The Baptism of the Lord

Transcription

1 W e l c o m e t o S t. P a t r i c k C h u r c h C h a p e l S t r e e t, G r a s s V a l l e y, C a l i f o r n i a The Baptism of the Lord January 11, 2015 Father Sylvester Kwiatkowski, Pastor Father Innocent Subiza, Parochial Vicar James Shea, Deacon Carlos Astesana, Deacon (retired) Brian Moore, Deacon (retired) James Chatigny, Deacon (retired) Mass Schedule Saturday vigil 5 pm Sunday 7:30, 9 and 11 am Monday through Saturday 8:30 am Spanish Mass Saturday 6:30 pm Reconciliation Saturday 3 to 4:30 pm or by appointment Monday through Saturday 7:50 am Eucharistic Adoration See overleaf We, the parish of St. Patrick Church, being one community growing in faith and proclaiming our belief in the message and mission of our Lord Jesus Christ, invite all to open their hearts, hear His call, and become one with the Body of Christ.

2 St. Patrick Church 235 Chapel Street Grass Valley, CA phone fax web Fr. Sylvester Kwiatkowski, Pastor Fr. Innocent Subiza, Parochial Vicar (residence St. Canice Church) Linda Shirkey, Secretary Pamela Magill, Bookkeeper John Evans, Facilities Manager Karen Burford, Director of Faith Formation x 201 karinab@aol.com Barbara Burns, RCIA x 205 burnsla@peoplepc.com Frank Ortiz, Youth Ministry x 204 fortiz_53@hotmail.com Sr. Wendy Mitchell, Marian Consecration Mount St. Mary Academy info@mtstmarys.org PASTOR S CORNER by Father Sylvester Kwiatkowski The Catechism of the Catholic Church says, At his baptism the heavens were opened the heavens that Adam s sin had closed and the waters were sanctified by the descent of Jesus and the Spirit, a prelude to the new creation. (536) How often do we reflect on the meaning and significance of our baptism? To understand our baptism is to understand who we are and what our mission is in life. Baptism makes each of us a beloved son or daughter of God. Through baptism we become sisters and brothers with people from various cultures, nationalities, social backgrounds, languages, and ways of life. As children of God s family we share a common dignity, a common love, and a common vocation to be servants of God in the world. Baptism obliges us to be mindful of our communion with God and others and to live a life that promotes compassion, love, peace, unity, and the dignity of all people. Perhaps one of the greatest challenges of the Christian spiritual life is to live with baptismal awareness that our true life is with God. Such awareness will prompt us to listen to the voice of God in the Scriptures, to make time for prayer, and to show compassion to the poor. Through baptism, we enter into a sacred mystery and are empowered by the Holy Spirit to share the inner life of the Triune God, who is love. God is pleased with us when we share the gift of unconditional love with all people, bringing about peace and unity. When Jesus came out of the waters of baptism, a voice from the heavens said, You are my beloved Son with you I am well pleased. When God looks at our lives, will the Father in heaven say: This is my son or daughter, with you I am well pleased? READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK January 12 through January 18 Monday: Hebrews 1:1-6 Mark1:14-20 Tuesday: Hebrews 2:5-12 Mark 1:21-28 Wednesday: Hebrews 2:14-18 Mark 1:29-39 Thursday: Hebrews 3:7-14 Mark 1:40-45 Friday: Hebrews 4:1-5, 11 Mark 2:1-12 Saturday: Hebrews 4:12-16 Mark 2:13-17 Sunday: 1 Samuel 3:3b-10, 19 1 Corinthians 6:13c-15a, John 1:35-42 For anointing of the sick, hospital visits or communion visits at home, please notify the parish office. Eucharistic Adoration Schedule Friday 9:15 to 11:00 a.m. First Saturday of the month 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. First Sunday of the month 12:00 Noon to 8:00 p.m. MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK Monday 1/12 8:30 am Nat Giuliani (D) Tuesday 1/13 8:30 am Ed and Margaret Carr (D) Wednesday 1/14 8:30 am Jack Keaton (D) Thursday 1/15 8:30 am All Parishioners Friday 1/16 8:30 am All Parishioners Saturday 1/17 8:30 am 5 pm Sunday 1/18 7:30 am 11 am All Parishioners Billy Snyder (D) Donna Dworak (D) Manuel and Sue Cicogni (D) George Foose (D)

