“Arise and Eat, Else the Journey Will Be Too Great for You.” (I Kings 19:7)

Mass Intentions Week of January 7

Sat.        Jan. 6           5:00 pm      People of the Parish

Sun.       Jan. 7         10:00 am      †Joseph Hoffmann                                                              2:30 pm   People of the Community

                                6:00 pm      †Joseph Hoffmann

Tues.     Jan. 9           5:30 pm     Sr. Brendan Madden

Wed.     Jan. 10        10:00 am     †Bishop Paul Dudley

Thurs.    Jan. 11         5:30 pm      †Fr. Roger Hermes

Fri.        Jan. 12         8:00 am      †Souls in Purgatory

Sat.        Jan. 13         8:00 am      †Rev. Karl Michael Wittman

                                5:00 pm      †Alfred Nordaune

Sun.       Jan. 14       10:00 am      Redemptorist Priests

Hispanic 2:30 pm People of the Community

6:00 pm People of the Parish

 

Readings for the Week

Monday:       Is 40:1-5, 9-11 or Is 42:1-4, 6-7 or

                     Ti 2:11-14; 3:4-7 or Acts 10:34-38;

                     Lk 3:15-16, 21-22

Tuesday:       Heb 2:5-12; Mk 1:21-28

Wednesday:  Heb 2:14-18; Mk 1:29-39

Thursday:      Heb 3:7-14; Mk 1:40-45

Friday:          Heb 4:1-5, 11; Mk 2:1-12

Saturday:       Heb 4:12-16; Mk 2:13-17

Sunday:         Is 62:1-5; Ps 96; 1 Cor 12:4-11; Jn 2:1-11

BROTHERS AND SISTERS:

Today we celebrate the EPIPHANY OF THE LORD.  “Epiphany” is the revelation or the

manifestation of God, and that is exactly who Jesus is for us.  The Scriptures we hear reveal that Jesus is the light that has come into the world as the prophets—especially Isaiah—promised;

St. Paul reveals that Jesus has come into our lives and our world so that ALL people know and share the promise of redemption through Him; the wonderful story of the Magi from foreign lands, finding and worshipping Jesus, reveals that the promise of the Old Testament times, and the purpose of Jesus entering our world, is indeed being fulfilled.  We pray and work that that promise and purpose continue today, in us and through us to all people.  In prayer, name those who especially are waiting or needing that visit of God through Jesus. 

A practice has developed in our church from the visit of the Magi to the home of Joseph, Mary and Jesus, and you might want to begin or continue it in your home.  It is simply to gather as a family on this feast, and have each member ask God to bless this home in the way each member, youngest to oldest, wants the home to be blessed in 2007. 

 

Again, I join our parish staff in wishing you all a very happy and blessed New Year.  All of us are deeply grateful to those who prepared and worked to make our Christmas celebrations so beautiful and prayerful through songs and music, rituals and decorations, cleaning and practices.  So many worked together to make our prayer together a very blessed and joyful one through the Advent and Christmas seasons.

 

Again also, I have to express my own deepest gratitude to so many of you parishioners who fed, prayed and encouraged me, to so many family members and friends beyond the parish who did the same, to my brother-priests who led the Mass celebrations the last three months in my absence, as well as to the doctors and technicians who have brought me new health (we wait a while to be sure, however!).  They say “it takes a village to raise a child” and that is true, and it is also true that it takes a loving community using their faith and skills to help someone at a time of need.  You did it for me, and I ask God’s best blessings on each one of you.

                                                                                                                                               —Father Ralph

Saints and Special Observances

Sunday:         The Epiphany of the Lord;

New Year Blessing of the Home;

National Migration Week

Monday:       The Baptism of the Lord;

                     National Vocation Awareness Week

Tuesday:       First Week in Ordinary Time begins

Saturday:       St. Hilary; Blessed Virgin Mary

Rejoice with our young parishioners…

who will be receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time on Saturday,

January 13.  They have been preparing by prayer and study in our first Reconciliation and First Communion classes and at home for this wonderful meeting with our God of love and forgiveness.

Outreach Opportunity

The Little Sisters of the Poor will be visiting our parish next weekend, Jan.13/14, giving us the opportunity to share their ministry to the elderly poor. They conduct the Holy Family Residence in St. Paul. Their financial support comes from the generosity of people like ourselves.