December 31, 2017 The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph Eternal God, we want to live as Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, in peace with you and with one another. CORPUS CHRISTI CATHOLIC CHURCH 6300 McKenna Drive, Mobile, Alabama 36608 Email: Church@CorpusChristiParish.com! Website: www.corpuschristiparish.com TELEPHONE NUMBERS Parish Office: 342-1852 Fax 342-6313 School Office: 342-5474, ext. 1 Fax 380-0325 Rel. Ed. Office: 342-5474, ext. 7 Fax 380-0325 Full-Day Care: 342-2424 Fax 343-3119 Youth Ministry: 342-1852 Fax 342-6313 PARISH OFFICE HOURS Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PASTORAL STAFF Very Reverend James F. Zoghby, V.F. Reverend John S. Boudreaux Deacon Arthur W. Robbins Mrs. Kristy F. Martin, School Principal Mrs. Diane M. Stoyka, Parish Catechetical Leader Mrs. Judi B. Ankiewicz, R.C.I.A. Coordinator Mr. Peter J. Stoyka, Youth Ministry Director Mr. Thomas C. McKee, Gym Manager TO REGISTER AS A MEMBER OF THE PARISH Please fill out a Census Form. Census Forms are available in the church vestibule and parish office. COMMUNITY CENTER RENTALS & SERVICES For rental information and kitchen services, please call the parish office at 342-1852 or 342-1420. SUNDAY MASSES Vigil: 5:30 p.m. Saturday Morning: 7:00, 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. WEEKDAY MASSES 6:30 a.m.: Monday through Friday 8:15 a.m.: Monday through Saturday SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION Saturday: 5:00 p.m. and by request, particularly after the 6:30 & 8:15 a.m. weekday Masses. BAPTISM, MARRIAGE, ANOINTING OF SICK Please call the parish office (342-1852) or information and scheduling baptism, marriage, anointing of sick. ADULT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (R.C.I.A.) Please see published schedule for specific dates and times, or call the parish office (342-1852). SUNDAY SCHOOL (C.C.D.) Grades K 12, Sundays during school year, 10:05-10:55 a.m. in school bldgs. SCHOOL, SACS-accredited for Grades PreK3 through 8. To register, or to obtain further information or to arrange for a personal tour of our school, please call the school office, 342-5474, ext. 1, or send an email to kmartin@corpuschristiparish.com.
THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God New Year s Day, Monday, January 1 Only one Mass at 8:15 a.m. Not a day of obligation this year. This is one of the 3 holy days (Jan. 1, Aug. 15, Nov. 1) when the obligation is lifted whenever the date falls next to a Sunday (Saturday or Monday) ADULT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION Presented by Fr. James F. Zoghby For Catholic and other Adults who would like to learn more about and/or join the Catholic Church. Classes are on the 1 st & 3 rd Wednesday of each month from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. In the Adult Education Room in the Community Center. Next Class: Jan. 3. Info: 251-342-1852. www.corpuschristiparish.com/church Once a month 3 rd Sunday 5:30 p.m. Mass During the school year (Sept. to May), we have an extra Sunday Mass on the 3 rd Sunday of each month. Jazz Brunch in the Banquet Hall With Jazz Musicians Performing Live! 2 nd Sunday of the Month (Every month except June, July, August) Buffet Served from 12 Noon to 1:30 p.m. $10.25 for Adults! $4.25 for Children (Age 12 & under) Wednesday Night Dinner 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Banquet