HOLY TRINITY PARISH Hudson and Germantown, New York 429 E. Allen St. P. O. Box 323 Hudson, NY 12534 February 24, 2019 PHONE: (518) 828-1334 WEBSITE: www.holytrinityhudson.org E-MAIL: holytrinityhudson@gmail.com SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME VERY REV. ANTHONY BARRATT, E.V. Pastor DEACON RICHARD WASHBURN Deacon REV. WINSTON BATH Pastor Emeritus
THE DEMANDS OF DISCIPLESHIP Nobody said it would be easy! As we continue our journey through Saint Luke s Gospel, we also continue to reflect upon what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. Two weeks ago, we heard how Jesus called Simon Peter, James and John to follow him: that is, to be his disciples. They responded immediately, left everything and followed him. Then we fast forwarded a few chapters of St. Luke s Gospel as Jesus began his sermon on the plain (by way of contrast to Jesus sermon on the mount in Chapter Five of St. Matthew s Gospel). Both the sermon on the plain and the sermon on the mount give a blueprint or guide to how we should live as true disciples of Jesus. They do this first of all by giving us the Beatitudes (and we reflected on these last week). Our Gospel for this weekend now takes us even deeper into how we are to live as Jesus friends and disciples and, it is not easy listening! Jesus speaks to our heart and, as always also challenges us. Jesus tells us about what has often been called the cost of true Christian discipleship ; that is what is required of us if we are to be genuine followers of Jesus Christ. Incidentally, our liturgical calendar seems to reinforce this message as we are now rapidly approaching Ash Wednesday and the Season of Lent: just about ten days away! Jesus reminds us that we are called to live and do all sorts of things that are counter-intuitive and counter-cultural. For example, he asks us to love our enemies. Can we really do this? Notice that he asks us to love them, not necessarily to like them or be best friends with them. This distinction is not playing with words or splitting hairs. Friendships are a very particular and special form of loving others. Friendships often seem to happen and grow in an almost mysterious way. However, when we see the word love in the Gospel today, it is the word agape ; that is of loving someone for love s sake. Loving them because in the end, they are also a child of God. Our Lord also reminds us that if we do good to those who do good to us, what is so special about this? Of course, we should do good to those who do good to us, although there is always that danger that we then enter into a sort of contractual relationship only. No, our Lord asks us as his disciples, to do good to everyone regardless of who they are or what they have done to us (good or bad). He even tells us why we should act like this. God is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked and He is always merciful. Reviewing our lives, we can give thanks for the many times that God has been kind, generous and merciful to us, even when we have not been deserving or expressed our thanks. So, as disciples of the Lord, we can strive to imitate and to give true witness to what we have received. Jesus words in the Gospel help us to see once again that discipleship and witness go together and that the cost of these can be high indeed. Our Gospel, in a way challenges us to give our lives if we are to be disciples of Jesus and to bear witness to him. Jesus tells us in the Gospel that we are to make our lives as an offering to him, or, as we pray in Mass, pray brothers and sisters that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God the Almighty Father. A simple hymn puts all this so well (even if the language is a little bit dated!): Take my life, and let it be, consecrated Lord to thee; take my moments and my days, let them flow with ceaseless praise Take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of thy love. Take my feet, and let them be swift and purposeful for thee. Take my voice, and let me sing always, only, for my king. Take my intellect, and use every power as thou shalt choose. Take my will, and make it thine; it shall be no longer mine. Take my heart, it is thine own: it shall be thy royal throne. Father Anthony
