EPIPHANY OF THE LORD CATHOLIC COMMUNITY Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston – www.archgh.org 1530 Norwalk Drive Telephone: 281-578-0707 Katy, Texas 77450 Fax: 281-578-9161; Office Hours: Monday - Thursday 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM Friday - 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM www.epiphanycatholic.org Masses: Monday-Friday: 9:00 AM Saturday: *5:30 PM Sunday: 8:00 AM, *9:45 AM, *11:30 AM, 5:30 PM *Nursery Available Reconciliation: Saturday 4:00 – 5:00 PM; or appointment with a priest Anointing of the Sick: First Thursday of the month at 9:00 AM Mass Eucharistic Adoration: Tuesday after 9:00 AM Mass until 7:30 PM St. Vincent de Paul Society: 281-578-3845 May 3, 2015 – Fifth Sunday of Easter – Readings on Page 1074 1 Reflecting on God’s Word PARISH CLERGY Rev. Tom Lam Administrator Rev. Thomas Joseph Parochial Vicar Deacon John Evanoff Pastoral Associate Deacon Don Kish PARISH STAFF Business Manager Craig Shemon Gerry Broussard, Verna Goertz, Dan Stamps, Mary Tran Religious Education LouAnn Svoboda, Director Beth Harvey, Charlotte Fulton, Maria Laiseca Youth Ministry Dave Clark, Director Joey Harvey Music Ministry Spencer Schuyler, Director Merle Vahlkamp Outreach Ministry Schottsie Hill, Director Lisa Gilkeson Facilities Manager Kirk Harris Young Kim Karim Valdez COMMUNITY LIFE Nursery Coordinator: Anne Salazar Child’s Play: Alyce Gabrysch 281-578-9332 Bingo: Friday at 7:30 p.m. 281-578-3905 Welcome Newcomers If you would like more information on our Parish Community, please visit www.epiphanycatholic.org. I Bearing the fruits from God n the television show “Who wants to be a millionaire?” there is a wild card called “lifeline,” in other words, a line of life. It seems like a threat: if it is cut or if it doesn’t work, death will come…in this case, you lose the game and any possible winnings that came with it. It is a matter of having someone to lean on if our own strength (knowledge) fails us. There are people who would prefer to go it alone, leaning on their own talents and strength, so that later they can say they did it all by themselves. Perhaps this is possible in the material life, although in reality it is quite rare that anyone can be entirely self-sufficient. We all want to succeed, to achieve fruits in life, to be able to say in the end that we did something good or important. The issue is to ask ourselves several questions: Why? For what? What is the final objective we seek with our actions? For whom or who is it going to favor? And, most important of all, what strength do I count on? The answers to all these questions will provide us, in a way, the measure by which we will bear fruit...or not. But above all else, it has to do with thinking about whom we will count on to achieve these fruits. If it is only on our own strength, things will go wrong. To rely too much on ourselves—or too little—leads to barrenness without remedy. When someone relies too much on their own strength, he or she will irremediably see how every thing collapses, just like a tower of cards or a very tall tower of Lego blocks that collapsed because it didn’t have a strong foundation. Perhaps we have had experiences like this: to do, triumph, have successes, and then arrive at a point where everything collapses and we are left with a shadow of who we once were. There is no life left. It would be good then to ask ourselves what was beneath or on the side of each achievement: was it just confidence on own strength? Then we would have the answer as to why things happened the way they did. In the same manner, whenever there is something that has provided good fruit, something that has been beneficial to others, that has resulted in grace, blessing, and good toward another, we could ask ourselves what, or better yet, who was behind it. Here too we will find the response: there can only be real life when Christ is present. In today’s gospel emphasis is placed on the same thing: who is united to the true vine; whomever does not have their foundation resting on something solid (and something truly solid that gives life can only