MARY, THE HOLY MOTHER OF GOD J A N U A R Y 1, 2 0 1 7 PARISH OFFICE... (480) 948-8380 Office Hours... Mon.-Thurs. 8:30 am-4:00 pm Friday 8:30 am - Noon Toll Free. 1-866-973-9469 Fax... (480) 948-8815 E-mail... smgoretti@smgaz.org Website... www.smgaz.org MASS SCHEDULE (YEAR ROUND) Weekend... Saturday (vigil) 5:00 pm; Sunday 7:30, 9:00 & 11:00 am Weekday... Monday-Saturday 8:00 am Holy Day... please call the Parish Office SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION Saturday 3:00-4:30 pm or by appointment. SACRAMENT OF HEALING Anointing of the Sick: Administered on the 3rd Wednesday of each month after the 8:00 am Mass. Also available upon request if you are shut-in or entering the hospital. IN AN EMERGENCY Fr. Gregory Rice can be reached during office hours at (480) 948-8380. ANNOUNCEMENTS For the week of January 1, 2017 Special Collection next weekend for the Carmelite Nuns from Puebla, Mexico The Chapel is Closed New Year s Day The Parish Office will be closed Monday, January 2nd and re-open Tuesday, January 3, 2017 at 8:30am. Plan to join us next Sunday after all Masses for our Parish Breakfast...always great food and fellowship. Saint Maria Goretti Catholic Church 6261 North Granite Reef Road Scottsdale, Arizona 85250 Just north of McDonald Drive on Granite Reef Road INTERIM PASTORAL ADMINISTRATOR - FR. GREGORY RICE, MHM DEACON CARMENE CARBONE DEACON GARY SCOTT DEACON JIM TRANT The Parish Office is closed on Weekends but the Adoration Chapel is open. Please be sure to read the bulletin for complete details on all parish activities this week. Follow & Like us on Facebook.com/smgaz Visit our website www.smgaz.org Android/Apple phone users, download our parish App at myparishapp.com "We are the Roman Catholic Parish of St. Maria Goretti, inspired by our patroness who was led by the Holy Spirit to reflect the love of the Father through our Lord, Jesus Christ. We seek to learn the faith, to love the faith, and to live the faith. This is our witness. By the grace of God and nourished by the Word and Eucharist, we humbly serve God and our fellow man." *Mission Statement
2 M A R Y, T H E H O L Y M O T H E R O F G O D J A N U A R Y 1, 2 0 1 7 SMG SCHEDULED EVENTS Monday, January 2 (Office Closed) 6:00pm - Holy Hour - Chapel 6:30pm - NO RCIA - John XXIII Tuesday, January 3 8:45am - Faith Fitness - Piper II Noon - SMG Bingo - Piper Hall 4:00pm - CGS - Atriums 6:30pm - Charismatic Prayer Group - Chapel 7:00pm - K of C. Officer Mtg. - Piper II Wednesday, January 4 8:30am - NO Bible Study - Piper Hall 4:00pm - CGS - Atriums 7:00pm - Choir - John XXIII Thursday, January 5 9:00am - Women s Fellowship - John XXIII 6:15pm - OTW - John XXIII Friday, January 6 6:00pm - Family Prayer Group - All are welcome - Chapel 7:00pm - Concert - Church Saturday, January 7 9:30am - SMG Crafters Mtg. - Piper II Sunday, January 8 Parish Breakfast after All Masses 8:45 & 10:45 - CGS - Atriums 10:00am - St. Vincent de Paul Mtg. - Piper II Noon - Bridges/Crossroads - John XXIII/ Piper II PARISH STAFF PARISH OFFICE... (480) 948-8380 Parish Manager, Lynda Melton.....ext. 33 Parish Secretary, Bernie Baillargeon... ext. 10 Accounting, Nancy Milus... ext. 14 Facility Supervisor, Tim Bies... ext. 51 Facility Assistant, Jean Steeley... ext. 51 MUSIC & LITURGY... (480) 948-8380 Director, Skye Hart... ext. 17 Ministry Placement/Sacramental Record Request Judy Colburn... ext. 13 Office Hours... Monday-Thursday 9:00am-6:00 pm Faith Formation Assistant & Marriage Preparation Santa Giuliano... ext. 15 Coordinator of Elementary Faith Formation & RCIA; Annulment Minister Cindy Troiano... ext. 21 Youth Ministry & Baptismal Preparation Sammie Wimmer....ext. 25 PRESCHOOL/KINDERGARTEN... (480) 948-3606 Office Hours... Monday-Friday 8:30 am-2:30 pm Director, Kate Strohmeyer ext. 23 Thank you Lord for giving me The brand new year ahead Help me live the way I should As each new day I tread. Give me gentle wisdom That I might help a friend Give me strength and courage So a shoulder I might lend. The year ahead is empty Help me fill it with good things Each new day filled with joy And the