January 8, 2017 The Epiphany of the Lord Readings on p. 1011

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1 Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston 1530 Norwalk Drive Katy, Texas Telephone: Fax: Office Hours: Monday Thursday 8:30 a.m. 4:30 p.m. Friday 8:30 a.m. 4:00 p.m. Masses: Monday Friday: 9:00 a.m. Saturday (Vigil): 5:30 p.m. Sunday: 8:00 a.m., 9:45 a.m.*, 11:30 a.m.*, 5:30 p.m. *Nursery available Reconciliation: Saturday 4:00 5:00 p.m.; or appointment with a priest Eucharistic Adoration: Tuesday after 9:00 a.m. Mass until 7:30 p.m. St. Vincent de Paul Society: January 8, 2017 The Epiphany of the Lord Readings on p

2 PARISH CLERGY Rev. Tom Lam Administrator Rev. Martins Emeh, J.C.L. Parochial Vicar Deacon John Evanoff Pastoral Associate Deacon Don Kish PARISH STAFF Business Manager Craig Shemon Gerry Broussard, Misha Gabriel, Dan Stamps, Mary Tran Religious Education LouAnn Svoboda, Director Dave Clark, Charlotte Fulton, Sarah Karchunas, Maria Laiseca Youth Ministry Joey Harvey, Director 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 Kirk Harris Young Kim, Alex Trejo COMMUNITY LIFE Nursery Coordinator: Anne Salazar Bingo: Friday at 7:30 p.m Welcome Newcomers If you would like more information on our Parish Community, please visit An Epiphany Homily by Pope Francis T he words of the Prophet Isaiah addressed to the Holy City of Jerusalem are also meant for us. They call us to go forth, to leave behind all that keeps us self-enclosed, to go out from ourselves and to recognize the splendor of the light which illumines our lives: Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. That light is the glory of the Lord. The Church cannot elude herself into thinking that she shines with her own light. Saint Ambrose expresses this nicely by presenting the moon as a metaphor for the Church: The moon is in fact the Church she shines not with her own light, but with the light of Christ. She draws her brightness from the Sun of Justice, and so she can say: It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me (Hexaemeron, IV, 8, 32). Christ is the true light shining in the darkness. The Magi mentioned in the Gospel of Matthew are a living witness to the fact that the seeds of truth are present everywhere, for they are the gift of the Creator, who calls all people to acknowledge him as good and faithful Father. The Magi represent the men and women throughout the world who are welcomed into the house of God. Before Jesus, all divisions of race, language and culture disappear: in that Child, all humanity discovers its unity. The Church has the task of seeing and showing ever more clearly the desire for God which is present in the heart of every man and woman. Like the Magi, countless people, in our own day, have a restless heart which continues to seek without finding sure answers. They too are looking for a star to show them the path to Bethlehem. How many stars there are in the sky! And yet the Magi followed a new and different star, which for them shone all the more brightly. They had long peered into the great book of the heavens, seeking an answer to their questions, and at long last the light appeared. That star changed them. It made them leave their daily concerns behind and set out immediately on a journey. They listened to a voice deep within, which led them to follow that light. The star guided them, until they found the King of the Jews in a humble dwelling in Bethlehem. All this has something to say to us today. We do well to repeat the question asked by the Magi: Where is the child who has been born the King of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage (Mt 2:2). We are impelled, especially in an age like our own, to seek the signs which God offers us, realizing that great effort is needed to interpret them and thus to understand his will. We are challenged to go to Bethlehem, to find the Child and his Mother. Let us follow the light which God offers us! The light which streams from the face of Christ, full of mercy and fidelity. And once we have found him, let us worship him with all our heart, and present him with our gifts: our freedom, our understanding and our love. Let us recognize that true wisdom lies concealed in the face of this Child. It is here, in the simplicity of Bethlehem, that the life of the Church is summed up. For here is the wellspring of that light which draws to itself every individual and guides the journey of the peoples along the path of peace. 2

