January 6, 2019 Holy Family Church 129 Winthrop Street, Watertown, NY 13601 Phone: 315-782-2468 E-Mail: hfchurch@twcny.rr.com Website: www.holyfamilywatertown.org PASTOR: IN RESIDENCE: DEACONS: TRUSTEES: SCHOOL BOARD: PARISH STAFF Pastoral Associates: Rev. Steven M. Murray Rev. Leo A. Wiley Rev. Msgr. Paul E. Whitmore Deacon Edward R. Miller Ret. Deacon Michael J. Allan Mrs. Maureen Van Wormer Mr. John Eisenhauer 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 315-629-4678 School Principal: Mrs. Lynise Lassiter 315-788-4670 Vice Principal:(7-12): Mr. Geoffrey Andrews 788-4670 Vice Principal (K-6): Mrs. Kari Conklin 788-3935 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 6, 2019 THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD 9:00 Jerry Tufo by Carrol and Family 11:00 1st Anniversary R.J. McCarthy by Jane Fadden 5:15 People of the Parish Monday January 7, 2019 Christmas Weekday Saint Raymond of Penyafort, Priest 9:00 Michael Griffin by Edward and Marion Kirkland Tuesday January 8, 2019...Christmas Weekday 9:00 James Riggs by Gary and Ann Charlebois 10:00 All Souls (Samaritan Summit Village) Wednesday January 9, 2019 Christmas Weekday 9:00 For an end to Abortions by Bill and Florence Heldt Thursday January 10, 2019 Christmas Weekday 9:00 Frances McGowan and Deceased Members of the McGowan Family by The Estate of Frances McGowan Friday January 11, 2019 Christmas Weekday 9:00 Jay Monti by Honan Family Saturday January 12, 2019 The Baptism of the Lord 5:15 Charles St. Joseph by Michael and Cecelia Gracey Sunday January 13, 2019 THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD 9:00 Kevin Shepard by Beverly Shepard 11:00 Mary De Franco by Her Family 5:15 13th Anniversary Michael Geng by His Family BAPTISMAL PREPARATION CLASS The next class will be Monday, January 14th, 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 6th Blood Pressure Screening after Masses (Gathering Area) 10:00AM Religious Education for grades K-8 (Greystone Building) 12:00 noon Coffee Hour (Gathering Area) Monday: January 7th Tuesday: January 8th 10:00AM Mass (Samaritan Summit Village) 6:00PM IMPACT Youth Group for 6th-12th graders (Greystone Building) Wednesday: January 9th 10:00AM Legion of Mary (McGivney Hall) Thursday: January 10th Friday: January 11th INQUIRY If you are interested in the Catholic Faith or know of someone who is, please contact our R.C.I.A. Director Kathy Allan at 315-785-8576 for an appointment. The Epiphany of The Lord They opened their treasures and offered him gifts. Are you beginning to see your life as a treasure to be given to the Lord as a priest, deacon, religious sister or brother? Talk to Fr. Steven M. 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 PRAYING THE ROSARY the Legion of Mary will be praying the Rosary Saturday, January 12th beginning at 4:45PM. Everyone is invited to this prayer gathering before the 5:15PM Mass. RELIGIOUS EDUCATION The next class is scheduled for Sunday, January 13th, 10:00AM-10:50AM for grades K-8 in the Greystone Building. CONFIRMATION YEAR I will meet Sunday, January 13th, 11:00AM-2:00PM, and CONFIRMATION YEAR II next session is Sunday, January 20th at 11:00AM- 2:00PM.. PENNIES FROM HEAVEN The Knights of Columbus will be at the doors of the Church after Masses the weekend of January 12th and 13th collecting for our