A Reflection by Pope Francis

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2 PARISH CLERGY Rev. Tom Lam Pastor Rev. Martins Emeh, J.C.L. Parochial Vicar Deacon John Evanoff Pastoral Associate Deacon Don Kish PARISH STAFF Business Manager Lars Gustafson Administration Gerry Broussard, Misha Gabriel, Dan Stamps, Mary Tran Religious Education LouAnn Svoboda, Director Dave Clark, Charlotte Fulton, Becca Hammock, Maria Laiseca Youth Ministry Joey Harvey, Director Matt Kiernan Parish Life Ministry Dave Clark, Director Music Ministry Christian Mondragon, Director Adrienne Copeland Liturgy Ministry Dominick Aquila, Director Outreach Ministry Schottsie Hill, Director Lisa Gilkeson Facilities Manager Vince DeBonis Christian Cholico, Young Kim, Alex Trejo COMMUNITY LIFE Nursery Coordinator: Anne Salazar Bingo: Friday at 7:30 p.m Welcome Newcomers For more information about our parish please go to our website A Reflection by Pope Francis M other Church teaches us works of mercy are essential for our salvation, said Pope Francis, but it is not enough to do good to those who do good to us. To change the world for the better we must do good to those who are unable to reciprocate, as the Father did with us, in giving us Jesus. The Pope said the Church does not teach us about mercy through theoretic lectures but through the actions of the saints who have visited those in prison, of mothers who teach their children to share what they have with those in need, through women like Blessed Teresa of Calcutta who held the hand of the abandoned so they would not die alone. This is how the Mother Church teaches her children the works of mercy. She has learned this path from Jesus, she learned that this is essential for salvation. The Pope was continuing his catechesis on our Mother Church. In our previous catechesis, we reflected on the Church as a Mother who nurtures us in the faith, guides us on the way of salvation, and protects us from evil. Today, I wish to reflect on the Church as a Mother who teaches us the works of mercy. For the Gospel, what is essential is mercy: God sent his Son, God became man to save us, that is, to give us His mercy. Jesus clearly says, Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful (Lk 6:36). Can there be a Christian who is not merciful? No. The Christian must necessarily be merciful, because this is the heart of the Gospel. And true to this teaching, the Church can only repeat the same thing to her children: Be merciful, as the Father is, and as Jesus was. The Mother Church, the Pope continued, teaches us also to be close to those who are sick. How many saints served Jesus in this way! And how many ordinary men and women, every day, put into practice this work of mercy in a hospital room, or in a nursing home, or in their own home, assisting a sick person. The Mother Church teaches us to be close to those who are in prison. The Pope added, But, Father, no, this is dangerous, these are bad people. Each one of us is capable of this. Listen well: each of us is capable of doing the same thing as the man or woman who is in prison. We all have the capacity to sin and to do the same, to make mistakes in life. They are no worse than you or I. Mercy overcomes every obstacle, knocks down every wall and brings you to always seek the face of the man, the person. And it is mercy that changes hearts and lives, that can regenerate a person and allow them to reintegrate themselves in society. The Mother Church teaches us to stay close to those who are abandoned and die alone. This is what Blessed Teresa of Calcutta did on the streets of Calcutta. This is what many Christians are doing and have done when they are not afraid to shake hands with those who are about to leave this world. And even here, mercy gives peace to those who leave and those who remain, making us feel that God is greater than death, and that by abiding in Him even the final farewell is simply until we meet again. Blessed Teresa really understood this. Although they used to say to