The Church of the Nativity

Transcription

1 Photographs by Charlene Dorman 210 Oak Grove Avenue Menlo Park, CA tel: (650) fax: (650) The Church of the Nativity MASSES Sundays 08:00, 09:30, 11:30 AM and 05:00 PM Saturdays 08:00 AM and 05:00 PM (Vigil) Weekdays and Holy Days, 05:30 and 07:30 PM SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION Saturdays 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM (Opus Dei priest) 03:30 PM - 04:30 PM (parish priest) (also by appointment) BAPTISMS 1 st, 3 rd and 5 th Sundays of the month (contact rectory 2 months in advance) WEDDINGS Saturdays 11:00 AM and 02:00 PM (contact rectory at least 6 months in advance) PASTOR Rev. Msgr. Steven D. Otellini PAROCHIAL VICAR Rev. John Mary Chung PASTOR EMERITUS Rev. Clement Davenport PERMANENT DEACONS Rev. Mr. Dominick Peloso Rev. Mr. Thomas Kelly WEEKEND ASSISTANTS Rev. Kevin Gaffey Rev. Paul Maillet, S.S. Rev. Gladstone Stevens, S.S. SCHOOL OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION Mrs. Monica Hickam (650) hour Eucharistic Adoration

2 FIRST READING Do not be saddened this day, for rejoicing in the Lord must be your strength! Nehemiah 8: 2-4, 5-6, 8-10 PSALM Let the words of my mouth and the thought of my heart find favor before You. Psalms 19 SECOND READING For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. 1 Corinthians 12: GOSPEL Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit. Luke 1: 1-4; 4: Light and Truth, Simon Dewey The Third Sunday in Ordinary Time 27 January 2013 He said to them, Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing. Luke 4: 21 Calendar SCHEDULE OF MASSES AND INTENTIONS WEEK OF 27 JAN - 02 FEB SAT 05:00 PM Priest s intentions SUN Masses Priest s intentions MON Alice Sinnett Carmen Campos TUE WED THU FRI Rosemarie Tornincasa Miriam and Rolly Somer; Tom Del Sarto Paul Sinnett Catalino Agor, Jr. Walter George Marie Masuda Ray Schaaf Ralph and Marie Charkins SAT 08:00 AM Marie Firenzi; Bob Simonds Please pray for those in need of physical or spiritual healing Lent begins in three weeks. Ash Wednesday is Wednesday, 13 February 2013 Parish Office Hours 09:00 AM-04:00 PM Monday-Friday Electronic giving is offered through our website or call the parish office for a paper form 1 st 1 st MON-FRI MON-FRI SAT 07:10 AM 05:10 PM 07:40 AM Morning Prayer Evening Prayer Morning Prayer 27 JAN (Sunday) 07:30 PM Holy Hour for Priests 28 JAN (Monday) 09:00 AM 07:30 PM 07:30 PM 07:30 PM Bible Group RCIA Legion of Mary St. Vincent de Paul Society 29 JAN (Tuesday) 06:00 PM Cenacles of Life Rosary 30 JAN (Wednesday) 07:00 PM Confirmation Class 31 JAN (Thursday) 11:00 AM 06:00 PM The Thursday Group Perpetual Help Novena 01 FEB (Friday) First Friday 02 FEB (Saturday) 06:15 AM 2 nd 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM 03:30 PM - 04:30 PM Annual Appeal Progress: 2012 Appeal Goal: First Saturday Men s Spirituality and Prayer Group Confessions (Opus Dei priest) Confessions (parish priest) SPECIAL COLLECTION There will be a second collection at all Masses this week for St. Patrick s Seminary. PARISH OFFERINGS WEEK OF JAN TOTAL: $10,237 GOAL MET! $117,100

3 28 JAN (Monday): SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS, Doctor of the Church ( ) Educated by Benedictine monks at Monte Cassino, and at the University of Naples, his works (e.g., Summa Theologica) are seminal to the thinking of the Church. Pope Leo VIII commanded that his teachings be studied by all theology students. He was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church in Saints and Observances SOLEMNITY, FEAST, MEMORIAL OPTIONAL MEMORIAL OTHER 31 JAN (Thursday): SAINT JOHN BOSCO, Priest ( ) Born in Becchi, Italy, John devoted his priestly life to children. He was ordained in 1841, and