Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Reflections

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1 Page 1 #566 February 12, 2017 Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Parish Mission Statement We, the parish family of St. William the Abbot, a welcoming Catholic community, led by the Holy Spirit, are called to proclaim, and to witness to, the Good News of Salvation, so that we may grow together, among all generations, and advance the Kingdom of God, in our love and service of God and neighbor. Collections Mass February 5: $6, Votive Candles: Total: $6, Number of envelopes returned: 217 Thank you for your generosity! St. William the Abbot Automated Giving An easier way to support our Parish To enroll, go to Click on Make a Donation, enter our zip code and choose St. William the Abbot. Enter your monthly donation amount and fill in your personal information. It s that easy! Reflections First Reading: Sirach 15:15-20 Every individual has the basic freedom to choose life by obeying the law, or death by refusing to obey. Choosing to keep the commandments is the only way to salvation. Second Reading: I Corinthians 2:6-10 God s plan of salvation is true wisdom, not that false kind offered by the rulers of this age. Included in the true wisdom are the wonderful things that God has prepared for those who love Him. Gospel: Matthew 5:17-37, or 5:20-22a,27-28,33-34a,37 Jesus preaches the new ethic, and gives powerful examples of it. Yet, He also upholds the values found in the Old Testament for His followers. He also warns against the hypocrisy of the Scribes and Pharisees. We have started a Youth Choir. If your child would like to join they should be in 2nd grade or higher. We will be singing the 1st Sunday of the month at the 10:15 Mass. Practices will be held on Sunday, February 26th, from 11:15 to noon and on Sunday, March 15th from 9:15 to 10AM. If anyone is interested please contact Colleen. Her number is and h e r e m ail i s c o l l eenmurath@optonline.net

2 February 12, 2017 Page 2 #566 This Week at a Glance... Wednesday, February 15 Confessions at 6PM, Mass at 7PM Thursday, February 16 AA Meeting 7:30PM Friday, February 17 Rosary at Geraldine Thompson Nursing Home 10AM Saturday, February 18 Hour of Power and Mass 9:00AM Extreme Game Night All Middle School Students are invited to come and have fun with your friends. Enjoy fun and games and have lots of laughs competing in hands-on activities. Admission is free, refreshments will be for sale. It will be held on Saturday, February 18th, 7 to 9PM. Please see the flyer on the table near the bulletins. Please Pray for the Sick of the Parish Please bring health, healing and hope to those in our community who are sick especially Ruzica Bozicevic, Ana Guillermo, Marie Steccato, Francesca Tortora, Jonathon Capriotti, Emily Capriotti, Dakota Schick, Evelyn Zeliff, Christina DelPazzo, Marianne McVeigh, Donna Foran, Frank Wells, Donna Karlis, Sally Acosta Mirat, KJ Menn, Eileen Lanzetti, Marlene Muska, Michael Untisz, Colleen Lorelli, Mia Castellan, Matilde Raventos, Charles Redstone, Kenneth Hoch, Annette Bludgus, Jude Pallone, Angela Davilla, MaryAnn Collett, Ron Carroll, Sophia Czerniawski, Lorraine Baunach, Robert Caruso, Joseph DeSantis, we also ask you Lord, to watch over all those with incurable autoimmune diseases and for all those who are afflicted with MS, CF, Lou Gehrig s disease, for those who suffer from Alzheimer disease, dementia, addictions, and their families. God of all consolation, give life and health to our sisters and brothers for whom we pray in your Holy Name. Amen. Easter Sunday is April 16th. We will be starting our Easter Candy Fundraiser on Sunday, February 26th. All orders will be due by Sunday, March 19th. Please help to make this fundraiser a success. We will also be having the Guess the jelly bean jar. The winner will receive a chocolate bunny. Look for the order forms in two weeks Contribution Statements St. William parishioners who would like to receive a 2016 Contribution Statement should complete this form and return it to the Parish Office, or place it in the collection basket. You may also request one by ing stwilliam@optonline.net. Thank you! Name: Address: Phone number:

3 February 12, 2017 Page 3 Saturday, February 11 5:00 Kayo Adams r/o M/M Kevin Moroney Sunday, February 12 8:00 Barbara Mannion r/o The Ferraro Family 10:15 Deanna Gioia r/o Stephen Portera & Family 11:45 Josephine Rizzo r/o The Beyer Family Monday, February 13 9:00 Special Intention for Frank Wagner r/o St. William the Abbot Parish Family Tuesday, February 14 9:00 Tomas Mercurio r/o The Marcelino Family Wednesday, February 15 9:00 Ted Brinkofski r/o M/M Bill Aberer 7:00 May Spett r/o M/M John Evans Thursday, February 16 9:00 Frank Gargione r/o Charles Dubusky Friday, February 17 9:00 Catherine Jaye r/o George Jaye Saturday, February 18 9:00 Special Intentions for Mary Ann Collett r/o Blanche & Bob Weber 5:00 Sally Mirat r/o Deacon & Mrs. Mike Abatemarco Sunday, February 19 8:00 Barbara Mannion r/o The Cooke Family 10:15 Patricia Stanwise r/o The Messina Family 11:45 Charles (Butch) McCrea r/o The Deering Family Catholic Men for Jesus Christ Come and join other Catholic men from across the Diocese of Trenton at the 20th Annual Catholic Men for Jesus Christ Men s Conference on Saturday, February 25th, at St. Joseph Parish in Toms River. The theme of this year s conference is Into the Breach. The day runs from 8AM to 3PM and will feature Holy Mass celebrated by Bishop David O Connell, as well as inspiring talks by U.S. congressman Chris Smith; Tim Staples, a nationally renowned Catholic apologist and evangelist; and Marie Joseph, Executive Director of the Legacy of Life Foundation. There will also be music, Catholic vendors and the opportunity to fellowship with other men who are looking grow in their walk with Jesus and dynamically live out their Catholic faith. A youth breakout session will also be offered for young men from 8th grade to college age. Cost is $25 per person in advance ($30 at the door); $10 for students. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. For more information or to register online go to To register by mail, send the name(s) of each person registering, your check, and a self-addressed stamped envelope to: Catholic Men for Jesus Christ, PO Box 816, Morrisville, PA

