Our Lady Queen of Peace SUNDAY - January 25 8:30 am - ARTURO MATUS† (Yolda Binnion) LAWRENCE HOLUB† (Shirley Holub) ROBERT BAUMANN† (M/M John Horn) 11:00 am - PRO POPULO MONDAY - January 26 8:00am - ROLAND SIGLER, Sr.† (M/M John Horn) JOSE and BRIGIDA BAUTISTA† (M/M Virgil Frando) CODY ATCHLEY† (The Atchley Families) TUESDAY - January 27 8:00 am - Liturgy of the Hours WEDNESDAY - January 28 10:00am - ND Mass/church 6:15pm - FRANKLIN TOLENTINO† (M/M Davy Tolentino) HEROINA FARRELL† (Tony & Laura Fidelie) FR. JIM MILLER† (M/M John Horn) THURSDAY - January 29 8:00am - HOWARD WEIMAN† (M/M John Horn) GEORGE STUDDARD† (M/M Ed Vokes) BONNIE KOCHER - INT (Deacon & Mrs. Jim Bindel) FRIDAY - January 30 8:00 am - MILAN SARCHET† (OLQP Sixers) HOWARD and LAURA FONCK† (M/M Robert Fonck) SATURDAY - January 31 6:00 pm - HELEN TIBEY† (M/M John Horn) STEVE MALCHOW† (Maryann Sokora) CHARLES BEATTIE† (Rosemary Reid) GERALD and AGNES STUART† (M/M Bob Wade) SUNDAY - February 1 8:30 am - DAO VU† (Diep Tran) ANDY FRERICH† (The Fidelie Families) 11:00 am - PRO POPULO WHEN IN DOUBT...CHECK US OUT • olqpwf.org OLQP Catholic Church, Wichita Falls, Tx WEEKLY CONTRIBUTIONS January 18: ................................................... $16,862.00 Faith Direct January 4: ..................................................... $18,465.01 January 15: ................................................................... $ www.faithdirect.net (church code: TX420) Thank you for all the generous gifts that you provide for our parish. Please consider using our secure electronic giving program Faith Direct. Faith Direct will automatically process any offertory or second collection donations of your choosing. It is the most convenient way to make sure that the parish receives your gift regularly. No more checks to write or envelopes to worry about. You can sign up online at www.faithdirect.net using our church code: TX420, or by mailing a paper enrollment form available in the parish office. Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Those for Whom We Pray Parishioners, Family & Friends Doug Allison, Nicholas Allison, Vic and Angie Allison, Dennis Anderson, Melissa Anderson, Ricky Arnold, Wanda Baltine, Elizabeth “Beth” Bater, Joan Baumann, Jo Bearden, Al Belgrado, Dick Belgrado, Shirley Bennet, Tommy & Sheryl Berend, Jeanette Bilbay, Helen Bills, Pat Blake, Anna Bogart, Cyndi Boone, Glen Borgman, Francisco Borja, Rocky Bray, George Brosche, Ivy Cadotte, Carmen Caballo, Shirley Chancelor, Marge Conklin, Joan Cook, Jeff Conrady, Ruth Copeland, Grace Ann Crocker, Mike Crumpton, Joe Cuba, Thomas Daniels, Fr. Chris Davis, Johnnie & Nellie Deal, Faye Dominy, John & Lilian Dove, Mark Dreher, Terry Farris, Carol Faustina, Jathan Fields, Johnnie Fields, Jerry Fletcher, James Geary, Mary George, Lola Clyde Greaves, Jeff Gregg, Courtney Shook Gysell,, Adell Hanvey, Mike Herrian, Jean Hoing, Dorothy Hughes, Don & Jean Isbell,, Nelda Jansen, Eve Johnson, Jeremy Johnson, Mike Jozwiak, Jonathan Kegley, Travis Keith,, John Kinsella, Bonnie Kocher, John & Anita Kortbawi, Marion Lauer, Marife Lee, Fred Lentz, Art Litteken, Shirley Litteken, Abel Mahesh, Cindy Majewski, Eloise Majewski, Rusty Maley, Ryan Maley, Owen & Pat Mansfield, Clara Mathe, Kristi Melsteade, Mike &Virginia Michonski, Vito Millazo, Carolyn Morath, Tina Morian, David Musil, Stephen Musil, Dorothy “Dot” Myers, Dr. Sam Nilasena, Fr. James O’Toole, Geneva Pennartz, Joe Petz, Joe Petz, Jr., Nina Peysen, Michael Pitpit, Karen Poirot, Betty Pond, Rowdy Ramans, Aubrey Reaves, Eddie Richardson, Cathy Roberts, Lori Ross, Chuck Ryan, Janna Scarebrough, Nelda Schreiber, Charles Simons, Bette Skurkey, Jeff Smith, Linda Snyder, Kathy Spyra, Patricia Ste. Marie, Danny Steed, Audrey Stephens, Greg Stevens, Stacey Stowe, Mary Lou Sweeney, Sister Devota Sweeney, Johanna Sweeney, Yvonne Talbot, Ida Toth, Don Thomas, Monica Vu, Dorothy Ward, Renea Ward, Josie Wheeler, Kinzey Wilson, Mary Wilson, Dorothy Wolf, David Lloyd Wright, Sr., Diane Wright, Signe Yelland, Adam York, Dan York,, Lucy York, Helen Bills*, Betty Pond*, Eleanor Edwards*, & Adam Segal*. * New this week Because of space limitations, names will be taken of the prayer list after 3 months. Please call the church office if you would like the name returned to the list. Thank you for your understanding. PRAY FOR PRIESTS THIS WEEK Listed below are the Priests of our Diocese for whom we are asked to pray for daily. 