SYRO - MALABAR FORANE CATHOLIC CHURCH

Transcription

1 a newsletter published by SYRO - MALABAR FORANE CATHOLIC CHURCH PHILADELPHIA February 5, Welsh Rd, Philadelphia PA Volume 8 Issue 2 Phone: Seasons of Epiphany and Lent Ash Monday - February 27th March 31st - April 2nd, 2017 Rev. Fr. Davis Chiramel Holy Qurbana Schedule Novena & Devotions Sunday, February 5 & 19 8:30 & 10:00 AM ( Malayalam ) Sunday, February 12 & 26 8:30 AM ( Malayalam ), 10:00 AM ( English ) Monday - Wednesday : 8 : 30 AM Thursday & Friday : 7 : 00 PM Saturday : 9:00 AM (After Weekday Mass) St. Alphonsa : Thur sdays Divine Mercy : Fr idays Our Lady of Perpetual Help : Satur days Ash Monday Service : February 27th, 7 P M Thursday 6.30 PM Friday 10:30 AM to 12:00 and 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM CCD Sundays 11:30 AM Every Friday Adoration: 9: 00 AM to 7:00 PM Confession New Trustees and Parish Council Members for 2017 & 2018

2 Events / Important days - Month of February 02 Tue The Presentation of our Lord in the Temple 04 Sat Feast of St. John Britto St. George Ward Meeting 05 Sun Fifth Sunday of Epiphany, Mass at Exton 11 Sat Our Lady of Lourdes ( Day of the sick ) Excelsior: Training program Sixth Sunday of Epiphany 12 Sun Parish Council Meeting St. Chavara Ward Meeting 18 Sat Ward Meetings : St. Alphonsa, St. Thomas 19 Sun Seventh Sunday of Epiphany 24 Fri Commemoration of The Dead 25 Sat Bl. Kunjachan Ward Meeting 26 Sun First Sunday of Lent 27 Mon Day of Fasting Ash Monday Service 7:00 PM Words of Gratitude! This note comes with feelings of genuine gratitude. On behalf of our Parish Community, we would like to sincerely thank the outgoing trustee Sunny Padayattil for the extremely dedicated and involved service you extended towards this church and its multifarious fields of activity, for the last two years. We are grateful! Thank you. Trustees Corner Mody Jacob Shaji Mittathany Roshin P. Plamoottil Jose Thomas It is an honor and privilege to have been chosen as the trustees of the St. Thomas Syro Malabar Forane Catholic church. We would like to extend our gratitude to Very Rev. Fr. Johnykutty Puleessery, the parish council members and the entire parish community for enabling us to serve the parish humbly, spiritually, and with integrity. We look forward to working with the spiritual leaders and parish council members, to ensure that the spiritual needs of the community are met and we ensure the growth and prosperity of our parish. In the next two years, we the trustees of the St Thomas Syro Malabar Forane Catholic Church, promise to dedicate ourselves to helping the parish facilitate spiritual services deemed by the church. We would like to take this opportunity to thank outgoing parish council members, especially trustee Sunny Padayattil, for their unwavering dedication and service to the parish. We are fortunate to have a dedicated group of people working in various parish organizations. Their commitment, expertise and liveliness create the foundation that contributes to the success of the parish. Once again, we would like to thank our Vicar, Parish Council members and the entire parish for your confidence and trust in selecting us as Trustees of the St. Thomas Syro Malabar Forane Catholic Church. We look forward to working with you all. 2 Season of Lent The passion, death and resurrection of Jesus mark the climax of His salvific acts. The seven weeks between Denha and the feast of Easter are set apart for prayer, fasting, abstinence and reparation. The basis of this lenten season is the forty days fast of Jesus. Still, we call this period Anpathu Nombu (50 days fasting). Probably, because St.Thomas Christians fasted and abstained from pethurtha Sunday to Easter Sunday. The Syriac term pethurtha means looking back, reconciliation etc. Lent is a season set apart mainly for repentance and reconciliation. We who became God s children and new creation in baptism drifted away from God by committing sin. During this season we meditate upon man s sin and its consequences, the need for repentance and conversion, the infinite love and mercy of God towards repentant sinners and the passion, death and burial of Jesus Christ. Lenten season calls our attention in a special way to the need for reconciliation with God and fellow beings. Therefore, in this period, the Church persuades the faithful to receive the sacrament of reconciliation. The Church reminds us to spend the lenten period in fervent prayers, sincere fasting and generous almsgiving and to eradicate our evil desires. Like Jesus who conquered death and entered into life, let us also die to sin and enter into eternal life. 5 Sun: Fifth Sunday of Nativity Deut. 18:9-13 You must be blameless before the Lord Is. 48:12-20 There is no peace, for the wicked Heb. 6:9-15 Eternal priest according to the order of Melchizadek Jn. 3:14-21 You are to be born again in water and spirit 12 Sun: Sixth Sunday of Epiphany Deut 24:14-22 Be merciful to others Is 63:7-16 Lord redeems His people Heb 8:1-6 Jesus the mediator of new covenant Jn 3:22-31 Jesus and John the Baptist 19 Sun: Seventh Sunday of Epiphany Deut 14:22-15:4 The Lord your God will bless you Is 42:5-9 A covenant to the people and a light to the nations 1 Tim 6: Rich in good works and generous to share Mt 8:5-13 Let it be done for you according to your faith 26 Sun: First Sunday of Lent Ex 34:27-35 The fasting of Moses. Is 58:1-10 The spirit of the true fasting. Eph 4:17-24 Put away your old self and clothe yourselves with a new self. Mt 4:1-11 Jesus overcomes temptation through fasting. Joseph P. Varghese ( Sacristan) Scripture readings for the Sundays Liturgy Committee Eucharistic Ministers Jacob Chacko ( Coordinator ) Biju Mathew Stanly Abraham Soby Chacko George Thalody Skaria Chacko Editorial Board Chief Editor : Jose Thomas Editors : Jose Maleckal, Antony Cyriac, Rosmary George Thank you for your continued Support and cooperation. Please send matters to editor.stphila@gmail.com