happiness it brings. Please give the leaders of our world A courage born of peace That they might lead us gently And all the fighting cease. Please give to all upon this earth A heart that's filled with love A gentle happy way to live With Your blessings from above. ~ Charlotte Anselmo ~ Happy New Year from Fr. Greg & the Staff of SMG READINGS FOR THE WEEK OF JANUARY 1, 2017 Sunday: Nm 6:22-27/Ps 67/Gal 4:4-7/Lk 2:16-21 Monday: 1 Jn 2:22-28/Ps 98/Jn 1:19-28 Tuesday: 1 Jn 2:29--3:6/Ps 98/Jn 1:29-34 Wednesday: 1 Jn 3:7-10/Ps 98/Jn 1:35-42 Thursday: 1 Jn 3:11-21/Ps 100/Jn 1:43-51 Friday: 1 Jn 5:5-13/Ps 147/Mk 1:7-11 or Lk 3:23-28 or 3:23, 31-34, 36, 38 Saturday: 1 Jn 5:14-21/Ps 149/Jn 2:1-11 Next Sunday: Is 60:1-6/Ps 72/Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6/Mt 2:1-12 Plate Collection Totals for Dec. 18, 2016 179 Envelopes Used... 5,388.00 Loose... 3,648.00 Online Giving (34)..3,710.00 Total Plate Offerings... 12,746.00 Other Offerings 156.00 Christmas... 11,655.00 Year to Date Sunday Plate Income (Jul - Nov) BUDGET... $294,000.00 ACTUAL (plate)... $277,259.55 * If you are in need of a 2016 donation statement for your taxes, please call Nancy in the parish office (480-948-8380, ext. 14). Statements are NOT automatically sent out.
S T E WA R D S H I P N E W S 3 "What can I do to be a good steward and disciple of Jesus?" STEWARDSHIP IN THE NEW YEAR The practice of making New Year's resolutions goes back over 3000 years. The start of a New Year gives us the feeling of a fresh start, a new beginning, and new opportunities. It is a time when people feel that they can begin anew with their lives. Common New Year's resolutions are to lose weight, exercise more and eat healthier; or to spend more time with family. Still others include managing money better and being more organized. Although there is nothing in the Bible or notable in Christian tradition about New Year's resolutions, many good stewards take advantage of this time of year to become closer to the Lord. They may re-commit themselves to pray more, to read the Bible, or to attend Mass more regularly. If you are looking for some helps in your New Year's resolutions, here are a few ideas to get you started: Practice gratitude Cultivating a grateful heart is the hallmark of a Christian steward. Every day, express thankfulness to the Lord and to others. Seeing the good in your life will allow you to keep your heart compassionate and loving. Encounter the Lord each day Find time to be with the Lord each day, whether it be for an hour or ten minutes. Have a conversation with the Lord. Give your joys and worries to Him as well. Allow God's love to transform them. Our encounters will keep our eyes and ears open to the presence of Christ in our midst. Be present to others There is much celebration and mourning, joy and sorrow in peoples' lives. What a blessing it is to be able to share those times and not let others experience them alone. The gift of your presence to others is much more valuable than you realize. Nurture friendships Our friends are those we choose to be with, those with whom we spend our evenings, with whom we vacation, to whom we go to for advice. Friends are gifts from God who give us a greater appreciation of God's love for us. Friends need our time and love. Give more Good stewards realize that everything they have is entrusted to them as gift to be shared. There is no better place to begin than sharing with the community that gathers around the Lord's table at Mass. Consider what you are giving to your parish and local diocese and commit to an even greater contribution as circumstances allow. Make a difference in your parish community Believe it or not, your parish community can use your talents. Offering your talents to your faith community is one of the most effective ways to feel useful and connected to others, and it is a potentially life-changing New Year's resolution. Don't give up People give up their New Year's resolutions because of perfectionism and unrealistic expectations. So take it slow, be kind to yourself and keep trying. Resist the urge to throw your hands