be God), will not only sink, but will wither and die. Because Christ is not only the foundation, he is the substance, and the all. “For you can do nothing without me.” 2 Events & Meetings This Week SUNDAY, MAY 3 Food Drive Youth Raffle Sale Coffee & Donuts: Family Center 9:45 & 11:30 AM, Nursery: 0-5 years: Room 214 9:45 & 11:30 AM, Children’s Liturgy of the Word: Grade 1 12:30 PM, The Epiphanic: Softball Field 1:00 PM, Baptisms: Narthex WEDNESDAY, MAY 6 9:00 AM, ESL Level 4: Room 307 9:30 AM, ESL Level 1/2: Room 310 9:30 AM, ESL Level 3: Room 308 9:30 AM, Called to be Mom: Rec Rm 5:30 PM, Children’s Choir Party: Family Center 7:00 PM, Adult Choir Practice THURSDAY, MAY 7 9:00 AM, Anointing of the Sick within Mass: Chapel MONDAY, MAY 4 9:30 AM, ESL 2: Room 303 9:00 AM, ESL Level 4: Room 307 6:30 PM, Spanish Bible Study: PAC 9:30 AM, ESL Level 1/2: Room 310 7:00 PM, Adult Confirmation Class: 9:30 AM, ESL 4 Conversation: Rm. 301 Epiphany Room 7:00 PM, A Biblical Walk Through the 7:00 PM, Line Dancing: Family Center Mass: Epiphany Room 7:00 PM, Bereavement Support: FRIDAY, MAY 8 Room 303 9:30 AM, ESL Level 3: Room 308 7:00 PM, KC’s Business Meeting: KC 9:30 AM, Ladies Club: Family Center 7:00 PM, Scout Troop 1146: Rooms 4:00 PM, Wedding Rehearsal: Church 204/205/206/207/212 7:30 PM, Bingo: Family Center 7:00 PM, Job Networking: Rec Room TUESDAY, MAY 5 9:30 AM, ESL 2: Room 303 9:30 AM, Quilters: Room 411 9:30 AM – 7:00 PM, Adoration: Chapel 10:00 AM, Holy Hour Rosary for Respect Life: Chapel 10:00 AM, Scripture Study: Den 1:00 PM, ESL 2: Room 301 4:00 PM, Holy Hour Rosary for Vocations: Chapel 7:00 PM, RCIA, Epiphany Room 7:00 PM, Scout Troop 1288: Rooms 301/303 /Rec Room 7:00 PM, Rosary: Chapel 7:00 PM, Walking through Grief: Den 7:30 PM, Evening Prayer: Chapel SATURDAY. MAY 9 Baby Bottle Distribution 2:00 PM, Wedding: Church 5:30 PM, Nursery: 0-5 years: Room 214 SUNDAY, MAY 10 Baby Bottle Distribution Nursery Closed 9:45 & 11:30 AM, Children’s Liturgy of the Word: Grade 2 Baptisms Please contact parish office for preparation classes. Baptism Session for Parents 2nd Saturday of February, May, August, November 10:00 AM – Noon To register call LouAnn Svoboda (281-578-8271) Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) For information call LouAnn Svoboda (281-578-8271) Sacrament of Marriage Must be a registered, active member of the parish at least six months. Contact parish office eight months before wedding to begin preparation. Finance Council Chair Denny Dellinger Knights of Columbus Steve Zoeller, Grand Knight www.kccouncil9759.com St. Vincent de Paul Society Cynthia Viator Ladies Club Ann Hoar MAY 5 Join us on a parish pilgrimage to Rome, Italy on Oct. 25-Nov. 5, 2015. Travel to Venice, Florence, Assisi and the Eternal City of Rome to experience the rich cul- ture and deep spirituality of the Church. Only 50 places available for parishioners of Epiphany. If interested, please contact Craig Shemon at [email protected] Forever Young Barbara Hajjar, Clare Snow Bulletin Deadline The deadline for article submission is Thursday at noon (ten days before publication). Your article can be sent to [email protected]. Check our website for Liturgical, Youth Usher & Faith Formation Schedules. [email protected] 3 Liturgy & Prayer LITURGICAL CELEBRATIONS THIS WEEK SPECIAL REMEMBRANCES Saturday, May 2 5:30 PM Sunday, May 3 8:00 AM 9:45 AM 11:30 AM 5:30 PM Monday, May 4 9:00 AM Tuesday, May 5 9:00 AM Wednesday, May 6 9:00 AM Thursday, May 7 9:00 AM Friday, May 8 9:00 AM Saturday, May 9 5:30 PM Sunday, May 10 8:00 AM 9:45 AM 11:30 AM 5:30 PM Vigil-Fifth Sunday of Easter †Suong Lam Fifth Sunday of Easter †Mariano Magsino For the People †Apolonia De Perez †Arthur Tuttle, Jr. Easter Weekday †Kay Kasischke Easter Weekday †James Regan Easter Weekday †Zita Briksnis Easter Weekday †Joey Casey Easter Weekday †Lawrence Gochioco Vigil-Sixth Sunday of Easter †Blanca Nelly Tejada Sixth Sunday of Easter †Hilda McGlew For the People †Hilda Dengler †Arthur Tuttle, Jr. READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: Acts 14:5-18; Ps 115:1-4, 15-16; Jn 14:21-26 Tuesday: Acts 