January 7, 2018 Holy Family Church 129 Winthrop Street, Watertown, NY 13601 Phone: 315-782-2468 E-Mail: hfchurch@twcny.rr.com Website: www.holyfamilywatertown.org PASTOR: PASTOR EMERITUS: IN RESIDENCE: DEACONS: TRUSTEES: SCHOOL BOARD: PARISH STAFF Pastoral Associates: Rev. Steven M. Murray Rev. Msgr. Robert J. McCarthy Rev. Leo A. Wiley Rev. Msgr. Paul E. Whitmore Deacon Edward R. Miller Deacon Michael J. Allan Mrs. Rita Brancheau Mr. Daniel Charlebois Mr. Michael Ledoux Sr. Angelica Rebello, SCC Patrick Bates Christian Formation Director: Sr. Angelica Rebello, SCC 782-6750 R.C.I.A. Director: Kathy Allan 315-785-8576 Business Administrator: Carol Brown 315-408-6301 Secretary: Organist: Judy Geng Edward Kemp IMMACULATE HEART CENTRAL SCHOOL School Pastor: Rev. Msgr. Robert H. Aucoin 315-782-1190 School Principal: Mrs. Lynise Lassiter 315-788-4670 Vice Principal:(7-12): Mr. Geoffrey Andrews 788-4670 Vice Principal (4-8): Mrs. Annette Connolly 788-3935 Vice Principal (K-3): Mrs. Kari Conklin 788-7011 BAPTISM: Baptisms are generally scheduled on Sunday. Parents must attend a class held on the second Monday of the month at 7:00 PM. WEDDINGS: Arrangements should be made six months In advance by calling for an appointment with a priest or deacon. SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: Confession/Penance - Saturday 4-5 P.M. SACRAMENT OF THE SICK: Upon Request - Please call Fr. Murray if you are planning on having any surgery and he will be happy to anoint you. Holy Family Church Welcomes Everyone No matter what your present status is in the Catholic Church; no matter your family or marital status; no matter where you are in the practice of faith; no matter what your self image may be; you are invited, welcomed and loved at Holy Family Church.
RECTORY OFFICE HOURS Monday, 12:30PM- 4:00PM; Tuesday Thursday, 9:00AM-4:00PM, closed for lunch noon-12:30pm; Friday, 9:00AM-1:00PM. Sunday January 7, 2018...THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD 9:00 Albert and Josephine Oddi 11:00 People of the Parish 5:15 Harold and Patrick Lawler by Donna Lawler and Family Monday January 8, 2018 The Baptism of the Lord 9:00 For the Intentions of Mary Kiernan by Judy and Sister Angelica Rebello Tuesday January 9, 2018 Weekday (First Week in Ordinary Time) 9:00 Norman C. Egeberg by Ralph and June Marzano 10:00 All Souls (Summit) Wednesday January 10, 2018 Weekday 9:00 Frances McGowan and Deceased Members of the McGowan Family by the Estate of Frances McGowan Thursday January 11, 2018...Weekday 9:00 Mary DeFranco by Her Family Friday January 12, 2018...Weekday 9:00 Deceased Members of the McIlroy and Ellingsworth Families by Pat Saturday January 13, 2018 Second Sunday in Ordinary Time 5:15 People of the Parish Sunday January 14, 2018 SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 9:00 Kevin Shepard by Beverly Shepard 11:00 Janet L. Lamendola by Husband and Her Children 5:15 12th Anniversary Michael Geng by His Family The Baptism of the Lord - January 9, 2018 Behold the Lamb of God. Could it be that you are being called to point out the Lord to others as a priest, deacon or in the consecrated life? Talk to Fr. Steve Murray at 315-782-2468 or Fr. Doug Lucia at (315) 386-2543/ dlucia@rcdony.org or Cathy Russell, the Diocesan Vocation Coordinator at (315)393-2920, ext. 1450/crussell@rcdony.org. See us also on Facebook or at www.myvocation.net. BAPTISMAL PREPARATION CLASS The next class will be Monday, January 8th, at 7PM in McGivney Hall. Please call the Rectory at 315-782-2468 during business hours to sign up if you are planning on attending this required class. Thank you. THIS WEEK IN OUR PARISH Sunday: January 7th Second Collection: Capital Campaign Blood Pressure Screening (Gathering Area after Masses) 10:00AM Religious Education (Greystone Building) 12:00 noon Coffee Hour (Gathering Area) Monday: January 8th 7:00PM Baptismal Preparation Class (McGivney Hall) Tuesday: January 9th 9:30AM Catholic MOM Group (Greystone Building) 10:00AM Mass (Samaritan Summit Village) Wednesday: January 10th 