her, Mother, this is wasting time. She would look for people dying on the street, people whose bodies were being eaten by rats and she would take them home so that they could die clean, in tranquility, with a caress in peace. She bid them farewell, all of these people! And many men and women have done this like her. They are waiting for them there, at the door, to open the gate of Heaven for them. Helping people to die well, in peace. Dear brothers and sisters, this is how the Mother Church teaches her children the works of mercy. She has learned this path from Jesus, she learned that this is essential for salvation. It is not enough to love those who love us. Jesus says that pagans do this. It is not enough to do good to those who do good to us. How much have we paid for our redemption? Nothing, it s all free! Doing good without waiting for something in return, doing a good turn. This is what our Father did for us and so we must to the same. So go on and do some good! How nice it is to live in the Church, our Mother Church teaches us that these things that Jesus taught us. 2

3 Events & Meetings This Week SUNDAY, APRIL 8 Food Drive 9:45 & 11:30 AM, Children s Liturgy of the Word Grades 1 & 2 9:45 & 11:30 AM, Nursery: 2 5 years; PAC 3:00 PM, Divine Mercy Holy Hour: Church 3:30 PM, Catholic School Information Meeting: Family Center 3:30 PM, Elementary Faith Formation 3:30 PM, Junior High Faith Formation 3:30 PM, Marriage Support: Outreach 4:00 PM, Acts of Mercy Service Project: Great Room 7:00 PM, High School FF/Confirmation MONDAY, APRIL 9 9:00 AM, Daily Mass: Chapel 1:00 PM, Rummikub: Outreach Center 6:30 PM, Bereavement Support Group: Den 7:00 PM, Scout Troop 1146: PAC 7:00 PM, Job Networking: Rec Room 7:00 PM, Handbell Choir: Church TUESDAY, APRIL 10 9:00 AM, Daily Mass: Chapel 9:00 AM, ESL Class: Outreach Center 9:30 AM, Quilters: Room 411 9:40 AM 7:30 PM, Adoration: Chapel 10:00 AM, Holy Hour Rosary for Respect Life: Chapel 10:00 AM, Scripture Study: Den 3:00 PM, Divine Mercy Chaplet: Chapel 4:00 PM, Holy Hour for Vocations: Chapel 4:45 PM, Elementary Faith Formation 4:45 PM, Junior High Faith Formation 7:00 PM, RCIA: Epiphany Room 7:00 PM, Scout Troop #1288: PAC 7:00 PM, Rosary: Chapel 7:00 PM, Vespers & Benediction: Chapel WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11 9:00 AM, Daily Mass: Chapel 9:45 AM, Clinic Care Kits Workshop: Outreach Center 4:45 PM, Elementary Faith Formation 5:30 PM, Contemporary Music: Church 6:30 PM, Elementary Faith Formation 6:30 PM, Junior High Faith Formation 6:30 PM, High School FF/Confirmation 7:00 PM, Choir Practice: Church 8:05 PM, Young Adult Bible Study: Rm.404 THURSDAY, APRIL 12 9:00 AM, Daily Mass: Chapel 9:00 AM, ESL Class: Outreach Center 10:00 AM, Caregiver s Support: Outreach 10:00 AM, Gathering Place: Family Center 2:30 PM, Citizenship Class: Room 403 6:30 PM, Spanish Bible Study: PAC 7:00 PM, Floody Buddys Meeting: 409 7:00 PM, Adult Confirmation Class: Den FRIDAY, APRIL 13 9:00 AM, Daily Mass: Chapel 7:30 PM, Bingo: Family Center SATURDAY, APRIL 14 1:00 PM, Protecting God s Children: Epiphany Room SUNDAY, APRIL 15 Coffee & Donuts 9:45 & 11:30 AM, Nursery: 2 5 years; PAC 9:45 & 11:30 AM, Children s Liturgy of the Word Grades 3 & 4 3:30 PM, Elementary Faith Formation 3:30 PM, Junior High Faith Formation 3:30 PM, Marriage Support: Outreach 7:00 PM, High School FF/Confirmation Divine Mercy Sunday Holy Hour April 8th - 3:00PM Join us for a Holy-hour and The Divine Mercy Chaplet. I am love and Mercy Itself 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 Pastoral Council Chair Tom McGeehan Knights of Columbus C.J. Hattier, Grand Knight St. Vincent de Paul Society Rebel LeBoeuf Ladies Club Sharon Yohe Forever Young Norma Lopez, Mary Davis 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 & Faith Formation Schedules. epiphany@epiphanycatholic.org Child s Play Learning Center, Alyce Gabrysch, Director, ; Fax; childsplaykaty.com 3

