Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston

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1 EPIPHANY OF THE LORD CATHOLIC COMMUNITY Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston Norwalk Drive Telephone: Katy, Texas 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: September 7, 2014 Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Readings on Page

2 PARISH CLERGY Rev. Tom Lam Administrator Rev. Thomas Joseph Parochial Vicar Deacon John Evanoff Deacon Don Kish PARISH STAFF Business Manager Craig Shemon Gerry Broussard, Verna Goertz, Maria Laiseca, Dan Stamps Religious Education LouAnn Svoboda, Director Beth Harvey, Glenna Carrell, Charlotte Fulton, Cindy Stamps Youth Ministry Dave Clark, Director Joey Harvey Music Ministry 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 Parish registration forms are located in the Narthex of the church, at the parish office or on our website. A Note from the Pastor W hen Jesus finally reveals the nature of his mission (Mt 16:21 27), not only the world, but even the Church, at least initially, takes offense at the Cross. St. Peter exclaimed, God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you, to which, Jesus responds: You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do. The world, and to a certain extent, the Church consists of people, some of whom wish to escape suffering at all cost or at least as much and as long as possible. So what does the Gospel teach us should be our attitude toward pain? Well, we know as God, the Son took on our human nature in order to suffer to suffer more than any other person has ever suffered. That is why he can in turn say to us, Take up your cross and follow me. In essence, he is saying: There is no way to eternal salvation except through me, and salvation cannot take place unless you first make a pilgrimage to the Cross. There are two ways of looking at pain: 1) the first is to see it without any purpose, and 2) the other is to see it with its intended spiritual purpose. That is why Jesus invites us to the Cross to help us understand the true meaning of suffering. Because at the foot of the Cross, you can see these two attitudes in the two thieves crucified on either side of Jesus on the Cross: 1) the thief on the right is the model for those who see pain as having a meaning, and 2) the thief on the left, just like the world, saw no meaning in pain. Both thieves suffered the same amount of pain yet the thief on the left never for a moment correlated his suffering with the Man on the central cross. That is why he cursed his situation and cried out to Jesus: Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us! He cursed the very Lord who could have shepherded him into a place of peace and ultimately to a place he could call paradise. Pain by itself doesn t make us better in fact, it s the opposite. It probably makes us worst because without spiritual meaning, pain can tarnish our soul. The thief on the right, on the other hand, in the course of his Passion, began to understand that Jesus would never have climbed on the cross unless it had some holy purpose. When the thief on the right heard our Savior forgive his executioners, he began to see that his suffering could be turned into something: it could be used to purify his soul. It is like what a fever does to an illness it kills the germs. The body initially undergoes additional pain, but the fever puts the body back on the path of recovery. It all depends on whether or not we link our pain with Jesus suffering on the Cross. A feverish brow can throb in unison with the Sacred Head that once bore the crown of thorns. Or a wrist pierced with needles when they draw blood or pump medicine into our body it can be patiently endured if we join it with the Wrist once nailed to the Cross. Pain that is linked to the Cross has a purpose it is never wasted because it takes on the infinite value of purifying our soul. There is not a pain or sorrow that we bear; there s not a bitter tear that we shed that does not match one of the wounds that Jesus incurred upon His Sacred Body during his sorrowful scourging and his grievous Crucifixion. No matter what injustice or pain we have suffered, we can enter into one of his Holy Wounds like a dove seeks shelter from the storm in the crevices in the rocks. We can hide in this refuge and find intimacy with our compassionate Lord. There, we will find His conversation soothing, His voice gentle, His grace healing. In His most Holy Wounds, we unburden our load and we are purified and strengthened by his redeeming Blood. 2

