A Homily 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 Homily by Pope Francis Pope Francis says that Jesus invites us to radical reconciliation. Pope Francis used the Gospel of Matthew 5:20-26 as the point of departure for his homily. He said that Jesus desires radical reconciliation. Human wisdom The Pope said that Jesus uses human wisdom in reasoning with the disciples. In order to drive home his teaching regarding loving relationships, the Lord uses an every-day example the problem of insults. Insults kill Pope Francis smiled as he said that the list of insults Jesus cites are ancient. Jesus tells us that insults open up a path that ends in murder. We disqualify others through insults. They rob people of their respectability. By insulting people we silence them, we take away their voice, he said. Insults leads to envy Insults are so dangerous because they lead to envy, which is how the devil entered the world according to the Book of Wisdom, the Pope said. When another person does something I don t like or when someone threatens me, envy pushes me to insult them. Pope Francis said it is good to ask ourselves: Have I insulted anyone today? When do I use insults? When do I close my heart to another with an insult? Can I see the bitter root of envy there that pushes me to desire the destruction of another in order to avoid competition, rivalry, that type of thing. It s not easy. But let s think how beautiful it would be if we never insulted others. May the Lord grant us this grace. Jesus halts the process Jesus wants us to stop this dynamic, Pope Francis said. When you go to Mass and you are aware that one of your brothers has something against you, go and reconcile yourself Jesus is that radical. Reconciliation is not the same as good manners. No, it s a radical attitude, one that tries to respect the dignity of others as well as my own. From insult to reconciliation, from envy to friendship this is the example that Jesus gives us today. 2

3 Events & Meetings This Week SUNDAY, JUNE 24 9:45 & 11:30 AM, Nursery: 2 5 years; PAC 9:45 & 11:30 AM, Children s Liturgy of the Word Grades 3 & 4 MONDAY, JUNE 25 1:00 PM, Rummikub: Outreach Center 7:00 PM, Job Networking: Rec Room TUESDAY, JUNE 26 9:30 AM, Quilting Group: Room 412 9:40 AM 7:00 PM, Adoration: Chapel 9:45 AM, Second Family: Outreach Center 10:00 AM, Holy Hour Rosary for Respect Life: Chapel 3:00 PM, Divine Mercy Chaplet: Chapel 4:00 PM, Holy Hour Rosary for Vocations: Chapel 7:00 PM, Scout Troop 1288: Rec Room 7:00 PM, Rosary, Vespers & Benediction: Chapel WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27 6:30 PM, Family Fun Night: PAC 8:00 PM, Young Adult Bible Study: Room 404 THURSDAY, JUNE 28 6:30 PM, Men s Food & Faith: Room 412 7:00 PM, Line Dancing: Great Room FRIDAY, JUNE 29 7:30 PM, Bingo: Family Center SATURDAY, JUNE 30 No Events Scheduled SUNDAY, JULY 1 9:45 & 11:30 AM, Nursery: 2 5 years; PAC 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 Sunday, June 24 The Nativity of St. John the Baptist 8:00 AM Mary Tighe 9:45 AM For the People 11:30 AM Phil Garrod 5:30 PM James Woods Monday, June 25 Weekday 9:00 AM Tobias Carrero Tuesday, June 26 Weekday 9:00 AM Rosemary R. Lisson Wednesday, June 27 Weekday 9:00 AM Gerald Jendrusch Thursday, June 28 St. Irenaeus 9:00 AM John Lazarich Friday, June 29 Saints Peter and Paul 9:00 AM Pedro A. Ramirez Saturday, June 30 Vigil 13 th Ordinary Sunday 5:30 PM Thomas O. Mann Sunday, July 1 13 th Sunday in Ordinary Time 8:00 AM Elizabeth Jalipa 9:45 AM For the People 11:30 AM Toms & Lisie Chirayil 5:30 PM John Gennusa READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: 2 Kgs 17:5-8, 13-15a, 18; Ps 60:3-5, 12-13; Mt 7:1-5 Tuesday: 2 Kgs 19:9b-11, 14-21, 31-35a, 36; Ps 48:2-4, 10-11; Mt 7:6, Wednesday: 2 Kgs 22:8-13; 23:1-3; Ps 119:33-37, 40; Mt 7:15-20 Thursday: 2 Kgs 24:8-17; Ps 79:1b-5, 8, 9; Mt 7:21-29 Friday: Vigil: Acts 3:1-10; Ps 19:2-5; Gal 1:11-20; Jn 21:15-19 Day: Acts 12:1-11; Ps 34:2-9; 2 Tm 4:6-8, 17-18; Mt 16:13-19 Saturday: Lam 2:2, 10-14, 18-19; Ps 74:1b-7, 20-21; Mt 8:15-17 Sunday: Wis 1:13-15; 2:23-24; Ps 30:2, 4-6, 11-13; 2 Cor 8:7, 9, 13-15; Mk 5:21-43 [5:21-24, 35b-43] Please pray for our military men and women. good health: Please keep the following people in your thoughts and prayers this week as we wish them a return to Jason Sides, Theresa McCluskey, Steve Chambers, Jackie Alfonso, Colette Johnecheck, Lauro Garza, Amapola Garza, Mary Laverock, Maria Concepcion Espinosa, Donna Johnson, Linda Hudak, Lionel Rivas, Diane Estay, Jason Klander, Karen Janak Calderon, Tim Elliott, Guadalupe Lopez-Monreal, Herlinda Kilcullen. YOUNG ADULT BIBLE STUDY Bible Study will be Wednesday, June 20th at 8pm, in Room 404 of the PAC Building. We are reading and reflecting on How to be Happy from the book of Matthew. JOHN THE BAPTIST Since June 24 falls on a Sunday this year, the Church has the opportunity for a more intense celebration of the birth of John the Baptist, who is often described as the last of the Old Testament prophets and the bridge between Judaism and Christianity. More commonly, John is known as the precursor of our Lord Jesus Christ. All the Gospels report John s basic message: Repent, the kingdom is near at hand. One greater than I is coming. Though he was a wandering preacher who dressed in camel skins and ate grasshoppers, John s legacy is one of true royalty. His origins are similar to those foretold by God through the prophet Isaiah: You are my servant, he said to me, Israel through whom I show my glory (Isaiah 49:3). John s humility I am not he was surpassed only by that of his Lord Jesus, the humble servant who followed. Copyright J. S. Paluch Co., Inc. 4