Hall $9.25 for Adults! $4.25 for Children (Age 12 & under) Jan. 3: Stuffed Cabbage Rolls, Rosemary Grilled Chicken Breast, Macaroni & Cheese, Fresh Green Beans, Blackeyed Peas, Garden Salad Station, Rolls, Banana Foster Bread Pudding. Iced Tea, Lemonade, Coffee. Kids Optional Menu on request: Chicken Tenders/Fries.) Must RSVP no later than TUESDAY EVENING Return an RSVP Card, or call 342-1852 or email WedNightDinner@CorpusChristiParish.com Widowed Persons Support Group For information call parishioner Glen Porter at 666-8977. SUPERSTAR BASKETBALL Online registration is now open at www.ccsboosterclub.com for all Kindergartners and First Graders attending Corpus Christi School or Corpus Christi Sunday School. $30 for Kindergartners & 1 st Graders. Info: superstars@ccsboosterclub.com. Don't Delay, Register Today. Society of St. Vincent de Paul Poor Box, Food, Clothing donations and In-Need Drop Box at the SVDP table in the vestibule. Join the Society of St. Vincent de Paul by attending a meeting on the 1 st & 3 rd Mon. of the month, 6:30 p.m.,parish House. To seek help, call 243-4061; leave name & phone no. AA Alanon OA CODA AA: Sun., 7 p.m., and Wed., 7 p.m., Cougar Den. Alanon: Sun., 7 p.m., and Wed., 7 p.m., Arts & Sciences Bldg. OA: Sat., 9 a.m., Arts & Sciences Bldg. CODA: Tues., 6:45 p.m., Arts & Sciences Bldg. Women of Mary Wednesdays, 7 to 8 p.m. Room 3 (2 nd Floor, Community Center) All women are welcome to meet for prayer, reading the Gospel, and discussion. Info: Sr. Deborah Kennedy, R.S.M., 753-4872. Men of St. Joseph Tuesdays, 7 to 8 a.m. in the Family Room Also Wednesdays, 7-8 p.m. in the Parish House All men are welcome to meet for prayer, reading the Gospel, and discussion. Info: Damian Bell, 639-2522 or 367-4486 or Damian@rockbwm.com. Wed Evening Info: Walter Bracewell, 599-1650 or walter.bracewell@gmail.com Tuesday Night Bible Study Meetings are at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays in the Parish House. The Bible Timeline, a Catholic study with a series of 24 videos. Info: Dave Burchette, 251-367-6660 or davebur1955@gmail.com. Tuesday Women s Bible Study 10:00-1130 a.m., Room 3 (2 nd Flr, Com. Ctr). The book of Exodus: Moses, Joshua, the Migration to the Promised Land. Please bring your Bible. Info: Judi Ankiewicz, 251-344-0321: Leave name & no. Thursday Women s Bible Study 9:15-10:45 a.m..,com Ctr Conference Rm. Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist by Brant Pitre, The Letters of John and the book of Revelation. Ignatius Catholic Bible Study. Info:Joanne Donaghey, 251-554-6753 or joannekd@alo.com. Nursery is available. High School Confirmation Schedules H.S. Senior Class of 2019: Sun., Jan. 21, 2018, Confirmation Luncheon, 12:00 to 2 p.m., in the Conference Room on the 2 nd Floor of the Community Center. Sun., Jan 21, 2018, Sponsors must be present with their Confirmation candidates for the Confirmation Practice from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. Tues., Jan. 23, 2018, Confirmation, 6:00 p.m. Candidates: Report to the Adult Ed. Room by 4:45 p.m. to meet with the Archbishop. H.S. Senior Class of 2020: Sat., Jan. 27, 2018, Confirmation Retreat, at Visitation Monastery, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Lessons 2/3/4. H.S. Senior Class of 2021: Sun., Feb. 18, 2018, Spirit Day, at Corpus Christi, 2:00 to 6:30 p.m., Lessons 5 & 7.