10:00AM Legion of Mary (McGivney Hall) Thursday: January 11th Friday: January 12th Saturday: January 13th 4:45PM Praying the Rosary (Legion of Mary) INQUIRY If you are interested in the Catholic Faith or know of someone who is, please contact Kathy Allan at 315-785-8576 for an appointment. Epiphany of the Lord January 7, 2018 They offered Him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Is God calling you to give Him the gold of your freedom, the incense of your prayer, and the myrrh of your love through a vocation to the priesthood or consecrated life? Open your heart to receive the gifts God is offering you. If you think God is calling you to be a priest, deacon, or religious, talk to Fr. Steve Murray at 315-782-2468 or Fr. Doug Lucia at (315) 386-2543/ dlucia@rcdony.org or Cathy Russell, the Diocesan Vocation Coordinator at (315) 393-2920, ext. 1450/crussell@rcdony.org. See us also on Facebook or at www.myvocation.net.
ACTIVITIES AHEAD IN OUR PARISH PENNIES FROM HEAVEN Start saving your loose change now. The Knights of Columbus will be at the doors of the Church after the Masses the weekend of January 13th and January 14th collecting for our Seminarians. Thank you for your continued generosity. CONFIRMATION YEAR I is scheduled for Sunday, January 14th and CONFIRMATION YEAR II will be Sunday, January 21st. Both sessions are in the Greystone Building at 11:00AM-2:00PM (11:00AM Mass followed by the session in Greystone Building) Please note new timing! We rejoice for those parishioners who participated in the five faith sharing groups this Advent. They met once a week for four weeks to discuss the weekend Scripture readings and the impact they had on each of their lives. It s not too early to be thinking about Lenten Faith sharing groups. Hopefully, there will be a group that will fit your personal schedule. ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE OUR PARISH LIFERIGHT OF WATERTOWN will hold the annual interfaith candlelight Respect Life Prayer Service on Monday, January 22nd at 7:00 pm in front of the Municipal Building on Washington Street. Refreshments to follow at First Presbyterian Church s Fellowship Hall. The St. Joseph of Cupertino Fraternity of the 3rd Order of Secular Franciscans will meet on Saturday January 27th at St. Anthony s Parish for adoration of the Blessed Sacrament to pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life. The regular monthly meeting will be the following day, Sunday, January 28th. Everyone is welcome to both of these events. Two boxes of items have been sent to our deployed platoon. Both packages contained hand-made Christmas greeting cards to each soldier from our Religious Education Classes and the children enrolled in the IHC Primary School. The soldiers also received personal care items, drink mixes, snacks, batteries, DVD movies, playing cards and dice games. Thank you to those parishioners for your donations. You are invited to keep them coming. More shipments will be sent in the coming months. Please keep our platoon members in your thoughts and prayers. JANUARY 7: THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD Is 60:1-6/Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6/Mt 2:1-12 The word Epiphany means manifestation. Today we celebrate the feast of God revealing of his glory. Our gospel tells the story of the Magi, the wise men. They followed the star to find the new king. They came bearing gifts of gold (to crown a king), frankincense (to worship God), and myrrh (for healing and for anointing a body for burial. Even at Christmas we have a hint of what is to come). What gifts do we bring to our Lord? How do we rise up in splendor for our Lord has come? Instead of gold, frankincense and myrrh, can we bring the best of ourselves? Instead of gold, can we offer our love for our neighbor? For frankincense, can we offer true worship and lift up our prayers like incense? And instead of myrrh, can we bring comfort to those in need? Can we see Christ in the other and bring the light of Christ to a dark winter world?