1/26 - Rev. Sergio Rizo 1/29 - Rev. Eduardo Salazar, SJ 2/1 - Very Rev. Karl Schilken 1/27 - Very Rev. Kenneth Robinson 1/30 - Rev. Matthew Sanka, SAC 1/28 - Rev. Edmundo Rodriguez, SJ 1/31 - Rev. Msgr. Joseph S. Scantlin Eternal Father, we lift up to You these and all the priests of the world. Sanctify them. Heal and guide them. Mold them into the likeness of Your Son, Jesus, the Eternal High Priest. May their lives be pleasing to You. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. Pray for Fort Worth Seminarians 2014-2015 In your daily prayers, please include the following seminarians on your list of people to pray for. Thank you for your support and generosity. 1/26 - Rijo Philip 1/29 - Viktor Valencia 2/1 - Justin Conover 1/27 - Michael Sumcizk 1/30 - Anthony Vecchio 1/28 - Matthew Tatyrek 1/31 - Jason Allan SUNDAY - January 25 9:45am - R.E. Classes (grades K-6)/NDE School Discovery (Middle School)/PH 5:30pm - Confirmation Class/PH 6:00pm – Men’s CRHP/NDE Café MONDAY - January 26 3:00pm - Chaplet of Divine Mercy/church TUESDAY - January 27 Intercessory Prayer Group after Liturgy of the Hours/church 1:00pm - ND Liturgical Singing/church 3:00pm - Chaplet of Divine Mercy/church 7:00pm - Bible Study/NDE Cafe Altar Society Board Mtg./church office WEDNESDAY - January 28 3:00pm - Chaplet of Divine Mercy/church 4:00pm - Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament (until 6pm)/church 5:30pm - Pray the Rosary 7:00pm - Verso L’alto/PH Women’s CRHP/NDE café Altar Servers Training/church THURSDAY - January 29 3:00pm - Chaplet of Divine Mercy/church 7:00pm - R.C.I.A./ NDE cafe FRIDAY - January 30 3:00pm - Chaplet of Divine Mercy/church SATURDAY - January 31 6:00pm - Altar Society Corporate Communion/church SUNDAY - January 25 All Mases - Altar Society Corporate Communion/church 9:45am - R.E. Classes (grades K-6)/NDE School Discovery (Middle School)/PH 5:30pm - Confirmation Class/PH 6:00pm - Men’s CRHP/NDE café (SJR-St. Joseph Room; HFC-Holy Family Chapel; PH-Parish Hall; NDE Cafe-Notre Dame Elementary Cafeteria; NDHS - NDHigh School; CR-Conference Room; WR-Workroom; BR-Brides Room; MR-Music Room) January 25, 2015 Parish Activities We are just a few months from completion of our Family Life Center and close to reaching our goal. Please continue to pray for the safety and success for this wonderful project that will help to grow the needs of our parish family. If you have not made a pledge, we ask that you prayerfully consider making a commitment. We hope that everyone will participate in this endeavor to build a space that help to increase the needs of our parish and community. To increase or extend your pledge, please use the blue Pledge Increase-Extension cards located in the Narthex. Thank you to those who have given additional above their pledged amount. If you are pledging for the first time, please use the white Pledge cards also located in the Narthex. PLEDGE UPDATE as of: December 28, 2014 GOAL: $3,000,000 AMOUNT PLEDGED: $2,869,321.68 (Includes $825,000 received in Grants) AMOUNT COLLECTED: $2,487,451.84 # of Families Pledged: 469 (includes additional pledges) All E-Giving will be done through ‘Faith Direct’ our online giving program. Online enrollment forms are available in the Narthex. Or go directly to www.faithdirect.net to enroll. For the Capital Campaign online enrollment, use Church Code: TX508. To afford the greatest tax benefits for our parish, Campaign gifts are processed through the Diocese of Ft. Worth Advancement Corporation. Change of Address or Other Information Please email: [email protected] or call the church office if you are moving away, changing parishes or if any of your contact information has changed. This will help to keep our records current. • • • Divine Mercy Chaplet is prayed Monday through Friday at 3 o’clock in the church. Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament: Every Wednesday from 4pm until 6pm in the church. Also every First Friday from 8:30am until 6pm in the church. Pray the Rosary every Wednesday at 5:30pm. • • • Prayer Shawl Ministry First and Third Tuesday at 9:30 am First and Third Thursday at 7:00 pm Call JoAnn for more information: 940-691-0460 If you or someone you know is in need of a prayer shawl or lap robe, please call the church office. • • • Men in Christ Men of the Parish: Do you have a desire to grow as a Christian man? Come join the MEN in CHRIST as we pray, explore Scripture together and support one another in our Christian walk. Meet us in the Conference Room each Saturday (except 2nd Saturday of the month) at 7:30am. Call Jack at 696-0741. • • • Charismatic Prayer Meeting (new time and place) Sundays @ 2:30pm MSU Catholic Campus Center 3410 Louis J. Rodriguez Drive Come join us as we… ~Praise and thank the Lord in word and song ~Reflect on Scripture ~Intercede for needs ~Pray for healing ~Seek a deeper relationship with Jesus For more info call Jack, 696-0741 or Manuel, 322-5958 OLQP Men’s Club Next meeting: Monday - February 2, 2015 ALL Men of our Parish ages 18 and older are members and are highly encouraged to attend monthly meetings. (First Monday of the month @ 7pm in the Parish Hall). NO Membership Fees. Call Mike Carlton, President for more info: 696-9162 • • • INTERFAITH MINISTRIES Hunger and Food Insecurity is a Serious Fact. The Need is dire and year round. Please be generous with your donation of food. December Food Donations: 2,550 pounds Current Needs: Soup (10 ¾ oz. size), Crackers, Oatmeal, Canned Vegetables (except green beans), Dried Beans, Jelly, Peanut Butter, Pasta (dry), Rice (small bags), Canned Spaghetti Sauce, Mac & Cheese. Toiletries: Body Soap, Laundry detergent, deodorant & toothpaste. Paper Products: Toilet Tissue, Paper Towels, Kleenex, brown paper sacks Eyeglasses: prescription or reading glass that you don’t need. These items go fast. Place items in the basket located in the Narthex. Every bit helps families with real needs in Wichita County and Holliday. • • • Seasons of Hope (Grief Support Group to Begin soon) If you are in need of consolation after losing a loved one, no matter when this occurred, our Christcentered faith sharing group is for you. It meets for six Mondays beginning February 2nd. Prayer, Scripture, Faith sharing, and fellowship will begin at 6:45pm. You may sign up in the Narthex after each Mass this weekend and next weekend. • • • PRAYER for OUR TROOPS Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. We ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen. Daily Readings Monday - 2 Tm 1:1-8 or Ti 1:1-5 * Mk 3:22-30 Tuesday - Heb 10:1-10 * Mk 3:31-35 Wednesday - Heb 10:11-18 * Mk 3:1-6 Thursday - Heb 10:19-25 * Mk 4:21-25 Friday - Heb 10:32-39 * Mk 4:26-34 Saturday - Heb 11:1-2, 8-19 * Mk 4:35-41 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Dt 18:15-20 * 1 Cor 7:32-35 * Mk 1:21-28 Year of Consecrated Life Diocesan Celebration for The Year of Consecrated Life Friday, February 6, 2015 at 6:30pm St. Patrick Cathedral 1206 Throckmorton St. (Fort Worth) *for more information on vocations, contact the Vocations Office at 817-560-3300 or visit the diocesan web site at www.fwdioc.org Pope Francis proclaimed 2015 a Year of Consecrated Life, which began on the First Sunday of Advent, and will continue until February 2, 2016, the World Day of Consecrated life. Let us continue to pray for an increase in vocations to the Priesthood and Consecrated Life that more young men and women will have the courage to follow a call from God to serve in the Church. Because of our vows of chastity poverty, and obedience, consecrated religious have the freedom to work with others in caring for those in the margins of society, speaking on their behalf, yet at the same time, empowering them to recognize and utilize their God-given gifts and talents. —Sister Rosemary Finnegan, O.P. 2014 Diocese of Orlando interview Let us pray for religious sisters, brothers, priests, nuns, and others who have chosen to consecrate their lives to God in this special way; Let us celebrate the faith, hope, and charity that their lives give witness to; Let us invite others to consider this joyful form of discipleship. Amen. The Sympathy and Prayers of our parish are with the Family and Friends of +Ambrosia Manalang (grandmother of Calvert Campbell) Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon her. Amen. Our Lady Queen of Peace Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Parish Announcements INTENTIONS OF THE HOLY FATHER (for the Month of January) Universal: That the birth of the Redeemer may bring peace and hope to all people of good will. For Evangelization: That parents may be true evangelizers, passing on to their children the precious gift of faith. Thank