmail.com Music Director Mrs. Susan Zybert or susanzybert@comcast.net Facilities Manager Mr. Michael Grappone, Parish Council President Mr. Jim Peters or jpetersjjr@gmail.com Finance Council Chairman Mr. Scott Muryasz Parish Legacy Fund Chairman Mr. Peter Pabich, Parish Lay Trustees Mrs. Melissa Horbal, (860) Mr. Joseph Capozzoli, (860) Thanks for worshiping with us. If you would like to join our parish family, fill out a yellow membership form found in the vestibule or atrium and mail it to us, drop it in the collection basket or call us at

2 WEEKLY MASS INTENTIONS Saturday, January 5:00 pm Mass for Curtiss Hickcox, III; Sunday, January 8:00 am Mass for Emma Ready, requested by the Mortimer Family; Sunday, January 11:00 am Mass for Joan MaryYoung, requested by the Jahne Family; Sunday, January 5:00 p.m. Mass for Monday, January 8:30 a.m. Mass for Mary Jagla, birthday remembrance, requested by her family; Tuesday, January 8:30 am Mass for Margaret D. Libera, requested by her family; Wednesday, January 8:30 am Mass for Friday, January 8:30 am Mass for Saturday, January 5:00 pm Mass for Margaret Geraci, requested by her family; Sunday, January 8:00 am Mass for Sunday, January 11:00 am Mass for Margaret J O Neill, requested by Stephen & Barbara O Connor; and, Sunday, January 5:00 p.m. Mass for Grade 8. Offertory Collection This week s second collection is for Repair & Refurbishment. Due to the Christmas schedule, the financial information for this past weekend will be in the next bulletin. VIRTUS TRAINING will be held on Wednesday, January 13th, 6PM in Russell Hall. If you are a volunteer in our parish, you should attend this training to comply with the Archdiocese mandate for the "Protection of God's Children". Please contact Kathi Bonner at Kathidre@aol.com or to register or for more information. Religious Education News REL ED CLASSES, K-10 RESUME today, Sunday, Jan 3rd. GRADE 8 CLASS MASS is today, Sunday, January 10th at 5pm. All 8th graders are expected to attend. Please be at the church no later than 4:30 pm. CONFIRMATION I & II Meet today, Sunday, January 3rd. The Saint's Essay will be assigned at this class for Confirmation II. Religious Education children have been learning about Pope Francis' "Year of Mercy" each Sunday - opening the "door" to our hearts to show mercy. We will have some special Sundays at Rel Ed to help be merciful. On January 10th, we will have "Pajama Day"! All children (and catechists) can come to class in their PJ's...but must bring a breakfast item such as cereal, pancake mix, syrup, apple juice, etc. for the food bank. Our next Sunday of Mercy will be on Super Bowl Sunday, on Feb. 7th. MERRY CHRISTMAS! SENIOR HIGH YOUTH MINISTRY Sunday, January 10th TWO EVENTS: 2:00-4:00pm McLean Home Visit: Sr. High will be visiting and playing board games with residents of McLean Home. We gather in the main lobby at 1:50 p.m. for a short orientation and head up to the floors together. Please contact Mrs. Pluta at JudyPlutaYM@gmail if you would like to join us for this local service project. 6:00 pm Join us for MOVIE NIGHT on the BIG SCREEN in Russell Hall. Pizza will be served promptly at 6:00 pm. Please feel free to bring munchies and crunchies to share while we watch the movie. You are welcome to bring bean bag chairs, sleeping bags, or wear you slippers for your viewing comfort. A friend is always welcome. JUNIOR HIGH YOUTH MINISTRY Monday, January 11th 7:00 pm, Russell Hall. Join us tonight for ICECREAM SUNDAES, A TREASURE HUNT and more! Are you new to Junior High youth ministry? Come check it out. Bring a friend. All in grades 7 an 8 are welcome.