4 February 12, 2017 Page 4 Saint Valentine Feast day February 14 St. Valentine, officially known as St. Valentine of Rome, is a thirdcentury Roman saint widely celebrated on February 14 and commonly associated with courtly love. Although not much of St. Valentine s life is reliably known, and whether or not the stories involve two different saints by the same name is also not officially decided, it is highly agreed that St. Valentine was martyred and then buried on the Via Flaminia to the north of Rome. In 1969, the Roman Catholic Church removed St. Valentine from the General Roman Calendar, because so little is known about him. However, the church still recognizes him as a saint, listing him in the February 14 spot of Roman Martyrolgy. The legends attributed to the mysterious saint are as inconsistent as the actual identification of the man. One common story about St. Valentine is that in one point of his life, as the former Bishop of Terni, Narnia and Amelia, he was on house arrest with Judge Asterius. While discussing religion and faith with the judge, Valentine pledged the validity of Jesus. The judge immediately put Valentine and his faith to the test. St. Valentine was presented with the judge s blind daughter and told to restore her sight. If he succeeded, the judge vowed to do anything for Valentine. Placing his hands onto her eyes, Valentine restored the child s vision. Judge Asterius was humbled and obeyed Valentine s request. Asterius broke all the idols around his house, fasted for three days and became baptized, along with his family and entire 44 member household. The now faithful judge then freed all of his Christian inmates. St. Valentine was later arrested again for continuing to try to convert people to Christianity. He was sent to Rome under the emperor Claudius Gothicus (Claudius II). A relationship between the saint and emperor began to grow, until Valentine attempted to convince Claudius of Christianity. Claudius became raged and sentenced Valentine to death, commanding him to renounce his faith or be beaten with clubs and beheaded. Sat. Valentine refused to renounce his faith and Christianity and was executed outside the Flaminian Gate on February 14, 269. Although the exact origin of the holiday is not widely agreed upon, it is widely recognized as a day for love, devotion and romance. St. Valentine is the Patron Saint of affianced couples, bee keepers, engaged couples, epilepsy, fainting, greeting, happy marriages, love, lovers, plague, travelers, and young people. Prayer to St. Valentine O glorious advocate and protector, St. Valentine, look with pity upon our wants, hear our requests, attend to our prayers, relieve by your intercession the miseries under which we labour, and obtain for us the divine blessing, that we may be found worthy to join you in praising the Almighty for all eternity: through the merits of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

5 February 12, 2017 Page 5 #566 Around the Diocese St. Denis Recovery Ministry hosts a Life Recovery Bible Study every Thursday at 10AM and 7PM. This 12-Step Bible study is wildly popular with people in Recovery and for all those who know their Higher Power is Christ Jesus. Free Life Recovery Bible, coffee and cookies. Call The Facebook page can be found at m.facebook.com/stdenisrecoveryministry/ St. Rose High School P.T.A. Calendar Raffle. Tickets are $20 each with 9 chances to win on each ticket. Drawings will take place March 8th through May 17th. Proceeds benefit educational and recreational activities of students. To order tickets please call Angels, Coffee, & Scripture During Lent Do you believe in the existence of Angels? Do you want to learn more about Angels? If so, join us for Angels and Coffee on Monday s at Sacred Heart Church in Bay Head, starting February 27th through April 10th. The time is 9:00 to 10:30AM. We will explore Angels in the Old & New Testament and the Catechism to uncover the mysteries of how Angels worked in the lives of God s people throughout history and how they work in our lives today. The cost is $12 and includes light refreshments. To register, please contact Pastoral Associate, Dawn Rusinko at dawnrusinko@yahoo.com and make checks payable to Sacred Heart Church. For more info call St. Veronica School will be holding its 33rd annual dinner and gift auction on March 31st, at 7PM, at South Gate Manor in Freehold. Tickets are $60 and are on sale now. Ticket forms and information are available at or by calling Jennifer Jarecki at There will be a Healing Mass at St. Veronica s on Tuesday, February 21st, at 7:30PM. Fr. Jeff Kegley will be the Celebrant. Fr. Jeff is the pastor of St. Mary s in Middletown and Liaison to the Catholic Charismatic Renewal for the Trenton Diocese. Refreshments to follow Mass. For more information please call Mary Jean Johnson at