14:19-28; Ps 145:10-13ab, 21; Jn 14:27-31a Wednesday: Acts 15:1-6; Ps 122:1-5; Jn 15:1-8 Thursday: Acts 15:7-21; Ps 96:1-3, 10; Jn 15:9-11 Friday: Acts 15:22-31; Ps 57:8-10, 12; Jn 15:12-17 Saturday: Acts 16:1-10; Ps 100:1b-3, 5; Jn 15:18-21 Sunday: Acts 10:25-36, 34-35, 44-48; Ps 98:1-4; 1 Jn 4:7-10 or 1 Jn 4:11-16; Jn 15:9-17 or Jn 17:11b-19 Come and pray the rosary before the Blessed Sacrament for Vocations every Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. in the Chapel. ANOINTING OF THE SICK AND ELDERLY: The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick will be celebrated on Thursday, May 7 and every First Thursday of the month during the 9:00 AM Mass. The Sacrament of Anointing is for the strengthening of those who are ill, or who are aging. We celebrate the sacrament best in the community setting so that we can support you with prayer. Through the waters of Baptism the following infants now have begun their journey of faith in the Christian Community: Zayden Michael Antoine, Piper Blaire Coveny, Pierson Anthony Coveny, Amanda Sofia Hernandez, William Paul Meyers II, Ella Grace Sadykhov, Sebastian Alejandro Salinas. PRAYER LIST FOR THE SICK Please keep the following people in your thoughts and prayers this week as we wish them a return to good health: Eva Lazarich, Jason Sides, Mary Reuter, Andrew Bencivengo, Patricia Givens, Jackie Alfonso, Fidel Flores, Rosemary Klawikowski, Ingrid Stassi, Anthony Pocasangre, Hipolita Gonzales, Elizabeth Colborn, Elaine Mueller. To make a request for someone to be on our prayer list, please call the parish office at 281578-0707. Your loved one’s name will appear on our prayer list for six consecutive Sundays. If a longer period of time is needed, please call the parish office to renew your request. Please pray for our military men and women. 4 News in the Parish We welcome into our community: Victoria Addison, John & Priscilla Cuellar, Joseph & Genevieve Flores, Dennis & Maria Lourdes Gallego, Gerard & Trayce Moore, Chwuemeka & Uju Njoku, Timothy & Marchristie Osbourne, Apollo & Leolinda Sebastian, Luis & Luisa Torres, Creigh & Jewel Vigne, Toan & Jane Vuong, Christine Watkins. Fr. Jack will celebrate the 52nd anniversary of his ordination at Epiphany on May 24th during the 11:30 a.m. Mass. A reception will follow in the Family Center. Project for the Homeless—The final numbers are in and the fish fry set all types of sales records. The Knights of Columbus thank each and every one of you for making the dinners a success. One of the projects we are going to do with the profits is to make and deliver box lunches for the homeless on May 17th. We invite all members of the Epiphany Faith Community to join us in this endeavor on Sunday, May 17th at 8 A.M. We will be gathering in the PAC center and making 600 sandwiches and putting them in bags along with bottle water and chips. Our goal is to help on this one day, make life a little easier for the less fortunate. After making the box lunches we will be taking them to Loaves and Fishes soup kitchen and distributing them there. If we have extra food we will be taking it to a nearby park (James Butte) and distributing the rest of the food. The total time from start to finish should be about 4 hours. We invite all members of our faith community to participate. If you are in need of service hours please come. The recipients are so appreciative and thankful . So, please come out before Mass, or after Mass and help make sandwiches, distribute the food, or do both. It will be an experience you and your family will cherish forever. Attention – Anyone Currently Taking Holy Communion to the Homebound We are instituting some new training and policies regarding the homebound and hospice/hospital Holy Communion visits. If you are currently taking Holy Communion to the homebound or are interested in doing so in the future, your attendance at one of the following training sessions is mandatory, even if you were trained in the past. May 30, September 26, December 5 These sessions are all on Saturday mornings in Room 303 of the Parish Activity Center building (twostory) from 9:00 – 