St. Michael the Archangel Parish The Epiphany of the Lord January 6, 2019 Rev. Fr. Dale Branson, Pastor Weekend Mass Schedule Saturday: Parish Office Mailing and delivery address: 25394 N. Poseidon Rd. San Tan Valley, AZ 85132 Phone: (520) 723-6570 Fax: (520) 723-7116 Www.stmichaels77.org Office hours: 9:00am - 4:30pm Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. Adoration 9am (following 8:30am mass) Vigil 4pm Sunday: 8 am & 10:00 am Daily Mass Schedule Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday - 8:30am at the Parish Center. Parish Center 26035 N Apollo Dr. San Tan Valley, AZ 85132 For if this endeavor or this activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself. But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy it; you may even find yourselves fighting against God. Acts 5:38b-39b TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION Monday of this week is Christmas Day in Russia and in much of the Orthodox world. This curious difference in schedule has a lot to do with how calendars have been developed and changed over the years. In the year 45.. Julius Caesar gave the empire his Julian Calendar, with the winter sols ce on January 6. This put an end to a system in which officials called pon ffs were able to tweak the calendar by adding extra days in as needed. He invented two new months at that me, December and January; and in order to correct the mess the pon ffs had made, forced a year of 445 days on the empire in what he named The Last Year of Confusion. The new months varied in number of days according to a complex schedule, but the calendar was s ll off by nearly twelve minutes a year, and lost a full day every 130 years. Pope Gregory XIII reformed the calendar in 1583, but not everyone appreciated his efforts. England held out for two hundred years. The year 1700 was a leap year in England, but not in France; they were eleven days apart! George Washington was really born on February 11; when the Gregorian calendar was finally adopted in the English colonies shortly before the Revolu on, he had to move his birthday to February 22. Now the calendars are thirteen days apart, which accounts for Russia s Julian calendar Christmas. And Caesar thought he had brought confusion to an end! James Field, Copyright J. S. Paluch Co. Are you new to St. Michael the Archangel Church? We welcome you and we ask that you please take a few moments to register. Registra on forms are located at the Greeters Table or can now be found and submi ed online. Visit our website and click on the link, Parish Registra on Form, found at the bo om of the home page and follow the instruc ons.
Sacramental Policies ANOINTING OF THE SICK At the 8:30am Mass on the first Friday of each month or by appt. BAPTISM Parents will need to provide a copy of the child s birth certificate and participate in a class. Baptismal Classes are held on the 2nd Saturday of the month at 11 am in the Church office. Parents must call the church office a week prior to register for the class. Godparents must be practicing Catholics who are confirmed and married in the Church, if married. CONFESSION Confessions are heard after mass on the weekdays or on Sunday half hour before mass time. CONFIRMATION Confirmation will be given students in 8 th grade or above. They must have completed the 8 th grade religious education class and optimally the 7 th as well. Sponsors must be practicing Catholics who are already confirmed and married in the Church, if married. Parents should not be sponsors for their own children. For information on Confirmation preparation for adults please contact the pastor. FIRST HOLY COMMUNION First Holy Communion will be offered to children in Grade 2. Children must attend CCD regularly throughout Grade 2 in order to receive the Sacrament in May of that year. Students will also be prepared for the Sacrament of Reconciliation in Grade 2. MARRIAGE Both parties are expected to participate in the preparation program. Parties must notify the pastor at least one year prior to their proposed marriage date. Please meet with the pastor for a fuller explanation and to make arrangements. QUINCEANERAS St. Michael the Archangel Parish does not have Quinceaneras at this time. Parish Pastoral