St. Mary Catholic Church St. Michael Catholic Church. January 7, 2018

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1 St. Mary Catholic Church St. Michael Catholic Church Hagerstown, MD Clear Spring, MD January 7, 2018

2 Dear Parishioners, Merry Christmas and Happy Epiphany of the Lord! You may recall last year hearing the Announcement of Easter and the Moveable Feasts Sung after the Gospel at Mass. The proclamation of the date of Easter and the other moveable feasts on Epiphany dates from a time when calendars were not readily available. It was necessary to make known the date of Easter in advance, since many celebrations of the liturgical year depend on its date. The number of Sundays that follow Epiphany, the date of Ash Wednesday, and the number of Sundays that follow Pentecost are all computed in relation to Easter. Although calendars now give the date of Easter and the other feasts in the liturgical year for many years in advance, the Epiphany proclamation still has value. It is a reminder of the centrality of the resurrection of the Lord in the liturgical year and the importance of the great mysteries of faith which are celebrated each year (from the USCCB website). We will observe this ancient practice of the Church again this year. You will find the text printed below. In addition to this text, please also find those dates, in addition to Sundays, that we are obliged to worship God at Mass. There are only five of these holy days of obligation that are not observed on Sunday. Please mark your calendars now and plan around Mass for each of these feasts. We should think of Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation Masses as the center of our week, month, and year around which all other events are scheduled. Explained very simply, this is on account of the Third Commandment and the Lord s command to us when He gave us His Body and Blood: Do this in memory of me. By placing Mass on these days at the center of our schedules, we help to put God more and more at the center of our lives. This is a great new year s resolution whether we already live by it or are still trying to do so more perfectly. As I have mentioned, I am away from December 29 to January 15 to work on my dissertation. I am so close to being finished, with a bit of dedicated time like this, I hope to be finished by October. Please pray for this intention that, once finished, I may focus even more on the important work God has in mind for us here. You are in my prayers even while I am away. While I am gone, please welcome Father Jon Kightlinger who will be assisting with Mass and Confessions in my absence. Father Jon is a priest of the Archdiocese who has been dedicating his priestly service to helping parishes in need of temporary priestly ministry (like us right now!). Father Jon s presence is a real blessing! May God bless you and keep you in His care, and may the Blessed Mother intercede for you, Father Cibelli

3 Holy Days of Obligation for the year 2018 (those days, in addition to Sundays, we are obliged to worship God at Mass): August 15, Wednesday, The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary November 1, Thursday All Saints Day December 8, Saturday The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary December 25, Tuesday The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) January 1, 2019, Tuesday Mary, the Holy Mother of God Announcement of Easter and the Moveable Feasts (for the year 2018) Know, dear brethren (brothers and sisters), that, as we have rejoiced at the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, so by leave of God's mercy we announce to you also the joy of his Resurrection, who is our Savior. On the fourteenth day of February will fall Ash Wednesday, and the beginning of the fast of the most sacred Lenten season. On the first day of April you will celebrate with joy Easter Day, the Paschal feast of our Lord Jesus Christ. [In those places where the Ascension is observed on Thursday: On the tenth day of May will be the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ.] [In those places where the Ascension is transferred to the Seventh Sunday of Easter: On the thirteenth day of May will be the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ.] On the twentieth day of May, the feast of Pentecost. On the third day of June the feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. On the second day of December, the First Sunday of the Advent of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom is honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. Special Celebration Mass January 21, 2018 at 4:oo P.M. Archbishop Lori will be celebrating the Installation Mass for Fr. Cibelli as Pastor of St. Mary s Church. A reception will follow. Further information will be provided in the coming weeks.

4 1/7/2018 Attendance 825 Offertory $8, Online Giving 7, Christmas $20, Solemnity of Mary Total $ Amount Needed** $15,239 **This is the amount of weekly collection that would allow St. Mary to break even for fiscal year 2017 *Poor Box $ School Support $1, Other /7/2018 Attendance 43 Offertory $ Christmas Solemnity of Mary Total $ Amount Needed** $749 **This is the amount of weekly collection that would allow St. Michael to break even Catholic Prison Ministry in Hagerstown County Jail. Every Monday approximately one hour is spent with men and women. We generally do Liturgy of the Word. If interested please contact Anie Alencherry ( ) or Johny Alencherry ( ). May God bless. Our Lady of Lourdes Rosary Crusade, Sat., Jan. 13, 2018, from 10:30 11:30am, at the Natl. Shrine Grotto of our Lady of Lourdes, The Grotto Cave, Mount Mary s Univ., Emmitsburg, MD. Come join us in prayer and bring your family and friends! Questions? Call Pat Oliver at Rosary Crusades are always on the second Saturday of each month, 10:30-11:30am, at the National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes. As Blessed Mother Teresa said Everything begins with prayer. Father, What is the significance of the gifts of the Wise Men? The wise men may have known the ancient Hebrew prophecies of the coming Messiah from the time that the Israelites had spent in exile in Babylon. The prophet Daniel held a high position in the court of the Babylonian king and prophesied the coming of the Messiah. So, the wise men were wise enough to bring gifts that signified their knowledge of who Jesus was. A gift is simply that; something we do not have a right to; something that is given to us out of generosity and kindness of someone else. In that respect then, when the Gospel says the Magi opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. They were not really gifts since, as God, everything belongs by right to God. The Magi were only giving to God what was His due. Like the background music in a scary movie, whose ominous tune warns us that danger is just around the corner. The gifts of the wise men sound the first note, that proves this is not fairy tale ending of the Christmas story. As St. Pope Gregory the Great has written, The Magi come bearing gold, incense, and myrrh. Gold is offered in tribute to a king, incense is offered in sacrifice to God, [and] with myrrh bodies of the dead are embalmed. The magi therefore, proclaim also by their mystic gifts, Who it is they adore: with gold they proclaim Him king, with incense that He is God, by myrrh that He is mortal. There are heretics who believe that He is God, but they do not believe that He reigns everywhere. These indeed offer incense, but refuse to offer Him gold. There are others who believe He is a king, but deny He is God. Those offer Him gold, but deny Him incense. And there are others who confess He is both God and King, but deny that He assumed a mortal body. Such as these offer Him gold and incense but refuse the myrrh of His assumed mortality. Ask The Priest is a continuing feature of the Bulletin. If you have a question regarding the Catholic faith, please place your question in the box on the back table.