3 FROM FATHER MICHAEL... Is it the Octave or Twelve Days of Christmas? During the Christmas season we hear on the radio or carolers singing the Twelve Days of Christmas, and in Church we hear the phrase the Octave of Christmas and perhaps wonder what s the difference? We all know the Twelve Days of Christmas: everything from A Partridge in a Pear Tree to Ten Lords a Leaping and beyond. Personally, the Twelve Days of Christmas offers an excuse for mailing out my Christmas cards late! After all, the season has just begun!! Some believe that this Christmas song was written in England as a Catechism song to help young Catholics learn the basics of their faith, as a coded message during the religious wars when the public and private practice of the Roman Catholic faith was not permitted (during the period between 1558 and 1829 when it was illegal to be Catholic), an Act of Parliament finally emancipated Catholics in England, in that same year. The proof on why it was written is not substantive either way. The Twelve Days of Christmas is probably the most misunderstood part of the church year among Christians who are not part of liturgical church traditions. As they are not the twelve days before Christmas but are the twelve days from Christmas until the beginning of Epiphany, January 6th. In some traditions, the first day of Christmas begins on the evening of December 25th with the following day considered the First Day of Christmas (December 26th). In these traditions, the twelve days begin December 26 and include Epiphany on January 6. The origin and counting of the Twelve Days is complicated, and is related to differences in calendars, church traditions, and ways to observe this holy day in various cultures. The popular song mentioned above is usually seen as simply a nonsense song for children with secular origins. However, as noted earlier, some have suggested that it is a song of Christian instruction, dating to the 16th century religious wars in England, with hidden references to the basic teachings of the Christian Faith, a mnemonic device to teach the catechism to youngsters. The "true love" mentioned in the song is not an earthly suitor, but refers to God Himself. The "me" who receives the presents refers to every baptized person who is part of the Christian Faith. Each of the "days" represents some aspect of the Christian Faith that was important for children to learn. However, many have questioned the historical accuracy of this origin of The Twelve Days of Christmas. While some have tried to debunk this as an "urban myth" out of personal agendas, others have tried to deal with this account of the song's origin in the name of historical accuracy (see Snopes on The 12 Days of Christmas). There is little "hard" evidence available either way. Some church historians affirm this account as basically accurate, while others point out apparent historical and logical discrepancies. However, one may need to acknowledge that the "evidence" on both sides is mostly in logical deduction and probabilities. Lack of positive evidence does not automatically provide negative evidence and often what is omitted is that there is no "substantive evidence" that will disprove it either. It is certainly possible, in fact probable, that this view of the song is legendary or anecdotal. Without corroboration and in the absence of "substantive evidence," we probably should not take rigid positions on either side or turn the song into a crusade for personal opinions. That would do more to violate the spirit of Christmas than the song is worth. So, for the sake of historical accuracy, we need to acknowledge the likelihood that the song had secular origins. But here are the Christian meanings: A Partridge in a Pear Tree: The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, whose birthday we celebrate on December 25, the first day of Christmas. In the song, Christ is symbolically presented as a mother partridge that feigns injury to decoy predators from her helpless nestlings, recalling the expression of Christ's sadness over the fate of Jerusalem: "Jerusalem! Jerusalem! How often would I have sheltered you under my wings, as a hen does her chicks, but you would not have it so...." (Luke 13:34) Two Turtle Doves: The Old and New Testaments, which together bear witness to God's self-revelation in history and the creation of a people to tell the Story of God to the world. Three French Hens: The Three Theological Virtues: 1) Faith, 2) Hope, and 3) Love (1 Corinthians 13:13) Four Calling Birds: The Four Gospels: 1) Matthew, 2) Mark, 3) Luke, and 4) John, which proclaim the Good News of God's reconciliation of the world to Himself in Jesus Christ. Five Gold Rings: The first Five Books of the Old Testament, known as the Torah or the Pentateuch: 1) Genesis, 2) Exodus, 3) Leviticus, 4) Numbers, and 5) Deuteronomy, which gives the history of humanity's sinful failure and God's response of grace in the creation of a people to be a light to the world. Six Geese A-laying: The six days of creation that confesses God as Creator and Sustainer of the world (Genesis 1). Seven Swans A-swimming: The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: 1) prophecy, 2) ministry, 3) teaching, 4) exhortation, 5) giving, 6) leading, and 7) compassion (Romans 12:6-8; cf. 1 Corinthians 12:8-11) Eight Maids A-milking: The eight Beatitudes: 1) Blessed are the poor in spirit, 2) those who mourn, 3) the meek, 4) those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, 5) the merciful, 6) the pure in heart, 7) the peacemakers, 8) those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake. Matthew 5:3-10) Nine Ladies dancing: The nine Fruit of the Holy Spirit: 1) love, 2) joy, 3) peace, 4) patience, 5) kindness, 6) generosity, 7) faithfulness, 8) gentleness, and 9) self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23) Ten Lords A-leaping: The ten commandments: 1) You shall have no other gods before me; 2) Do not make an idol; 3) Do not take God's name in vain; 4) Remember the Sabbath Day; 5) Honor your father and mother; 6) Do not murder; 7) Do not commit adultery; 8) Do not steal; 9) Do not bear false witness; 10) Do not covet. (Exodus 20:1-17) Eleven Pipers piping: The eleven Faithful Apostles: 1) Simon Peter, 2) Andrew, 3) James, 4) John, 5) Philip, 6) Bartholomew, 7) Matthew, 8) Thomas, 9) James bar Alphaeus, 10) Simon the Zealot, 11) Judas bar James. (Luke 6:14-16). The list does not include the twelfth disciple, Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus to the religious leaders and the Romans. Twelve Drummers drumming: The twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles' Creed: 1) I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. 