3 Events & Meetings This Week SUNDAY, JANUARY 8 FOOD DRIVE 12:30 PM, Feast Day Celebration: Family Center MONDAY, JANUARY 9 9:00 AM, ESL 4: Outreach Room 507 1:00 PM, Rummikub: Outreach Center 6:30 PM, Bereavement Support: Den 7:00 PM, High School Bible Study: Upper Room 7:00 PM, Scout Troop 1146: Rooms 204, 205/206, 207/212 7:00 PM, Job Networking: Epiphany Rm. TUESDAY, JANUARY 10 9:00 AM, ESL 1: Outreach Room 507 9:30 AM 7:00 PM, Adoration: Chapel 9:30 AM, Quilters: Room 411 9:45 AM, St. Vincent de Paul Meeting: Outreach Conference Room 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 Rosary for Vocations: Chapel 4:45 PM, Children s Faith Formation 4:45 PM, Jr. High Faith Formation 7:00 PM, Rosary: Chapel 7:00 PM, Scout Troop 1288 Court of Honor: Family Center 7:00 PM, RCIA: Epiphany Room 7:30 PM, Evening Prayer: Chapel WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11 9:30 AM, Called to be Mom: Family Ctr. 9:30 AM, Clinic Care Kits: Outreach Ctr. 10:00 AM, Acts: The Spread of the Kingdom: Den 4:45 PM, Children s Faith Formation 6:30 PM, Children s Faith Formation 6:30 PM, Jr. High Faith Formation 6:30 PM, HSFF & Confirmation: PAC THURSDAY, JANUARY 12 9:00 AM, ESL 1: Outreach Room 507 9:45 AM, Just Faith: Outreach Center 10:00 AM, Caregiver s Support Group: :00 AM, Gathering Place: Family Center 6:30 PM, Financial Peace University: Den 6:30 PM, Spanish Bible Study: PAC 7:00 PM, Walking Through Grief: Outreach Conference Room FRIDAY, JANUARY 13 9:30 AM, Ladies Club: Family Center 7:30 PM, Bingo: Family Center SATURDAY, JANUARY 14 NO EVENTS SCHEDULED SUNDAY, JANUARY 15 COFFEE & DONUTS 9:45 & 11:30 AM, Nursery 0-5 years 2nd Annual Epiphany Feast Day International Festival Sunday, January 8 after the 11:30 a.m. Mass in the Family Center. The menu with prices for food items will be handed out at the Family Center doors. Proceeds from the event will go to Epiphany s Catholic School. 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 Cynthia Viator Ladies Club Joan McManamy 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 & Faith Formation Schedules. epiphany@epiphanycatholic.org Child s Play Learning Center, Alyce Gabrysch, Director, ; Fax; childsplaykaty.com 3