5 St. Mary Church Holy Mass Intentions January 8 14, 2018 Day Date Mass Intention Monday 1/8 6:30 John Weigel 8:30 William Hudson Tuesday 1/9 6:30 Special Intentions of Carleton Jones 8:30 Special Intentions of Dan & Connie Monkiewicz Wednesday 1/10 6:30 Sue Sleeper 8:30 Helen O Connor Thursday 1/11 6:30 Vocations to the Priesthood 8:30 Al Merhaut Friday 1/12 6:30 Poor Souls 8:30 Special Intentions of Eleanor Little Saturday 1/13 8:30 Special Intentions of Mary Bernhard 5:15 Special Intentions of Richard Michael Bowers Sunday 1/14 8:00 Gene Eakle 9:30 St. Mary s and St. Michael s Parishioners 11:00 Mario A. Calandrelle 12:50 Special Intentions of Tyler Garner St. Michael Church 10:30AM January 14, 2018 Special Intentions of Daniel Weaver The hosts being used for the month of January have been donated by the Legion of Mary. Readings for January 7 14, 2018 Sunday 1/7 Monday 1/8 Tuesday 1/9 Wednesday 1/10 Thursday 1/11 Friday 1/12 Saturday 1/13 Sunday 1/14 Sunday THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD Isaiah 60:1-6 / Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6 / Matthew 2:1-12 THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD Isaiah 55:1-11 / Mark 1:7-11 Weekday 1st Samuel 1:9-20/ Mark 1:21-28 Weekday 1st Samuel 3:1-10, / Mark 1:29-39 Weekday 1st Samuel 4:1-11 / Mark Weekday Canada: Saint Marguerite Bourgeoys 1st Samuel 8:4-7, 10-22a / Mark 2:1-12 Weekday Saint Hilary, Bishop & Doctor of the Church: BVM 1st Samuel 9:1-4, 17-19; 10:1 / Mark 2:13-17 Sunday Second Sunday in Ordinary Time 1st Samuel 3:3b-10, 19 / 1st Corinthians 6:13c-15a / John 1:35-42

6 45th ANNUAL MARCH FOR LIFE WASHINGTON, DC Friday, January 19, :00 Chartered bus leaves St. Mary Church By 8:00 am Arrive at Capital One Arena (formerly the Verizon Center) for Youth Rally and Mass for Life Noon: Rally at National Mall 12th St. 1:00 3:00 March to Supreme Court and Capitol Building 7:00 pm Approximate return to St. Mary BRING: LUNCH AND WATER; ROSARY DRESS: To be outdoors Cost: Goodwill offering for transportation CALL: Todd Anderson at to reserve your seat Additional information:

7 KNIGHTS OF COLOMBUS NEWS American Red Cross will be having a Blood Drive on January 11th, 2018 from 1-6pm at the Knights of Columbus Hall. Save the date: Italian Night dinner & dance will be held January 20th CHALLENGING THE MIND LIVING THE FAITH Fully accredited Pre-K through 8th grade Visit us each Tuesday during Take A Look Tuesdays from 9 Prayer Groups Legion of Mary Padre Pio 13th of the Month Fatima Prayer Group Society of St. Vincent de Paul Anyone experiencing a hardship is encouraged to contact the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Help Line for assistance ( extension 124). Your contributions to the poor box are appreciated! Adult Catechism Class Wednesday 10:30 AM Parish Office Conference Room Come with your questions about the Catholic Faith Grades 9 12 Bring a Friend! Food Fun Friends Games Questions? Contact Todd Anderson hagerstownhomeseller@gmail.com Mary McNeil emmbee@look-ma.com or Knights of the Holy Tabernacle Young men 8th 12th grade are invited to join Sundays, 6:30-8:30pm Bosco Room 2nd floor, St. Mary Parish Center Feasting!, Fun!, & Faith! St. Mary 224 W. Washington St. Hagerstown, MD Phone: Fax: church@saintmarysonline.org Church website: School website: Pastor Rev. Ernest Cibelli Associate Pastor Rev. Lawrence Adamczyk Pastor Emeritus Rev. George Limmer Mass Schedule Saturday: 8:30 am and 5:15pm Sunday: 8:00am, 9:30am, 11:00am and 12:50pm (Extraordinary Form) Monday-Friday: 6:30am and 8:30am Holy Days: 7:30pm on the day and 7:30pm vigil ST. MICHAEL, Clear Spring: Sunday Mass at 10:30am