March 24, 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 March 24, 2019 THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT 9:00 James C. Brett by the Carroll Family 11:00 Agnes Keegan by Sarah Palumbo 5:15 People of the Parish Monday March 25, 2019 The Annunciation of the Lord 9:00 Joseph Griffo by Michael and Kathie Montigelli Tuesday March 26, 2019...Lenten Weekday 9:00 Danise Reagan by Deacon Mike and Kathy 10:00 Elizabeth B. Taylor by Patricia Fanning Wednesday March 27, 2019 Lenten Weekday 9:00 Daniel M. Lyman by Philip Lyman and Family Thursday March 28, 2019 Lenten Weekday 9:00 Christopher Paragon by Deacon Mike and Kathy Friday March 29, 2019...Lenten Weekday 9:00 Frances McGowan and Deceased Members of the McGowan Family by the Estate of Frances McGowan Saturday March 30, 2019 Fourth Sunday of Lent 5:15 Robert Rebello by His Daughter Sunday March 31, 2019 FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT 9:00 Robert Dyer Jr. by His Family 11:00 John Boulter by The Family 5:15 People of the Parish MARCH 24: THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT Readings: Ex 3:1-8a, 13-15/1 Cor 10:1-6, 10-12/Lk 13:1-9 If you do not repent you will all perish as they did In today's culture, we assume, or rather presume, God's mercy will be ours. But our readings today, show that mercy is only one side of the coin. The other side of the same coin is justice. In today's Psalm, we pray the response that the Lord is kind and merciful, but he also secures justice and the rights of all who are oppressed. St. Paul warns us today that the Lord, who is slow to anger, does indeed get angry. So, let us take the time he has given us, reflect on our lives and repent of any sin we have committed. Let us avail ourselves of God's infinite and gracious mercy, so that one day, we may inherit the Kingdom. And then, let us go and be merciful to others. BAPTISMAL PREPARATION CLASS The next class will be Monday, April 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: March 24th 10:00AM Religious Education for Grades K-8 (Greystone Building) 10:00AM Coffee Hour (Gathering Area) 1:30PM The St. Joseph Cupertino Fraternity of the 3rd Order of Secular Franciscans (McGivney Hall) Monday: March 25th Tuesday: March 26th 10:00AM Mass (Samaritan Summit Village) 5:30PM Soup Supper (Greystone Building) 6:00PM IMPACT Youth Group for 6th-12th graders (Greystone Building) 6:30PM Stations of the Cross (Church) Wednesday: March 27th 10:00AM Legion of Mary (McGivney Hall) Thursday: March 28th Friday: March 29th 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. THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT March 24th I AM sent me to you. Could the Lord be calling you to proclaim His name as a priest, deacon or in the consecrated life? Talk to Fr. Steven Murray at 315-782-2468/ hfchurch@twcny.rr.com 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. Stanley J. Crum Jr.
ACTIVITIES AHEAD IN OUR PARISH CONFIRMATION YEAR I next session will be Sunday, April 7th; CONFIRMATION YEAR II will meet Sunday, April 28th. Both sessions are 11:00AM-2:00PM. BLOOD PRESSURE SCREENING Our Parish Nurses will be in the Gathering Area of the Church the weekend of April 6th and April 7th taking blood pressures. Please stop by and have yours checked. This can be a very stressful time of year so please take advantage of this ministry that is offered to us and have yours checked. Also take a minute to thank our Parish Nurses for offering us this special service. PRAYING THE ROSARY the Legion of Mary will be praying the Rosary Saturday, April 13th beginning at 4:45PM. Everyone is invited to this prayer gathering before the 5:15PM Mass. NEW FORMATION FOR MINISTRY CLASS: Did you know there are hundreds of commissioned lay ministers who have answered God s call to do more in their communities? Might God be calling you to do the same? Pray about it and talk with Fr. Murray about how you might share your gifts in service to others. A new Formation for Ministry Class will be starting in September. OUR PARISH SCHOOL NEWS IMMACULATE