CORPUS CHRISTI CHURCH, MOBILE, ALABAMA DECEMBER 31, 2017 Who wants to be an Altar Server? It is time for some Altar Server Training! If your child Grades 3 and up is interested in being an Altar Server and has not had the training, we will be having formal training on Saturday, January 20, 2018 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. We will begin with a 30-minute informational session for the parents and students. Then we will invite the adults to enjoy an hour to themselves while the children are trained in how to be an Altar Server. If you have any questions about the training, please contact Mike Martin at 251-391-8666. Children s 1st Reconciliation & 1 st Eucharist Mon., Feb. 19, 2018: First Eucharist Parent Meeting, 6:30 p.m. Sun., Feb. 25, 2018: 1 st Eucharist Enrollment Mass, 9 a.m., followed by 1 st Eucharist Mini Retreat, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Sat., April 14, 2018: First Eucharist Practice, 10:00 a.m. Sun., April 15, 2018: First Eucharist Mass, 1:00 p.m. Info: Diane Stoyka, DianeStoyka@yahoo.com or 342-5474, ext. 7. FIRST COLLECTION TODAY: Tithing/Christmas Offerings. SECOND COLLECTION TODAY: Corpus Christi Building Fund. Collection totals for Dec. 17 & 24, Christmas and final for Retired Religious will be posted in next weekend s bulletin. Thank You and God Bless You God bless all for tithing, contributions, bequests, remembrances in wills in support of God s work here at Corpus Christi Parish. To make a donation of stock, ask your financial manager, or call Selena Hemphill at Morgan Stanley at 470-1084 or 800-624-7814. Receive a detail listing of your contributions by mail, email or fax at any time: Call 342-1852 or email Church@CorpusChristiParish.com To receive Offering Envelopes: Please contact the parish office at 342-1852 or at Church@CorpusChristiParish.com. To set up Online Giving: Please go to www.corpuschristiparish.com; click Church ; then click the green Online Giving icon on the left side of the church s homepage. Follow the instructions to contribute to tithing or building fund or school annual fund or other special collections. For assistance, call 1-800- 348-2886, ext 1, or the parish office, 342-1852. Tax-Saving Tip: A direct donation of appreciated shares of stock will benefit not only the church but also the donor: The church receives the shares, and the donor saves by not having to pay the capital gains tax, and by being able to deduct the full amount of the value of the stock to reduce his/her income tax. For info, or to transfer shares of stock to Corpus Christi Church, contact your stockbroker, or call Selena Hemphill at Morgan Stanley at 470-1084 or 800-624-7814. Annual reports of contributions for 2017 will be mailed out in early January 2018. Pope Francis: Christmas is the encounter with God. God has always sought out his people, led them, looked after them and promised to be always close to them. The Book of Deuteronomy says that God walks with us he takes us by the hand like a father does with his child. This is a beautiful thing. Christmas is God s meeting with his people. Christmas speaks of tenderness and hope. When God meets us he tells us two things. The first thing he says is: have hope. God always opens doors, he never closes them. He is the father who opens doors for us. The second thing he says is: don t be afraid of tenderness. When Christians forget about hope and tenderness they become a cold Church, that loses its sense of direction and is held back by ideologies and worldly attitudes, whereas God s simplicity tells you: Go forward, I am a Father who caresses you. I become fearful when people lose hope and the ability to embrace and extend a loving caress to others. Maybe this is why I often speak about children and the elderly, about the most defenseless. Throughout my life as a priest, in parishes, I have always sought to transmit this tenderness, particularly to children and the elderly. It does me good and it makes me think of the tenderness God has towards us. Back in 2000, in Bethlehem, Pope John Paul II said that God became a child who was entirely dependent on the care of a father and mother. This is why Christmas gives us so much joy. We don t feel alone anymore. God has come down to be with us.
Why Is Mary Called Mother of God? Q. Calling Mary the Mother of God seems wrong and unacceptable. How can anyone be God s mother? A. Your misgivings are understandable. On the face of it, without knowing the historical background of the title ( Mother of God ), such a title for Mary might sound ridiculous and even blasphemous. However, when we speak of Mary as the mother of God, we, of course, do not mean that she was the mother of God the Father. We do not mean that she was God s parent from eternity, but that she was the mother of Jesus when he took on our human nature. Jesus, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity (One God, Three Divine Persons), was truly divine, truly God, from the first moment of his coming in the womb of Mary. Here is the historical background for the title: In the early centuries of the Church, ways of presenting and speaking about the mystery of the Trinity and the divinity and humanity of Christ led to controversies that were settled at the early Councils of the Church just as the first major controversy (over whether or not Gentile Christians had to keep all the requirements of the Mosaic law) was settled at the Council of Jerusalem around 50 A.D. The Council of Nicaea I, in 325 A.D., (from which we get the tile of our Nicene Creed) was the first council to deal with the Trinitarian and Christological controversies. That council was followed by the Council of Constantinople I in 381 A.D. But it was the next council, the Council of Ephesus, in 431 A.D., that dealt with the teaching of the bishop Nestorius, which