5 Our Stewardship Na onal egiving Day This past Thursday, June 21 the first day of summer was National egiving Day. Your response to egiving in our church has been wonderful. To build on this success, I am challenging you to put envelopes on a permanent summer vacation and set up an egiving account with Faith Direct today. egiving is especially important in the summer months, when many families may be out of town some weekends and Epiphany does not receive their envelopes. It s easy for people to forget to catch up once they re back, and our weekly offertory can fluctuate as a result--making it harder to predict how much we will have to sustain our year -round ministries. The more families who participate through electronic giving like Faith Direct, the more consistent and predictable our offertory will be month after month-- and this will help us do even more to spread Christ s love throughout the community and our ministries. There are two ways you have give by electronic giving. To give regularly through Faith Direct, visit and use our church code: TX613 to setup or update your giving account. You can also give to our St. Vincent de Paul and our Catholic School through Faith Direct. If you still like to use the offertory envelopes but find that you are out of town traveling, you can give via text by following the easy steps described below! Your contribution to your church is significant and deeply appreciated. Stewardship June 16/17 (Includes Faith Direct) Sunday Offering $56, St. Vincent de Paul Society $5, Registered Households 6,727 Stewardship is a lifestyle, it s not a program or a process. It s how we are called to live our lives twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week! It challenges us to live Godcentered lives, not self-centered lives. Reflect on your daily ac vi es, do you do them for the glory of God or for the glory of your own name? Your family can always give regularly through Visit to sign up or learn more about Faith Direct on our parish website: Use Epiphany s church code: TX613 Epiphany Catholic School Devotedly yours in Christ, Fr. Tom Lam egiving to Epiphany of the Lord is easy with Faith Direct Text-to-Give! To give via text, follow these steps: 1. Text $ amount to Register your credit/debit card (you will only need to do this once). 3. Save the number as a contact in your phone to make future giving faster and easier. 5

