Thought for the Week From Pope Francis. Mass Times ~ Presider Schedule. Inside This Issue January 10, This Month

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1 Mass Times ~ Presider Schedule Saturday, January 9 5:30 p.m. ~ Father Ron Sunday, January 10 7:30 a.m. ~ Father Armstrong 9:00 a.m.* ~ Father Armstrong 10:30 a.m. ~ Father Armstrong (Church) 10:30 a.m. ~ Father Ron (Gym) 12:30 p.m. ~ Father Ron 5:30 p.m. ~ Father Ron *American Sign Language interpreted Mass Weekday and Saturday Masses Monday - Friday: 6:30 a.m., 8 a.m., 11 a.m., 5:30 p.m. Saturday: 8 a.m., 11 a.m. Filipino Mass in Tagalog every 4th Sunday at 3:30 p.m. Holy Day Masses Eve of the Feast: 5:30 p.m. Day of the Feast: 6:30 a.m., 8 a.m., 11 a.m., 5:30 p.m. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament* Exposition: Monday-Friday, 3-5:15 p.m., in the church Thursday before first Friday of each month, 6-8 p.m., with Holy Hour from 7-8 p.m. *No adoration on federal holidays Inside This Issue January 10, 2016 Sunday Readings and Questions for Reflection 3 Recent Gifts to the Parish Library 4 Outreach News 5 Upcoming Events in the Archdiocese 6 This Month Saturday, January 16 ~ Father Ron Sunday, January 17 ~ Father Ron ~ Father Armstrong ~ Father Armstrong ~ Father Ron ~ Father O ~ Father O Poor Box Donations Donations collected during the month of January will benefit the John S. Mulholland Family Foundation, which supports the work of food pantries run by St. Thomas More and St. Francis Xavier parishes in Southeast Washington and Holy Name parish in Northeast Washington. The foundation provides the pantries with canned and packaged food, as well as with fresh poultry, meat, dairy products, and produce. Thought for the Week From Pope Francis 3630 Quesada Street, NW Washington, D.C Phone Fax Blessed Sacrament School 5841 Chevy Chase Parkway, NW Washington, D.C The common home of all men and women must continue to rise on the foundations of a right understanding of universal fraternity and respect for the sacredness of every human life, the poor, the elderly, children, the infirm, the unborn, the unemployed, the abandoned. Such understanding and respect call for a higher degree of wisdom, one that accepts transcendence, self-transcendence, rejects the creation of an all-powerful elite, and recognizes that the full meaning of individual and collective life is found in selfless service. (Address to the United Nations, New York, September 2015) Source of Image: walkwithfrancis.org

2 Baptism of the Lord Pastoral Staff Rev. Ronald A. Potts, Pastor Rev. Andrew Gonzalo, Parochial Vicar Rev. Msgr. Maurice V. O Connell, Retired Priest moconnell@blessedsacramentdc.org Rev. Percival L. D Silva, Retired Priest pdsilva@blessedsacramentdc.org Deacon Kenneth Angell kenneth.angell@opic.gov Deacon Donald Mays dmays@blessedsacramentdc.org Assistant on Weekends Rev. Regis Armstrong, OFM Cap, Catholic University Duffy Parish Center Main Office (Monday - Saturday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.) In an Emergency , Ext (to page priest on duty) Facilities Pius X Library Ray Manning Adult Center Mr. John Navolio, Business Manager , jnavolio@blessedsacramentdc.org Mr. Jay Rader, Director of Liturgy and Music , jayrader@blessedsacramentdc.org Ms. Michelle Balch, Director of Religious Education , mbalch@blessedsacramentdc.org Ms. Rosalie Days, Sacramental Preparation Coordinator , rdays@blessedsacramentdc.org Ms. Casey Armand, Youth Minister , carmand@blessedsacramentdc.org Mrs. Patricia Kavanaugh, Social Concerns Minister , pkavanaugh@blessedsacramentdc.org (Office open Monday - Friday, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., and by appointment) Ms. Emma Voelzke, Special Needs Coordinator , evoelzke@blessedsacramentdc.org Ms. Kathy Gillespie, Director of CYO , kgillespie@blessedsacramentdc.org Blessed Sacrament School Mr. Chris Kelly, Principal , ckelly@blessedsacramentdc.org Ms. Nancy Ryan, Director of Admissions , Ext. 6110, nryan@blessedsacramentdc.org Sacraments Baptism Baptismal preparation is required of all parents prior to the baptism of their child. We recommend preparation take place before the child is born. For more info: Michelle Balch, mbalch@blessedsacramentdc.org / Matrimony All couples who are to be married at Blessed Sacrament must complete our parish marriage preparation program. Please contact one of the parish priests six months in advance of your marriage date. Reconciliation Friday and Saturday after the 11 a.m. Mass (if no funeral); Saturday, 4-5 p.m. and after the 5:30 p.m. Mass, or anytime by appointment. Parish Services & Information Care of the Sick and Homebound If you or someone you know is hospitalized or homebound and would like a priest to visit, contact the parish office at New Parishioners Welcome! Please register by: stopping in at the parish office or using