10:00AM. You may sign up in advance by emailing Deacon John Evanoff at [email protected] or calling the parish office. Community Life FOREVER YOUNG Last meeting before the summer break will be Friday May 16th at 11:30 in the Family Center. Please bring your own sandwich and a salad or dessert to share. Our speakers are Kirstin Weiss and Christen Madigan Community Relations Liaison with The Solana and Phil Godshalk administrative Liaison with Houston Community College Academy of Life Long Living. For information call the office at 281-578-0707. The Epiphany Ladies Club (ELC) will hold our last meeting before breaking for the summer on May 8th. After a short vote and induction of new officers, we will hear from an AAA guest speaker on the topic of Travel. Come and check out the club; memberships for next year are available and at a discount for those who join early. Lunch Bunch will meet at BB’s Café at 406 W. Grand Parkway South on May 20th at 11:00 a.m. Babysitting is available during our monthly meetings for $1 by contacting Charlotte at [email protected]. 5 Respect Life Bulletin Board Our Stewardship SAVE THE DATE: Are you Stewardship – April 25/26 Sunday Offering Home Missions St. Vincent de Paul $57,152.58 $8,736.00 $2,821.00 Registered Households 6,742 “Children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth.” — 1 John 3:18 Do you “walk the talk?” Does your action reflect what you say? If not, spend time every day in prayer, give some of your talent to help one of your parish’s ministries and give some of your money to support the work of the Church. This new fund is established for donations to add to the beauty of our worship space. With your contribution or memorial gift, we hope to add Stations of the Cross and statues for our Church. At any time during the year, you are welcome to send in a donation or place your gift in an envelope in the collection during Mass with the designation, “Sanctuary Beautification Fund.” Thanking you in anticipation of your generous response. aware that Houston is among the worst cities in the U.S. for Human Trafficking and that 50% of human trafficking victims are children? The Respect Life Committee is proud to sponsor an education program on Human Trafficking, Thursday, May 28 from 7-8:00 p.m. in the Parish Center. Our presenter will be Wendy Garaghty, Community Educator for the USCCB Amistad Movement. More details will be forthcoming in subsequent bulletin announcements but for now please circle the date on your calendar. Vocations Corner All are invited to attend our monthly Vocations Meeting on Thursday, May 14 at 7:00 p.m. in the main conference room. Sub committees are forming. Sponsored by the Vocations Committee Save the Date May 16 – Diaconate Ordinations (transitional deacons) – 10:00 a.m. Mass at the Co-Cathedral. All are invited to a 2 hour Mass with the sacrament of Holy Orders at the Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral. Cardinal DiNardo will be the celebrant. Plan to arrive ½ hour before Mass begins as this Mass is open to our archdiocese. June 6 – Priesthood Ordinations – 10:00 a.m. Mass at the Co-Cathedral. June 8-10 – Explore Retreat – St. Mary’s Seminary. For high school boys ages 15-18. Jun. 13 – Concierto de Alabanza y Adoración por las vocaciones con las Hermanas Discípulas de Jesús. July 10-12 – Retiro Vengan y Vean -5pm Holy Name Retreat Center. Para jóvenes adultos solteros, hombres y mujeres, de 18-35 años. July 24-26 – Life Awareness Retreat -5:00 p.m. Holy Name Retreat Center. For single young adult men and women ages 18-45. 6 Pick up your bottles on Mother’s Day Return your bottles on Father’s Day Donations will be distributed between the Archdiocese Gabriel Project, the Catholic Charities Adolescent Pregnancies and the Pregnancy Help Center. 7 Outreach Ministry – 281-578-0707 Outreach Events in March: Standing Meetings: Mon.—Epiphany Job Networking at 7 p.m. in the PAC; Tues.