up and quit. You succeed through small, manageable changes over time. Turn to the Lord Ask the Lord for guidance, strength and perseverance in achieving your resolutions. In his letter to the Philippians, Saint Paul writes: "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength" (Phil 4:13). If God is the center of our New Year's resolutions, they have a better chance for success. STEWARDSHIP REFLECTIONS The blessing included in the First Reading from the Book of Numbers is one with which most of us are familiar. The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord let His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you In the Jewish culture this has been known for centuries as the Aaronic blessing as it was dictated by God Himself to Aaron. It is important to note that it begins with The Lord bless you. All blessings come from God. One error we make is to conclude that blessings always mean happiness or security or prosperity. God knows what blessings we need, even if we do not. They key for us is to be grateful for whatever blessings we may have. That mind set is at the hub of stewardship knowing all blessings come from the Lord, and our need to be appreciative of them. To be kept by the Lord is to turn our lives over to Him, to know that He is with us and that He loves us, blesses us, and does indeed keep us ever in His care. The truth is that to be blessed by God is one of the greatest gifts we can receive. It is available to all of us without exception. During this continued Christmas season, it is well to remember and repeat the classic statement by the character Tiny Tim in Charles Dickens immortal A Christmas Carol: God bless us, every one, for certainly He does. FR. MIKE BOYLE The Mass A Conversation with God Each weekend we have the opportunity to listen to the word of God in Scripture and listen to a reflection on Scripture in a short homily. We invite you to prepare for your conversation with God this coming weekend by reading beforehand the Scriptures that will be used in the Mass and by listening to a homily reflective of those Scripture passages. You can find this on a web site designed by Fr. Boyle. It is available on an iphone, ipad or PC. Use your browser to access: www.homilyweek.com. CARMELITE NUNS - PUEBLA, MEXICO Next weekend we welcome back to SMG the Carmelite Missionaries of St. Theresa of The Child Jesus of Puebla, Mexico. Your generosity in this special collection will help them purchase a host-making machine that will provide them a consistent income to provide for the 26 women in formation, as well as minister to the poorest of the poor in this region of Mexico. May God Bless you thorough the intercession of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus.
4 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS New Year s Eve and Day Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God Normal weekend schedule (see ad below). CORNELL University Glee Club in Concert Friday, January 6 at 7:00 p.m. in church. SOLEMNITY OF MARY, MOTHER OF GOD "And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart." Supernatural communication was nothing new for Mary. The angel Gabriel had already appeared and spoken to her when she agreed to bear God's Son. Her husband Joseph also had a kind of divine intervention in the dream where the angel told him to go ahead and marry her. When she was first pregnant, her cousin Elizabeth had been led by the Holy Spirit to know the secret that Mary was "the mother of my Lord" (Lk 1:43). Now, Jesus has just been born and a crew of earthy shepherds appears at her door with a message from heaven: that the Savior has been born. And Mary believed them. She did not doubt their sincerity or the authenticity of their message. She took the words to heart, and meditated upon the meaning of it all. What might strike us as peculiar in all of this is that God chose to speak to Mary in a variety of ways. This holy and immaculate woman, this Mother of God, did not always receive direct communication from on high. Sometimes, God chose to speak to her through other people. Sometimes, he