the registration form available online or from the pamphlet rack at the Quesada Street entrance to the church. Bulletin Announcements Deadline: 10 a.m. Send to: bulletin@blessedsacramentdc.org Newsletter Content newsletter@blessedsacramentdc.org Photo/Video Submissions communications@blessedsacramentdc.org Website Postings website@blessedsacramentdc.org Church Bulletin Boards The parish secretary maintains the church bulletin boards. Please drop off any flyers for posting to Joan Ward in the parish office, located in the Duffy parish center. Inclement Weather Policy The parish center/office follows Montgomery County Schools for delays and closings. All evening activities are cancelled those days the schools are closed. Pastor s Column Today we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord and the conclusion of the Christmas season. In our reading from the Prophet Isaiah, we have the beginning of the Book of Consolation, that proclaims good news, the Lord God comes. He is here and brings His people pardon and liberation. He arises like a victorious but peaceable king. He leads like a shepherd guiding His flock. He gathers the lambs to His bosom and takes special care of the weak ones. This prophecy is fulfilled as Jesus comes to the banks of the Jordan River and begins His public ministry. Saint Paul speaks of splendor in his second letter to Titus. Salvation is given as a grace of God for all, a completely gratuitous gift, the sovereign initiative of God, the manifestation of His extraordinary mercy. Accordingly, He is, above everything else, the good news, a revelation to be welcomed. The grace of God training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires, and live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age. Paul speaks of the generous love of God shown by Jesus Christ for everyone has been freely given by Him and the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit renews us through the waters of baptism and gives us the promise of eternal life. The grace of baptism enables us to live lives dedicated to Christ. In today s gospel passage from Luke, we have the culmination of the announcement of John s birth and then of his youth. He has told us of his coming into the region of the Jordan and his preaching. He shows him in the midst of a people full of anticipation who ask if he is not the Messiah. John, The Baptism of Christ Mosaic from San Marco Santa Maria Assunta in Torcello, and Murano islands, Venice not unaware of Source of Image: these unasked questions, addresses himself to all of them: I am baptizing you in water, but there is one to come who is mightier than I. I am not fit to loosen his sandal strap. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire. Jesus came to be baptized when all the people were baptized, incognito, so to speak, in the midst of the people who were coming to John. While Jesus is praying, the heavens are opened, the Holy Spirit descends upon Him in the form of a dove, and the voice from heaven says, You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased. Luke describes for us the messianic investiture of Jesus at His baptism through the consecration and anointing of the Holy Spirit. God bless you, Father Ron 2

3 Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament January 10, 2016 Question for the Week Youth Corner With you I am well pleased. What are you doing right now that is pleasing to God? How does it feel to live that way?? (Source: Pastoral Staff Note Father D Silva will be away from January to February 9. New Exhibit Opens in the Daystar Gallery This Monday The Daystar Gallery presents From the Collection of Professors Pat and Ed Finn. This exhibition of prints and paintings will be on display in the main meeting room of the parish center from January 11 to February 12. A reception will be held next Sunday, January 17, from 2 to 4 p.m. in the gallery. All are welcome. Lenten Communication Workshop for Couples How about making 2016 the year when you make your relationship as a couple your number one priority? Plan on participating in the Lenten Communication Workshop for Couples offered by Blessed Sacrament Parish. It is held on four consecutive Tuesdays, February 16 and 23, and March 1 and 8, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. The past six years drew a range of couples from engaged to those with small children to those married 50 years. All reported a better understanding of their partner and even their children. To find out more, contact Jim and Ann Hoffman at , or hoffmanja2@msn.com or visit the parish website and find the Ministries tab under Faith Formation. Registration is available online. Save the Date for Troop 90 s Anniversary Celebration Blessed Sacrament Troop 90 will celebrate 95 years of continuous operation with a banquet and program on Saturday, April 