by 1846 he had befriended 800 difficult boys. He founded a religious society, now known as the Society of St. Francis de Sales (Salesians), which spread worldwide. He also helped found the Daughters of Our Lady Help of Christians who work with poor girls. INFANT JESUS OF PRAGUE PRAYER SOCIETY The group meets on the 17th of each month to begin a novena, in the Church at the statue of the Infant. All are invited to join us. If you have any questions please call Anne Delaney, SFO at 650/ CENACLES OF LIFE PRAYER GROUP Our Nativity rosary prayer group continues to pray to end the culture of death. All are invited to come! We pray two rosaries together and offer up a fast each week. We meet at 06:00 PM in the church each Tuesday evening. Ministry and Group News SPIRITUAL WARFARE CONFERENCE Nativity will again be hosting a spiritual warfare conference at the Sobrato Pavilion (Nativity School) on Saturday, 23 February It begins with Holy Mass at 08:00 AM, coffee and donuts, and the first talk is at 09:15 AM. The last conference session is over at 04:00 PM. This conference is very popular with over 500 people registered at the last one. This year the principal speakers are Father Gary Thomas, the exorcist from the Diocese of San Jose, and Deborah Lipsky who has recently written a book about her seven years as a devout satanist and eighteen years as a member of an occult. Having recently converted to Catholicism, she is anxious to get the word out about the spiritual warfare that is present even in our own community. As always, this will be a joyful event, rubbing shoulders with fellow soldiers. Books will also be sold, including Mrs Lipsky s book and St. Joseph Communications will also be present (they have done several interviews with her on Catholic Radio). You need to sign up early for the less expensive price (by 14 February 2013). Flyers are around the church to mail in registrations. Or you can signup on line at Coffee, donuts, and lunch (your choice of lunch is part of the registration) are included in the price of registration. Tell your friends about this. The speakers will assist us in discerning how the evils affect us, our family and community. For questions, call Deacon Dominick Peloso, 650/ Pregnant? Need Help? Please contact the Juan Diego Society (408/ ), the Gabriel Project (800/ ) or Community Pregnancy Center (650/ ). TUESDAY FAITH STUDY CLASSES Our continuing education on the Catholic Faith will continue on Tuesday, 05 February We will be studying the DVD series The Creed, appropriate for this Year of Faith. In these twelve classes, Dr. Sean Innerst will take us into the beauty of the Apostle s creed. He will show how it tells the entire story of salvation, how our happiness is God s goal, what God s innermost secret is, the role angels play in aiding us, and how it is a road map for our faith journey. The classes will be held on Tuesday mornings at 09:30 AM and repeated again in the evening at 07:00 PM. It runs for 12 weeks, ending on 07 May 2013 (two weeks off for Holy Week and Easter). There is a workbook to purchase (approx. cost is $25). All classes are held in the O Hare Center behind the church. To sign up, call Deacon Dominick Peloso, 650/ EUCHARISTIC ADORATION Please come to visit our Lord during the week, as the church is open 24x7 and He awaits you. Also, everyone is encouraged to sign up for one hour. This will ensure your weekly meeting with Jesus. You may sign up for any hour. Please consider the following hours which currently have no one assigned. Our Lord wishes to speak with you, and you have much to say and ask of Him: WED: 12:00 PM (noon - Prayer Partner) Please call 650/ for more information or to sign up. You have never strayed too far for the Father s forgiveness and grace.