3 Vicar s Message ST. THOMAS SYRO-MALABAR FORANE CATHOLIC CHURCH PHILADELPHIA Volume 8 Issue 2 February 2017 NEWS LETTER BISHOP Mar Jacob Angadiath AUILIARY BISHOP Mar Joy Alappatt VICAR Very Rev. Fr. Johnykutty Puleessery ( ) TRUSTEES Mody Jacob ( ) Shaji Mittathany ( ) Roshin P. Plamoottil ( ) Jose Thomas ( ) SECRETARY Tom Pattaniyil ( ) EDITORIAL BOARD Jose Thomas (Chief Editor) Jose Maleckal (Editor) Antony Cyriac (Editor) Rosmary George (Editor) PARISH COUNCIL MEMBERS Abin Mathai Anita Bose Biju Mathew James Kuruvilla Jimmy Chacko Joby George Kochumuttom Lizy Thalody Malisa Mathew Saju K. Paul Sherly Sebastian Chavara Sibichan T. Mukkadan Sunny G. Padayattil Tijo Parappully Tojo Jose My Dear Siblings in Christ, When asked in a recent interview what specific mission he has for the faithful of the world at this time, Pope Francis responded thus: You have to go out, you have to go and bring the message of Jesus to others." He also added that "the Good News is meant to be shared, not stored away." Stressing on the importance of practising works of mercy, which are the backbone of the Gospel he reminded that it is what we will eventually be judged on. The last Sunday of February ushers in the season of lent this year. This is the time when we start thinking about how to journey through Lent in a fruitful manner. It would be fulfilling to engage in preparations in keeping with the Holy Father's exhortation to the faithful, which by extension, is each of us. The Annual Retreat is scheduled for the end of March and the beginning of April (March 31,April1& 2) We have enough time to arrange our schedules to take full advantage of this golden opportunity. I exhort you to reap rich benefits from this spiritual feast. Ensure enthusiastic participation and bask in the shower of graces and blessings for all who are willing to make it their own. The Youth Year has been inaugurated. I remind you of our mission to encourage and equip the youth to take up the challenging responsibility of involving themselves totally in the activities of the parish.. It is also our bounden duty as their parents and elders to herald them into the realm of faith and powerful, courageous witnessing. The Consecration of the Church and the New Altar is the happy event that each of us is looking forward to. H.E. Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiyath has suggested March 25 th, the Feast of Annunciation, as a possible date for the same. Let us all pray fervently and do all that we can to ensure that the project reaches its culmination by that date. I solicit your sincere prayers and wholehearted cooperation. Congratulations to the new team of parish council members and especially to the new trustees-modi Jacob, Shaji Mittathany, Roshin Plamoottil and Jose Thomas. May God strengthen them to do duties of the trustees and thus to work for the greater glory of God. A very Special thanks to Sunny Padayattil who completes his term as a trustee. May God bless each of you and your families. I wish you peace and joy! Johnykutty Achen. Installation of New Trustees and Parish Council Members for 2017 & 2018 New Parish Council for the period was formed from all the Ward presidents, Nominations, and CCD and Association representatives, totaling 19 members. The first Parish Council was conducted on December 18th 2016 and the newly elected Trustees were appointed. Trustees and the new parish council members were installed on January 29th