— Adoration all day, Respect Life Rosary at 10 a.m. 3rd: Food Drive 4th: Bereavement Meeting @ 7 p.m. 5th: Walking Through Grief @ 7 p.m. 7th: National Day of Prayer 9th/10th: Baby Bottle Distribution FOOD DRIVE – today Boy Scout Troop 1146 is collecting non-perishable food and personal care items for Epiphany Food closet. Items can be brought to either parking lot after morning Masses, today. Please place your monetary contributions in the Sunday collection, but please write in food donation on the memo line. If you forgot to bring something, food donations may be dropped off in the loggia food bin anytime. Thank you for your assistance! See www.epiphanycatholic.org for details. BEREAVEMENT MEETING, MAY 4 “Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be EPIPHANY BINGO comforted.” Matthew 5:4. In a church community, no one should mourn alone. The support of others who have also experienced this kind of loss can help us feel that we are not alone on our grief journey. - Come join us again for Bingo in 2015. Bingo for the new year is already in swing as of Friday January 2nd. As always MAXIMUM CASH PRIZES of $2500, allowed by state law, are given away at EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT BINGO. This includes a $750 final game jackpot prize. We invite all parishioners to come make it a fun night out. Please join us for our next gathering on Monday, May 4th at 7:00 pm in the PAC Room 303. If you cannot attend but want information, email Michelle at [email protected]. Net proceeds are distributed primarily to local organizations through Epiphany Outreach Ministries. As a result of the dedicated work of all the Bingo volunteers and the tremendous support of the players, Bingo distributed just under $50,000 for the year to local charitable organizations in 2014. In 2015, net proceeds from the 2nd Friday of each month will be contributed to St. Faustina Catholic Church. National Day of Prayer at the Merrell Center Join thousands of others across West Houston as we meet at the Merrell Center on Thursday, May 7, 2015 at 7:00 for the National Day of Prayer. “All Sons & Daughters will be leading worship while several pastors and ministry leaders guide us in times of prayer for our city and nation. And then, different churches will take turns sustaining worship and prayer for the next 50 hours in the Epi Center at 2655 South Mason Road in what we call “Fire on the Altar”. For more information check out www.katyprays.org. What a great way to spend an evening with friends or family, and at the same time help to provide funds to local charitable organizations. Games begin at 7:30 with 4 earlybird games and 8:00 for the regular games. The Bingo group has a tremendous need for volunteer members on each team. Check out the Bingo link on the Epiphany website for more information on games, concessions, and how to join our volunteer team. 8 Adult Faith Formation – 281-578-8271 Tuesday Morning Scripture Study group will meet on May 5 from 10 –11 a.m.in the PAC. Contact [email protected] for information. Called To Be Mom: Join us from 9:30— Noon on Wednesday, May 6, in the Parish Activity. We will offer a Mother’s Day topic for conversation. Contact [email protected] for more information. VIRTUS: Protecting God’s Children Original training session will be held at Epiph- any Saturday, May 30 from 9:00 a.m. until Noon in the Parish Activity Center (PAC). Preregistration is mandatory at http:// www.virtus.org. A valid identification must be presented at check-in. No late admittance is allowed. If you are over 18 and active in ministry at Epiphany, you must be VIRTUS trained. All adult parishioners, ESPECIALLY PARENTS, are encouraged to be VIRTUS trained! Questions? Need assistance with the registration process? Call the Faith Formation Office at 281-578-8271. No walk-ins! BAPTISM PREPARATION SESSION The session for parents and godparents to prepare for the baptism of their infants will be held Saturday, May 9, 2015 from 10:00 a.m. until Noon in the Family Center. This preparation session is required before parents can schedule the Sacrament of Baptism for their infants. Parents and godparents are encouraged to attend this session before the birth of the child. Call 281-578-8271 to register for this session. Childcare during this class is available by