3 FAMILY MINISTRY AND FORMATION Religious Education and Catholic Formation for Our Public School Families REGULAR FAITH FORMATION January 11th: Topic: Catholic Identity: Sacraments and Sacrament Workshop January 18th: No Faith Formation, Martin Luther King Weekend WHAT IS FAMILY MINISTRY AND FORMATION? Family Ministry and Formation is a unique and dynamic religious education process that teaches our Catholic Faith to the children, youth and parents of our community, including preparation for the Holy Sacraments of First Communion and Confirmation. Please note that preparing children or youth for the sacraments is a two-year preparation process. For more information about our program, please call Karen at , x 201 or at karinab@aol.com. BAPTISM CLASS Our next series of baptism classes for parents and godparents is scheduled for Saturday mornings, February 28 and March 7. Parents and/or godparents will need to register for both classes. There is a $25 fee which covers the class book and materials. Classes are held at St. Cecilia s Parish Center which is located behind the school above the grass field. These classes are required by the diocese and provide a wonderful opportunity for parents and godparents to meet other families of the parish. They also help parents in their understanding of our Holy Sacraments and what it truly means to be a practicing Catholic and a member of God s church family. If you are pregnant, have a child that needs baptism, or you know you will be asked to be a godparent, please call Karen at , x 201 or at karinab@aol.com to register for the class and for more information. Please note that the next class will not be until the Spring of WALK FOR LIFE WEST COAST The Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ. New Life. God made us in His Image & Likeness. Let us pray for the Holy Spirit to guide and help us to do all we can to restore the Dignity and Sanctity of Human Life in all its stages ~ from conception until natural death regardless of circumstances. Saturday, January 24, 2015, is the 11 th Annual Pro-Life Walk for Life West Coast in San Francisco. There is still a comfortable and spacious place for you on the bus! RSVP today! $25 per person gives you the round-trip bus ride; coffee, juice, donuts, rolls before we leave; and bottled water and snacks during the walk. To reserve your seat on the bus or get info, call Charlie Babiarz at , or your RSVP to WFLbusGrassValley@gmail.com. For additional info, history, resources, etc, check out the Walk for Life West Coast website at Then take action and RSVP your place on the bus and pray for life! KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS ANNUAL CRAB FEED It s that time of year again to feast on wonderful Dungeness crab. Please join us on Saturday, February 14, at 6 p.m. in St. Patrick s hall. Tickets are on sale now for $45 per person (8 tickets required for full table reservation). Don t wait because the tickets go fast. We will have fresh crab, pesto pasta, salad, French bread, a no-host bar and a wonderful time had by all. Look forward to seeing you there. For ticket information, please contact Lou Freschi at ST. JOSEPH GUILD MEN S CLUB CRAB AND SHRIMP FEED If you can t wait for the Knights Crab Feed, please join us on Saturday, January 17, in St. Canice Hall for all-you-can-eat fresh-cracked crab and steamed shrimp, homemade clam chowder, salad, bread, dessert and a no-host bar. Doors open at 5:30 p.m, and dinner is at 7 p.m. The cost is $40 per person, and reservations are recommended. For more information please call Jeff Hebert at or at jkjhebert@comcast.net. CATHOLIC LADIES RELIEF SOCIETY It s pasty time again. The CLRS will be making their delicious pasties on January 16 and 17. Place your order by calling Maria, , or Pat, We will be making less pasties this year as we re not getting any younger. Thank you. INTERFAITH FOOD MINISTRY Thank you for your support of IFM during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons. We distributed 1,067 Christmas dinners to the hungry of Nevada County. We distribute food three times a week and pack food two days a week, so we always need food! Staple items such as low-sodium canned beans, tuna, low-sugar canned fruit, pasta, canned tomatoes, oatmeal, brown rice and peanut butter can be put in the IFM container in the vestibule. We can double your money donations, so please continue giving. For the next couple of months I will be covering for our Volunteer Coordinator, Bonnie Burke, as she recovers from surgery. You can reach me at Thanks for all you do to support this ministry. Happy New Year. Nancy Koring AN ANCIENT BAPTISTERY One of the most ancient and enduring sites for baptism in Rome is the church of San Giovanni in Fonte. This church is in fact a baptistery, and houses the font for the Lateran Basilica, the cathedral of Rome. The Emperor Constantine sponsored its construction in the year 315, and it is therefore the oldest baptistery in the world. It is the model for nearly all later baptisteries, including perhaps the font in your own parish church. Rev. James Field, Copyright J. S. Paluch Co. OFFICE CLOSURE The parish office will be closed Monday, January 19, for Martin Luther King Day.