30, beginning at 6 p.m. in the Blessed Sacrament School auditorium. All Blessed Sacrament Scouts and their families are invited. Guests to include many of the almost 95 Eagle Scouts from our parish and our parish friends. For more information about this event, please contact: Bill Choquette, or Alan Belanger, Rest in Peace Mary Frances Cahill Bernard Thomas Renzy, III Sunday Readings/Questions For Reflection... from the Faith Formation Commission Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7 or 40:1-5, 9-11: In the alternative reading (Isaiah 42), God says, Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am pleased. Then in the Gospel, a voice comes from heaven, saying to Jesus, You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased. What are the implications? Also, wastelands, deserts, rugged land and rough country (Isaiah 40). Could these words describe terrorism in our world today? Election year politics? Your spiritual life? Does this reading suggest that there is help in fixing these or do we have to do it all ourselves? Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6: Did we do anything to earn salvation? Why does God give it to us? What does St. Paul in his letter to Titus say about the extravagance of God s gift to us? And, in the reading from Acts, Peter is quoted as saying this about Jesus: He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil. Compare this with Isaiah in the First Reading: I formed you to open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness. Luke 3:15-16, 21-22: John the Baptist was the middleman. He pointed back to Isaiah and forward to Jesus, connecting the whole plan. What or who are the middlemen or women who connect you with God? In what way are you a middle person? In addition, at one of his weekly General Audiences Pope Francis explained that our Baptism is the point of departure of a journey of conversion that lasts our whole life. His lit candle signifies the light of Christ that enlightens every person. How can you receive the light of faith for your brothers and sisters? How can you be a light for someone in darkness? The star appearing in the sky kindled in their minds and in their hearts a light that moved them to seek the great Light of Christ. Baptism illuminates us from within with the light of Jesus. In virtue of this gift, the baptized are called to become light the light of the faith they have received for their brothers, especially for those who are in darkness and do not perceive glimmers of light on the horizon of their life. You must take the grace of Baptism, that is a gift, and become light for all! Take the Grace of Baptism and Become a Light for All Pope Francis, November 13, 2013 (Source: Center for Liturgy at St. Louis University) Newly Baptized Please include our sick in your prayers that they may experience healing and comfort Alejandro Arce Annielou Bayly Berman William H. Casson Linda Defendeifer Kevin Duffy Marian Middendorf Barrie & Elizabeth Montague Fredy H. Ortega Daniel Ortman Richard B. Perry Rev. Barbara Schlachter Nelly Turner Violeta Turner Hope Elena Katz-Zogby Kathleen Mary Calamis Andrew James Conley Rosalee Marie Dies Isabel Elika Escudero Emma Flanagan Fentress Isaac Ryan Neubauer Anielia Raglan Venedict Zuri Rafer Valenzuela Robert Alexander Watson V Lila Marley Wong Find us on Facebook Blessed Sacrament DC 3

4 Baptism of the Lord Visit Your Parish Library Recent Gifts to the Library City of Saints: a Pilgrimage to John Paul II s Krakow, by George Weigel. The historian, theologian and biographer is best known for his masterpiece, Witness to Hope, the biography of Pope St. John Paul II. The present volume takes the reader on a journey leaving us with a feeling of astonishment at the scope of Karol Wojtyla s achievements. Weigel spent every summer for many years in Krakow; he gives a fascinating historical portrait of the city where the twentieth century happened. New Generations of Catholic Sister: the Challenge of Diversity, by Mary Johnson, S.N.D. and others. Is there a future for women s religious communities? This book gives a forecast about Catholic women in the new millennium and the attraction of vowed religious life for them. It is based on surveys and is a clear-eyed study of sisters who entered religious life after 1965 giving their views on many aspects of their lives and place in the church after Vatican II. Through careful analysis the authors describe why the women were attracted to religious life, what kind of institutions they expected and how they themselves differed from their predecessors. The surveys and a useful list of references add to the book s interest. To the Martyrs: a Reflection on the Supreme Christian Witness, by Cardinal Donald Wuerl. Pope Francis has declared the current threat to Christians (200 million of whom face restrictions on their faith) a