Council: Diana Albert, Sue Baitinger, Bob Butchko, Virginia Bombolino, Reajean Porter, Bert Pampanin, Craig Rudko, Darrell Stonerook, Mary Teese, Irene Chagoya, Patricia DeStefano, Karen Panhans, Jane Vogel and Scott Robert. Pastoral Council meetings are held on the 2nd Tuesday of each month and all are welcome to attend. Bap sm class will be held January 12th 2019. Please call the parish office to register. Jan 12 4:00 pm Pro Populo Pro Populo - Latin: for the people V - Deceased To request a mass, please call the rectory ST. MICHAEL THE AV Ministry Alvin Rivera, brooklynboy3@cox.net (480)720-6486 Scott Robert, scadabox@gmail.com (480)309-0506 BULLETIN bulletin@stmichaels77.org (520)723-6570 CCD/ALTAR SERVERS Reajean Porter, ccd@stmichaels77.org (808)386-6925 EUCHARISTIC MINISTER/PRAYER CHAIN Virginia Bombolino ginbaby2003@aol.com, (480)888-7914 FOOD BANK Jane Vogel, jema48@gmail.com (520) 509-1305 GREETERS Karen Panhans karen.panhans1@gmail.com (928)208-1007 HOMEBOUND MINISTRY Patricia DeStefano, patriciad333@yahoo.com (480)243-1055 KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS Gary Kluthe garykaboom@cox.net (402)990-1210 RED HAT Michaele es / LECTORS Suzanne Baitinger rsbaitinger@hotmail.com (480)745-5621 MINISTRY FOR THE DEAF Annemarie Kalvaitis mabel231@cox.net MUSIC Diana Albert Dialbert2@aol.com, (480)457-9712 Readings for the Week Monday: 1 Jn 3:22 4:6; Ps 2:7bc-8, 10-12a; Mt 4:12-17, 23-25 Tuesday: 1 Jn 4:7-10; Ps 72:1-4, 7-8; Mk 6:34-44 Wed: 1 Jn 4:11-18; Ps 72: 1-2, 10, 12-13; Mk 6:45-52 Thursday: 1 Jn 4:19 5:4; Ps 72:1-2, 14, 15bc, 17; Lk 4:14-22a Friday: 1 Jn 5:5-13; Ps 147:12-15, 19-20; Lk 5:12-16 Saturday: 1 Jn 5:14-21; Ps 149:1-6a, 9b; Jn 3:22-30 Sunday: Is 42:1-4, 6-7 or Is 40:1-5, 9-11; Ps 29:1-4, 3, 9-10 or Ps 104:1b-4, 24-27- 30; Acts 10:34-38 or Ti 2:11-14; 3:4-7; Lk 3:15-16, 21-22 MINISTRIES & Prison Ministry Kathy Ernst, kathyernst10@yahoo.com 928-230-4193 Teen Youth Group Dillon Tambagan teens@stmichaels77.org (480)650-0549 PASTOR Rev. Fr. Dale A. Branson pastor@stmichaels77.org, (520)723-6570 RCIA Bob Butchko Bob.butchko@centurylink.net (480)703-7212 SACRISTANS Irene Chagoya Irene.chagoya@gmail.com (480)643-0098 SAFE ENVIRONMENT Sue Stonerook, sstonerook@live.com (602)501-3859 Mary Teese, mteese@cox.net (520)723-9311 SECRETARY Elisa Victoria secretary@stmichaels77.org (520)723-6570 USHERS Darrell Stonerook, sstonerook@live.com (602)501-3859 WEBMASTER Craig Rudko webmaster@stmichaels77.org (480)250-0722 SCOUTS Scott Robert, scadabox@gmail.com (480)309-0506
Financial report December 23,2018 Parish Offertory $12,596.72 Capital Campaign $1,269.83 Poor $80.00 Building fund $1,728.96 Misc $131.00 Total $15,806.51 Fill your bo le with change, cash or a check made out to Aid to Women Center Please pick up your bo le the weekend of January 27 th to be returned by February 24th FR. JOHN C. BORLEY - COUNCIL 17036 Business meeting notice Monday January 7th at 6:30 at Parish Center Monthly business meetings held first Monday of each month. All council members & visiting Knights are welcome and encouraged to attend. Snacks always provided following the meeting. Please chesk out our council s public web blog at: http://kofc17036.blogspot.com/ GARY KLUTHE 402-990-1210 garykaboom@cox.net The next bap sm class will be held January 12, 2019, please call the parish office the week before the 12th to register. Your Support Provides Free Pregnancy Tests Free Ultrasounds Prenatal Care Paren ng Prep Classes And More! If abortion isn t wrong, than nothing is. St. Teresa of Calcu a Safe Environment The next safe environment training will be held on January 13,2019 a er the 10:00 Mass. All volunteers are required to take S.E.T before you can volunteer for a ministry. Time for renewal? You will receive an e-mail or phone call if you are already a volunteer in need of it. The training takes about 20-30 minutes once we get started. For ques ons please contact Sue Stonerook @ sstonerook@live.com (602)501-3859 MASS ATTENDANCE 889 People attended mass Dec 23, 2018 1,310 people attended mass Dec 24/25 Do you know someone who needs prayers to comfort and strengthen them? If so please contact Virginia Bombolino Phone: 480-888-7914 E-mail: ginbaby2003@aol.com All requests are private.