3 Events & Meetings This Week SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 7 Food Drive after all Masses today Music Recruitment Coffee & Donuts Nursery Closed 10:45 AM, TEAMS of Our Lady Information Meeting: Rooms 205/206 7:00 PM, Confirmation Parent Meeting: Family Center MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 9:00 AM, ESL Level 4: Room 307 7:00 PM, Job Networking: Rec Room 7:00 PM, Troop 1288 Scoutmaster Meeting: Room 304 7:00 PM, Scout Troop 1146: Rooms 204/205/206/207/212 7:00 PM, Matthew: The King and His Kingdom: PAC 7:00 PM, Bereavement Support Meeting: Room 303 TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 9:30 AM, Quilters: Room 410 9:30 AM 7:00 PM, Adoration: Chapel 10:00 AM, Holy Hour Rosary for Respect Life: Chapel 10:00 AM, Scripture Study: Den 7:00 PM, Scout Troop 1288: Rec Room, 301/303 7:00 PM, Rosary: Chapel 7:00 PM, RCIA: Epiphany Room 7:30 PM, Evening Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours: Chapel WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 9:00 AM, ESL Level 4: Room 307 9:30 AM, Called to be Mom: Rec Room 7:00 PM, Confirmation Parent Meeting: Family Center 7:00 PM, Adult Choir Practice: Church THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 10:00 AM, Gathering Place: Rec Room 6:30 PM, Spanish Bible Study Young Adults: Room 311 6:30 PM, Spanish Bible Study: PAC 7:00 PM, Vocation Committee Meeting: Room 307 7:00 PM, Line Dancing: Family Center FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 9:30 AM, Ladies Club: Epiphany Rm. 7:30 PM, Bingo: Family Center SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 9:00 AM, Catechist Workshop: Family Center 1:00 PM, VIRTUS: Protecting God s Children: Great Room 5:00 PM, Music Recruitment 5:30 PM, Nursery: 0-5 years: Room 214 SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 Music Recruitment 9:45 & 11:30 AM, Nursery: 0-5 years: Room 214 1:00 PM, Baptisms: Narthex Reminder to all Catechists: Fall Workshop: Saturday, September 13: 9:00 A.M. until Noon. Begin with prayer in the Chapel and then we will go to the Family Center. Blessed be those who come in the Name of the Lord. (All adults 18 years and older working with children in our parish must be VIRTUS trained. Visit to sign up for a session.) Epiphany is looking for a full time front desk receptionist. Candidate must be bilingual and have basic computer skills for record keeping and light bookkeeping. Please send resume and references to Craig Shemon at craig@epiphanycatholic.org. 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 LITURGICAL CELEBRATIONS THIS WEEK SPECIAL REMEMBRANCES Saturday, September 6 Vigil-23 rd Ordinary Sunday 5:30 PM Mary Lou Lane Sunday, September 7 23 rd Sunday in Ordinary Time 8:00 AM Sam Mercaldi 9:45 AM For the People 11:30 AM Allen Vernon Clark, Jr. 5:30 PM Michael Wayne Monday, September 8 The Nativity of the BVM 9:00 AM Larry Tomasek Tuesday, September 9 St. Peter Claver 9:00 AM Valerie D Souza Wednesday, September 10 Weekday 9:00 AM Medora Dore Thursday, September 11 Weekday 9:00 AM Mark Joseph Broussard Friday, September 12 Weekday 9:00 AM Tobias & Josefa Carrero Saturday, September 13 Vigil-Exaltation of the Holy Cross 5:30 PM Juanita G. Canlas Sunday, September 14 Exaltation of the Holy Cross 8:00 AM Virginia Yandle 9:45 AM For the People 11:30 AM Mildred Ruttle 5:30 PM Jane Nowak READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: Mi 5:1-4a or Rom 8:28-30; Ps 13:6; Mt 1:1-16, [18-23] Tuesday: 1 Cor 6:1-11; Ps 149:1b-6a, 9b; Lk 6:12-19 Wednesday: 1 Cor 7:25-31; Ps 45:11-12, 14-17; Lk 6:20-26 Thursday: 1 Cor 8:1b-7, 11-13; Ps 139:1b-3, 13-14ab, 23-24; Lk 6:27-38 Friday: 1 Cor 9:16-19, 22b-27; Ps 84:3-6, 12; Lk 6:39-42 Saturday: 1 Cor 10:14-22; Ps 116:12-13, 17-18; Lk 6:43-49 Sunday: Nm 21:4b-9; Ps 78:1-2, 34-38; Phil 2:6-11; Jn 3:13-17 Liturgy & Prayer Through the waters of Baptism the following infants now have begun their journey of faith in the Christian Community: Gemma Catherine Rose Barriga, Sebastian Levi Doringuez, Layne Marcelo Erwin, Christopher Matthew Flanagan, Francisco Forero, Adrian Christopher Kraemer, Isabella Martinez, Marielle Gracie McLeod, Skykar Marie Morrow, Drexel Van Nguyen, Osazeme Keith Okundaye, Nicholas Armando Omana, Hannah Grace Sauvageau. PRAYER LIST FOR THE SICK 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, Andrew Joseph Tucci, Ginny Radike, Elizabeth Hart, Nancy Dore Hall, Kim Mc Coy, Eduardo Rodriguez, Dominic Tizoukdal, Charles Massey, Ray McGriff, Carolina Sarmiento, Donny Hughes, Elizabeth Robles, Joetta Bowie, Robert Valluzzo, Jason Sides. 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. Please Remember In Prayer Our Deceased Please pray for our military men and women. Hilda Gott, mother of Gloria Petry 4