4 Liturgy & Prayer PRAYER LIST FOR THE SICK LITURGICAL CELEBRATIONS THIS WEEK SPECIAL REMEMBRANCES Saturday, April 7 Vigil Sunday of Divine Mercy 5:30 PM Andres Palmera Sunday, April 8 Sunday of Divine Mercy 8:00 AM Edna Campo 9:45 AM For the People 11:30 AM Domingo Cerrda 5:30 PM Rafael Rubio Monday, April 9 The Annunciation of the Lord 9:00 AM Nancy Dore Tuesday, April 10 Easter Weekday 9:00 AM Donald Gilmore Wednesday, April 11 St. Stanislaus 9:00 AM Jerry Toomey Thursday, April 12 Easter Weekday 9:00 AM John Murphy Friday, April 13 Easter Weekday 9:00 AM William LaCroix Saturday, April 14 Vigil Third Sunday of Easter 5:30 PM Jerome Cuccia Sunday, April 15 Third Sunday of Easter 8:00 AM Monica Taylor 9:45 AM For the People 11:30 AM Mary Jean Argento 5:30 PM Alberto Martinez READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: Is 7:10-14; 8:10; Ps 40:7-11; Heb 10:4-10; Lk 1:26-38 Tuesday: Acts 4:32-37; Ps 93:1-2, 5; Jn 3:7b-15 Wednesday: Acts 5:17-26; Ps 34:2-9; Jn 3:16-21 Thursday: Acts 5:27-33; Ps 34:2, 9, 17-20; Jn 3:31-36 Friday: Acts 5:34-42; Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14; Jn 6:1-15 Saturday: Acts 6:1-7; Ps 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19; Jn 6:16-21 Sunday: Acts 3:13-15, 17-19; Ps 4:2, 4, 7-9; 1 Jn 2:1-5a; Lk 24:35-48 Please pray for our military men and women. Please keep the following people in your thoughts and prayers this week as we wish them a return to good health: Jason Sides, Theresa McCluskey, Steve Chambers, Jackie Alfonso, Colette Johnecheck, Lauro Garza, Amapola Garza, Mary Laverock, Maria Concepcion Espinosa, Maynard McDonald, Donna Johnson, Linda Hudak, Lionel Rivas. 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. Through the waters of Baptism the following infants now have begun their journey of faith in the Christian Community: Emilia Victoria Reyes, Iker Weil-Lopez, Adrian Zachary Cruz Zara. TV Mass for the Homebound Now on KUBE channel 57 at 9:30 a.m. Cable and Satellite Channels AT&T U-verse channel 57/1057 HD Comcast channel 53/653 HD DirecTV channel 57 Dish TV channel 57 4

5 Parish Life Epiphany Ladies Club Annual Luncheon and Fashion Show Please join us for a fun day on Friday, April 13 at Falcon Point Country Club. There will a delicious three course lunch, door prizes, silent and live auction items and raffle baskets. All proceeds will go to our St. Vincent de Paul Society, the Epiphany School and our youth ministry. Tickets are $27.00 and can be purchased by contacting the parish office at Men s ACTS Retreat April 26-29, 2018 All men of Epiphany are invited to attend our second ever Men s ACTS Retreat. This interactive, three nights, three days retreat led by fellow parishioners and supported by our Clergy will bring you closer to our Lord through the Holy Spirit in the focal areas of Adoration, Community, Theology and Service. The Retreat begins the evening of Thursday, April 26 and concludes with the welcome home celebration at the 11:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, April 29. The cost of the retreat is $275 which includes roundtrip transportation to/from the retreat center. Registration for the Retreat can be completed on-line at Epiphany s website: Please register soon as space is limited to 24 retreatants! For more information / answer any questions please jamban95@gmail.com / or fagnaml@gmail.com /. We look forward to you joining us for a spiritual, faith renewing experience you will cherish forever. Forever Young Welcome friends, aged 55+, to our April 20, 2018 Pizza luncheon. We gather at the Family Center at 11:30 a.m. We have pre-collected $5 for the event. If pizza is not your fancy, please join us with your own sack lunch. Come early to look over the trips offered for the month, pick your seats, and enjoy friendly conversa on. Looking forward to seeing you there. Support Our Advertisers Thank you to our advertisers for making our bulletins possible. We encourage you to patronize these businesses. Please tell them you saw their ad in our bulletin. 5