THE WEEK AHEAD THURSDAY, February 28 Bible Study - 7:00 p.m. St. Mary s Academy We need to keep our Church fresh, vibrant and welcoming. Our campaign therefore gives thanks for the past, celebrates the present and provides for the future. Now is the time for us to seize the opportunity to rededicate ourselves to our baptismal vows and be active witnesses for Jesus in our own day to open hearts to the truths of His Gospel. Let us go forth and together build for the future. Let us Re-ignite our Faith! For more information please refer to: stewardship@re-ignitingourfaith.org Income Tax Statements Parishioners who wish to have statements with respect to their 2018 contributions to Holy Trinity Parish may call St. Mary s Rectory at 518 828-1334. We will gladly provide documentation that will allow you to get appropriate credit on your Income Taxes. Time to Bring In Your Palms Approximately one month from now the season of Lent will begin with our Ash Wednesday celebrations on March 6th. We invite parishioners to bring in their palms from last Palm Sunday, which we will convert into ashes. Loose palms may be left in any of the Church vestibules. Please do not place plastic bags, rubber bands twist ties, etc. in the receptacles. Thank you. Magnificat A Ministry to Catholic Women Join us for a Women s Breakfast sponsored by Albany NY Chapter of Magnificat Saturday, March 9, 2019, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm (doors open at 8:30 am) Holiday Inn Express, 400 Old Loudon Road, Latham, NY 12110 Registration by mail -- due March 1, 2019 Registration Fee $20.00; Online $22.00 (Clergy & Religious Free - Please RSVP) Please send a check payable to: ALBANY NY CHAPTER OF MAGNIFICAT PO Box 340, Clifton Park, NY 12065 Register online using PayPal or credit card at: https://magnificatnevinsbreakfast.eventzilla.net Registration Information: Kathleen Carroll 518-930-8380 2018 Bishop s Appeal Pledges Please be advised that March 15th is the closeout date for last year s Bishop s Appeal. If you have not yet completed your pledge to this Appeal, please complete your pledge by March 15th. Thank You! Volunteers Needed Germantown Food Pantry Join our great volunteer team! Call Arlene Liepshutz at 518-537-6136 for further information and to volunteer. PLEASE NOTE Due to the February School break, Sunday School Classes have been rescheduled and will resume on March 3.
RECYCLE EASTER BASKETS - PAILS - BUCKETS Every year, the Salvation Army provides filled Easter baskets for all of the residents at the Fireman's Home. Jill Wishon Sterling has asked if our parishioners might be able to help by bringing in any new or lightly used Easter baskets/pails/ buckets that they might be willing to part with. Please leave them in the vestibule of the Church or call Maura if you need pick up. Thanks so much! When Did I See You Lord? In speaking with Jill Wishon, Director of the Salvation Army Soup Kitchen, we learned that, although most of the people she serves receive food stamps, toiletry items are excluded from purchase. Our Parish-Wide Lenten Service Project will involve a weekly collection of specific toiletry items. Our youth group will assemble 'care bags' for the Soup Kitchen to hand out to people in need. Please help if you can! "If you can't feed a hundred people, then just feed one." Mother Theresa Here is the schedule: PLEASE JOIN HOLY TRINITY PARISH FOR A TRADITIONAL MARDI GRAS SHROVE TUESDAY PANCAKE DINNER TUESDAY, MARCH 5TH Where: St. Mary s Academy Time: 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm The following Eucharistic Moment has been shared by the perpetual Adoration Committee to promote Eucharistic adoration: Sunday, February 24 The Holy Eucharist completes Christian initiation. Those who have been raised to the dignity of the royal priesthood by Baptism and configured more deeply to Christ by Confirmation participate with the whole community in the Lord s own sacrifice by means of the Eucharist. (CCC, 1322 March 9th & 10th March 16th & 17th March 23rd & 24th March 30th & 31st April 6th & 7th Shampoo & Conditioner Toothbrush & Toothpaste Deodorant & Soap Razor & Shaving Cream Q-tips & Band-Aids Sacrificial Giving We are giving the fullest expression of our faith when we have a genuine desire to share with others and do all that we can to build up our parish and our Church. The Parish Council wishes to thank everyone who purchased tickets and donated food for our wine tasting event held on February 2. The event was a success. We raised over $1,000. Many thanks again for all who participated and contributed to the event. HUDSON Regular Offertory Last Weekend (Feb. 17)... $ 6,402.00 Utilities 330.00 Seminarian Support. 437.00 GERMANTOWN Regular Offertory Last Weekend (Feb. 17)...... $ 1,470.00 Utilities 45.00 Seminarian Support 10.00