4 Pothuyogam - Annual General Body on January 29th, 2017 The Annual General Body Meeting was held on Sunday, January 29th Very Rev. Fr. Johnykutty George presided over the meeting. The Annual report and expenses of 2016, parish budget for 2017, audit report, altar renovation project report and its budget were presented to the General Body. Vicar recognized and thanked trustees and all volunteers who contributed their time and talents to the parish. CCD News and Updates PAUL VARKEY MEMORIAL 6th BIBLE JEOPARDY COMPETITION 2017 Topic: ( All Chapters ) FAITHFEST SATURDAY, MARCH 4 Competitions Group 1 Group 2 Pre-K, KG & Gr.1 Grades 2, 3, 4 Coloring (Crayons) Sign of the Cross + Prayer Elementary: Grades 3 to 5 Middle: Grades 6 to 8 High School: Grades 9 to 12 Topics for Finale: 1. Acts of the Apostles 80% 2. Bible Trivia & Youth Year 20% Bible Spelling Bee Bible Reading Song (Malayalam) Bible Characters in Costumes Pencil drawing Instrumental Music Strings Preliminary Test: Sunday, March 26 Semi finals: Sunday, May 7 Grand Finale Sunday, May 21st Grades 5, 6, Grades 9, 10, 7, 8 11 & 12 Painting (Water Color) Sample questions Distribution: Sunday, January 29 Group 4 Song (English) Groups: Group 3 Percussion Keyboard Speech (English) Bible Story Narration Faithfest - facts to remember Registration fee is $10:00 * Maximum number of items a child can register: 4 * Award: First and second prizes * Special cash awards for Bible spelling bee champions * Main competitions: Saturday, March 4 from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm Non-stage items: (coloring, painting, pencil sketching): Saturday, February 25 Bible Spelling Bee competition: Sunday, March 19 Registration deadline: Sunday, February 19 Register by filling the registration form and $10.00 to CCD class teacher. 4

5 Feast of St. Kuriakose Elias Chavara and St. Sebastian on January 22nd 2017 The parish community celebrated the feast of Saint Kuriakose Elias Chavara and St. Sebastian on January 22d, The feast celebration was marked by a grand procession following the Holy Qurbana, Novena prayers and veneration of Holy relic. The tradition of Kazhunnu (Ambu) Nercha was celebrated during the celebrations. St Sebastian is the patron of plague sufferers for his reported cures of those afflicted with many diseases. St. Chavara ward under the leadership of ward president Biju Mathew coordinated the festal celebrations. Year of Youth - Inauguration on January 29th, 2017 "It is always Christ who sends. But whom does he send? You, young people, are the ones he looks upon with love. - St. Pope John Paul II Our diocese has declared 2017 as the Year of the Youth. It is a promise from the diocese to dedicate Diocesan as well as parish/ mission level activities for the enrichment of the youth of our diocese. This year starts with a focus on communion among the youth. The first four months of the year will be a time for the youth to work on nurturing an interior life and to reach within themselves to discover the meaning and dignity of their lives. The next four months of the year are dedicated to bringing about generational unity. This second part of the year looks to bridge any gaps that exist between the youth and all others in their parish starting with their parents and their priests. The last four months of the year encourage the youth to look beyond themselves and to embrace the world around through service rooted in Christ. Prioritizing authentic relationship over organization and task, but also emphasizing the mutual necessity to love both God and neighbor. Communion Being disciples of Christ which marks the difference between grasping and receiving our identity Emphasizing advocacy, catechesis, community life, evangelization, justice and service, leadership development, liturgy and sacramental life, pastoralcare, interreligious & ecumenical dialogue. Discipleship Holistic Growth 5