Seminarians. Please be as generous as possible. FINANCE AND PARISH COUNCIL will meet Monday, January 14th, 7:00PM in the Rectory IMPACT Youth Group for 6th-12th graders will meet Tuesday, January 15th, 6:00PM-7:30PM in the Greystone Building across from Holy Family Church. THE LEGION OF MARY CURIA will meet Thursday, January 17th, 10:00AM in McGivney Hall. THE ALTAR ROSARY SOCIETY will meet Friday, January 18th, in McGivney hall following the 9:00AM Mass. There will be no meeting if school is delayed or closed. Be sure to check the weather! EVANGELIZATION TEAM MEETING is scheduled for Monday, January 21st, 7:00PM in McGivney Hall. JANUARY 6: THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE OUR PARISH OUR MOTHER OF THE EUCHARIST PRAYER GROUP will meet Thursday, January 10th, 6:30PM- 8:00PM in Msgr. Sechi Hall at St. Anthony s Church. Please come and join us for song, praise and worship. ST.ANTHONY S SPAGHETTI DINNER: will be Thursday, January 31, 4:30PM-7:00PM. In Msgr. Sechi Hall. Take outs begin at 4:00PM. Please bring your own container. Adult dinners (ages 12 and up) are $8.00, children s dinners are $ 4.50 and children under the age of 3 eat for free. Extra meatballs may be purchased for $.75 each and extra sauce is $5.00 per quart. SURVIVING DIVORCE: 12-week program The Surviving Divorce Program offers support and healing for people who are separated or divorced. The groups meet once a week for 12 weeks. New groups are starting in Massena and Watertown in late January. To register, go to https://www.rcdony.org/family-life/ surviving-divorce-support-group.html. For more information, contact Steve Tartaglia at 315-393-2920 or startaglia@rcdony.org. NEW EVANGELIZATION SUMMIT 2019 The Annual New Evangelization Summit will take place in Ottawa on May 4, 2019. The speakers for this year will be Fr. James Mallon, Cardinal Gerald C. Lacroix, Michael Dopp, Fr. John Bielawski, Michelle Thompson and Michelle Moran. Registration will not officially open until February 2019, but the Office of the New Evangelization would like to reserve a block of seats for participants from the Diocese of Ogdensburg. In a change from previous years, this year the New Evangelization Summit will be a one-day event and will be FREE. If you are at all interested in attending this one-day summit, please contact Marika Donders, Director of the New Evangelization at mdonders@rcdony.org or 315-393-2920 so we can keep you updated. Readings: Is 60:1-6/Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6/Mt 2:1-12 Epiphany. The word means manifestation. God is revealing his glory, not with great fanfare or extraordinary signs but in the simple birth of a baby. Yet the Magi, following their star, recognized the sign and did him homage. How often do we look for great signs and symbols to know God's will for us? If only we had a star to follow, if only Jesus would speak to us and make his Will clear. Yet, we have been given all the tools we need. We have the teaching of the Church, we have scripture, and we have the sacraments. We have the gift of the Holy Spirit. But like the Wise Men, we need to take time to study, to ponder and to allow God to show his will for us in the little everyday things. We need to take time to pray and to listen and then, we too, will come to recognize Jesus in our midst and will do him homage.