5 News in the Parish We welcome into our community: Carlos & Lesly Alvarez del Castillo, Elizabeth Borges, Eric & Jean Ekstrand, Andres & Maria Hernandez, David & Alesa Mora, Keith & Mary Norland, Juan & Lina Pareja, Jorge & Aleyda Reyes, Juan & Gleysy Simeoni, Dinesh & Karen Vaz. EPIPHANY BALL FIELD Reservations of Epiphany s baseball field will start Tuesday, September 9 for the fall season. A parishioner must be a member of the team and attend practices. Practices will be limited to one practice per week per team. For more information call Let s Play Ball! Men s Retreat When was the last time you devoted a full weekend to yourself, your faith, and the Lord? Holy Name Retreat Center invites you to join other men from your parish and community on the weekend of October for our men s weekend retreat. For more information please contact Deacon Don Kish at or call Holy Name Retreat Center at Job Opening for a Maintenance Person(s). It is a full time positon with benefits. Light plumbing, electrical, and heating and air experience would be preferred. Previous experience required. Please send resume and references to Craig Shemon at craig@epiphanycatholic.org. Our Stewardship Stewardship August 30/31 Sunday Offering $36, St. Vincent de Paul $1, Registered Households 6,813 Many of us are generous with our gifts. However, how often is our generosity at the minimum level required? We do just enough or give just enough. Remember, the Lord calls us to be generous with all the gifts He has given us, to grow them and return them with increase. Community Life The Epiphany Ladies Club Mothers, daughters, wives, sisters, friends new to the parish or not we are eagerly looking forward to seeing you all at our Welcome Hi Tea. Please come to our 1 st meeting on Friday, September 12 th at 9:30 a.m. in the Epiphany Room of the PAC. The ELC offers interesting monthly programs and fellowship through a number of sub-clubs including Knitting, Book, Bunco, Couples, Quilting, Mahjong and more. Groups also gather each month for lunch and to go on day trip outings. Come join us and sign up for a year full of fun. Babysitting is available during our monthly meetings for a nominal fee by contacting Charlotte at , ext "Like" Us on Facebook to see club photos and get event reminders. FOREVER YOUNG will meet on Friday September 19 th for a covered dish luncheon at 11:30 AM in the Family Center. Captain Wyatt Martin from the Houston Police Dept. will speak on senior safety. We will be collecting $10 per person for the October catered lunch from Red River BBQ. For information please call the parish office at