you to everyone who took a purple bag and have brought it back filled. Please remember to drop off your bags to SH Pastoral Office, OLQP church office or to the church Narthex. • • • VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! Be a part of our outreach to the community in our efforts to End Poverty in our Diocese. Ask how you can help! Contact: Susan Cronin (940) 716-9669 • • • Thank you to all our advertisers on the back of our bulletin. We ask parishioners to please patronize these businesses in gratitude for our weekend bulletin. If you are interested in adding your business to the spaces available, please contact Thom Miner, 512-452-3413 or email: [email protected]. • • • In January we celebrate the Holy Name of Jesus. “…at the name of Jesus every knee should bend of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth” (Philippians 2:10). In fact, the English letters HIS representing the first three Greek letters in Jesus’ name - used to be written over the doors of Christian homes. • • • You are cordially invited to join us for the 13th Annual Notre Dame Catholic School Extravaganza A Hard Day’s Knight February 7, 2015 6:00 PM until 11:00 PM Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish Hall 4060 York Street • Wichita Falls, Texas Enjoy Dinner & Drinks, Games of Chance, Bid Board, Live & Silent Auction Entertainment by Me and My Monkey (A Beatles Tribute Band) $50 per ticket Call NDCS at 940-692-6041 to purchase tickets Christ Renews His Parish Renewal Weekend Women: Feb. 28 and Mar. 1 Men: Mar. 7 and 8 Christ Renews His Parish is designed to lead us to that friendship and to afford us the opportunity to grow in it. Through the power of the Holy Spirit the Good News of Jesus is proclaimed and lived, transforming individuals, communities and their structures, liberating them from sin through word and sacrament and by service for justice and peace, and initiating or deepening a commitment to Jesus and active membership in our Parish Community. Come and Experience this awesome invitation from your Lord! Pick up a registration form in the Narthex or call the church office. • • • 2015 North Texas Catholic Men’s Conference “And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Ephesians 6:17) Saturday: February 7, 2015 (8am until 4pm) Hurst Conference Center (1601 Campus Drive - Hurst, TX) Register now: www.ntxcmc.org Inspiring Speakers: Bishop Michael Olson, Tom Peterson, Michael Coren and Fr. Larry Richards Experience: Fun, Food, Fellowship, Music, Praise & Worship, Grow in Faith North Texas Catholic Brothers for Christ: Motivating Catholic men to commit to building the Body of Christ by uniting as brothers, living the gospel values in all areas of our lives, and facilitating faith building programs in your faith community. • • • St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store 1516 Beverly Drive (723-4971) St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store is in need of Volunteers. If you have time and have been looking to join a ministry, please consider becoming a volunteer there. Come see the huge selection of items that are available. Like us on Facebook: Wichita Falls St. Vincent De Paul Thrift Store. • • • Safe Environment Sessions for 2015 All sessions will be held in the Church office conference room at 4040 York St. Contact the parish office at 940-696-1253 for more information or to sign-up. Wednesday; Feb 4th - Refresher Saturday; Feb 7th - Initial (church office workroom) Save The Date!!! Lent Fish Fry/Bake begins on Feb. 25th. Sponsored by the Knights of Columbus Council 1473. • • • Liturgy of the Hours (prayed every Tuesday morning at 8am here at OLQP) “Since the Liturgy of the Hours is the means of sanctifying the day, the order of prayer was revised so the canonical hours could more easily be related to the hours of the day in the circumstances of modern life.” (Paul VI, Laudis Canticum [Apostolic Constitution], November 1, 1970) Definition The Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office, Breviary) is a form of public prayer in the Church to praise God and sanctify the day. It is a means to renew and vivify all Christian prayer and serves to nourish the spiritual life of the People of God. The Liturgy is composed primarily of psalms and canticles that follow a four-week cycle, and it is prayed at specific times (“hours”) during each