was seen as denying the unity of the divine and human natures in the Person of Christ. It was at that Council of Ephesus that the Church gave Mary the title (in Greek) of Theotokos (God-bearer) to proclaim that the child she gave birth to was not only human but also truly divine. She carried in her womb, and gave birth to, the divine Son of God, the divine Word of God who did not consider his divinity a thing to be clung to, but who emptied himself, taking on the nature of a servant (Philippians 2:6-7). The title Mother of God was used to proclaim Mary as the Mother of the divine Son of God made Man. The Council of Ephesus thus decided that the shortest and most direct way to pinpoint the basic belief that Jesus is truly God is to say simply: Mary is the mother of God not from eternity, of course, but as he comes into this world in his human nature, in the womb of Mary. No one can accept that brief statement without believing that Jesus is both divine and human. He had a mother as we did, and therefore he is one of us. And yet, the child of that mother was God, not by some later fiction, but as he came from her womb. The Greek title Theotokos (God-bearer), which the Council chose, was already commonly applied to Mary in Christian worship and devotion long before the Council of Ephesus. The title Mother of God came into official Christian doctrine as a vital part of belief about Jesus himself, not primarily as a way to honor Mary. It does, of course, reflect honor on her to have had such an intimate share in God s plan of salvation. In Luke s Gospel, Mary is greeted by Elizabeth as mother of my Lord. Mary is the Mother of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is God (John 20:28). Therefore, Mary is Mother of God. My being proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit finds joy in God my savior, For he has looked upon his servant in her lowliness; all ages to come shall call me blessed. God who is mighty has done great things for me, holy is his name... Luke 1:46-49
What Do Catholics Believe About Mary? Q. How can the Church urge that we pray to Mary? I don t believe there is any place in the Bible that says she is divine? A. We do not believe that Mary is divine. She is a human being who needed the saving graces of her Son just as we do. While the Church has always reserved a special dignity and honor for our Blessed Mother, we pray to her as we pray to the other saints, asking her, asking them to pray for us, in much the same way as we pray to any other Christians when we ask them to pray for us. We simply follow a basic human and Christian instinct that there is a bond between us that even transcends death. The Lord commands us to love one another in order to enter more deeply into his divine love for us all. Our love for one another goes beyond death. Since the earliest decades, Christian people have honored the Virgin Mary as the greatest of the saints because of her pre-eminent fidelity to God and her Son, attested to so often in the New Testament, and because of her intimate relationship with Jesus, who took his human flesh from her. For us there is, if possible, an even more personal reason. Since he received his life from her as the incarnate Son of God, and since Jesus shares this very life with those who believe in him, she is also our mother. The Church has, in fact, always recognized those words to John from the cross, Behold your mother, as addressed to the whole Body of Christ on earth, whom she loves, cares for and prays for as her own child. This is the reason for one of the loveliest titles we have for Mary, calling her our Blessed Mother. Pope John Paul II echoed this tradition in his 1987 encyclical, Mother of the Redeemer. The Church, says the Holy Father, sees Mary maternally present and sharing in the many complicated problems which today beset the lives of individuals, families and nations; the Church sees her helping the Christian people in the constant struggles between good and evil, to ensure that it does not fall, or, if it has fallen, to rise again. Unfortunately, some religious devotees in their over-enthusiasm, or sometimes serious lack of knowledge of Christian beliefs, lose this Catholic balance. They occasionally use terminology or express ideas at serious odds with Catholic belief. Some go so far as to suggest that if Jesus is threatening us or is reluctant to help, we need only go to Mary and she will obtain what he will not. Jesus is Mary s savior as much as he is ours (see Luke 1:47), and as God he is the source and infinite exemplar of whatever saving love she or any of the rest of us may have. To even imply that she outshines him in mercy or compassion and that if we re really in trouble she will do for us what he will not, only dishonors the Mother of Christ. As long as we keep this perspective, the prayer and honor that we give to Mary can be nothing but a source of joy and pleasure to her Son. Beginning with the Gospels themselves, she has never been in any competition with him, nor has he been with her. From The New Question Box by Rev. John Dietzen Christ is the Only Mediator Pope John Paul II said the crucified Christ is the only mediator between God and humanity and should serve as a divine model for all those who suffer. In his humanity joined with divinity, and through abundant charity and obedience that enabled Him to reconcile man with God, Christ is established as the only mediator between God and humanity, the Pope said. Christ s role as mediator is at a much higher level than those of the saints in the Old or New Testament, and even the most Holy Virgin Mary, when one speaks of their mediation or invokes their help, he said. For there is one God and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all. (1 st Tim 2:5-6) From The Catholic Week, Mobile, Alabama