6 Vocations Corner egiving with Faith Direct As we approach the summer months, you might want to consider making your generous contributions to the parish through Faith Direct, the electronic giving program here at Epiphany of the Lord. Even if you are out of town during your summer travels, you can make all of your contributions through Faith Direct by way of automatic 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 costeffective, environmentally-friendly way for the parish to receive your gifts. Through my research, I have found that 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 collection basket on Sundays. I would like to take this opportunity as well to express my deepest gratitude for your generous contributions 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 continue to offer your gifts to Epiphany of the Lord. Expressing the assurances of my prayerful remembrance and best wishes in the Lord, I remain Sincerely yours in Christ, Pope Francis in his message for the 51st World Day of Prayer for Vocations says, "A vocation is a fruit that ripens in a well cultivated field of mutual love that becomes mutual service, in the context of an authentic ecclesial life. No vocation is born of itself or lives for itself. A vocation flows from the heart of God and blossoms in the good soil of faithful people, in the experience of fraternal love. Did not Jesus say: "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35). All are welcome to our Vocations meeting on Thursday, September 11, at 7:00 p.m., in Room 307 of the PAC (the two story building). Sponsored by the Vocations Committee. Respect for Life Bulletin Board Life Chain Event The National Life Chain is the largest peaceful, prayerful, pro-life, public witness in the world. More than 1500 cities across the U.S. and Canada are expected to participate on Sunday, October 5, from 2:00-3:30p.m. Epiphany of the Lord will be participating in the Katy Life Chain along Mason Road South of I-10. More information will be shared in the coming weeks explaining how you can participate. For now, save the date on your calendar. Intercessions for Life Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time For all married couples: That they may be open to receive courage from the Lord to be open to new life; We pray to the Lord: Fr. Tom Lam 6

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8 Outreach Ministry FOOD DRIVE Today Boy Scout Troop 1146 is collecting non-perishable food and personal care items for Epiphany Food closet. Items can be brought to either parking lot after morning Masses, today. If you forgot to bring something, food donations may be dropped off in the loggia food bin anytime. Thank you for your assistance! BEREAVEMENT MEETING September 8th In a church community, no one should mourn alone. The support of others who have also experienced this kind of loss can help us feel that we are not alone on our grief journey. Please join us for our next gathering on Monday, September 8 th at 7:00 p.m. in Room 303. If you cannot attend but want information, contact Michelle at epiphanychurchhelp2grieve@gmail.com. THE GATHERING PLACE The Gathering Place provides social time for persons with Alzheimer s, Dementia, Parkinson s or loneliness. Our next event will be on Thursday, September 11 th from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. If you are a primary caretaker and need some respite, please call Alice at The Gift of Marriage What did I ever see in this person to have gotten married? What can I do to put the spark back in my marriage? If you re asking these questions, you re not alone. Parishioner Richard Yohr LPC, CART leads Epiphany s Marriage Ministry, a support group for married couples. Please join him on Tuesday September 16 th at 6:15 p.m. in Room 403 of the PAC. For more details, call the Outreach Office at Walking through Grief starting a new session on September 16 th at 7:00 p.m. in the PAC. Adult Formation VIRTUS: Protecting God s Children Original training session will be held at Epiphany Saturday, September 13 from 1 4 p.m. in the Parish Activity Center (PAC). Register online at A valid identification must be presented at check-in. 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? Call the Faith Formation Office at VIRTUS REFRESHER Keeping the Promise Alive (VIRTUS Refresher) will be held on Saturday, September 20 from 10-11:30 a.m. in the PAC. A valid ID must be presented at check-in. No late admittance. Register at virtusonline.org Contact LouAnn for more information (including your username and password) at or louann@epiphanycatholic.org. KPA is required for all volunteers who attended the original VIRTUS: Protecting God s Children in 2009 or prior to