4 LITURGICAL CELEBRATIONS THIS WEEK SPECIAL REMEMBRANCES Saturday, January 7 Vigil-The Epiphany of the Lord 5:30 PM Kendall Gustafson Sunday, January 8 The Epiphany of the Lord 8:00 AM Robert Kimmell 9:45 AM For the Parish 11:30 AM Neyda Buendaia 5:30 PM Rosalia Abella Monday, January 9 The Baptism of the Lord 9:00 AM Oliver Gonzales Tuesday, January 10 Weekday 9:00 AM John Gennusa Wednesday, January 11 Weekday 9:00 AM Robert Mally Thursday, January 12 Weekday 9:00 AM Paul Baumann Friday, January 13 Weekday 9:00 AM Vern Hamilton Saturday, January 14 Vigil-Second Sunday in O. T. 5:30 PM Phillip Loyacano Sunday, January 15 Second Sunday in Ordinary Time 8:00 AM Robert Kimmell 9:45 AM For the Parish 11:30 AM Oliver Gonzales 5:30 PM Adela Veselka READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: Is 42:1-4, 6-7 or Acts 10:34-38; Ps 29:1-4, 3, 9-10; Mt 3:13-17 Tuesday: Heb 2:5-12; Ps 8:2ab, 5, 6-9; Mk 1:21-28 or Heb 1:1-6 and 2:5-12; Ps 8:2ab, 5, 6-9; Mk 1:14-20 and 1:21-28 Wednesday: Heb 2:14-18; Ps 105:1-4, 6-9; Mk 1:29-39 Thursday: Heb 3:7-14; Ps 95:6-11; Mk 1:40-45 Friday: Heb 4:1-5, 11; Ps 78:3, 4bc, 6c-8; Mk 2:1-12 Saturday: Heb 4:12-16; Ps 19:8-10, 15; Mk 2:13-17 Sunday: Is 49:3, 5-6; Ps 40:2, 4, 7-10; 1 Cor 1:1-3; Jn 1:29-34 Please Remember In Prayer Our Deceased Agnes Fagnant, mother of Michael Fagnant Liturgy & Prayer 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: Jason Sides, Hailey Williams, Betty Long, Brianna McRee, Maria Mercedes Enriquez, Janet Cuccia, Chester Bourgeois, Nancy Matthews, Dave & Ginny Radike, Gloria Hernandez, Everly Joy Gonzalez, Ruth Nestor, Theresa McCluskey, Steve Chambers. 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. You are invited to experience evening prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours each Tuesday evening in the chapel at 7:30 PM. Liturgy of the Hours is the formal prayer the worldwide Church prays daily in response to Christ's statement to "pray always". Please join us and the entire Church around the world each Tuesday evening. TV Mass for the Homebound Now on KUBE channel 57 at 10:30 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 Community Life Epiphany Ladies Club The Epiphany Ladies Club invites you to attend our meeting on January 13 at 9:30 AM in the Family Center. We will be hosting a guest speaker from Westside Homeless Prevention, a group that assists homeless children and their families in Katy ISD and Spring Branch ISD. New members are always welcome. Any questions, please contact us at epiphanyladiesclub@gmail.com. FOREVER YOUNG invites you to join us on Friday, January 20th at 11:30 a.m. in the Family Center for a covered dish lunch. Candice Twyman from the Better Business Bureau will speak about the Top Scams and what you can do to avoid them. The FY group offers monthly entertainment and interesting trips "for the over 55" - new to the parish or not. Parish Pictorial Directory Saturday, January 14 Sunday, January 15 Monday, January 16 Tuesday, January 17 Wednesday, January 18 Thursday, January 19 Saturday, January 21 Sunday, January 22 Monday, January 23 Monday, January 30 Tuesday, January 31 12:00 pm-7:00 pm 10 :00 am-5:00 pm 2:00 pm-6:00 pm 12:00 pm-7:00 pm 10:00 am-5:00 pm February dates will be published next weekend. Our Stewardship Stewardship December 31/January 1 To be announced due to earlier bulletin deadline Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. MATTHEW 2:11 The image of the Magi kneeling before the infant Jesus and opening their treasure chests for Him is an image that we should all try to follow all year long. In gratitude for all that we have been given, we are called to generously share all of our gifts, not just the ones we pick and choose. God wants us to be the most generous with that one thing that means the most to us. Stewardship December 24/25 Sunday & Christmas Offering $101, St. Vincent de Paul Society $13, Registered Households 6,639 T he new year is a great me for financial planning! Please remember to include Epiphany of the Lord and our new Catholic School in your plans. Faith Direct can make the en re process easier! Faith Direct is our parish on-line 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! 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! 5

6 Outreach Ministry Outreach Events This Week: Regular Meetings: Mon. Epiphany Job Networking at 7 p.m. in the PAC; Tues. Respect Life Rosary at 10 a.m. in the Chapel. January 8th: Food Drive\ January 9th: Bereavement Meeting January 11th: Clinic Care Kits January 12: Just Faith January 12: Gathering Place January 12: Caregiver support January 12: Walking through Grief January 12: Financial Peace See for details. 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, January 12th from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Family Center. If you are a primary caretaker and need some respite, please call Carmen at or her at Carmenkaty@sbcglobal.net. Do you want to BEAT DEBT? BUILD WEALTH? Achieve financial goals? Then, Financial Peace University is the place for you! Starting January 12th. Be empowered with practical skills to eliminate debt and save for the future by joining the 9-week life changing class, Financial Peace University by Dave Ramsey, at Epiphany. You will be challenged and motivated to make a plan for your money and change your family tree forever. More information at or / and to get discounted material call Clinic Care Kits Come assemble personal care items on January 11th in the Outreach Center. BEREAVEMENT MEETING - January 9th 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 January 9th at 6:30 pm in the PAC. Walking through Grief Grief Support Offered If you lost a loved one to death you are invited to our Walking Through Grief series on Thursday nights in the Outreach Center at 7 pm. Starting January 12th. For more information please call Lisa in Outreach at Career Search Seminar Saturday, January 21 from 9am to 2pm This career building workshop will help you brush up your resume. Interview skills will be reviewed and practice. Get help jumpstarting your new job placement. For this workshop you must pre-register by 1/18/17 via to: seminarejn@gmail.com SVdP Volunteers Needed Is the Holy Spirit asking you to do more? Does Pope Francis message of helping the poor appeal to you? We need volunteers to make home visits in the evenings or on Saturdays twice a month. This is conducive for those working. Please call Sharon at Epiphany Job Fair: January 26 from 9am to 2 pm 6