Note from the Pope, Pope Francis reflects on Christmas gift of Renewal. General Audience: Pope Francis urged Christians to allow Christ to be born again within them. To do so, he said, they must search for Jesus. Upon finding and receiving the gift of a new life based on self-giving love, the Holy Father said, Christians can share God's light with others. This, in turn, will open the way to a new world. SUMMARY OF POPE'S CATECHESIS Dear brothers and sisters, In this holy season of Christmas, we celebrate the birthday of Jesus, who is God s gift to us, our Savior and the Light of the world. Without Jesus, there is no Christmas! Our traditional celebrations express our joy that God s light shines in a world darkened by sin and injustice. Like the shepherds of Bethlehem, we too are called to seek and find Jesus, who comes to us in hiddenness and poverty. Sadly, despite the coming of the light many prefer to live in darkness. Yet those who receive the gift of Jesus come to know God s saving grace and the promise of a new life, based no longer on selfishness but on self-giving love. Our tradition of giving gifts at Christmas is ultimately a sign of our gratitude for the gift of Jesus and our desire to share him with others. Christmas reminds us that God s plan intersects with our history, and opens the way to a better future, a new world. This Christmas, may Jesus be born anew in each of us, so that by our lives, he may be a gift of salvation for all, especially the poor and those of our brothers and sisters who are most in need. The pope warned of the risk of Christmas losing its essence in light of excessive respect shown for non-believers. Today, we are witnessing a type of distortion of Christmas. In the name of a false respect toward those who are non-christians, many times the intent to marginalize the faith goes unnoticed, eliminating any kind of reference to Jesus' birth. Thus, Pope Francis recommended that Christians rediscover the meaning of Christmas, to understand why Jesus is the best gift these holidays. Jesus is the gift from God for us, and if we receive him, we can also be a gift for others, primarily those who have never received attention or tenderness. God bless you all! I greet all the English speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today s audience, particularly those from the United States of America. May each of you and your families cherish the joy of this Christmas season, and draw near in prayer to the Prince of Peace who has come to dwell among us. OUR TITHING PARISH FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT This Year $ 8,444.00 Last Year $ 11,486.50 Youth $ 29 00 CAPITAL CAMPAIGN December 2017 $ 4,551.00 Total $ 3,197,257.95 CHRISTMAS COLLECTION This Year $ 12,151.00 Last Year $ 10,401.50 Food Pantry Donations for December 382 Critical Needs for December 157 Thank you for your continued generosity 247 families in our parish have made a gift or pledge to the 2017 Bishop s Fund Appeal totaling $47,672.00 towards our goal of $50,000. Our parish goal is to have 400 or more families participate in this important Appeal. Please prayerfully consider supporting the 2017 Bishop s Fund Appeal with a pledge or one-time gift. Convenient four payment plans are available. You can make your gift online as well by visiting www.rcdony.org/bishop-s-fundappeal and click on the Donate Now tab (found on the tool bar on the left.) The Bishop s Fund Appeal supports ministries, activities and programs that serve people throughout the Diocese in ways that we as an individual parish could never do alone. Any gifts received after the Appeal reaches its goal will be used to further supplement the Bishop s Good Samaritan Fund which assists families in need in our community and throughout the Diocese. Note From the Pastor, Too many treats and wonderful things to eat and drink. You are spoiling me. I must now go on a real regime to exercise and diet or my pants will not fit. Thank you for all your personal generosity to me. As we begin the year 2018, we will face many challenges. However, our faith will remain strong because we know that with God s grace all things are possible. The story of the Christian life is always full of possibilities and examples of the Lord s goodness, so we are never discouraged by the challenges we face in life. The approach we need to embrace is the Joy of the Gospel. Pope Francis encourages us to reflect in our lives and in our interactions with others, whether Christians or non-christians. It is important to remember that we are all children of God made in his image and likeness regardless of the faith we profess or do not profess. All people must be treated with the dignity that all human beings deserve. Fr. Steve
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP This year National Migration Week is observed January 8-14. With over 65 million people forcibly displaced from their homes globally, the world is increasingly affected by migration. National Migration Week offers us as Catholic communities the opportunity to become more aware of our mission, rooted in Biblical traditions, to welcome the newcomers. Pope Francis call us...to look beyond our own needs and wants to those of others around us. How might I be a welcoming presence this year to the stranger(s) in my midst?