9 Faith Formation TEAMS of Our Lady An information meeting for married couples group will be held Sunday, September 7 in Room 205/206 (nursery hallway) from 10:45 Noon (following the 9:45 Mass). For information contact: philip_jena@att.net TUESDAY MORNING SCRIPTURE STUDY Break Open the Word for next Sunday! All are welcome to join us on Tuesday mornings from a.m. upstairs in the Parish Activity Center to look at the Gospel at a deeper level. Call LouAnn at , ext. 283 for more information. MATTHEW: The King and His Kingdom Matthew begins on Monday, September 8, 2014, 7 9 p.m. in the PAC and continues for 24 weeks. Registration forms are available at -king-and-his-kingdom. The $35 material fee is due with registration. All are welcome! Attendance at last year s Bible Timeline series is not a prerequisite for this series. Contact: louann@epiphanycatholic.org. Called To Be Mom Sept. 10, 9:30-11:30 in the Rec Room (PAC). Join the moms for a funfilled morning of food and fellowship as we begin our new year. Contact Anna at ctbm.epiphany@gmail.com for more information or to make nursery arrangements. Interested in Becoming Catholic? For more information on the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) contact LouAnn at louann@epiphanycatholic.org or call , ext To date we have approximately 2300 students enrolled in Faith Formation. We thank 114 faithful catechists who have signed up to share their faith with our elementary students! And there are still opportunities to serve! Join our ministry: Positions Available: Sundays: 3:30-5:00 P. M. 1st grade: 3 catechists 2 nd grade: 2 catechists 4 th grade: 2 catechists 5 th grade: 4 catechists Tuesdays 4:45-6 P. M. Kindergarten: 2 catechists 2 nd grade: 4 catechists 4 th grade: 1 catechist 5 th grade: 2 catechists Wednesdays 4:45-6 P. M. Kindergarten: 3 catechists 1 st grade: 2 catechists 2 nd grade: 5 catechists 3 rd grade: 2 catechists 4 th grade: 3 catechists 5 th grade: 1 catechist Wednesdays 6:30-7:45 P. M. 1 st grade: 2 catechists 4 th grade: 2 catechists 5 th grade: 5 catechists Call ( ) and ask for Beth Harvey or her at bharvey@epiphanycatholic.org to serve the children in our parish. (Please note that the number of children enrolled in class is dependent upon the number of volunteer catechists who come forward to share their faith). 9

10 Youth Ministry Sacrament Preparation Reconciliation/Eucharist Confirmation Parent meetings will be Sept. 7th and 10th at 7 p.m. in the Family Center. Please register for the Confirmation program beforehand. Is your child ready to begin preparation to receive Reconciliation and Communion? PARENT ONLY** ARCHDIOCESE REQUIRED MEETING Attend one of the following to hear Fr. Tom present the Theology of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The Diocesan guidelines will be discussed and information regarding the retreats will be explained: Thursday, September 25th at 7-8:30 pm or Saturday, October 4th at 10-11:30am (Family Center) Sacrament Preparation is for baptized children/ youth in grades 2-12 who are presently enrolled and have good attendance in a Faith Formation program or Catholic school during the previous 2013/2014 school year. Sacrament preparation materials will be available at the parent meetings for those who have provided the following to the Faith Formation Office in advance: Fall Retreats for High School is fast approaching! Save the dates! Nov at Forest Glen Camps with national speaker Cooper Ray! Now accepting early registration of $150. * Faith Formation Registration * Sacrament Formation Registration * Your child s baptismal certificate ******************************************* Childcare will be provided at $5.00 per child, by ing nursery@epiphanycatholic.org, with the meeting name, date, your name and age of the children needing childcare. Sacrament Preparation Retreat Team positions are available, please contact the Faith Formation Office for details. If your child or youth has not been baptized and you would like information about Sacrament Preparation, please contact Glenna at , ext

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 September 7, 2014 TRANSMISSION TIME Tuesday, 12 PM SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS 11