2) I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. 3) He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. 4) He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell [the grave]. (5) On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of power. 6) He will come again to judge the living and the dead. 7) I believe in the Holy Spirit, 8) the Church, 9) the communion of saints, 10) the forgiveness of sins, 11) the resurrection of the body, 12) and life everlasting. continued on next page)

4 Get involved: you don t have to do everything... And then the Octave of Christmas. The Octave (eighth) has two senses in Christian and particularly Catholic liturgical usage. In the first sense, it is the eighth day after a feast and so always falls on the same day of the week as the feast itself. The word is derived from Latin Octava, with dies (a 24-hour period/day) understood. In the second sense, the term is applied to the whole period of these eight days, during which certain major feasts come to be observed (Easter, Pentecost, and Christmas). The word Octave dates back as early Charlemagne in Theodemar s (King of Galicia) writings. In the ancient Jewish texts the number seven was prominent, i.e., the Sabbath, and so early Christian writings note an eight-day celebration. After centuries of different Octaves in the Church, Pope Pius VI (1965) reduced their number and degrees to the current three (Easter, Pentecost and Christmas). For our current octave, Christmas, it includes the Sunday within the Octave, the feast of the Holy Family, feast of St. Stephen, feast of John the Apostle, feast of the Holy Innocents, and the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God on 1 January. In non-liturgical uses, the word octave is applied to some church observances such as the week of January known as the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity but may be referred to an octave especially in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglo-Catholic traditions. And in Luxembourg, there is what is called an octave celebration from the 3 rd to the 5th Sunday after Easter to commemorate Our Lady of Luxembourg, the patroness of the city. There will be a test on Tuesday! Source: Catholic Answers; Catholic Dictionary Epiphany Today we celebrate the Magi, who coming from Persia, wanted to kneel before the One, True Son of God. In the City of Bethlehem at the Church of the Nativity the most visited Christian shrine the current church building believed to be built over the site of the birthplace of Jesus, originally had a mosaic on the outside wall depicting the three Magi in their traditional Persian garb. In 614 when Persians invaded Bethlehem and destroyed the City, they left the Church of the Nativity standing because they recognized the traditional dress of the Magi. These forerunners of those who came to acknowledge the Son of God as the King of kings and Lord of All, should be a sign (Epiphany) for us today who have come to believe that Jesus Christ is the Word of God made flesh and the Savior of the World all of the world who dwelt among us and should see this day as a reminder of the total inclusivity of the Gospel message of God. And we should be open to inviting all to come to worship the One, True God made man, no matter their culture or origin. In this weekend s second reading from Ephesians (3:2-3a, 5-6) we hear that our belief in the Gospel message that we are heirs to the Kingdom of God and as His heirs we are also copartners in spreading His Gospel message of Love and peace to all who are open to receiving Him. We pray that we will not withhold this Godly message from anyone who seeks it with an open and sincere heart. That too will be another amazing Epiphany (sign) to others. but everyone should do something! Upcoming Meetings/Events January -Sun, 3rd Children s Liturgy of the Word, RH, 11 a.m. -Sun, 3rd Contemporary Choir, MR, 4 p.m. -Sun, 3rd Confirmation 1 & 2, 6 p.m. -Mon, 4th Confession, Church, 6 p.m. -Mon, 4th Rosary, Church, 7 p.m. -Tues, 5th Children s Choir, MR, 6:30 p.m. -Tues, 5th RCIA, Library, 7 p.m. -Tues, 5th PC Exec, Rectory, 7 p.m. -Tues, 5th Adult Choir, MR, 7:30 p.m. -Sun, 10th Children s Liturgy of the Word, RH, 11 a.m. -Sun, 10th Contemporary Choir, MR, 4 p.m. -Sun, 10th Senior High Youth Ministry, RH, 6 p.m. -Mon, 11th Confession, Church, 6 p.m. -Mon, 11th Junior High Youth Ministry, RH, 7 p.m. -Mon, 11th Parish Council, Library, 7 p.m. -Tues, 12th Children s Choir, MR, 6:30 p.m. Last Chance to help with the Sacred Heart Epiphany Party and Giving Tree!!! Wrapped gifts were due back on January 1st for the party being held on January 9th so if you haven t already done so, please put them under the tree this weekend. We are also looking for volunteers to help at the party and preparing for the event. This is a great opportunity for service hours. If you have any questions or would like to volunteer, please contact Susan Hoffman at suedhoffman@hotmail.com or (cell) or Bonnie Daly at dalyrc@comcast.net. We greatly appreciate your support and generosity. Pantry Partners The January Pantry Partner distribution will be on the 16th in the vestibule. Orders should be received by January 9. Please consider ordering a bag of fresh produce for your family or someone you know. Donations are always welcome. Pro-Life Thought of the Week: The most radical and elevating affirmation of every human being was made by the Son of God in His becoming man in the womb of a woman, as we continue to be reminded each Christmas. Christifidelis Laici, # 37 Please join-n and come to a meeting of your choice.

5 End of Bulletin Information on this page is not printed Church: City: St. Catherine of Siena West Simsbury, Connecticut Account # Run # Routing Code: O Phone: Fax: Contact: Lisa Cerchia