HEART CENTRAL SCHOOL S 2019 LEGACY GALA, honoring and celebrating Ms. Sylvia Buduson, will be April 6th at the Italian American Civic Association. Cocktails are at 6:00PM followed by dinner at 7:00PM. This is a Semi-Formal Event. Tickets are on sale now for $50.00 at IHC Jr./Sr. High School. Call 315-788-4670 or Email ihcgala@ihcschool.org MATER DEI COLLEGE FOUNDATION: Attention High School Seniors Are you a Catholic High School Senior who currently resides in the Diocese of Ogdensburg and is planning to attend a Catholic College or University in the Fall? The Mater Dei College Foundation is pleased to offer a Scholarship opportunity to qualifying students going on to study liberal arts and sciences at a degree granting Catholic College or University. To request an application form, please email Valerie Mathews, Mater Dei Foundation Scholarship Chair at vmathews@rcdony.org. Application deadline is June 1st ALTAR SERVER SCHEDULE MARCH 30th & 31st 5:15 9:00 Claire & Jillian Draper, Bennett & Carter Pistner 11:00 Keely and McKenna Cooney 5:15 ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE OUR PARISH DATES AND LOCATIONS FOR VIRTUS TRAIN- ING: Monday, March 25th, 9:30AM at St. James Minor Church, Carthage. Facilitator is Mary Margrey; Monday, March 25th, 5:00PM at the Immaculate Heart Central High School Cafeteria. The facilitator is Jennifer Barton; Sunday, March 31st, 11:30AM at St. Stephen s Church in Croghan. Facilitator will be Eileen Greenwood. To register online please go to www.rcdony.org. SPAGHETTI SUPPER Thursday, March 28th, 4:30-7PM in Msgr. Sechi Hall at St. Anthony s Church Watertown. Adult dinners ages 12 and up $8.00; children s ages 3-11 $4.50 and children under three eat for free. Take outs begin at 4. Please bring your own containers. LIFERIGHT OF WATERTOWN is sponsoring a free showing of the film Unplanned-a docudrama based on the true life story of Abby Johnson, former Planned Parenthood Employee of the Year, Thursday, March 28th, 6:30PM at the Regal Cinema, Salmon Run Mall in Watertown. Tickets are available by contacting Beti Ann Honan at 315-782-3616. IGNITE 2019 CATHOLIC MEN'S CONFERENCE: Syracuse, NY The theme for the 11 th Annual IGNITE Men s Conference is Exalt: O God be Merciful to me a Sinner. As usual there are 3 tremendous speakers that will challenge all who attend. You can be part of it on Saturday, March 30, 2019 at the SRC Arena & Event Center for an amazing day that will have a tremendous impact on you. You can register for the IGNITE 2019 Catholic Men's Conference online at www.ignitecatholicmen.org LENTEN 'COMMUTER' RETREAT: Strengthened by Faith During Difficult Times Retreat will explore through presentations, personal and group prayer, and sharing some aspects of loss, grief and suffering caused by loss of a loved one, divorce, illness, loss of job, or other life challenges. Reflections will include how our faith not only gives us strength and hope to be transformed into new life, but gives us the grace to help others on the Journey. When: April 5-7,Fri. 6:00pm -9:00 pm/sat. 9:30 am 8:00 pm/sun. 9:30 am -2:00 pm (includes Mass); Where: Sisters of St. Joseph Motherhouse, Hearthside Hospitality Center, Watertown; Presenters: Sisters Norma Bryant & Bethany Fitzgerald, Molly Amoriell and Cindy Matthews Cost: $50 Includes Retreat Materials and Food (Fri., Snacks & Beverages/ Sat. Lunch & Dinner/Sun. Lunch. To register: email srbethssj@gmail.com or call 315-212-6592 by Sunday, March 31, 2019 PRIESTHOOD DISCERNMENT WITH BISHOP LA VALLEY It doesn't get much better than this: being able to discern and discuss the Priesthood with a Successor to the Apostles! Men who are High School Junior age and older are invited to join Bishop LaValley on Sunday, April 7, from 3:00-5:00pm at Notre Dame Rectory, Malone. The gathering includes discernment discussion, Evening Prayer, and dinner. Please register for the free event with Fr. Doug Lucia (dlucia@rcdony.org) or Fr. Howard Venette (pastorsmoll@stmarysti.org). If you attend just one Fishers Club meeting this year, make it this one!