7 Adult Faith Formation ADULT FORMATION Tuesday morning Scripture Study will meet on January 10, Begin the New Year by Breaking Open the Word! We meet from a.m. in the PAC. All are welcome! For more information: or CALLED TO BE MOM Called to be Mom meets on January 11 for a presentation by Richard Yohr, a licensed professional counselor, who will speak on the topic of marriage from 9:30 11:30 a.m. in the PAC. Contact: louann@epiphanycatholic.org for more information. INFANT BAPTISM PREPARATION Expecting a new baby? Or, do you have a little one who has not yet been baptized? Have you been chosen to be a Godparent? A Baptism Preparation Session for parents and godparents will be held on Saturday, February 11, 2017 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. Childcare is available. The next opportunity to attend a baptism class at Epiphany will be on Saturday, 13, FAITH FORMATION Faith Formation classes resume on Tuesday, January 10 or Wednesday, January 11. We look forward to seeing all of our students as we begin the New Year! Spanish Bible Study resumes Thursday, January 12. Start the New Year with a commitment to learn more about your faith! With Bishop Robert Barron s THE PIVOTAL PLAYERS Explore the lasting influence of saints, artists, mystics, and scholars who not only shaped the life of the Church but changed the course of western civilization. This six-week Monday evening series begins: January 23, :00-9:00 p.m. Parish Activity Center Register online at epiphanycatholic.org/ payment or contact , ext. 283 or louann@epiphanycatholic.org for registration information. There is a $25.00 fee for the study guide. Orders placed after January 7, 2017 cannot be guaranteed for the first session. Couples are welcome to share the guide. Visit: for a preview. Contact louann@epiphanycatholic.org or call for additional information on this series. 7

8 Epiphany Youth Ministry This year, in the United States the celebration of the Epiphany falls on January 8, but the traditional date for the Epiphany is January 6. The date we know as January 6 was established as the solstice in Egypt in 1996 BC, but the Egyptian calendar lost a full day every 128 years. Twenty centuries later the actual solstice had migrated to December 25. People still kept January 6 for the solstice celebration, but December 25, matching nicely with the Roman pagan feast of the Unconquered Sun, launched an extended solstice holiday. By the time of the early church, the whole period of twelve days was celebrated just about everywhere. Christians began to celebrate Christ as the true light of the world in four themes: the Nativity, the manifestation to the Gentiles, the baptism of the Lord, and the wedding feast at Cana. That was entirely too much for one day to handle. A twelve-day season was ready to be adapted, so Christians borrowed from the pagan calendar for their own season of light. Thus early Christian celebrations of the Christmas season extended from one date for the solstice, December 25, to the older date, January 6. The darkest time in the Northern Hemisphere could now be filled with the Christian observance of the arrival of the Light of the World. Rev. James Field, Copyright J. S. Paluch Co. Around the Archdiocese WORLDWIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER WEEKEND February 17 19, March 24 27, 2017 God blesses Married Couples with gifts to sustain each other; love, tenderness, selflessness, forgiveness, passion and prayer. Rediscover those gifts in your Marriage. Marriage Encounter is offering a Valentines Weekend this year! Register early! Valentines weekend fills fast! Find out more or sign up at: or call (713) th Grade Retreat! March 31 st through April 2 nd! Registration will open soon. We need retreat team members. If you are interested in helping on the team, please Joey Harvey. Interested in helping with the Confirmation Retreat? We need seniors to lead some of the groups games, share their witness talk, and help with our Gift of the Holy Spirit Production : ELF! Please Joey@Epiphanycatholic.org Students currently enrolled in Confirmation will be on retreat January 13-15, 2017 at Lake Tomahawk. Please keep these students in your prayers! 8