4 ST. PATRICK MEETINGS THIS WEEK Mon 1/12 7:50 am 7 pm 5 pm Tues 1/13 7:50 am 9:30 am 6 pm 6:30 pm Wed 1/14 7:50 am 9:30 am 6 pm Thurs 1/15 7:50 am 10:30 am 7 pm Fri 1/16 7:50 am 5 pm Sat 1/17 7:50 am 9:15 am Sun 1/18 10 am 12:30 pm Divine Mercy Choir Practice Community Meal O.L. Perpetual Help Legion of Mary Choir Practice YLI Divine Mercy Bible Study K of C Dinner Dance Liturgy of the Hours Charismatic Prayer Group RCIA Eucharistic Adoration Choir Practice Families of Nazareth Opening Doors Catechism Round Table Pasty Sale After All Masses FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP ~Our Return to God~ Sunday Collection 12/21/14: $7,569 Parish Restoration Fund: $4,503 Christmas Collection 12/25/14: $18,230 Sunday Collection 12/28/14: $9,707 Mary, Mother of God 1/1/15: $2,920 Sunday Collection 1/4/15: $11,845 Weekly collection budget for fiscal year: $10,769 Thank you for your generosity! CHRISTIAN BROTHERS HIGH SCHOOL Students interested in attending Christian Brothers High School in the school year are required to take the placement exam on Saturday, January 17. Online applications are due on January 15, A link is available in the admissions section of the school s website at Students must check in by 8:45 a.m. and will be finished at approximately 12:30 p.m. Please contact the admissions office for more information at ST. PATRICK STEWARDSHIP I saw a sign that said Requiem for a Christmas Tree. I m sure the sign was promoting Christmas tree recycling in our neighborhood. That reminded me of a story that Father Geny told us one Sunday. The story was about a bamboo tree that was growing in the forest. It was one of the tallest and straightest trees in the forest. It was a beautiful day. The wind was blowing through the bamboo s leaves. Everything was perfect and the tree was very happy. But the bamboo tree heard the villagers coming. The villagers had large knives with them and started to cut down the bamboo tree. They then cut the tree into 10-foot lengths. The bamboo tree wondered what they were doing to it and why they were bringing it into the mountains. The villagers laid the pieces of bamboo on the ground in a row. Then all of a sudden fresh water was running down the pieces of bamboo. Then the bamboo tree realized that he was being used to bring fresh water from the mountain stream to the village. He saw that the whole village was very happy to have this fresh water and to no longer have to carry buckets of water down the mountain to the village. This story reminded me that the Christmas tree is not meant to just stand there for two weeks and then be put out on the curb for recycling. The Christmas tree is meant to remind us that Christ was born on Christmas, that He took on the life of a person, and that He died for us. We must remember this every day, not just during the Christmas season. He died for us because He loved us. His love is here every day. We are to live our lives trusting that God is with us at all times, that He loves us beyond what any of us can imagine, that love is ours and we are to share that love with those that we meet every day. IF NOT NOW, WHEN? At the beginning of Advent we heard the words of John the Baptist proclaiming the promised Messiah. Now, at the end of the Christmas season, he appears again in the Gospel story. John was a surprising person. He had taken on the dress and role of a prophet, wandering the desert surviving on locusts and wild honey. He drew large crowds, declaring to them that it was not enough to be born Jewish; everyone men and women, rich and poor, tax collectors and prostitutes needed to repent and be washed clean. When he baptized Jesus, the appearance of the Holy Spirit was not of John s doing and showed who Jesus really is. It marked the new reality that Jesus brings. To go into the waters of baptism is a symbol of death and rebirth to a new life, while the baptism of the Holy Spirit gives an inner spiritual power to live as a child of God. After Jesus death and resurrection the apostles continued to baptize new believers in water, and laid hands on them to confer the Holy Spirit. For many of us, baptism and confirmation occurred when we were too young to realize their true meaning. Think about it now! God has given us grace and power to live as God s own sons and daughters, with the hope of eternal life. But we can t just sit back. The life of grace we are called to requires effort, persistence, sacrifice, and selflessness. The enemy of the life of faith, which constantly lurks in the background, is not unbelief but apathy. We get tired of trying, we want to take it easy, we fall prey to the idea that someone else can do it. But a life with Christ says if not now, when? If not you, who else? Copyright 2011, World Library Publications. All rights reserved.