Note From the Pope, In his catechesis, the pope continued his reflections on the Lord's Prayer. In particular, about the part "Your Kingdom Come." Pope Francis recalled that Jesus often announced in his preaching people had to convert because "the Kingdom of God" was approaching. POPE FRANCIS "These words are not a threat at all; on the contrary, they are a happy announcement, a message of joy. Jesus does not want to push people to convert, sowing fear of the imminent judgment of God or the feeling of guilt for the wrong committed. Jesus does not proselytize, He simply announces. On the contrary, what He brings is the Good News of salvation, and from this He calls to convert." The pope recognized that Christians often ask why Jesus' promises are not immediately fulfilled. Additionally, why the world is marked by sin and why there is hatred, war and violence? "The Kingdom of God is certainly a huge force, the greatest that exists, but not according to the world's criteria. That's why it seems it never has an absolute majority. It is like yeast kneaded in flour: to appearances, it disappears, but it is precisely that which makes the dough ferment." Pope Francis recalled that Jesus compared the Kingdom of God with a seed. It grows without attracting attention, although whoever has sown it is working or asleep. "'Your Kingdom Come' is like saying: 'Come, Lord Jesus.' Jesus replies 'I will come soon.' Then Jesus comes, in His own way, but every day. We are going to trust this. When we pray the Lord's Prayer we always say 'Your Kingdom come,' to hear in our heart Jesus say, 'Yes, yes, I am coming, and I am coming soon.'" The Holy Father reminded everyone about the beginning of Lent, which is a good opportunity the Church gives each person to renew their Christian life. OUR TITHING PARISH SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT Note From the Pastor, This Year $ 10,592.00 Last Year $ 6,661.50 Youth $ 18.00 Thank you for your continued generosity! ON MARCH 30TH AND 31ST, our Parish holds a combined second collection. First, we support the charitable works of Pope Francis s through the Peter s Pence Collection. Second, we feed the hungry and support refugees through the Catholic Relief Services Collection. Will you Be a Witness of Charity and Help Jesus in Disguise? You can learn more at www.usccb.org/catholic-relief or www.usccb.org/peters-pence. Please pray for the good works done by Pope Francis and CRS and support these collections. CAPITAL CAMPAIGN UPDATE Total Pledges and One Time Gift $433,000. Total Participating Households 192 out of 935 This is 78% of our goal with only 20% of parishioners participating. Let s keep up the good work! Our goal is $555.000. Concerning my dilemma about parish finances, I received a letter and several comments which indicates people are concerned about where the money we take in goes? These are legitimate questions and I will attempt to address them. However, the real problem is that the income is dropping, and as all of you know, it is very difficult to drop expenses. National Grid, Spectrum, salaries, subsidy to the Catholic School system, Diocesan assessment, and insurances do not decrease every year. They in fact increase. It was pointed out we used to have four priest, now we have one, and I remind you soon we will have two. We also have two pastoral associates Patrick Bates and Sr. Angelica who are valuable to the services we provide to the people of the parish. One thing that I have noticed, is the number of people who attend mass weekly has dropped off considerably, which is of great concern to me. I will continue to have the conversation, because not talking about a problem has never made it disappear. I thank you for your patience and please pray that parishioners will return to a more active practice of their faith here at Holy Family. Fr. Steve
Presence The Mystery of the Eucharist On FORMED Please do not forget to check this out on our website. 1. Go to: Formed.org 2. Scroll down FORMED page and where it says Enter Parish Access Code Here, enter 21a561 3. Create your Personal Profile: Name, Address, email, Personal Password 4. You are now up and running on FORMED. NEXT SUNDAY S READINGS Joshua 5:9a, 10-12 Psalm 34:2-7 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 Having arrived in the promised land, the Hebrews celebrated their deliverance from affliction and distress (Ps) in the Passover (1). Christ, our Passover, has entrusted to us the message of reconciliation (2): let us forgive one another and celebrate the unconditional and abundant love of God our Father (3). Martha Colligan Patricia Brazell
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP From the beginning of Creation until today God has given us a thirst for ordinary water and a thirst for the water of life. (See John 4:5-41) Let us feast on the gift of clean water each time we use it this week and give thanks for it. As good stewards, we are called to use it responsibly. Make a list of those activities at home that requires water. SUGGESTED LENTEN FAST: Choose one of these activities and "fast" from using more than is necessary, i. e. in the shower, in the bathroom, in the kitchen, etc. Remember our 'neighbors' who lack access to clean water. POPE FRANCIS GIVES US A WAY TO CONNECT OUR LENTEN PRACTICES TO CARING FOR THE EARTH Fasting, that is, learning to change attitude towards others and all of creation, turning away from temptation to devour everything to satisfy our voracity and being ready to suffer for love, which can fill the emptiness of our hearts. Prayer, which teaches us to abandon idolatry and the self-sufficiency of our ego, and to acknowledge our need of the Lord and his mercy. Almsgiving, whereby we escape from the insanity of hoarding everything for ourselves in the illusory belief that we can secure a future that does not belong to us. Pope Francis