6 Our Stewardship Epiphany Catholic School Stewardship March 24/25 Sunday Offering $40, St. Vincent de Paul Society $1, Registered Households 6,702 The community of believers was of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own... - A 4:32 All that we are and all that we have is a gi from God! Think of your family, your friends, your talents, your abili es and your money these are all gi s from God! We aren t really owners of anything, we are merely stewards of the gi s God has blessed us with. Respect Life Bulletin Board If you are busy and have a long to do list, then let Epiphany s on-line giving program make your life easier! Faith Direct is our parish s e-giving program. Just enroll and your regular offerings to Epiphany are automa cally deducted from your checking account or billed to your credit card. It s secure and easy to use! You can also use Faith Direct for second collec ons and dona ons to our new Catholic school. Visit or find their link on Epiphanycatholic.org. Remember Epiphany s parish code is: TX 613 Faith Direct also has a free App for your phone! It is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play for Android users. The App allows parishioners to access their account any me, anywhere! Thank you for your con nued support of our parish family! Attention Teens! National Pro-Life T-shirt Day is Friday April 20, 2018! This is a national day of action where young people all over the country are encouraged to wear a pro-life t-shirt to school and share a picture on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter using #NPLTD18. The Respect for Life Committee is selling pro-life t-shirts to promote this event. Shirts are $5.00 and will be on sale in the PAC prior to Jr. High and High School Faith Formation classes on April 4 th, 8 th, 11 th and 15 th. For more information send an to respectlife@epiphanycatholic.org or visit the website Intercession for Life May the Holy Spirit move our hearts to recognize the intrinsic dignity of every person we encounter; We pray to the Lord 6

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8 Outreach Ministry Outreach Events in April Regular Meetings: Mon. Epiphany Job Networking at 7 p.m. in the PAC; Tues. Respect Life Rosary at 10 a.m. in the Chapel. April 8: Food Drive April 9: Bereavement Meeting Apr 10: Understanding Poverty April 11: Clinic Care Kits April 12: Citizenship Class April 12: Gathering Place April 12: Caregivers Support group April 15: Gift of Marriage Aoril 19: Citizenship Class April 22: Gift of Marriage See for details. Call the Outreach Center at for more information on the various ministries. BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT Our Bereavement Support team offers a supportive environment and invites you to share your memories and feelings with others who have experienced the loss of a loved one. Please join us on Monday April 9th at 7pm in the Den of the PAC. Looking for a Service Project for yourself or your family can do. Check out our website for a list of projects under Outreach. If you have any questions please call the Outreach Office at Gathering Place Thursday, April 12th Lunch, light exercise, singing, crafts & games, wonderful care for the beloved elderly person you take care of daily...oh, and respite for you - this is what s offered monthly by the Gathering Place! Feel free to bring your loved one that you re caring for to our next event on Thursday, April 12th 10 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Family Center To sign up or for questions, please call Carmen at Caregiver s Support Group April 12th at 10 a.m. Outreach Center If you are feeling overwhelmed by the demands of caring for someone with an illness or disability you are not alone. Come join us as we share the care giving experience, support one another and develop resources to assist you, the caregiver. For more information please call Outreach at Baby Bottle Blessing It is Baby Bottle time again and we need to get our bottles ready for distribution to help those in crisis pregnancies. Bottles need to be unpacked and filled with information slips. If you have some time on April 25 from 9:45 to 12:00, please join us in the Outreach Office. We will start after morning mass and please stay as long as you can. 8