day. Since the Council of Vatican II, it has become the practice to “call” the laity to recite Lauds (Morning Prayer) and Vespers (Evening Prayer). Morning prayer helps us consecrate the work of the day to God. Evening prayer concludes our day with a series of intercessions for the People of God and then closes with the Our Father. History As with the majority of prayer forms, this one also comes from Jewish synagogue prayer, through prayers of private devotion, and from two related but distinct public prayers: parish or cathedral celebrations, and monastic prayer forms recited in monasteries for centuries. The two were merged in The Breviary of the Council of Trent (1568) and became the norm for the Liturgy of the Hours until Vatican II allowed for adaptations that would better suit the variety of Communities who pray the Hours today. (Adapted from The New Dictionary of Catholic Spirituality, ed. by Michael Downey, Liturgical Press, 1993.) ***taken from The Voice of the Faithful webpage: votf.org/page/liturgy-hours/8990 January 25, 2015 For more information Call Greg Brown 696-1253 [email protected] Pray! Love! Serve! For more information Call Greg Brown 696-1253 or [email protected] Registration forms and calendar available online at www.olqpwf.org (Please note that a Form A for 14/15 must be completed for this school year if not yet completed through our summer activities since June of 2014. Form A will be kept on file until it expires in May of 2015 so that you only have to fill it out once per year per child. Form B must be filled out additionally for each event youth participate in thought the year.) • • • Discovery (Middle School Ministry) and Verso L’alto (High School Ministry) Verso L’alto: Jan 28, Feb 4, Feb 11 Discovery: Jan 25, Feb 1, Feb 8, Feb 15 • • • Confirmation sessions begin January 11th 5:30p-7p in the Parish Hall *please note the change of a date from the original scheduled, email Greg for a updated complete schedule Jan 25 (C) - Feb 8 (C) - Feb 22 (C) - March 1 (C/P) (C)-Candidates attend, (P)-Parent(s) attend • • • Middle School Diocesan Youth Rally (7th-8th) “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” Saturday February 21st 10:30-8:30 (Bus will leave at 8:15a and return around 10:45p) New OLQP Catholic Youth t-shirts available in the office! Suggested Donation: $15 per t-shirt • • • Join MS youth from all across our Fort Worth Diocese for a day filled with FAITH, games, PRAYER, music and a talk by the incrediable Catholic muscian and speaker Steve Angrisano at Most Blessed Sacrament in Arlington. $35 includes lunch, dinner, a tshirt and a day you wont soon forget! Registration and $ are due February 10th, no exceptions. See website, office or Narthex for paperwork. • • • YOUNG ADULTS Attention all young adults (21-35 single and married) Join us Janurary 30th for a board game night, and bring a dish to share! Please contact Greg Brown at 940 247 1721 or Becca Mullen at 940 733 9046for directions. The fellowship begins at 7pm. • • • ** We are in need of 5 more adults to serve Verso L’alto as Faith Coaches (small group leaders). For more information please see www.olqpwf.org/ how-to-help or contact Greg • • • Keep up with what’s going on at www.olqpwf. org/youth “The proof of love is in the works. Where love exists, it works great things. But when it ceases to act, it ceases to exist.” — Saint Gregory the Great Kid’s Corner Sister Ginny says…. Sometimes you’re busy And sometimes you’re not. Sometimes you have homework. Sometimes you have a lot. Then some days are full With school and sports and play And then at home you get all busy With things that last all day. But imagine you spent your days fishing And you did it all day long. Imagine your whole life changed one day When Jesus came along. In the gospel today, Jesus called the fishermen To come away from the shore and be his faithful followers and be named his apostles now and forevermore. If you heard the voice of Jesus Calling you by name Would you leave your TV program And stop your video game? When you answer and follow Jesus, he becomes your peace, joy and light. He stays with you and guides you And his love will always hold you tight. So take time to listen to him...... Adult Formation The Rite of Christian Initiation R.C.I.A Inquirer Classes meet on Thursdays at 7pm in the NDES Cafeteria All are Welcome (even if you are already