6 Marian Mothers of our parish donated $3501 towards the Church Altar renovation fund on Saturday, February 4 th, President Vice President Secretary Joint Secretary Treasurer Thank you Rev. Fr. Ruben Thannickal for serving our parish during the vacation of our Vicar from Dec 29, 2016 to Jan 18, 2017 Moley J oseph Elizabeth J ames Molly J acob J aiby Geor ge Rani Samson Anita Bose Lizy Chacko Tessy Mathew Rosamma Sunny Bridget George വല യ ന മ പ ദ ങ ങള ല ട ഫ ബ ര വര 26 ഞ യർ - പ ത ത ർത ത ഫ ബ ര വര 27 ത ങ കൾ - വ ഭ ത (പ മ പ ആര ഭ ) ഏബ ൽ 7 ഫവളള - ൽപ പത ഫവളള ഏപ ര ൽ 9 ഞ യർ - ഓശ ഞ യർ. ഏബ ൽ 12 ര ധൻ - വല യര ധൻ (മ ശ ഹ മ ക ക പവണ ട... എന ന ബ ത ക ലജ ആര ഭ ക ക ന ന ) ഏപ ര ൽ 13 വയ ഴ - ടരസഹ വയ ഴ ഏപ ര ൽ 14 ടവളള - ദ ഖടവളള ഏബ ൽ 15 ശ - ദ ഖശ ഏപ ര ൽ 16 ഞ യർ - ഉയ ർപ പ ത ര മ ക ക പവണ ട... ൾ (മ ശ ഹ എന ന ബ ത ക ലജ അവസ ക ക ന ന ; സവർഗ ഗപല കര ജ ഞ... എന ന ബ ത ക ലജ ആര ഭ ക ക ന ന ) ഏബ ൽ 23 ഞ യർ - ത ഞ യറ ഴ ച ഫമയ 25 വയ ഴ - സവർഗ ഗ പര ഹണ ത ര ൾ. ജ ൺ 4 ഞ യർ - ഫ ന തക ക സ ത ത ര ൾ ഫമയ 23 ഞ യർ - ര ശ ദ ധ ബ ത തവത ത ൻഫ ത ര ൾ. (സവർഗ ഗപല കര ജ ഞ... എന ന ബ ത ക ലജ അവസ ക ക ന ന ; കർത ത വ ൻഫ മ ല ഖ... എന ന ബ ത ക ലജ ആര ഭ ക ക ന ന ). ദദവ ബ രഹബ ദമ യ വല യ പ മ പ ആശ സ ക ക ന ന.വല യ പ മ പ ൽ ഈപശ യ ഫ അളവ ലല ത ത കര ണ മ ക ക സവന തമ ക ക. ഈപശ അ ബ രഹ ക കഫ. Our parish family extends their prayers and condolences to the bereaving Family members Name Annamma Yohannan Ottathengil Relative Of Date Mother of Susan Dominic Panjikkaran Jan Place Chennithala, Alappuzha