9 Adult Faith Formation Interested in Becoming Catholic? VIRTUS: Protecting God s Children - Original training session will be held at Epiphany Saturday, April 14, from 1:00-4:00 p.m. in the Parish Activity Center (PAC). Preregistration is mandatory at A valid identification must be presented at checkin. No late admittance is allowed. If you are over 18 and active in ministry at Epiphany, you must be VIRTUS trained. All adult parishioners, ESPECIALLY PARENTS, are encouraged to be VIRTUS trained! Questions? Need assistance with the registration process? Call the Faith Formation Office at No walk-ins, preregistration is required! Please Note: This the only VIRTUS: PGC at Epiphany prior to VBS. EVERYTHING God, of your goodness give me yourself, for you are enough for me. And only in you do I have everything. St. Julian of Norwich INFANT BAPTISM PREPARATION A Baptism Preparation Session for parents and godparents will be held on Saturday, May 12, 2018 from 10:00 a.m. until Noon in the Family Center. Parents must attend a baptism preparation session before scheduling their child s baptism. Call to register for this preparation session. The next opportunity to attend a baptism class at Epiphany will be on Saturday, August 11, The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is the process for adults to complete the sacraments of initiation in the Catholic Church as well as for unbaptized adults to become Catholic. RCIA is also for adults who want to learn more about the Catholic faith. If you have been considering becoming Catholic, now is the time to investigate the process! Contact louann@epiphany catholic.org or call to begin this journey of faith. Sometimes children acquire nicknames in childhood that stalk them through adulthood: Pinky, Boo-boo, and the like. This Sunday was once called Low Sunday, a step down from Easter glory, and an unfortunate nickname since Easter rejoicing goes on for fifty days. Traditionally this is the day when the newly baptized put away their white baptismal robes and returned to their everyday life after a week of intense celebration. Of course, the goal was to take up everyday duties with a very new point of view. A long title for the day was Dominica in albis deposito, or The Lord s Day for Putting Away the Albs, so no wonder the nickname Low Sunday arose. In the old calendar it was also called Quasimodo Sunday, after the first word of the opening chant, Quasimodo geniti infantes, or As newborn infants, a reference to the newly baptized taken from the Epistle of Peter. Victor Hugo s bell-ringing hero in The Hunchback of Notre Dame was abandoned as an infant on the threshold of the cathedral of Paris on Low Sunday, 1467, and named Quasimodo for the feast. Rev. James Field, Copyright J. S. Paluch Co. 9

10 Elementary Faith Formation Epiphany Youth Ministry $10 for your chance to win an unforgettable vacation or the Ladies Club Quilt! Proceeds benefit youth ministry mission trip, retreats, conferences, junior high rally, on-going formation and more! Purchase tickets outside Mass or from the parish office. Don t forget to turn in your CRS Rice Bowl at faith forma on classes or the parish office. Our end of the year Catechist Appreciation Breakfast is scheduled for April 29th, after the 9:45am mass. There will be wide variety of breakfast goods, door prizes, and a special thank you gift for all Catechists. Please RSVP with Charlotte. (Gr. 1-5) Unit Four; EQ 2: How are Sun. we called to become missionary disapril 8th. ciples of Jesus Christ? Tues. & Wed. April 10 & 11 (Gr. 1-5) End of year prayer service, activities, & books go home. Youth Ministry is looking for Table Sponsors for this year s Crawfish Fest! Please go to tablesponsors to sponsor a table! We thank you for your support and be sure to purchase tickets ASAP! 10