Catholic) to the Inquiry Sessions to learn more about the Catholic Faith. Call Deacon Jim at 696-1253 if you are interested. Jan. 29th - The Sacraments of PENANCE ANOINTING OF THE SICK • • • Natural Family Planning Classes Did you know that… when used properly, Natural Family Planning is 99% effective at postponing pregnancy? The Couple to Couple League is offering NFP classes at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Wichita Falls, Texas. This is a 3-part class, and the next class series will take place on Sundays from 1:30- 4:30pm in the Berend Room. If you would like to sign up for this class or any other upcoming classes, please go to www.ccli.org and fill out the online registration form. If you have any questions, you may contact Lauren Morath at (940) 544-2515 [email protected]. Divorced and Re-married? If you are divorced and remarried outside of the Catholic Church without a Decree of Invalidity, or if you are married outside of the Catholic Church, you may not partake of the Sacraments, including the reception of Holy Communion. Until it is shown otherwise through the ministry of the Tribunal, no person is free to enter into another marriage without the appearance or occasion of serious sin. A divorce alone would not affect, or hinder in any way, your participation in the Catholic Church. A divorced Catholic is free to receive the sacraments. However, if you are divorced and have remarried, or if you are divorced and in a new relationship, or if you are living with someone without a Decree of Invalidity (and your former spouse is still living) you may not partake of the sacraments, including the reception of Holy Communion). Consider seeking a Decree of Invalidity which will enable you to return to a full participation in the sacramental life of the Church. For more information contact Deacon Larry Bills at the Church office at 696-1253. Worldwide Marriage Encounter The Responsorial Psalm today says, “Teach me your ways, O Lord!” Do we allow the Lord to teach us His ways so that we can love and honor our spouse more each day? Let the Lord strengthen, renew, and rekindle your marriage sacrament by attending a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend on Apr. 10-12, 2015. Dates fill fast. To apply, visit our website at: http:// www.dfwme.org/apply. For more information e-mail [email protected] or call 469-444-0904. Para mas informacion de Encuentro Matrimonial en Espanol, escriba a [email protected] o visite http://www.seccion15.org/ • • • Rachel Ministries Through healing from post-abortion trauma, despair gives way to hope, isolation gives way to connectedness, and hatred of others and self gives way to the capacity and desire for authentic, self-giving love. - Forbidden Grief, by Theresa Burke, Ph.D. There is hope! We can help. Rachel Ministries • 817-923-4757 Next Retreat April 10 Our Lady Queen of Peace Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Growing in Faith Dear Padre! GOOD NEWS! THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Jon 3:1-5, 10 / 1 Cor 7:29-31 / Mk 1:14-20 Whether he knew it or not, Jonah was one of the most powerful prophets in Israel. He had scarcely started on his journey through Ninevah when the entire city under the direction of the king expressed sorrow for their sins and turned God’s judgment to mercy. I think we all hope we might be that effective in our jobs. If we to continue to read the book of Jonah, though, we find that he wasn’t so happy about this turn of events—he felt it made him look weak. Did he not predict the destruction of Ninevah if they failed to repent? But for now, we see a people so moved by the Word of God that they immediately change their behavior. In Mark’s Gospel, Christ’s invitation is just as compelling for the four fishermen who abandon their nets and their father by the sea and immediately change their direction and their lives. I have a hard time imagining the words that would make me drop everything to follow a completely different path. Certainly I’ve taken the advice of friends and family or have responded to circumstances that demanded a new direction, but only after reflection and prayer—but it took considerably longer than a single moment. The power of the Good News, however, is unlike any other to those who are opened to it. When we really hear God’s voice, our hearts yearn to be in his presence