third world war, waged piecemeal. The author writes that more people died for the Christian faith in the twentieth century than in all the other centuries combined. In this historical survey of martyrdom each example, from the second century text about the death of St. Polycarp on, strengthens the meaning of witness and testimony. The Cardinal points out, also, the unifying effect of martyrdom displayed for example in the Middle East during the 2014 meeting of patriarchs from different traditions. Coffee and the Corbett Café Every Thursday Join fellow parishioners every Thursday after the 8 a.m. Mass at the Corbett Café, Apartment 1 of the Chevy Chase Apartments (next to the church) for coffee and conversation. First Play Reading of 2016 on January 19 Join friends and fellow parishioners at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, January 19, in the parish library for a reading of two contemporary short plays, Sorry and Regular Singing. You ll enact events in recent American history as seen through the eyes of New York lawyer Richard Apple, his sisters and uncle. Their voices resonate shared citizenship in response to public chatter. Positively shattering stated one critic. Wine and cheese will accompany a post-reading discussion led by John D Luhy. For more information, call The Adult Center All parishioners, 39 and holding, are invited to gather in Apt. 1 in the Chevy Chase apartment building next to the church for fellowship after the 11 a.m. weekday Mass. Bring a sandwich and join the activities. For more information or for transportation, call Rita Killian at Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Out to Lunch Bunch: a Local Restaurant Strong Seniors: Strength and Balance Exercises Watercolor Art Class with Dick Swartz Bridge for Bridge Noon Closed Chimes Chatter Chimes or Bells? Function or form? Chimes in the bell tower or bells in the.... we drive on a parkway, or park on a driveway. Trifling you say? Yet benefits abound for selecting chimes over bells for our belfry and why they were chosen in Chimes (electrified) are automatically played, are scientifically tuned to exact pitch of a pipe organ, do not crack, do not go out of tune, carry a rich and mellow tone, offer musical concert Photo by Joe Bozik playing, and compactly fit into bell tower space. John Deagan (source of our chimes) was a perfectionist with intonation of percussion instruments and wanted to improve upon the clang and clamor of bells. He was an accomplished concert musician and highly-paid orchestra director in the 1870s, and as the story goes, was performing with a theatre orchestra which introduced a glockenspiel for a unique concert sound. It was more of a noise effect rather than an instrument, and the rasping sound was said to offend Deagan s sensitive ears. He offered to tune the instrument by filing the steel bars until the tuning was balanced across the scale range. With his knowledge of physics, he reconfigured the bars to a support frame for greater sound projection, and thus achieved audiences accolades and an early prototype of organ chimes and tower chimes yet to come. That was in Interested in volunteering? Chime-in by contacting 1RetroJoe@gmail.com. Sponsor of the Week We would like to thank Dr. Jill J. Bruno for placing an ad in our weekly bulletin. 4

5 Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament January 10, 2016 Outreach Winter Weather Comfort Food Values From SHARE Blessed Sacrament, the parish food co-op, offers solid and nutritious winter fare at value prices for January. The healthy Value Package, just $21, has a ground beef, chicken thighs and drumsticks, ham steak, fresh white potatoes, onions, and more seasonal items. The Chicken Wings Special Package has 10 pounds of tasty wings, frozen so you can take what you need and freeze the rest, for only $25. The T-bone Steak Box has 3.5 pounds of steaks perfect for oven broiling or grilling, just $20. To order, visit parish website: Ordering deadline is Monday, January 11, at 5 p.m. Food distribution is Friday afternoon, January 22, from 3 to 6 p.m. For more information, leave a message in the Blessed Sacrament SHARE voice mailbox, , or send an to SHARE@blessedsacramentdc.org. Credit Card Option: To pay online by credit card or to make a donation to Blessed Sacrament, visit: Recurring monthly donations by credit card can be arranged with a one-time processing procedure by going to the parish website and clicking on Giving and selecting Click Here to Give Online. Thank you for your support of Blessed Sacrament. Thank You for Your Thanksgiving and Christmas Support: Generous donations to Blessed Sacrament by parishioners made it possible to add a festive touch to holiday meals with turkeys and hams given to those in need. God Bless You! Christian Family Movement Ministry A Prayer for Help in Ending Violence