Note From the Pope, During his homily on Christmas Eve Pope Francis spoke about the need for everyone to strive toward living a life of greater simplicity. He reflected on how Christ shows the way to overcome the excessive consumerism and selfishness that is ever present in society today. POPE FRANCIS The tiny Child of Bethlehem speaks to us of a new way to live our lives: not by devouring and hoarding, but by sharing and giving. Standing before the manger, we understand that the food of life is not material riches, but love; not gluttony, but charity; not ostentation, but simplicity. The pope also added that one cannot await Christ lying on a couch, sleeping. However, like the Shepherds, who left their flock to see Baby Jesus, one must set out, to risk, to recount the beauty. Pope Francis expressed that his wish for Christmas was for greater fraternity. Fraternity among individuals of every nation and culture. Fraternity among people with different ideas, yet capable of respecting and listening to one another. Fraternity among persons of different religions. Jesus came to reveal the face of God to all those who seek him. Pope Francis asked for Israel and Palestine to resume dialogue and undertake a journey of peace in order to put an end to a 70 year conflict in the Holy Land. He also asked for greater international assistance to help bring peace, political and socially, to countries such as Syria, Yemen and Africa; and encouraged the work toward reconciliation in the Korean peninsula, Venezuela as well as Nicaragua in bringing about greater unity. The pope reiterated this message of forgiveness also during his Angelus the day after Christmas. He used the example of St. Stephen whose feast day it was and who was the first Christian martyr. We are called to learn from him to to always forgive, and it is not easy to do, we all know. Forgiveness enlarges the heart, generates sharing, gives serenity and peace. He said this forgiveness must be cultivated through prayer. This is because St. Stephen was able to forgive his killers because he was filled with the Holy Spirit and had his eyes directed toward God. NEXT SUNDAY S READINGS Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7 Psalm 29:1a, 2, 3ac-4, 3b, 9b-10 Acts 10:34-38 Luke 3:15-16, 21-22 Jesus is the beloved Son of the Father (3). He is the light of the nations (1) and Lord of all creation (2). To Him be all glory and praise (Ps)! OUR TITHING PARISH FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT Note From the Pastor, This Year $ 11,564.00 Last Year $ 8,444.00 Youth $ 12.00 CHRISTMAS COLLECTION This Year $ 11,767.00 Last Year $ 12,151.00 Thank you for your continued generosity! CAPITAL CAMPAIGN UPDATE Total Pledges and One Time Gift $425,000 Total Participating Households 182 This is 76% of our goal with only 19% of parishioners participating. Let s keep up the good work! Our goal is $555.000. In Matthew s Gospel chapter 2 we read: When the Magi had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, rise take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is searching for the child to destroy him. Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt. As I pondered this reading it came to my mind that it was a good thing that the angel sent them to Egypt and not to our southern border. Where under current government policy Jesus would have been separated form Mary and Joseph and they would have been held in detention for seeking asylum. As you all know under international law it is legal for those fleeing for their lives have the right to seek asylum in this country. The policy of separating families is designed to discourage those who seek asylum from coming to the United States. From my perspective this is cruel and inhumane. Jesus told us to pray for our enemies and those who persecute us so we must pray for our government. Their policies cause great harm to the Body of Christ. Most who flee for asylum are our brothers and sisters in the Lord from Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras These countries are lawless, filled with crime and gang violence. Parents fear for their children's safety as did Mary and Joseph. Fr. Steve ALTAR AND ROSARY NEWZBYTES The Altar and Rosary Society wishes to thank the many parishioners who donated the lovely lap robes, wheel chair totes and slipper sox to the annual Angela Davies Share the Warmth with Seniors Project. A special thank you to those who made handcrafted items. As a result of your generosity, 82 individuals received a special gift of love, and a reminder that although they are not able to join us for Mass, they have not been forgotten. God bless you for your love and caring hearts.
PLANNED GIVING Creating a Legacy of Love The following are steps to make your life is in order before God calls you: Draft a Will, Leave enough liquid cash in an obvious location to sustain your survivors to pay your expenses of your estate, Plan your own funeral, Leave no financial debt, Write your own obituary, Organize your records, Choose a time to openly discuss these plans with loved ones. For more information, contact: Scott Lalone, Executive Director, Development Office 315-393-2920, slalone@rcdony.org.
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP: What brings tears to your eyes when you look around at what is happening to our Common Home for which we as humans have been called to steward? (Genesis 2:15) In the book entitled: Ten Commandments For the Environment, based on Pope Benedict XVI s teachings, we hear him say we must awaken and face up to this great challenge and find an ethical capacity to change the situation of the environment for the good. Did you know that one practical step he took was to place solar panels on the roof of the Paul VI auditorium? What is one practical step you could resolve to do this New Year that would respond to the situation that brings tears to your eyes?