4 Announcements OUR PARISH FAMILY Please keep all of our newest members in your prayers, as well as those who have preceded us to the Father. BAPTISMS MARRIAGES NEW PARISHIONERS DEATHS LOST AND FOUND FOUND: Key and alarm fob for a GM vehicle Call 650/ Glasses not collected are donated to the Lions Club and all other items are donated to St. Francis Center, St. Anthony s or St. Vincent de Paul Society. SPECIAL COLLECTiON This weekend the 2nd collection will be for St. Patrick s Seminary and University. For over a century, St. Patrick s in Menlo Park has been preparing men for the Roman Catholic priesthood. At a time when well-prepared priests are needed more than ever, we are blessed with a record enrollment of 112 men. With great blessings and opportunities, however, come great challenges. We need your support so that we can continue to provide outstanding academic programs and increase seminarian housing. Your generous donation is greatly appreciated. We invite you to see our faith and mission in action by visiting our historic campus, chapel, library, and grounds. To arrange a tour please contact Lauren John at 650/ or lauren. john@stpsu.org. St. Patrick s Seminiary is located at 320 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park. Checks for all special collections should be made out to the Church of the Nativity. In the memo line write the appropriate reference for your donation, for example: St. Patrick s Seminary and University. GOOD FOOD AND GOOD MUSIC! Join us for the Nativity Men s Club 2013 Crab Cioppino Feast. Tickets are on sale for the Men s Club Crab Cioppino Dinner on Saturday, 09 February 2013 at Nativity School in the Sobrato Pavilion. The dinner will include Dungeness Crab Cioppino, pasta, salad; sourdough bread, and dessert. The tickets are $45.00 per person. In addition to the best Crab Cioppino dinner anywhere, there will be live music. All tickets must be purchased in advance. Seating is limited. Seating will be assigned so we must have the names and payment of everyone in your party at the same time. Reservations are being taken until 30 January 2013, or until the seating capacity is reached, whichever comes first. Drop off your form and payment at the school or parish office. If you have any questions, please contact Erik Kingham at 415/ or nativitymc@gmail.com. RESTORATION OF SILVER CANDLESTICKS AND CRUCIFIX The beautiful set of antique silver candlesticks and crucifix, which is one of the greatest treasures of Nativity Church, is in need of repair and restoration. Some of the candlesticks and the crucifix were damaged in the 1989 earthquake. There was some repair work done which did not completely address the problems, nor deal with dents and internal supports. We have contacted a respected silversmith in San Francisco who will undertake a complete restoration. The cost per candlestick and crucifix is $1,300. If you are interested in sponsoring one of them, please contact Msgr. Otellini. Dear Monsignor Otellini, Thank you very much for the generous World Mission Sunday 2012 contribution of $ from the people of the Church of the Nativity. On World Mission Sunday, your parish joined Catholics throughout the world, call to be missionaries of faith through prayer and participation in the Eucharist, and by generous sacrifice. Again, I am most grateful to you for encouraging the missionary spirit of prayer and sacrifice among your parishioners. Know that you and they remain in my prayers and in the prayers of the people in the Missions. Sincerely, Genevieve Elizondo, Archdiocesan Mission Director In The Community NATIVITY SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: TODAY! Nativity School invites you to a special Open House for parents of prospective students and their children (grades K-7) on Sunday, 27 January 2013, from 11:00 AM - 01:00 PM at the school, 1250 Laurel Street, Menlo Park. Come to see the magnificent displays and exhibits and meet our faculty and staff. Tours by appointment are also available. Visit our website: com. APPLICATION TO NATIVITY SCHOOL Nativity School is currently accepting applications for grades K-7. Please call the school office, 650/ , to request an application or visit our website at com > Admissions. Nativity School, mindful of its mission to be witness to the love of Christ for all, admits students of any race, ethnicity, and national and/or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded to or made available to students at this school. Nativity School does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, and national and/or ethnic origin, age, sex or disability in administration of educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