revealed himself to them in order to reveal himself to her. And God does the same with us. It's easy to daydream about having our own personal revelation from God, to hear his voice loud and clear, directing, encouraging, and supporting us in our times of need and confusion. But this isn't the standard pattern of God's operation. Mary was tuned in enough to hear God's voice all around her instead of expecting it to always sound the same. We can imitate this same kind of openness by seeking to discover how God may be speaking to us through the voices of others. LITURGICAL MINISTERS NEEDED! Are you interested in serving the Lord and growing a deeper appreciation of the Liturgy? Consider becoming a Liturgical Minister! Liturgical Ministers assist the clergy in the liturgy through reading at Mass, altar serving, greeting, ushering, sacristy work, and caring for the altar linens. If you would like to find out more, call Judy today at 480-948-8380 or email jcolburn@smgaz.org. WEEKLY MASS INTENTIONS PLEASE PRAY FOR L I T U RG Y A N D MUSIC Sat. Dec. 24 4:00 pm Barbara Spedale 4:00 pm Angela Caputo 7:00 pm Lisa Schneider-Cipriano 11:00 pm Mike Valladares Sun. Dec. 25 8:00 am Patrick & Bill Fleming 10:00 am SMG Parish Family Mon. Dec. 26 8:00 am Natale J. Longo Tues. Dec. 27 8:00 am Dorothy Bernal Wed. Dec. 28 8:00 am Jim & Jo Ebentier Thurs. Dec. 29 8:00 am Lydia Davis Fri. Dec. 30 8:00 am Tony Ayshford Sat. Dec. 31 8:00 am David Buterbaugh 5:00 pm David Buterbaugh Sun.. Jan. 1 7:30 am Sosia Nowakowski 9:00 am SMG Parish Family 11:00 am Andy Decker Those who are ill: Fr. Blaise Meyer, Carmen Lucero, Deacon Charlie Voss, Stephen Asciolla, Cam Flitton, Korry Carlson, Cletus Ring, Frank Vassett, Robert Conklin, Mary Holland & Lennie DeFusco GIFT CART Deceased: May the souls of the Faithful Departed, through the mercy of God rest in Peace. Open for all of your giftgiving needs Sunday mornings in Piper Hall! Check out our new selection of books and gifts! Need a last-minute gift that will inspire? We have them! Share the love of God with others with a gift that reflects your faith. Visit us today! SOLEMNITY OF MARY, MOTHER OF GOD (NEW YEAR S EVE AND DAY) Masses for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, Saturday, December 31, and Sunday, January 1, will follow the normal weekend schedule: Saturday Vigil Mass at 5:00 p.m. and Sunday Masses at 7:30, 9:00, & 11:00 a.m.
F A I T H F O R M A T I O N 5 CATECHESIS OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD GRADES PREK-5 The Solemnity of Mary Hail Mary, full of grace Catechesis of the Good Shepherd would like to wish all St. Maria Gore parish families, a blessed and Happy New Year! Atrium sessions will resume Tuesday, January 3rd Parents are invited to their children s a er school sessions January 3rd and 4th as we celebrate the Feast of Epiphany in John XXIII. CATECHESIS OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD WORDS OF WISDOM The universe and a piece of bread. The immense and the small; the immense contained in the small. Yet, this bread, the eucharist, also transcends the limits of the universe, because it serves a substratum and transparent vehicle to the real and sacrificial presence of Christ. MARRIAGE PREPARATION BAPTISM If you have recently become engaged, congratulations! Your next step toward a life-long marriage is to begin preparing for one. Please call Santa at x15 to continue your journey to holiness as an engaged person. Happy Home Psalm 12 If you have a child in need of the sacrament of baptism please contact Sammie at 480-948-8380 Ext.25 at least 3 months before the baptism for more information. Our next Baptism Class is this Saturday, Jan. 7th at 9:00am in the Lamb Atrium, please call to register Bridges and Crossroads Youth Ministry RCIA Please continue to pray for our candidates as they prepare to complete their full initiation at the Easter Vigil: Clayton Brunetti, Tammy Cowger Shawn Kiepke, Joey Parilla, Christelee DiDomenico, Keith Kaufman, Harry Ross We are called to evangelize and invite those we meet to encounter the living Christ through His Bride, the