In our celebration of the Epiphany, two interwoven themes are present in the readings today. God is beginning something new, and God gathers all of humanity to participate. For Isaiah, God s bright light, manifested in the people of Israel, attracts and summons people from many nations to Jerusalem. In the letter to the Ephesians, God s grace makes the Gentiles co-heirs and co-partners in the gospel. Matthew tells the story of the fulfillment of God s promises to Israel through the birth of Jesus, and simultaneously leading foreigners to share in these same promises. With the birth of Jesus, God chose a particular people, in a particular time and place, to enter most directly into the human story. Today s readings teach that God did this in order to gather all people, all cultures, into unity with God. Like the magi, we are drawn into a journey toward God, becoming co-partners in God s work. JOURNEY OF TRANSFORMATION Tradition, poetry, and literature have long reflected upon the story of the magi. The journey of the magi indeed resonates with journeys in our own lives. The journey is a search for a king, for what or who is of primary importance in life. The seekers lose direction and encounter obstacles and dangers. Searching for a king, the magi first come upon a false king, Herod. The reappearance of the star shows them the true path and leads to the true king. For Matthew, the journey culminates in the magi s worship of Jesus. They discover a king not clothed in grandeur, but wrapped in humility and simplicity. They begin to re-imagine what true royal power really is. Transformed by the journey, they embrace the humble king, Jesus. INSIDERS AND OUTSIDERS An epiphany is a manifestation, a revelation of what was hidden, and often a challenge to change. For Matthew s community, the story of the magi challenged these new Christians, from both Jewish and Gentile origin. The insiders, those rooted in the Jewish scriptures and traditions, might be uncomfortable with the magi, and with God working within Gentile culture to draw them toward God. The outsiders, the Gentiles, would rejoice that God calls them from within their own roots. But they knew that they too were called to their own journey of transformation. Who are insiders and outsiders today? Some might see strangers as threats to accustomed ways of honoring and serving God. Others might believe that they themselves are too distant, concluding that they cannot be accepted in Christian community, and perhaps tune out God s activity in their lives. Still others might think that belief in Christ serves as another dividing line between people, preventing them from seeing all persons as God s children. The story of the Epiphany reminds us that classifying insiders and outsiders is an illusion, a falsehood arising from a separation from God. When we are united with God, we can only see others as sisters and brothers. First Reading Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! The Lord shines upon you (Isaiah 60:1-6). Psalm Lord, every nation on earth will adore you (Psalm 72). Second Reading The Gentiles are coheirs, copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel (Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6). Gospel Magi from the east arrived, looking for the newborn king of the Jews (Matthew 2:1-12). The English transla on of the Psalm Responses from Lec onary for Mass 1969, 1981, 1997, Interna onal Commission on English in the Liturgy Corpora on. All rights reserved.
St. Michael s enjoyed an eventful December The Choir graced us with a beautiful rendition of the birth of our Lord with an outdoor evening Live Nativity. As the choir sang Silent Night young members from our parish brought the nativity story to life. A beautiful night under the stars We were then mesmerized with Handel s Messiah brought to us by The Central Arizona Symphony Chamber Ensemble & Friends including our very own Choir Director Diana Albert, violinist. Parishioners joined in for the sing-along and expressed themselves as they rendered their voices for Then we enjoyed the Christmas the Hallelujah Pageant with the children from our CCD and RCIA programs along with younger siblings who enjoyed being a camel, donkey, sheep, and cow sitting around Baby Jesus. Thank you to Jenny Rudko and Jennifer Ramirez for coordinating this pageant along with the wonderful voices of our Choir who completed the pageant with songs taking us through the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.. And join to thank our Decorating Committee who volunteer their time to decorate our Parish Center and prepare it for each season we embark on. Just Beautiful! Thank you.
Reajean Porter *Director of Religious Education* Email: ccd@stmichaels77.org CCD Weekly Announcements December 30, 2018 Weeks at a Glance January 8 Tuesday CCD Classes Resume 6:30 PM January 9 Wednesday SAC Classes Resume (8th Gr. Saint Paper Due) 6:30 PM January 15 Tuesday CCD Class 6:30 PM January 16 Wednesday SAC Class 6:30 PM January 22 Tuesday NO CCD January 12 Saturday @ 4pm Marcus Ramirez Isabella Simeone January 13 Sunday @ 8am Vinny Bradeen Anthony Bradeen Sunday @ 10am Melina Stegner Christian Wadsworth January 23 Wednesday NO SAC FIRST RECONCILIATION UPDATE First Reconciliation will now be heard on Friday, January 25, 2018 at 7:00 PM. There will be a mandatory class for these students on Wednesday, January 23rd at 6:30pm to review and prepare for their Reconciliation. To all our CCD Families who helped in donating bath towels and loofahs to Desert Lily for girls at risk. They were very excited and appreciative receiving these gifts at Christmas. Miss Reajean Epiphany of the Lord The three wise men bearing gifts of gold, Frankincense and myrrh come to adore baby Jesus. Offertory Gift Bearers Sunday 10am Mass January 13 Andreya Madrid Aramis Murillo Jenna Robert Francisco Ortega (W) January 20 Mario Espinoza Robert Gonzales Mason Russell Lucas Peterson (W) January 13, 2019 8am William Johansen 10am Raffaelle Defina January 13, 2019 8am Anthony Bradeen 10am Javier Garcia
Coming Soon! St. Michael the Archangel Baby Bottle Drive to Support Aid to Women Center Fill your bottle with change, cash or a check made out to Aid to Women Center Please pick up your bottle the weekend of January 27 th Your Support Provides Free Pregnancy Tests Free Ultrasounds Prenatal Care Parenting Prep Classes And More! If abortion isn t wrong, than nothing is. St. Teresa of Calcutta