Washington, DC ranks as the 29th most dangerous city in the United States, based on violent crime per capita. Baltimore is 18th, Philadelphia 54th; Camden, NJ is number one. Violent crimes include homicide, rape, robbery, burglary, vehicle theft and arson. The data was compiled by Neighborhood Scout. Let us pray for freedom from violence: Loving and faithful God, through the years the people of our archdiocese have prayed in times of war, disaster and illness. We come to you Father and ask you to help us in the battle of today against violence, murder and racism. We implore you to give us your wisdom that we may build a community founded on the values of Jesus, which give respect to the life and dignity of all people. Bless parents that they may form their children in faith. Bless and protect our youth that they may be the peacemakers of our time. Give consolation to those who have lost loved ones through violence. Hear our prayer and give us the perseverance to be a voice for life and human dignity in our community. We ask you this through Christ our Lord. Volunteers Needed for Martha s Table Dinner Program Volunteers are needed to participate in the Martha s Table Dinner Program. Volunteers prepare sloppy joes, green salad, pasta salad, and healthy desserts for low-income senior citizens and others on the second Friday of the month. Each volunteer makes an entree, side or dessert, enough for 25 adults; assignments vary each month. Recipes are provided. To accommodate volunteers busy work schedules, donations can be dropped off the day or night before to a nearby parishioner s house. If interested in volunteering, contact Rosemary Collopy: or rosemarycollopy@hotmail.com. Did You Know?? Many of the 15 million Catholics with a disability don t regularly attend Mass because of an access or inclusion issue. In addition, children with disabilities sometimes don t receive sacraments beyond the Sacrament of Baptism because many parishes don t have materials and trained catechists. For more information about how Blessed Sacrament is becoming a more inclusive community, contact Emma Voelzke at evoelzke@blessedsacramentdc.org or Prayer of Pope Francis for the Jubilee of Mercy Lord Jesus Christ, you have taught us to be merciful like the heavenly Father, and have told us that whoever sees you sees Him. Show us your face and we will be saved. Your loving gaze freed Zacchaeus and Matthew from being enslaved by money; the adulteress and Magdalene from seeking happiness only in created things; made Peter weep after his betrayal, and assured Paradise to the repentant thief. Let us hear, as if addressed to each one of us, the words that you spoke to the Samaritan woman: If you knew the gift of God! You are the visible face of the invisible Father, of the God who manifests his power above all by forgiveness and mercy: let the Church be your visible face in the world, its Lord risen and glorified. Find us on Facebook Blessed Sacrament DC You willed that your ministers would also be clothed in weakness in order that they may feel compassion for those in ignorance and error: let everyone who approaches them feel sought after, loved, and forgiven by God. Send your Spirit and consecrate every one of us with His anointing, so that the Jubilee of Mercy may be a year of grace from the Lord, and your Church, with renewed enthusiasm, may bring good news to the poor, proclaim liberty to captives and the oppressed, and restore sight to the blind. We ask this of you, Lord Jesus, through the intercession of Mary, Mother of Mercy; you who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen. 5

6 Baptism of the Lord From the Archdiocese Join PAXCatholic on Wednesday, January 13, at Olde Town Pub in Leonardtown for a night of fellowship. PAXCatholic welcomes all young adults ages Happy hour starts at 6 p.m. and the speaker starts at 7 p.m. Drink specials: $1 off any draft beer until 7 p.m.! Contact: PAXCatholic@gmail.com Cardinal s Annual Appeal Parishioners of parishes in the archdiocese will receive a mailing from Cardinal Wuerl this week asking that they make a pledge to the 2016 Cardinal s Appeal. The Cardinal s Appeal not only funds the operations of the archdiocese, it funds services that are of great help to the ministries in each parish. This year, the theme of the Appeal is, Seek First the Kingdom of God. (Matthew 6:33) As we seek first the kingdom of God, we have the capability of helping it to be present in our lives and in the lives of those around us. How does this happen? Through our works of charity, our works of love, our works of love and compassion. Contributions to the Cardinal s Appeal offers each of us the opportunity to respond to the needs of others by enabling ministries and services that touch thousands of lives. Please prayerfully consider a generous pledge to the 2016 Cardinal s Appeal. 6