Church. If you would like more information about RCIA, Please contact Cindy at 480-948-8380 ext. 21 Classes meet every Monday in St. John 23rd Hall from 6:30 8:00pm WOMENS FELLOWSHIP/VIDEO SERIES Women's Fellowship/Video Series is held the 1st & 3rd Thurs. each month in St. John XXIII from 9-10:30AM. Join us again on January 5th! Ephesians, Discover Your Inheritance. No cost or registration. Each week is unto itself. Open to all women, all ages. Grades 6-8 Grades 9-12 Next Week 1/1 NO YOUTH GROUP Happy New Year! Our Spring Semester Kick Off is on January 8th! YOUNG ADULTS ALPHA Starting January 24th at 6:30PM at St. Mary s Basilica What does Bear Grylls have to say about Alpha? I remember crawling onto the summit of Everest and clearing the snow from my mask to see the curvature of the Earth at the edges...and finding a simple faith that empowers my life. To me, that s been my greatest adventure. Got questions about life? Try Alpha. Embark on one of life's greatest adventures with other 18-35 year olds around the Diocese. To watch the Alpha promo video with Bear Grylls, go to Youtube: My Greatest Adventure: Bear Grylls Story. If you have any questions, contact Sammie at swimmer@smgaz.org
6 MINISTRIES & ORGANIZATIONS S T. M A R I A G O R E T T I P A R I S H L I F E PRESCHOOL AND KINDERGARTEN Secular Franciscans, Robert Bundy, ofs (480) 998-7401 Alcoholics Anonymous... Wednesdays 7:15 pm Ida... (480) 948-8503 Marriage Encounter, Dan & Jennifer Van Cuyk (480) 425-1353 Retrouvaille (for troubled marriages)... (602) 254-6723 Sanctity of Life... (480) 948-8380 Prayer Request Line... (480) 948-8380 Prison Ministry, Judy Colburn...(480) 948-8380 ext. 13 Pastoral Council... (480) 948-8380 Charismatic Prayer Group... Tuesdays 6:30 pm Kathy Smith... (480) 994-1643 Cursillo, Phil Ondrei... (480) 951-5047 Christ Child Society, Helen Jaros... (480) 991-2207 SMG PARISH LIFE COMMITTEE MEMBERS Knights of Columbus, Robert Calta.. (480) 227-5607 Prayer Ministry, Bob & Carol Bundy...... (480) 948-8380 SMG Men s Club.... (480) 948-8380 SMG Women s Group, Kathy Nord. (602) 705-9643 SMG Bingo!!!.....(480) 948-8380 Catholic Men s Fellowship, Sean Fitzgerald (480) 293-4565 St. Maria Goretti Preschool & Kindergarten where children Love God Love One Another And Love to Learn! Ages 2 and UP School Hours: MON. Fri. 8:30AM Noon Extented Hours from 7:30AM-5:30PM Happy New Year Classes Resume January 4th! SECULAR FRANCISCANS INFORMATION The Secular Franciscans will meet Saturday, Jan. 14th at 8:30 am in John XXIII. Anyone interested in knowing & living the Gospel in daily life and the spirituality of St. Francis of Assisi is invited to join us. For information call Bob Bundy, OFS, at 480-998-7401. ARE YOU REGISTERED? Attending Mass at SMG does not mean that you are registered. Please take the time to stop by the parish office, or download a registration form from our parish website (www.smgaz.org). 2017-18 Registration Begins Jan. 9th Contact the school office at 480-948-3606 Or visit our website at Smgazpreschool.org Being registered, active parishioners is necessary to serve as a Godparent or Confirmation Sponsor; for those seeking in-parish tuition rate for our preschool & kindergarten or inparish wedding and funeral fees; and for those seeking the Pastor s approval for being granted reduced tuition status at one of our Diocesan schools. Please call the parish office if you have any questions, or need help with registering. CATHOLIC MEN S FELLOWSHIP Catholic Men s Fellowship of St. Maria Goretti has completed the That Man is You program. Watch the bulletin for information on our Spring program and become part of a band of brothers who are seeking to draw closer to Christ and respond to God's call in their life whatever that may be. Catholic Men s Fellowship is open to men of all ages and will resume meeting Saturday mornings in January. Contact (call or text) Sean Fitzgerald @ 480.293.4565 or by e-mail at seanfitzaz@hotmail.com Join US for FREE MUSIC TOGETHER CLASSES FOR AGES 6 weeks to 3 Years Old 8:30-9:00AM Most Wednesdays TEXT @musicatsmg to 81010 for more information!