and, though not always easily, our souls and minds bend to his will. How is God’s Word calling you to change today? Mary Katharine Deeley [email protected] • • • Why do we say, “God is love?” Love is an exchange between persons. In scripture - God inspired word God’s love for us is compared to the love between family members: a father for his son, a mother for her children, a husband for his wife. We say “God is love” (1 John 4:8), because he himself is an eternal exchange of love (CCC 221). Throughout the Old Testament, God continually showed his people, Israel, proofs of this love. He never stopped saving them, forgiving them, and providing for them. God does the same for us today. For God so love the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). Jesus showed us the Father’s love in words and deeds. He taught us to call God, “Our Father,” forgave people’s sins, healed their sickness, and fed them. Christ expressed this love perfectly on the Cross. “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 14:13). Do votive candles make a difference? At my church, some people take the votive candles out of the holders and place them next to the statues and icons. Does this make the saint or God pay more attention to the petition? And isn’t it a fire hazard? Vigil lights, commonly known as votive candles, are usually lit when a person seeks some favor from the Lord or a saint’s intercession. Lighting a candle is a way of extending one’s prayer and showing solidarity with the person on whose behalf the prayer is offered. In the lighting of candles we remember and truly live the words of our Lord, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). We burn candles to symbolize our prayers’ rising to heaven day and night; prayers for the saints’ intercession are also common because of their friendship with God in heaven. Saints are powerful intercessors. God hears all prayers uttered in sincerity. Burning a candle as we pray doesn’t make that prayer more important than prayers offered without a candle; neither does moving the candle to the front of the line. If your church has made sure that the placing of the votive candles complies with local fire regulations, you have no worries about setting a fire with vigil lights. FR. PAUL BOROWSKI, CSsR [email protected] Family Prayer: The Family that Prays together Stays together Prayer-Conditioning In today’s world, it isn’t easy to bring up a family within a Christian framework. The values of a consumer society are so often opposed to the values of Jesus. The hectic pace of our lives cries out for time to be together, to pray together. Families need to be “prayer-conditioned”. Prayer is not a thing we “take out” of our hearts on schedule, then tuck away for another day. Real prayer is an ongoing dialogue with our loving God. But this sort of spontaneous conversation does not come naturally to most. We all sometimes need coaching in the art of just “being with God,” praying without words and listening for God with quiet minds. To practice this, include a moment of silent prayer in every family prayer plan. As we “prayer-condition” our family, we need to help our children “connect” with God. This really isn’t difficult. When we share a spontaneous prayer, such as “Thank you, God, for giving us such a nice day for our picnic,” we make a quick connection with God for our children to both witness and imitate. Opportunities to make our children more aware of God’s presence can happen quite naturally. Before a big test, for example, we can invite God to study with them. As they leave the house for school, we can send them off with a blessing. At bedtime, we can ease their fears with assurances of God’s constant care. Using such common everyday feelings and events, we make God present; we actually create occasions for growth of relationship with God, not only for our children, but also for ourselves. Bulletin News: To assure requests for space within our bulletin meet the deadline, submit items by NOON on the Monday prior to the published weekend (or the Friday before if Monday is a holiday). Items MUST have proper approval for publication. FREE MASS TIMES APP - for when you’re away! The Catholic Directory iPhone App is FREE and will quickly find the churches nearest to you, including Mass Times, Web sites, Maps, Directions, Staff, Bulletins, and other important information. Powered