6 Outreach Ministry Outreach Events in June Regular Meetings: Mondays Epiphany Job Networking at 7 p.m. in the PAC Tuesdays Respect Life Rosary at 10 a.m. in the Chapel. July 4: Happy 4th See for details. Call the Outreach Center at for more information on the various ministries. BABY BOTTLE BLESSING THANK YOU to all who brought back their Baby Bottle last weekend and for helping to change someone s LIFE! If you forgot to return yours, please drop it off at the Outreach Center during the week. Toothbrushes and toothpaste needed! Please drop them off in the loggia collection bins for Clinic Care Kits. Dental care is important to children and these are not allowed by food stamps. Thank you. PROFESSIONAL JOB FAIR Thursday July 26th, :00 a.m. 2:00 p.m. Family Center Hosted by Epiphany Job Seekers Network The event is FREE and there will be about 50 companies attending. Tell your friends. THANK YOU June BLOOD DONORS!!! We had a total of 23 participants and collected 19 donations of whole blood, 4 double red cell, and 1 plasma! A special thank you to those donors who were willing but had to be deferred this time. We appreciate all of our donors and the dedicated Blood Drive Coordinators & members who make this happen!!! When donating at other times or locations, remember Epiphany s Donor Group # is 2340 [Religious] freedom remains one of America's most precious possessions. And, as my brothers, the United States Bishops, have reminded us, all are called to be vigilant, precisely as good citizens, to preserve and defend that freedom from everything that would threaten or compromise it. - Pope Francis Catholics across the United States are encouraged to pray and act in support of religious liberty at home and abroad during Serving Others in God's Love: Religious Freedom Week 2018, which begins on June 22, the Feast of Sts. Thomas More and John Fisher, and ends on June 29, the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul. 6

7 Adult Faith Formation Biblical Studies Summer 2018 Advanced Biblical Studies is open to adults who have completed the Archdiocesan introductory Scripture courses or their equivalent. These ten-hour courses are designed to focus on either individual books or small collections of related books of the Bible in an intensive and focused way. They are taught by instructors who have a specialty in Sacred Scripture. Two courses are offered this summer at St. Dominic Center, 2403 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, Prophets of the Persian Period Saturdays, August 4 & 11, 9:00-3:00 The Book of Psalms Saturdays, August 18 & 25, 9:00-3:00 (Lunch break on your own: 12pm - 1pm) Contact the Archdiocesan Office of Evangelization and Catechesis at for additional information. Adult Faith Formation To Go! The National Catholic Bible Conference was held at St. John Vianney in Houston in May, CD s from the speakers presentations are available for check-out at our Reception Desk. Listen to nationally recognized speakers such as Jeff Cavins, Fr. Mike Schmitz, and Dr. Edward Sri as they inspire you to live out your calling as a witness to God s unfailing love for every person in your life. Audio CD s are available for one-week checkout at no cost - only one CD at a time please! Great to listen to while driving! It s midsummer day! We have the advantage of celebrating one of the great hidden treasures of our liturgical calendar on a Sunday this year. There are only three nativity feasts on our calendar: for the Lord, the Blessed Mother (September 8), and today s birth of the Baptist. Today s date is anchored by the Annunciation (March 25), when Mary learns not only of her own child s advent, but of Elizabeth s child. We are exactly half a year away from Christmas Eve. There are strong traditions around this feast. Just as the winter solstice provides a rich vocabulary for Christmas, so does the abundance of light at midsummer inform this celebration. Just as at Christmas, a religious festival spills over into culture. As summer light reaches its peak, the sun-drenched zones of northern Europe see people staying up all night, lighting St. John s fires in the long summer twilight. Bonfires seem to be the unifying force in all these celebrations, kindled along the shores of the St. Lawrence in Quebec and Montreal, with harbor illuminations in France. You may be most interested in the custom in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the Baptist s own city. People there will leap into the sea between midnight and dawn to honor John. Why not find your way to a pool, a lake, or a sandy beach today and plunge in to recall your baptism? It s a tradition! Rev. James Field, Copyright J. S. Paluch Co. 7

8 Elementary Faith Formation Epiphany Youth Ministry Thank You to everyone involved with VBS this year. Over 800 participants and volunteers came together for an amazing week of friends, fun, and faith. We appreciate everyone who volunteered, especially Stephanie Brierty and Alesa Mora for leading such a grand experience. We hope everyone continues to enjoy their CDs and mementos from the experience. Remember: Jesus Rescues! Please pray for our youth and adults as we depart for our annual summer mission trip to New Mexico. For more information or to donate to our trip please visit epiphanycatholic.org/summer-mission Thanks for all your support and generosity. Nativity of Saint John the Baptist Behold, one is coming after me; I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet. Acts 13:25 Give us a call at to hear more about becoming a catechist. You us too. Drop us a note at: dave@epiphanycatholic.org. 8