S T. M A R I A G O R E T T I P A R I S H L I F E 7 SMG BINGO!!! - SEE YOU JANUARY 3RD We meet the First and Third Tuesday of each month from 12:00 noon - 3:00 pm in Piper Hall YEAR ROUND!!! Any one 18 and older is welcome to join us. Bingo cards are $1 each with a minimum of 3 cards. Cash Prizes * Door Prizes * Refreshments Yes!!! We re Playing Bingo in Piper Hall from Noon to 3:00pm...See you January 3rd. KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS-MEETS 2ND TUES. IN PIPER II We meet the second Tuesday of the month (Sept. thru June) at 7:00pm and pray the Rosary before our meeting at 7:30pm in Piper II. All men of the parish over the age of 18 are invited to join us the 4th Tuesday of the month in St. John XXIII hall for our social night. We begin at 6:30 with food and fellowship. You don t have to be a Knight to attend! If you would like information about the SMG Knights of Columbus council, contact our Grand Knight, Robert Calta, at 480-227-5607. MENS CLUB SMG WOMEN S GUILD The Men s Club has a legacy of service to St. Maria Goretti and is always eager to welcome new members! We meet the 2nd Sunday of the month at 10:00 a.m. in Piper Hall. Come learn more about this wonderful group & all the ways we serve our community. The time commitment is minimal - the rewards are countless! A Blessed and Happy New Year from all of us to YOU! Please plan to join us for our meeting Thursday, January 19th at 6:30pm in Piper Hall. Our next event will be our annual Rummage Sale that will be happening on Friday, February 17th from 8am - to 5pm and Saturday, February 18th from 7am to 4pm. Please start going through closets, rooms and garage looking for items that we can sell at the sale. PLEASE NOTE THAT WE ARE NOT ABLE TO TAKE USED MATTRESSES OR THE BIG SCREEN BOX TELEVISIONS. The truck will be available behind piper hall where your items can be dropped. We will start organizing soon. Need more info? Kathy Nord (602-705-9643) EUCHARISTIC ADORATION Could you not watch one hour with me? -Mt. 26:40 Exposition of The Most Blessed Sacrament is: Sunday 6:00 am-12:00 pm Monday- Wednesday 6:00 am-6:00 pm Thursday - 6:00 a.m. - Midnight Friday Midnight -7:00 pm and Saturday 6:00 am - 5:00 pm Current adoration hours in need of Adorers: Sunday 9:00-10:00 am, 10:00-11:00am Monday 11:00am-Noon, 4:00-5:00pm Tuesday 9:00-10:00 am, 11:00am-Noon, 5:00-6:00pm Wednesday 4:00-5:00pm Thursday 8:00-9:00am, 3:00-4:00pm Friday 10:00-11:00am, 1:00-2:00pm Saturday 8:00-9:00 am, 1:00-2:00pm, 4:00-5:00pm You are encouraged to commit to any of the scheduled adoration hours. We are also in need of substitute adorers. Please sign up in the parish office. The Adoration Chapel will remain open on weekends. Please make every effort to keep your hour of adoration or get a substitute. ST. MARIA GORETTI DUET - ARE YOU HOMEBOUND?? Homebound parishioners, do you or a parishioner you know need a helping hand with services such as: grocery shopping, friendly visiting, business help, computer assistance, respite assistance, or transportation? If so, please call Judy Colburn at the parish office (480-948-8380 ext. 13) to help you get in touch with DUET. If you would like to help bring new Life to Elders visit www.duetaz.org to volunteer - also call 602-274-5022 SMG CRAFTERS WE MEET YEAR ROUND! Our St. Maria Goretti Crafter s Group meets on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month at 9:30 am in Piper II If you are in need of more information about this ministry call Judy Colburn at 480-948-8380 ext. 13 *Please note that we would appreciate any baby material you could donate to us for our baby quilts. Thank you for helping Us help others. FAITH FITNESS STRETCH EXERCISE IS BACK IN SESSION!!! Please plan to join us...through May. We meet Tuesday mornings at 8:45 a.m. in Piper II (off of Piper Hall) for healthy stretching & fellowship. This fall session we will be adding a second day. See Maryelizabeth for location and details. To register, contact Mary Elizabeth at 480-329-2960, 480-948-6960 or maryelizabeth23@gmail.com.