READINGS AND HYMNS (HUDSON) Reading: p. 73 Opening Hymn: # 473 Closing: # 496 The sacraments are wonderful gifts from God to us. BAPTISM: Congratulations! If you would like to arrange preparations and a date for Baptism, please contact the Parish Office. RCIA: For those enquiring about the Catholic Faith or wishing to complete their sacraments: welcome! Please contact the Parish Office and we will be very glad to help you further. RECONCILIATION: Celebrated on Saturdays 2.30-3.45 pm in Hudson, before and after Masses in Germantown, or at anytime by appointment. (Note: it is best to call ahead first to check on the availability of a priest) ANOINTING OF THE SICK: Priests regularly visit the hospitals, nursing homes and the homebound. Please do contact the Parish Office if you or someone you know is in need of the anointing of sick. MARRIAGE: Congratulations! So that proper arrangements (paperwork, preparations etc.) can be made, please contact the Parish Office or Fr. Anthony at least six months before the desired date. VOCATIONS: If you are considering a vocation to the priesthood, diaconate or religious life, please contact Fr. Anthony to share thoughts and prayers further. Readings for the Week of February 24 Sunday: 1 Sm 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23/Ps 103:1-2, 3-4, 8, 10, 12-13 [8a]/1 Cor 15:45-49/Lk 6:27-38 Monday: Sir 1:1-10/Ps 93:1ab, 1cd-2, 5 [1a]/Mk 9:14-29 Tuesday: Sir 2:1-11/Ps 37:3-4, 18-19, 27-28, 39-40 [cf. 5] /Mk 9:30-37 Wednesday: Sir 4:11-19/Ps 119:165, 168, 171, 172, 174, 175 [165a] /Mk 9:38-40 Thursday: Sir 5:1-8/Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6 [40:5a]/Mk 9:41-50 Friday: Sir 6:5-17/Ps 119:12, 16, 18, 27, 34, 35 [35a]/Mk 10:1-12 Saturday: Sir 17:1-15/Ps 103:13-14, 15-16, 17-18 [cf. 17] /Mk 10:13-16 Next Sunday: Sir 27:4-7/Ps 92:2-3, 13-14, 15-16 [cf. 2a] /1 Cor 15:54-58/Lk 6:39-45 MASSES FOR THIS WEEK MONDAY: Weekday (Feb. 25) 7:15 AM William A. & William G. Fuchs - James & Kelly Schermerhorn Marilyn Donahue - Chic Loomis Patricia Smegoski - Helen & Gus Kozel Jack Decker - Buddy & Rosa Pfeil TUESDAY: Weekday (Feb. 26) 7:15 AM Kathleen Barrett Jornov - Stephanie & Bill Keyser Clint Timothy Winant - Patrice & Rob Perry Denise Lynn Rundberg - Jake & Donna Hoffman Barbara Luppines Olchouly - Ann Skibo WEDNESDAY: Weekday (Feb. 27) 7:15 AM Patricia Karic - Diane Kreig Marilyn Donahue - Steven Ellsworth Pauline Yerrick - Jack & Mary Ann Nytransky George Harp - Charles & Linda Meicht THURSDAY: Weekday (Feb. 28) 7:15 AM Teresa DeBenedictus - Nephew, Anthony Luvera & Family Maudie G. Gaschel - Robert Donahue Frances Soule - Jack & Mary Ann Nytransky James Zegers - Kevin & Sharon McHale FRIDAY: Weekday (March 1) 7:15 AM Thomas C. Quigley & Mary Lou Bujanow - Family Dorothy, Leroy & Dirk VanDeCarr - Family Maureen (Gaffney) Gajdusek & Janice (Loomis) Stickles - Raymond & Carol Ann Paul Sophie Holodook - Nettie Shallo 9:00 AM Domenica Bertolini - Franca Cooper (G TWN) 8TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME SATURDAY VIGIL MASS: (March 2) 4:00 PM Carmine & Caroline DelPozzo - Vera & Tom Colwell (HUD) Joseph Pazera - Wife & Children Deceased Members of Gabriel Ambose Family - Kathleen Maher & Maher Family Anne Drew - Christopher & Michelle Paul 5:30 PM Carmela & Philip Manuli - Phyllis Manuli (G TWN) SUNDAY MORNING MASS: (March 3) 9:00 AM Sophie Slominski - Ted & Jackie Filli (HUD) Mary Grand - Mary Decker & Family Kathleen (Katie) Jornov - Pete & Robin Merante Susan Harmsen Craighead - Sharon & Kevin McHale 11:00 AM Walter Nesel - Jeanette & Dennis Nesel (G TWN) For the Living & Deceased of the Parish