5 From the Holy See THE HOLY FATHER S PRAYER INTENTIONS Each month His Holiness Benedict XVI asks for general and missionary prayer intentions. For February 2013, the Holy Father s prayer intentions are: General: Migrant Families That migrant families, especially the mothers, may be supported and accompanied in their difficulties. Missionary: Peace That the peoples at war and in conflict may lead the way in building a peaceful future. In The Community (cont d.) 22ND WORLD DAY OF THE SICK The Archdiocese of San Francisco invites you to our Celebration of the 22nd World Day of the Sick at the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption, 1111 Gough Street at Geary, San Francisco, on Saturday, 23 February 2013 at 12:00 PM. Please come and bring a friend who is sick for a special time of prayer and sharing, of offering one s suffering for the good of the Church and of reminding everyone to see in his sick brother or sister the face of Christ who by suffering, dying and rising, achieved the salvation of mankind. (John Paul II). Hosted by the Order of Malta, Western Association USA, San Francisco in honor of Our Lady of Lourdes. WEDDING ANNIVERSARY MASS There will be an anniversary Mass this year honoring all those couples who are celebrating an anniversary of marriage during 2013 that is a multiple of five years (5, 10, 15, etc.), particularly those of 25 years or more. The Mass will be celebrated by Archbishop Cordileone at 10:00 AM on Saturday, 02 February 2013, at Saint Mary s Cathedral, 1111 Gough Street, San Francisco. It will be followed by a reception. All are welcome. For more information contact murphyj@sfarchdiocese. org or call 415/614-(5586 or 5505). TELEVISED SUNDAY MASS A televised Sunday Mass is now airing on ABC Family from 06:30-07:00 AM each Sunday morning. THE SUNDAY MASS is produced by the Passionist Fathers and Brothers out of New York City and is available nationally on local affiliates. Too early for you? Tape it, Tivo it, or watch it on-line. For more information consult the website at or call us at THE-MASS. CHILDRENS BOOKS NEEDED Samaritan House Medical Clinic in San Mateo is collecting children s books to use in the literacy program they have set up. Nativity is now a drop-off point for collecting new or used children s books for this program. There is a blue bag in the O Hare Center (next to the TV) where they can be dropped off on Sundays or you may bring them to the rectory during the week. MOVIE: FRAY MARTIN DE PORRES Please join the Dominican Laity Corpus Christi Chapter on 02 February 2013 at 06:15 PM in the O Hare Center, for the showing of the movie Fray Martin De Porres in honor of the 50th anniversary of his canonization. The movie will begin after the 05:00 PM Mass. They will have a relic of St. Martin De Porres, which will be available for veneration after the Mass. All are welcome. AID FOR SYRIA The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is accepting donations to aid the people of Syria. The impact of the fighting on the humanitarian situation has increased significantly since December. People have been killed or wounded and tens of thousands have fled their homes, leaving behind most of their belongings. The ICRC and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) continue to help those most affected. If you would like to help the people of Syria, you may make a donation by going to On the left hand side of the page click on Make a Donation then on the page that comes up choose Syria and follow the steps to complete your donation. FAITH IN ACTION Have you received hope, comfort and love at a time in your life when you needed it most? Do you feel it s time to give to others the blessings you have received? There are hospice patients and their loved ones in Menlo Park and nearby that would benefit greatly from your companionship and encouragement. VITAS volunteers are trained in how to work with hospice patients and their families. Volunteer assignments suit your schedule and your location. Find out more about our amazing caring VITAS Volunteers by calling Steve Maraccini at VITAS Innovative Hospice Care, 415/ or steve.maraccini@vitas.com. Go and make disciples of all nations.