8 SMG OUTREACH COMMITTEE MEMBERS S M G O U T R E A C H M I N I S T R I E S ALL LIFE IS A GIFT FROM GOD...PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY. Ecumenical Outreach & Interreligious, Tom Brady... (480) 745-5080 Guadalupe Outreach, D.J. & Lois Lovett... (480) 483-3061 Sanctity of Life, Julie Watson... (480) 326-2277 Pastoral Care... (480) 948-8380 Santa s Workshop, Ida Trentacoste (after 5:30 pm)... (480) 634-8841 St. Vincent de Paul Society, Ann Collins... (480) 948-8380 x50 ECUMENICAL AND INTER FAITH UPDATE The Church promotes unity among all the followers of Christ which flows from our common baptism and seeks the fullness of unity which is a condition of evangelization. The restoration of unity among all Christians is one of the principal concerns of the Second Vatican Council. Division damages the holy cause of preaching the Gospel to every creature. Thus we are asked to pray faithfully that unity will be achieved by those separated. During the week of Prayer for Christian Unity the Diocese of Phoenix and the ELAC Lutheran synod are sponsoring a significant event on Monday January 23 rd at St. Mary s Basilica from 1:30-4:00 in downtown Phoenix. The event will start with prayer and then we will have the opportunity to hear 2 world renowned speakers, Fr. John Crossin and the Rev. Lowell Almen. Both have been very active in the Lutheran- Catholic dialogue. All are invited. Refreshments will be served. Please remembers this event in your prayers for its success.- Tom Brady SOCIETY OF ST VINCENT DE PAUL INFORMATION FEED. CLOTHE. HOUSE. HEAL..is what the SVDP Society does through the Spirituality, Fellowship, Serving those in need, and Giving others the opportunity to serve. We invite you to attend our meetings to learn more @10:00 am, Piper II, every other Sunday. Contact Ann Collins, 480-451-0898. If you or someone you know in our parish family is experiencing a crisis and in need of help with food, clothing, rent, utilities or medical/dental attention, we have many resources to fulfill many needs. Call SMG SVDP at 480/948-8380. St. Vincent de Paul will gratefully accept your 2016 charitable tax donation. This year the allowed amounts have increased to enable us to help even more people in need. It's easy... Tax donation information is in the SMG office. Please consider donating $800.00 per married couple or $400.00 for a single person. It is a dollar for dollar credit on your AZ state income tax. Thank you for helping us help others.. DO THE GOOD THAT PRESENTS ITSELF TO BE DONE....Do it prudently and over an extended period of time. Charity is the paradise of communities and the souls of the virtue. We are overwhelmed and truly grateful for your continued generosity to our Food drives and special donations. Backpacks are ALWAYS needed for the homeless. Please drop off used/new backpacks at SMG office anytime. Donations for clothing/furniture/appliances call SVDP Thrift Stores Pickup at 602-254-3338. DATES TO REMEMBER: Next Meeting Jan. 8 Next Weekend Food Drive Jan. 7 & 8 Next 5 th Sunday Collection- Jan. 29 ADOPTION CAN BE AN OPTION Catholic Charities is the only licensed Catholic adoption agency in the Diocese. We bring our Catholic identity and values to the miracle of creating new families through infant adoption. We have many families on our waiting list BECAUSE they want to adopt through Catholic Charities, but we simply do not have enough infants for our families waiting to adopt. This seems hard to believe when we know that there are so many women experiencing unplanned pregnancies. Our pregnancy counseling program provides free, life-affirming support to those experiencing an unplanned pregnancy. We go to the clients, wherever they might be, and help them explore the life-affirming choices of parenting or placement with a loving adoptive family. If parenting, we help them to develop the skills and resources they need to parent successfully. If placing for adoption, we help them decide whether they would like an open or closed adoption and they choose the family. Our support is life-long for birth and adoptive parents as well as baby. No one should experience an unplanned pregnancy without compassionate, life-affirming support. For information contact pregnancysupport@cc-az.org. Our counselors are available 7 days a week, toll-free on our pregnancy hotline 1.888.818.4445. WE ARE HERE FOR YOU ALL LIFE IS A BLESSING! Maggie's Place provides houses of hospitality and ongoing support to help pregnant and parenting women in