5 BRING JOY OF THE GOSPEL TO CHILDREN IN NEED Maria Giuliani, a current parishioner and student at Franciscan University of Steubenville received the opportunity to share the Joy of the gospel with children in need who attend Loretto School in Douglas, Arizona. This school is run by the Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles who minister to many students who cross the border daily to become educated in the hope of a better future. These children need our help. Maria would appreciate any financial and spiritual support to help defray the cost of meals and lodging during this Mission. As a member of 20 Franciscan students going on this Mission, Maria and her Arizona mission team will also carry your prayer intentions with him/her/them at Holy Mass during the Mission. May God bless you for your kindness! For more information, please contact Maria Giuliani at All donations are tax-deductible and can be paid via check or credit card. Please make checks payable to Franciscan University and send to 244 Cornwall Avenue, Grass Valley, CA To use your credit card visit: ECUMENICAL PRAYER AND FELLOWSHIP The Diocese of Sacramento and various congregations representing a number of Christian denominations will come together for an Evening of Ecumenical Prayer and Fellowship on Wednesday, January 21, The service, which will be held as part of the observance of the 2015 Annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, will take place at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament at 7:30 p.m. Auxiliary Bishop Myron Cotta will be introducing the worship service and there will be a guest speaker addressing the 2015 theme The Woman at the Well and Jesus words to her Give me a drink. For more information please call (916) CATHOLIC LADIES RELIEF SOCIETY Not another craft fair, flea market or pasty bake... That CLRS group is always doing something. How true, how true. But that s what happens when you are the hands of the Lord. Now as for you... that donation or purchase of a Christmas ornament or cupcake or cup of coffee goes a long way in helping the less fortunate. CLRS has monthly commitments to Hospitality House, InterFaith Food Ministry, Living Well Medical Clinic and Mount St. Mary s Academy. They also aid, if they can, individuals whom God sends to them with some particular need. So you see, when you purchase that item from CLRS, you too are the hands of the Lord, using your time, talent and treasure to help many of His children. God bless you and thank you from the bottom of our hearts. New members are always welcome. Christ is counting on you. For more information contact Annette Godwin at Remember that when you leave this earth, you can take with you nothing that you have received only what you have given. Saint Francis of Assisi TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION In the 1560s, the Council of Trent attempted to standardize the widely variant customs for the pastoral care of the sick and dying. We had inherited a practice called extreme unction, from the Latin words meaning anointing at the point of death. The deeper tradition, however, is about the prayer of faith that will heal and restore the sick person, and is straight from the Letter of James. The Fathers went back to the beginning, and while not discarding the extreme unction name, made a plea for the proper use of this sacrament. As soon as a person is in danger of death from sickness or old age, they reasoned, the time for the sacrament had already arrived. As a result of this desire, the next ritual text for anointing contained an innovation: a rite for visiting the sick that included readings from scripture, psalms, and prayers. Old customs fade slowly, however, and the quality of pastoral care languished for centuries while people delayed the celebration of a consoling and effective sacrament, sometimes missing the opportunity completely. A priest ministering to a dying and unconscious patient alone in a room has never been the desire of the Church. Our tradition is far too rich for this sacrament to be celebrated REFLECTING ON GOD S WORD This is one of the key moments in the life of Jesus. Up north in his hometown of Nazareth he must have heard about John. At some point an inner voice must have said, Go south, go to the desert. Go listen to this preacher John. When he came to the desert, he may have stood in a long line before that moment came when he entered the water and John baptized him. Mark gives us only the briefest account of their meeting, but does present John as expecting someone mightier than he who would baptize with the Holy Spirit. It is this same Holy Spirit who came down on Jesus as he was coming out of the water. At that moment, the heavens were torn open, heaven reached down to touch the Galilean, and the Spirit descended like a dove. Have you ever seen a gull descend to snatch a fish or a hawk swoop down to seize its prey? By contrast, the image of a descending dove is one of beauty and grace, of gentle alighting. The words do not announce Jesus to others, as in Matthew s account, but they are spoken only to him: You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased (1:11), echoing the words the Lord speaks in the first song of the Servant in the book of Isaiah. The descent of the dove did not mean an easy life for Jesus, but God had penetrated his being in a way that would then drive him into the desert to begin his mission of confronting the powers of sin and death. This gentle dove came and continues to come with a mighty power. James A. Wallace, C.Ss.R. Copyright 2014, World Library Publications. All rights reserved. in such a diminished and ungenerous manner. Rev. James Field, Copyright J. S. Paluch Co.

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