6 PREPARATION FOR CONFESSION We should take advantage of the great blessing of the Sacrament of Reconciliation as often as possible, and particularly in the upcoming holy season of Lent. The following is taken from the 1962 edition of My Sunday Missal as an examination of conscience in preparation for making a good and thorough confession. In My Duties to God: Neglect of morning or evening prayers... Superstitious practices... Consulting fortune tellers... Receiving sacraments sacrilegiously... Against faith by willful doubts concerning any article of the Creed or by reading or circulating irreligious books... Against hope by despair, murmuring or presuming on God s Mercy... Against charity by willfully rebellious thoughts against God, or His Law or by omitting good works through fear of others. Irreverence towards God, His Name, His church... cursing or swearing... False, unlawful and unnecessary oaths... Breaking lawful vows... Neglecting Mass on Sundays and Holy Days, or performing unrequired servile work. In My Duties to My Neighbors: Insulting or neglecting parents... Failing to send children to religious schools when possible... Bad example... Neglect of home, trade, professional, civil service duties... Ignoring the spiritual and corporal works of mercy... Any violent act... Causing hard feelings... Revenge... Refusing reconciliation... Inducing others to sin. Stealing... Possession of ill-gotten goods... Cheating... Culpable delay in paying lawful debts... Lying... Perjury... Fraud... Slander or detraction or rash judgments... Failure to support my Church. In Relation to Myself: Obstinacy... Sloth... Desiring or yielding to sensuality, impurity, gluttony, drunkenness... Rage, envy, impatience, jealousy... Failure to fast or abstain... Failure to make my Easter Duty... Waste of time, money or talents. Pro-Life Information PRO-LIFE CORNER (SAN MATEO PRO-LIFE) This month marks 40 years of legalized abortion in America. This has caused the loss of more than 55,000,000 lives. For perspective, that is more loss of American lives than occurred in all the world wars added together! One fourth of our citizens under 40 are dead, and the survivors know it. No surprise, then, that our youth are pro-life. Why the high rate of abortion? Contraception! Really. Statistically, throughout the world, wherever contraception increases, abortion increases. Why? For one thing, the contraceptive mentality sees the child, not as the gift that s/ he is, but as a failure of contraception. Since all types of contraception have a failure rate, when it occurs, the easiest way out is abortion. So the contraceptive mentality encourages selfishness and lust, while having children encourages people to live unselfishly and virtuously. Contraception is immoral and intrinsically evil (Catechism #2399, 2370). While it entices single people into the sin of fornication, lured by the Safe Sex slogan, it also ensnares married couples not only with a false sense of security, but entices them into the sin of adultery as well. Contracepting couples have a divorce rate of 50%. Contraceptive drugs poison the person (such as with cancer, strokes, infertility, death) and pollute the planet (hormones from women on contraceptives have been found in waterways around water treatment plants, causing mutations in the fish there). This year, let s do the right thing. Let s end contraception and have abstinence outside of marriage and natural family planning within marriage. PRAYERS AFTER COMMUNION What do you do when you return to the pew after receiving Holy Communion? If you re reading the back of the bulletin anyway, read these! These prayers come from the 1962 edition of My Sunday Missal: Prayer Before a Crucifix (also imparts a Plenary Indulgence if recited after Communion) O good and dearest Jesus, before Thy face I humbly kneel, and with the most fervent desire of my soul I pray and beseech Thee to fix deep in my heart lively sentiments of faith, hope and charity, true sorrow for my sins and a firm purpose of amendment, whilst with deep affection and grief of soul I reflect upon and ponder over Thy five most Precious Wounds, having before my eyes the words of David the prophet concerning Thee, my Jesus: They have pierced My hands and My feet, they have numbered all my bones. Our Father,... Hail, Mary,... Glory Be... (for the Holy Father s intentions). What Shall I Give Thee? I have received into my heart Jesus Christ, His Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity. I begin this day, as a day in Heaven. He is in my soul the Divine Infant in the crib, the growing Boy at Nazareth, the Apostle acclaimed by the crowds on the roads of Galilee, the Miracle-Worker Who performed such prodigies, the Martyr Who completed His Sacrifice on Calvary. And now, O good Master, what shall I give Thee in exchange for Thy visit...? I would like to pray to Thee with the burning words of Thy Mother and her court of Heaven, but I feel riveted to earthly things... I would like to offer Thee courageous loyalty to my Baptismal Vows and Confirmation Graces but alas, I have so often been disloyal... I would like, at least, to have a desire for the Christian life, but I allow myself to be discouraged by my failures... O good Jesus, I have nothing to give Thee, and Thou hast given Everything; Thous hast given Thyself to me. I can only join my poor voice in the chorus of praise to Thee, rising out of all the works of Thy Creation here on earth... With fifteen hundred millions now living on earth, I shall praise Thy Mercy! May our voices unite with the billions of those who inhabited the earth before us, and out of whose dust the beauty of Nature perpetually rises to praise Thy Glory! May an infinite concert of voices from cottages and palaces, from fields and forests, from towns and deserts, from workshops and cathedrals, from earth and from heaven, from time and from eternity, arise to give my thanks unto Thee. Amen.