7 January 28 St. Vincent de Paul Society Regional 4Life Gathering News/Report St. Vincent de Paul Society is continuing its journey of helping the people in need by the generous support from our parishioners and guided by the grace of God. In the month of January we helped 9 families and out of that 3 families required emergency medical needs. St. Vincent de Paul, pray for each and every member of our church. President - Sony Thomas Participants from our parish at VIVO 17 held at St. Alphonsa Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Baltimore Altar Renovation Project - Updates Timeline Altar Renovation Committee Plan Approved by Very Rev. Fr. Johnykutty George Puleessery Parish General Body August 28, 2016 Diocese of Chicago September 28, 2016 City of Philadelphia - October 8 Construction Started October 30 Framing Completed November 30 Expected Completion March 25, 2017 (Chairman) James Joseph (Committee Coordinator) Jose Thomas (Secretary) Shaji Mittathany (Trustee) Sunny Padayattil (Trustee) Jacob Chacko Jose Kunnel Jose Palathinkal Our parishioners at MARCH FOR LIFE As part of empowering our youth to stand up for life and speak up for the ones without a voice, 50 members attended the March for Life and Vivo 17 under the leadership of our Vicar Johnykutty achen and CCD Director Jacob Chacko, coordinated by CCD teachers Manju Chacko and Merline Augustine. Special thanks to Jose Joseph and Jenny Chacko for their guidance. Syro-Malabar Catholics from various parishes participated in the March. Our Auxiliary Bishop Mar Joy Alappat marched with us and encouraged us! Rev. Fr. Saji Mukkoot and reverend sisters Benedicta and Jocelyn of Syro Malankara church joined us for the March. The Regional 4Life gathering VIVO 17 was coordinated by Jose Thomas and Jasmine Chacko; 13 youth and children attended from our parish. We thank all parents for encouraging children to attend these events. 7

8 Trusting in God means letting go of what we want - Pope Francis we never put conditions on God and give up instead hope conquers our fears. Vatican City, Jan 25, 2017: On Wednesday Pope Francis said having total faith and trust in God means recognizing that he always knows and wants what is best for us, even if it s hard to accept because it doesn t align with our own plans. Trusting in God means to enter into his designs without demanding anything, even accepting that his salvation and his help should come to us in a different way from our expectations, he said. The Pope s catechesis for the general audience in the Pope Paul VI hall centered on the story of Judith in the Old Testament, a woman who was a great heroine, he said, and an excellent example of the virtues of faith, hope and trust. In the story, Nebuchadnezzar's army, under the leadership of General Holofernes, is laying siege to a city in Judea, cutting off the water supply and thus sapping the resistance of the population, the Pope said. The situation is dramatic, to the point that the people in the town are giving up, wanting to surrender to the enemy, he said. Faced with such despair, a leader of the people suggests that they wait only five more days. If God has not saved them by then, they will surrender. But then Judith comes onto the scene, a woman of great beauty and wisdom, she speaks to the people with the language of faith, Francis said. You want to test the Lord Almighty, the Pope said, quoting the words of Judith, who cautioned the people not to provoke the wrath of the Lord, our God. The Lord, she said, has full power to defend us in the days he wants or even to destroy us by our enemies. Referencing the passage, Pope Francis told pilgrims that we never put conditions on God and give up...instead hope conquers our fears. He is a Father, he can save us, he said. In this way, a woman full of faith and courage gives new strength to his people in mortal danger and leads them on the path of hope, revealing this also to us. Judith shows us the path to trust, to wait in peace, prayer and obedience, Francis said, noting that this sort of resignation is not easy. We must do everything in our power, but always remaining in the furrow of the Lord s will. We are not the ones who can teach God what to do, what we need, he said. He knows better than we do, and we have to trust, because his ways and his thoughts are different from ours. A Training program for Youth and Children A new venture by PTA Topics of Training : Positive Self Image, Self Confidence, Team Work, SWOT Analysis, Spiritual Quotient, Problem Solving and Goal Setting, Effective Leadership Public Speaking Contact CCD office for Registration form and dates Excelsior Annual Parish Retreat - March 31 st - April 2 nd, 2017 Preacher : Rev. Fr. Davis Chiramel Published by Very Rev. Fr. Johnykutty George Puleessery, Vicar St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Forane Catholic Church Philadelphia Chief Editor Jose Thomas, Editors Jose Maleckal, Antony Cyriac, Trustees Sunny Padayattil and Shaji Mittathany, Secretary Tom Pattaniyil 8 Mark the New Date Saturday, July 29 th, 2017 Core Creek park First Holy Communion and Confirmation Saturday May 13 th, :30 AM Important Dates to Remember Excelsior : February 11 Ash Monday : February 27 CCD Bible Fest : March 4 Heritage Mass : March 25 Parish Retreat : March 31, April 1& 2 Easter : April 16 First Holy Communion: May 13 Bible Jeopardy Final: May 21st Parish Picnic : July 29