by TheCatholicDirectory.com January 25, 2015 Community News Counseling Services: Working in partnership with Sacred Heart and Our Lady Queen of Peace, Catholic Charities Fort Worth provides counseling services at Sacred Heart Monday through Friday from 5:30pm to 7:30pm to assist individuals and families: -Through the challenges of raising a child -Resolving marital conflict -Coping with depression, anxiety, and the stresses of daily life Let us help you find hope and healing. Contact the Clinical Counseling program with Catholic Charities at 940-716-9669 or speak to your parish office for more details. • • • The St. Joseph Health Care Trust assists individuals who are medically uninsured/ underinsured and who meet eligibility criterion. This includes assistance with prescriptions, dental services, physician visits, and other services. For more information please call Stella at (940) 552-0347. (This program is administered through Catholic Charities, Diocese of Fort Worth.) • • • Immigration Consultations in Wichita Falls: This opportunity allows you to have an immigration consultation with an immigration attorney or a Board of Immigration Appeals accredited representative without traveling outside of Wichita Falls. Our professionals will serve you via video from our main office in Fort Worth. You will be speaking privately and confidentially with an authorized person qualified to evaluate your situation and give immigration legal advice. Location: Sacred Heart Catholic Church (1504 Tenth Street, Wichita Falls) Open by appointment: Thursdays and Saturdays Schedule an appointment: 817.289.2801 Cost of the consultation: $30 FEAST and CELEBRATIONS January 26 Sts. Timothy and Titus, Bishops (Patron Saint of Stomach disorders) In Titus we get another glimpse of life in the early Church: great zeal in the apostolate, great communion in Christ, great friendship. Yet always there is the problem of human nature and the unglamorous details of daily life: the need for charity and patience in “quarrels with others, fears within myself,” as Paul says. Through it all, the love of Christ sustained them. At the end of the Letter to Titus, Paul says that when the temporary substitute comes, “hurry to me.” “But when the kindness and generous love of God our Savior appeared, not because of any righteous deeds we had done but because of his mercy, he saved us through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the holy Spirit, whom he richly poured out on us through Jesus Christ our savior, so that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life. This saying is trustworthy” (Titus 3:4-8). January 28 St. Thomas Aquinas, Priest and Doctor of the Church (Patron Saint of Catholic schools, Colleges, Schools and Students) We can look to Thomas Aquinas as a towering example of Catholicism in the sense of broadness, universality and inclusiveness. We should be determined anew to exercise the divine gift of reason in us, our power to know, learn and understand. At the same time we should thank God for the gift of his revelation, especially in Jesus Christ. “Hence we must say that for the knowledge of any truth whatsoever man needs divine help, that the intellect may be moved by God to its act. But he does not need a new light added to his natural light, in order to know the truth in all things, but only in some that surpasses his natural knowledge” (Summa Theologiae, I-II, 109, 1). January 31 St. John Bosco, Priest (Patron Saint of Boys, Editors and Youth) John Bosco educated the whole person—body and soul united. He believed that Christ’s love and our faith in that love should pervade everything we do—work, study, play. For John Bosco, being a Christian was a full-time effort, not a once-a-week, Mass-on-Sunday experience. It is searching and finding God and Jesus in everything we do, letting their love lead us. Yet, because John realized the importance of job-training and the self-worth and pride that come with talent and ability, he trained his students in the trade crafts, too. “Every education teaches a philosophy; if not by dogma then by suggestion, by implication, by atmosphere. Every part of that education has a connection with every other part. If it does not all combine to convey some general view of life, it is not education at all” (G.K. Chesterton, The Common Man).
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