need reach their goals, and welcomes them into a community filled with love and dignity. Are you interested in learning more about how to support our mission? We are currently seeking female applicants 21+ years who are interested in serving for one year as live-in volunteers with our mothers and their babies. For more information please contact Amanda Ayala at missioncorps@maggiesplace.org or visit maggiesplace.org. MISSION OF MERCY MEDICAL CENTER Mission of Mercy Mobile Medical Clinic has been serving the uninsured since 1997 in Phoenix, Maryvale, Mesa and Avondale. We are in need of volunteer doctors, nurses and bilingual interpreters to help at our clinics on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. For more information please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Ana, at 602-861-2233 S_M_2003@yahoo.com
O T H E R N E W S 9 PLEASE PRAY FOR VOCATIONS Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God -- January 1, 2017 God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts. If the Spirit of Jesus is prompting you to love and serve Him as a priest, deacon or in the consecrated life, visit dphx.org/ vocations/ or dphx.org/consecrated-life. Or phone 602-354- 2005 for more information. THE APOSTOLATE OF THE LITTLE FLOWER A group of lay Catholic women who commit to Eucharistic Adoration, praying for the Church and for priests. Members study the Little Way of Spiritual Childhood of St. Therese, and strive to live it by practicing the virtues of Love, Humility, Confidence in God, & Abandonment to His Holy Will. Meetings are the 4th Saturday of the month at St. Maria Goretti. For more information please contact Maria Kinlen, Directress, at 480-332-7902. HAPPENING AROUND THE VALLEY Every Sunday TV Mass: The Holy Mass is broadcast live at 9 a.m. Sunday mornings from Ss. Simon and Jude Cathedral on KAZT-TV (AZ-TV7, Cable 13), followed by local Catholic talk show Catholics Matter, hosted by Fr. Rob Clements. Every Monday The Bishop s Hour: The Diocese of Phoenix s locally produced radio program about issues from a Catholic viewpoint. Hosted by Michael Dixon, The Bishop s Hour is broadcast at 11 a.m. every Monday on Immaculate Heart Radio 1310 AM, with an encore presentation on Thursdays at 9 p.m. Every Tuesday The Catholic Conversation: Steve and Becky Greene, the Cradle and the Convert, help Catholics faithfully live their vocation by providing Church teaching, navigating moral challenges and exploring current issues facing the faith in our culture. The Catholic Conversation is broadcast at 11 a.m. every Tuesday on Immaculate Heart Radio 1310 AM, with an encore presentation at 7 p.m. More Info: phoenixcatholicmedia.org A LITTLE BIT OF HUMOR CAN BE THE BEST MEDICINE CHRISTOPHER WEST IS COMING TO TOWN. Christopher West is coming to town and you don't want to miss it! One night only - Saturday, January 28, 2017, at Xavier Performing Arts Center, 6:30 pm with dessert reception to follow. Buy your tickets now! Christopher's key note address will combine his passion for theology of the body, Pope Francis, and the joy of the gospel. Tickets are only $15 each and available at www.jp2celebration.com. Call 602-354-2179 for more info. (Fundraiser to support the JPII Resource Center for Theology of the Body and Culture in the Diocese of Phoenix.) NEW TIME NEW STATION ON IMMACULATE HEART RADIO New Time, New Station now on Immaculate Heart Radio Monday - Friday at 6:00-6:30am and 9:30-10:00pm. You can also listen to us on InternetIHRadio.com. For a schedule write RFR, P.O. Box 1728, Phoenix, AZ 85011 or call Genevieve at 602-954-0316. www.radiofamilyrosary.com CRYS - CATHOLIC MINISTRY FOR YOUNG SINGLES Catholic? Single? Widowed, divorced or separated? Over 35? Join us for some special time together and great fellowship. For information please check out our website at (cscarizona.org) WORLD WIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER BEST GIFT FOR YOUR SACRAMENT EVER! The next World Wide Marriage Encounter weekend is on February 24-26 in Phoenix. To apply for the weekend and for other dates visit www.wwmearizona.com WIDOWED? DIVORCED? SEPARATED? LET US PRAY... All the faithful are invited to join us as we pray for the unborn the little ones that cannot speak for themselves. We pray for them and their mothers, that the unborn will be spared and the mothers will have a change of heart. We meet every Sat. at 9:15 AM at Planned Parenthood, 1250 E. Apache Blvd. Tempe. More info. Call Ray 480 820 2553 or Dick at 480 253 7118.