emailing [email protected] with parent’s name, ages of children needing nursery and name/date of event. The next opportunity to attend a baptism class will be on Saturday, August 8, 2015. Interested in Becoming Catholic? For more information on the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) contact LouAnn at [email protected] or call 281-578-8271, ext. 283. TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION Over time, the crisis of last illness and the way the faithful met death changed. In earliest times, a sickbed vigil was an occasion for the community to gather and strengthen the dying person with assurances of love. A thousand years ago, in part because of massive upheavals in society, a new emphasis on individual repentance captured the imagination of millions. Death was to be feared, because it was about judgment. The delights of heaven’s banquet dimmed, since most people saw God’s just judgment and inevitable punishment intervening. If a community gathered at all, it was not to express faith in the Resurrection, but to seek forgiveness for those who were powerless to help themselves. The dead couldn’t improve their situation, but their loved ones, by expressing sorrow for sin, could. Better yet, the clergy could, if they intervened in a timely fashion, provide the absolution needed for everyone to relax. Ministry to the sick shifted away from a ministry of consolation toward a challenge to repent before it was too late. As the sense grew that most people died with their work of repentance incomplete, the color black was reintroduced to funerals. It was the old pagan way of expressing despair. No wonder they call this time in history the “Dark Ages.” Many layers have had to be peeled away to reveal the deepest, most positive expressions of our tradition of care for the dying. —Rev. James Field, Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co. 9 Children’s Faith Formation The work is done, classrooms are empty NOW>>> Let’s have some fun at the end of the year picnic after the 11:30 a.m. Mass until 3:00 p.m. on Epiphany’s softball field. ALL INVITED! Thanks to all who have sent donations or who is sponsoring a booth. Your generosity is beyond measure! VBS June 22-26, 2015 Everest, Conquering Challenges with God’s Mighty Power. Registration begins today after the 11:30 a.m. Mass until 3:00 p.m. on the softball field for all participating Pre-K (4 years old by Sept. 1) through students entering 5th grade. ALL REGISTRATION FORMS can also be found online at www.epiphanycatholic.org under the Elementary Faith Formation tab. Please mail or bring registrations to the Faith Formation Office. Regular registration will continue until May 18th. After May 18th all students are placed on a wait list. (Number of participants is dependent upon number of volunteers up to 420 spots). V B S Epiphany Youth Ministry Our high school summer mission trip is to the Pueblo communities of Laguna and Aconma, New Mexico June 20-28. Students interested in attending should fill out our application and turn it by the end of this week! Our first meeting is May 17th from 1:30-3:00. Please stop by the office or download the application from our website. Rehearsal for Confirmation will take place June 10 and 11 at 7:00 p.m. Confirmations are celebrated June 15 and 16 at 7:00 p.m. Please see our website to check which day your student is scheduled to attend. Volunteers are students entering 6th grade through great-grandparents. ALL positions are available. Remember teen spots fill fast. ATTENTION! Station Leader for games position is still available. Contact our VSB chair, Stephanie Brierty for more information. ([email protected]) All adults (18 years +) working with our children must be VIRTUS trained. Visit www.VIRTUSonline.org to register for the training. Interested in becoming a priest? Come to a retreat and see what it takes to be a priest. The retreat is for high school boys ages 15-18. This retreat is held in Houston, on the week -end of Friday, June 8-Sunday, June 10. Please contact Colleen Farghum at [email protected] for the registration form. 10
© Copyright 2024